Bangladesh and Myanmar reach agreement on Rohingya +++ Kosovo Serb politician killed in Mitrovica

16. Februar 2018, 02:00

Bangladesh and Myanmar reach agreement on Rohingya

Bangladesh and Myanmar say they've agreed on a timeframe for repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled an army crackdown last year. Myanmar is to accept the return of 1,500 Rohingya every week. But Kevin Allen from the UN High Commission for Refugees has raised questions about the deal: "at this stage I think it's premature to talk about returns in large numbers until three conditions exist. Number one: the issue of citizenship and legal identity must be addressed. Number two: there has to be a safe and secure environment for refugees to return to. And number three: reconstruction and the re-establishment of services must occur."

Kosovo Serb politician killed in Mitrovica

A prominent Kosovo Serb politician, Oliver Ivanovic, has been shot dead outside his party headquarters in the city of Mitrovica. According to reports, he was hit by several bullets in a drive-by shooting. It's not yet known who his attackers were. The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci has strongly denounced the killing and has called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

President Macron visits migrants in Calais

The French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken to migrants and refugees in the port city of Calais from where many are hoping to reach Britain. The visit comes ahead of a meeting between Macron and the British Prime Minister Theresa May. Beth Gardiner-Smith is with the organisation "Safe Passage" which tries to reunite child refugees with relatives in the UK: "we estimate that there are around 600 migrants and refugees in the area. Currently we think there are around 100 unaccompanied minors in Calais and the Calais area sleeping rough. The conditions are pretty terrible and as you can imagine it's incredibly cold there. There's mud and really squalid conditions."

Tusk urges Britain to reconsider Brexit

The EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged Britain to change its mind about leaving the bloc. Addressing EU parliamentarians, he said it would be welcomed back, reiterating his view that Brexit would have negative consequences.

13 siblings held captive in California home

In the US, 13 siblings aged between 2 and 29 have been rescued by police from a family home in California where they'd been held without food or water in dark and dirty rooms, some of them chained to their beds. The parents have been arrested and charged with torture and child endangerment. A 17-year old girl had managed to escape on Sunday and alerted the authorities.

The Weather

Increasing rain and snowfall with most of the sunshine in the south this afternoon with showers expected there this evening. A strong wind. And highs ranging between zero and 9 degrees.

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