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Three drown as migrant boat sinks off Greece: coastguard

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The latest in the odyssey of hundreds of thousands of people trekking across Europe in search of a new life: All times local.

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Migrants move through fields after crossing from Croatia, in Rigonce, Slovenia, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 20 …

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Migrants move through fields after crossing from Croatia, in Rigonce, Slovenia, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 20 …

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Migrants rest after crossing the Austrian-German border near Wegscheid, Germany, Tuesday Oct. 27, 20 …

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A group of migrants walk along a road after crossing the border between Austria and Germany in Wegsc …

11:22 p.m.

Austria's interior minister has spoken of plans for a "fence" on the border to Slovenia in efforts to control the flow of migrants, but the country's chancellor is avoiding the word.

Asked repeatedly Wednesday about the announcement by Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Chancellor Werner Faymann spoke of "technical security" measures but insisted there will be "no fence" to Slovenia.

The issue is controversial , with Austria among the forefront of countries criticizing Hungary's decision to build a fence along its border to Serbia — a move that has led migrants to change their route toward the European Union's most prosperous countries.

They now go from Serbia to Croatia then on to Slovenia, and from there to Austria, with some staying and others going on to other EU nations..

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11:20 p.m.

Fishing boats and coast guard vessels are bringing the 242 people who were rescued from a shipwreck near Lesbos to the village Molyvos on the Greek island's northern coast.

The survivors, including many children, are being offered assistance by volunteers and doctors in makeshift shelters. Many women suffer from shock or hypothermia and are receiving first aid in a chapel at the port.

At least three people died as the wooden boat capsized Wednesday and it was unclear how many people were onboard when the accident happened.

Greek coast guard boats, assisted by vessels from the European Frontex border agency and a helicopter, were searching through the night for survivors, amid strong winds blowing in the area.

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11:00 p.m.

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Afghan migrants arrive on the shores of the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea fro …

Greece's merchant marine minister has expressed sorrow about the most recent deaths in the Aegean Sea, calling for more coherent European Union policies to stop migrants risking their lives by paying smuggling gangs to ferry them to Greece in unseaworthy crafts.

Thodoros Dritsas says "the coast guard's admirable, constant struggle to rescue refugees at sea is, unfortunately, tending of late to turn into a constant and agonizing operation to locate and recover drowned refugees."

He says "Europe's priority should be to safely relocate refugees from their countries of origin and transit to European Union members."

At least 11 people, including many children, died in five separate incidents in the eastern Aegean Sea Wednesday as thousands of people continued to head to the Greek islands in frail boats from Turkey.

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10:15 p.m.

The Greek coast guard says it has rescued 242 people off the eastern island of Lesbos after the wooden boat they traveled in capsized, leaving at least three people dead.

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A Syrian mother hugs her child after they arrived from Turkey at the Greek island of Lesbos on an ov …

It says rescuers continue to search the rough waters for more survivors and that it is unclear how many people were on the boat when it went under Wednesday.

Greece is the main entry point for people from the Middle East and Africa seeking a better future in Europe. Well over half a million have arrived so far this year.

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6:10 p.m.

Greek authorities say at least five people, including four children, have drowned as thousands of refugees and economic migrants continued to head to the Aegean Sea islands in frail boats from Turkey, in worsening weather.

The coast guard said Wednesday that two children and a man died off the coast of Samos, while 51 people from the same small boat were rescued. A 5-year-old girl also drowned in a separate incident off Samos.

A 7-year-old boy died off Lesbos, where most migrants land, while a 12-month-old girl was in critical condition in hospital from the same boat accident.

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Migrants are led by German Federal Police to an emergency accommodation center after crossing the Au …

Greece is the main entry point for people from the Middle East and Africa seeking a better future in Europe. Well over half a million have arrived so far this year.

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6:05 p.m.

Germany has informed European authorities that it will continue border checks for at least another two weeks amid the continued influx of refugees and other migrants.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere informed the European Commission on Wednesday that Germany planned on continuing checks at the border until Nov. 13. The dpa news agency reported the development after seeing the written notification.

There are normally no border controls between Germany and Austria, through which most of the migrants are coming, but to deal with the influx Germany has temporarily reinstated document checks to register newcomers as they enter.

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5:55 p.m.

Swedish authorities say 14 refugees are refusing to leave a bus in northern Sweden, protesting that they do not want to stay in chalets in a remote and cold part of Sweden.

