Monday, June 13, 2016

Second Canadian likely killed in Philippines by Abu Sayyaf militants


Donald Trump"s official CNN interview as presumptive nominee (Part 1)
Robert Hall was one of four people kidnapped by the group last September in the southern Philippines. His likely execution follows that of fellow Canadian hostage John Ridsdel on April 25 when the militants did not received the requested ransom.

"It is with deep sadness that I have reason to believe that a Canadian citizen, Robert Hall, held hostage in the Philippines since September 21, 2015, has been killed by his captors," Trudeau said in a statement, adding that officials were working to officially confirm the death.

"The vicious and brutal actions of the hostage-takers have led to a needless death. Canada holds the terrorist group who took him hostage fully responsible for this cold-blooded and senseless murder," he said.

The militant group originally asked for 300 million Philippine pesos ($6.5 million) in ransom per hostage to be paid by April 25.

The two Canadian men -- along with Hall"s Filipina partner, Marites Flor, and Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad -- were taken in a raid on the Oceanview Resort on Samal Island, which lies off the coast of the southern island of Mindanao.

Hall, Ridsdel and Flor were visiting the resort"s marina on their yacht, while Sekkingstad was the manager of the property.

The apparent execution comes after Abu Sayyaf released a "final" video of the three hostages pleading with Filipino President-elect Rodrigo Duterte and their embassies for assistance.

The video showed Flor wearing a headscarf, Hall and Sekkingstad addressing Duterte in a local dialect, according to jihadist monitoring group SITE Intelligence.

The hostage situation is seen as a test of Duterte"s pledge to crack down on militant activity.

Even though he has not yet been inaugurated, Duterte apologized to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over Ridsdel"s execution, vowing to crack down on militancy in his country.

"You can rest assured that when the time comes, we will be able to apprehend the criminals and exact justice," he promised Trudeau.

Some members of Abu Sayyaf pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014, though the connection between the groups remain tenuous.

In the video, however, the male hostages were pictured wearing orange T-shirts, mirroring ISIS videos in which hostages are forced to wear orange jumpsuits in a grim reference to prisoners at Guantanamo, the U.S." controversial military prison in Cuba.

Trudeau said that today "marks yet another difficult day for Canada and for Canadians as we grieve as a nation for the loss of both John Ridsdel, who was killed on April 25, and Robert Hall."

"With the tragic loss of two Canadians, I want to reiterate that terrorist hostage-takings only fuel more violence and instability. Canada will not give into their fear-mongering tactics and despicable attitude toward the suffering of others," Trudeau said.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hall. They have suffered a terrible loss, and this is a devastating moment for them."

CNN"s Kathy Qiano reported from Jakarta, CNN"s Zahara Ullah reported from Hong Kong and journalist Angela Dewan wrote from London.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/asia/philippines-canada-abu-sayyaf/index.html

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Sports page roundup: Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cup


Pittsburgh Penguins Win 2016 Stanley Cup
Shrewd move by Blues to sign coach Mike Yeo

Shrewd move by Blues to sign coach Mike Yeo By Allan Muir

Sharks have lot to build on despite Stanley Cup loss

Sharks have lot to build on despite Stanley Cup loss

Matt Murray shows mental toughness to help win Stanley...

Matt Murray shows mental toughness to help win Stanley...

Boomer: Despite his "Canadian edge," congrats to Crosb...

Boomer: Despite his "Canadian edge," congrats to Crosb...

