Traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market face a &quot;career-ruining&quot; glut that has led to millions of dollars in losses as Chinese buyers, far from coming to the rescue, are in a stand-off with oil companies to cancel deals. 
 
LPG, a historically niche and dislocated market, has ballooned with the advent of US exports due to the shale boom. The United States went from an importer to the largest single exporter of propane in just a few years, rivalling the West Asia Gulf producers. 
 
&quot;I can&#39;t remember it being this bad. There was massive new production out of the US and people hoped the Chinese market might absorb it,&quot; one LPG trader said. 
 
&quot;There was strong buying in the first four months of the year with low oil prices but that stopped and the market is now a few million tonnes long.&quot; 
 
Traders scrambling to mitigate losses&nbsp; 
 
A glut was expected, but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas, which is increasingly oversupplied. 
 
LPG is the collective term for propane and butane. The United States exports mostly propane used for heating and in the petrochemical industry to make propylene, a base for plastics manufacturing. 
 
Traders have been left scrambling to mitigate losses as China has failed to be the driver of demand. 
 
At least five companies- Vitol, Gunvor, Shell, BP and EDF Trading cancelled July-loading cargoes out of the two major Texas LPG terminals, preferring to pay penalties of up to $1 million per cargo. 
 
Many LPG traders signed up for multi-year contracts but premiums to the US benchmark on a spot basis sunk by about $40 a tonne this year, undercutting the term lifters. 
 
The contracts were also signed when the US benchmark was around a $150 to $200-per-tonne discount to the European benchmark and Saudi Arabia&#39;s official selling price. But spreads shrunk dramatically in 2016, making US exports suddenly unappealing to Asia. 
 
Chinese end-users are now cancelling or renegotiating their term contracts, taking advantage of product overhangs in the Middle East and a cheaper alternative feedstock, naphtha. 
 
Asian demand slowed earlier this year on weak propylene margins, which led to run cuts and delayed new plant start-ups. After hitting a trough, the market is expected to rebalance by the year-end though supply will continue to outpace demand. 
 
&quot;Non-associated gas output means there will be a steady rise in natural gas liquids output despite the oil price doldrums. This trend will continue in the medium term,&quot; Al Troner, head of Asia Pacific Energy Consulting in Houston, said. 
 
Showdown in Court 
 
The disputes have, in some cases, devolved into open altercations and tanker stand-offs. 
 
At an LPG conference earlier this year in China, one trader said he saw &quot;serious arguments between the Chinese and the US suppliers outside the hall at the caf? ... Everyone pretended not to be eavesdropping but stopped chatting and just stood still&quot;. 
 
Targa Resources, operator of an export terminal in Texas, has been stung by contracts with Chinese buyers and is seeking &quot;damages in excess of $1,000,000&quot; from China Soft Packaging Group, documents filed by Targa at a Texas county court showed. 
 
China Soft Packaging declined to comment and Targa did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
&quot;The US suppliers already made fat margins earlier (in 2015) and they should be ready for price negotiations,&quot; a senior source with one of the east China-based LPG buyers said. 
 
Hong Kong-based Oriental Energy International Trading has also had disputes with Targa and Greek LPG trader Naftomar. Targa let Oriental&#39;s Kikyo tanker languish for weeks offshore Texas in June. Naftomar&#39;s Constellation ship is now stuck outside China&#39;s Ningbo port, a senior trader at Naftomar said. 
 
Singapore-based SK Chemical Trading recently cancelled contracts with Naftomar, Petredec and Shell after its end-user Zhejiang Shaoxing Sanyuan Petrochemical Co reneged on its orders. The companies did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
One trader said the price rout was ruining careers and had &quot;gunfight at the O.K. Corral-type implications&quot;, referring to one of the most famous shootouts from the days of the American Wild West. 
 
(Reuters)

A glut was expected but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas

Traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market face a "career-ruining" glut that has led to millions of dollars in losses as Chinese buyers, far from coming to the rescue, are in a stand-off with oil companies to cancel deals. LPG, a historically niche and dislocated market, has ballooned with the advent of US exports due to the shale boom. The United States went from an importer to the largest single exporter of propane in just a few years, rivalling the West Asia Gulf producers. "I can't remember it being this bad. There was massive new production out of the US and people hoped the Chinese market might absorb it," one LPG trader said. "There was strong buying in the first four months of the year with low oil prices but that stopped and the market is now a few million tonnes long." Traders scrambling to mitigate losses A glut was expected, but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas, which is increasingly oversupplied. LPG is the collective term for propane and butane. The United States exports mostly propane used for heating and in the petrochemical industry to make propylene, a base for plastics manufacturing. Traders have been left scrambling to mitigate losses as China has failed to be the driver of demand. At least five companies- Vitol, Gunvor, Shell, BP and EDF Trading cancelled July-loading cargoes out of the two major Texas LPG terminals, preferring to pay penalties of up to $1 million per cargo. Many LPG traders signed up for multi-year contracts but premiums to the US benchmark on a spot basis sunk by about $40 a tonne this year, undercutting the term lifters. The contracts were also signed when the US benchmark was around a $150 to $200-per-tonne discount to the European benchmark and Saudi Arabia's official selling price. But spreads shrunk dramatically in 2016, making US exports suddenly unappealing to Asia. Chinese end-users are now cancelling or renegotiating their term contracts, taking advantage of product overhangs in the Middle East and a cheaper alternative feedstock, naphtha. Asian demand slowed earlier this year on weak propylene margins, which led to run cuts and delayed new plant start-ups. After hitting a trough, the market is expected to rebalance by the year-end though supply will continue to outpace demand. "Non-associated gas output means there will be a steady rise in natural gas liquids output despite the oil price doldrums. This trend will continue in the medium term," Al Troner, head of Asia Pacific Energy Consulting in Houston, said. Showdown in Court The disputes have, in some cases, devolved into open altercations and tanker stand-offs. At an LPG conference earlier this year in China, one trader said he saw "serious arguments between the Chinese and the US suppliers outside the hall at the caf? ... Everyone pretended not to be eavesdropping but stopped chatting and just stood still". Targa Resources, operator of an export terminal in Texas, has been stung by contracts with Chinese buyers and is seeking "damages in excess of $1,000,000" from China Soft Packaging Group, documents filed by Targa at a Texas county court showed. China Soft Packaging declined to comment and Targa did not respond to requests for comment. "The US suppliers already made fat margins earlier (in 2015) and they should be ready for price negotiations," a senior source with one of the east China-based LPG buyers said. Hong Kong-based Oriental Energy International Trading has also had disputes with Targa and Greek LPG trader Naftomar. Targa let Oriental's Kikyo tanker languish for weeks offshore Texas in June. Naftomar's Constellation ship is now stuck outside China's Ningbo port, a senior trader at Naftomar said. Singapore-based SK Chemical Trading recently cancelled contracts with Naftomar, Petredec and Shell after its end-user Zhejiang Shaoxing Sanyuan Petrochemical Co reneged on its orders. The companies did not respond to requests for comment. One trader said the price rout was ruining careers and had "gunfight at the O.K. Corral-type implications", referring to one of the most famous shootouts from the days of the American Wild West. (Reuters)

Oil traders lose millions as LPG glut shocks market

US and Australian troops plan to step up training so they are &quot;fully prepared&quot; to answer challenges in the Pacific, US Vice President Joe Biden said today amid rising tensions over Beijing&#39;s claims in the South China Sea.&nbsp; 
 
Speaking in Sydney after meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Biden said the two nations were a &quot;genuine brotherhood&quot; committed to &quot;making sure the sea lanes are open and the skies are free for navigation&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;They are the life bloodlines of commerce and the economic growth worldwide,&quot; Biden said in the wake of last weeks ruling by a UN-backed tribunal against Beijings claims in the disputed waters. 
 
Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours -- most notably US ally the Philippines, which took the case to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.&nbsp; 
 
The United States, like Australia, has no claims of its own in the South China Sea, but insists that all shipping has a right to pass through seas it regards as international waters.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We also discussed the steps that Australia and the United States are taking so our troops can train more together and increase our interoperability so that we are fully prepared to respond to any challenges, any challenges, in the Pacific with a united front,&quot; Biden said. 
 
&quot;It is important we stand together,&quot; he added, as he stressed that the United States was a Pacific power and intended to remain so. 
 
Turnbull used a short media briefing alongside Biden to announce that Australia was expanding its role in Iraq to include the training of law enforcement officers and police as well as its current training of the Iraqi army. 
 
Australia has been a staunch ally of the United States in Iraq and in the fight against the Islamic State group. 
 
Biden&#39;s visit, which comes as President Barack Obama enters the final months of his administration, ends on Wednesday when he travels to New Zealand. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Australia has been a staunch ally of the United States in Iraq and in the fight against the Islamic State group?

US and Australian troops plan to step up training so they are "fully prepared" to answer challenges in the Pacific, US Vice President Joe Biden said today amid rising tensions over Beijing's claims in the South China Sea. Speaking in Sydney after meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Biden said the two nations were a "genuine brotherhood" committed to "making sure the sea lanes are open and the skies are free for navigation". "They are the life bloodlines of commerce and the economic growth worldwide," Biden said in the wake of last weeks ruling by a UN-backed tribunal against Beijings claims in the disputed waters. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, despite rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours -- most notably US ally the Philippines, which took the case to the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. The United States, like Australia, has no claims of its own in the South China Sea, but insists that all shipping has a right to pass through seas it regards as international waters. "We also discussed the steps that Australia and the United States are taking so our troops can train more together and increase our interoperability so that we are fully prepared to respond to any challenges, any challenges, in the Pacific with a united front," Biden said. "It is important we stand together," he added, as he stressed that the United States was a Pacific power and intended to remain so. Turnbull used a short media briefing alongside Biden to announce that Australia was expanding its role in Iraq to include the training of law enforcement officers and police as well as its current training of the Iraqi army. Australia has been a staunch ally of the United States in Iraq and in the fight against the Islamic State group. Biden's visit, which comes as President Barack Obama enters the final months of his administration, ends on Wednesday when he travels to New Zealand. (AFP)

South China Sea dispute: US, Australia a 'united front' in Pacific, says Biden?

The United States warned on Monday it would raise concerns at the United Nations over the latest North Korean missile tests carried out in violation of Security Council resolutions. 
 
&quot;We strongly condemn this and North Korea&#39;s other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea`s launches using ballistic missile technology,&quot; said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, after Pyongyang test-fired three ballistic missiles. 
 
&quot;We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

North Korea missile launch came a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in the South

The United States warned on Monday it would raise concerns at the United Nations over the latest North Korean missile tests carried out in violation of Security Council resolutions. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea`s launches using ballistic missile technology," said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, after Pyongyang test-fired three ballistic missiles. "We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions." (AFP)

US to raise concerns at UN over North Korea missile tests

The United States urged Turkey on Saturday to exercise restraint after a failed military coup sparked a government crackdown, and warned its NATO ally that public suggestions of a US role in the plot were &quot;utterly false&quot; and harmful to relations. 
 
President Barack Obama urged parties on all sides of the crisis to avoid destabilising Turkey and follow the rule of law after the coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan. 
 
The coup attempt complicated US-led efforts to combat Islamic State. Turkey closed its airspace to military aircraft and power was cut off to Incirlik air base, which US forces use to launch air attacks against the militant group. 
 
US officials were working with Turkish officials to resume air operations quickly, the Pentagon said. 
 
Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that authorities should respect the rule of law during their probe of the coup. 
 
He also said &quot;public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations,&quot; the State Department said. 
 
Turkey has long been a key US ally but relations have been strained in recent years and Erdogan&#39;s government has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the coup attempt. 
 
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey, and Erdogan urged Washington to deport the cleric.&nbsp;Kerry said the United States was willing to help Turkey as it tries to identify those involved in the coup attempt, but made clear it would only act if there was evidence against Gulen. 
 
&quot;We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen, and obviously we invite the government of Turkey ... to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments appropriately,&quot; he said. 
 
Gulen has condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement in it. 
 
Obama conferred with his national security and foreign policy advisers on Saturday morning and reiterated his support for the &quot;democratically-elected, civilian&quot; government of Turkey. 
 
&quot;While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability,&quot; the White House said. 
 
Obama noted the United States needed continued cooperation from Turkey in the fight against terrorism. 
 
Forces loyal to Erdogan largely crushed the last remnants of the coup on Saturday as he launched a purge of the armed forces to tighten his grip on power.&nbsp;Turkey scrambled jets throughout Friday night to resist the coup launched by a faction within Turkey&#39;s military that saw rebels piloting military aircraft. 
 
The Incirlik air base near Adana in the southeast of the country was running on internal power sources after a loss of commercial power to the base, the Pentagon said. 
 
&quot;US officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible,&quot; said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. &quot;In the meantime, US Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimise any effects on the campaign.&quot; 
 
Threat to coalition fight 
 
Erdogan has cooperated with Washington in the fight against Islamic State, but relations have been rocky with US criticism of Erdogan&#39;s increasing authoritarianism, Turkey&#39;s support for Islamist opposition groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the slow pace in sealing Turkey&#39;s border with Syria to foreign fighters. 
 
The closing of the airspace over Incirlik effectively grounded US aircraft and drones that have been instrumental in the campaign to crush Islamic State in Syria, including supporting drives by Syrian Kurds and moderate Arabs, who are being advised by US special forces, to seize the militant-held city of Manbij and Raqqa, the &quot;capital&quot; of the caliphate declared by Islamic State. 
 
&quot;Clearly the variable here is how long the closure will last,&quot; said Jeffrey White, a former senior Defense Intelligence Agency analyst now with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. &quot;If we&#39;re unable to fly from Incirlik, it will have a significant impact on the air campaign.&quot; 
 
A Turkish presidency official in Istanbul said the move was temporary and aimed at preventing rogue aircraft from targetting civilians and government buildings. 
 
&quot;This is a short-term measure which won&#39;t have significant effect on coalition operations,&quot; the official said. &quot;We have discussed this measure with our colleagues in Washington as well and they understand our concerns.&quot; 
 
A prolonged closure of Incirlik&#39;s airspace could force the United States to divert aircraft based in the Persian Gulf to the Manbij and Raqqa offensives, constraining the air power available to support Iraqi and US forces involved in operations against Islamic State. 
 
It could also complicate the Pentagon&rsquo;s ability to resupply and aid US special forces inside Syria. 
 
(Reuters)

US President urges to exercise restraint, but also warns NATO-ally against insinuating America had anything to do with the coup

The United States urged Turkey on Saturday to exercise restraint after a failed military coup sparked a government crackdown, and warned its NATO ally that public suggestions of a US role in the plot were "utterly false" and harmful to relations. President Barack Obama urged parties on all sides of the crisis to avoid destabilising Turkey and follow the rule of law after the coup attempt against President Tayyip Erdogan. The coup attempt complicated US-led efforts to combat Islamic State. Turkey closed its airspace to military aircraft and power was cut off to Incirlik air base, which US forces use to launch air attacks against the militant group. US officials were working with Turkish officials to resume air operations quickly, the Pentagon said. Secretary of State John Kerry told Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that authorities should respect the rule of law during their probe of the coup. He also said "public insinuations or claims about any role by the United States in the failed coup attempt are utterly false and harmful to our bilateral relations," the State Department said. Turkey has long been a key US ally but relations have been strained in recent years and Erdogan's government has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the coup attempt. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey, and Erdogan urged Washington to deport the cleric. Kerry said the United States was willing to help Turkey as it tries to identify those involved in the coup attempt, but made clear it would only act if there was evidence against Gulen. "We fully anticipate that there will be questions raised about Mr Gulen, and obviously we invite the government of Turkey ... to present us with any legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny and the United States will accept that and look at it and make judgments appropriately," he said. Gulen has condemned the coup attempt and denied any involvement in it. Obama conferred with his national security and foreign policy advisers on Saturday morning and reiterated his support for the "democratically-elected, civilian" government of Turkey. "While we have no indications as of yet that Americans were killed or injured in the violence, the president and his team lamented the loss of life and registered the vital need for all parties in Turkey to act within the rule of law and to avoid actions that would lead to further violence or instability," the White House said. Obama noted the United States needed continued cooperation from Turkey in the fight against terrorism. Forces loyal to Erdogan largely crushed the last remnants of the coup on Saturday as he launched a purge of the armed forces to tighten his grip on power. Turkey scrambled jets throughout Friday night to resist the coup launched by a faction within Turkey's military that saw rebels piloting military aircraft. The Incirlik air base near Adana in the southeast of the country was running on internal power sources after a loss of commercial power to the base, the Pentagon said. "US officials are working with the Turks to resume air operations there as soon as possible," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. "In the meantime, US Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimise any effects on the campaign." Threat to coalition fight Erdogan has cooperated with Washington in the fight against Islamic State, but relations have been rocky with US criticism of Erdogan's increasing authoritarianism, Turkey's support for Islamist opposition groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the slow pace in sealing Turkey's border with Syria to foreign fighters. The closing of the airspace over Incirlik effectively grounded US aircraft and drones that have been instrumental in the campaign to crush Islamic State in Syria, including supporting drives by Syrian Kurds and moderate Arabs, who are being advised by US special forces, to seize the militant-held city of Manbij and Raqqa, the "capital" of the caliphate declared by Islamic State. "Clearly the variable here is how long the closure will last," said Jeffrey White, a former senior Defense Intelligence Agency analyst now with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "If we're unable to fly from Incirlik, it will have a significant impact on the air campaign." A Turkish presidency official in Istanbul said the move was temporary and aimed at preventing rogue aircraft from targetting civilians and government buildings. "This is a short-term measure which won't have significant effect on coalition operations," the official said. "We have discussed this measure with our colleagues in Washington as well and they understand our concerns." A prolonged closure of Incirlik's airspace could force the United States to divert aircraft based in the Persian Gulf to the Manbij and Raqqa offensives, constraining the air power available to support Iraqi and US forces involved in operations against Islamic State. It could also complicate the Pentagon’s ability to resupply and aid US special forces inside Syria. (Reuters)

Any country that stands by Gulen will be considered at war with Turkey: Prime Minister Yildirim

Three police officers were shot to death and three others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday, in what authorities said was an ambush less than two weeks after an African-American was killed by police, sparking nationwide protests. The situation is still unfolding as the authorities look to secure the area and bring it under control. 
 
