Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

The change is being rolled out first in Australia from Thursday (Oct 24).

The beta release is part of an update of Apple's operating system and extends the safety measures earlier given to users aged under 13 since iOS 17.

Watch: Shocking Rise In AI-produced Child Abuse Material

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Here is how the new feature aimed at further protecting user privacy will work:

The iPhones can automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity that children might receive or attempt to send in iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime and Photos.

When such sensitive imagery is&nbsp;detected, the young users will be given intervention screens before they can proceed.

There will be options to contact a parent or guardian and to&nbsp;report the images and videos to Apple.

The device will then generate reports containing the visuals, as well as messages preceding and following the images and videos.

The report will include contact information of both the sender and receiver.&nbsp;

Users can fill out a form to explain what happened, which Apple will review.

Action such as disabling the users' ability to send messages through iMessage will follow. 
 
Apple can also report the issue to law enforcement agencies.

The tech giant said the feature will eventually be rolled out across the world after the beta test in Australia.

Australia was chosen as the first region in the wake of new rules being implemented in the country to crack down on controversial content on tech platforms and devices.

The new rules require companies to monitor child abuse and terror-related content on messaging and cloud services in Australia by the end of 2024.

While Apple maintains that the new features would&nbsp;protect end-to-end encryption and raised concerns about mass surveillance, the law has been softened a bit.

Yet, the&nbsp;Australian&nbsp;government insists that&nbsp;companies must&nbsp;take action to tackle child abuse and terror content.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-catholic-diocese-to-pay-323mn-to-530-child-sex-abuse-survivors-in-largest-diocese-bankruptcy-762507">New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy</a>

Apple has drawn criticism across the world over its reluctance to ease up on its end-to-end encryption to help law enforcement.

There was earlier a plan from Apple to scan photos and videos stored in its iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but that was scrapped in late 2022 over privacy concerns.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-trumps-china-as-manufacturer-of-apples-most-expensive-iphone-pro-and-pro-max-models-751537">Also read: India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models</a> 
 
In the UK, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had accused Apple of vastly undercounting how often CSAM appears in its products, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper.

Apple reported only 267 cases of suspected CSAM on its platforms in 2023.

That's seen as a massive under-reporting when compared to Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which submitted more than 30 million CSAM reports. 
 
Google sent nearly 1.5 million reports in the same period.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies.

Apple has launched a feature on its iMessage platform that will allow children to report nude images and videos to the tech firm that would then bring it to the notice of law enforcement agencies. The change is being rolled out first in Australia from Thursday (Oct 24). The beta release is part of an update of Apple's operating system and extends the safety measures earlier given to users aged under 13 since iOS 17. Watch: Shocking Rise In AI-produced Child Abuse Material × Here is how the new feature aimed at further protecting user privacy will work: The iPhones can automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity that children might receive or attempt to send in iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime and Photos. When such sensitive imagery is detected, the young users will be given intervention screens before they can proceed. There will be options to contact a parent or guardian and to report the images and videos to Apple. The device will then generate reports containing the visuals, as well as messages preceding and following the images and videos. The report will include contact information of both the sender and receiver. Users can fill out a form to explain what happened, which Apple will review. Action such as disabling the users' ability to send messages through iMessage will follow. Apple can also report the issue to law enforcement agencies. The tech giant said the feature will eventually be rolled out across the world after the beta test in Australia. Australia was chosen as the first region in the wake of new rules being implemented in the country to crack down on controversial content on tech platforms and devices. The new rules require companies to monitor child abuse and terror-related content on messaging and cloud services in Australia by the end of 2024. While Apple maintains that the new features would protect end-to-end encryption and raised concerns about mass surveillance, the law has been softened a bit. Yet, the Australian government insists that companies must take action to tackle child abuse and terror content. Also read: New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy Apple has drawn criticism across the world over its reluctance to ease up on its end-to-end encryption to help law enforcement. There was earlier a plan from Apple to scan photos and videos stored in its iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but that was scrapped in late 2022 over privacy concerns. Also read: India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models In the UK, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had accused Apple of vastly undercounting how often CSAM appears in its products, according to a report in The Guardian newspaper. Apple reported only 267 cases of suspected CSAM on its platforms in 2023. That's seen as a massive under-reporting when compared to Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, which submitted more than 30 million CSAM reports. Google sent nearly 1.5 million reports in the same period. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, children using iMessage platform can report nudity to Apple; feature rolls out in Australia