San Jose Sharks playoff postmortem

San Jose Sharks playoff postmortem By Allan Muir

Sports page roundup: Penguins win Stanley Cup

Sports page roundup: Penguins win Stanley Cup

Penguins revel in hoisting Stanley Cup

Penguins revel in hoisting Stanley Cup By Alex Prewitt

Phil Kessel can finally say he"s a Stanley Cup champion

Phil Kessel can finally say he"s a Stanley Cup champion

Three Stars: Crosby dominant as Pens win Cup

Three Stars: Crosby dominant as Pens win Cup By Allan Muir

Penguins Sidney Crosby wins Conn Smythe trophy

Penguins Sidney Crosby wins Conn Smythe trophy

How the Penguins captured the 2016 Stanley Cup

How the Penguins captured the 2016 Stanley Cup

Penguins top Sharks, win Stanley Cup

Penguins top Sharks, win Stanley Cup By Allan Muir

NHL plays Gordie Howe tribute video during Game 6

NHL plays Gordie Howe tribute video during Game 6

Flames" Brian Burke shares stories on Gordie Howe

Flames" Brian Burke shares stories on Gordie Howe By Alex Prewitt

What Penguins must do to clinch Cup in Game 6

What Penguins must do to clinch Cup in Game 6 By Allan Muir

Wayne Gretzky: Gordie Howe was my idol

Wayne Gretzky: Gordie Howe was my idol By Wayne Gretzky

Gordie Howes funeral set for Wednesday in Detroit

Gordie Howes funeral set for Wednesday in Detroit

President Obama remembers Gordie Howe

President Obama remembers Gordie Howe

Watch: Gordie Howe on "To Tell The Truth"

Watch: Gordie Howe on "To Tell The Truth" By Allan Muir

Gretzky calls Howe greatest hockey player ever

Gretzky calls Howe greatest hockey player ever

Like Muhammad Ali, Gordie Howe loved being among people

Like Muhammad Ali, Gordie Howe loved being among people

Numbers don"t lie: Gordie Howe was great

Numbers don"t lie: Gordie Howe was great By Allan Muir

Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey"s best quotes

Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey"s best quotes

Gordie Howe by the numbers

Gordie Howe by the numbers

5 crazy facts about Gordie Howes NHL career

5 crazy facts about Gordie Howes NHL career

Twitter reacts to death of Gordie Howe

Twitter reacts to death of Gordie Howe

Hockey world"s reaction to Gordie Howe"s death

Hockey world"s reaction to Gordie Howe"s death By Allan Muir

Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe dies at 88

Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe dies at 88

Hard-nosed Howe was brutal, brilliant on ice

Hard-nosed Howe was brutal, brilliant on ice By Michael Farber

Hockey legend Gordie Howe dies at 88

Hockey legend Gordie Howe dies at 88

Hall of Famer Gordie Howe dies at age 88

Hall of Famer Gordie Howe dies at age 88

Jones backstops Sharks to Game 5 win

Jones backstops Sharks to Game 5 win By Alex Prewitt

Three Stars: Martin Jones leads Sharks in Game 5

Three Stars: Martin Jones leads Sharks in Game 5 By Allan Muir

Sharks beat Penguins in Game 5 to stay alive

Sharks beat Penguins in Game 5 to stay alive By Allan Muir

Penguins game plan possible Cup clincher

Penguins game plan possible Cup clincher By Allan Muir

Cup Final Game 5 ticket prices skyrocket

Cup Final Game 5 ticket prices skyrocket By Allan Muir

Wild story of the Leafs" 0-3 Cup final comeback

Wild story of the Leafs" 0-3 Cup final comeback By Alex Prewitt

What Sharks must do to survive Cup Final Game 5

What Sharks must do to survive Cup Final Game 5 By Allan Muir

Pens coach Mike Sullivan is playoff MVP

Pens coach Mike Sullivan is playoff MVP By Allan Muir

Nikita Filatov has kind words for coach he hated

Nikita Filatov has kind words for coach he hated By Allan Muir

Mama Ward keeping faith in son Joel"s Sharks

Mama Ward keeping faith in son Joel"s Sharks By Alex Prewitt

Ex-NHL ref apologizes for epic blown call

Ex-NHL ref apologizes for epic blown call By Allan Muir

Stanley Cup Final is full of unlikely heroes

Stanley Cup Final is full of unlikely heroes By Alex Prewitt

Unlikely NHL Playoff Heroes

Unlikely NHL Playoff Heroes

Penguins" defense is causing havoc for Sharks

Penguins" defense is causing havoc for Sharks By Allan Muir

Carl Hagelin finally finds a home on HBK line

Carl Hagelin finally finds a home on HBK line By Alex Prewitt

Penguins feel like kids on Christmas Eve

Penguins feel like kids on Christmas Eve By Allan Muir

Don Cherry returning to Hockey Night in Canada

Don Cherry returning to Hockey Night in Canada By Allan Muir

Depth keying Penguins toward Cup

Depth keying Penguins toward Cup By Alex Prewitt

Penguins Ian Cole talks Game of Thrones

Penguins Ian Cole talks Game of Thrones By Alex Prewitt

Source: http://www.si.com/nhl/2016/06/13/pittsburgh-penguins-stanley-cup-sports-page-roundup