One suspect is dead and police are checking for explosives, Baton Rouge Police spokesman L&#39;Jean Mckneely said. 
 
The officers in Baton Rouge were responding to a call of shots fired when they were ambushed by at least one gunman, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said.
A spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff&#39;s Office said police and sheriff&#39;s deputies were involved in the shooting incident. &quot;Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals,&quot; he said in an email. He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries. 
 
WAFB television aired video footage of police responding to the scene in Baton Rouge. Multiple shots could be heard as civilian cars quickly backed away. Citizens took to Twitter about the shooting, warning others to stay away from the troubled area.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
Mayor&#39;s office confirms 2 police officers have been killed in Baton Rouge shooting. They say stay home. Stay off the streets.
&mdash; Rebekah Allen (@rebekahallen) <a href="https://twitter.com/rebekahallen/status/754692055952076802">17 July 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
The officers were taken to a local hospital, Police spokesman Sergeant Don Coppola told the local CBS affiliate, adding he did not know the extent of their injuries. 
 
&quot;The scene, we feel now, is contained,&quot; Coppola said, adding that he had no information on the extent of injuries or whether a suspect or suspects had been detained. The&nbsp;police have still not taken the shooter into custody and warned local residents to stay away from the scene, near Airline Highway. 
 
The reports come a week after a wave of protests against police violence in Baton Rouge and other cities after a 37-year-old father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. At one of the demonstrations in Dallas, a gunman opened fire on white officers assigned to the protest, killing five of them. 
 
(Agencies)

Multiple shots were heard as civilian cars backed away. Officers responding to the situation were ambushed by at least one gunman: US media

Three police officers were shot to death and three others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday, in what authorities said was an ambush less than two weeks after an African-American was killed by police, sparking nationwide protests. The situation is still unfolding as the authorities look to secure the area and bring it under control. One suspect is dead and police are checking for explosives, Baton Rouge Police spokesman L'Jean Mckneely said. The officers in Baton Rouge were responding to a call of shots fired when they were ambushed by at least one gunman, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said. A spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said police and sheriff's deputies were involved in the shooting incident. "Multiple officers from both agencies sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals," he said in an email. He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries. WAFB television aired video footage of police responding to the scene in Baton Rouge. Multiple shots could be heard as civilian cars quickly backed away. Citizens took to Twitter about the shooting, warning others to stay away from the troubled area. Mayor's office confirms 2 police officers have been killed in Baton Rouge shooting. They say stay home. Stay off the streets. — Rebekah Allen (@rebekahallen) 17 July 2016 The officers were taken to a local hospital, Police spokesman Sergeant Don Coppola told the local CBS affiliate, adding he did not know the extent of their injuries. "The scene, we feel now, is contained," Coppola said, adding that he had no information on the extent of injuries or whether a suspect or suspects had been detained. The police have still not taken the shooter into custody and warned local residents to stay away from the scene, near Airline Highway. The reports come a week after a wave of protests against police violence in Baton Rouge and other cities after a 37-year-old father of five was shot and killed at close quarters by law enforcement officers. At one of the demonstrations in Dallas, a gunman opened fire on white officers assigned to the protest, killing five of them. (Agencies)

3 police officers and 1 gunman dead in Louisiana shooting

Three police officers were shot to death and several others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday.&nbsp;One suspect is dead and police are checking the shooting scene with a robot to make sure there are no explosives, Baton Rouge Police spokesman L&#39;Jean Mckneely said. 
 
Police are looking for two suspected surviving shooters, and the injured cops were reported to be in critical condition, according to AFP. 
 
Police told reporters that authorities are seeking more than one suspect and said the public should be on the lookout for people dressed in black and carrying long guns.&nbsp;WBRZ television reported a witness describing a man dressed in black with his face covered who started shooting indiscriminately. 
 
Earlier, a spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff&#39;s Office said police and sheriff&#39;s deputies were involved in the shooting incident, which occurred around 9am local time (1400 GMT).&nbsp;He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries. 
 
While the scene of the shootings was contained, police warned residents to stay away from the area, near Airline Highway, which is a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where dozens of protesters were arrested earlier this month. 
 
President Obama briefed 
 
A White House official said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge and will be updated throughout the day. The official added that the White House has also been in contact with local officials and has offered assistance. 
 
(Reuters)

Police are using a robot to check the scene and make sure there are no explosives. President Obama has been briefed

Three police officers were shot to death and several others wounded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday. One suspect is dead and police are checking the shooting scene with a robot to make sure there are no explosives, Baton Rouge Police spokesman L'Jean Mckneely said. Police are looking for two suspected surviving shooters, and the injured cops were reported to be in critical condition, according to AFP. Police told reporters that authorities are seeking more than one suspect and said the public should be on the lookout for people dressed in black and carrying long guns. WBRZ television reported a witness describing a man dressed in black with his face covered who started shooting indiscriminately. Earlier, a spokesman for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said police and sheriff's deputies were involved in the shooting incident, which occurred around 9am local time (1400 GMT). He said there were no firm numbers on the number hurt or the extent of injuries. While the scene of the shootings was contained, police warned residents to stay away from the area, near Airline Highway, which is a mile from the Baton Rouge Police Department headquarters, where dozens of protesters were arrested earlier this month. President Obama briefed A White House official said President Barack Obama has been briefed on the shooting of police officers in Baton Rouge and will be updated throughout the day. The official added that the White House has also been in contact with local officials and has offered assistance. (Reuters)

Louisiana shooting: Cops looking for 2 gunmen believed to be still at large

Jack Sock rallied to stun Marin Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday and put the United States on the road to a 2-0 lead over Croatia in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie. 
 
The triumph for the 26th-ranked Sock over world number 12 Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, was followed by American John Isner&#39;s 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Borna Coric. 
 
The formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan can clinch the best-of-five match tie on the outdoor hardcourt at Tualtin Hills Tennis Club in Portland, Oregon, today. 
 
Croatians Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja are slated to take on the brothers, trying to push things to the reverse singles on Sunday. 
 
Sock fired 17 aces against Cilic, who came into the tie trying to put behind him a five-set quarter-final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon. 
 
But having forced a decisive fifth set, the American surrendered an early break that appeared to set Cilic on his way. 
 
Sock, however, broke back in the fifth game, and while he couldn&#39;t convert three break points in the seventh, he gained the last break he needed in the ninth, when Cilic sent a high backhand volley wide. 
 
&quot;A little bit disappointing with that, just to lose that opportunity of getting that lead in the fifth set,&quot; Cilic said. &quot;When I gave him a chance to come back I felt that he started to play also really well.&quot; 
 
Sock got a little shaky serving it out, double-faulting twice before surviving two break points to seal the match after three hours and 13 minutes. 
 
&quot;I haven&#39;t played a ton of five-setters in my career,&quot; said Sock, who was playing his first Davis Cup match on home soil. 
 
&quot;Haven&#39;t come back from two sets to love down. To do that today, in front of the home crowd for the team, it feels extra special today.&quot; 
 
Isner, ranked 16th in the world, fired 23 aces and fended off all eight break points he faced in a match lasting just under two hours. 
 
Having withstood 54th-ranked Coric&#39;s early assault on his serve, which included break points in six of Isner&#39;s first seven service games, Isner broke the Croatian in the final game of each of the first two sets to take a comfortable lead. 
 
After breaking to lead 3-1 in the third, Isner stayed the course, finishing off the match with a final ace. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re up 2-0, we&#39;re in a good spot,&quot; Isner said. 
 
While the United States are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever, with 32 titles, they were ousted in the first round the past two years by Britain. 
 
They last played in the semi-finals in 2012, when they fell 3-1 at Spain. 
 
The winners of the best-of-five match tie will take on either the Czech Republic or France in the semi-finals. 
 
The Czechs and French were tied 1-1 after the opening day of their tie in Prague. 
 
(AFP)

While the US are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever, with 32 titles, they were ousted in the first round the past 2 years by Britain

Jack Sock rallied to stun Marin Cilic 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Friday and put the United States on the road to a 2-0 lead over Croatia in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final tie. The triumph for the 26th-ranked Sock over world number 12 Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, was followed by American John Isner's 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Borna Coric. The formidable doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan can clinch the best-of-five match tie on the outdoor hardcourt at Tualtin Hills Tennis Club in Portland, Oregon, today. Croatians Ivan Dodig and Marin Draganja are slated to take on the brothers, trying to push things to the reverse singles on Sunday. Sock fired 17 aces against Cilic, who came into the tie trying to put behind him a five-set quarter-final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon. But having forced a decisive fifth set, the American surrendered an early break that appeared to set Cilic on his way. Sock, however, broke back in the fifth game, and while he couldn't convert three break points in the seventh, he gained the last break he needed in the ninth, when Cilic sent a high backhand volley wide. "A little bit disappointing with that, just to lose that opportunity of getting that lead in the fifth set," Cilic said. "When I gave him a chance to come back I felt that he started to play also really well." Sock got a little shaky serving it out, double-faulting twice before surviving two break points to seal the match after three hours and 13 minutes. "I haven't played a ton of five-setters in my career," said Sock, who was playing his first Davis Cup match on home soil. "Haven't come back from two sets to love down. To do that today, in front of the home crowd for the team, it feels extra special today." Isner, ranked 16th in the world, fired 23 aces and fended off all eight break points he faced in a match lasting just under two hours. Having withstood 54th-ranked Coric's early assault on his serve, which included break points in six of Isner's first seven service games, Isner broke the Croatian in the final game of each of the first two sets to take a comfortable lead. After breaking to lead 3-1 in the third, Isner stayed the course, finishing off the match with a final ace. "We're up 2-0, we're in a good spot," Isner said. While the United States are the most successful Davis Cup nation ever, with 32 titles, they were ousted in the first round the past two years by Britain. They last played in the semi-finals in 2012, when they fell 3-1 at Spain. The winners of the best-of-five match tie will take on either the Czech Republic or France in the semi-finals. The Czechs and French were tied 1-1 after the opening day of their tie in Prague. (AFP)

Davis Cup: Sock shocks Cilic, USA take 2-0 lead over Croatia

As 90 people were reported killed and more than 1150 injured in Turkey during the attempted overnight coup by the military, the United Nations today said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following closely and with concern the fast-moving developments in Turkey and has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint. 
 
In a statement issued in New York, the UN spokesman said, &quot;At this moment of uncertainty in the country, the Secretary-General appeals for calm, non-violence and restraint. 
 
Preservation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, remain of vital importance.&quot;The Secretary-General underscores that military interference in the affairs of any state is unacceptable.&nbsp;It will be crucial to quickly and peacefully affirm civilian rule and constitutional order in accordance with principles of democracy,&quot; the spokesman added. 
 
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, &quot;Just spoke to Turkish FM. I call for calm, restraint &amp; full respect for Turkey`s democratic institutions and constitution.&quot; 
 
United States has called on all parties in Turkey to support President Erdogan&#39;s government against a coup attempt. 
 
Avoid bloodshed: India, US&nbsp; 
 
Speaking jointly after talks in Moscow, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said they hoped that stability would prevail in Turkey and bloodshed would be avoided. 
 
Meanwhile, India has called upon all sides to support democracy and mandate of the ballot, and avoid bloodshed. 
 
Turkey has a history of coups with governments ousted on three occasions in the last decades by full military coups. 
 
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the &quot;situation in the country is largely under control&quot;. He said a national curfew was announced, and other security forces had been called in to &quot;do what is necessary&quot;. He said 1563 soldiers detained in the coup attempt. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint. Military interference is unacceptable he said

As 90 people were reported killed and more than 1150 injured in Turkey during the attempted overnight coup by the military, the United Nations today said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following closely and with concern the fast-moving developments in Turkey and has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint. In a statement issued in New York, the UN spokesman said, "At this moment of uncertainty in the country, the Secretary-General appeals for calm, non-violence and restraint. Preservation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, remain of vital importance."The Secretary-General underscores that military interference in the affairs of any state is unacceptable. It will be crucial to quickly and peacefully affirm civilian rule and constitutional order in accordance with principles of democracy," the spokesman added. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, "Just spoke to Turkish FM. I call for calm, restraint & full respect for Turkey`s democratic institutions and constitution." United States has called on all parties in Turkey to support President Erdogan's government against a coup attempt. Avoid bloodshed: India, US Speaking jointly after talks in Moscow, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said they hoped that stability would prevail in Turkey and bloodshed would be avoided. Meanwhile, India has called upon all sides to support democracy and mandate of the ballot, and avoid bloodshed. Turkey has a history of coups with governments ousted on three occasions in the last decades by full military coups. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the "situation in the country is largely under control". He said a national curfew was announced, and other security forces had been called in to "do what is necessary". He said 1563 soldiers detained in the coup attempt. (ANI)

International community reacts to attempted coup in Turkey, calls for calm

The Dow industrials ended at a record high on Friday and major indexes closed a third consecutive week of gains as upbeat economic data and the start of earnings season gave investors confidence. 
 
But equity futures fell after the closing bell following reports of a coup in Turkey. The military said it had seized power, but the Turkish Prime Minister later asserted the attempted coup was put down. 
 
&quot;US (Treasury) yields have fallen, the Turkish lira plummeted, gold is up, you could call it a textbook response to this kind of situation,&quot; said Brian Jacobsen, chief portfolio strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. 
 
&quot;How it plays out depends on what the effects are by the time markets open on Monday. It is unclear right now who is in control,&quot; he said.&nbsp; 
 
A US exchange-traded fund that follows the Turkish stock market dropped sharply near the end of the session and was down 6 per cent after the bell. 
 
S&amp;P 500 e-mini futures hit a session low down 0.65 per cent after the reports, but pared the loss and were down 0.5 per cent. 
 
Jacobsen added: &quot;I don`t think this spills over to other countries. This isn&rsquo;t like the Arab Spring of 2011 where there was a cascade of anti-government protests in favour of democratic reforms. The issues Turkey is wrestling with seem unique to Turkey.&quot; 
 
&#39;US retail sales rose more than expected in June&#39;&nbsp; 
 
During the normal-hours session, consumer stocks led declines on the S&amp;P 500 while the financial sector posted a less than 0.2 per cent drop, even as Wells Fargo, whose profits fell in the second quarter, fell 2.5 per cent to $47.71 to rank as the largest weight on the S&amp;P. 
 
But expectations for S&amp;P earnings ticked up to a 4.7 per cent decline from a view of a 5-per cent drop earlier in the week, cementing hopes that an earnings contraction bottomed in the first quarter. 
 
Adding to investor confidence, US retail sales rose more than expected in June, bolstering views that economic growth picked up in the second quarter. 
 
&quot;When you go into earnings season with negative bias in the market it bodes well for stocks. Any positive surprises will force shorts to cover and gives an upbeat tone,&quot; said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey. 
 
Three major indexes close their third week of gains&nbsp; 
 
The Dow Jones industrial average, DJI, rose 10.14 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 18,516.55, the S&amp;P 500 lost 2.01 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 2,161.74 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 4.47 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 5,029.59. 
 
The Dow closed at a record high and joined the S&amp;P 500 in posting fresh intraday historic highs. The three major indexes closed their third week of gains, a period in which the S&amp;P advanced more than 6 percent. 
 
Market reaction on Friday to a Thursday attack in France that killed more than 80 people was limited to declines in travel and leisure company shares. 
 
Herbalife jumped 9.9 percent to $65.25 after the weight-loss products maker agreed to pay $200 million and change the way it does business to avoid being labelled a pyramid scheme by regulators. 
 
Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.20-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.12-to-1 ratio favoured advancers. 
 