Immigration agency spokeswoman Maria Lofgren says the standoff started late Sunday when 60 refugees from Syria and Iraq arrived in Lima close to the Norwegian border.

Lofgren said Wednesday that police were handling the the case, adding the refugees would stay there only while their claims were being processed.

Hadeel Waez, a Syrian asylum-seeker told Swedish broadcaster SVT "we have children and a pregnant woman, it is too cold and there are no shops and no doctor."

The fully equipped chalets, made for winter sports tourists, are in the middle of woods half-a-dozen kilometers (miles) from the nearest town.

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5:45 p.m.

Several thousands of Czechs have used a national holiday — Independent Czechoslovak State Day — to rally against asylum seekers.

Wednesday's rallies in major cities across the country were organized by fringe political groupings and parties that exploit anti-migrant and anti-Muslim sentiments.

The biggest demonstration was in Brno, the country's second-largest city, where more than a thousand people turned out. Other protests in Prague, Liberec, Usti nad Labem and Ostrava each mustered a few hundred protesters

No significant incidents were reported. The holiday celebrates the creation of Czechslovkia in 1918.

So far, few of the refugees fleeing war and poverty have used Czech territory on their way to the rich western countries such is Germany.

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5:20 p.m.

Katerina Hola believes that migrants often need joy as much as they need food or drink. So, she and her fellow volunteers sometimes sing to the migrants to help lift their spirits.

The 27-year-old volunteer from the Czech Republic is spending her work holiday aiding asylum seekers at Serbia's border with Croatia. Tens of thousands of people have crossed along the muddy frontier road, often spending hours out in the cold and rain.

Hola, from Prague, says volunteers have been handing out food, drinks and clothes. She says: "People are going through difficult times. It's important to give them some joy through music."

Hola plays the guitar and sings, joined by fellow volunteers playing other instruments, including a small boy — a volunteer's son — on drums. Migrants smiled as they passed by.

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4:25 p.m.

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Migrants stand on a street after crossing the border between Austria and Germany in Wegscheid near P …

A group of German police officers has arrived in Slovenia, joining colleagues from Austria, as the small Alpine nation struggles to manage influx tens of thousands of migrants.

Germany says it sent the five officers to prepare for a wider European deployment.

Slovenia has asked formally for EU assistance in manpower and equipment, complaining that large numbers of migrants streaming into the country have put too much strain on the police. The government also has sent army troops to the border.

Several EU countries have responded positively to Slovenia's request. Eight police from Austria have been deployed since Oct. 13, while Slovenian authorities say officers from Hungary and Slovakia could arrive within days.

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4:10 p.m.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer has called for better control of borders and distribution of Syrian refugees.

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Migrants arrive with busses at the border between Austria and Germany near Kollerschlag, Austria, We …

While on a visit to Pristina, Kosovo, Wednesday Fischer said Austria is reaching its limited capacities with an expectation of some 80,000 asylum requests.

So far this year half a million refugees have passed through Austria, most in transit toward Germany, creating a lot of "organizational and logistic problems," he said.

Fischer said there is nothing set on the possibility of building a fence along parts of his country's border.

"We should pay more attention to the problem of better checking the outside EU borders and a better distribution of the refugees within Europe," he said. "Only if the numbers are distributed equally could the burden be coped with."

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2:20 p.m.

Danish police say a 58-year-old man faces preliminary charges of racism and violence for allegedly spitting on a group of refugees from a highway overpass near the southern port town of Roedby.

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Migrants arrive with busses at the border between Austria and Germany near Kollerschlag, Austria, We …

Police spokesman Kim Kliver declined Wednesday to name the man but said he's from the area. A photo of him spitting from the E47 highway bridge on Sept. 8 circulated on social media and was met by chiefly critical comments.

The refugees were walking on the highway after a ferry crossing from Germany. They were believed to be heading for Sweden and other Nordic countries.

In Denmark, preliminary charges are a step short of formal charges. If convicted, he risks a fine or up to two years in prison.

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2 p.m.

Croatian police say fewer refugees than usual have entered the country in the past day and a half.

Spokesman Domagoj Dzigumovic says 2,700 migrants came in Wednesday morning and 5,700 on Tuesday, numbers down from the past weeks. Croatia reported a record 11,500 refugees entering on Saturday alone.

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A group of migrants walk along a road after crossing the border between Austria and Germany in Wegsc …

Dzigumovic insists it's still too early to say whether the migrant wave toward Western Europe is slowing down. He says at least 10 days must pass before any conclusions can be drawn.

