News in English

8. April 2017, 21:58

EU tries to finalise Turkey deal

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to try to finalise a deal with Turkey which foresees all refugees and migrants arriving on the Greek islands from Turkey being sent back. For every person returned, a Syrian refugee in Turkey would then be re-settled in the EU. Brussels says in return for Ankara's cooperation, it would consider increased financial aid to the country and the speeding up of EU membership talks. Francois Crepeau, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, says there are concerns over the deal: "the deal is premised on the idea that there would be an automatic return of all migrants arriving in Greece to Turkey. The problem with this is that Turkey may not be in a position to protect the asylum seekers or the migrants that are returned to it."

Kurdish group says it carried out Ankara attack

A Kurdish militant group linked to Turkey's banned PKK has said it carried out a suicide bomb attack in the capital Ankara last Sunday which killed 37 people. The group, known as TAK, said it carried out the bombing in revenge for the government's continued military operations in Kurdish areas of southeast Turkey.

US announces new North Korea sanctions

The US President Barack Obama has issued an executive order imposing new sanctions on North Korea following its recent nuclear test and satellite launch. Washington is also demanding that Pyongyang immediately release US citizen Otto Warmbier who's been sentenced by North Korea's highest court to 15 years hard labour for allegedly trying to steal a political banner from a hotel. White House spokesman Josh Earnest: "the allegations for which this individual was arrested and imprisoned would not give rise to arrest or imprisonment in the US or in just about any other country in the world. It is increasingly clear that the North Korean government seeks to use these US citizens as pawns to pursue a political agenda."

Canada seeks UN Security Council seat

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will seek a two-year term on the U.N. Security Council. He said the country had shown it has a role to play in world affairs, citing Canada's resettling of Syrian refugees and a desire to take part in peacekeeping efforts. Canada will compete with Ireland and Norway for two available seats on the council.

The weather

Sunny in much of the country. A lively wind and highs mostly between 5 and 13 degrees.

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