The S&amp;P 500 posted 26 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 77 new highs and 18 new lows. 
About 6.1 billion shares changed hands in U.S. exchanges, below the 7.8 billion daily average over the past 20 sessions.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

'US (Treasury) yields have fallen, the Turkish lira plummeted, gold is up, you could call it a textbook response to this kind of situation'

The Dow industrials ended at a record high on Friday and major indexes closed a third consecutive week of gains as upbeat economic data and the start of earnings season gave investors confidence. But equity futures fell after the closing bell following reports of a coup in Turkey. The military said it had seized power, but the Turkish Prime Minister later asserted the attempted coup was put down. "US (Treasury) yields have fallen, the Turkish lira plummeted, gold is up, you could call it a textbook response to this kind of situation," said Brian Jacobsen, chief portfolio strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. "How it plays out depends on what the effects are by the time markets open on Monday. It is unclear right now who is in control," he said. A US exchange-traded fund that follows the Turkish stock market dropped sharply near the end of the session and was down 6 per cent after the bell. S&P 500 e-mini futures hit a session low down 0.65 per cent after the reports, but pared the loss and were down 0.5 per cent. Jacobsen added: "I don`t think this spills over to other countries. This isn’t like the Arab Spring of 2011 where there was a cascade of anti-government protests in favour of democratic reforms. The issues Turkey is wrestling with seem unique to Turkey." 'US retail sales rose more than expected in June' During the normal-hours session, consumer stocks led declines on the S&P 500 while the financial sector posted a less than 0.2 per cent drop, even as Wells Fargo, whose profits fell in the second quarter, fell 2.5 per cent to $47.71 to rank as the largest weight on the S&P. But expectations for S&P earnings ticked up to a 4.7 per cent decline from a view of a 5-per cent drop earlier in the week, cementing hopes that an earnings contraction bottomed in the first quarter. Adding to investor confidence, US retail sales rose more than expected in June, bolstering views that economic growth picked up in the second quarter. "When you go into earnings season with negative bias in the market it bodes well for stocks. Any positive surprises will force shorts to cover and gives an upbeat tone," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey. Three major indexes close their third week of gains The Dow Jones industrial average, DJI, rose 10.14 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 18,516.55, the S&P 500 lost 2.01 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 2,161.74 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 4.47 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 5,029.59. The Dow closed at a record high and joined the S&P 500 in posting fresh intraday historic highs. The three major indexes closed their third week of gains, a period in which the S&P advanced more than 6 percent. Market reaction on Friday to a Thursday attack in France that killed more than 80 people was limited to declines in travel and leisure company shares. Herbalife jumped 9.9 percent to $65.25 after the weight-loss products maker agreed to pay $200 million and change the way it does business to avoid being labelled a pyramid scheme by regulators. Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.20-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.12-to-1 ratio favoured advancers. The S&P 500 posted 26 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 77 new highs and 18 new lows. About 6.1 billion shares changed hands in U.S. exchanges, below the 7.8 billion daily average over the past 20 sessions. (Reuters)

Dow ends at record high but futures fall flat after attempted coup in Turkey

Turkish authorities today imposed a security lockdown at the Incirlik air base in the southern province of Adana used by US and other coalition forces in the fight against jihadists in Syria, the US consulate said. 
 
&quot;Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of Incirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut,&quot; the US consulate in Adana said in a message after an coup attempt aimed at toppling the government was thwarted by the authorities. 
 
&quot;Please avoid the air base until normal operations have been restored,&quot; it added, without giving further details. 
 
There was no indication for the reason of the lockdown by the Turkish authorities. But it came as security forces arrested thousands of Turkish soldiers across the country for involvement in the coup. 
 
After months of negotiations, Turkey last year agreed to allow the United States to use Incirlik to carry out lethal raids against jihadists in Syria and it has since become a key hub. 
 
(AFP)

No reason was given for the lockdown but it came as security forces arrested thousands of soldiers for their involvement in the coup

Turkish authorities today imposed a security lockdown at the Incirlik air base in the southern province of Adana used by US and other coalition forces in the fight against jihadists in Syria, the US consulate said. "Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of Incirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut," the US consulate in Adana said in a message after an coup attempt aimed at toppling the government was thwarted by the authorities. "Please avoid the air base until normal operations have been restored," it added, without giving further details. There was no indication for the reason of the lockdown by the Turkish authorities. But it came as security forces arrested thousands of Turkish soldiers across the country for involvement in the coup. After months of negotiations, Turkey last year agreed to allow the United States to use Incirlik to carry out lethal raids against jihadists in Syria and it has since become a key hub. (AFP)

Turkey authorities impose lockdown at Incirlik air base: US consulate

The US&nbsp;Congress on Friday released a long-classified section of the official report on the September&nbsp;11 attacks that discussed potential links between some of the hijackers and Saudi Arabia but said the links were not independently verified.

The 28 pages of the report on the 2002 investigation focus on potential Saudi links to the 2001 aircraft attacks on the United States, in which nearly 3000 people died.

They were issued by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee after years of wrangling in Washington between Congress and different administrations, Republicans and Democrats, and urging by families of those killed.

The release of the previously classified pages is unlikely to end the controversy over the role of Saudi Arabia, an important US&nbsp;partner in the Middle East. Many US&nbsp;officials who opposed their release had worried they would damage diplomatic relations.

Fifteen of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens.

&quot;According to various FBI documents and CIA memorandum, some of the September 11 hijackers, while in the United States, apparently had contacts with individuals who may be connected to the Saudi Government,&quot; the report said, giving a catalogue of alleged links.

They included reported contacts between Saudis in California and a statement that a man who was reportedly a Saudi Interior Ministry official stayed at the same Virginia hotel as one hijacker in September 2001.

Another section said that Omar al-Bayoumi, said to be a Saudi intelligence officer, met with two hijackers at a public place after they arrived in San Diego. It said, citing FBI files, that his salary rose to $3700 a month from $465 two months after two of the hijackers arrived in California.

One page described how two of the hijackers asked flight attendants technical questions during a trip in 1999 from Phoenix to Washington to attend a party at the Saudi embassy. One tried twice to enter the cockpit. The plane made an emergency landing and the FBI investigated, but did not prosecute. 
&nbsp;

Controversy will continue

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its agreement to the release is not an indication that the intelligence community agrees with the pages&#39; accuracy or concurs with the information it contains.

The office also on Friday released a declassified summary of an assessment of whether Riyadh may have supported Al-Qaeda before and after the attacks, saying the Saudi government and many of its agencies had been infiltrated and exploited by individuals associated with or sympathetic to Osama bin Laden&#39;s militant network.

Several members of Congress said they were pleased the pages had finally been released. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said he hoped the release would quiet rumours.

&quot;The Intelligence Community and the 9/11 Commission, which followed the Joint Inquiry that produced these so-called 28 pages, investigated the questions they raised and was never able to find sufficient evidence to support them,&quot; he said.

Legislation that would allow families of September&nbsp;11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia has been passed by the US&nbsp;Senate and is making its way through the House, despite President Barack Obama&#39;s threat to veto the measure.

A September&nbsp;11 families group made clear the pages&#39; release would not stop their push for the legislation. &quot;Congress has to stand up for the interests of the thousands of innocent Americans who lost loved ones on 9/11,&quot; the &quot;9/11 Families&quot; organisation said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia&#39;s ambassador to the United States, Abdullah al-Saud, said the country welcomed the release.

&quot;We hope the release of these pages will clear up, once and for all, any lingering questions or suspicions about Saudi Arabia&#39;s actions, intentions, or long-term friendship with the United States,&quot; he said.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters before the pages were released that they would show no evidence of Saudi complicity.

The Obama administration sent a declassified version of the 28 pages, with many lines and sentences blacked out to protect intelligence sources and methods, to Congress on Friday morning. The House intelligence panel released it a few hours later.

(Reuters)

A declassified summary of an assessment of whether Riyadh may have supported Al-Qaeda before and after the attacks was also released

The US Congress on Friday released a long-classified section of the official report on the September 11 attacks that discussed potential links between some of the hijackers and Saudi Arabia but said the links were not independently verified. The 28 pages of the report on the 2002 investigation focus on potential Saudi links to the 2001 aircraft attacks on the United States, in which nearly 3000 people died. They were issued by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee after years of wrangling in Washington between Congress and different administrations, Republicans and Democrats, and urging by families of those killed. The release of the previously classified pages is unlikely to end the controversy over the role of Saudi Arabia, an important US partner in the Middle East. Many US officials who opposed their release had worried they would damage diplomatic relations. Fifteen of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudi citizens. "According to various FBI documents and CIA memorandum, some of the September 11 hijackers, while in the United States, apparently had contacts with individuals who may be connected to the Saudi Government," the report said, giving a catalogue of alleged links. They included reported contacts between Saudis in California and a statement that a man who was reportedly a Saudi Interior Ministry official stayed at the same Virginia hotel as one hijacker in September 2001. Another section said that Omar al-Bayoumi, said to be a Saudi intelligence officer, met with two hijackers at a public place after they arrived in San Diego. It said, citing FBI files, that his salary rose to $3700 a month from $465 two months after two of the hijackers arrived in California. One page described how two of the hijackers asked flight attendants technical questions during a trip in 1999 from Phoenix to Washington to attend a party at the Saudi embassy. One tried twice to enter the cockpit. The plane made an emergency landing and the FBI investigated, but did not prosecute. Controversy will continue The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said its agreement to the release is not an indication that the intelligence community agrees with the pages' accuracy or concurs with the information it contains. The office also on Friday released a declassified summary of an assessment of whether Riyadh may have supported Al-Qaeda before and after the attacks, saying the Saudi government and many of its agencies had been infiltrated and exploited by individuals associated with or sympathetic to Osama bin Laden's militant network. Several members of Congress said they were pleased the pages had finally been released. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, said he hoped the release would quiet rumours. "The Intelligence Community and the 9/11 Commission, which followed the Joint Inquiry that produced these so-called 28 pages, investigated the questions they raised and was never able to find sufficient evidence to support them," he said. Legislation that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia has been passed by the US Senate and is making its way through the House, despite President Barack Obama's threat to veto the measure. A September 11 families group made clear the pages' release would not stop their push for the legislation. "Congress has to stand up for the interests of the thousands of innocent Americans who lost loved ones on 9/11," the "9/11 Families" organisation said in a statement. Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States, Abdullah al-Saud, said the country welcomed the release. "We hope the release of these pages will clear up, once and for all, any lingering questions or suspicions about Saudi Arabia's actions, intentions, or long-term friendship with the United States," he said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters before the pages were released that they would show no evidence of Saudi complicity. The Obama administration sent a declassified version of the 28 pages, with many lines and sentences blacked out to protect intelligence sources and methods, to Congress on Friday morning. The House intelligence panel released it a few hours later. (Reuters)

Pages of US 9/11 report detailing possible Saudi ties made public

In his first interview as Donald Trump&#39;s running mate, Indiana governor Mike Pence on Friday compared the Republican presidential hopeful to conservative icon Ronald Reagan. 
 
Pence, interviewed on Fox News Channel&#39;s &quot;Hannity&quot; show, emphasised that the real estate mogul and reality TV star was &quot;the people&#39;s choice&quot;. 
 
The Republican Party &quot;had a competitive primary with him, enormous number of talented men and women,&quot; Pence said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Donald Trump again and again emerged because I think very much like the 40th president that you and I so admire, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump understands the anxiety and the aspiration of the American people like no leader since Reagan.&quot; 
 
Trump has no direct political experience. In contrast Reagan, a Hollywood actor, was governor of California before he was elected president. 
 
The comparison with the late Reagan, who served two terms during the 1980s and is revered by Republicans, is a clear appeal to make 
Trump more palatable to conservatives alienated by Trump&#39;s bombastic rhetoric and populist message who had backed other primary candidates. 
 
The four-day Republican Party convention that will nominate Trump as their presidential candidate, which starts Monday in Cleveland, Ohio, will feature no former presidents, few party luminaries and only a smattering of elected officials. 
 
John McCain and Mitt Romney, the last two Republican presidential candidates, will also stay away. 
 
Pence, however, predicted the party will unify around Trump. 
 
&quot;I expect next week at our convention you&#39;re going to see our party, and leaders in our party, rally around this good man who will be a great president of the United States,&quot; he said. 
 
While Trump has campaigned as a protectionist, Pence has backed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the sweeping trade deal that Trump has attacked as bad for US jobs. 
 
Pence has denounced Trump&#39;s proposal to close US borders to Muslims as &quot;unconstitutional.&quot; 
 
And while Trump has called the Iraq war a &quot;disaster&quot;, Pence was a co-sponsor of the 2002 Iraq war resolution. 
But in the Fox interview, Pence fully supported Trump. 
 
&quot;I am very supportive of Donald Trump&#39;s call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorists influence and impact represents a threat to the United States,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We have a proud tradition of refugee resettlement ... but it has to be subordinated to the safety and security of American people.&quot; 
 
As for the Iraq war, &quot;that&#39;s for historians to debate&quot;, but both he and Trump &quot;are in strong agreement is that Barack Obama&#39;s precipitous withdrawal from Iraq created a vacuum in which ISIS was created&quot;. 
 
Pence said that trade agreements like the TPP can go back to the bargaining table. 
 
&quot;When we elect one of the best negotiators in the world as president of the United States, I&#39;m open to renegotiating these trade agreements,&quot; Pence said. 
 
And if there are major disagreements, &quot;you shut the door. You tell the boss exactly what you think.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Pence said that Trump &quot;is a man that appreciates candor. And we&#39;ve had some very candid and straightforward conversations. 
 
&quot;But when the door opens, the job of the vice-president is to stand right next to the president and implement the policy that he&#39;s decided.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

'Donald Trump understands the anxiety and the aspiration of the American people like no leader since Reagan,' Pence said

In his first interview as Donald Trump's running mate, Indiana governor Mike Pence on Friday compared the Republican presidential hopeful to conservative icon Ronald Reagan. Pence, interviewed on Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show, emphasised that the real estate mogul and reality TV star was "the people's choice". The Republican Party "had a competitive primary with him, enormous number of talented men and women," Pence said. "Donald Trump again and again emerged because I think very much like the 40th president that you and I so admire, Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump understands the anxiety and the aspiration of the American people like no leader since Reagan." Trump has no direct political experience. In contrast Reagan, a Hollywood actor, was governor of California before he was elected president. The comparison with the late Reagan, who served two terms during the 1980s and is revered by Republicans, is a clear appeal to make Trump more palatable to conservatives alienated by Trump's bombastic rhetoric and populist message who had backed other primary candidates. The four-day Republican Party convention that will nominate Trump as their presidential candidate, which starts Monday in Cleveland, Ohio, will feature no former presidents, few party luminaries and only a smattering of elected officials. John McCain and Mitt Romney, the last two Republican presidential candidates, will also stay away. Pence, however, predicted the party will unify around Trump. "I expect next week at our convention you're going to see our party, and leaders in our party, rally around this good man who will be a great president of the United States," he said. While Trump has campaigned as a protectionist, Pence has backed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the sweeping trade deal that Trump has attacked as bad for US jobs. Pence has denounced Trump's proposal to close US borders to Muslims as "unconstitutional." And while Trump has called the Iraq war a "disaster", Pence was a co-sponsor of the 2002 Iraq war resolution. But in the Fox interview, Pence fully supported Trump. "I am very supportive of Donald Trump's call to temporarily suspend immigration from countries where terrorists influence and impact represents a threat to the United States," he said. "We have a proud tradition of refugee resettlement ... but it has to be subordinated to the safety and security of American people." As for the Iraq war, "that's for historians to debate", but both he and Trump "are in strong agreement is that Barack Obama's precipitous withdrawal from Iraq created a vacuum in which ISIS was created". Pence said that trade agreements like the TPP can go back to the bargaining table. "When we elect one of the best negotiators in the world as president of the United States, I'm open to renegotiating these trade agreements," Pence said. And if there are major disagreements, "you shut the door. You tell the boss exactly what you think." Pence said that Trump "is a man that appreciates candor. And we've had some very candid and straightforward conversations. "But when the door opens, the job of the vice-president is to stand right next to the president and implement the policy that he's decided." (AFP)

Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, compares him to former president Reagan

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that Washington had had no idea that a coup attempt was brewing in NATO ally Turkey before Friday&#39;s bloody events. 
 
But he added that the failed &#39;putsch&#39; had apparently been incompetently executed, and restated Washington&#39;s support for President Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s elected government. 
 
&quot;If you&#39;re planning a coup you don&#39;t exactly advertise it to your partners in NATO,&quot; Kerry told reporters who asked how US intelligence could have been surprised by events. 
 
&quot;It surprised everybody, including the people in Turkey,&quot; the top US diplomat added, speaking in Luxembourg during a diplomatic tour of European capitals.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I must say, it does not appear to have been a very brilliantly planned or executed event, but let&#39;s reserve all judgment until the facts are in,&quot; he asserted.&nbsp; 
 
The United States and Turkey are close military allies within NATO and US war planes targeting the Islamic State group fly out of the major Incirlik air base. 
 
(AFP)

If you're planning coup, you don't advertise it to your partners in NATO: John Kerry said when asked how US intelligence missed this

US secretary of state John Kerry said today that Washington had had no idea that a coup attempt was brewing in NATO ally Turkey before Friday's bloody events. But he added that the failed 'putsch' had apparently been incompetently executed, and restated Washington's support for President Tayyip Erdogan's elected government. "If you're planning a coup you don't exactly advertise it to your partners in NATO," Kerry told reporters who asked how US intelligence could have been surprised by events. "It surprised everybody, including the people in Turkey," the top US diplomat added, speaking in Luxembourg during a diplomatic tour of European capitals. "I must say, it does not appear to have been a very brilliantly planned or executed event, but let's reserve all judgment until the facts are in," he asserted. The United States and Turkey are close military allies within NATO and US war planes targeting the Islamic State group fly out of the major Incirlik air base. (AFP)

No one saw Turkey coup bid coming: US envoy

The United States is to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against the Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State extremist groups in Syria, the Washington Post reported today. 
 
US secretary of state John Kerry, who was on his way to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. 
 
According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the jihadist groups. 
 
Currently, Russian forces in Syria are operating in support of President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime against a variety of rebel factions while a US-led coalition focuses its fire on the Islamic State group. 
 
Any deal between the great power rivals would be controversial, since for many - including critics of US President Barack Obama in Washington - it would amount to a tacit acceptance of Putin&#39;s efforts to shore up Assad&#39;s regime. 
 
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report before Moscow had received Washington&#39;s proposal. 
 
He said the Kremlin has reiterated the need for &quot;the coordination of joint efforts&quot; in the fight against jihadist groups in Syria and regretted Washington&#39;s reluctance to cooperate with Russia militarily in the war-torn country. 
 
Kerry was due in Moscow later today and was to hold talks first with Putin at the Kremlin followed by a meeting with his opposite number foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. 
 
Asked if he wanted to comment on the reported US offer of a military pact, Kerry said: &quot;I don&#39;t right now. I&#39;ll have comments. I&#39;m going to Moscow, meeting with President Putin tonight, and we&#39;ll have plenty of time to talk about it.&quot; 
 
&quot;I&#39;ll give you all a sense of where we are,&quot; he added. 
 
