News / News Bulletin

Russia rejects German proposal for Syria no-fly zone

Friday, 19 February 2016 1:40 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 19 February 2016 1:38 PM ]

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin ©AFP

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

The Turkish army has violated the Syrian territory by deploying dozens of military vehicles into a mainly-Kurdish area. A Kurdish news agency says the Turkish vehicles advanced some 200 meters into the district of Afrin in Aleppo province and began digging a trench near the town of Meydan Ekbis.
China has voiced concern over the presence of US military aircraft and Navy vessels in the South China Sea saying Washington is militarizing the area. China also accused the US of raising tensions in the region by holding joint war games with regional partners.
Negotiations between Britain and the European Union on London’s demands to stay in the bloc enter the second day amid differences between the two sides. Sources close to the British government say the first EU Council session ended without any agreements on several issues. But EU sources have described the talks as constructive.
Russia has reaffirmed its opposition to a no-fly zone over Syria proposed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Russia’s permanent envoy to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, says it’s too late to speak about the no-fly zone when everyone is flying and bombing the crisis-hit country.
Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian over an alleged stabbing assault in East Jerusalem al-Quds. There are conflicting reports on the number of Israelis wounded in the incident. Palestinian sources say three Israelis were injured while Israeli media put the figure at two.
Several Yemeni civilians have been killed in the latest Saudi air raids on Yemen’s Sana'a province. Yemen’s Ansarullah fighters and allied army units also launched retaliatory attacks, killing a Saudi soldier in the Jizan region. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir says the kingdom will not stop military intervention in Yemen.
Bahraini police have clashed with protesters marking on the fifth anniversary of the deadly crackdown on protesters at Mana's Pearl Square. Security forces tried to disperse the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets. The protesters lit candles and chanted slogans against King Hamad.
Stock markets in Asia and Europe have plunged again amid global economic concerns. London's FTSE benchmark index fell 0.7 percent and Frankfurt's DAX index was down almost 0.5 percent. Meanwhile a renewed weakening in oil prices resulted in a slide in Asia stocks with Japan's benchmark Nikkei dropping 0.9 percent.