Thousands of Iraqis rally in support of govt. reforms in Baghdad

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Thousands of Iraqi people have taken to the streets of the capital Baghdad calling for reforms in the government. Protesters gathered outside the government buildings in the heavily fortified Green Zone, calling on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to dismiss those they called corrupt ministers.
• The UN Secretary-General has condemned Israel for its continued settlement activities and demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied territories. Ban Ki-moon described the settlements as a form of collective punishment of Palestinians. He added that Israel's land grabbing activities violate international law. 
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed support for Palestinians in their efforts to resume negotiations with Israel. Previous talks collapsed mainly due to Tel Aviv’s land grabbing policies. Meanwhile, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged Moscow to help re-launch a conference on the conflict with Israel.
• Syria’s ambassador to the UN has slammed an Israeli cabinet meeting in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Bashar Ja’afari has described the move as provocative and reckless. Ja’afari also said Damascus has lodged a complaint with the UN Secretary General and the Security Council over the issue. 
• The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition has asked the UN envoy to postpone the peace talks in Switzerland. The opposition says the Syrian government needs to accept discussing political transition in order for the talks to resume. Damascus has repeatedly rejected formation of a transitional government without President Bashar al-Assad. 
• The UN Special Envoy for Yemen says planned peace talks between warring sides have been postponed. The talks were set to start in Kuwait on Monday. Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has accused Saudi Arabia of violating a UN-brokered truce. 
• Clashes erupt between police and refugees stranded on Greece's border with Macedonia. This comes after a police van ran over an asylum seeker in a refugee camp near the town of Idomeni and left him injured. The refugee is reportedly Kurdish and currently receiving treatment at a hospital.
• Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella says hundreds of refugees have reportedly drowned en route to Europe, fleeing from Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. The incident happened as their boats overturned near Egypt. The Somali ambassador in Egypt has confirmed that over 400 could have lost their lives.

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