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Police say eight children were killed in a shooting that occurred in Louisiana 5 hours agoGrace GoodwinEight children aged between one and 14 years old have been killed by a shooting in Shreveport in Louisiana. The police are calling it a “domestic disorder”. Officers reported that the incident started around 05:00 local (10:00 GMT). A single gunman fired 10 shots before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle. The police chased the suspect and killed him. Shreveport mayor Tom Arceneaux said: “We have hurt families, we’ve hurt police officers, and coroners personnel.” “This is a tragedy that affects everyone in the community. We all mourn with these families.” Leigh Anne Evensky, the communications director for the Shreveport Mayor, told the BBC that the police did not identify the victims but that some of the children belonged to the deceased. The suspected gunman was identified as Shamar Ekins. The mayor had said earlier that this was a tragic event – perhaps the worst tragedy to ever occur in Shreveport. He said that some of the victims were taken to the hospital and asked for prayer for their families and for the city. Bordelon stated that “all of the deceased are juveniles” in this case. He said officers determined that the call was of a “domestic nature”, and that one of the victims who had been shot at the house fled to another residence. Police said that after the shooting, the suspected gunman stole a car and fled. Bordelon claimed that officers chased him to another neighbourhood in Bossier Parish and fired at the suspected shooter, who is now dead. Police said they believed the suspect acted alone. Shreveport police chief Wayne Smith expressed his sympathy for the entire community. Smith said, “I cannot imagine how this could have happened.” He added that the investigation was conducted in coordination with Louisiana State Police with assistance from other agencies. He said that he would work diligently for as long as it takes to find out what happened. On Sunday, Shreveport Councilman Grayson Boucher stated that more than 30% crimes and 30% murders in Shreveport were “domestic related”, adding: “Now this number has increased.” “We’ve more doubled our homicides in the city Shreveport due to one act of domestic abuse,” he said.Louisiana governor Jeff Landry said that he and his family were “heartbroken” over this horrific situation and prayed for all those affected. Landry said, “We are deeply grateful to law enforcement officers and first-responders who worked tirelessly at the scene.” House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana’s Fourth District has also commented on this “heartbreaking” tragedy. “We are holding the victims and their loved ones close in our prayers and thoughts during this incredibly hard time,” he added, adding that he is grateful for the prompt response of the local police. ReutersAccording to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit that tracks US gun violence, the incident is the deadliest US mass shooting since January 2024 when eight victims died in Joliet. GVA defines mass shootings as incidents where four or more victims are shot, excluding the suspect.

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US seizes Iranian flagged cargo ship, Trump claims52 minutes agoKathryn A ArmstrongEPAThe US has intercepted a cargo ship with Iranian flag in the Gulf, as part of a naval blockade. Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform the Touska was taken by the US Navy when it failed to respond to an order to stop. Iran has yet to comment on the incident. The announcement came after White House confirmed US Vice President JD Vance will lead another delegation for the second round of talks about ending the war with Iran. Iranian state media reported that officials would not participate as long as the US blockade is in place. “Today, a cargo ship with Iranian flag, named TOUSKA, weighing nearly as much as a carrier aircraft, tried to get through our Naval Blockade and it didn’t go well for them,” Trump said. He said that the US had warned the vessel to stop but it was ignored. “Our Navy ship stopped them in their tracks by blowing out a hole in their engineroom”. “The TOUSKA has been placed under US Treasury Sanctions due to their previous history of illegal activities. We have full control of the ship and are examining what’s inside! US Central Command released footage that it claimed showed a navy vessel intercepting cargo ship. Trump says US navy seizes Iranian-flagged ship after first round of talks failed earlier this month. Trump announced the naval blocade following the failure of the first round of talks. Trump announced the naval blockade after a first round of negotiations earlier this month ended without an agreement. The ceasefire will expire on Tuesday. According to a White House official, Vance will be joined by Trump advisers Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Jared Witkoff, who were also present at previous talks. Iran’s official news agency IRNA has denied reports of a second round with the US. It added that the US blockade, along with “excessive” demands and threatening rhetoric from Washington, had “so far hindered the progress of the negotiations”.Nevertheless, preparations for further discussions have begun in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. US Central Command/XGuests were told to leave the hotel where talks between the US delegation and Iranian delegation took place last weekend, the BBC’s Pakistan reporter reported. