BNO News - Breaking News Radio

Police and other emergency services in London are responding to reports of shootings on Oxford Street and the Oxford Circus Underground station in central London, witnesses and local officials say. People on Oxford Street are urged to go into a building. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

At least 235 people have been killed in a bomb and gun attack on a mosque in Egypt's North Sinai, state-run media reports, making it the country's deadliest terror attack in modern history. More than 100 others have been injured. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Actor and singer David Cassidy, who is well-known for his role in the 1970s TV show "The Partridge Family," is in critical condition and suffering from organ failure, TMZ reported on Saturday. His publicist said he is surrounded by his family. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 has struck northeast Iraq near the border with Iran, seismologists and residents say. Shaking was felt across the region but only few details were immediately available. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Police and other emergency services in Texas are responding to reports of an active shooter at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, officials and witnesses say. Multiple people have been killed. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Netflix announced Friday that it will not continue with the popular drama series "House of Cards" if it involves actor Kevin Spacey, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. The company has also canceled the release of "Gore." James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The personal Twitter account of President Donald Trump was accidentally deleted on Thursday evening. It happened shortly before 7 p.m. ET when a Twitter employee accidentally chose to deactivate the account. The account was restored after 11 minutes. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The regional parliament in Catalonia has voted to declare independence from Spain as Madrid prepares to impose direct rule on the region. The lawmakers have called for the establishment of a new Catalan Republic. Parliament announced just before 3:30 p.m. local time on Friday that 70 lawmakers had voted in favor of a motion to secede from Spain. Members from the opposition Socialists and Citizens parties boycotted the vote.Responding to the news, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for calm and said the rule of law would be restored in the autonomous region. Lawmakers in Madrid are preparing to impose direct rule in Catalonia and remove the region's leader. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The regional parliament in Catalonia has voted to declare independence from Spain as Madrid prepares to impose direct rule on the region. The lawmakers have called for the establishment of a new Catalan Republic. Parliament announced just before 3:30 p.m. local time on Friday that 70 lawmakers had voted in favor of a motion to secede from Spain. Members from the opposition Socialists and Citizens parties boycotted the vote.Responding to the news, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for calm and said the rule of law would be restored in the autonomous region. Lawmakers in Madrid are preparing to impose direct rule in Catalonia and remove the region's leader. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A knife-wielding man has attacked people at the VIVO! mall in the city of Stalowa Wola in southeast Poland, killing at least one person and injuring eight others, local officials say. The suspect was taken into custody. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Near-record warm water has allowed Ophelia to strengthen further, making it a major category three hurricane south of the Azores, U.S. forecasters say. The storm is expected to lose some of its intensity as it moves closer to Ireland. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Tropical Storm Nate has strengthened into a category one hurricane as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico and takes aim for New Orleans, where a city-wide curfew has been announced and some areas have been ordered to evacuate. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

North Korea will soon test another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States, according to a Russian lawmaker who returned Friday from a four-day visit to the reclusive country. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A shooter has opened fire at a country music festival near the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 100 others, officials and witnesses say. James Valles reporting. (BNO News)

The autonomous region of Catalonia has voted to break away from Spain in an unauthorized referendum, the regional government announced on Monday after more than 800 people were injured in a crackdown by Spanish police. James Valles reporting. (BNO News)

At least 337 people have been injured during an intense police crackdown in Catalonia, where several people are reportedly in critical condition, according to a regional government spokesman. Spanish police have blocked people from voting in an independence referendum that calls for the autonomous region of Catalonia to breakaway from Spain. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned on Friday amid continuing controversy over his frequent use of government-funded private jets, the White House says. James Valles reports. ( BNO News)

Emanuel Kidega Samson, a black man who opened fire at a Sunday church service in Tennessee left a note that referenced retaliation for a white supremacist's shooting massacre at a black church in South Carolina, the Associated Press reports. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Hugh Hefner, who founded men’s magazines "Playboy" and turned it into one of the world's most recognizable brands, has died, the company announced on late Wednesday evening. He was 91 years old. James Valles reports (BNO News).

