Obama rejects pipeline bill
American President, Barack Obama defied the Republican controlled congress and announced his third veto as president for the Keystone oil pipeline. The XL Pipeline bill proposed the expansions of the original line, connecting tar sands in Alberta, Canada with the existing pipeline in Nebraska. This doesn’t mean the proposed bill has been completely disregarded as President Obama can still approve the bill on his own accord with the support of environmental activists. The 1179 mile pipeline would deliver up to 830,000 barrels a day of oil petroleum sands to refineries, oil tank farms and ports alongside the US Gulf.
Czech Shooting claims eight lives
Tributes have been laid outside a Druzba restaurant after a gunman shot dead eight people in the Czech Republic. The man, who is believed to be a local, turned the gun on himself after he opened fire in the restaurant where 20 patrons were dining at the time. Several people were injured including a woman who is in critical condition. There have been reports the man had been bullied and vowed to take revenge. It is not being viewed as a terror attack.
Lithuania reintroduces conscription
Conscription will be reinstated in Lithuania for five years, with 19-26 year olds forced to join the army due to concerns of a Russian invasion. President Dalia Grybauskaite announced the reintroduction of conscription within Lithuanian military services seven years after it was abolished. Men, excluding single fathers and university students, will be forced to join the army. Lithuania wishes to enlist 3500 to the military forces per year, however the conscription plan must first be approved in parliament.
Christians abducted in Syria
ISIS militants have abducted an unconfirmed number of Assyrian Christians in north-eastern Syria. The president of the National Council of Syria, Bassam Ishak, told Reuters it has been “verified [that] at least 150 people… have been abducted from sources on the ground.” The extremist group carried out the abductions earlier this week. Most of those who were captured came from the village of Tal Shamiram. An estimated 3000 people avoided the attack, seeking safety in the cities of Hassakeh and Qamishli. – Kayla Burke
Top photo from Barack Obama’s Flickr photostream.
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