In a handout picture provided by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem (C-R) meeting with United Nations (UN) special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura (C-L), during a brief visit in the Syrian capital Damascus on February 16, 2016. AFP
Here is a round-up of global news developments:
- Syria says it has accepted the conditions of a ceasefire deal announced by the US and Russia. The foreign ministry, however, said that Damascus would continue its counter-terrorism efforts. Earlier, Washington and Moscow said the truce will begin from Saturday but will not extend to Daesh and Nusra Front terrorists.
- Syria has criticized the UN and the UN Security Council over their silence on the recent deadly terrorist attacks in the war-torn country. The Foreign Ministry warned that a refusal to condemn such attacks would further embolden the terrorists and their supporters.
- Iran and Azerbaijan have signed 11 economic and trade cooperation agreements. The documents were signed during Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Tehran. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says his country and Azerbaijan are two friendly neighbors with ever-deepening ties.
- Israeli forces have demolished two Palestinian houses in the West Bank, amid deteriorating tensions across the occupied territories. Tel Aviv accuses the owners of killing five Israelis in two separate attacks in November last year. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have detained 16 people during raids on Palestinian homes in the West Bank.
- Floods artificially caused by Israel have completely inundated a number of farms and homes in the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources say the Israeli army deliberately opened dams, causing significant damage to property in the impoverished enclave.
- A new round of international talks on peace in Afghanistan has begun in Kabul. Officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the US are to set a date for direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Earlier, Kabul repeated its call for the Taliban to join the discussions.
- The Iraqi army makes advances against the Daesh terrorists, recapturing parts of the city of Fallujah in Anbar province. Officials say the rebuilding of the infrastructure destroyed by the Takfiri terrorists has already started. Iraqi soldiers have earlier liberated Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar.
- People in Yemen have marked Martyr's Day to honor those who sacrificed their lives to defend their homeland against Saudi Arabia’s illegal invasion and occupation. More than 84-hundred Yemenis have lost their lives since Saudi Arabia launched its deadly war against its neighbor last March.
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