Columbia, rebel group agree to cease-fire

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s government and last remaining major rebel group signed a bilateral cease-fire Monday ahead of Pope Francis’ visit this week, an agreement seen as a significant step toward negotiating a permanent peace deal.

The deal struck in Quito, Ecuador, where talks with the National Liberation Army, or ELN, have been taking place since February, goes into effect Oct. 1. It runs through Jan. 12 and can be renewed if both sides agree.

Under the cease-fire, the rebels agree to suspend attacks on infrastructure, kidnappings and recruitment of minors. In exchange the government has vowed to boost protection for social leaders who have recently come under attack and develop a program that would provide humanitarian aid to rebels, among other measures.

Commission President JeanClaude Juncker, said Monday.

“Brexit is bad, and it’s a stupid decision,” Selmayr said at a conference in Brussels. “The only people who can reverse it would be the British people and I am not a dreamer, I am a realist. Brexit will happen on March 29, 2019.”

Selmayr, one of the most powerful people in the EU hierarchy, spoke two days after the union’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said British people need to be “educated” about the price they’ll pay for their decision, according to reports on the BBC.

Court ruling which said the fresh polls must be held within 60 days.

Kenya’s Supreme Court annulled the elections saying that the commission had committed irregularities in adding up the votes.

Kenyatta criticized the court decision, calling the judges “crooks,” but said he would win again in the second elections.