After the heartbreaking death of a one-year-old child from fentanyl overdose at a nursery in New York City, the husband of the Bronx daycare owner, charged with murder,&nbsp;has been apprehended in Mexico after about 10 days on the run, media reports suggested.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fentanyl was reportedly found hidden under a nap mat in the nursery.&nbsp;Surveillance footage showed Felix Herrera sneaking out of the Kingsbridge childcare centre just moments before 1-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici was found dying from the drug.&nbsp;

The US Marshal Service, in collaboration with Mexican authorities and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, tracked Herrera to Texas before he was captured on a bus headed to Sinaloa, the New York Post reported. Now, Herrera is expected to be extradited to the US and face charges in the case.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/falling-water-levels-of-canyon-lake-reveal-hidden-cave-underwater-640043">Falling water levels of Canyon Lake reveal hidden cave underwater</a>

<h2>Wife and cousin facing charges&nbsp;</h2>

Meanwhile, his wife, Grei Mendez De Ventura, and his cousin, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, have been charged with murder, assault, child endangerment, and federal drug charges.&nbsp;The investigation revealed that the daycare centre was used as a narcotics mill.&nbsp;

Police in New York City were hunting for the daycare owner's husband after little Nicholas Dominici died from an overdose. Three other children were hospitalised due to the effects of a kilogramme of fentanyl which was found under a nap mat at the daycare.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/34-year-old-indian-worker-dies-at-singapore-construction-site-640036">34-year-old Indian worker dies at Singapore construction site</a>

Last Friday, after finding out that the three children in her daycare were not waking up from their nap, Mendez made three calls, including two to her husband, before she called the police, prosecutors said.

Minutes after the call was made, Mendez's husband was seen entering the apartment, and then whisking at least two full shopping bags out of the building through a back alley.&nbsp;

Watch | Russia Black Sea Commander Viktor Sokolov 'alive', appears in a video | WION | World DNA

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Grei Mendez and Carlisto Acevedo Brito were hit with new federal narcotics conspiracy charges. The two were previously charged in state court with murder of “depraved indifference” in the death of Dominici.&nbsp;Mendez, 36, has been accused of taking steps to cover up her involvement in a drug operation.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

After the heartbreaking death of a one-year-old child from fentanyl overdose at a nursery in New York City, the husband of the Bronx daycare owner, charged with murder, has been apprehended in Mexico after about 10 days on the run, media reports suggested.

After the heartbreaking death of a one-year-old child from fentanyl overdose at a nursery in New York City, the husband of the Bronx daycare owner, charged with murder, has been apprehended in Mexico after about 10 days on the run, media reports suggested. Fentanyl was reportedly found hidden under a nap mat in the nursery. Surveillance footage showed Felix Herrera sneaking out of the Kingsbridge childcare centre just moments before 1-year-old Nicholas Feliz Dominici was found dying from the drug. The US Marshal Service, in collaboration with Mexican authorities and the US Drug Enforcement Administration, tracked Herrera to Texas before he was captured on a bus headed to Sinaloa, the New York Post reported. Now, Herrera is expected to be extradited to the US and face charges in the case. Also Read | Falling water levels of Canyon Lake reveal hidden cave underwater Wife and cousin facing charges Meanwhile, his wife, Grei Mendez De Ventura, and his cousin, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, have been charged with murder, assault, child endangerment, and federal drug charges. The investigation revealed that the daycare centre was used as a narcotics mill. Police in New York City were hunting for the daycare owner's husband after little Nicholas Dominici died from an overdose. Three other children were hospitalised due to the effects of a kilogramme of fentanyl which was found under a nap mat at the daycare. Also Read | 34-year-old Indian worker dies at Singapore construction site Last Friday, after finding out that the three children in her daycare were not waking up from their nap, Mendez made three calls, including two to her husband, before she called the police, prosecutors said. Minutes after the call was made, Mendez's husband was seen entering the apartment, and then whisking at least two full shopping bags out of the building through a back alley. Watch | Russia Black Sea Commander Viktor Sokolov 'alive', appears in a video | WION | World DNA × Grei Mendez and Carlisto Acevedo Brito were hit with new federal narcotics conspiracy charges. The two were previously charged in state court with murder of “depraved indifference” in the death of Dominici. Mendez, 36, has been accused of taking steps to cover up her involvement in a drug operation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

NY nursery owner's husband nabbed in Mexico after one-year-old dies of fentanyl overdose

A man armed with a high-powered rifle and a handgun killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, before shooting himself, in what local law enforcement described as a racially motivated crime.

