Turkish army and Free Syrian Army (FSA) units have taken “entire control” of Afrin city center in Syria’s northwestern Afrin district as part of the ongoing “Operation Olive Branch,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on March 18. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
France erupted in joy after winning the World Cup on Sunday but scenes of joy turned to violence on the Champs Elysees in Paris where youths looted a store and clashed with police. At least two men died in accidents during the celebrations. Source: The Local
The US said it would impose “unprecedented financial pressure on Iran.” The refusal to grant EU businesses an exemption for Iran sanctions pushes Europe and the US further down a collision course over ties to Tehran. Source: Deutsche Welle
A German federal police report says that deportation orders were up 17 percent, but that actual deportations were down 4 percent. Meanwhile, the labor minister argues that some of those being deported shouldn’t be. Source: Deutsche Welle
