U.S. Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) at the Department of Homeland Security, Suzanne Spaulding and China’s Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun held talks about cyber security in Beijing on Tuesday (June 14). Representatives from U.S. and China posed for photos before sitting down for talks at the second U.S.-China High-Level Joint Dialogue on Cybercrime and Relates Issues at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. The United States and China reached an […]
International
Timeline of Abu Sayyaf’s rise and rampage in Philippines
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — The Abu Sayyaf was on Monday accused of murdering a Canadian hostage abducted nearly nine months ago, the latest in a long line of atrocities by the Islamic militant group based in the southern Philippines. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had “compelling reasons to believe” that Robert Hall had been murdered. Hall would be the second Canadian killed this year by the Abu Sayyaf, which has terrorised the region […]
Canada probes reports of hostage killed in Philippines
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — The Canadian government said Monday it was investigating reports that one of its nationals kidnapped by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines nearly nine months ago had been killed. “The Government of Canada is aware of reports that a Canadian citizen has been executed,” the Canadian foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. “We are pursuing all appropriate channels to seek further information and are in close contact with Philippines authorities.” […]
French police commander stabbed to death in front of his home
French police cordoned off a residential area in the Paris suburb of Magnanville after a 42-year-old police commander was stabbed to death in front of his home on Monday night (June 13). The officer’s assailant, who had barricaded himself in the policeman’s house, was later shot dead by members of an elite police unit, officials said. Policemen also found the body of a dead woman in the house and a surviving 3-year-old boy, the spokesman […]
U.S. lawmakers observe Orlando ‘moment of silence’ before feuding over gun policy
The U.S. House of Representatives erupted in shouting on Monday (June 13) after lawmakers held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Orlando mass shooting as Democrats protested the Republican-led chamber’s refusal to consider tighter gun regulations. Speaker Paul Ryan, the House’s Republican leader, called for the moment of silence, which was observed by lawmakers. When it ended, representative James Clyburn asked for recognition to ask about guns. “I am really concerned […]
Obama says no evidence Orlando attack was ‘directed’ from abroad
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama said Monday there was no evidence that the massacre of 49 people in a Florida nightclub was directed from abroad or was part of a larger plot. After being briefed on America’s deadliest mass shooting in modern times by top security aides, Obama said “we don’t yet know” the shooter’s motivations. Obama said 29-year-old Omar Mateen did appear to have been “inspired by various extremist information that […]
America’s gun control debate deadlocks after Florida carnage
by Veronique DUPONT LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The deadliest mass shooting in US history has once again unleashed gun control advocates clamoring for curbs on weapons sales. But the Florida carnage also shows the scale of their challenge in a country where a 29-year-old once flagged on an FBI watchlist was able to commit mass murder with a legally-bought assault rifle. As has become a somber ritual after each of the mass shootings […]
Trump bans Washington Post from his campaign events
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — White House hopeful Donald Trump, in his latest attack on the media, said Monday he was rescinding The Washington Post’s press credentials for covering his campaign events. “Based on the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting of the record-setting Trump campaign, we are hereby revoking the press credentials of the phony and dishonest Washington Post,” Trump wrote in a tweet. Later, the campaign said in a statement that “we no longer […]
Israel wins UN committee chair
United Nations, United States—Israel on Monday was elected to chair a United Nations committee for the first time in the world body’s 71-year history, triggering strong protests from Arab countries and the Palestinians. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon won the chair of the legal affairs committee of the General Assembly by picking up 109 votes from the 193 member-states. Danon’s candidacy was put to a vote by secret ballot at the request of Arab countries. All […]
No direct link between shooter, IS militants: officials
(Reuters) U.S. authorities said on Monday they had found no direct links between Islamic State militants and the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, describing him as a homegrown extremist who was inspired by radical Islamist groups. The FBI and other agencies were still looking at evidence inside the club and on the closed-off streets around the Pulse nightclub, where New York-born Omar Mateen perpetrated the worst mass shooting in […]
Gunfire, hostages, violent end: how the Orlando massacre unfolded
ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — The following is a description of the deadly shooting rampage that unfolded at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub early Sunday, where 49 people were shot dead and 53 others were wounded, according to police and witness accounts. Gunman Omar Mateen was killed in a shootout with police. Closing time: shooter on the scene– Just after 2:00 am as the club was closing, Mateen, a 29-year-old American of Afghan descent, opens […]
Trump calls for increased military response after Orlando shooting
(REUTERS) Donald Trump on Monday said the United States needs to increase its military response against Islamic State in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting over the weekend, including additional bombings. The presumptive Republican nominee, in an interview on Fox News, said that he would address acts of terrorism in his speech at 2 p.m. EDT in New Hampshire, which he had earlier planned to use to target Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. […]