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NHL Rumors: San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins


Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks. 2016 NHL Playoffs. SCF. Game 6. 06.12.2016. (HD)
On the San Jose Sharks

Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking at what Sharks GM Doug Wilson should focus on this offseason.

1. Sign Brent Burns to a long-term contract Burns is eligible for a contract extension after July 1st. Dustin Byfugliens five-year, $7.6 million per season deal should be the starting point for Burns. Tomas Hertl also needs a new contract and will get a nice raise.

2. Trade Patrick Marleau Marleaus early season trade request was limited and included the Kings, Ducks and Rangers. Marleau carries a $6.7 million cap hit and its probably time to move on. The Sharks would likely have to retain some salary.

3. Fill out their depth they need to add depth to their bottom six and their third pairing was exposed at times. James Reimer might be looking for a starting job elsewhere, but would be a good fit as their backup if he wants to return.

On the Pittsburgh Penguins

Craig Custance of ESPN: Looking at what Penguins GM Jim Rutherford should focus on this offseason.

1. Trade Marc-Andre Fleury If there is going to be an expansion draft, the Penguins are not going to be able to keep both Fleury and Matt Murray. Fleury carries a $5.75 million cap hit for three more years, so it makes sense to move his contract and use the money elsewhere. He could be a fit for the Flames or Hurricanes. The Hurricanes have the draft picks and cap space to take on Fleury.

2. New deals for defensemen Justin Schultz requires a $3.9 million qualifying offer, but the Penguins could sign him to a mulit-year deal at a lower cap hit. The 32-year old Ben Lovejoy deserves to come back, but they cant give him too much term.

3. Extend Matt Murrays contract Murray has a year left at $620,000 and Rutherford should look to extend him like Ducks GM Bob Murray did with John Gibson.

Source: http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-sharks-brent-burns-penguins-marc-andre-fleury/2016/06/13/

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Oscar Pistorius: Final act?


CNN Student News - 06/01/16

The hearing may be the final chapter of his widely watched trial over the fatal 2013 Valentine"s Day shooting. Pistorius faces up to 15 years in prison.

Lawyers for the double-amputee sprinter, nicknamed "Blade Runner" for his prosthetic legs, argued that Pistorius was too mentally unwell to serve more jail time.

The only witness called Monday was Jonathan Scholtz, a clinical psychologist, who repeatedly described the athlete as "a broken" man." He explained Pistorius was not able to testify in his own defense due to anxiety and depression following his dramatic fall from grace.

In 2012, Pistorius became the first amputee to compete in the Olympics. But this glory was short lived as he fatally shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door at their Pretoria home, saying he had mistaken her for an intruder.

Scholtz said in his testimony that Pistorius was still on medication for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. If Pistorius were a regular patient, he would recommend hospitalization, Scholtz said.

But state prosecutor Gerrie Nel questioned why Pistorius had agreed to a television interview in 10 days" time if he was so mentally unfit. He also questioned the psychologist"s claim that Pistorius truly felt remorse, saying that the athlete likely just felt sorry for himself.

A court had initially convicted Pistorius of culpable homicide, but the Supreme Court in December overturned the conviction and handed him the more serious verdict of murder. Pistorius appeared shaken throughout the trial, looking gaunt and dazed and throwing his head into his hands at times.

Scholtz said that Pistorius "takes some comfort" in the knowledge that Steenkamp is with G*d, and that the athlete, a known gun collector, had sold all his weapons and had sworn off firearms.

Pistorius arrived in the Pretoria court in a dark suit and tie flanked by a large police escort. His relatives sat on one side of the courtroom while the family of Steenkamp sat on the other.

There was some debate about the victim"s mother, June Steenkamp, and her statement that she had forgiven Pistorius. Scholz and prosecutor Gerrie Nel agreed that she had done that for her own sake, not for the man who killed her daughter.

