Briefly

UNITED NATIONS

Attention urged on ETIM/TIP threats

A Chinese envoy called on the international community on Wednesday to pay close attention to terrorist threats posed by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement/Turkistan Islamic Party, or ETIM/TIP. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, cited the secretary-general's report which points out that the Islamic State terror group continues to recruit from ETIM/TIP and said China "is deeply concerned "about this. In recent years, Zhang said, this organization has spread and grown in Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

UNITED STATES

Girl, 9, shot in head in road-rage incident

A 9-year-old girl was shot in the head in what Houston police suspect was a road-rage shooting after her family's sport utility vehicle came between two racing vehicles. The incident happened on Tuesday night. A police statement said the SUV was inbound when it got in between two vehicles that appeared to be racing. One of the vehicles, a white pickup truck, cut off the SUV several times, then pulled behind the SUV. Someone in the truck then fired shots at the SUV, wounding the girl who was hospitalized in critical condition.

MEXICO

Three arrested over journalist's murder

Mexican authorities said on Wednesday that three men had been arrested for the murder of journalist Lourdes Maldonado, whose death last month in the northwestern border city of Tijuana sparked international condemnation. The killing of Maldonado－one of several journalists slain in Mexico so far this year－prompted calls for the government to do more to protect media workers.

UNITED KINGDOM

Soccer star fined for abusing pet cat

West Ham fined soccer player Kurt Zouma the "maximum amount possible" on Wednesday for mistreating his cat. The charity RSPCA said it had taken two animals belonging to the France defender into its care. The 27-year-old also lost his deal with sportswear giant Adidas over the disturbing video showing him dropping, kicking and slapping his pet. The RSPCA described the video as "very upsetting" and is leading the investigation while cooperating with police. Around 200,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Zouma to be prosecuted as the public backlash intensifies in a country renowned for its love of animals.

Xinhua - Agencies