Police and other emergency services in Tennessee are responding to reports of an active shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch near Nashville, officials and witnesses say. There are reports of multiple injuries. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

U.S. Senator John McCain has announced he will not support a revised Republican health care bill, making it impossible for the bill to advance. It marks the latest blow to Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 has struck central Mexico, causing numerous buildings to collapse and killing at least 158 people, officials and witnesses say. Dozens of people remain trapped under the rubble. James Valles reports on the latest. (BNO News)

Tropical Storm Maria has strengthened into a hurricane as it moves towards the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, U.S. forecasters say. Further strengthening is likely and Maria could become a major category three hurricane. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

At least 22 people have been injured after a small explosion on board a train at the Parsons Green subway station in west London, officials and witnesses say. It is being treated as an act of terrorism. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile that has flown over northern Japan, less than two weeks after the country carried out its sixth nuclear test, Japanese and South Korean officials say. Residents in Japan were briefly told to seek shelter. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Actor Frank Vincent, who is best remembered for his prominent roles in the HBO series "The Sopranos" and films such as "Goodfellas" and "Raging Bull," has died. He was 78 years old. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Police and other emergency services in Washington state are responding to reports of an active shooter at Freeman High School in Rockford, just southeast of Spokane. There are reports that several people have been injured. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Police and other emergency services in Washington state are responding to reports of an active shooter at Freeman High School in Rockford, just southeast of Spokane. There are reports that several people have been injured. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 has struck off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, with shaking felt across parts of Central America, seismologists and residents say. A tsunami alert has been issued for several countries.James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for the city of Miami Beach ahead of Irma, which could reach southeast Florida this weekend as a major category four hurricane, officials said. James Valles reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his decision to end DACA, a policy that shielded from deportation an estimated 800,000 young immigrants who were illegally brought to the United States as children. In a tweet late on Tuesday, Trump said he would "revisit this issue" if lawmakers fail to act within six months. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Hurricane Irma has strengthened into a powerful category four storm with maximum sustained winds near 130 miles (215 kilometers) per hour as it moves closer to the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, forecasters say. The storm could affect Florida on Sunday. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

North Korea is preparing to carry out another test of a long-range ballistic missile, the South's spy agency told lawmakers on Monday. It added that the North is also capable of carrying out another nuclear test if it wishes to do so. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their third child, the royal palace announced Monday after Kate was forced to cancel a planned engagement due to severe morning sickness. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake has been detected at a nuclear test site in North Korea, a strong indication that the reclusive country has carried out a nuclear test, seismologists and officials say. It would be the country's sixth nuclear test. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

North Korea claims it has successfully developed a miniaturized hydrogen bomb which can be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), state-run media reports, a significant development if proven to be true. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A massive fire broke out at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, on Friday evening a day after one of the trailers at the facility containing organic peroxides caught fire. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office has issued a mandatory 1-1/2-mile evacuation around the plant, which is situated about 27 miles east Houston. James Valles reports.

At least 20 people were killed and 30 more injured when a 117-year-old building collapsed Thursday morning in Mumbai, India. The five-story building was located on Maulana Shaukat Ali Road in Mumbai's busy Bhendi Bazaar area. Its constructor claimed it was dangerous and dilapidated as early as 2011 and urged its inhabitants to vacate. However, nine households were still living in the building, and they became the victims of this tragedy. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Troubled commercial banking giant Wells Fargo said Thursday it had uncovered 1.4 million more suspect customer accounts, part of a broadening scandal that has rocked the bank since last year. The new total brings the number to 3.5 million potentially phony accounts opened without customers' consent or knowledge, which caused damaged credit scores and millions in unjustified fees, the bank said in a statement. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

For many, Friday is simply September 1, but for Star Wars fans it's officially Force Friday II. The event, which was first held two years ago in conjunction with the first film in the new franchise "The Force Awakens", has officially launched as Australians charged into a store in Sydney when the clock hit midnight to get the new toys from the upcoming "The Last Jedi". James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Hurricane Harvey is expected to become the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history, forecasting company AccuWeather reported on Wednesday, estimating the impact on the U.S. economy to approach at least $160 billion. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Hurricane Harvey has made landfall near the city of Rockport in Texas as a powerful category four hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 130 miles (215 kilometers) per hour, forecasters say. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