Jacksonville shooting: Gunman kills three black people in Florida store

Multiple law enforcement officers were shot in western Minnesota while responding to a domestic dispute call on Saturday night, the Pope County Sheriff's Office said. Officers from the Starbuck Police Department and Pope County Sheriff's Officer answered calls from a residential address in Cyrus.&nbsp;

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident that has left three officers injured, including one fatally.

While at the scene, one officer from the Starbuck police and two deputies from the sheriff's office were injured in the gunfire, according to the post. One of the injured deputies was hospitalised and later succumbed to the injuries. The other&nbsp;deputy was released after being treated, while the officer didn't need to be hospitalised.

The Pope County Sheriff’s Office said that the officer&nbsp;responded to a call of a domestic dispute at 7:30 pm. The officer and the two deputies were struck in an exchange of gunfire, which also led to the suspect being killed.

Police confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public. A press conference has been scheduled for 1 pm on Sunday.&nbsp;

"We are heartbroken about tonight's incident in Cyrus. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers that our public safety professionals face protecting our communities," a joint statement by representatives Paul Anderson, of Starbuck, and Mary Franson, of Alexandria, said.

"Please join us in praying for the families of the officers, the community of Cyrus, the Starbuck Police Department, and the Pope County Sheriff's Office."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Multiple law enforcement officers were shot in western Minnesota while responding to a domestic dispute call on Saturday night, the Pope County Sheriff's Office said.

Multiple law enforcement officers were shot in western Minnesota while responding to a domestic dispute call on Saturday night, the Pope County Sheriff's Office said. Officers from the Starbuck Police Department and Pope County Sheriff's Officer answered calls from a residential address in Cyrus. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident that has left three officers injured, including one fatally. While at the scene, one officer from the Starbuck police and two deputies from the sheriff's office were injured in the gunfire, according to the post. One of the injured deputies was hospitalised and later succumbed to the injuries. The other deputy was released after being treated, while the officer didn't need to be hospitalised. The Pope County Sheriff’s Office said that the officer responded to a call of a domestic dispute at 7:30 pm. The officer and the two deputies were struck in an exchange of gunfire, which also led to the suspect being killed. Police confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public. A press conference has been scheduled for 1 pm on Sunday. "We are heartbroken about tonight's incident in Cyrus. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers that our public safety professionals face protecting our communities," a joint statement by representatives Paul Anderson, of Starbuck, and Mary Franson, of Alexandria, said. "Please join us in praying for the families of the officers, the community of Cyrus, the Starbuck Police Department, and the Pope County Sheriff's Office." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

One law enforcement officer dead, two injured in Minnesota while responding to domestic call

An envelope containing deadly poison was sent to the White House recently. The incident has created bit of the stir amongst the White house & other law enforcement officials. The envelope believed to have come from Canada contained some kind of a lethal poison called 'ricin'.

Letter containing poison intercepted by law enforcement before it reached to White House

“Data is the new gold”;&nbsp;these words are echoed commonly in contemporary times, and aptly so.

Turns out, the United States law enforcement agencies have been buying data which includes one’s phone location, effectively terminating&nbsp;the need to issue a warrant to obtain such sensitive user details.

"Locate X"

A document recently released by Secret Service shows that the Secret Service purchased “Locate X” from Babel Street, a social media surveillance company.&nbsp;The details were divulged after “Motherboard” filed a request under the US Freedom of Information Act.

Locate X is a sophisticated tool which can effectively track a user’s locations and its real-time movements. The data which is collected by various apps on one’s phones is used by Locate X to ascertain a user’s location.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/technology/google-sued-over-tracking-in-apps-even-when-users-opted-out-313354" hreflang="en">Google sued over tracking in apps even when users opted out</a>

Locate X allows government agencies to trace the movement of users not only in real time, but in any specific team period. In essence, it is a repository of all user data corresponding to the places they have visited and their movement patterns.

