IN BRIEF

France

Church attacker a doctoral student

A government spokesman said that the man who attacked police officers patrolling in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, crying out "This is for Syria!", was a student working on his doctoral thesis who had not been suspected of radicalization. Christopher Castaner told RTL radio on Wednesday that police were quickly able to classify the hammer attack as a terrorist act because of "the words he said."

Middle East

Israel vows control of Golan Heights

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday to "forever" maintain control of the Golan Heights, which was captured during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or the Six Day War. Despite the pledge, the international community, including its closest ally the United States, has never recognized Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights. Currently, the Golan Heights is home to 50,000 people, among which more than half are Israelis.

Japan

Govt set to bring TPP into force

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed on Tuesday to bring the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement into force at an early date during talks in Tokyo. Phuc is on a five-day visit to Japan starting on Sunday. The two countries signed a number of frameworks between their ministries, local authorities and businesses.

Nepal

Deuba elected prime minister

Nepal's parliament on Tuesday elected a three-time former prime minister to the top post once again, the tenth time in just over a decade the leadership has changed hands in the Himalayan country. Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was the only candidate, received 388 votes. The election came after former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned two weeks ago after just 10 months in the job. Deuba's is leader of the center-right Nepali Congress party.

The Philippines

Death toll in city siege climbs to 193

The death toll in the ongoing clashes between government troops and extremists in the southern Philippines has climbed to 193, a spokesman for the armed forces said on Wednesday. General Restituto Padilla said that as of June 6, or 15 days after the fighting broke out, the military has recorded a total of 134 Maute militants, 39 troops and 20 civilians. The military said the remaining 100 or so militants are holed up in the city.

Australia

China-born man sole attack victim

A China-born citizen was on Wednesday identified as the man killed by terrorist Yacqub Khayre in Melbourne on Monday. Kai Hao, 36, was shot dead by Khayre in the foyer of the apartment complex where Khayre took a woman hostage on Monday. Security officials have confirmed that the incident was an act of terror and are investigating whether Khayre, who was killed by police after he fired a shotgun at officers, acted on behalf of the Islamic State group.