North Korea has fired what appear to be multiple short-range missiles, Japanese and South Korean sources say, less than a month after the country's second long-range missile test. Only few details were immediately available. James Valles reports (BNO News)

Sports channel ESPN says it has pulled an Asian announcer from a game at the University of Virginia for having the same name as Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Confederate symbols have become increasingly controversial since a white supremacist opened fire at a black church in South Carolina in 2015, killing 9 people. The violence at the rally in Virginia has reignited the debate. James Valles reports (BNO News)

A small earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.5 has struck an island off the Italian city of Naples, causing multiple buildings to collapse, officials and witnesses say. At least one person has been killed and others are injured. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Younes Abouyaaqoub, the man who carried out last week's terrorist attack in the Spanish city of Barcelona has been shot dead by police, local officials say. He was killed after police encountered him with fake explosives on his body. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A man wearing a possible explosives belt has been shot dead in the Subirats area to the west of the Spanish city of Barcelona, local media report. It is believed that the man could be the fugitive from last week's attack. Earlier on Monday, police said that a Europe-wide manhunt was underway to find 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub, the man who is believed to have been behind the wheel as a van plowed into people in Barcelona, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100 others. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver an address to the nation on Monday night to discuss his plans for the future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the White House announced on Sunday. It will be his first address to the nation. James Valles reports. (BNO News

At least 10 U.S. Sailors are missing after the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with a cargo ship east of Singapore, the U.S. Navy says. A search and rescue operation has been launched. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain has collided with a merchant vessel east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca, U.S. officials say, adding that search and rescue efforts are underway. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A Utkal Express train has derailed in northern India on Saturday, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozens of others, according to WION news. The accident happened on Saturday around 5:30 p.m. (local time) in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh when fourteen coaches of the passenger train is said to have derailed. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Several suspects have been shot dead by police after what appears to have been a failed terrorist attack in Cambrils, which is a city in northeast Spain, just hours after 13 people were killed in a vehicle attack in nearby Barcelona, officials say. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Two days after violent protests rocked Charlottesville, Virginia, President Donald Trump was embroiled in renewed controversy on Tuesday as he tried to explain why it took him so long to condemn the white nationalist group behind a rally that left 1 dead and dozens injured. Speaking at a news conference at Trump Tower in New York, the president said he was waiting on all the facts but emphasized that both white supremacists and counter-protesters were to blame for violence. A 22-year-old student in North Carolina has been arrested for her role in Monday’s toppling of a nearly century-old statue of a Confederate soldier. The woman, Takiya Thompson, believes she did the right thing and said she was tired of white supremacy “keeping its foot on [her] neck and the necks of people who look like [her].” Durham county authorities said they were still working to identify others who were involved. People who were up late at night in the U.S. territory of Guam were startled early Tuesday when a Civil Danger Warning appeared on their TV screens. It’s the type of alert which would be issued in the event of a North Korean missile attack, but no missiles had been launched. Local officials said an unauthorized employee at a radio station caused the activation, but it’s not believed to have been intentional. Local police were flooded with calls from concerned residents who were looking for more information. A 200-year-old tree fell onto a crowd at a religious festival on the Portuguese island of Madeira, killing at least 13 people and injuring nearly 50 others. Several foreigners were reported to be among those injured. The island has declared 3 days of mourning. Up to 3 suicide bombers have attacked a market outside a refugee camp in northeastern Nigeria, killing at least 27 people and injuring more than 80 others. Observers said the attack was likely carried out by Boko Haram, which joined ISIS in 2015. Sierra Leone’s president has appealed for urgent help as rescue operations are continuing to find hundreds of people who are missing after Monday’s mudslides and floods in the capital of Freetown. More than 400 bodies have been recovered so far, including 109 children, but the death toll is certain to rise. It’s unclear how many people remain missing but more than 3,000 people have lost their homes. James Valles reporting (BNO News)