In fact, using Locate X, the Secret Service could track a user’s movement months before or after a certain event which they want to investigate.&nbsp;Reportedly, an internal document has revealed how the Secret Service paid $36,000 for a year-long subscription to the Locate X service, from September 27, 2017 upto the same date in 2018.&nbsp;This was part of a bigger $2 million deal with Babel Street to conduct surveillance on social media.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/apple-and-google-decide-to-ban-location-tracking-in-their-contact-tracing-apps-296868" hreflang="en">Apple and Google decide to ban location tracking in their contact tracing apps</a>

Earlier in March, “Protocol” had reported that Locate X was being used by US Customs and Border Patrol.&nbsp;

“Mashable” reported that the existence of Locate X is “confidential information”, implying it became public knowledge only after the request under the Act.

Law of land?

In an ideal situation in conjunction with law of land, law enforcement agencies in the US would require a warrant or at least a court order to track somebody’s movements so brazenly. If the information divulged after a request made under the Act is true, it means that authorities simply discarded protocol by buying a surveillance product.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/technology/facebook-agrees-to-pay-650m-to-settle-facial-recognition-lawsuit-317458" hreflang="en">Facebook agrees to pay $650M to settle facial recognition lawsuit</a>

Many applications that don’t need access to one’s location demand it and store it. Most of this data is sold to third party companies to use as they please. Big companies like Facebook, Twitter claim that such data is used to provide a personalised advertising experience on their apps.

All this comes in the middle of US government openly accusing Chinese app TikTok of sharing data with the Chinese government. The company had hit back at the US saying local American companies like Facebook store more data than any Chinese company, implying the dangers enmeshed in such vast data collection.

“Data is the new gold”; these words are echoed commonly in contemporary times, and aptly so. Turns out, the United States law enforcement agencies have been buying data which includes one’s phone location, effectively terminating the need to issue a warrant to obtain such sensitive user details.

“Data is the new gold”; these words are echoed commonly in contemporary times, and aptly so. Turns out, the United States law enforcement agencies have been buying data which includes one’s phone location, effectively terminating the need to issue a warrant to obtain such sensitive user details. "Locate X" A document recently released by Secret Service shows that the Secret Service purchased “Locate X” from Babel Street, a social media surveillance company. The details were divulged after “Motherboard” filed a request under the US Freedom of Information Act. Locate X is a sophisticated tool which can effectively track a user’s locations and its real-time movements. The data which is collected by various apps on one’s phones is used by Locate X to ascertain a user’s location. Also read: Google sued over tracking in apps even when users opted out Locate X allows government agencies to trace the movement of users not only in real time, but in any specific team period. In essence, it is a repository of all user data corresponding to the places they have visited and their movement patterns. In fact, using Locate X, the Secret Service could track a user’s movement months before or after a certain event which they want to investigate. Reportedly, an internal document has revealed how the Secret Service paid $36,000 for a year-long subscription to the Locate X service, from September 27, 2017 upto the same date in 2018. This was part of a bigger $2 million deal with Babel Street to conduct surveillance on social media. Also read: Apple and Google decide to ban location tracking in their contact tracing apps Earlier in March, “Protocol” had reported that Locate X was being used by US Customs and Border Patrol. “Mashable” reported that the existence of Locate X is “confidential information”, implying it became public knowledge only after the request under the Act. Law of land? In an ideal situation in conjunction with law of land, law enforcement agencies in the US would require a warrant or at least a court order to track somebody’s movements so brazenly. If the information divulged after a request made under the Act is true, it means that authorities simply discarded protocol by buying a surveillance product. Also read: Facebook agrees to pay $650M to settle facial recognition lawsuit Many applications that don’t need access to one’s location demand it and store it. Most of this data is sold to third party companies to use as they please. Big companies like Facebook, Twitter claim that such data is used to provide a personalised advertising experience on their apps. All this comes in the middle of US government openly accusing Chinese app TikTok of sharing data with the Chinese government. The company had hit back at the US saying local American companies like Facebook store more data than any Chinese company, implying the dangers enmeshed in such vast data collection.

