Displaced Syrian families return home near Damascus

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Hundreds of displaced Syrians have returned home in Qadam, a district in southern Damascus. It comes after the Syrian government made a deal with the foreign-backed militants. While the government is holding the western part of Qadam, the eastern part is still militant-held. 
   
• Saudi warplanes have launched new airstrikes on Yemen. The latest attacks targeted several areas in Ta’izz and Jawf provinces. There have been no reports of casualties. Also, Saudi-backed militants attacked a residential area in Ta’izz, killing several people.
   
• Iran’s foreign minister criticizes Saudi Arabia for cutting ties with Tehran. Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to the recent attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran by some protesters. He said all Iranian officials have already condemned the move and guaranteed the safety of Saudi diplomats.
   
• The United States, France, and five other countries have agreed to intensify the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. US Defense Secretary, Ashton Carter, and his French counterpart announced the news in a joint press conference after a meeting with their foreign ministers of Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy.
   
• The Russian foreign minister says ISIL and al-Nusra Front terrorists cannot be part of any ceasefire agreement in Syria. Sergey Lavrov said the fight will continue until the extermination of the terrorists. He made the announcement after a meeting with his US counterpart John Kerry in Zurich.
   
• Israel has approved the seizure of some 370 acres of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. According to an anti-settlement group, the expropriation will be the largest since Israel unveiled its plan to occupy one thousand acres of Palestinian land in 2014. This is expected to spark fresh Palestinian anger.
   
• At least 29 people have been killed and dozens more injured after pro-Taliban militants attacked a university in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack targeted Bacha Khan University of Charsadda town. Police say they have rescued most of the students and killed four of the assailants.
   
• A bomb explosion has ripped through Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, leaving at least seven people dead and over a dozen others injured. Afghan officials say the car bomb attack took place close to the Russian embassy. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

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