Hundreds of homes have been swept away by a mudslide on the outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital Freetown, killing at least 350 people, including 100 children. Many people were asleep when the disaster hit. Rescue work is ongoing and hundredds of people remain missing. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been briefed on a proposal to launch missiles near the U.S. territory of Guam in a show of force, according to state-run media. The leader stopped short of issuing an order to go ahead with the plan, saying instead that he would monitor U.S. actions a little longer. Protesters in Durham, North Carolina, have toppled a Confederate statue that stood outside the county's old courthouse for nearly 100 years. It comes just days after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia ended in violence. Videos from the scene showed protesters putting rope around the statue, after which it was pulled down. You can view the full video at bnonews.com. Internet hosting provider GoDaddy has banned The Daily Stormer after the prominent neo-Nazi website published an article that attacked a 32-year-old woman who was killed in Saturday's car-ramming attack at the Charlottesville protest. The site later tried to move to Google, but they too have decided to ban the website. And in France, a car has plowed into a pizza restaurant near the French capital of Paris, killing a 13-year-old girl and injuring a dozen others, local officials say. The suspect later told police that he was trying to commit suicide. Investigators say there is no link to terrorism. A jury in Denver has sided with Taylor Swift in her sexual assault case against radio DJ David Mueller, who was fired after he grabbed the singer's bottom during a photo shoot. At the singer's request, Mueller was ordered to pay a symbolic figure of $1 in damages. The number of cholera cases in war-torn Yemen has surpassed half a million. An update from the World Health Organization says at least 503,000 people have fallen ill, including nearly 2,000 people who have died of the disease. It is the world's worst cholera outbreak ever recorded. James Valles reporting. (BNO News)

Volunteers in Charlottesville took to the streets of the city on Sunday (August 13) to clean up what was left behind after a protest had turned violent and caused the death of one woman and the injury of at least 19. At the site where a 20-year-old man from Ohio rammed his car into anti 'Unite The Right' protesters, a make shift memorial has been erected with flowers lining the road and visitors paying their respects. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A vehicle has plowed into a crowd of people during protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, injuring at least seven people, witnesses say. It was not immediately clear whether the crash was intentional or the result of an accident. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Colombian authorities say they have seized a ton of cocaine destined for the European market. The crackdown was announced Thursday ahead of Mike Pence's weekend visit to Bogota. It will mark the Vice President's first trip to Latin America. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned North Korea to stop considering actions that would "lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people," an apparent reference to the North's threat to attack Guam. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (August 8) North Korea "will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen" if it threatened the United States again. "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," Trump told reporters at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles, a key development on its path to become a full-fledged nuclear power, the U.S. has concluded, prompting an angry response from President Donald Trump. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

James Damore, the Google employee who wrote a controversial internal document about diversity initiatives at the internet giant, has been fired for violating the company's code of conduct. Damore told Bloomberg on late Monday that he had been fired, just hours after Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the employee had violated its Code of Conduct by "advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace." James Valles reports. (BNO News)

* At least 29 people have been killed in a shooting and suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in western Afghanistan. Dozens more were injured and the death toll is expected to rise. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Shia Muslims are a minority in Afghanistan and have been targeted by ISIS. * U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the U.S. is willing to talk with North Korea but only on the understanding that there is no future in which North Korea holds nuclear weapons or has the ability to strike the U.S. North Korea has rejected such conditions in the past. Tillerson added that the United States is not pursuing regime change or an excuse to send in American troops. * The U.S. Senate has voted overwhelmingly to confirm Christopher Wray as the next director of the FBI. Wray, who served as the U.S. Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Criminal Division from 2003 to 2005, will succeed James Comey, who was fired by President Donald Trump amid the agency's Russia investigation. * The last of 12 inmates who escaped from a jail in Alabama has been arrested in Florida. The group escaped on Sunday after they used peanut butter from jail sandwiches to change the number above an inmate's cell, which they then used to fool a new guard into opening an outside door. * Jordan's lower house of parliament has voted to repeal a controversial law that allowed a rapist to avoid prison by marrying his victim. Human rights groups welcomed the repeal.