Pistorius will learn his fate by Friday.

Here"s what else you need to know:

But hasn"t he been sentenced already?

Yes, after a nearly 50-day trial stretched over seven months, Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide (much like manslaughter) in September 2014. Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled the sprinter had acted negligently when he shot Steenkamp four times through a locked bathroom door, but that he didn"t do it intentionally. The Supreme Court of Appeal later changed that conviction to murder.

Why did they change the verdict?

The appeals court ruled that the identity of whoever was behind the bathroom door was irrelevant. Pistorius should have foreseen that his action would kill that person, but he went ahead anyway. The key legal principle is known as dolus eventualis.

Is he in prison?

No, Pistorius is at his uncle"s mansion under house arrest. Pistorius spent about a year in a private cell in the hospital wing of a maximum-security prison. He should have gotten out after 10 months, or a sixth of his sentence, but a South African minister intervened. Pistorius could be going straight back to the cell after the sentencing hearing.

What to look out for at this sentencing

It will be the first time the public gets a good look at Pistorius since the first sentencing hearing. The defense has tried to paint a picture of a "broken man" and will likely focus on the media coverage and public treatment of Pistorius as one of their arguments. On the prosecution side, we may see a family member or close friend of Steenkamp brought as a witness to offer emotional testimony.

What sort of time will Pistorius do?

The sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years, but the defense will argue the judge has some discretion to reduce the jail time and include time already served. Nel, the prosecutor, is unlikely to go for the lower end of the sentencing spectrum. Trial judge Masipa will be handing down the sentence.

CNN"s David McKenzie reported from Pretoria. Journalist Angela Dewan wrote from London

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/world/oscar-pistorius-sentencing-hearing/

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Brazil vs Peru live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch Copa America 2016 online


Amazing Save Pedro Gallese Brazil vs Peru Copa America 13/06/2016

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Brazil and Peru have to fight for their lives while Ecuador have a cake walk against Haiti

The Group A chapter is closed. The USA have unbelievably topped their group following an impressive 3-2 win from Costa Rica over Colombia that sees the favorites drop into the second slot. Who they face in the quaterfinals will depend on the results from todays Group B matches.

But none of the Group B teams can afford to be complacent to force an advantageous quarterfinal match as theyre still locked in a fight just to survive their group.

Brazil vs Peru

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

Time: 8:30pm local/ET

Peru has a chance and its name is Christian Cueva. Hes their talisman and hes the only shot Peru has to make it out of the group stage. They need 5 points and massive goal tally to skip past Ecuador so only a win will do. The same applies to Brazil where Philippe Coutinhos hat trick in Brazils 7-1 win over Haiti, but they could settle for a draw depending on how the earlier game shakes out.

Ecuador vs Haiti

Location: Metlife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

Time: 6:30pm local/ET

Ecuador are really in the driving seat as their final group phase match sees them pitted against Haiti who are the group punching bags. If they can better Haiti by at least two goals the pressure is on Peru to find a way to advance. They need huge games from their midfield and especially from Enner Valencia.

TV/Streaming

USA: Fox Sports 1 (Brazil vs Peru only), Fox Sports 2 (Ecuador vs Haiti only) Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2 Go, Univision USA, Univision Deportes

UK: Premier Sports

Canada: Univision Canada

Germany: Kabel Eins (Brazil vs Peru only), Ran Livestream

Full Listings: Other Countries

Sign up for an SBNation account and join the conversation on Bavarian Football Works. Whether it"s full match coverage and analysis, breaking news, or you just want a place to discuss whether Arturo Vidal has the world"s best or worst hair, we have it all.

Source: http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2016/6/12/11913148/copa-america-2016-live-stream-brazil-peru-time-tv-schedule

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Orlando Shooter Used AR-15 Assault Rifle, & This Has Happened Before


ULTIMATE AR-15 MELTDOWN!