According to the Post, Kerry was to propose to Putin that Russia and the United States set up a &#39;Joint Implementation Group&#39; or JIG to &quot;enable extended coordination&quot; between their militaries on the Syrian battlefields. 
 
Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front are defined as terrorist groups by the UN security council, and they are not party to the much-breached ceasefire in place between Assad&#39;s forces and more moderate rebel groups. 
 
But, while the Islamic State&#39;s so-called &#39;caliphate&#39; has global ambitions, al-Nusra which is an affiliate of al-Qaeda has concentrated on battling Assad, fighting alongside other rebel groups backed by US allies. 
 
Any deal between Russia and the United States to fight both groups would in effect strengthen Assad&#39;s position, and could undermine US efforts to press him to agree a negotiated political settlement to the civil war. 
 
( AFP)

John Kerry did not deny nor discuss the report. But critics say it would amount to acceptance of Putin's efforts to shore up Assad's regime

The United States is to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against the Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State extremist groups in Syria, the Washington Post reported today. US secretary of state John Kerry, who was on his way to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the jihadist groups. Currently, Russian forces in Syria are operating in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime against a variety of rebel factions while a US-led coalition focuses its fire on the Islamic State group. Any deal between the great power rivals would be controversial, since for many - including critics of US President Barack Obama in Washington - it would amount to a tacit acceptance of Putin's efforts to shore up Assad's regime. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report before Moscow had received Washington's proposal. He said the Kremlin has reiterated the need for "the coordination of joint efforts" in the fight against jihadist groups in Syria and regretted Washington's reluctance to cooperate with Russia militarily in the war-torn country. Kerry was due in Moscow later today and was to hold talks first with Putin at the Kremlin followed by a meeting with his opposite number foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. Asked if he wanted to comment on the reported US offer of a military pact, Kerry said: "I don't right now. I'll have comments. I'm going to Moscow, meeting with President Putin tonight, and we'll have plenty of time to talk about it." "I'll give you all a sense of where we are," he added. According to the Post, Kerry was to propose to Putin that Russia and the United States set up a 'Joint Implementation Group' or JIG to "enable extended coordination" between their militaries on the Syrian battlefields. Both the Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front are defined as terrorist groups by the UN security council, and they are not party to the much-breached ceasefire in place between Assad's forces and more moderate rebel groups. But, while the Islamic State's so-called 'caliphate' has global ambitions, al-Nusra which is an affiliate of al-Qaeda has concentrated on battling Assad, fighting alongside other rebel groups backed by US allies. Any deal between Russia and the United States to fight both groups would in effect strengthen Assad's position, and could undermine US efforts to press him to agree a negotiated political settlement to the civil war. ( AFP)

US to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint action on IS, Al-Nusra in Syria: Post

The two C-17 military transport aircraft India sent on Thursday to Juba, the war-torn capital of South Sudan, to evacuate the more than 300 Indians stranded there are expected to land in Delhi at 10 am today. 
 
The aircraft will first make a three-hour refuelling stop at Entebbe in Uganda, sources said. From there, they will fly to Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala, and then on to the capital Delhi.&nbsp; 
 
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had, in a series of tweets, said yesterday: &quot;Indians in South Sudan - Pls move out. We have sent two aircrafts for you. If situation worsens, we will not be able to evacuate u.&quot; 
 
&quot;South Sudan - My colleague @Gen_VKSingh has landed in Juba to evacuate Indian nationals from there. Operation #SankatMochan.&quot; 
 
Ahead of his departure in the wee hours of Thursday, Singh had said: &quot;Time to leave.Thank you all for the messages &amp; good wishes. We will do our best to bring back every Indian. Op #SankatMochan.&quot; 
 
Singh is being accompanied by Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, joint secretary Satbir Singh, and director Anjani Kumar.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
An official advisory had said yesterday that only Indian nationals with valid Indian travel documents would be allowed to board, that they would be allowed to carry on a maximum of five kilograms of cabin baggage and no check-in pieces. 
 
Women and children would be accommodated on priority, it added. 
 
According to the ministry, there are some 600 Indians in South Sudan, 450 of them in Juba. 
 
So far, nearly 300 Indians have registered -- for the evacuation --&nbsp;with the Indian embassy, official sources said. 
 
(WION and PTI) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The two C-17s had been sent to Juba on Thursday to evacuate the more than 300 Indians stranded there

The two C-17 military transport aircraft India sent on Thursday to Juba, the war-torn capital of South Sudan, to evacuate the more than 300 Indians stranded there are expected to land in Delhi at 10 am today. The aircraft will first make a three-hour refuelling stop at Entebbe in Uganda, sources said. From there, they will fly to Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala, and then on to the capital Delhi. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had, in a series of tweets, said yesterday: "Indians in South Sudan - Pls move out. We have sent two aircrafts for you. If situation worsens, we will not be able to evacuate u." "South Sudan - My colleague @Gen_VKSingh has landed in Juba to evacuate Indian nationals from there. Operation #SankatMochan." Ahead of his departure in the wee hours of Thursday, Singh had said: "Time to leave.Thank you all for the messages & good wishes. We will do our best to bring back every Indian. Op #SankatMochan." Singh is being accompanied by Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, joint secretary Satbir Singh, and director Anjani Kumar. An official advisory had said yesterday that only Indian nationals with valid Indian travel documents would be allowed to board, that they would be allowed to carry on a maximum of five kilograms of cabin baggage and no check-in pieces. Women and children would be accommodated on priority, it added. According to the ministry, there are some 600 Indians in South Sudan, 450 of them in Juba. So far, nearly 300 Indians have registered -- for the evacuation -- with the Indian embassy, official sources said. (WION and PTI)

Rescue aircraft from South Sudan expected to land in Delhi at 10 am today

American sprinter Allyson Felix promises to be ready for Rio next month after a &quot;disappointing&quot; performance at the US Olympic trials that saw her fall short of qualifying to run a 200/400 double at the games. 
 
&quot;I do feel good going into Rio, my focus has not shifted from what I had hoped to do,&quot; said Felix, who met with the media in Beverly Hills following the trials. 
 
&quot;I think that what happened to me was just unfortunate. I think injuries are a part of sport and it is something that you just have to deal with. For me I feel so grateful to have made this team at all as two months ago I was not walking at all. So its pretty amazing to me that I&#39;m still going to Rio and while it doesn&#39;t look exactly how I hoped it would. But I&#39;m still going after it with everything I have.&quot; 
 
The defending Olympic champion at the 200 metre distance finished fourth at the trials, one spot short of earning the chance to defend her title. 
 
Felix cited a freak ankle injury in the spring that impacted her training. She will still be representing the US in the 400 metre run with hopes of earning a spot on the US relay teams. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m very hopeful to be on the relays and I&#39;m very and I hope to be on the 4x100 and the 4X400,&quot; said Felix.&nbsp;&quot;I think my biggest issue with running with the injury was running out of time, really. Now that I have another month to get back to 100 per cent I feel confident that I will be ready to go when it comes to Rio.&quot; 
 
The 30-year-old sprinter told Reuters though that she&#39;s not letting the potential threat of the Zika virus cast a shadow over the games in Brazil. 
 
&quot;I think obviously it is a real concern,&quot; said Felix. &quot;Yes it is, but I think for me I have to place my faith in the authorities that&#39;s there and if the USOC is telling us that we&#39;re ok to go and compete than that is what I&#39;m going to do.&quot; 
 
Felix is less confident though about that the ongoing doping issues surrounding track and field. 
 
&quot;I would hope that the playing field is more level,&quot; said Felix. &quot;But, I would say that my confidence isn&#39;t high to think that there are not real issues. Just the number of scandals we see now just shows the real issues that are there in sports. It is very hard to deal with as a clean athlete. You are going to the biggest race of your life and you hope that that is a clean race. But can you say that you are a 100 per cent that you are sure. I don&#39;t think that you can say that so. It is hard I think but I hope we are moving in the right direction. I think that exposing athletes that are happening now is I think is a step in the right direction.&quot; 
 
The 2016 Olympic games in Rio will open on August 6th and run through August 22. 
 
(Reuters)

Allyson Felix finished fourth at the trials, one spot short of earning the chance to defend her title

American sprinter Allyson Felix promises to be ready for Rio next month after a "disappointing" performance at the US Olympic trials that saw her fall short of qualifying to run a 200/400 double at the games. "I do feel good going into Rio, my focus has not shifted from what I had hoped to do," said Felix, who met with the media in Beverly Hills following the trials. "I think that what happened to me was just unfortunate. I think injuries are a part of sport and it is something that you just have to deal with. For me I feel so grateful to have made this team at all as two months ago I was not walking at all. So its pretty amazing to me that I'm still going to Rio and while it doesn't look exactly how I hoped it would. But I'm still going after it with everything I have." The defending Olympic champion at the 200 metre distance finished fourth at the trials, one spot short of earning the chance to defend her title. Felix cited a freak ankle injury in the spring that impacted her training. She will still be representing the US in the 400 metre run with hopes of earning a spot on the US relay teams. "I'm very hopeful to be on the relays and I'm very and I hope to be on the 4x100 and the 4X400," said Felix. "I think my biggest issue with running with the injury was running out of time, really. Now that I have another month to get back to 100 per cent I feel confident that I will be ready to go when it comes to Rio." The 30-year-old sprinter told Reuters though that she's not letting the potential threat of the Zika virus cast a shadow over the games in Brazil. "I think obviously it is a real concern," said Felix. "Yes it is, but I think for me I have to place my faith in the authorities that's there and if the USOC is telling us that we're ok to go and compete than that is what I'm going to do." Felix is less confident though about that the ongoing doping issues surrounding track and field. "I would hope that the playing field is more level," said Felix. "But, I would say that my confidence isn't high to think that there are not real issues. Just the number of scandals we see now just shows the real issues that are there in sports. It is very hard to deal with as a clean athlete. You are going to the biggest race of your life and you hope that that is a clean race. But can you say that you are a 100 per cent that you are sure. I don't think that you can say that so. It is hard I think but I hope we are moving in the right direction. I think that exposing athletes that are happening now is I think is a step in the right direction." The 2016 Olympic games in Rio will open on August 6th and run through August 22. (Reuters)

American Sprinter Felix readies for Rio

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said today he has never faced pressure from Russia to step aside, as US secretary of state John Kerry headed to Moscow seeking to revive stalled peace efforts. 
 
Speaking to NBC News in Damascus, Assad insisted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had never raised the issue of his departure or a political transition. 
 
&quot;Only the Syrian people define who&#39;s going to be the President, when to come, and when to go. They never said a single word regarding this,&quot; he said. 
 
Assad&#39;s fate is a key question in efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to Syria&#39;s five-year civil war.&nbsp; 
 
Hopes for the existing peace process rest on the UN-backed blueprint sketched out by the 22-nation, US and Russian-led International Syria Support Group. 
 
Under this road map, signed by both Syria&#39;s ally Iran and Assad&#39;s pro-rebel foe Saudi Arabia, a nationwide ceasefire will precede Geneva-based talks on &quot;political transition&quot;. 
 
But there has been little progress towards a resumption of talks that had been expected to take place this month. 
 
And the prospects for a political transition beginning August, as laid out in the road map, now appear slim. 
 
Kerry was due to arrive later today in Moscow, a close ally of Assad&#39;s government that launched air strikes in support of regime forces last September. 
 
Kerry said before leaving Washington that he would meet Putin &quot;to see if we can somehow advance this (the peace process) in the important ways that people want us to&quot;. Moscow and Washington brokered a landmark partial ceasefire in Syria in February but it has since all but collapsed amid continued heavy fighting. 
 
Kerry&#39;s spokesman John Kirby told reporters his boss was &quot;extremely frustrated&quot; with the failure of peace efforts and &quot;his patience was growing thin&quot;. 
 
In Washington, many observers have criticised Kerry&#39;s outreach to Russia on Syria, arguing he has been strung along by Putin as he seeks to protect his client Assad. 
 
But Kirby insisted the administration is not being naive, and that today&#39;s visit to Moscow, Kerry&#39;s third this year, would &quot;probe the sincerity&quot; of Putin&#39;s promises. 
 
Syria&#39;s conflict began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and has evolved into a complex multi-front war that has left more than 280,000 dead and forced millions from their homes. 
 
Efforts to bring an end to the war have taken on greater urgency since the emergence of the Islamic State group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in mid-2014. 
 
The jihadist group has committed widespread atrocities in areas under its control and organised or inspired a wave of attacks across the Middle East and in Western cities. 
 
A US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes against the jihadists in Syria and Iraq and recent months have seen IS lose significant territory. 
 
The Washington Post reported today that Washington was to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against IS and the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front. 
 
In Paris before heading to Moscow, Kerry did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. 
 
According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the groups. 
 
Such a deal is likely to face criticism that it amounts to a tacit acceptance of Putin&#39;s efforts to shore up Assad&#39;s regime.&nbsp; 
 
It was her own fault 
In his interview with NBC, Assad also said a US reporter killed in alleged Syrian government bombardment in 2012 was responsible for her own death. 
 
Marie Colvin, a 56-year-old war correspondent working for British newspaper The Sunday Times, died in the rebel-held Baba Amr district of Syria&#39;s third city Homs. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a war and she came illegally to Syria. She worked with the terrorists, and because she came illegally, she&#39;s been responsible of everything that befall on her,&quot; Assad said, speaking in English. 
 
Asked if she was responsible for her own death, Assad replied &quot;of course&quot;, though he denied that his forces had targeted her. 
 
His comments came days after relatives of Colvin filed a lawsuit in a US court alleging Assad&#39;s regime targeted her to stop her covering government atrocities. 
 
The suit, based on information from captured government documents as well as defectors, claims the Syrian military intercepted Colvin&#39;s communications and unleashed a barrage of rocket fire on her location, killing her and French photographer Remi Ochlik. 
 
(AFP)

'Only the Syrian people define who's going to be the President, when to come, and when to go,' he said

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said today he has never faced pressure from Russia to step aside, as US secretary of state John Kerry headed to Moscow seeking to revive stalled peace efforts. Speaking to NBC News in Damascus, Assad insisted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had never raised the issue of his departure or a political transition. "Only the Syrian people define who's going to be the President, when to come, and when to go. They never said a single word regarding this," he said. Assad's fate is a key question in efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to Syria's five-year civil war. Hopes for the existing peace process rest on the UN-backed blueprint sketched out by the 22-nation, US and Russian-led International Syria Support Group. Under this road map, signed by both Syria's ally Iran and Assad's pro-rebel foe Saudi Arabia, a nationwide ceasefire will precede Geneva-based talks on "political transition". But there has been little progress towards a resumption of talks that had been expected to take place this month. And the prospects for a political transition beginning August, as laid out in the road map, now appear slim. Kerry was due to arrive later today in Moscow, a close ally of Assad's government that launched air strikes in support of regime forces last September. Kerry said before leaving Washington that he would meet Putin "to see if we can somehow advance this (the peace process) in the important ways that people want us to". Moscow and Washington brokered a landmark partial ceasefire in Syria in February but it has since all but collapsed amid continued heavy fighting. Kerry's spokesman John Kirby told reporters his boss was "extremely frustrated" with the failure of peace efforts and "his patience was growing thin". In Washington, many observers have criticised Kerry's outreach to Russia on Syria, arguing he has been strung along by Putin as he seeks to protect his client Assad. But Kirby insisted the administration is not being naive, and that today's visit to Moscow, Kerry's third this year, would "probe the sincerity" of Putin's promises. Syria's conflict began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and has evolved into a complex multi-front war that has left more than 280,000 dead and forced millions from their homes. Efforts to bring an end to the war have taken on greater urgency since the emergence of the Islamic State group, which seized control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in mid-2014. The jihadist group has committed widespread atrocities in areas under its control and organised or inspired a wave of attacks across the Middle East and in Western cities. A US-led coalition is carrying out air strikes against the jihadists in Syria and Iraq and recent months have seen IS lose significant territory. The Washington Post reported today that Washington was to offer to cooperate with Russia in joint military action against IS and the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front. In Paris before heading to Moscow, Kerry did not deny the report, but refused to discuss the proposal in detail until he had been to the Kremlin. According to the Post, which cited sections of what it said was a draft agreement, US and Russian commanders would set up a joint command and control centre to direct intensified air strikes against the groups. Such a deal is likely to face criticism that it amounts to a tacit acceptance of Putin's efforts to shore up Assad's regime. It was her own fault In his interview with NBC, Assad also said a US reporter killed in alleged Syrian government bombardment in 2012 was responsible for her own death. Marie Colvin, a 56-year-old war correspondent working for British newspaper The Sunday Times, died in the rebel-held Baba Amr district of Syria's third city Homs. "It's a war and she came illegally to Syria. She worked with the terrorists, and because she came illegally, she's been responsible of everything that befall on her," Assad said, speaking in English. Asked if she was responsible for her own death, Assad replied "of course", though he denied that his forces had targeted her. His comments came days after relatives of Colvin filed a lawsuit in a US court alleging Assad's regime targeted her to stop her covering government atrocities. The suit, based on information from captured government documents as well as defectors, claims the Syrian military intercepted Colvin's communications and unleashed a barrage of rocket fire on her location, killing her and French photographer Remi Ochlik. (AFP)

Have never faced pressure from Russia to step aside: Assad

The United States is using quiet diplomacy to persuade the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other Asian nations not to move aggressively to capitalise on an international court ruling that denied China&#39;s claims to the South China Sea, several US administration officials said on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;What we want is to quiet things down so these issues can be addressed rationally instead of emotionally,&quot; said one official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private diplomatic messages. 
 
