Syria civil war: Kurds declare federal region in north

The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and several allied groups have voted to create an autonomous federation in the northern part of Syria.

Officials of the PYD claimed autonomy in the Kurdish-controlled areas on Thursday after two days of meetings with delegates of different communities in the country's north.

Representatives of the Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian communities and other ethnic groups met in the town of Rmeilan in Hassakeh province to discuss combining three Kurdish-led autonomous areas into a federal system.

Both the Syrian government and one of the main opposition blocs have rejected the move.

The Syrian foreign ministry issued a statement "warning anyone who dares to undermine the unity of the land and the people of Syria under any title," adding: "Creating a union or a federal system ... contradicts the Syrian constitution and all the national concepts and international resolutions."

Rojava autonomy declared

The opposition Syrian National Coalition also said it rejects such unilateral declarations and warned of any attempt to form autonomous regions that "confiscate the will of the Syrian people".

The newly declared region, named by Kurds as Rojava, consists of three distinct enclaves, or cantons, under Kurdish control in northern Syria: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin.

The move is sure to anger Turkey, which fears that the growing Kurdish power in Syria is encouraging separatism among its own Kurdish minority.

Idris Nassan, a Syrian Kurdish official and former leader in the Democratic Union Party, said on Wednesday that the announcement would mean "widening the framework of self-administration" across northern Syria.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Kobane, in Syria, Nassan said preparations for federalism had been ongoing for quite some time.

"Federalism should be the future not only for northern Syria or the Kurdish regions but for Syria in general, because under federalism democracy and equality will be guaranteed," he said.

Syria's Kurds effectively control an uninterrupted 400km of territory along the Syrian-Turkish border from the Euphrates River to the frontier with Iraq, where Iraqi Kurds have enjoyed autonomy since the early 1990s. They also hold a separate section of the northwestern border in the Afrin area.

Syria civil war: Kurds declare federal region in north

The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and several allied groups have voted to create an autonomous federation in the northern part of Syria.

Officials of the PYD claimed autonomy in the Kurdish-controlled areas on Thursday after two days of meetings with delegates of different communities in the country's north.

Representatives of the Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian communities and other ethnic groups met in the town of Rmeilan in Hassakeh province to discuss combining three Kurdish-led autonomous areas into a federal system.

Both the Syrian government and one of the main opposition blocs have rejected the move.

The Syrian foreign ministry issued a statement "warning anyone who dares to undermine the unity of the land and the people of Syria under any title," adding: "Creating a union or a federal system ... contradicts the Syrian constitution and all the national concepts and international resolutions."

Rojava autonomy declared

The opposition Syrian National Coalition also said it rejects such unilateral declarations and warned of any attempt to form autonomous regions that "confiscate the will of the Syrian people".

The newly declared region, named by Kurds as Rojava, consists of three distinct enclaves, or cantons, under Kurdish control in northern Syria: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin.

The move is sure to anger Turkey, which fears that the growing Kurdish power in Syria is encouraging separatism among its own Kurdish minority.

Idris Nassan, a Syrian Kurdish official and former leader in the Democratic Union Party, said on Wednesday that the announcement would mean "widening the framework of self-administration" across northern Syria.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Kobane, in Syria, Nassan said preparations for federalism had been ongoing for quite some time.

"Federalism should be the future not only for northern Syria or the Kurdish regions but for Syria in general, because under federalism democracy and equality will be guaranteed," he said.

Syria's Kurds effectively control an uninterrupted 400km of territory along the Syrian-Turkish border from the Euphrates River to the frontier with Iraq, where Iraqi Kurds have enjoyed autonomy since the early 1990s. They also hold a separate section of the northwestern border in the Afrin area.

Australia Hails 600 Days Of No Asylum Boats

Australia has hailed its controversial policy of turning back asylum-seeker boats after no vessels reached the country in 600 days.

Almost 700 people have been denied admission to the country since Operation Sovereign Borders was launched in September 2013.

Under it, asylum seekers trying to reach Australia by boat are turned back to their country of departure or sent to remote Pacific island camps.

They are not allowed to resettle in Australia even if they are found to be genuine refugees.

The conservative government claims the measures help prevent deaths at sea.

Under the previous Labour administration, at least 1,200 people died trying to reach Australia by boat between 2008 and 2013.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said: "Tomorrow (Friday) marks 600 days since the last successful people-smuggling venture to our country and the government's absolutely determined to make sure that it stays that way."

He added that 25 boats carrying 698 people had been turned back and "safely returned to their country of departure" since the policy was introduced.

Civil rights groups have criticised conditions at the camps, while doctors have said the detention of children in particular has left some struggling with mental health problems.

Daisy Ridley Turns Down Star Wars Fan's Invite

Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley appeared to have the perfect excuse when a fan invited her to join him at his college dance.

Kevin Carlock asked the British star if she would accompany him to his formal in a rap video he posted on YouTube.

The student at Davidson College in North Carolina said the Athlete's Formal was a "dance/party/social" to be held on 13 April.

Ridley took time out from filming Episode VIII of the franchise to write a handwritten response which she posted in a photo on Instagram.

Syria war: Most Russia forces to withdraw 'in days'

Russia says it will complete the withdrawal of most of its military contingent in Syria "in two to three days", local media have reported.

Russian Air Force Commander Viktor Bondarev's comments were published by Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda on Thursday.

They came two days after President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to start the withdrawal from Syria, saying that the Russian forces had largely achieved their objectives.

Moscow, however, would keep a contingent at its air and naval bases in Syria, Putin said on Tuesday.

The first group of Russian warplanes that left Syria arrived in Russia on Tuesday, while the second group of jets left Khmeimim airbase in Syria on Wednesday.

The aircraft, including Su-25 bombers and Il-76 airlifters, carried technicians as well as equipment and materials.

The number of Russian soldiers in Syria has never been revealed, but US estimates suggest it varies from 3,000 to 6,000 military personnel on the ground.

Frank Sinatra Jr Dies Of Heart Attack On Tour

Frank Sinatra Jr, who followed in his famous father's footsteps to forge a career in music, has died of a heart attack while on tour in the US.

In a statement, his sister Nancy said: "The Sinatra family mourn the untimely passing of their son, brother, father, uncle Frank Sinatra Jr of cardiac arrest while on tour in Dayton, Florida."

The 72-year-old had travelled there to perform his Sinatra Sings Sinatra show, where he did renditions of his father's greatest hits.

Sinatra Jr was famously kidnapped at gunpoint as a teenager, by young men who were demanding a ransom of $240,000 (£168,000).

Two days later, he was released unharmed after the money was paid - and the criminals behind the kidnap plot were later jailed.

In the years before his father's death in 1998, Sinatra Jr served as the iconic singer's musical director and conductor.

Man Gets Traffic Ticket For Posting Video on Facebook

A man received a traffic ticket in Woodland Park, Colo. after police saw him violating the law in a Facebook video he posted. The man, Michael Dalton, posted a video on the social network taking a shortcut through the parking lot of an apartment complex. After the video gained attention on a local Facebook community page, a police officer arrived at Dalton’s door and issued him a ticket for reckless driving and running a stop sign.

A Woodland Park police officer told local news station KKTV that it was the first time his police department had issued a ticket for a Facebook video. “You have a First Amendment right to post whatever you want, and can,” Sgt. Leibbrand said. “But if you’re breaking the law and it’s in our jurisdiction, then we can do something about it.”

Dalton plans to fight the ticket in court.