US law enforcement bought 'Locate X' to track user's phone location data without permit

Federal law enforcement agencies that keep Americans safe are starting to feel the strain of the US&nbsp;government shutdown, in its 21st day, with agents working for no pay and investigations delayed, law enforcement officials said.

Training events have been cancelled and travel cut back, with President Donald Trump and Congress unable to end the partial shutdown affecting a quarter of the government in a funding standoff over Trump's proposed US-Mexico border wall.

"We still have a responsibility for going after those who might be using this time to flood the streets" with drugs, a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) field agent told Reuters, asking not to be identified by name.

"For us, it's even a more important time to try to target as much as we can. We still have a safety obligation to the public ... with the limited resources," the agent said.

Most employees at federal law enforcement agencies - from the FBI and DEA to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration - have kept working since Trump's demands on the wall triggered the shutdown on December 22.

"Non-essential" personnel across the government have been staying home on furlough, while "essential" personnel, which includes many in law enforcement, have been working for no pay.

On Friday, many of roughly 800,000 shutdown-affected federal workers will miss their first paychecks. The shutdown began after Trump insisted that $5.7 billion for his wall be made a part of any legislation to restore funding for many agencies that expired for unrelated reasons, a demand Democrats oppose.

As much as 85 per cent of the Justice Department's employees are working, as are nearly 90 per cent of the Department of Homeland Security's employees, said department spokesmen.

"It really wears on our members," said Nathan Catura, the national president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents some 27,000 federal agents.

"You feel like a pawn in this big political windstorm. You feel like you're not worth anything," he said.

In a memo to US Secret Service agents that was seen by Reuters, service Director RD "Tex" Alles urged employees to "keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble."

He wrote, "A quick internet search will validate that financial stress is often the precursor to greater issues, including depression, anxiety and worse."

While the lack of a paycheck is stressing out some agents, the shutdown has had a limited operational impact so far, several law enforcement officials said.

Drug seizures are still occurring. Corrections officers are still reporting to work each day and air passengers are not yet facing overly long security lines in airports.

But funding that law enforcement agencies draw on for investigations and some other operations is starting to dwindle.

Interviews with witnesses in some DEA investigations have been postponed. Furloughs of some FBI analysts has forced agents to pick up the slack by doing their own background checks - a process that may slow them down, officials told Reuters.

That means FBI agents doing anti-terrorism or white-collar crime investigations must pull together criminal records and other background materials on their own, without the help of analysts who specialize in such work, Catura said.

“That slows everything down,” he said.

FBI headquarters "is doing all they can" to ensure major investigations continue, said Tom O'Connor, president of the FBI Agents Association. The group on Thursday sent a petition to the White House and Congress urging them to end the shutdown.

“FBI operations need funding. We’re beginning to raise concerns regarding field operations. Support operations are understaffed,” O'Connor said.

Federal prison workers are also growing frustrated. Prior to the government shutdown, the Bureau of Prisons had to deal with a hiring freeze, followed by 6,000 job cuts.

"The great majority of our federal law enforcement officers work in middle America," said Eric Young, national president for the Council of Prison Locals for the American Federation of Government Employees union.

"They are very conservative, and they were supportive of Trump. Some still are, but the great majority of them have been totally disenchanted with what they have seen from this administration," Young said.

Federal law enforcement agencies that keep Americans safe are starting to feel the strain of the US government shutdown, in its 21st day, with agents working for no pay and investigations delayed, law enforcement officials said.

