International

Shooter of Republicans was Sanders fan; had run-ins with law

by Paul Handley Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States — James T. Hodgkinson, the rifle-toting 66-year-old who opened fire on a Republican lawmakers practicing for a baseball game Wednesday, was a fervent fan of leftist Senator Bernie Sanders, and disdained President Donald Trump. He showed no previous signs of violent extremism and his attack shocked people who knew him as “Hodges,” a popular, “laid-back” blue-collar worker in his hometown of Belleville, Illinois. But he was […]

Wounded US congressman ‘critical’ after surgery: hospital

WASHINGTON, Republican lawmaker Steve Scalise, one of five people shot by a gunman during practice for a charity baseball game, remained in critical condition following surgery, the hospital treating him said. “Rep. Scalise was critically injured and remains in critical condition,” said MedStar Washington Hospital in a statement via Twitter. Earlier in the day his condition had been described as stable, and he had spoken by telephone with his wife. The gunman, identified in the […]

Daunting aid challenges as civilians flee Syria’s Raqa

by Sara Hussein Agence France-Presse BEIRUT, Lebanon – The battle to oust the Islamic State group from its stronghold of Raqa is creating daunting challenges for aid groups responding to the latest humanitarian crisis in the Syrian conflict. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled Raqa and its surroundings since the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began its operation to capture the jihadist stronghold last year. But new waves of displacement are expected as the […]

One dead after strong quake hits Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (AFP) — A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit western Guatemala early on Wednesday, killing at least one person and causing power cuts, as well as damage to some buildings, officials said. The quake, originally estimated to measure 6.6 on the Richter scale before being revised upward, occurred at 1:29 am (0729 GMT), epicentered 156 kilometers (97 miles) west of Guatemala City in the department of San Marcos, the Institute of Seismology said. […]

Qatar Airways says service ‘unaffected’ by Gulf ban

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Qatar Airways said on Wednesday that it was largely unaffected by the decision of several Arab countries to ban the Doha-based carrier from using their airspace. “Qatar Airways’ global operations continue to run smoothly, with the vast majority of our network unaffected by the current circumstances,” said chief executive Akbar Al-Baker. The Qatari carrier released a statement saying it had operated some 1,200 flights in the past week, 90 percent of […]

Shooting erupts at US lawmakers baseball practice

By Thomas Watkins Agence France Presse ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — At least five people people including a top Republican congressman were wounded in a Washington suburb early Wednesday morning when a shooting erupted as they practiced for an annual baseball game between lawmakers. Senior congressman Steve Scalise was shot in the hip, according to fellow Republican lawmaker Mo Brooks who told CNN at least two law enforcement officers and one congressional staffer were also shot in […]

Video: London tower fire as of 2:43 a.m. (June 14) showing whole building already in flames

When Chris Davis woke up at his apartment in Ladbroke Grove, northwest of London, at 2:43 a.m., Wednesday (June 14, 2017), he looked outside his window and saw this — fire raging and eating up the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London. The fire reportedly started at around 1 a.m., with policemen receiving the first call at 00:54 am on Wednesday (2354 GMT Tuesday) and were on scene at the Grenfell Tower public housing complex within six […]

Trump ‘deeply saddened’ by shooting at congressional baseball practice

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump voiced sadness Wednesday after a shooting at a baseball practice in a Washington suburb left a top congressman and several other people wounded. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” Trump said in a statement, adding that he was closely monitoring the developments in Alexandria, Virginia just outside the United States capital, where police have arrested the unidentified gunman. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the members […]

“Staggering” civilian deaths from U.S.-led air strikes in Raqqa, U.N. says

GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) — Intensified coalition air strikes supporting an assault by U.S.-backed forces on Islamic State’s stronghold of Raqqa in Syria are causing a “staggering loss of civilian life”, United Nations war crimes investigators said on Wednesday (June 14). The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of Kurdish and Arab militias supported by a U.S.-led coalition, began to attack Raqqa a week ago to take it from the jihadists. The SDF, supported by heavy […]

Senior US congressman shot at Virginia baseball practice: lawmaker

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Senior Republican Congressman Steve Scalise was among several victims shot and wounded at a baseball practice ahead of an annual game between lawmakers in a Washington suburb, one of his colleagues said Thursday. Fellow Republican lawmaker Mo Brooks told CNN that Scalise was shot in the hip, adding that at least two law enforcement officers and one congressional staffer were shot in Alexandria, Virginia. Scalise, the majority whip who rallies […]

Night of horror in London as blaze traps tower dwellers

  by Alice Ritchie Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) People watched in horror as neighbours found themselves trapped or in desperation leapt to their doom as flames raced through the stricken Grenfell Tower. The last time Hanan Wahabi saw her brother was when he and his family waved to her from their home in an upper floor after she had safely left the blazing building. Wahabi, 39, who lives on the ninth floor […]

UPDATED: At least 6 confirmed dead in London tower fire, at least 74 hospitalized

Six people were confirmed dead in a massive fire that engulfed a London tower block before dawn on Wednesday and the number is expected to rise, police said. “I can confirm six fatalities at this time but this figure is likely to rise during what will be a complex recovery operation over a number of days,” police commander Stuart Cundy said in a statement. London’s fire commissioner earlier said there have been some fatalities in the […]