* President Donald Trump has ousted Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, just over a week after the former New York financier was named to the position. The abrupt removal followed a week of infighting at the White House, which led to the resignation of White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. * North Korea has yet to master the technology to shield a nuclear warhead from the rigors of re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, a missile expert says, citing footage from Friday's long-range missile test. Also on Monday, CNN reported that North Korea has carried out another test of a missile component that is critical to the development of submarine launch capabilities. * The U.S. has slapped sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, condemning him as a "dictator" after Sunday's disputed election to rewrite the constitution. The sanctions freeze all of Maduro's assets which are subject to U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits American citizens from doing business with him. * Playwright, director, and actor Sam Shepard has died at the age of 73. He passed away at his home in Kentucky as a result of complications from ALS. Shepard wrote more than 40 plays, won the Pulitzer Prize for "Buried Child," and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1983 film "The Right Stuff." * Paris will host the 2024 Olympic Games after Los Angeles agreed to host the 2028 edition. Both cities had sought to host the 2024 event but a deal was agreed to on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law banning tools that allow people to use the internet anonymously, including Tor and virtual private networks (VPNs). He also signed a second law that requires people to provide their phone number when signing up for online messaging services. Human rights groups have condemned the bill for infringing on civil liberties.

* North Korea has successfully test-fired a long-range missile capable of reaching large parts of the U.S. mainland, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and possibly New York City. It comes less than a month after the country carried out its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. * The U.S. Senate has voted against a bill to repeal Obamacare, a major blow for President Donald Trump who promised to repeal and replace the healthcare act passed by his predecessor. * President Trump has replaced White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus after days of infighting at the White House. Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly has been chosen to succeed him. * Charlie Gard, the British baby who was the subject of a bitter dispute between his parents and doctors over whether he should be taken to the U.S. for experimental treatment, has died after his life support was withdrawn. He was due to turn 1 next week. * A man with a knife attacked people at a store in the German city of Hamburg, killing 1 person and injuring 6 others. The suspect, a failed asylum seeker who was born in the United Arab Emirates, reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the attack. Police said it is still unknown whether the act was linked to terrorism. * Venezuela, which has experienced months of turmoil during which more than 100 people have been killed, is preparing to hold Constituent Assembly elections on Sunday. The vote, which is strongly opposed by the opposition, would give the body the power to rewrite the constitution. Air France has canceled flights to Caracas and the U.S. State Department has ordered families of government employees to leave Venezuela. * A passenger train has crashed into a station in the Spanish city of Barcelona, injuring 54 people. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

U.S. President Donald Trump has replaced White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, naming Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly to succeed him. It follows days of infighting at the White House. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The United States will not allow transgender people to serve in the military "in any capacity," President Donald Trump announced, reversing a change that was made during the Obama administration. It is not yet clear when the ban will take effect. In Ohio, one person has been killed, 7 others have been injured, after a pendulum ride malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair, causing people to fall to the ground. All rides at the fair have been closed pending safety checks. According to the Columbus Fire Department, of those injured, 5 were listed in critical condition, two others are said to be in stable condition. You'll find more on this story at bnonews.com The European Union has warned Poland that it will immediately lose its voting rights if the country fires Supreme Court judges. The Polish government, which is considering to put the court under its control, condemned the warning as "blackmail." More than 10,000 people have been evacuated in southeastern France as firefighters battle large wildfires along the Mediterranean coast. At least 27 firefighters and police officers have been injured. A small plane has crashed on Interstate 15 in the city of Riverdale in Utah, killing all 4 people on board. The crash caused fires to spread across the interstate, but there were no casualties on the ground. An investigation by the United Nations has blamed a Saudi-led military coalition for a helicopter attack in March that targeted a Somali migrant boat off Yemen. The attack killed 42 people and injured 34 others. The coalition has denied any involvement. U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was critically injured last month when he was shot during baseball practice in Virginia, has been released from hospital. He will now begin a period of "intensive inpatient rehabilitation," according to his office.