Federal law enforcement agencies that keep Americans safe are starting to feel the strain of the US government shutdown, in its 21st day, with agents working for no pay and investigations delayed, law enforcement officials said. Training events have been cancelled and travel cut back, with President Donald Trump and Congress unable to end the partial shutdown affecting a quarter of the government in a funding standoff over Trump's proposed US-Mexico border wall. "We still have a responsibility for going after those who might be using this time to flood the streets" with drugs, a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) field agent told Reuters, asking not to be identified by name. "For us, it's even a more important time to try to target as much as we can. We still have a safety obligation to the public ... with the limited resources," the agent said. Most employees at federal law enforcement agencies - from the FBI and DEA to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration - have kept working since Trump's demands on the wall triggered the shutdown on December 22. "Non-essential" personnel across the government have been staying home on furlough, while "essential" personnel, which includes many in law enforcement, have been working for no pay. On Friday, many of roughly 800,000 shutdown-affected federal workers will miss their first paychecks. The shutdown began after Trump insisted that $5.7 billion for his wall be made a part of any legislation to restore funding for many agencies that expired for unrelated reasons, a demand Democrats oppose. As much as 85 per cent of the Justice Department's employees are working, as are nearly 90 per cent of the Department of Homeland Security's employees, said department spokesmen. "It really wears on our members," said Nathan Catura, the national president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents some 27,000 federal agents. "You feel like a pawn in this big political windstorm. You feel like you're not worth anything," he said. In a memo to US Secret Service agents that was seen by Reuters, service Director RD "Tex" Alles urged employees to "keep an eye out for warning signs of trouble." He wrote, "A quick internet search will validate that financial stress is often the precursor to greater issues, including depression, anxiety and worse." While the lack of a paycheck is stressing out some agents, the shutdown has had a limited operational impact so far, several law enforcement officials said. Drug seizures are still occurring. Corrections officers are still reporting to work each day and air passengers are not yet facing overly long security lines in airports. But funding that law enforcement agencies draw on for investigations and some other operations is starting to dwindle. Interviews with witnesses in some DEA investigations have been postponed. Furloughs of some FBI analysts has forced agents to pick up the slack by doing their own background checks - a process that may slow them down, officials told Reuters. That means FBI agents doing anti-terrorism or white-collar crime investigations must pull together criminal records and other background materials on their own, without the help of analysts who specialize in such work, Catura said. “That slows everything down,” he said. FBI headquarters "is doing all they can" to ensure major investigations continue, said Tom O'Connor, president of the FBI Agents Association. The group on Thursday sent a petition to the White House and Congress urging them to end the shutdown. “FBI operations need funding. We’re beginning to raise concerns regarding field operations. Support operations are understaffed,” O'Connor said. Federal prison workers are also growing frustrated. Prior to the government shutdown, the Bureau of Prisons had to deal with a hiring freeze, followed by 6,000 job cuts. "The great majority of our federal law enforcement officers work in middle America," said Eric Young, national president for the Council of Prison Locals for the American Federation of Government Employees union. "They are very conservative, and they were supportive of Trump. Some still are, but the great majority of them have been totally disenchanted with what they have seen from this administration," Young said.

Law enforcement agencies squeezed by US government shutdown

The man suspected of killing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/12-people-including-police-officer-killed-gunman-also-dead-in-california-bar-shooting-176217">12 people in a bar in a Los Angeles</a> suburb was a decorated Marine Corp machine gunner deployed in Afghanistan who had several prior brushes with law enforcement, police and Marine officials said on Thursday.

Ian David Long, who also died in the attack late Thursday, was 28 years old and lived in Newbury Park, a prosperous suburb of Californian bungalows and tidy front lawns, about 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Borderline Bar &amp; Grill where the shooting took place.

Long joined the Marines in 2008 and rose to the rank of corporal before leaving active service in 2013, Joseph Butterfield, a Marine spokesman, wrote in an email.

He served in the war in Afghanistan for seven months beginning in late 2010, the Marine Corp said, and was awarded multiple ribbons, commendations and medals.

It was not immediately clear what Long did after leaving active duty.

At a news conference on Thursday, Sheriff Geoff Dean said police had responded to a minor disturbance call at Long's house in April.

"He was somewhat irate, acting a little irrationally," Dean said. The police called in a team of mental health specialists who decided that Long did not qualify to be involuntarily detained for mental health evaluation under state law.

A neighbour, who would only identify himself by his last name, Hanson, said Long lived with his mother.

"I mind my own business and they did theirs too," he said in a brief telephone interview. A woman in the background added: "He was kind of a loner."

Other neighbours said they did not recognize the suspect's name, adding that his mother would wave as she drove by as they watered their lawn.

An American flag hung on the garage at Long's home on Thursday as law enforcement gathered outside. A red pickup truck was parked in the driveway.

