Hundreds attend funeral of black South Carolina man shot by police

Hundreds attend funeral of black South Carolina man shot by police
Obama, Castro herald new era at Americas Summit
The mystery moneymen behind Ted Cruz’s super-PACs
Obama, Castro vow to pursue new future for US and Cuba
Crowd arrives for Walter Scott's funeral in SC
Officials release video of Boston cop shooting
Californian sheriff suspends 10 officers over beating of horseman

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 10:26 AM PDT

By Harriet McLeod SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (Reuters) - Hundreds of mourners, including prominent South Carolina politicians, attended the funeral on Saturday of Walter Scott, an African-American father of four who was shot in the back while running from a white patrolman. The body of the slain Coast Guard veteran, whose death was caught on a bystander's video, was carried in a flag-draped casket past the crowd assembled outside the W.O.R.D. Ministries Christian Center in Summerville, north of North Charleston, where the shooting took place on April 4. "This is a sad day," said Rev. James Johnson, who is president of the local chapter of civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. "Hopefully this will heal the world." Michael Slager, the North Charleston officer who fired eight times at Scott's back as he fled from a traffic stop, has been charged with murder and dismissed from the police force.

Obama, Castro herald new era at Americas Summit

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 10:09 AM PDT

US President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro heralded a new era of bilateral relations on Saturday as they both addressed a landmark Summit of the Americas ahead of historic one-on-one talks. Sitting around an oval table with some 30 other regional leaders in Panama City, Obama and Castro spoke one after the other in an unprecedented public exchange between the leaders of the Cold War-era foes. "This shift in US policy represents a turning point for our entire region," Obama said. Obama cited the human rights situation in Cuba, while Castro renewed calls for the US Congress to lift a decades-old embargo.

The mystery moneymen behind Ted Cruz’s super-PACs

Posted: 10 Apr 2015 11:32 AM PDT

A Texas billionaire who moved his residence to Puerto Rico after its island government carved out a lucrative new tax haven for wealthy U.S. investors is a prime fundraiser for a network of super-PACs backing Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for president, according to sources close to Cruz's campaign.

Obama, Castro vow to pursue new future for US and Cuba

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 10:20 AM PDT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — President Barack Obama declared his refusal to refight the Cold War battles of the past on Saturday while Cuban President Raul Castro rallied to his defense, absolving Obama of fault for the U.S. blockade in a stunning reversal of more than 50 years of animosity between the United States and Cuba.

Crowd arrives for Walter Scott's funeral in SC

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 09:44 AM PDT

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A crowd gathered in Summerville, South Carolina on Saturday for the funeral of Walter Scott — the black driver who was fatally shot by a North Charleston police officer after fleeing a traffic stop.

Officials release video of Boston cop shooting

Posted: 10 Apr 2015 04:09 PM PDT

By Elizabeth Barber BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts officials on Friday released video footage showing the near-fatal shooting of a Boston police officer last month by a man who was subsequently shot dead by other officers. "It is in everyone's best interest to share (this) information as soon as possible in order to tamp down speculation and rumors meant to inflame and not inform," Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said at a news conference.

Californian sheriff suspends 10 officers over beating of horseman

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 07:16 AM PDT

By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Californian sheriff has suspended 10 officers involved in the videotaped beating of a suspect who appeared to have surrendered and was lying on the ground after making a failed getaway attempt on horseback. John McMahon, sheriff of San Bernardino County, said at a news conference on Friday he was "disturbed and troubled" by what he saw in the footage, shot from a KNBC-TV news helipcopter on Thursday near the town of Apple Valley, east of Los Angeles. "It appears to be excessive to me based on what I saw in the video," he said of the force used in restraining the suspect, Francis Pusok, 30, after the man had already been shot by a Taser stun gun and was splayed face down on the ground. Ten officers involved in the beating of Pusok have been placed on paid administrative leave pending a special investigation of the incident, the sheriff said.