Turkey PM says 161 dead in Turkey coup attempt. (AFP)

PTI Automatic

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice on France's national holiday, a news service affiliated with the jihadists said today.
	Amaq quoted an IS security source as saying one of its "soldiers" carried out Thursday's carnage "in response to calls to target nations of coalition states that are fighting (IS)".

IS claims Nice massacre

ISIS claims Nice massacre: jihadist-linked agency. (AFP)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan battled to regain control over Turkey today after a coup bid by discontented soldiers, as signs grew that the most serious challenge to his 13 years of dominant rule was faltering.
	After hours of chaos and violence unseen in decades, Erdogan ended uncertainty over his whereabouts, flying into Istanbul airport in the early hours and making a defiant speech cheered by hundreds of supporters.
	Soldiers and tanks took to the streets late last night and multiple explosions rang out throughout the night in Ankara and Istanbul, the two biggest cities of the strategic NATO member of 80 million people.
	After a night of drama and bloodshed, at least 90 people had died and more than 1,150 people were wounded, according to state-run news agency Andalou.
	Officials insisted the putsch bid was falling apart with over 1,560 officers held and close to 200 unarmed soldiers at the Turkish military HQ surrendering.
	Crowds of flag-waving supporters of Erdogan's ruling ...

Erdogan reasserts control as Turkey coup bid falters

90 dead, 1,154 wounded in Turkey coup attempt: state news

Twitter pointed to "intentional slowing" of its service in Turkey, as reports surfaced that social media was being sidelined during a coup attempt.
	An @TurkeyBlocks account that said it was mapping censorship in that country tweeted early in the day that it noticed "social media throttling," particularly Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
	"We have no reason to think we've been fully blocked in #Turkey, but we suspect there is an intentional slowing of our traffic in country," Twitter said in a message fired off by its global policy team at an @policy account.
	YouTube, a US-based online video sharing service, said "we are aware of reports that YouTube is down in Turkey, however, our systems seem to be functioning normally."
	Facebook did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
	Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have become powerful tools for sharing video of events, often in real time.
	Turkish troops launched a coup attempt, with soldiers taking to the streets of Ankara and ...

Twitter service slowed in Turkey

France Davis Cup captain Yannick Noah, riders at the Tour de France and golfers at the British Open led tributes from the world of sport to the victims of the Nice terror attack.
     The Tour's 13th stage only went ahead amid heightened security after Thursday night's truck attack on the French Riviera city which killed at least 84 people.
     Organisers declared cycling's blue riband event in mourning, with a minute's silence held at the start of the time trial stage at Bourg-Saint-Andeol.
     Another silent tribute was held at the end of the day's riding at La Caverne du Pont d'Arc in the Ardeche region.
     Defending champion Chris Froome said he felt particularly affected by the tragedy as he lives in Monaco, a short way along the Mediterranean coast from Nice.
     "It's pretty close to home for me, I do a lot of training on those roads," said the 31-year-old Briton.
     "To see the Promenade (des Anglais) the way it was yesterday evening, with bodies all over the road... It 

Sports world pays tribute to Nice victims

Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic and women's world number five Simona Halep dealt the Olympics tennis tournament a double body blow when they pulled out of Rio, citing health fears over the Zika virus.
     Raonic, the world number seven from Canada who was defeated by Andy Murray in Sunday's Wimbledon final, said he had taken the decision "with a heavy heart".
     Halep, the 2014 French Open runner-up, said she too was concerned over the Zika virus and did not want to damage her hopes of having a family when she retires from playing.
     "It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my withdrawal from participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games," the 25-year-old Raonic announced on his Facebook page.
     "After much deliberation with my family and coaches, I am making this decision for a variety of health concerns including the uncertainty around the Zika virus.
     "This was a difficult, personal choice and I do not wish for it to impact the decision of any other athlete ...

Raonic, Halep out of Olympics over Zika

Turkey today appointed a new acting army chief of staff after an attempted coup to topple the government, the prime minister said.
	General Umit Dundar, commander of the First Army, has been appointed as acting chairman of chief of staff, Binali Yildirim said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier said he did not know whereabouts of former army chief Hulusi Akar.

