South Carolina shooting: arrest warrants released for alleged killer
After Charleston church shooting accused Dylann Roof appeared in court on Friday afternoon via video for a bond hearing, family members of victims who died in the attack offered him their forgiveness. The 21-year-old is being held in isolation at the Charleston detention centre. Family members of victims came forward after Judge James Gosnell requested representatives from each family to declare if they wished to make a formal statement. After the hearing ended, court officials released Roof's arrest warrants, revealing details related to the killing. According to the warrants, Roof entered the church at 8:06PM and studied the Bible with a prayer group in the church for an hour before opening fire on the group, "striking each victim multiple times." The warrant also stated that before leaving the Bible study room, Roof uttered a racially inflammatory statement to a witness.
Senior commander not killed in airstrike: al-Qaida
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, one of the senior-most commanders of jihadist forces in the Saharan region has survived a US air strike intended to kill him, the al-Qaida said on Friday. The United States had conducted an airstrike earlier on a house where Belmokhtar was supposed to be holding a meeting with jihadists from Libya. The Libyan Islamist and jihadi social media forums listed seven local men who had been killed, and detailed their funerals but made no mention of Belmokhtar. In a statement issued by the al-Qaida last night, it was confirmed that Belmokhtar did not die in the attack. "The mujahid commander Khalid Abu al-Abbas is still alive and well, and he wanders and roams in the land of Allah, supporting his allies and vexing his enemies," the statement said. Khalid Abu al-Abbas is one of Belmokhtar's several aliases.
US report accuses Iran of supporting terrorism
A report released by the US State Department said Iran continued to support terrorism in 2014 through its proxies in the Middle East. It also said the U.S. was very concerned about the activities of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Highlighting specific cases, the report said, Iran’s continued support of the Hezbollah in Lebanon, assistance to supporters fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and lack of judicial proceedings against senior al-Qaida leaders it has in custody was of particular concern to the USA. The release comes before a June 30 deadline for a deal on limiting Iran’s nuclear program.
Burundi clashes: Over 70 killed since April
At least 70 people have died in Burundi since citizens began protesting against President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to bid for a third presidency, a Burundian human rights group has said. The deaths took place due to clashes between security forces and protesters. Opposition members began protesting in April after Nkuruniziza announced he would run for a third-term, violating the constitution's two-term limit as well as a peace treaty between ethnic groups. Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a veteran activist said that 70 people had been killed and about 500 injured while hundreds others have been detained by police.
Greek banks granted lifeline as country verges on brink of default
As Greek officials failed to strike a deal to release a bailout fund for the country on Thursday, the European Central Bank stepped in to provide Greek banks with an emergency cash deposit to keep the country afloat. Politicians are now left with one last chance to ensure they strike a deal to secure a bailout without which the country will be rendered insolvent and will have to default on loan payments and exit the eurozone. The country is currently trying to secure funds to manage this and has a deadline of June 30.
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After Charleston church shooting accused Dylann Roof appeared in court on Friday afternoon via video for a bond hearing, family members of victims who died in the attack offered him their forgiveness. The 21-year-old is being held in isolation at the Charleston detention centre. Family members of victims came forward after Judge James Gosnell requested representatives from each family to declare if they wished to make a formal statement. After the hearing ended, court officials released Roof's arrest warrants, revealing details related to the killing. According to the warrants, Roof entered the church at 8:06PM and studied the Bible with a prayer group in the church for an hour before opening fire on the group, "striking each victim multiple times." The warrant also stated that before leaving the Bible study room, Roof uttered a racially inflammatory statement to a witness.
Senior commander not killed in airstrike: al-Qaida
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, one of the senior-most commanders of jihadist forces in the Saharan region has survived a US air strike intended to kill him, the al-Qaida said on Friday. The United States had conducted an airstrike earlier on a house where Belmokhtar was supposed to be holding a meeting with jihadists from Libya. The Libyan Islamist and jihadi social media forums listed seven local men who had been killed, and detailed their funerals but made no mention of Belmokhtar. In a statement issued by the al-Qaida last night, it was confirmed that Belmokhtar did not die in the attack. "The mujahid commander Khalid Abu al-Abbas is still alive and well, and he wanders and roams in the land of Allah, supporting his allies and vexing his enemies," the statement said. Khalid Abu al-Abbas is one of Belmokhtar's several aliases.
US report accuses Iran of supporting terrorism
A report released by the US State Department said Iran continued to support terrorism in 2014 through its proxies in the Middle East. It also said the U.S. was very concerned about the activities of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Highlighting specific cases, the report said, Iran’s continued support of the Hezbollah in Lebanon, assistance to supporters fighting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and lack of judicial proceedings against senior al-Qaida leaders it has in custody was of particular concern to the USA. The release comes before a June 30 deadline for a deal on limiting Iran’s nuclear program.
Burundi clashes: Over 70 killed since April
At least 70 people have died in Burundi since citizens began protesting against President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to bid for a third presidency, a Burundian human rights group has said. The deaths took place due to clashes between security forces and protesters. Opposition members began protesting in April after Nkuruniziza announced he would run for a third-term, violating the constitution's two-term limit as well as a peace treaty between ethnic groups. Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, a veteran activist said that 70 people had been killed and about 500 injured while hundreds others have been detained by police.
Greek banks granted lifeline as country verges on brink of default
As Greek officials failed to strike a deal to release a bailout fund for the country on Thursday, the European Central Bank stepped in to provide Greek banks with an emergency cash deposit to keep the country afloat. Politicians are now left with one last chance to ensure they strike a deal to secure a bailout without which the country will be rendered insolvent and will have to default on loan payments and exit the eurozone. The country is currently trying to secure funds to manage this and has a deadline of June 30.