Some were sent through US embassies abroad and foreign missions in Washington, while others were conveyed directly to top officials by Defence Secretary Ash Carter, Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior officials, the sources said. 
 
&quot;This is a blanket call for quiet, not some attempt to rally the region against China, which would play into a false narrative that the US is leading a coalition to contain China,&quot; the official added. 
 
The effort to calm the waters following the court ruling in The Hague on Tuesday suffered a setback when Taiwan dispatched a warship to the area, with President Tsai Ing-wen telling sailors that their mission was to defend Taiwan&#39;s maritime territory. 
 
The court ruled that while China has no historic rights to the area within its self-declared nine-dash line, Taiwan has no right to Itu Aba, also called Taiping, the largest island in the Spratlys. Taipei administers Itu Aba but the tribunal called it a &quot;rock&quot;, according to the legal definition. 
 
The US officials said they hoped the US diplomatic initiative would be more successful in Indonesia, which wants to send hundreds of fishermen to the Natuna Islands to assert its sovereignty over nearby areas of the South China Sea to which China says it also has claims, and in the Philippines, whose fishermen have been harassed by Chinese coast guard and naval vessels. 
 
Unknown Quantity 
 
One official said new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains &quot;somewhat of an unknown quantity&quot; who has been alternately bellicose and accommodating toward China. 
 
Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that ahead of the ruling he had spoken to Carter, who he said that China had assured the United States it would exercise restraint, and that the US government made the same assurance. 
 
Carter had sought and been given the same assurance from the Philippines, Lorenzana added. 
 
China, for its part, repeated pleas for talks between Beijing and Manila, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying the it is time to get things back on the &quot;right track&quot; after the &quot;farce&quot; of the case. 
 
Today, the official newspaper of China&#39;s ruling Communist Party said China had shown it can fix territorial issues via talks, pointing to agreement reached with Vietnam over their maritime boundary in the Gulf of Tonkin and ongoing talks with South Korea. 
 
&quot;China is a faithful defender of the principle that countries large and small are equal and has consistently upheld using consultations to resolve border issues on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect,&quot; the People&#39;s Daily said in a commentary. 
 
Meanwhile, two Chinese civilian aircraft landed on Wednesday at two new airports on reefs controlled by China in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, a move the State Department said would increase tensions rather than lower them. 
 
&quot;We don&#39;t have a dog in this fight other than our belief ... in freedom of navigation,&quot; State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing on Wednesday. &quot;What we want to see in this very tense part of Asia, of the Pacific, rather, is a de-escalation of tensions and we want to see all claimants take a moment to look at how we can find a peaceful way forward.&quot; 
 
Contingency Plan 
 
However, if that effort fails, and competition escalates into confrontation, US air and naval forces are prepared to uphold freedom of maritime and air navigation in the disputed area, a defence official said on Wednesday. 
 
Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said confrontation is less likely if the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries work with the United States rather than on their own. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t think China wants a confrontation with the United States,&quot; he told reporters. &quot;They don&rsquo;t mind a confrontation with a Vietnamese fishing boat, but they don&rsquo;t want a confrontation with the United States.&quot; 
 
The court ruling is expected to dominate a meeting at the end of July in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.&nbsp;US Secretary of State John Kerry, and his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang, will attend the ministerial. 
 
Sino-American relations suffered two fresh blows on Wednesday as a congressional committee found China&#39;s government likely hacked computers at the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the United States challenged China&#39;s export duties on nine metals and minerals that are important to the aerospace, auto, electronics and chemical industries. 
 
(Reuters)

Confrontation is less likely if the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries work with the United States rather than on their own

The United States is using quiet diplomacy to persuade the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other Asian nations not to move aggressively to capitalise on an international court ruling that denied China's claims to the South China Sea, several US administration officials said on Wednesday. "What we want is to quiet things down so these issues can be addressed rationally instead of emotionally," said one official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private diplomatic messages. Some were sent through US embassies abroad and foreign missions in Washington, while others were conveyed directly to top officials by Defence Secretary Ash Carter, Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior officials, the sources said. "This is a blanket call for quiet, not some attempt to rally the region against China, which would play into a false narrative that the US is leading a coalition to contain China," the official added. The effort to calm the waters following the court ruling in The Hague on Tuesday suffered a setback when Taiwan dispatched a warship to the area, with President Tsai Ing-wen telling sailors that their mission was to defend Taiwan's maritime territory. The court ruled that while China has no historic rights to the area within its self-declared nine-dash line, Taiwan has no right to Itu Aba, also called Taiping, the largest island in the Spratlys. Taipei administers Itu Aba but the tribunal called it a "rock", according to the legal definition. The US officials said they hoped the US diplomatic initiative would be more successful in Indonesia, which wants to send hundreds of fishermen to the Natuna Islands to assert its sovereignty over nearby areas of the South China Sea to which China says it also has claims, and in the Philippines, whose fishermen have been harassed by Chinese coast guard and naval vessels. Unknown Quantity One official said new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remains "somewhat of an unknown quantity" who has been alternately bellicose and accommodating toward China. Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that ahead of the ruling he had spoken to Carter, who he said that China had assured the United States it would exercise restraint, and that the US government made the same assurance. Carter had sought and been given the same assurance from the Philippines, Lorenzana added. China, for its part, repeated pleas for talks between Beijing and Manila, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying the it is time to get things back on the "right track" after the "farce" of the case. Today, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party said China had shown it can fix territorial issues via talks, pointing to agreement reached with Vietnam over their maritime boundary in the Gulf of Tonkin and ongoing talks with South Korea. "China is a faithful defender of the principle that countries large and small are equal and has consistently upheld using consultations to resolve border issues on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect," the People's Daily said in a commentary. Meanwhile, two Chinese civilian aircraft landed on Wednesday at two new airports on reefs controlled by China in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, a move the State Department said would increase tensions rather than lower them. "We don't have a dog in this fight other than our belief ... in freedom of navigation," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing on Wednesday. "What we want to see in this very tense part of Asia, of the Pacific, rather, is a de-escalation of tensions and we want to see all claimants take a moment to look at how we can find a peaceful way forward." Contingency Plan However, if that effort fails, and competition escalates into confrontation, US air and naval forces are prepared to uphold freedom of maritime and air navigation in the disputed area, a defence official said on Wednesday. Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said confrontation is less likely if the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries work with the United States rather than on their own. "I don't think China wants a confrontation with the United States," he told reporters. "They don’t mind a confrontation with a Vietnamese fishing boat, but they don’t want a confrontation with the United States." The court ruling is expected to dominate a meeting at the end of July in Laos of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. US Secretary of State John Kerry, and his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang, will attend the ministerial. Sino-American relations suffered two fresh blows on Wednesday as a congressional committee found China's government likely hacked computers at the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the United States challenged China's export duties on nine metals and minerals that are important to the aerospace, auto, electronics and chemical industries. (Reuters)

US launches quiet diplomacy to ease South China Sea tensions

Citibank plans to close the account Venezuela uses to make international payments, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday, accusing the US-based bank of a &quot;financial blockade&quot;. 
 
&quot;Citibank, with no warning or communication, says that it is going to close the Central Bank and Bank Of Venezuela account. That is what you call a financial blockade,&quot; the embattled president said in televised remarks. 
 
He said the move amounted to an &quot;inquisition&quot; by US President Barack Obama&#39;s administration.&nbsp;Maduro said his South American nation, a major oil producer, uses the account to make payments &quot;within 24 hours, to other accounts in the United States and worldwide&quot;. 
 
Maduro&#39;s socialist government has often claimed that US &quot;right wing&quot; interests and local business elites were trying to blockade his state-led economy and prevent Venezuela&#39;s access to international credit. 
 
&quot;Do you think they are going to stop us by putting in place a financial blockade? No, ladies and gentlemen, nobody stops Venezuela. With Citibank or without it, we are moving forward. With Kimberly or without, we are moving.&quot; 
 
Venezuela&#39;s government said just hours earlier that it would take over operations at facilities where US consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark just shut down, citing unworkable economic conditions.&nbsp;The American company announced on Saturday it would cease production, saying that it was impossible to get enough hard currency to buy raw materials, and that inflation was surging. 
 
&quot;We are going to sign, at the workers&#39; request... to authorise immediate occupation of the workplace known as Kimberly-Clark de Venezuela... by its workers,&quot; Labor Minister Oswaldo Vera said at the facility&#39;s plant in the central city of Maracay. 
 
The country&#39;s economy has been hard hit by the plunging value of its main export, oil. Analysts also criticise its state-led economy of gross mismanagement leading to shortages of toilet paper, diapers and food. 
 
Vera signed the document to loud cheers and&nbsp;he said machines would be back in operation within hours.&nbsp;In a sign of Maduro&#39;s concern at mounting social unrest, the president on Thursday replaced the head of the National Guard.&nbsp; 
 
The Venezuelan opposition launched efforts to remove the president after winning control of the legislature in January.&nbsp;But Maduro has challenged his rivals through the Supreme Court, which they accuse him of controlling. 
 
(AFP)

He accuses the US-based bank of a 'financial blockade', says the move amounts to an 'inquisition' by the Obama administration

Citibank plans to close the account Venezuela uses to make international payments, President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday, accusing the US-based bank of a "financial blockade". "Citibank, with no warning or communication, says that it is going to close the Central Bank and Bank Of Venezuela account. That is what you call a financial blockade," the embattled president said in televised remarks. He said the move amounted to an "inquisition" by US President Barack Obama's administration. Maduro said his South American nation, a major oil producer, uses the account to make payments "within 24 hours, to other accounts in the United States and worldwide". Maduro's socialist government has often claimed that US "right wing" interests and local business elites were trying to blockade his state-led economy and prevent Venezuela's access to international credit. "Do you think they are going to stop us by putting in place a financial blockade? No, ladies and gentlemen, nobody stops Venezuela. With Citibank or without it, we are moving forward. With Kimberly or without, we are moving." Venezuela's government said just hours earlier that it would take over operations at facilities where US consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark just shut down, citing unworkable economic conditions. The American company announced on Saturday it would cease production, saying that it was impossible to get enough hard currency to buy raw materials, and that inflation was surging. "We are going to sign, at the workers' request... to authorise immediate occupation of the workplace known as Kimberly-Clark de Venezuela... by its workers," Labor Minister Oswaldo Vera said at the facility's plant in the central city of Maracay. The country's economy has been hard hit by the plunging value of its main export, oil. Analysts also criticise its state-led economy of gross mismanagement leading to shortages of toilet paper, diapers and food. Vera signed the document to loud cheers and he said machines would be back in operation within hours. In a sign of Maduro's concern at mounting social unrest, the president on Thursday replaced the head of the National Guard. The Venezuelan opposition launched efforts to remove the president after winning control of the legislature in January. But Maduro has challenged his rivals through the Supreme Court, which they accuse him of controlling. (AFP)

Venezuela President: Citibank planning to close account used to make international payments

The United States will&nbsp;welcome&nbsp;10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year as promised by President Barack Obama, secretary of state John Kerry announced on&nbsp;Tuesday.

Washington has been criticized by some activists for moving too slowly to settle those fleeing the conflict, while Obama&#39;s opponents warn their number may include terrorists.

But Kerry said the United States is now on course to admit 10,000 vulnerable refugees, chosen from UN camps and vetted by US security and intelligence agencies.

&quot;It&#39;s also representing six-fold increase over what we did the year before,&quot; Kerry said, referring to the US fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30.

&quot;I&#39;m proud to say that the United States is by far the largest contributor of emergency aid, but we all recognize that still more needs to be done,&quot; he said.

Kerry made the remarks at a dinner in Washington to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, shortly before he was due to set off on a tour of European capitals.

This journey was to take him Friday to Moscow, where he is set to meet with President Vladimir Putin and lobby Russia to do more to help end Syria&#39;s five-year-old conflict.

Syria is in the grip of what Kerry called the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, and more than 4.8 million people have fled the country.

The United States has traditionally been by far the world&#39;s most generous host for refugees but has been criticized for moving too slowly to respond to the Syrian crisis.

Frontline states like Lebanon and Jordan meanwhile have been all but overwhelmed, and the arrival of streams of unvetted migrants on Europe&#39;s shores provoked a crisis.

Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged Obama plans allow hundreds of thousands of Syrians to come to the United States without security checks.

But the 10,000 who will be allowed in before September 30 were selected in UN camps as vulnerable -- such as widows, the elderly and disabled -- and screened by US officials. 
 
(AFP)

The announcement comes in the wake of the United States being criticised for being too slow in responding to the Syrian refugee crisis

The United States will welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year as promised by President Barack Obama, secretary of state John Kerry announced on Tuesday. Washington has been criticized by some activists for moving too slowly to settle those fleeing the conflict, while Obama's opponents warn their number may include terrorists. But Kerry said the United States is now on course to admit 10,000 vulnerable refugees, chosen from UN camps and vetted by US security and intelligence agencies. "It's also representing six-fold increase over what we did the year before," Kerry said, referring to the US fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. "I'm proud to say that the United States is by far the largest contributor of emergency aid, but we all recognize that still more needs to be done," he said. Kerry made the remarks at a dinner in Washington to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, shortly before he was due to set off on a tour of European capitals. This journey was to take him Friday to Moscow, where he is set to meet with President Vladimir Putin and lobby Russia to do more to help end Syria's five-year-old conflict. Syria is in the grip of what Kerry called the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, and more than 4.8 million people have fled the country. The United States has traditionally been by far the world's most generous host for refugees but has been criticized for moving too slowly to respond to the Syrian crisis. Frontline states like Lebanon and Jordan meanwhile have been all but overwhelmed, and the arrival of streams of unvetted migrants on Europe's shores provoked a crisis. Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged Obama plans allow hundreds of thousands of Syrians to come to the United States without security checks. But the 10,000 who will be allowed in before September 30 were selected in UN camps as vulnerable -- such as widows, the elderly and disabled -- and screened by US officials. (AFP)

US will welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees: John Kerry

The European Union on Tuesday launched a controversial deal with the United States aimed at curbing government spying on the personal internet infomation of European citizens. 
 
The deal replaces one struck down by the EU&#39;s top court in October, a decision which left firms like Google and Facebook in legal limbo over whether they could transfer data to their US headquarters. The court struck down that deal based on an Austrian activist&#39;s case against Facebook in Ireland, and its judgment cited US snooping practices exposed by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. 
 
&quot;The EU-US Privacy Shield is a robust new system to protect the personal data of Europeans and ensure legal certainty for businesses,&quot; said EU justice commissioner Vera Jourova, launching the deal with US commerce secretary Penny Pritzker in Brussels. 
 
The deal will take effect within hours once EU member states are formally notified, officials said.&quot;The approval of the privacy deal is a milestone for privacy at a time when the sharing of data is driving growth in every sector,&quot; Pritzker told a press conference with Jourova. 
 
The deal will &quot;facilitate more trade across our borders, more collaboration across the Atlantic and more job creating investments in our communities&quot;, Pritzker said. 
 
Jourova insisted the deal offers the &quot;highest standards&quot; to protect personal data of EU citizens. 
 
But critics say it amounts to &quot;a little upgrade&quot; over the previous arrangement, called Safe Harbour. 
 
Austrian internet activist Max Schrems, who brought the original case against Facebook, said the new deal was likely to face fresh legal challenges. &quot;This deal is bad for users,&quot; Schrems said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it was the result of pressure from Washington. 
 
The old agreement effectively meant that Europe treated the United States as a safe destination for internet data on the basis that Brussels and Washington adhered to similar standards. 
 
Safe Harbour was declared &quot;invalid&quot; by the European Court of Justice, citing National Security Agency documents leaked by Snowden in 2013. 
 
Top US companies including Facebook, Google and Microsoft in particular have been eager to end the legal void, because they transfer data from their European subsidiaries to their headquarters in the United States. 
 
The deal includes commitments by the US to limit the use of bulk-collected intelligence, the appointment of a US ombudsman to deal with complaints by European citizens, and fines for firms that do not comply. 
 
The deal will also be subject to an annual review. 
 
But activists and European lawmakers are highly critical. They call the deal still highly deficient in terms of protection from US government access to data, as well as safeguards from bulk data collection. 
 
The European Parliament in May asked the EU to continue negotiating with the United States for a better deal. 
 
It said the proposed US ombudsman to deal with complaints by European citizens would neither be &quot;sufficiently independent&quot; nor have enough powers to act. 
 
But Markus Beyrer, director general of Brussels-based BusinessEurope, said the deal &quot;will enhance legal certainty for thousands of businesses on both sides of the Atlantic while providing an adequate level of protection for citizens&#39; data&quot;. 
 
The members of Industry group DIGITALEUROPE are &quot;ready to begin the re-certification process&quot; through the US department of Commerce when it begins on August 1, communications director Paul Meller said. 
 