According to public records, Long appeared to be the grandson of H Daryl Foley, a former US Navy commander who spent 30 years in the service and died in 2010, according to a published obituary.

Long's mother, Colleen Long, has worked for more than eight years as an analyst for Dole Food Co, according to her social media profiles.

The man suspected of killing 12 people in a bar in a Los Angeles suburb was a decorated Marine Corp machine gunner deployed in Afghanistan who had several prior brushes with law enforcement, police and Marine officials said on Thursday.

The man suspected of killing 12 people in a bar in a Los Angeles suburb was a decorated Marine Corp machine gunner deployed in Afghanistan who had several prior brushes with law enforcement, police and Marine officials said on Thursday. Ian David Long, who also died in the attack late Thursday, was 28 years old and lived in Newbury Park, a prosperous suburb of Californian bungalows and tidy front lawns, about 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Borderline Bar & Grill where the shooting took place. Long joined the Marines in 2008 and rose to the rank of corporal before leaving active service in 2013, Joseph Butterfield, a Marine spokesman, wrote in an email. He served in the war in Afghanistan for seven months beginning in late 2010, the Marine Corp said, and was awarded multiple ribbons, commendations and medals. It was not immediately clear what Long did after leaving active duty. At a news conference on Thursday, Sheriff Geoff Dean said police had responded to a minor disturbance call at Long's house in April. "He was somewhat irate, acting a little irrationally," Dean said. The police called in a team of mental health specialists who decided that Long did not qualify to be involuntarily detained for mental health evaluation under state law. A neighbour, who would only identify himself by his last name, Hanson, said Long lived with his mother. "I mind my own business and they did theirs too," he said in a brief telephone interview. A woman in the background added: "He was kind of a loner." Other neighbours said they did not recognize the suspect's name, adding that his mother would wave as she drove by as they watered their lawn. An American flag hung on the garage at Long's home on Thursday as law enforcement gathered outside. A red pickup truck was parked in the driveway. According to public records, Long appeared to be the grandson of H Daryl Foley, a former US Navy commander who spent 30 years in the service and died in 2010, according to a published obituary. Long's mother, Colleen Long, has worked for more than eight years as an analyst for Dole Food Co, according to her social media profiles.

California shooting suspect David Long was a decorated Marine veteran

A gunman opened a fire in a pastry-making factory in Moscow on Wednesday, killing one person and taking an unknown number as hostages, Russian state news agency RIA said, citing a law enforcement source.

The &quot;Menshevik&quot; factory building, in south-east Moscow, has been cordoned off by the police, which is trying to make a contact with the gunman and free the hostages, RIA said.&nbsp;

At least three people have been wounded in the shooting, another news agency, Interfax, said, adding that the preliminary reports suggest the victim worked as a security guard at the factory, which is located on Ilovaiskaya street.

Interfax cited a source as saying that the former factory owner has opened a gunfire.

The gunman is allegedly the former owner of the factory, who confronted the present owner.

A gunman opened a fire in a pastry-making factory in Moscow on Wednesday, killing one person and taking an unknown number as hostages, Russian state news agency RIA said, citing a law enforcement source. The "Menshevik" factory building, in south-east Moscow, has been cordoned off by the police, which is trying to make a contact with the gunman and free the hostages, RIA said. At least three people have been wounded in the shooting, another news agency, Interfax, said, adding that the preliminary reports suggest the victim worked as a security guard at the factory, which is located on Ilovaiskaya street. Interfax cited a source as saying that the former factory owner has opened a gunfire.

1 killed, 3 injured after gunman opens fire in Moscow factory, hostages held: RIA

Basketball icon Michael Jordan, long reluctant to speak out on social issues, yesterday condemned gun violence that has heightened racial tensions in America and pledged $2 million toward finding a solution. 
 
&quot;I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent,&quot; Jordan said in a letter released via theundefeated.com, a website backed by ESPN. 
 
It was a watershed moment for a superstar who throughout his playing career, in which he led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association championships between 1991 and 1998, was criticised for his hesitance to wade in on politics. 
 
A wave of police killings of African Americans and deadly attacks against police officers prompted his rare public stand. 
 
&quot;As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.&quot; 
 
His father, James Jordan, was shot and killed in 1993 at a highway rest area, not long after his son led the Bulls to a third NBA title. 
 