In the wake of the deadly mass shooting at Pulse, a gay club in Orlando, Sunday morning, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the Orlando shooter used "AR-15-type assault rifle" when massacring over 50 people, The New York Times reported. As Slate noted in an introduction to an older piece they re-ran Sunday, the AR-15 is the same weapon used at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, a shooting that murdered 20 children and 6 adults. The same type of automatic rifle was used in the Aurora, Colorado movie theatre shooting in 2012 that killed 12 people and, as The Trace noted, in the shooting in San Bernardino, California in December that killed 14. All of which left many members of the public confused Sunday about why these weapons are legal and angry that they have not been outlawed.

(Update: The FBI has updated the death toll to 49 victims. The shooter was also killed.)

In the past, gun advocates have argued that AR-15s are designed for hunting, target shooting, and home- and self-defense. In 2013, then NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre legal semi-automatic guns, "They are among the most popular guns made for hunting, target shooting and self-defense." But in the wake of the Pulse shooting, that argument isn"t carrying much sway with a mourning and terrified public.

In the aftermath many users expressed outrage that AR-15 type weapons can be lawfully obtained. (Justin Peters, the author of the Slate article, clarified that authorities often refer to these weapons as "AR-15-type" because the AR-15 is the model name of a Colt product.)

Since the Orlando mass shooting is the deadliest in U.S. history, it"s possible that Congress will again examine whether semi-automatic assault weapons should be legal. What is unclear is whether that would actually lead to a ban, given the NRA"s powerful influence in Washington. After all, 20 children were killed at Sandy Hook, and AR-15s are as readily accessible as ever.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNGR88O25iaJtfJmxAj7qjmt5erziw&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779132620720&ei=FvBeV4CXIsO_3gGGmZfwDA&url=https://www.romper.com/p/orlando-shooter-used-ar-15-assault-rifle-this-has-happened-before-12306

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AR-15 rifle: a common denominator in U.S. worst mass shootings


Trojan Firearms AR15

The AR-15, the gun used in the Orlando mass shooting, has a long history in the U.S. worst mass shootings. The gunman, identified as Omar Mateen, had legally purchased two guns, the AR-15, and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol.

With the ubiquitous and aluminum rifle, the AR-15 is manufactured by many companies nationwide, and it is a civilian variant of the militarys M-16 series of rifles and carbines. Most Americans prefer it due to its light weight and its possibility for multiple modifications, as reported by the Washington Post.

The AR-15 rifle is becoming the mass shooters weapon of choice. Credit: Town Hall

As the most popular gun in the country, the semiautomatic gun has had a few tragic scenarios. Even though it has not been so commonly used in robberies, recently the gun has been used in shootings in San Bernardino, California, Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut.

The AR-15 is chambered in a .223 cartridge, which means that the bullet diameter is about that same length, and it can cost between $800 to $180, depending on the manufacturer brand. Although it is commonly sold in a standard matte black, it can also be found in pink.

But even though it is sold to the public in its semiautomatic version, because it can be easily altered, people can avoid applying for the automatic gun through the extensive paperwork from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Also, the cost of the legally obtained automatic one can be much higher. It is unknown whether Mateens gun had been altered somehow or just remained with the original version.

After Mateen had initiated the shooting in the Pulse nightclub, he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, through a 911 phone call. During the call, he made reference to the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, federal officials declared under the condition of anonymity to the Washington Post.

The Orlando shooting has been qualified as the worst in Americas history, which left at least 50 people killed and many more injured. Until Sunday, the worst one had been the 2007 rampage at Virginia Tech, where 32 people died.

As Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people, President Barack Obama declared while referring to the Orlando shooting. He assured the case is being investigated as a terrorist attack by the FBI.

Mateen had been on the FBI radar before, just like the Boston Marathon attackers were. He raised some concerns from his co-workers when he allegedly made some comments alleging possible ties to terrorist.

The investigation came to an end when the FBI was unable to verify the details of his comment at the time. However, the following year the agency investigated possible ties connecting Mateen to Moner Mohammad Abusalha, the first American to carry out a suicide attack in Syria.

We determined that contact was minimal and did not constitute a substantive relationship or a threat at that time, FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper said during a press briefing about the shooting in Orlando.

Source: The Washington Post

Source: http://www.pulseheadlines.com/ar15-rifle-common-denominator-worst-mass-shootings/35059/

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