Police say nearly 270,000 migrants have crossed into Croatia since Sept. 15, when Hungary closed its border with Serbia, diverting refugees to Croatia.

Asylum-seekers are traveling from Turkey across the sea to Greece and then through Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, trying to reach wealthy EU nations like Germany.

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12:35 p.m.

Slovenia's prime minister says his country is ready to build a fence on its border with Croatia if an EU plan to stem their flow across the Balkans fails.

Miro Cerar, speaking after a meeting of Slovenia's national security council on Wednesday, says "if necessary, we are ready to put up the fence immediately."

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Migrants arrive with busses at the border between Austria and Germany near Kollerschlag, Austria, We …

EU and Balkan leaders agreed at a weekend summit to stem the massive migrant surge by introducing tighter border controls.

Since Oct. 16, when the refugee flow was rerouted to Slovenia after Hungary sealed off its border with Croatia, more than 86,000 people have crossed into Slovenia.

The small Alpine nation has been struggling to cope with the influx and has criticized Croatia for sending more migrants to the border than it can handle.

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12:10 p.m.

Germany's Interior Minister says many of the Afghans pouring into the country will most likely be sent back to their homeland.

Thomas de Maiziere says Germany and other western nations have poured millions in developmental aid into Afghanistan, as well as sending troops and police to help train security forces there, and that Afghanistan's government agrees with Berlin that citizens should stay and help rebuild the country.

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Migrants are seen at the temporary transit facility in Dhekelia Garrison, a British military base on …

De Maiziere said Wednesday, "the people who come from Afghanistan cannot expect that they will be able to stay."

Germany has implemented a plan to streamline the asylum process for those fleeing civil war, such as Syrians, to settle them more quickly, but also to more rapidly send home those whose case for asylum is weak.

He says Afghans will be considered case-by-case.

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12 noon

Germany's top security official has sharply criticized Austria for dumping migrants at the border between the two countries under the cover of night.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere says "Austria's behavior in recent days was out of line."

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German federal police guide a group of migrants on their way after crossing the border between Austr …

De Maiziere told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday that Austrian authorities failed to warn their German counterparts about the impending arrivals.

He says the two countries have agreed to cooperate better "and I expect this to happen immediately."

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11:35 a.m.

With no signs of a slowdown in the flow of migrants from Slovenia, Austrian officials are raising the possibility of building a fence along parts of the countries' common border.

Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner says a fence might be needed to ensure an "orderly, controlled" entry into Austria. Defense Minister Gerald Klug says containers or railings could be set up to "be able to control the refugees in an orderly way."

They spoke Wednesday to state broadcaster ORF.

The flow of migrants seeking a better life in the European Union over the west Balkans land route has shifted from Hungary to Slovenia since Hungary erected a fence along its border with Serbia last month. Most continue to Germany and other EU countries from Austria.

Slovenia on Tuesday also hinted that it was considering fences, on its border with Croatia.

11 a.m.

Political leaders in the Netherlands are calling for a halt to threats and intimidation amid heated debate on providing shelter for thousands of asylum seekers entering the country.

In an open letter published Wednesday, the leaders of 11 political parties in the Dutch parliament say they understand the strong emotions on both sides of the debate but appeal to concerned citizens "not to confuse threats and insults with arguments. Let everybody speak, even if you totally disagree with them."

In recent weeks, demonstration marches and meetings to discuss emergency housing for asylum seekers in several towns have degenerated into verbal abuse on both sides.

The leaders say that anonymous threats via mail and social media also appear to be increasing, adding that "people, whatever their view, who behave that way limit freedom for all of us."

Even the nation's monarch is concerned. In comments to reporters during a state visit to China, King Willem-Alexander said that, "In the Netherlands we talk things out, we don't fight them out."

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10:55 a.m.

Sweden's immigration agency says it will no longer publicize the location of facilities intended to house refugees after more than 20 fires, many considered arsons, have either destroyed or made the buildings temporarily unusable.

Migrationsverket spokeswoman Johanna Uhr says future sites "will somehow be kept concealed."

Uhr says it hasn't yet decided how to do that.

In recent weeks, Sweden has seen a spate of arson attacks on asylum centers or buildings to be used as such as an influx of refugees has surged. Immigration officials estimate some 190,000 asylum-seekers will arrive this year, putting Sweden second only to Germany among EU members.

Last week, Migrationsverket called an idea by a Swedish municipality to keep a facility secret unrealistic. The agency's new position came after two more blazes early Wednesday.