Jordan used the letter to announce grants of $1 million each to two organisations working to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities in which they work - the Institute for Community Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. 
 
The first was launched in May by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, while the Legal Defense Fund was originally established in 1940 to work for civil rights as part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 
 
&quot;Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organisations make a positive difference,&quot; he said. 
 
Activist athletes 
 
Now the only African-American majority owner of an NBA club, the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan has joined a wave of social comment in US sports sparked by a spate of police shootings of unarmed black men - and shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
 
Current NBA stars LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade opened the recent ESPYs sports awards show urging their peers to take the lead in combating racial injustice and gun violence. 
 
And in April, when a North Carolina law seen as discriminatory to the LGBT community was pushing the NBA toward moving the 2017 All-Star Game from the Hornets&#39; arena, a move the league ultimately made, Jordan issued a statement saying the club was &quot;opposed to discrimination in any form.&quot; 
 
The league made the decision official last week. 
 
A Jordan spokeswoman told theundefeated.com that Jordan had resolved to speak out two weeks ago, but delayed his comments to avoid overshadowing the concerns of the lesbian, gay and transgender community over the All-Star Game. 
 
His comments are a far cry from his past reticence. 
 
He once famously said &quot;Republicans buy sneakers, too&quot; in explaining his reluctance to comment on thorny political issues. 
 
In 2015, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took Jordan to task in a National Public Radio interview saying he &quot;took commerce over conscience,&quot; although Jordan has in fact quietly backed political candidates, including donating to the senatorial and presidential campaigns of Barack Obama. 
 
Jordan was spurred to comment in 2014 when racially charged remarks by then-Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling rocked the NBA. 
 
Jordan said he was &quot;disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

In a letter released by an ESPN backed website, Jordan pledged $2 million toward finding a solution

Basketball icon Michael Jordan, long reluctant to speak out on social issues, yesterday condemned gun violence that has heightened racial tensions in America and pledged $2 million toward finding a solution. "I know this country is better than that, and I can no longer stay silent," Jordan said in a letter released via theundefeated.com, a website backed by ESPN. It was a watershed moment for a superstar who throughout his playing career, in which he led the Chicago Bulls to six National Basketball Association championships between 1991 and 1998, was criticised for his hesitance to wade in on politics. A wave of police killings of African Americans and deadly attacks against police officers prompted his rare public stand. "As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers," he said. "I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well." His father, James Jordan, was shot and killed in 1993 at a highway rest area, not long after his son led the Bulls to a third NBA title. Jordan used the letter to announce grants of $1 million each to two organisations working to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities in which they work - the Institute for Community Police Relations and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The first was launched in May by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, while the Legal Defense Fund was originally established in 1940 to work for civil rights as part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Although I know these contributions alone are not enough to solve the problem, I hope the resources will help both organisations make a positive difference," he said. Activist athletes Now the only African-American majority owner of an NBA club, the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan has joined a wave of social comment in US sports sparked by a spate of police shootings of unarmed black men - and shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Current NBA stars LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade opened the recent ESPYs sports awards show urging their peers to take the lead in combating racial injustice and gun violence. And in April, when a North Carolina law seen as discriminatory to the LGBT community was pushing the NBA toward moving the 2017 All-Star Game from the Hornets' arena, a move the league ultimately made, Jordan issued a statement saying the club was "opposed to discrimination in any form." The league made the decision official last week. A Jordan spokeswoman told theundefeated.com that Jordan had resolved to speak out two weeks ago, but delayed his comments to avoid overshadowing the concerns of the lesbian, gay and transgender community over the All-Star Game. His comments are a far cry from his past reticence. He once famously said "Republicans buy sneakers, too" in explaining his reluctance to comment on thorny political issues. In 2015, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took Jordan to task in a National Public Radio interview saying he "took commerce over conscience," although Jordan has in fact quietly backed political candidates, including donating to the senatorial and presidential campaigns of Barack Obama. Jordan was spurred to comment in 2014 when racially charged remarks by then-Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling rocked the NBA. Jordan said he was "disgusted that a fellow team owner could hold such sickening and offensive views." (AFP)

'I can no longer stay silent,' Michael Jordan condemns US gun violence

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