WASHINGTON / AFP The United States views a deal by Turkish and EU leaders to curb the influx of migrants into Europe as an “important step,” the State Department said. Under the deal all migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey as early as Sunday will be turned back. “We strongly endorse action to shut down the illegal smuggling operations that …

BAGHDAD / AFP Iraqi forces have launched a broad offensive to retake the city of Hit from the IS group in the western province of Anbar, a top commander said on Saturday. Led by the elite Counter-Terrorism Service, forces from the police, army and local tribal fighters were making a final push to retake Hit, 145 kilometres (90 miles) west …

UNITED NATIONS / AP The UN human rights chief said that many people in Burundi are living in “terror” with increasing reports of torture, almost daily grenade attacks, arbitrary arrests and killings while the perpetrators go unpunished. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein told the UN Security Council that “the country remains on the brink of a sudden escalation of violence to …