Rains that devastated a mountainous region north of Rio de Janeiro have killed at least 626 people, Brazil's Civil Defense agency said on January 16, as fears of more storms and disease outbreaks overshadowed rescue operations.

Tunisia's prime minister promised to announce a new coalition government on January 17, hoping to maintain the momentum of political progress to ward off fresh protests and also undercut gunmen loyal to the ousted president.

Hamas will rebuild all houses that were destroyed or damaged during Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip two years ago, its leader in Gaza announced on January 16.

Brazil declared on Saturday three days of national mourning for nearly 560 people killed near Rio de Janeiro this week in the country's worst flood disaster on record.

Several international envoys got a look inside an Iranian nuclear site on Saturday as part of a tour the Islamic Republic hopes will build support before a new round of talks on its disputed atomic activities.

Far-right protesters threw stones at a pro-migrant march in Athens on Saturday before being dispersed by bursts of teargas, police said, in the latest sign of tension over the capital's growing immigrant population.

Gunmen attacked tankers carrying fuel for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan as they sat parked at a roadside restaurant in southwest Pakistan on Saturday, setting 14 of the vehicles ablaze, officials said.

At least 100 pilgrims were killed and around 100 others injured in a deadly stampede that took place in southwestern India on the evening of January 14, local media reported.

US President Barack Obama and Pakistani President Asif Zardari met at the White House on January 14.

Tunisia's Prime Minister announced on January 14 that he is the interim president of his country's embattled government, the latest development in a story of unrest and public outrage in a tiny but significant corner of the Arab world.