Description One person has been killed and others are critically injured after a pendulum ride malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair, causing people to fall to the ground, officials and witnesses say. Only few details were immediately available. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The U.S. Senate has voted to start debating a new Republican health care bill. The move marks a major step forward for President Trump's attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare, even though it remains highly uncertain whether senators will be able to agree on the specifics of a bill. The U.S. believes that North Korea will be able to start production of reliable, nuclear-capable long-range missiles as early as next year, the Washington Post reports. The assessment shaves a full two years from previous reports. It comes amidst possible indications that the reclusive country may be preparing to carry out another missile test in the next few days. A bill to impose new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea is heading to the U.S. Senate after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor. The bill also limits the president's power to waive the sanctions. It's not yet known whether Trump would veto the bill if approved by the Senate. Killer whale Kyara, the 3-month-old calf which was the last to be born as part of SeaWorld's orca breeding program, has died in Texas. The calf died while being treated for an infection, believed to be pneumonia. SeaWorld announced last year that it would stop breeding killer whales. White House Assistant Press Secretary Michael Short has resigned after the incoming director told reporters that he planned to fire him, part of a shake-up of the president's press shop. It comes just days after Press Secretary Sean Spicer said he would resign. The number of cases as a result of an unprecidented dengue outbreak in Sri Lanka has risen to more than 100,000, flooding hospitals with patients and killing more than 300 of them, the health ministry says.

Eight people have been found dead in a truck outside a Walmart store in San Antonio, Texas, local officials say, calling it a horrific case of human trafficking. Others were seriously injured and rushed to area hospitals. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

John Heard, the actor who portrayed father Peter McCallister in the "Home Alone" movies, has been found dead at a hotel in California. He was 72 years old. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

* Singer Chester Bennington, the lead vocalist of the rock band Linkin Park, has died in California of an apparent suicide. He was 41 years old. His death came on what would have been the birthday of singer Chris Cornell, a close friend who committed suicide in May. * Former football star O.J. Simpson has been granted parole after serving 9 years in prison for an armed robbery at a Las Vegas hotel. Simpson, who was famously acquitted in the murders of his ex-wife and her friend, will be released in October. * A 6.7-magnitude earthquake has struck the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Greece, triggering a small tsunami that caused flooding in some places. Greek officials report that at least 2 people have been killed and more than 100 are injured. * Two markets on the 'dark web' which were trading in drugs, firearms and malware have been shut down by law enforcement. One of the markets, called AlphaBay, is believed to have been the largest criminal marketplace on the dark web, reaching 40,000 vendors and more than 200,000 users around the world. * A bill in Chile which sought to legalize abortion in cases of rape or health concerns has failed to pass the final hurdle. The Chamber of Deputies was widely expected to approve the bill, but one lawmaker unexpectedly abstained while others were away on vacation, leaving the government one vote short. Opinion polls show that the vast majority of Chileans support easing the abortion ban, which was instituted in 1989. * Prolonged drought in North Korea has severely damaged crops, threatening food security for large parts of its population. The United Nations estimates that early season crops have plunged by more than 30 percent.

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 has struck southwest Turkey, centered near the city of Bodrum, seismologists and residents say. Shaking has also been felt in large parts of Greece. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Singer Chester Bennington, the lead vocalist of the rock band Linkin Park, has died in California of an apparent suicide, local officials say. He was 41 years old. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Here's a quick look at the most important news of the last 24 hours. * U.S. Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. The tumor was discovered after the 80-year-old senator underwent surgery to remove a blood clot near his left eye. His doctors are reviewing treatment options, which may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. * President Donald Trump says he would not have nominated U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions if he knew he would recuse himself from the Russia investigation. "It's extremely unfair - and that's a mild word - to the president," he told the New York Times. There was no immediate response from Sessions. * The number of Americans without health insurance would increase by 17 million in 2018 or 27 million by 2020 if Republicans approve a bill to repeal Obamacare, according to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Average premiums for individuals would increase by 25% in 2018 or 50% by 2020. * President Trump has decided to end the CIA's covert program to arm and train Syrian rebels in their fight against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, the Washington Post reports. * A Saudi woman who was arrested for wearing a miniskirt in public has been released without charge and the case has been closed, officials say. The young woman told police that a video which showed her walking on an empty street had been posted online without her knowledge. * Uruguay has become the first country in the world to legalize the production and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Customers will be required to sign up to a national registry and provide fingerprints, which allows them to buy up to 40 grams (1.41 ounces) a month. Other countries such as the Netherlands already tolerate small quantities of marijuana, but Uruguay is the first to formally legalize the production, sale and possession.

