UN brokered ceasefire comes into effect in Yemen

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution says the main feature of the collective identity of the country’s armed forces is having military and operational power as well as spiritual and religious motivation. The Leader says the main duty of the armed forces is defending national security.
• A United Nations-brokered ceasefire comes into effect in Yemen. Saudi Arabia and Yemen both say they will respect the truce. Saudi warplanes bombed two areas in Jawf and Ta’izz provinces just before the implementation of the truce. The previous U-N-brokered ceasefire in Yemen ended in January with Saudis breaching it repeatedly.
• Ukraine’s prime minister has tendered his resignation, opening the way for the formation of a new government. In his weekly televised address, Arseniy Yatsenyuk blamed the political crisis in the country on politicians' failure to enact Quote real changes. President Petro Poroshenko asked Yatsenyuk to quit in February.
• Washington does not intend to apologize for its atomic bombing of Japan’s Hiroshima that killed 140-thousand people in 19-45. A state department official said there will be no formal apology from U-S Secretary of State, John Kerry, when he travels to the Japanese city later this week.
• Syria says it’s preparing to launch a joint operation with the Russian air force to liberate the Daesh-held city of Aleppo. Prime Minister Wael al-Halaki says the offensive will kick off in the near future. The army will target all the armed groups that have violated the ceasefire in Syria.
• At least two dozen terrorists have been killed in airstrikes targeting their positions in Syria’s northern city of Raqqa. The so-called Syrian observatory for human rights claims the assaults have also killed eight civilians. The group, however, says it is unaware who is behind the air raids on Raqqah.
• The leader of the UK's opposition Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to appear before lawmakers over his links to the Panama Papers leak. Corbyn says parliament needs to know more about the premier’s financial affairs. Cameron has published his income tax records.
• A 6.6-magnitude quake has rocked northeast Afghanistan sending tremors across Tajikistan, Pakistan and India. The strong quake left at least four people dead and dozens injured in Pakistan. The US Geological Survey says it was centered in a remote area of Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province at a depth of 210 kilometers.

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