Off the wire
• Spanish league result/standings  • U.S. federal government agency advises pregnant women to avoid Olympics  • Brasil Open tennis results  • Argentina's Bou angry at move to Beijing Guoan falling through  • German soccer result/standings  • Berlin beat Cologne 1-0 in German Bundesliga  • Portuguese soccer league result/standings  • 1st LD Writethru: UN special envoy announces March 7 as new date for Syria peace talks  • Roundup: New selection process for next UN chief "potentially game changing": top UN official  • Pakistan welcomes U.S., Russia deal on Syria cessation of hostilities  
You are here: 　 Home

Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Feb. 27

Xinhua, February 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced late Friday after a UN Security Council briefing that intra-Syrian talks will resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities already in motion in the war-torn country holds.

He also said during a press conference here that an informal ceasefire taskforce meeting will convene later Saturday to monitor the implementation of the cessation of hostilities, pursuant to an agreement adhered to by 97 armed groups and the Syrian government, and backed by regional and international powers. (UN-Syria-Talks)

- - - -

VIENNA -- Austrian authorities have not reached their daily cap for asylum applications and transitory migrants at its southern border so far, state police in Styria said Friday.

Since the daily limit of 80 asylum applications and 3,200 transitory migrants was implemented Friday last week, 2,247 migrants entered via the Spielfeld border crossing site, according to a report by the APA news agency. (Austria-Asylum seekers)

- - - -

PRISTINA -- The Assembly of Kosovo elected on Friday Hashim Thaci as the new leader of the region amid high tensions in and out of the assembly.

Thaci, current leader of the Democratic Party, was elected with 71 votes in favor in the region's 120-seated assembly, though the opposition boycotted the voting and tried to prevent the process. (Kosovo-Election)

- - - -

MOGADISHU -- At least 12 people were killed and 16 others injured in Mogadishu blasts which targeted "peace garden" along with SYL hotel near the Somali presidential palace, police said Friday.

According to police officer Said Muse, the first blast hit the gate of peace garden, adding at least 12 civilians were killed in the two explosions and 16 more were wounded.

Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attacks. (Somalia-Attack) Endi