Beirut (AFP) - Almost 600 people have been killed in Russian air strikes in Syria nearly a month into Moscow's campaign, two-thirds of them opposition fighters, a monitor said on Thursday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been 595 deaths since since September 30, the majority of whom were fighters with opposition forces including the jihadist Islamic State (IS) group.

The other third, 185 people, were civilians, including 48 children, the Britain-based monitor said.

Russia has carried out strikes throughout Syria, with only four of the country's 14 provinces untouched by the aerial campaign since it began, according to the group.

The Observatory said it had documented the deaths of 131 IS fighters and 279 other opposition fighters, including moderate and Islamist rebels and members of the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

Russia says its aerial campaign targets IS and other "terrorists" but rebel forces and their backers accuse Moscow of focusing on moderate and Islamist fighters over jihadists.

Several medical groups have also accused Russia of strikes that have hit field clinics and hospitals in Syria.

Russia's air campaign has given new momentum to Syria's ground forces, who have launched offensives in several provinces with air cover from Moscow.

But the offensives have had mixed results.

In the central province of Hama province, the regime has taken several villages but failed to advance much towards a key town on a highway in the region.

And in Aleppo, it has captured at least six villages from rebel forces, along with several hilltops.

But an IS advance has severed the only route in and out of the government-held west of Aleppo city.

Russia's intervention in Syria follows that of a US-led coalition that has been carrying out strikes against IS in the country since September 2014.

The US-led coalition does not coordinate with Damascus however.

According to the Observatory, the US-led strikes have killed 3,649 people since they began, around six percent of them civilians.

The monitor said earlier this week that US-led raids had killed 3,276 IS fighters, 147 members of Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra front or Islamist groups and 226 civilians.

BAGHDAD (AP) — After a night of intense rain storms pummeling Baghdad, a joke shared on social media on Thursday assures Iraqis they don't need to go far to catch a migrant boat to Europe.

"Grab a boat from Baghdad and it will take you straight to Greece," it reads.

But Baghdad residents may not have been in the mood for humor after awaking to knee-deep floodwaters that seeped into homes and paralyzed parts of the city.

Blocks of ice, the type usually sold on outdoor stalls, floated down the streets of Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood as men trudged through muddy water, trying to assess the damage.

The rare rainstorm began late Wednesday and continued into Thursday, dumping heavy rain on the Iraqi capital and across much of the country. The Iraqi government declared Thursday a holiday to ease the burden on people who may otherwise struggle to get to work and school. The stormy weather forecast to continue throughout the weekend, which is Friday and Saturday in Iraq.

Police and security forces were deployed in Baghdad — a city of about 5 million people — to help citizens navigate the floodwaters. Security forces have been stretched thin battling the Islamic State militant group since last year, so the battle with Mother Nature was something out of the ordinary.

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Iraqis make their way through a flooded street after heavy rain fell in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Oct …

"We are your brothers, and we are here to serve the citizens of Iraq," one police officer in central Baghdad said, speaking live on Iraqiyya state television.

Old and inadequate drainage systems have long been an issue in Iraq and among the complaints of citizens who have been protesting for better basic services and an end to corruption. Calls for reform have intensified since the summer, when scorching temperatures led to chronic power cuts.

Iraq's power, communications, water, sewage treatment and health facilities were severely battered during the 1991 U.S.-led Gulf War, and then again in the 2003 invasion. In between, stringent U.N. sanctions severely limited the country's ability to rebuild.

Despite some investments to rebuild infrastructure since the 2003 invasion, many Iraqis blame corruption at home for the lack of progress.

"When it comes to the sewage system, there is a main line that serves all of Baghdad and it only takes three months to clean them from north to south," said Mazin al-Eshaiker, a spokesman for the Provincial Reformists Protesters, a pro-democracy group of activists.

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Iraqi girls make their way through a flooded street after heavy rain fell in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday …

"They (authorities) claim that there have been rocks that were thrown in the sewage lines but none of that is true, it is 100 percent because of corruption," added al-Eshaiker.

Following widespread protests in August, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced a far-reaching reform plan that eliminated the country's three vice presidencies and three deputy prime ministers.

The plan also reduced the budget for the personal bodyguards of senior officials and transferred it to the interior and defense ministries. A number of reforms have been announced since then, but many Iraqis believe the measures were too little, too late.