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz sharif spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian Sunday evening, according a statement issued by his office. The statement did not mention any further talks between Iran, and the US. The Strait of Hormuz remained shut on Sunday after the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps announced that it would end a temporary reopening to the US naval blockade. Iran said that it would remain closed until the US ended their naval blockade. The strait is used to transport about 20% of the world’s oil and LNG. Trump has said that Iran cannot “blackmail the US” with threats about the waterway. He threatened to knock down every bridge and power station in Iran if Tehran refused to agree to a peaceful deal. “If they don’t take the DEAL… it will be my honour to do what needs to be done,” Trump wrote on Sunday in another Truth Social posting. The US president also accused Iran of violating a ceasefire on Saturday by attacking ships in Strait of Hormuz. He said that a French ship as well as a UK freighter were among the targets. CMA CGM, a French shipping company, confirmed that one vessel was fired upon. They told AFP that the vessel “was the victim of warning shots”. According to both the UK defence and transport ministry, there were no reports on Saturday of attacks on UK-linked vessels. However, two reports were made of a cargo ship and a tanker being attacked in strait. According to tracking site MarineTraffic, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was at a standstill Sunday. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that two tankers “sailing on the flags of Botswana, and Angola”, wanted to travel through Hormuz, but were “forced by the timely action of Iran’s armed forces to change course and withdraw”.

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford agrees with outcry to sell $21m Private Jet17 minutes agoAna FaguyGetty imagesThe Canadian province Ontario is now selling the jet it recently purchased for Premier Doug Ford. Ford’s office had stated that he would use the jet for official travel including to the US in order to advocate against Trump’s tariffs. Ford’s office confirmed the purchase on Friday. However, political opponents criticized him for buying a “gravy” plane and calling it “out of touch”. On Sunday, Ford announced that he would sell it “as soon as possible”. Ford said that despite his best intentions, he agreed with those who have said the time is not right to purchase a government aircraft. Ford said that the province worked with Bombardier, and other partners, on the sale. The plane is a Bombardier Challenger 650 Executive Jet, built in Canada in 2016 “I will continue to build relationships with business and government leaders in Canada and the United States to fight tariffs, create jobs and attract investments for Ontario workers,” said he. NurPhoto via Getty ImagesCritics were quick to call the purchase unnecessary. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a taxpayers’ group that said Ford should “stick with flying commercial”. Marit Stiles, leader the left-leaning Ontario New Democratic Party claimed Ford changed his mind only after “the temperature [got] too high”. She said that Ford was turning the plane in mid-air to make an emergency landing after he was caught living like a “rockstar” on “your money”. Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser accused Ford for wanting to “live as a billionaire” using “your money”. Fraser said on Facebook that Ford’s attempt to purchase a private jet when families are struggling is a good indicator of his character. According to an Angus Reid poll from earlier this summer, Ford’s polling hovers at 31%. It is one of the lowest polling numbers in Canada for a premier who won his rare third consecutive majority government last year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized for $21m in private jet purchaseThe blunt Canadian taking his fight against Trump to WashingtonCanada

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Ukraine police chief resigns following officers’ alleged fleeing of deadly shooting8 hours agoKathryn ArmstrongReutersThe head of Ukraine’s patrol police, Yevhen Zukov, resigned on Monday after two of his officers were criticized for allegedly running from a deadly mass-shooting in the capital Kyiv. Six people died and fourteen others were injured after a gunman opened fire in the street of Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi District before taking other hostage in an a a He was killed in a shootout with police. Footage has been shared online that appears to show officers running away from the scene and leaving civilians. