Reuters — In the wake of the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he was “right on radical Islamic terrorism” and called for toughness and vigilance. Trump made the statement on Twitter after the attack in an Orlando, Florida nightclub which 50 killed people and wounded 53. “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance,” Trump tweeted. “We […]
International
Orlando massacre thrusts terror threat into White House race
by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — White House hopeful Donald Trump appeared bent on exploiting Sunday’s massacre in Orlando to boost the argument that he can be trusted to tackle terrorism over rival Hillary Clinton. With many victims of the carnage yet to be identified, and police still probing the suspected Islamist ties of the slain gunman, Trump wasted no time in harnessing the assault to his political advantage. The presumptive Republican nominee […]
Bomb blast in central Beirut aimed at bank – minister
(Reuters) A bomb exploded outside the headquarters of Lebanese Blom Bank in central Beirut on Sunday, causing damage but no fatalities, the interior minister said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Lebanese banking sector has been at the centre of an escalating crisis since the United States passed a law requiring banks to take steps to target the finances of the armed Shi’ite political group Hezbollah. Lebanon’s central bank has pushed its […]
Trump calls on President Obama to resign in wake of Orlando shooting
(Reuters) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called on President Barack Obama to resign from office because he did not say the words “radical Islam,” in a statement in response to the Orlando massacre where 50 people were killed. “Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen – and it is only going to get worse,” Trump said in a statement. “I am trying to save lives and prevent the next […]
‘Terror and hate’: 50 dead in worst mass shooting in U.S. history
(Reuters) A man armed with an assault rifle and pledging loyalty to Islamic State killed 50 people during a gay pride celebration at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early on Sunday in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, a rampage President Barack Obama denounced as an act of terror and hate. Police killed the gunman, Omar Mateen, 29, a New York-born Florida resident and U.S. citizen who was the son of Afghan immigrants and […]
Blast from ‘self-made’ explosive injures five in Shanghai airport
(Reuters) A man set off a home-made explosive at a terminal in Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport on Sunday, the city’s government said, injuring five people, including himself. The explosion occurred near the airport’s Terminal Two ticketing area at about 2:20 p.m. and the people who were injured were taken away for medical treatment, the Shanghai government said in a short statement on its official microblog. “According to an initial police investigation, a man took […]
Dubai airport shut Saturday for over an hour; 22 flights diverted: executive
(Reuters) Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international travel, closed its airspace for 69 minutes due to unauthorized drone activity on Saturday, causing 22 flights to be diverted, aviation authorities said. Government-owned Dubai Airports, which operates Dubai’s two main airports, said in a statement the closure lasted between 11:36 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. (0639-0745 GMT), and Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths said thousands of passengers suffered disruption to their journeys. Sixteen […]
About 20 killed, 42 injured in shooting rampage at Florida gay nightclub
(Reuters) A gunman shot dead about 20 people and injured 42 others in a crowded gay nightclub in Florida early on Sunday before being killed by police in what U.S. authorities described as a “domestic terrorism incident”. A police officer working as a security guard inside the Pulse club exchanged fire with the suspect at about 2 a.m., police officials said. A hostage situation quickly developed before a squad of officers entered the club […]
Stung by criticism, Trump vows to work for ethnic harmony
(Reuters) U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered a message of ethnic harmony on Friday at a Christian evangelical conference as he sought to calm concern about his criticism of a Mexican-American judge. In a departure from his usual freewheeling style, Trump read a carefully scripted speech from a teleprompter as part of a new push by his campaign to tone down the outspoken New Yorker’s harsh rhetoric. Trump’s remarks included a wide-ranging attack […]
France fines Uber 800,000 euros over ride-sharing service
Paris (AFP) – Uber was fined 800,000 euros ($900,000) by a French court on Thursday, half of which was suspended, over its controversial UberPOP ride-sharing service that was banned in the country after violent protests last year. Uber suspended its low-cost UberPOP offering in France in July following a storm of opposition to the service from taxi drivers and the arrest of two of its French bosses. UberPOP was subsequently banned in France, but the […]
“If you want more, you have to come to New York” – PPO Conductor at the Carnegie Hall Send-off Concert
By Caesar Vallejos EBC Correspondent “If you want more, you have to come to New York,” Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) Conductor Olivier Ochanine told the audience at the Cultural Center of Philippines who clamored for an encore at the send-off concert last June 10 for its Carnegie Hall performance in the USA. “Thank you for coming to energize us,” he said. The PPO is leaving on Monday to perform in one of the best […]
Libyan forces claim port in Islamic State stronghold of Sirte
(Reuters) Forces aligned with Libya’s unity government said on Friday they had taken control of the port of Sirte, making further gains in Islamic State’s North African stronghold. Brigades largely composed of fighters from Misrata advanced this week to the perimeter of Sirte’s city center, after launching a counter attack against Islamic State last month and driving the militant group back along the coastal road between the two cities. The brigades are part of […]