(AFP)

Critics say it amounts to 'a little upgrade' from the previous one, likely to face fresh legal challenges

The European Union on Tuesday launched a controversial deal with the United States aimed at curbing government spying on the personal internet infomation of European citizens. The deal replaces one struck down by the EU's top court in October, a decision which left firms like Google and Facebook in legal limbo over whether they could transfer data to their US headquarters. The court struck down that deal based on an Austrian activist's case against Facebook in Ireland, and its judgment cited US snooping practices exposed by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. "The EU-US Privacy Shield is a robust new system to protect the personal data of Europeans and ensure legal certainty for businesses," said EU justice commissioner Vera Jourova, launching the deal with US commerce secretary Penny Pritzker in Brussels. The deal will take effect within hours once EU member states are formally notified, officials said."The approval of the privacy deal is a milestone for privacy at a time when the sharing of data is driving growth in every sector," Pritzker told a press conference with Jourova. The deal will "facilitate more trade across our borders, more collaboration across the Atlantic and more job creating investments in our communities", Pritzker said. Jourova insisted the deal offers the "highest standards" to protect personal data of EU citizens. But critics say it amounts to "a little upgrade" over the previous arrangement, called Safe Harbour. Austrian internet activist Max Schrems, who brought the original case against Facebook, said the new deal was likely to face fresh legal challenges. "This deal is bad for users," Schrems said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it was the result of pressure from Washington. The old agreement effectively meant that Europe treated the United States as a safe destination for internet data on the basis that Brussels and Washington adhered to similar standards. Safe Harbour was declared "invalid" by the European Court of Justice, citing National Security Agency documents leaked by Snowden in 2013. Top US companies including Facebook, Google and Microsoft in particular have been eager to end the legal void, because they transfer data from their European subsidiaries to their headquarters in the United States. The deal includes commitments by the US to limit the use of bulk-collected intelligence, the appointment of a US ombudsman to deal with complaints by European citizens, and fines for firms that do not comply. The deal will also be subject to an annual review. But activists and European lawmakers are highly critical. They call the deal still highly deficient in terms of protection from US government access to data, as well as safeguards from bulk data collection. The European Parliament in May asked the EU to continue negotiating with the United States for a better deal. It said the proposed US ombudsman to deal with complaints by European citizens would neither be "sufficiently independent" nor have enough powers to act. But Markus Beyrer, director general of Brussels-based BusinessEurope, said the deal "will enhance legal certainty for thousands of businesses on both sides of the Atlantic while providing an adequate level of protection for citizens' data". The members of Industry group DIGITALEUROPE are "ready to begin the re-certification process" through the US department of Commerce when it begins on August 1, communications director Paul Meller said. (AFP)

EU signs controversial internet privacy deal with US

US defence secretary Ashton Carter arrived in Afghanistan on Tuesday for talks with President Ashraf Ghani, days after the United States and NATO pledged to keep thousands of troops in the troubled country. 
 
Carter flew in to Bagram air base outside Kabul, and was due to meet with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in the capital later. 
 
The Pentagon chief&#39;s visit follows a renewed commitment to Afghanistan from NATO, which said over the weekend it would keep forces there at least until the end of 2017. 
 
Most are American, but some 40 countries have deployed troops there. Their official role is to train Afghan forces, who are now responsible for their country&#39;s security. 
 
Despite a massive, nearly 15-year international effort to defeat the Taliban, the resurgent group controls large areas of Afghanistan and have vowed to keep fighting until foreign forces leave. 
 
President Barack Obama, elected eight years ago on a pledge to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been unable to do so given the fragile security situations in both countries. 
 
Last week he dialled back plans to cut US troop numbers in Afghanistan from 9800 to 5500 by the end of the year.&nbsp;Instead, some 8400 US troops will remain, providing training and air support to the Afghans.&nbsp; 
 
Obama has also relaxed rules of engagement, making it easier for US troops to target the Taliban, a move that the head of NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, said was in &quot;recognition of the difficulties that we are facing&quot;. 
 
&quot;We can strike the Taliban and disrupt the enemy,&quot; he told reporters in Kabul over the weekend, adding that Obama had granted &quot;all the capabilities that we requested&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Local forces took the lead in providing security in 2015, but are struggling to contain Taliban offensives and prevent attacks from the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda. 
 
More than 5000 Afghan security forces were killed last year, and attacks continue. The Taliban claimed responsibility last month for a suicide attack that killed more than 30 Afghan police cadets in Kabul. 
 
Further complicating matters is endemic corruption and allegations of rights abuses. &nbsp;About 13,000 NATO troops, most of whom are American, are currently stationed in Afghanistan under Operation Resolute Support to train and assist Afghan security forces. 
 
NATO has agreed about 12,000 troops will remain in Afghanistan through at least 2017, though in reality local troops are likely to need foreign support and funding for years to come.&nbsp; 
 
In return, NATO is demanding reforms of the Afghan security forces.&nbsp;Carter&#39;s visit followed a brief trip to Baghdad on Monday, where he pledged hundreds of additional US troops to assist Iraqis fighting against the Islamic State group. 
 
(AFP)

The visit comes a week after Obama dialled back plans to cut troops in Afghanistan

US defence secretary Ashton Carter arrived in Afghanistan on Tuesday for talks with President Ashraf Ghani, days after the United States and NATO pledged to keep thousands of troops in the troubled country. Carter flew in to Bagram air base outside Kabul, and was due to meet with Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in the capital later. The Pentagon chief's visit follows a renewed commitment to Afghanistan from NATO, which said over the weekend it would keep forces there at least until the end of 2017. Most are American, but some 40 countries have deployed troops there. Their official role is to train Afghan forces, who are now responsible for their country's security. Despite a massive, nearly 15-year international effort to defeat the Taliban, the resurgent group controls large areas of Afghanistan and have vowed to keep fighting until foreign forces leave. President Barack Obama, elected eight years ago on a pledge to end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been unable to do so given the fragile security situations in both countries. Last week he dialled back plans to cut US troop numbers in Afghanistan from 9800 to 5500 by the end of the year. Instead, some 8400 US troops will remain, providing training and air support to the Afghans. Obama has also relaxed rules of engagement, making it easier for US troops to target the Taliban, a move that the head of NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, said was in "recognition of the difficulties that we are facing". "We can strike the Taliban and disrupt the enemy," he told reporters in Kabul over the weekend, adding that Obama had granted "all the capabilities that we requested". Local forces took the lead in providing security in 2015, but are struggling to contain Taliban offensives and prevent attacks from the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda. More than 5000 Afghan security forces were killed last year, and attacks continue. The Taliban claimed responsibility last month for a suicide attack that killed more than 30 Afghan police cadets in Kabul. Further complicating matters is endemic corruption and allegations of rights abuses. About 13,000 NATO troops, most of whom are American, are currently stationed in Afghanistan under Operation Resolute Support to train and assist Afghan security forces. NATO has agreed about 12,000 troops will remain in Afghanistan through at least 2017, though in reality local troops are likely to need foreign support and funding for years to come. In return, NATO is demanding reforms of the Afghan security forces. Carter's visit followed a brief trip to Baghdad on Monday, where he pledged hundreds of additional US troops to assist Iraqis fighting against the Islamic State group. (AFP)

Pentagon chief lands in Afghanistan

&nbsp;Police arrested dozens more protesters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday after authorities warned they would not tolerate violence during street demonstrations over the fatal police shootings of two African-American men. 
 
Photos and video posted on social media by witnesses and journalists showed protesters being arrested in different parts of the city by police officers who told the crowds they were no longer holding peaceful demonstrations or that they were blocking major thoroughfares. 
 
Louisiana media, citing Baton Rouge police, reported that at least 48 people were taken into custody after demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday evening following an earlier peaceful march to the state capitol. 
 
The protests follow the shootings by police of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, 32, in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
Calls for demonstrations to remain peaceful in Louisiana and Minnesota came as authorities grappled with a wave of protests against police use of force that has swept the country in the past week. 
 
A US military veteran shot and killed five police officers at a spontaneous march in Dallas on Thursday, sending a chill through law enforcement as well as those involved in the mostly peaceful demonstrations. 
 
In Baton Rouge, police arrested 102 people on Saturday night and Sunday morning, mostly for misdemeanors for not leaving a major thoroughfare known as Airline Highway. Those arrested included DeRay Mckesson, an activist and former Baltimore mayoral candidate, officials said. 
 
Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference earlier on Sunday that he was proud of how the police had handled the protests so far, saying law enforcement had responded in a &quot;moderate&quot; manner. He also said the vast majority of protesters had acted lawfully and non-violently. 
 
Protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed &quot;to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities,&quot; Edwards told a news conference. &quot;Now I want to be very clear. That will not be tolerated.&quot; 
 
Edwards also said that blocking traffic was cause for arrest. 
 
In Minnesota, state police said more than 200 protesters shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul for hours on Saturday night to protest against Castile&#39;s killing. Officers were hit with rocks, bottles, concrete, construction materials and fireworks, police said. 
 
The city&#39;s mayor and a protest leader both decried the violence, which injured 21 officers and led to 102 arrests. St. Paul police said one officer suffered a broken vertebrae when a concrete block was dropped on his head during the protest on the interstate. 
 
&quot;We will not tolerate the kind of shameless violence we saw throughout the course of the night,&quot; St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman told a news conference. &quot;This doesn&#39;t honor anyone&#39;s memory.&quot; 
 
Outside agitators&nbsp; 
 
In St. Paul, Rashad Turner, leader of the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter group, told WCCO-TV that the throwing of rocks and bottles at officers was disturbing. He blamed outside agitators for the violence, not the protesters on the freeway. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s ridiculous. It cannot happen. It&#39;s not what we do here in St. Paul,&quot; Turner said. &quot;It does not honor Philando Castile.&quot; 
 
Authorities said 50 protesters were arrested on the Minnesota interstate and 52 others later on a street near the governor&#39;s mansion, the site of most of the protests since Castile was shot on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;Protesters last night turned into criminals,&quot; St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said. &quot;And I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some, not all, but some.&quot; 
 
Some 300 people attended a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon at the St. Anthony police department. St. Anthony police patrol the Falcon Heights suburb where Castile was shot. 
 
In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, police said protests outside their headquarters appeared to be becoming more violent as protesters arrived from out of town. 
 
After his arrest, Mckesson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the highway and released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail, according to the sheriff&#39;s website. 
 
Baton Rouge police confiscated three rifles, three shotguns and two pistols at Saturday night&#39;s protest and were wearing helmets, shields and body armor. 
 
Police said those arrested had ignored repeated orders to stay out of the street, while demonstrators said officers charged into the crowds seemingly without any obvious provocation. 
 
&quot;The only people who were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department,&quot; Mckesson told reporters after his release. &quot;The protesters remained peaceful, both here and across the country.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Louisiana governor said protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed and blocking traffic will be a cause for arrest

Police arrested dozens more protesters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday after authorities warned they would not tolerate violence during street demonstrations over the fatal police shootings of two African-American men. Photos and video posted on social media by witnesses and journalists showed protesters being arrested in different parts of the city by police officers who told the crowds they were no longer holding peaceful demonstrations or that they were blocking major thoroughfares. Louisiana media, citing Baton Rouge police, reported that at least 48 people were taken into custody after demonstrators clashed with police on Sunday evening following an earlier peaceful march to the state capitol. The protests follow the shootings by police of Alton Sterling, 37, in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile, 32, in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Calls for demonstrations to remain peaceful in Louisiana and Minnesota came as authorities grappled with a wave of protests against police use of force that has swept the country in the past week. A US military veteran shot and killed five police officers at a spontaneous march in Dallas on Thursday, sending a chill through law enforcement as well as those involved in the mostly peaceful demonstrations. In Baton Rouge, police arrested 102 people on Saturday night and Sunday morning, mostly for misdemeanors for not leaving a major thoroughfare known as Airline Highway. Those arrested included DeRay Mckesson, an activist and former Baltimore mayoral candidate, officials said. Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference earlier on Sunday that he was proud of how the police had handled the protests so far, saying law enforcement had responded in a "moderate" manner. He also said the vast majority of protesters had acted lawfully and non-violently. Protesters from Louisiana or out of state will not be allowed "to incite hate and violence, to engage in unlawful activities," Edwards told a news conference. "Now I want to be very clear. That will not be tolerated." Edwards also said that blocking traffic was cause for arrest. In Minnesota, state police said more than 200 protesters shut down Interstate 94 in St. Paul for hours on Saturday night to protest against Castile's killing. Officers were hit with rocks, bottles, concrete, construction materials and fireworks, police said. The city's mayor and a protest leader both decried the violence, which injured 21 officers and led to 102 arrests. St. Paul police said one officer suffered a broken vertebrae when a concrete block was dropped on his head during the protest on the interstate. "We will not tolerate the kind of shameless violence we saw throughout the course of the night," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman told a news conference. "This doesn't honor anyone's memory." Outside agitators In St. Paul, Rashad Turner, leader of the local chapter of the Black Lives Matter group, told WCCO-TV that the throwing of rocks and bottles at officers was disturbing. He blamed outside agitators for the violence, not the protesters on the freeway. "It's ridiculous. It cannot happen. It's not what we do here in St. Paul," Turner said. "It does not honor Philando Castile." Authorities said 50 protesters were arrested on the Minnesota interstate and 52 others later on a street near the governor's mansion, the site of most of the protests since Castile was shot on Wednesday. "Protesters last night turned into criminals," St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said. "And I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some, not all, but some." Some 300 people attended a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon at the St. Anthony police department. St. Anthony police patrol the Falcon Heights suburb where Castile was shot. In Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, police said protests outside their headquarters appeared to be becoming more violent as protesters arrived from out of town. After his arrest, Mckesson was booked on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the highway and released from the East Baton Rouge Parish jail, according to the sheriff's website. Baton Rouge police confiscated three rifles, three shotguns and two pistols at Saturday night's protest and were wearing helmets, shields and body armor. Police said those arrested had ignored repeated orders to stay out of the street, while demonstrators said officers charged into the crowds seemingly without any obvious provocation. "The only people who were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department," Mckesson told reporters after his release. "The protesters remained peaceful, both here and across the country." (Reuters)

Dozens more arrested in Louisiana after leaders warn against protest violence

Across the United States (US) police departments are searching for new tactics for a more difficult era of racial tension, increasingly lethal mass shootings and global terrorism. 
 
After last week&#39;s killing of five officers in Dallas, the deadliest assault on US law enforcement since the September 11, 2001 attacks, nearly half of America&#39;s 30 biggest cities have issued directives to pair up police officers on calls to boost safety, according to a Reuters survey of police departments.&nbsp; 
 
One, Indianapolis, said it would consider the use of robots to deliberately deliver lethal force, an unprecedented tactic until Thursday when the Dallas police department used a military-grade robot to deliver and detonate explosives where the shooter was holed up. 
 
Ambushes against police added to a sense of being under siege&nbsp; 
 
While a wave of anti-police protests since the 2014 killing of an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri, has revived memories of 1960s protests over civil rights and the Vietnam War, Thursday&#39;s shooting marked something different: a willingness to take up arms against police. 
 
Ambushes against police on Thursday and Friday in Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri added to a sense of them being under siege and vulnerable at a time when many departments already were grappling with heightened community suspicion over the use of deadly force. 
 
Responding to the Dallas shooting, Denver&rsquo;s police union wants officers to wear riot gear for local protests and to be armed with AR-15 assault rifles while patrolling Denver International Airport, the union said in a letter to the mayor published in The Denver Post. 
 
The most immediate change is the pairing up of officers. Thirteen of the country&#39;s 30 biggest city police department said they are pairing up officers - a change that could strain already thinly staffed police ranks in some regions. 
 
(The 13 are New York City, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Seattle, Memphis, Boston and Portland.) 
 
In Albuquerque, New Mexico &mdash; one of several cities dealing with an officer shortage &mdash; pairing officers could mean &ldquo;possibly longer response times for lower priority calls,&rdquo; said its police spokesman, Simon Drobik. And for cities with tight municipal budgets, some question whether this expensive strategy can last beyond the short term. 
 
Doubling up officers &quot;is a resource-intense approach and it will be a significant challenge for some police departments to sustain that strategy for very long,&quot; said Thomas Manger, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), which represents police chiefs from the country&#39;s largest cities. 
 
He predicted over the longer term that police will increase surveillance and expand their security presence at major events across the country. &quot;This will cause complaints about violating people&#39;s constitutional rights to free assembly, but it is the only way to guarantee safety,&quot; he said. 
 
&#39;Targets on their back&#39; 
 
The attack in Dallas came during a demonstration on Thursday over the shooting by police of two African-American men. Alton Sterling, 37, was shot by police in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and Philando Castile, 32, was killed on Wednesday night in a St. Paul, Minnesota suburb. 
 
The Dallas shooting also left seven officers injured. 
 
&quot;We need to figure out a way to ensure that police officers don&#39;t get targeted, because right now they do have targets on their backs,&quot; said Andrea Edmiston, director of governmental affairs for the National Association of Police Organisations, which represents about 241,000 US police officers. 
 
Few of the police forces approached by Reuters said they could discuss specific changes in tactics beyond pairing officers on the beat. Los Angeles and Denver, for instance, declined for safety reasons to discuss tactics. 
 
Indianapolis police spokesman Kendale Adams said his department would consider using a robot to deliver a bomb. &quot;Our team will consider all options in (a) deadly force encounter,&quot; he said in an e-mail. 
 
If every police department had New York City&#39;s resources, the challenges would be much less. 
 
New York police spokesman Stephen Davis said some 1,500 of the city&#39;s 36,000 police officers have received coordinated heavy weapons training.Davis said there are officers around the clock who can respond to an active shooter situation in an estimated three to five minutes. 
 
&quot;As most active shooter situations last under ten minutes, that speed is crucial,&quot; he said. &quot;But we are well aware of the luxury that we have with so many resources available to us.&quot; 
 
Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a law enforcement policy group, said that as 90 per cent of America&#39;s 18,000 police forces have under 50 officers, many simply cannot afford the kind of staff needed to respond as quickly as needed to mass shootings. 
 
Wexler said the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 had been a milestone for police in realising that major public events could become targets. 
 
&quot;Police departments will have to deploy additional forces to what have traditionally been low-risk events,&quot; he said, &quot;because those events now have the potential for some extremist or madman to commit violent acts.&quot; 
 
But he said that the best way to reduce deaths from attacks with semi-automatic weapons is to gain the trust of local communities so people will come forward and help prevent attacks. Once an attack starts, there is only so much the police can do. 
 
The MCCA&#39;s Manger said that beyond police strategy and tactics, what America needs is a change of mindset. 
 
