8A • Wednesday, June 7, 2017
world Assailant at Notre-Dame reportedly said ‘This is for Syria’
The man who attacked an officer Tuesday at NotreDame Cathedral in Paris said, “This is for Syria,” French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said. The man, believed to be an Algerian student, attacked the officer with a hammer but was also armed with knives, Collomb said. Collomb said the officer’s condition is not serious. Another officer shot the assailant in the chest, police union spokesman Yves Lefebvre told BFMTV. The attacker was taken to the hospital, and the situation brought under control, police told CNN. Video posted on social media showed what appears to be the attacker lying motionless on the ground next to a police officer. The attack caused panic among visitors in the area. France is still in a state of emergency after the November 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people. There has been strong police presence on the streets of the capital since then.
Russian jet intercepts U.S. B-52 bomber A Russian fighter jet intercepted a U.S. bomber over the Baltic Sea in international waters on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry that was published on state news agency TASS. “On June 6 Russia’s airspace monitoring … identified an air target flying along Russia’s state border over the international waters of the Baltic Sea. A Sukhoi-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Sea Fleet’s air defense force was dispatched to intercept the target,” according to the statement, quoted by TASS. “The crew of Russia’s Sukhoi-27 jet approached the aircraft staying at a safe distance, identified it as a U.S. strategic bomber B-52 and escorted it for some time,” the report said. The Pentagon also confirmed that the intercept occurred.
Explosion near Afghan mosque kills seven At least seven civilians were killed and another 16 were injured Tuesday in an explosion in western Afghanistan. The blast took place at about 3 p.m. near the northern gate of the Great Mosque of Herat, said Jilani Farhad, a spokesman for Herat’s governor. It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. But Afghanistan is grappling with a wave of terrorism that has killed more than 150 in just the past week. An enormous suicide blast ripped through Kabul’s diplomatic quarter on May 31— right in the middle of rush hour. At least 150 people were killed, President Ashraf Ghani said. — From wire reports
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world&nation U.K. cops face questions over attack By Euan McKirdy and Angela Dewan CNN
British police have identified the third London attacker as Youssef Zaghba, a Moroccan-Italian who police in Italy say had been put on a security watch list. Zaghba was stopped at the Bologna airport by Italian airport police in March 2016 as he was trying to board a plane bound for Istanbul. Police found what they described as extremist material on his cellphone. They weren’t able to arrest Zaghba, who was traveling on an Italian passport, because having extremist material on a phone isn’t against the law in Italy. Italian media reported that officials suspected he was bound for Syria and that Italian authorities had alerted their British counterparts about his movements. Police say Zaghba, 22, was one of three men who rammed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before launching a stabbing spree in bars and restaurants at nearby Borough Market on Saturday night. All three were shot dead by police. Zaghba’s reported Syria travel plans raise further questions about whether British authorities could have done more to prevent the attack. London’s Metropolitan
nation Trump appears to take credit for nations’ move against Qatar
President Donald Trump appeared to take credit for the decision of major Gulf nations to cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, an important U.S. ally, putting his stamp of approval on the move despite Pentagon and State Department attempts to remain neutral. “During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar look,” he tweeted Tuesday. The tweet could pose difficulties for the U.S. in explaining why it remains in Qatar, host to the one of the Pentagon’s largest military bases in the Middle East and a linchpin in the campaign against ISIS. For that reason, the president’s 140-character blast may raise concerns within the Defense Department. Pentagon officials moved quickly to limit any damage, with spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis telling reporters Tuesday that the U.S. is “grateful to the Qataris for the longstanding support for our presence and their enduring commitment to regional security.”
DeVos: Courts, Congress need to settle LGBTQ discrimination Education Secretary Betsy DeVos indicated discrimination in schools on the basis of sexual orientation is “unsettled” law and a matter for Congress and the courts
people Prosecutors call mom, lawyer to bolster Cosby accuser’s story
The mother of one of Bill Cosby’s accusers recalled Tuesday how her daughter called her crying in 1996 to tell her the famed comedian had drugged and assaulted her, then tried to have her fired from the talent agency that represented him. Patrice Sewell took the stand to corroborate daughter Kelly Johnson’s allegation that she called her mother after Cosby gave her an incapacitating pill and took advantage of her at his hotel in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. Sewell also recounted a call in which Johnson told her Security barriers have been placed on Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge in Lon- Cosby was pressuring Tom don following the terror attack on June 3. (Photo: CNN) Illius, his now-deceased agent at the William Morris agency, to terminate her. Police Service said Zaghba was no evidence he posed it’s possible Thomas — “She called me at work. was not a “person of inter- an imminent threat. whose girlfriend was seriest” before the attack. The other member of ously injured — was struck She was nearly hysteriEarlier, London pothe trio, Rachid Redouane, by the van and thrown into cal. She was crying. She was telling me, ‘Mommy lice admitted that one of a 30-year-old who had the River Thames. Police something’s going on. I the other two attackers, claimed to be Moroccan ask any other witnesses Khuram Shazad Butt, was and Libyan, was not known who were on the bridge or don’t know what’s going on, but they’re telling lies on their radar as a member to intelligence services. who have seen Thomas to about me,’ ” Johnson said, of the outlawed radical On Tuesday, London contact them. Islamist group al-Muhajir- police appealed for the Foreign Secretary Boris according to Sewell. “Mr. oun, co-founded by notori- public’s help in finding Johnson said that the coun- Cosby is telling Tom to get ous hate preacher Anjem French national Xavier try’s intelligence agencies rid of me.” Choudary. He appeared in Thomas, 45, who has been had questions to answer. a 2016 television documen- missing since Saturday’s He told the BBC: “People Clooneys new tary called “The Jihadis attack. are going to look at the parents of twins Next Door.” Metropolitan Police said front pages today and Amal and George ClooAssistant Commissioner in a statement that Thomas they’re going to say, ‘How Mark Rowley said an was in town for the week- on earth could we have let ney are parents. “This morning Amal and investigation into Butt had end with his girlfriend. this guy or possibly more George welcomed Ella and been downgraded as there According to witnesses, through the net?’” Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander issued debit card for govern- and Amal are all healthy, ment benefits can get Prime happy and doing fine,” the couple said in a statement for $5.99 a month. The aim is to make “sav- to CNN. “George is sedated ings more accessible” to ev- and should recover in a few eryone, according to spokes- days.” These are the first children woman Julie Law. She adds for both Amal and George. that delivery could make The 56-year-old actor life easier for customers recently talked about bewho may not have reliable access to transportation, and coming a first-time dad and joked about waiting to start that Prime gives members a family later in life. discounts on essentials like Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Congress and the “My favorite part is, you diapers. courts need to address discrimination on the basis of know, all my friends who Amazon already has a sexual orientation in schools. (Photo: CNN) are my age, and I have many well-heeled customer base, of them, they’re already to address — not her depart- ing “continual changes in according to analysts. With ment. federal operations, rules and this program, it hopes to pull done. Their kids are all grown up and away to colAfter declining last month guidance” and “an increasin more low-income shoplege and they are laughing,” to say how she would handle ing lack of overall predictpers. Clooney said on the French allegations of private school ability.” TV show “Rencontres de discrimination under a feder“A stable insurance marFlynn turns over Cinema.” ally funded school voucher ket is dependent on products program, DeVos was pressed that create value for consum- 600 pages of Tuesday on the topic by ers through the broad spread- documents to Perry: ‘Friends’ Democrats at a Senate ing of risk and a known set Senate Intel reunion fears have hearing. President Donald of conditions upon which President Donald Trump’s led to nightmares Trump’s budget proposal rates can be developed,” the sets aside funds to create a company said in a statement. former national security adA “Friends” revival may school choice program, but The move will leave about viser Michael Flynn handed be a dream for the show’s over more than 600 pages provides few details about 10,500 Ohio residents in at biggest fans, but it appears of documents to the Senate how it would be run. least 18 counties without to be a nightmare for at least intelligence committee, acThe education secretary an insurance option on the repeatedly said that any exchange unless another car- cording to a source familiar one of its stars. Matthew Perry is having school “receiving federal rier steps in, according to the with the matter. some sleepless nights over The source says the funding is required to follow state’s Department of Insurhow well received a new federal law,” but said federal ance. The agency said it will documents are mostly “Friends” show would be. business records, but they law is unclear on protections try to identify other options “When I’m asleep, I have also include some personal for LGBTQ students. for residents in these areas. this nightmare that we do documents “based on the “On areas where the law narrowed requests from the ‘Friends’ again and nobody is unsettled, this department Amazon Prime cares,” Perry told Variety in committee.” is not going to be issuing and interview published on The documents are in decrees,” DeVos said. “That debuts discount Monday. “We do a whole response to two subpoenas is a matter for Congress and for anyone on series, we come back, and that the committee sent to the courts to settle.” public benefits nobody cares about it.” Flynn businesses after the Amazon is now offering a That won’t stop fans for former national security Anthem pulls out discount on Prime member- adviser invoked his Fifth asking for it, especially with of Obamacare ships for anyone on govern- Amendment rights and all the reboots of popument assistance. decided not to comply with lar shows such as “Twin in Ohio for 2018 Customers normally pay a separate subpoena asking Peaks,” “Arrested DevelopAnthem said it won’t $10.99 per month or $99 ment” and “Gilmore Girls.” for records about meetings participate on Ohio’s per year for Prime subIt’s a frequent request of and communications with the cast, which also included Obamacare exchange next scriptions, which offer free Russian officials. Jennifer Aniston, Couryear, citing growing uncertwo-day shipping on many The committee had set a tainty over the law’s future in products as well as access to Tuesday deadline for Flynn teney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Washington. streaming video and music to comply with the subSchwimmer. The insurer ticked off services. poena. — From wire reports a list of concerns, includNow anyone with a state— From wire reports
‘Minecraft’ video game helps Syrian refugees feel more hopeful By Matt McFarland CNN
For children in refugee camps, playing the right game can make a huge difference. NYU researchers found that young Syrian refugees who regularly played “Minecraft” felt significantly less hopeless. “Minecraft” gives children a sense of control and sense of possibility, according to the
Must read researchers. The game helps restore feelings that are stripped from refugees. “‘Minecraft’ is this one place where you can create anything. And where you are in control,” said Jan L. Plass, professor at NYU’s Steinhardt School. “You have the ultimate freedom. And you can change the environment
around you any way you want.”’ “Minecraft” is an open sandbox style of game, with no clear objective. This encourages players to experiment and be creative. The refugees were given general instructions on how to play. First, design a dream house. Then design a village around it, including the homes of your friends. There are more than five million Syrian refugees, according
to U.N. estimates. The NYU researchers decided to experiment with digital technologies to help address their overwhelming needs. “There’s no way that we will be able to meet those needs through traditional methods,” said Selcuk Sirin, a professor at Steinhardt. “We don’t have enough teachers, we don’t have enough psychologists, we don’t have enough psychiatrists, etc.”
The study looked at 147 refugee children between the ages of 9 and 14 in Urfa, Turkey. It borders Syria and has a large refugee population. Participants had two-hour computer sessions five days a week over the course of a month. An adult instructor was present to monitor the sessions. The researchers unveiled their findings in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.