Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Feb.16

The European Union (EU) on Monday said it would not extend the restrictive measures against 170 Belarusian individuals including Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, and three companies whose listings are currently suspended, ending most sanctions against Belarus.

However, "the arms embargo and the restrictive measures related to the four individuals listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist, will be extended for a period of twelve months," according to a council conclusion on Belarus issued after an EU foreign ministers' meeting.(EU-Belarus-Sanctions)

- - - -

DAMASCUS -- Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday fully captured a key town in northern Syria near Turkish borders, a monitor group reported.

The SDF backed by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) captured the Tal Rifat town, located between the northern city of Aleppo and the strategic city of Azaz on the Turkish borders, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (Syria-Kurdish forces)

- - - -

DAMASCUS -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday that his administration has no choice but to win, noting that the price of victory is high.

Speaking during his meeting with the Lawyers Syndicate in Damascus, Assad said the Syrian war is an "external" one, adding that the Syrian state withstood big challenges during the crisis. (Syria-Assad-War)

- - - -

TEGUCIGALPA -- Honduras registered more than 11,000 cases of people infected with the Zika virus, the country's health authorities said on Monday.

"All the infected people are being treated and controlled with laboratory testing," said Deputy Health Minister Francis Contreras in a press conference. (Honduras-Zika) Endi