&quot;Everyone on both sides needs to take a step back.&rdquo; 
 
(Reuters)

Half of America's 30 biggest cities have issued directives to pair up police officers

Across the United States (US) police departments are searching for new tactics for a more difficult era of racial tension, increasingly lethal mass shootings and global terrorism. After last week's killing of five officers in Dallas, the deadliest assault on US law enforcement since the September 11, 2001 attacks, nearly half of America's 30 biggest cities have issued directives to pair up police officers on calls to boost safety, according to a Reuters survey of police departments. One, Indianapolis, said it would consider the use of robots to deliberately deliver lethal force, an unprecedented tactic until Thursday when the Dallas police department used a military-grade robot to deliver and detonate explosives where the shooter was holed up. Ambushes against police added to a sense of being under siege While a wave of anti-police protests since the 2014 killing of an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri, has revived memories of 1960s protests over civil rights and the Vietnam War, Thursday's shooting marked something different: a willingness to take up arms against police. Ambushes against police on Thursday and Friday in Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri added to a sense of them being under siege and vulnerable at a time when many departments already were grappling with heightened community suspicion over the use of deadly force. Responding to the Dallas shooting, Denver’s police union wants officers to wear riot gear for local protests and to be armed with AR-15 assault rifles while patrolling Denver International Airport, the union said in a letter to the mayor published in The Denver Post. The most immediate change is the pairing up of officers. Thirteen of the country's 30 biggest city police department said they are pairing up officers - a change that could strain already thinly staffed police ranks in some regions. (The 13 are New York City, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Seattle, Memphis, Boston and Portland.) In Albuquerque, New Mexico — one of several cities dealing with an officer shortage — pairing officers could mean “possibly longer response times for lower priority calls,” said its police spokesman, Simon Drobik. And for cities with tight municipal budgets, some question whether this expensive strategy can last beyond the short term. Doubling up officers "is a resource-intense approach and it will be a significant challenge for some police departments to sustain that strategy for very long," said Thomas Manger, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), which represents police chiefs from the country's largest cities. He predicted over the longer term that police will increase surveillance and expand their security presence at major events across the country. "This will cause complaints about violating people's constitutional rights to free assembly, but it is the only way to guarantee safety," he said. 'Targets on their back' The attack in Dallas came during a demonstration on Thursday over the shooting by police of two African-American men. Alton Sterling, 37, was shot by police in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and Philando Castile, 32, was killed on Wednesday night in a St. Paul, Minnesota suburb. The Dallas shooting also left seven officers injured. "We need to figure out a way to ensure that police officers don't get targeted, because right now they do have targets on their backs," said Andrea Edmiston, director of governmental affairs for the National Association of Police Organisations, which represents about 241,000 US police officers. Few of the police forces approached by Reuters said they could discuss specific changes in tactics beyond pairing officers on the beat. Los Angeles and Denver, for instance, declined for safety reasons to discuss tactics. Indianapolis police spokesman Kendale Adams said his department would consider using a robot to deliver a bomb. "Our team will consider all options in (a) deadly force encounter," he said in an e-mail. If every police department had New York City's resources, the challenges would be much less. New York police spokesman Stephen Davis said some 1,500 of the city's 36,000 police officers have received coordinated heavy weapons training.Davis said there are officers around the clock who can respond to an active shooter situation in an estimated three to five minutes. "As most active shooter situations last under ten minutes, that speed is crucial," he said. "But we are well aware of the luxury that we have with so many resources available to us." Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a law enforcement policy group, said that as 90 per cent of America's 18,000 police forces have under 50 officers, many simply cannot afford the kind of staff needed to respond as quickly as needed to mass shootings. Wexler said the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 had been a milestone for police in realising that major public events could become targets. "Police departments will have to deploy additional forces to what have traditionally been low-risk events," he said, "because those events now have the potential for some extremist or madman to commit violent acts." But he said that the best way to reduce deaths from attacks with semi-automatic weapons is to gain the trust of local communities so people will come forward and help prevent attacks. Once an attack starts, there is only so much the police can do. The MCCA's Manger said that beyond police strategy and tactics, what America needs is a change of mindset. "Everyone on both sides needs to take a step back.” (Reuters)

US police forces search for new tactics in wake of Dallas

North Korea&#39;s military said today it will take a &quot;physical response&quot; to a move by the United States and South Korea to deploy the advanced THAAD missile defence system on the Korean peninsula to counter the threat from the North. 
 
The United States and South Korea said on Friday that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system will be used as a defence against North Korea&#39;s growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. 
 
The announcement was the latest move by the allies against the North which conducted its fourth nuclear test this year and launched a long-range rocket, resulting in tough new UN sanctions and a series of bilateral sanctions against it. 
 
&quot;There will be physical response measures from us as soon as the location and time that the invasionary tool for US world supremacy, THAAD, will be brought into South Korea,&quot; the North&#39;s military said in a statement. 
 
&quot;It is the unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike and turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes the moment we have an order to carry it out,&quot; the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency said. 
 
The North frequently threatens to attack the South and US interests in Asia and the Pacific. 
 
The move to deploy the THAAD system, which drew a swift and sharp protest from China, came a day after the US treasury department blacklisted leader North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses. 
 
North Korea called this &quot;a declaration of war&quot; and vowed a tough response. 
 
A South Korean defence ministry official said selection of a site for THAAD could come &quot;within weeks,&quot; and the allies were working to have it operational by the end of 2017. 
 
It will be deployed to US Forces Korea &quot;to protect alliance military forces,&quot; the South and the United States said on Friday. The United States maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war. 
 
It will be focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats and will not be directed towards any third-party nations, the two countries said last week. 
 
(Reuters)

Pyongyang calls missile defence system a 'declaration of war' and vows to '...turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes...'

North Korea's military said today it will take a "physical response" to a move by the United States and South Korea to deploy the advanced THAAD missile defence system on the Korean peninsula to counter the threat from the North. The United States and South Korea said on Friday that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system will be used as a defence against North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. The announcement was the latest move by the allies against the North which conducted its fourth nuclear test this year and launched a long-range rocket, resulting in tough new UN sanctions and a series of bilateral sanctions against it. "There will be physical response measures from us as soon as the location and time that the invasionary tool for US world supremacy, THAAD, will be brought into South Korea," the North's military said in a statement. "It is the unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike and turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes the moment we have an order to carry it out," the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency said. The North frequently threatens to attack the South and US interests in Asia and the Pacific. The move to deploy the THAAD system, which drew a swift and sharp protest from China, came a day after the US treasury department blacklisted leader North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses. North Korea called this "a declaration of war" and vowed a tough response. A South Korean defence ministry official said selection of a site for THAAD could come "within weeks," and the allies were working to have it operational by the end of 2017. It will be deployed to US Forces Korea "to protect alliance military forces," the South and the United States said on Friday. The United States maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war. It will be focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats and will not be directed towards any third-party nations, the two countries said last week. (Reuters)

North Korea threatens 'physical response' against US THAAD missile system deployment

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter held taks in Baghdad today over the fight against the Islamic State group and the strategy to recapture Iraq&#39;s second city Mosul from the jihadists. 
 
Carter met with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, two days after Iraq announced the recapture of a base south of Mosul seen as an important step toward the eventual battle for the city. 
 
Carter&#39;s unannounced visit is&nbsp;his fourth to Iraq since beginning his job in February 2015, which&nbsp;comes two days after Iraqi forces captured an airbase to the south of Mosul that is seen as an important step toward the eventual battle for the country&#39;s second city, which has been under IS control since June 2014. 
 
IS losing ground in Syria, Iraq; Carter wants to highlight successes&nbsp; 
 
IS also holds territory in neighbouring Syria, but has lost significant ground in both countries, and Carter wants to highlight successes, even as the jihadists have struck back with devastating attacks in Iraq and abroad. 
 
The Sunni extremists have carried out bloody attacks against civilians as they lose ground, including a bombing in Baghdad that killed 292 people this month, one of the deadliest to ever hit the country. 
 
&quot;Let me begin... by expressing the condolences of myself and the United States for the terrorist attacks against the people of Iraq in recent weeks,&quot; Carter told Abadi. 
 
&quot;You have our sympathy but also it further strengthens our resolve to help in the defeat of (IS), which all of our societies need because all of our societies are subject to attacks.&quot;&quot;I also want to congratulate you on the string of successes that the Iraqi security forces have had,&quot; said Carter. 
 
The Qayyarah airbase, which Abadi announced Saturday had been recaptured, is located 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul and can serve as a launchpad for future operations to recapture the city. 
 
&#39;Ultimate goal is recapture of Iraqi territory&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Ahead of his meetings, Carter told journalists that he would discuss the next moves in the war against the jihadists. 
 
&quot;What I&#39;ll be discussing with Prime Minister Abadi and our commanders there are the next plays in the campaign, which involve the collapse and control over Mosul,&quot; Carter said aboard a military plane. 
 
The ultimate goal, he added, was &quot;the recapture of all of Iraqi territory by the Iraqi security forces, but of course Mosul is the biggest part of that.&quot; 
 
US defence officials say the campaign`s first &quot;10 plays&quot; have been successfully completed in the US-led counter-IS campaign in Iraq and Syria. 
 
These steps include the recapture of several important areas across the two countries, including Ramadi in Iraq and Al-Shadadi, a town in northeastern Syria previously considered a strategic IS stronghold.&nbsp; 
 
Pentagon has announced a series a measures to speed up war&nbsp; 
 
Carter and President Barack Obama have been criticised for the pace of the campaign, which began in autumn 2014 and got off to a slow start, particularly in war-torn Syria, where the United States had few assets on the ground to provide targeting information.The Pentagon has announced a series of measures to speed up the war, including a revised mission to train anti-IS rebels in northern Syria and extra advisers for Iraqi forces. 
 
Coupled with coalition air support, the results have seen the IS group losing roughly half its territory in Iraq and about 20 percent of its Syria claim, the Pentagon said. 
 
But the jihadists have struck back against civilians as they lost ground. 
 
On July 3, IS carried out the devastating bombing targeting shoppers in Baghdad that killed 292, many of whom were burned alive, sparking widespread anger among Iraqis, some of whom have accused the government of not doing enough to protect them. 
 
Four days later, the jihadists struck a Shiite shrine north the capital, leaving another 40 dead. 
 
Carter was also to meet with US troops, of whom there are now about 4,000 in Iraq, mainly to train local forces. 
 
The Pentagon chief will also phone Massud Barzani, the de facto president of Iraq`s Kurdistan region. 
 
The United States has pledged $415 million to help Kurdish peshmerga fighters as they join the fight for Mosul, moving in from the north. 
 
 
(AFP)

Ashton Carter's visit come 2 days after Iraq announced recapture of a base south of Mosul, seen as an important step

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter held taks in Baghdad today over the fight against the Islamic State group and the strategy to recapture Iraq's second city Mosul from the jihadists. Carter met with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, two days after Iraq announced the recapture of a base south of Mosul seen as an important step toward the eventual battle for the city. Carter's unannounced visit is his fourth to Iraq since beginning his job in February 2015, which comes two days after Iraqi forces captured an airbase to the south of Mosul that is seen as an important step toward the eventual battle for the country's second city, which has been under IS control since June 2014. IS losing ground in Syria, Iraq; Carter wants to highlight successes IS also holds territory in neighbouring Syria, but has lost significant ground in both countries, and Carter wants to highlight successes, even as the jihadists have struck back with devastating attacks in Iraq and abroad. The Sunni extremists have carried out bloody attacks against civilians as they lose ground, including a bombing in Baghdad that killed 292 people this month, one of the deadliest to ever hit the country. "Let me begin... by expressing the condolences of myself and the United States for the terrorist attacks against the people of Iraq in recent weeks," Carter told Abadi. "You have our sympathy but also it further strengthens our resolve to help in the defeat of (IS), which all of our societies need because all of our societies are subject to attacks.""I also want to congratulate you on the string of successes that the Iraqi security forces have had," said Carter. The Qayyarah airbase, which Abadi announced Saturday had been recaptured, is located 60 kilometres (35 miles) south of Mosul and can serve as a launchpad for future operations to recapture the city. 'Ultimate goal is recapture of Iraqi territory' Ahead of his meetings, Carter told journalists that he would discuss the next moves in the war against the jihadists. "What I'll be discussing with Prime Minister Abadi and our commanders there are the next plays in the campaign, which involve the collapse and control over Mosul," Carter said aboard a military plane. The ultimate goal, he added, was "the recapture of all of Iraqi territory by the Iraqi security forces, but of course Mosul is the biggest part of that." US defence officials say the campaign`s first "10 plays" have been successfully completed in the US-led counter-IS campaign in Iraq and Syria. These steps include the recapture of several important areas across the two countries, including Ramadi in Iraq and Al-Shadadi, a town in northeastern Syria previously considered a strategic IS stronghold. Pentagon has announced a series a measures to speed up war Carter and President Barack Obama have been criticised for the pace of the campaign, which began in autumn 2014 and got off to a slow start, particularly in war-torn Syria, where the United States had few assets on the ground to provide targeting information.The Pentagon has announced a series of measures to speed up the war, including a revised mission to train anti-IS rebels in northern Syria and extra advisers for Iraqi forces. Coupled with coalition air support, the results have seen the IS group losing roughly half its territory in Iraq and about 20 percent of its Syria claim, the Pentagon said. But the jihadists have struck back against civilians as they lost ground. On July 3, IS carried out the devastating bombing targeting shoppers in Baghdad that killed 292, many of whom were burned alive, sparking widespread anger among Iraqis, some of whom have accused the government of not doing enough to protect them. Four days later, the jihadists struck a Shiite shrine north the capital, leaving another 40 dead. Carter was also to meet with US troops, of whom there are now about 4,000 in Iraq, mainly to train local forces. The Pentagon chief will also phone Massud Barzani, the de facto president of Iraq`s Kurdistan region. The United States has pledged $415 million to help Kurdish peshmerga fighters as they join the fight for Mosul, moving in from the north. (AFP)

Pentagon chief visits Baghdad to step up fight against Islamic State

Air strikes by US-led coalition warplanes and artillery fire from Turkey killed eight Islamic State fighters in northern Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency cited the Turkish military as saying today. 
 
Ten Islamic State targets were hit in the strikes, which also destroyed one building used by the militants as a base, the agency said. 
 
It said Turkish army howitzers fired on the militants as they were preparing to open fire on Turkey on Saturday from the areas of Baragitah, Tel Ahmar and Shabaniye in northern Syria. 
 
Turkey and the coalition have carried out regular strikes against Islamic State in the area in recent months after rocket attacks by the militants on the Turkish border town of Kilis. 
 
Kilis, just across the frontier from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria, has been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people have been killed. 
 
(Reuters)

Ten IS targets were hit in the strikes, which also destroyed a building used by the militants as a base, Anadolu Agency reported

Air strikes by US-led coalition warplanes and artillery fire from Turkey killed eight Islamic State fighters in northern Syria, state-run Anadolu Agency cited the Turkish military as saying today. Ten Islamic State targets were hit in the strikes, which also destroyed one building used by the militants as a base, the agency said. It said Turkish army howitzers fired on the militants as they were preparing to open fire on Turkey on Saturday from the areas of Baragitah, Tel Ahmar and Shabaniye in northern Syria. Turkey and the coalition have carried out regular strikes against Islamic State in the area in recent months after rocket attacks by the militants on the Turkish border town of Kilis. Kilis, just across the frontier from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria, has been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people have been killed. (Reuters)

US-led coalition air strikes, Turkish artillery fire kill 8 Islamic State militants

The Bahamas has issued an official travel advisory warning its citizens, especially &quot;young&nbsp;males&quot;, to exercise caution while travelling in the United States of America.&nbsp; 
 
The travel advisory issued by the island&#39;s foreign affairs ministry takes note of the &quot;recent tensions in some American cities over shootings of young black males by police officers&quot;.&nbsp;The ministry urged&nbsp;its citizens to exercise caution, especially while travelling in the affected cities.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate,&quot; the advisory reads. Many Bahamians are expected to spend their independence holiday weekend in the US. 
 
The advisory also asked citizens to contact the&nbsp;country&#39;s consular offices in case of any difficult situation instead of trying to resolve it themselves. 
 
&quot;Do not get involved in political or other demonstrations under any circumstances and avoid crowds,&quot; it warned. 
 
The advisory comes in the wake of the shooting of two unarmed African-American men, Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Minneapolis, by policemen, in circumstances that have caused an international uproar. 
 
Soon after the police shooting, an Afghanistan veteran, Micah Johnson, shot dead five caucasian police officers and wounded six other at a peaceful protest in Dallas against the killings of Sterling and Castile. Johnson reportedly said he wanted to kill &quot;white police officers&quot;. 
 
Two others shot at policemen in Tennessee and near Ballwin, Missouri, over the next 24 hours. 
 
(WION)

The travel advisory takes note of tension in US cities over the shooting of 'young black males by police officers'

The Bahamas has issued an official travel advisory warning its citizens, especially "young males", to exercise caution while travelling in the United States of America. The travel advisory issued by the island's foreign affairs ministry takes note of the "recent tensions in some American cities over shootings of young black males by police officers". The ministry urged its citizens to exercise caution, especially while travelling in the affected cities. "In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational and cooperate," the advisory reads. Many Bahamians are expected to spend their independence holiday weekend in the US. The advisory also asked citizens to contact the country's consular offices in case of any difficult situation instead of trying to resolve it themselves. "Do not get involved in political or other demonstrations under any circumstances and avoid crowds," it warned. The advisory comes in the wake of the shooting of two unarmed African-American men, Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Minneapolis, by policemen, in circumstances that have caused an international uproar. Soon after the police shooting, an Afghanistan veteran, Micah Johnson, shot dead five caucasian police officers and wounded six other at a peaceful protest in Dallas against the killings of Sterling and Castile. Johnson reportedly said he wanted to kill "white police officers". Two others shot at policemen in Tennessee and near Ballwin, Missouri, over the next 24 hours. (WION)

Exercise caution while travelling in the US, Bahamas tells its citizens

Afghan forces are suffering rising levels of battlefield casualties this year after unprecedented numbers of police and soldiers were killed and wounded in 2015, the top US commander in Afghanistan said.&nbsp; 
 
US Army General John Nicholson, in some of his first remarks since the United States last week scaled back its withdrawal plans, told a small group of reporters that the rising casualties were largely the result of Taliban attacks on fixed Afghan positions. 
 