"There is neither infrastructure nor reforms," said Muyad Ali, a Sadr City resident whose home was severely flooded when he woke up Thursday. "They promise to do something and then do nothing. Families are fleeing from their homes because they are flooded."

Still, the burden is always hardest on those who have nothing. At a camp for displaced people in the town of Yousifiyya, south of Baghdad, the water was knee-high and pouring into tents, soaking mattresses and other belongings.

Iraq is home to more than three million displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees, many of whom are barely able to get by.

"Our furniture is soaked," said 10-year-old Malak Saad, who fled her Fallujah home with her family last year. "We want to go home. I want to go to my school. I can't stand living here in a tent. I want to go home and play with my friends."

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Associated Press writers Fares Mohammed, Ali Abdul Jabber and Ahmed Sami in Baghdad contributed to this report.

MEPs have urged EU member states to “drop any criminal charges against Edward Snowden, grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistle-blower and international human rights defender,” a European Parliament press release stated.

Follow European Parliament ✔@Europarl_EN MEPs ask EU member states to grant protection to @Snowden as a #humanrights defender http://bit.ly/1HdWJk4 9:54 AM - 29 Oct 2015 122122 Retweets 5151 favorites

The call was not unequivocal, however, with 285 MEPs voting for the motion and 281 against, showing just how divided the European political elite remains on the issue.

Still, it’s a victory for Snowden, who sees the result of the voting as a “game-changer.”

Follow Edward Snowden ✔@Snowden Hearing reports EU just voted 285-281, overcoming huge pressure, to cancel all charges against me and prevent extradition. Game-changer. 9:16 AM - 29 Oct 2015 5,8015,801 Retweets 8,3488,348 favorites

“This is not a blow against the US Government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward,” he wrote on Twitter.

Even a slim majority voting in favor of Snowden means a lot, according to Anatoly Kucherena, Snowden’s lawyer in Russia.

“The resolution of the EU parliament is recognition of Edward’s [Snowden] merits to the mankind, his courage and honesty of his position,” he said as cited by the Interfax news agency.

Follow Glenn Greenwald ✔@ggreenwald EU Parliament adopts resolution declaring @Snowden a "human rights defender," calls on EU to give legal protection http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151022IPR98818/html/Mass-surveillance-EU-citizens'-rights-still-in-danger-says-Parliament … 8:39 AM - 29 Oct 2015 1,5451,545 Retweets 1,2661,266 favorites

The European Parliament thoroughly studied Snowden’s leaks and in March 2014 adopted a resolution to protect the personal data of EU citizens.

“The European Parliament's inquiry into Edward Snowden’s revelations of electronic mass surveillance was the most comprehensive investigation completed to date. This work needs to continue to ensure that civil liberties are defended on the internet too,” Claude Moraes of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee and rapporteur on mass surveillance said.

The MEPs now say they are dissatisfied with the lack of action taken following their inquiry. The Thursday resolution, which said that not enough had been done to tackle mass surveillance, received a wider backing with 342 voices for it, 274 against and 29 abstentions.

“EU citizens' fundamental rights remain in danger” and “too little has been done to ensure their full protection,” the MEPs said.

Follow RT America ✔@RT_America ‘Snowden Treaty’ drafted to end mass surveillance, protect whistleblowers worldwide http://on.rt.com/6s60 7:31 AM - 25 Sep 2015 2424 Retweets 2020 favorites

The Parliament has also called on the European Commission to “immediately take the necessary measures to ensure that all personal data transferred to the US are subject to an effective level of protection that is essentially equivalent to that guaranteed in the EU”.

The EU’s parliament is worried about “recent laws in some member states that extend surveillance capabilities of intelligence bodies” – including in France, the UK and the Netherlands.

It is also concerned about “revelations of mass surveillance of telecommunications and internet traffic inside the EU by the German foreign intelligence agency (BND) in cooperation with the US National Security Agency (NSA)”.

Follow RT ✔@RT_com Snowden a hero or traitor? 2016 Democratic hopefuls declare what to do with whistleblower http://on.rt.com/6tuh 10:18 PM - 14 Oct 2015 5757 Retweets 3232 favorites

The MPs also called on EU bodies to elaborate a strategy aimed at increasing levels of technological independence, improving online privacy, democratizing control over intelligence activities and rebuilding trust with the EU.

The problem of personal data protection has been in the spotlight since 2013, when former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden, disclosed mass surveillance programs used by the US intelligence services. Snowden was granted asylum in Russia. He is facing a number of charges in the US, including theft of government property and violating the Espionage Act.