EU offers Turkey funds in exchange for help
The European Union reached a deal with Turkey on Thursday to ease the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe. According to the action plan, Turkey agreed to tackle people-smuggling and take measures to help keep millions of refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict from crossing to Europe by sea, reported AFP. In exchange, the EU agreed to give Ankara more funds to tackle the problem and also ease visa restrictions on Turkish citizens travelling to Europe. Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many of them travelling from Turkey to Greece, before heading north, according to the BBC.
Obama delays Afghan troop withdrawal
United States President Barack Obama on Thursday announced that 5,500 American troops will remain in Afghanistan beyond his departure from office in January 2017, having previously promised to end the war during his term. After months of deliberation, Obama cited an escalation in Taliban attacks and appeals from the Afghan government for assistance as the reasons to delay the withdrawal. The US military has been in Afghanistan for over 14 years, making it the longest war in the country's history. Nato welcomed Obama’s decision, saying it paves the way for a "sustained presence" by its allies and partners in Afghanistan.
Oscar Pistorius to be placed under house arrest
Former Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius will be transferred from prison to house arrest next Tuesday, after a South African parole board approved his request for the same on Thursday. Pistorius has served only 12 months of his five-year sentence for culpable homicide in prison. He was convicted for shooting and killing his 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at their home in 2013. The parole board said Pistorius will now spend the rest of his sentence under "correctional supervision". Speaking on behalf of the Steenkamp family, their lawyer said they had expected the early release even though they opposed it.
Two suspects identified in Lockerbie bombing
Two Libyans have been identified as suspects in the bombing of a Pan Am plane over Lockerbie in Scotland in December 1988, which killed 270 people. Scotland’s Crown Office confirmed on Thursday that chief prosecutor, lord advocate Frank Mulholland, had issued a formal letter of request to the Libyan attorney general asking for permission to interview the suspects. Scottish officials also said that the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation has been pursuing other suspects in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, considered one of the worst terror attacks in British history.
Myanmar signs peace pact with 8 rebel groups
The Myanmar government on Thursday signed a ceasefire agreement with eight armed ethnic groups, in a bid to end decades of civil war in the country. However, the refusal of seven other ethnic minority groups to sign the treaty weakened the deal. The treaty was signed after more than two years of negotiations and was a key goal of President Thein Sein ahead of the general elections in the country, scheduled for November 8.
The European Union reached a deal with Turkey on Thursday to ease the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe. According to the action plan, Turkey agreed to tackle people-smuggling and take measures to help keep millions of refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict from crossing to Europe by sea, reported AFP. In exchange, the EU agreed to give Ankara more funds to tackle the problem and also ease visa restrictions on Turkish citizens travelling to Europe. Nearly 600,000 migrants have reached the EU by sea so far this year, many of them travelling from Turkey to Greece, before heading north, according to the BBC.
Obama delays Afghan troop withdrawal
United States President Barack Obama on Thursday announced that 5,500 American troops will remain in Afghanistan beyond his departure from office in January 2017, having previously promised to end the war during his term. After months of deliberation, Obama cited an escalation in Taliban attacks and appeals from the Afghan government for assistance as the reasons to delay the withdrawal. The US military has been in Afghanistan for over 14 years, making it the longest war in the country's history. Nato welcomed Obama’s decision, saying it paves the way for a "sustained presence" by its allies and partners in Afghanistan.
Oscar Pistorius to be placed under house arrest
Former Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius will be transferred from prison to house arrest next Tuesday, after a South African parole board approved his request for the same on Thursday. Pistorius has served only 12 months of his five-year sentence for culpable homicide in prison. He was convicted for shooting and killing his 29-year-old girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at their home in 2013. The parole board said Pistorius will now spend the rest of his sentence under "correctional supervision". Speaking on behalf of the Steenkamp family, their lawyer said they had expected the early release even though they opposed it.
Two suspects identified in Lockerbie bombing
Two Libyans have been identified as suspects in the bombing of a Pan Am plane over Lockerbie in Scotland in December 1988, which killed 270 people. Scotland’s Crown Office confirmed on Thursday that chief prosecutor, lord advocate Frank Mulholland, had issued a formal letter of request to the Libyan attorney general asking for permission to interview the suspects. Scottish officials also said that the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation has been pursuing other suspects in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, considered one of the worst terror attacks in British history.
Myanmar signs peace pact with 8 rebel groups
The Myanmar government on Thursday signed a ceasefire agreement with eight armed ethnic groups, in a bid to end decades of civil war in the country. However, the refusal of seven other ethnic minority groups to sign the treaty weakened the deal. The treaty was signed after more than two years of negotiations and was a key goal of President Thein Sein ahead of the general elections in the country, scheduled for November 8.
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