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Igor Klymenko confirmed the suspension of the officers and said an investigation was underway. “‘Serve and Protect’ is not a slogan. It must be backed up by appropriate professional action. “Especially in critical moments, where people’s lives are at stake,” he wrote on Telegram. However, Klymenko cautioned that it is not correct to generalise about the entire police force based on the actions of just two employees. “Zhukov said at a Sunday news conference that the officers “failed to evaluate the situation properly and put civilians in danger”. He also said that they acted “unprofessionally” and “unworthily”. Klymenko described the man’s mental state as “clearly unstable”. Eight people remain in hospital, of whom one adult was in an “extremely serious condition” and three were in a serious condition, officials said. Klymenko described the man’s mental state as “clearly unstable”.Eight people remain in hospital, of whom one adult was in an “extremely serious condition” and three were in a serious condition, officials said.ReutersUkraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an update on Sunday that the two officers had been “at the scene of the crime, but did not stop the murderer, and fled on their own”.He accused them of “inaction” and said a criminal case into the matter – which will also check their previous work – was being handled by Ukraine’s national investigations bureau. Zelensky said that “we are in a war, and unfortunately, every day there are human casualties from Russian strikes.” “It’s especially painful to lose someone like this in a normal city, just walking down the street. “More information is emerging about the victims. Kravchenko revealed that one of the victims was the father. The boy’s aunt was also believed to be among the dead. The shooter was identified as a 58 year-old man originally from Moscow who lived in Holosiivskyi in the days leading up to the shooting. The authorities are now investigating the circumstances in which he obtained documents to renew his license. Kyiv is frequently attacked during the ongoing war against Russia, but shootings of this type are rare. Klymenko said that there would not be mass checks of gun owners after the shooting. “I think people should be able to defend themselves with guns,” he said. “Especially after the experience of when, at first, the full-scale invasion began, civilians were given weapons for national resistance. “Ukrainian Citizens are allowed to own non-automatic weapons provided they meet licence requirements, such as having no criminal record or mental illness.

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French peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon8 hours agoSamantha GranvilleBeirutReutersA French peacekeeper has been killed and three others wounded after a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon, in what officials described as a deliberate attack.The soldier was serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which confirmed that one peacekeeper had died and three others were injured, two of them seriously, when their patrol came under small-arms fire.French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah. The The Macron ” The Unifil said the patrol had been clearing explosive ordnance along a road in the village of Ghanduriyah to reconnect isolated positions.Follow the latest updatesWhat we know about the Israel-Lebanon ceasefireCeasefire with Israel brings respite to Lebanon, but obstacles to peace remainThe Lebanese Armed Forces said the incident followed exchanges of fire with armed individuals, adding that it was co-ordinating closely with Unifil during what it described as a sensitive phase in southern Lebanon.Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack and told Macron during a phone call that those responsible would be brought to justice.Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also ordered an investigation.Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday denying it was responsible, describing them as “rushed” and “baseless accusations”.It called for “caution in making judgements and assigning blame regarding the incident, pending the Lebanese army’s investigation to determine the full circumstances”.The group urged both Unifil and the Lebanese army to continue co-ordinating with locals on manouevres “under these delicate circumstances”.In late March, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents – an explosion that destroyed a Unifil vehicle and a projectile strike a day earlier.Unifil warned that under international law “all actors” were obliged to ensure the “safety and security” of UN personnel, adding that “deliberate attacks” on peacekeepers were “grave violations” of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes.The peacekeeping force was first established in 1978 by the UN Security Council following Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, with a mandate to confirm Israeli withdrawal, restore peace and assist the Lebanese government in regaining authority in the south.Its role was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, when Security Council Resolution 1701 strengthened its responsibilities in monitoring the ceasefire along the Blue Line – the de facto border between Lebanon and Israel – in co-ordination with the Lebanese army.More than 330 peacekeepers have been killed since the mission was established.Peacekeepers killed by roadside explosion in Lebanon, initial report findsMiddle EastHezbollahLebanonIran war