What We're Following This Evening
Europe’s refugee crisis: Greece’s defense minister is seeking a deal with Turkey that would allow European Union border-control officers to stop and turn back boats in Turkish waters that carry migrants and refugees, according to The New York Times. Last year, more than 850,000 refugees crossed the Mediterranean to reach Greece. As Krishnadev wrote this morning, over 300 people have died or are missing as a result of the journey in 2016.
Searching through rubble in Taiwan: More than 100 people are believed to be trapped under the debris of a 17-story apartment building that crumpled to the ground Saturday after a powerful earthquake struck the city of Tainan. The collapse has raised questions about poor construction practices. The quake killed at least 38 people.
The end of Canada’s ISIS campaign: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, following through on a campaign promise he made last year, said his government would cease air operations against the terrorist group by February 22. Trudeau said that strikes “do not on their own achieve long-term stability for local communities.” He plans to increase the number of special forces deployed to train Iraqi forces on the ground.
Global market turmoil: The first couple of days of trading in 2016 were pretty disastrous, stoking fears of a volatile year ahead. Fast forward to today, as stock indexes worldwide tumbled, Reuters reported, led by banking stocks in Europe and technology stocks—as well as concern over falling oil prices—on Wall Street.
(Maybe) in it to win it: The Financial Times reports that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is thinking about joining the presidential race. Bloomberg reportedly said he’s “looking at all the options,” which could include an independent campaign.
Meanwhile, in New Hampshire: Jeb Bush is entertaining himself by throwing snowballs at reporters:
Jeb Bush and the SnowballIt's snowing in New Hampshire today and Jeb Bush decided to throw a snowball at me while I filmed him walking off his bus...
Posted by Jordan J. Frasier on Monday, February 8, 2016
News from this afternoon here.