A U.S. anti-terrorism operation in January killed American and Italian aidworkers. White House officials said Thursday al-Qaida had been holding thetwo men on the Afghan-Pakistan border.
The victims, American Warren Weinstein and Italian Givovanni Lo Porto had been working on aid projects in Pakistan. A U.S. official told VOA thehostages were killed mistakenly during drone airstrikes January 14.
President Barack Obama on Thursday apologized for the incident.
He said, "As president and commander-in-chief, I take full responsibility for allour counterterrorism operations, including the ones that inadvertently took thelives of Warren and Giovanni. I profoundly regret what happened."
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U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement about the killings of hostages held by al-Qaida in the White House Briefing room, April 23, 2015. |
EU leaders debate migrant shipwreck crisis
European Union leaders are considering a plan to fix Europe’s migrantshipwreck crisis. The leaders proposed taking military action to destroysmugglers’ boats in Africa so they cannot be used to take refugees acrossthe Mediterranean Sea.
The leaders of 28 EU countries met in Brussels Thursday. They discussedthe shipwreck of last weekend in which at least 800 people drowned.Rescuers only saved 28 people from the migrant ship. It crashed into aPortuguese ship that was sent to rescue it.
A draft EU statement called for more money to support Europe’s search andrescue operations. It also called for efforts to “capture and destroy vesselsbefore they are used by traffickers.”
Loretta Lynch confirmed as next attorney general
Federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch has been confirmed as the next attorneygeneral of the United States. President Barack Obama nominated her lastNovember. The U.S. Senate confirmed Ms. Lynch on Thursday, after monthsof delay.
The vote to confirm her nomination was 56-43 in the Senate.
Ms. Lynch, 55, will become the first black woman to lead the JusticeDepartment. She replaces Eric Holder Jr., the nation’s first black attorneygeneral.
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Words in the News
hostage –n. a person who is captured by someone who demands that certainthings be done before the captured person is freed
migrant – n. a person who goes from one place to another especially to findwork
draft – adj. not yet in the final form
confirm – v. to give official approval to (something or someone)