Turkey appoints new acting army chief of staff after coup bid

At least 60 people have been killed and 336 detained in a night of violence across Turkey sparked when elements in the military staged an attempted coup, a senior Turkish official said.
	The majority of those killed were civilians and most of those detained are soldiers, said the official, without giving further details.

At least 60 dead, 336 people arrested across Turkey: official

At least 60 dead, 336 people arrested across Turkey:

Turkey appoints new acting army chief of staff after coup

France today began a period of national mourning for the 84 people who died after a "terrorist" drove his truck through a crowd in Nice as they watched Bastille Day fireworks.
	President Francois Hollande said the country would observe three days of mourning as he warned the death toll could rise further, with more than 50 people fighting for their lives following the attack in the Cote d'Azur resort city on Thursday night.
	Prime Minister Manuel Valls said attacker Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel probably had links to radical Islam, but Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve cautioned it was too early to make the connection.
	Anti-terrorism prosecutor Francois Molins said the 31-year-old Tunisian was "completely unknown" to the intelligence services but that the assault was "exactly in line with" calls from jihadist groups to kill.
	The attack left a scene of carnage on Nice's picturesque Promenade des Anglais, with mangled bodies strewn over the palm-fringed walkway. At least 10 children and 

France mourns 84 dead in Nice truck attack

42 dead in Ankara coup attempt clashes: TV citing

Turkey PM says more than 120 arrested over coup attempt.

Turkish parliament in Ankara hit by bombing: state news

'Situation largely under control' after Turkey coup

17 police officers killed in Turkey coup attempt: state

France presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council  that calls for deploying up to 228 UN police to Burundi to monitor human rights and help quell violence in the African country.
	The draft measure, obtained by AFP yesterday, said the force would be deployed in Bujumbura and throughout Burundi for an initial period of one year, but that the size and mandate could change if violence worsens.
	It remains unclear whether the government of Burundi would give its consent for the deployment, which would be required for the UN force to be dispatched.
	Bujumbura has said it would not accept more than 50 UN police officers, but negotiations are ongoing on the proposed larger force.
	Russia and Egypt have said they will support a UN police force only if the Bujumbura government agrees to its deployment.
	The UN police force would be tasked with monitoring security and human rights in coordination with African Union rights observers and military experts.
	Burundi has agreed to allow 

France proposes 200-strong UN police force for Burundi

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington and Moscow had agreed on "concrete steps" to save the failing Syrian ceasefire.
	But, appearing with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, he yesterday said the details of the deal would not be made public to allow the "quiet business" of peacemaking to continue.
	"I want to emphasise though that they are not based on trust, they define specific sequential responsibilities all parties to the conflict must assume with the intent to stop altogether the indiscriminate bombing of the Assad regime and stepping up our efforts against Al-Nusra," Kerry said, referring to the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda.
	"Each of us know exactly what we have to do."
	Kerry added that if the steps were implemented "in good faith", they could "help restore the cessation of hostilities, significantly reduce the violence and help create the space for a negotiated and credible political transition".
	Kerry's 12-hour marathon talks with Lavrov came after what ..

Kerry: US, Russia agree 'concrete steps' to save Syria truce

The US Justice Department announced plans to launch an inquiry into the police response that followed last month's Orlando gay nightclub massacre that left 49 dead and 53 wounded.
	The agency's unit dedicated to supporting community policing through grant funding and other assistance yesterday said it would conduct a "comprehensive after-action assessment" of the Orlando Police Department's response to the June 12 mass shooting, after a request by its chief, John Mina.
	"The lessons learned from this independent, objective and critical review of such a high-profile incident will benefit not only the Orlando Police Department and its community," said Justice Department Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) chief Ronald Davis.
	"It will also serve to provide all law enforcement critical guidance and recommendations for responding to future such incidents."
	Lone gunman Omar Mateen - a 29-year-old American of Afghan descent - opened fire at about 2:00 am in the Pulse ...

AFP

AFP

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