&quot;This year, we&#39;re seeing more tactical success (by the Afghans) on the battlefield but more casualties as well,&quot; Nicholson said late on Saturday when asked about how Afghan forces were faring this year compared with 2015. He did not disclose figures. 
 
A spokesman told Reuters today that Nicholson was referring to an increase so far in 2016 compared with the same period in 2015, and noted how fighting was more intense due to the milder winter this year. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s when they&#39;re in a defensive posture, such as in checkpoints being overrun, is where the majority of the casualties are occurring,&quot; Nicholson said. 
 
More than 5,000 forces in Afghanistan were killed in action and over 14,000 were wounded in 2015, when the Taliban staged a series of attacks that upended US assumptions about the ability of Afghan forces to secure the country after more than 14 1/2 years of war. 
 
On July 6, US President Barack Obama scrapped plans to slash the number of US forces to 5,500 troops from 9,800 before he leaves office, citing precarious security in Afghanistan. 
 
Obama now plans to leave around 8,400 US troops. 
 
US allies are also renewing their commitments, and NATO agreed on Saturday to help fund Afghan forces to the tune of around $1 billion annually over the next three years. 
 
Nicholson praised Afghan forces for being able to recruit new fighters and carry on, despite the casualty rates. He said their losses could be addressed, including by replicating successful efforts to rapidly reset and retrain Afghan forces in southern Helmand province after their dismal performance last year. 
 
Major General Moeen Faqir, the new commander of the 215th Corps in Helmand, told reporters his casualties were sharply down this year from 2015. 
 
Nicholson also suggested the Afghan Taliban were struggling after the US killed their leader, Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansour, in a May drone strike across the border in Pakistan. 
 
Mansour had tight control of Taliban finances, Nicholson said. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;So what we&#39;re seeing are some indications that some of the finances of the organisation have been disrupted,&quot; he said. 
 
Nicholson suggested Mansour&#39;s successor, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, had also alienated some fighters in the past. 
 
&quot;So he&#39;s not a unifying figure within that organisation,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters)

'This year, we're seeing more tactical success (by the Afghans) on the battlefield but more casualties as well,' said US Army General

Afghan forces are suffering rising levels of battlefield casualties this year after unprecedented numbers of police and soldiers were killed and wounded in 2015, the top US commander in Afghanistan said. US Army General John Nicholson, in some of his first remarks since the United States last week scaled back its withdrawal plans, told a small group of reporters that the rising casualties were largely the result of Taliban attacks on fixed Afghan positions. "This year, we're seeing more tactical success (by the Afghans) on the battlefield but more casualties as well," Nicholson said late on Saturday when asked about how Afghan forces were faring this year compared with 2015. He did not disclose figures. A spokesman told Reuters today that Nicholson was referring to an increase so far in 2016 compared with the same period in 2015, and noted how fighting was more intense due to the milder winter this year. "It's when they're in a defensive posture, such as in checkpoints being overrun, is where the majority of the casualties are occurring," Nicholson said. More than 5,000 forces in Afghanistan were killed in action and over 14,000 were wounded in 2015, when the Taliban staged a series of attacks that upended US assumptions about the ability of Afghan forces to secure the country after more than 14 1/2 years of war. On July 6, US President Barack Obama scrapped plans to slash the number of US forces to 5,500 troops from 9,800 before he leaves office, citing precarious security in Afghanistan. Obama now plans to leave around 8,400 US troops. US allies are also renewing their commitments, and NATO agreed on Saturday to help fund Afghan forces to the tune of around $1 billion annually over the next three years. Nicholson praised Afghan forces for being able to recruit new fighters and carry on, despite the casualty rates. He said their losses could be addressed, including by replicating successful efforts to rapidly reset and retrain Afghan forces in southern Helmand province after their dismal performance last year. Major General Moeen Faqir, the new commander of the 215th Corps in Helmand, told reporters his casualties were sharply down this year from 2015. Nicholson also suggested the Afghan Taliban were struggling after the US killed their leader, Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansour, in a May drone strike across the border in Pakistan. Mansour had tight control of Taliban finances, Nicholson said. "So what we're seeing are some indications that some of the finances of the organisation have been disrupted," he said. Nicholson suggested Mansour's successor, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, had also alienated some fighters in the past. "So he's not a unifying figure within that organisation," he said. (Reuters)

Afghan forces' casualties climbing in 2016, top US commander says

President Barack Obama pledged on Saturday to seek ways to calm racial tensions and reduce divisions between police and minorities during his final months in office, but he warned that easy access to guns nationwide exacerbated the problem.

Obama spoke at the end of a week in which five policemen were killed by a sniper in Dallas and two black men&nbsp;were killed by police in Minnesota and Louisiana. 
 
He said he would bring together civil rights and law enforcement leaders for talks at the White House next week after returning from a trip to Europe.

Obama, the first black US&nbsp;president, has spoken out on racial issues throughout his time in the White House. 
 
He has also tried but failed to reform American gun laws, stymied by Republicans in Congress who have opposed any measures that they seen as impinging on the Constitutional right to bear arms, despite a series of mass shootings in recent years.

Obama said the Dallas police force reduced murder rates and community complaints by taking the issue of race and police conduct seriously, and said he hoped that would inspire &quot;constructive actions&quot; in the coming weeks.

&quot;That&#39;s the spirit that we all need to embrace. That&#39;s the spirit that I want to build on,&quot; he said during a press conference in Poland.

But the divisive issue of gun control could not be separated from the tension between police and local citizens, he said.

Obama noted that Dallas police on Thursday had to protect themselves and citizens from sniper fire while deciphering who had guns among those taking part in a protest decrying police shootings of black men.

The presence of a gun in the car where Philando Castile, 32, was killed by police in Minnesota on Wednesday contributed to that event, he said.

&quot;In Minneapolis, we don&rsquo;t know yet what happened, but we do know that there was a gun in the car that apparently was licensed, but it caused, in some fashion, those tragic events,&quot; Obama told reporters.

&quot;We can&rsquo;t just ignore that and pretend that that&rsquo;s somehow political ... it is a contributing factor, not the sole factor, but a contributing factor to the broader tensions that arise between police and the communities where they serve.&quot;

Obama is very unlikely to succeed in reviving major gun control reform before he leaves office in January.

Lawmakers in Congress have fought over three rival gun measures since the June 12 mass shootings at a gay nightclub in Orlando. Democrats promised to put pressure on Republicans next week to win votes for measures to expand background checks and allow the Justice Department to block gun sales to people on government watch lists.

Obama said on Saturday he hoped his legacy on the issue of race would be one of urging Americans to listen to each other and understand the country&#39;s difficult relationship with race.

&quot;The legacy of slavery and Jim Crow and discrimination didn&#39;t suddenly vanish with the passage of the Civil Rights Act or the Voting Rights Act or the election of Barack Obama,&quot; he said.

He said he hoped his words as president had conveyed &quot;that things have gotten better, substantially better, but that we&#39;ve still got a lot more work to do.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

It is however unlikely for Obama to succeed in reviving major gun control reform as he leaves office in January

President Barack Obama pledged on Saturday to seek ways to calm racial tensions and reduce divisions between police and minorities during his final months in office, but he warned that easy access to guns nationwide exacerbated the problem. Obama spoke at the end of a week in which five policemen were killed by a sniper in Dallas and two black men were killed by police in Minnesota and Louisiana. He said he would bring together civil rights and law enforcement leaders for talks at the White House next week after returning from a trip to Europe. Obama, the first black US president, has spoken out on racial issues throughout his time in the White House. He has also tried but failed to reform American gun laws, stymied by Republicans in Congress who have opposed any measures that they seen as impinging on the Constitutional right to bear arms, despite a series of mass shootings in recent years. Obama said the Dallas police force reduced murder rates and community complaints by taking the issue of race and police conduct seriously, and said he hoped that would inspire "constructive actions" in the coming weeks. "That's the spirit that we all need to embrace. That's the spirit that I want to build on," he said during a press conference in Poland. But the divisive issue of gun control could not be separated from the tension between police and local citizens, he said. Obama noted that Dallas police on Thursday had to protect themselves and citizens from sniper fire while deciphering who had guns among those taking part in a protest decrying police shootings of black men. The presence of a gun in the car where Philando Castile, 32, was killed by police in Minnesota on Wednesday contributed to that event, he said. "In Minneapolis, we don’t know yet what happened, but we do know that there was a gun in the car that apparently was licensed, but it caused, in some fashion, those tragic events," Obama told reporters. "We can’t just ignore that and pretend that that’s somehow political ... it is a contributing factor, not the sole factor, but a contributing factor to the broader tensions that arise between police and the communities where they serve." Obama is very unlikely to succeed in reviving major gun control reform before he leaves office in January. Lawmakers in Congress have fought over three rival gun measures since the June 12 mass shootings at a gay nightclub in Orlando. Democrats promised to put pressure on Republicans next week to win votes for measures to expand background checks and allow the Justice Department to block gun sales to people on government watch lists. Obama said on Saturday he hoped his legacy on the issue of race would be one of urging Americans to listen to each other and understand the country's difficult relationship with race. "The legacy of slavery and Jim Crow and discrimination didn't suddenly vanish with the passage of the Civil Rights Act or the Voting Rights Act or the election of Barack Obama," he said. He said he hoped his words as president had conveyed "that things have gotten better, substantially better, but that we've still got a lot more work to do." (Reuters)

Obama says US gun rules heighten tension between police, citizens

President Barack Obama assured a shocked America on Saturday that the black army vet who shot dead five cops in Dallas was a lone wolf -- and that the country can overcome its racial divisions, as the groundswell of anger over police brutality surged on. 
 
Fresh protests were planned in at least half a dozen cities to demand justice for two African-Americans whose fatal shooting by police triggered the Dallas rampage of an angry radical bent on revenge. 
 
The nightmare scenes in Texas, where a peaceful protest turned to horror, left many fearing a new, dark chapter in America&#39;s troubled race relations. 
 
But as Dallas honoured its slain officers, Obama sought to cut short that narrative. 
 
&quot;I firmly believe that America is not as divided as some have suggested,&quot; he told a news conference at a NATO summit in Warsaw. &quot;There is sorrow, there is anger, there is confusion... but there is unity.&quot; 
 
Obama described the 25-year-old gunman, Micah Johnson, as a &quot;demented individual&quot; who in no way represented the African-American community at large. 
 
Dallas officials say they are now certain the atrocity was the work of a lone shooter -- killed in a showdown with police -- and not a group of co-conspirators as initially feared. 
 
At Dallas police headquarters, people flocked to leave flowers and messages of sympathy for the slain officers amid an outpouring of support that saw crowds in the city line up to hug police officers. 
 
After visiting the memorial Saturday, Mayor Mike Rawlings voiced hope that the shock from the killings could serve a purpose &quot;in a grander plan to make us a stronger country, a stronger city, and a stronger world.&quot; 
 
&#39;Dangerous to be black&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The Black Lives Matter activist movement, which has spearheaded months of nationwide protests over police brutality, has demanded an end to the violence -- not an escalation. 
 
As thousands marched in US cities overnight, there were nasty scenes in Phoenix, Arizona, where police used pepper spray to disperse stone-throwing protesters. And in Rochester, New York, 74 people were arrested over a sit-in protest. 
 
But elsewhere -- from Atlanta to Houston, New Orleans, Detroit and Baltimore -- protests held over the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota passed off without trouble. 
 
Cities expecting new gatherings on Saturday included Seattle, Indianapolis and Philadelphia -- where organizers called for a &quot;Weekend of Rage.&quot; 
 
Obama is to visit Dallas early next week in the effort to chart a way forward, while a raft of US politicians sought to appear as unifiers after a week of violence graphically highlighted America&#39;s racial challenges. 
 
&quot;White Americans need to do a better job of listening when African Americans talk about the barriers they face,&quot; Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton tweeted. 
 
That message was echoed by prominent members of the Republican Party, which has often jumped to defend law enforcement amid accusations of racial bias. 
 
&quot;It is more dangerous to be black in America,&quot; Newt Gingrich, a Republican former House speaker tipped as a possible White House running mate for Donald Trump, said in an interview on Facebook Live. 
 
&quot;Sometimes it&#39;s difficult for whites to appreciate how real that is. It&#39;s an everyday danger.&quot; 
 
Republican Florida senator Marco Rubio had a similar message. &quot;Those of us who are not African American will never fully understand the experience of being black in America,&quot; he said. 
 
Trump himself put out a video statement, seated presidential-style behind a large desk, in which he acknowledged the Louisiana and Minnesota shootings and spoke of &quot;how much work we have to do in order to make every American feel that their safety is protected.&quot; 
 
&nbsp;Police on edge&nbsp; 
 
The Dallas ambush marked the single biggest loss of life for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. 
 
Police were set further on edge as it emerged that several officers had been targeted across the country by individuals apparently angered at the recent fatal shootings. 
 
In Bristol, Tennessee, a man opened fire Thursday on a hotel, killing a woman, wounding several others and grazing a police officer with a bullet. 
 
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the gunman &quot;may have targeted individuals and officers after being troubled by recent incidents involving African-Americans and law enforcement officers.&quot; 
 
And in Racine, Wisconsin, police said a 43-year-old man was arrested over threatening social media posts that read: &quot;I encourage every Black man in America to strap up... I encourage every white officer to kiss there (sic) love ones goodbye.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

'There is sorrow, there is anger, there is confusion... but there is unity,' says the US President

President Barack Obama assured a shocked America on Saturday that the black army vet who shot dead five cops in Dallas was a lone wolf -- and that the country can overcome its racial divisions, as the groundswell of anger over police brutality surged on. Fresh protests were planned in at least half a dozen cities to demand justice for two African-Americans whose fatal shooting by police triggered the Dallas rampage of an angry radical bent on revenge. The nightmare scenes in Texas, where a peaceful protest turned to horror, left many fearing a new, dark chapter in America's troubled race relations. But as Dallas honoured its slain officers, Obama sought to cut short that narrative. "I firmly believe that America is not as divided as some have suggested," he told a news conference at a NATO summit in Warsaw. "There is sorrow, there is anger, there is confusion... but there is unity." Obama described the 25-year-old gunman, Micah Johnson, as a "demented individual" who in no way represented the African-American community at large. Dallas officials say they are now certain the atrocity was the work of a lone shooter -- killed in a showdown with police -- and not a group of co-conspirators as initially feared. At Dallas police headquarters, people flocked to leave flowers and messages of sympathy for the slain officers amid an outpouring of support that saw crowds in the city line up to hug police officers. After visiting the memorial Saturday, Mayor Mike Rawlings voiced hope that the shock from the killings could serve a purpose "in a grander plan to make us a stronger country, a stronger city, and a stronger world." 'Dangerous to be black' The Black Lives Matter activist movement, which has spearheaded months of nationwide protests over police brutality, has demanded an end to the violence -- not an escalation. As thousands marched in US cities overnight, there were nasty scenes in Phoenix, Arizona, where police used pepper spray to disperse stone-throwing protesters. And in Rochester, New York, 74 people were arrested over a sit-in protest. But elsewhere -- from Atlanta to Houston, New Orleans, Detroit and Baltimore -- protests held over the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota passed off without trouble. Cities expecting new gatherings on Saturday included Seattle, Indianapolis and Philadelphia -- where organizers called for a "Weekend of Rage." Obama is to visit Dallas early next week in the effort to chart a way forward, while a raft of US politicians sought to appear as unifiers after a week of violence graphically highlighted America's racial challenges. "White Americans need to do a better job of listening when African Americans talk about the barriers they face," Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton tweeted. That message was echoed by prominent members of the Republican Party, which has often jumped to defend law enforcement amid accusations of racial bias. "It is more dangerous to be black in America," Newt Gingrich, a Republican former House speaker tipped as a possible White House running mate for Donald Trump, said in an interview on Facebook Live. "Sometimes it's difficult for whites to appreciate how real that is. It's an everyday danger." Republican Florida senator Marco Rubio had a similar message. "Those of us who are not African American will never fully understand the experience of being black in America," he said. Trump himself put out a video statement, seated presidential-style behind a large desk, in which he acknowledged the Louisiana and Minnesota shootings and spoke of "how much work we have to do in order to make every American feel that their safety is protected." Police on edge The Dallas ambush marked the single biggest loss of life for law enforcement in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. Police were set further on edge as it emerged that several officers had been targeted across the country by individuals apparently angered at the recent fatal shootings. In Bristol, Tennessee, a man opened fire Thursday on a hotel, killing a woman, wounding several others and grazing a police officer with a bullet. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the gunman "may have targeted individuals and officers after being troubled by recent incidents involving African-Americans and law enforcement officers." And in Racine, Wisconsin, police said a 43-year-old man was arrested over threatening social media posts that read: "I encourage every Black man in America to strap up... I encourage every white officer to kiss there (sic) love ones goodbye." (AFP)

Yes, we can overcome our racial divisions, says Obama

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