North America

As Trump hints on guns, Congress eyes post-Orlando debate

by Michael Mathes WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — With US Democrats demanding action Wednesday to reduce violence following the Orlando massacre, Republican Donald Trump signaled openness to legislation preventing terror suspects from purchasing firearms, a flicker of bipartisanship in a toxic presidential campaign. The presumptive Republican nominee, who regularly touts his support for the constitutionally enshrined right to bear arms, said he could support banning people on terror watchlists from buying guns. Following attacks including […]

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Anne Hathaway to help UN shine spotlight on working mothers

UNITED NATION, United States (AFP) — Oscar winner Anne Hathaway has been named a goodwill ambassador for UN Women to help shine a spotlight on the unequal burden shouldered by working mothers, the UN said Wednesday. “The ‘motherhood penalty’ — which means that when they become mothers, women’s pay and opportunities at work suffer — is a particularly insidious demonstration of gender inequality in the workplace,” said the director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. “For […]

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2-year-old boy is dragged by alligator into lagoon on Disney property in Florida

FLORIDA, United States (Reuters) — Orange County deputies continued the search for the two-year-old boy, who was dragged by an alligator into the water near the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa on Tuesday (June 14), officials said during a news conference. The child was playing in the water on a beach when the alligator attacked, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said. He described the alligator as between four and seven feet (1.21 meters – 2.13 […]

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Costa Rica adds hydroelectric dam to clean energy grid

by Marco SIBAJA SIQUIRRES, Costa Rica (AFP) — A giant cement structure rises from the river in the middle of Costa Rica’s Caribbean tropical forest, and its turbines spin, each rotation putting the Central American country closer to its goal of relying only on renewable energy. The $1.4-billion Reventazon Hydroelectric Project is the second-biggest infrastructure work in Central America after the just-finished expansion of the Panama Canal, and following six years of construction, it’s nearly […]

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Zuckerberg: Facebook community comes together after tragedy

CALIFORNIA, United States (Reuters) —  Mark Zuckerberg held his first question and answer session over Facebook Live on Tuesday (June 14). At the top of the session, the Facebook chief executive spoke of the Orlando shootings, and also acknowledged an attack in Paris, where a man killed a police commander his partner and made postings about the attack on the social media site. “One of the things that I’m so proud of that our community […]

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Clinton issues stinging rebuke of ‘shameful’ Trump

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hillary Clinton unleashed a blistering assault Tuesday on her White House opponent Donald Trump, attacking the celebrity billionaire’s “shameful” comments about President Barack Obama and Muslims after the massacre in Orlando. Clinton accused Trump of suggesting Obama sympathized with terrorists during a television appearance one day after Sunday’s shooting by a radicalized gunman. “Just think about that for a second. Even in a time of divided politics, this is way […]

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‘I’m next. I’m dead’ — Orlando shooting survivor recounts horror

by Kate Gillam, with Stephanie Griffith in Washington ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Lying wounded on the floor of Pulse nightclub, with a gunman continuing to fire bullets into the motionless bodies of patrons all around him, Angel Colon thought it was his turn to die. With three bullets in his leg, which was shattered as desperate clubgoers trampled him, he was unable to run to safety. And Omar Mateen, who had sprayed the popular […]

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Obama slams Trump’s ‘loose talk’ on Muslims

by Andrew BEATTY WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama assailed Donald Trump and the Republican party for “loose talk” and anti-Muslim rhetoric Tuesday, warning that their populist election message was dangerous and un-American. Tearing into “politicians who tweet and appear on cable news shows,” an irate Obama said right-wing bombast and “yapping” had whipped up anger but done nothing to prevent terrorism. The killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando […]

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Representatives from U.S. and China hold talks on cyber security in Beijing

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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