U.S. Senator John McCain, who is recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot near his eye, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. His doctors are reviewing treatment options. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

U.S. Senators Mike Lee and Jerry Moran have announced they will not support the revised Republican health care bill, making it impossible for the bill to advance. It marks the latest blow to Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Three people have been shot outside the Belle Glade Health Department in south Florida, local officials say. Two other people were shot a few miles away though it was not immediately clear if the shootings were linked. James Valles reporting. (BNO News)

A quick look at the headlines of the last 24 hours to get you up to speed.

The U.S. intelligence community believes that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) orchestrated the hacking incident that sparked the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and Gulf countries, the Washington Post reported on Sunday. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Martin Landau, the Oscar-winning actor who is best remembered for his roles in TV series such as "Mission: Impossible" and "Space: 1999," as well as movies such as "Tucker" and "Ed Wood," has died in Los Angeles. He was 89. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Film director George A. Romero, who was often referred to as the "Father of the Zombie Movie" for movies such as "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead," has died after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 77 years old. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The U.S. Senate will delay voting on the Republican health care bill until U.S. Senator John McCain has returned to work after recovering from surgery, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on late Saturday night. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The Chilean capital of Santiago has been hit by the worst snowfall in 10 years, leaving more than a quarter of a million people without power, local officials say. There were no immediate reports of major incidents. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

At least eight people have been killed, nearly 50 others have been seriously injured. after violence erupted at the end of a football match in Senegal's capital of Dakar, local media. The incident happened on Saturday when thousands of people were attending a football match at a stadium in the country's capital. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Illinois officials said Friday some 6,800 buildings have been affected north of Chicago, and the damage is expected to worsen this weekend as water flows down rivers into the state from Wisconsin. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Israeli police say three Palestinians opened fire at Israelis near a Jerusalem holy site, wounding two seriously, before they were shot and killed. Police said the Palestinians opened fire at Lions Gate and then fled to mosques at the nearby holy site Friday. Police gave chase and the Palestinians were killed, officers said. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has been hospitalized after he became dehydrated while volunteering in Canada for a home-building charity, officials say. The former leader is said to be doing OK. Carter, who is 92, was helping with a project in Winnipeg and was building a set of stairs along with his wife and other volunteers. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A tourist has died in the Caribbean country of Sint Maarten after she was blown away by winds from the engines of a passenger plane, police say. The country's airport is a popular tourist attraction because its runway is close to the beach. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

The medical evidence in the case of 11-month-old Charlie Gard, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, has "moved", a family spokesman said on Thursday. Gard's parents are trying to convince a judge to let them take their critically ill child to the United States for medical treatment, having previously lost the case. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Iraqi security forces have released videos showing foreign Islamic State (ISIS) fighters surrendering in Mosul's Old City area on Wednesday (July 12), with some using crutches to walk. One video showed a group of bare-chested IS fighters sitting on rubble. Another video, said to be shot on Tuesday (July 11) showed others taking off their shirts before surrendering. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

A large military plane has crashed in a field in northwest Mississippi, killing at least five people and leaving several others unaccounted-for, local officials say. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. \ County officials said 9 people were believed to have been on board the four-engine military transport aircraft. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

Mosul victory imminent as Iraqi forces move within 165 yards away from defeating ISIS in Iraq's second-largest city, the Associated Press reports. Iraq will announce imminently a final victory in the nearly nine-month offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists, a US general said Saturday, as celebrations broke out among police forces in the city. James Valles reports (BNO News)

Chris Gard and Connie Yates, who are battling to take their child Charlie to the U.S. for treatment against advice from doctors, arrived at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London on Sunday (July 9) to hand in petition signed by more than 350,000 people. James Valles reports. (BNO News)