PHILIPPINE MAYOR WHO HELD DRUGS WAR ‘WALK OF SHAME’ SHOT DEAD AT RALLY

MANILA: A Philippine provincial city mayor known for parading drug suspects in public but also alleged to have drug ties himself was shot and killed by a sniper Monday in a brazen attack during a flag-raising ceremony in front of horrified employees and village leaders. The apparent lone gunshot felled Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan city in Batangas province south of Manila as he and more than 100 employees and newly elected village leaders sang the national anthem in a parking lot outside the city hall. The gunman escaped, police officials and a witness said. A cellphone video shows a few men standing around the fallen Halili as gunfire rang out continuously and people cried, screamed, ran and took cover. AP

Iran prez flies to Europe to rally support for nuke deal

TEHRAN: President Hassan Rouhani departed Iran today for a trip to Europe billed as of “prime importance” after the US pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Rouhani was set to visit Switzerland and Austria as part of Tehran’s ongoing efforts to secure Europe’s continued support for the landmark agreement.

FBI says arrests man who planned July 4 attack

WASHINGTON : FBI officials have arrested a man who discussed setting off a bomb during a Fourth of July event in Cleveland, the bureau’s top agent in the Ohio city said on Monday. The man, who had expressed allegiance to al-qaeda, was arrested on Sunday after a meeting with an undercover FBI agent where he said he planned to plant a bomb at the event celebrating the US Independence Day and would also target other locations in Cleveland and Philadelphia. REUTERS

Seven people die in Nepal in floods, landslides

KATHMANDU: At least seven people were killed and several others injured in floods and landslides caused by incessant rains across Nepal over the weekend, officials said on Monday. Landslides occurred in several mountainous areas and a majority of the Terai region was waterlogged. Three major rivers originating in the Himalayas have crossed the danger mark and the met department has advised people living near the rivers to move to safer places.

China aims to outstrip Nasa with super powerful rocket

BEIJING: China is working on a super powerful rocket that would be capable of delivering heavier payloads into low orbit than Nasa, a leading Chinese space expert has said. By 2030, the Long March-9 rocket will be able to carry 140 tonnes into low-earth orbit said Long Lehao, a senior official from the Chinese Academy of Engineering.