UN Security Council approves Syrian truce resolution endorsing the cessation of hostilities

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The United Nations Security Council unanimously approves a US-Russia drafted resolution endorsing the cessation of hostilities which has come into force in Syria. During the session, UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura set March 7 as the date for the resumption of Syria peace talks.
• Polls have closed in Iran's Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections. The head of Iran’s election commission says the voter turnout was very high. Over 48-hunred candidates sought parliamentary seats and 159 candidates vied for the Assembly of Experts.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear agreement reached with the P5+1 group. The IAEA verification came in its first regular report since the deal came into effect on January 16. The report says all stored centrifuges have remained in storage under continuous Agency monitoring.
• At least 14 people have been killed in al-Shabab terrorists' attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Police killed a total of five terrorists in the ensuing shootout. The al-Qaida linked group has been wreaking havoc in Somalia as well as neighboring Kenya.
• Saudi Arabia’s air force continues bombing Yemen. At least two people were killed in the latest bombardment, when Saudi jets targeted several areas of Nihm district in Sana'a. Meanwhile, sources said the Yemeni army backed by popular forces downed a Saudi helicopter in Dhubab district of Ta'izz province.
• Israeli forces have shot dead yet another Palestinian man near the occupied city of Ramallah. Israeli army accuses the Palestinian of trying to stab a soldier near the settlement of Beit El. 188 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of a new uprising against Israel in October last year.
• Palestinian journalist Mohammad al-Qiq, who’s been held in an Israeli jail without charge or trial, ends his three-months-long hunger strike. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club says Qiq agreed to do so in return for his release on May 21. The 33-year-old, who was detained by Israel in November, was in life-threatening condition.
• Gianni Infantino is elected to a four-year term as the new FIFA president after winning a second-round vote. The UEFA General Secretary won 115 of the 207 votes beating his main rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. 45-year-old Infantino replaces Sepp Blatter who resigned amid a corruption crisis in May.

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