LONDON: The mother of a backpacker slain in an Australian hostel wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump, rejecting the decision to label her daughter’s death as a terror attack.
The August slayings of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, and fellow Briton Tom Jackson, 30, were on a list of 78 attacks the White House says were “executed or inspired by” the Daesh militant group — and under-reported by the media.
Rosie Ayliffe says the possibility of terrorism was discounted early in the investigation.
“My daughter’s death will not be used to further this insane persecution of innocent people,” she wrote.
Police in Australia said there was no indication the assault was motivated by extremism. They have said they are investigating whether Ayad, who is French and was 29 years old at the time of killing, had a romantic obsession with Ayliffe-Chung.
Ayad’s lawyer told a court in October that her client had been given a preliminary diagnosis of schizophrenia. The case has been referred to the Queensland state Mental Health Court, which determines whether a person is competent to stand trial.
The attack took place in front of dozens of backpackers at a hostel in northern Queensland. Ayliffe-Chung was found dead at the scene. Jackson tried to stop the attack and was fatally wounded.
“This vilification of whole nation states and their people based on religion is a terrifying reminder of the horror that can ensue when we allow ourselves to be led by ignorant people into darkness and hatred,” Ayliffe wrote.
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Mother of backpacker slain in Australia criticizes Trump
Mother of backpacker slain in Australia criticizes Trump
US reaches nuclear deal with Armenia during Vance visit
- JD Vance’s visit to Armenia follows US-brokered peace accord with Azerbaijan mending relations after decades of war
- Agreement will allow up to $5bn in initial US exports to Armenia, plus an additional $4bn in longer-term fuel and maintenance contracts
TBILISI: Armenia and the United States agreed on Monday to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector as Washington sought to bolster ties with a former close ally of Russia, months after Washington brokered a peace agreement in the South Caucasus.
A statement on the nuclear sector deal was signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and US Vice President JD Vance, who is on a two-day visit to the country.
The two said they had completed negotiations on what is known as a 123 Agreement, which allows the US to legally license nuclear technology and equipment to other countries.
The agreement will allow up to $5 billion in initial US exports to Armenia, plus an additional $4 billion in longer-term fuel and maintenance contracts, Vance said.
“This agreement will open a new chapter in the deepening energy partnership between Armenia and the United States,” Pashinyan said at a joint press conference with Vance.
Long heavily dependent on Russia and Iran for its energy supplies, Armenia is now reviewing proposals from US, Russian, Chinese, French and South Korean companies to construct a new nuclear reactor to replace its sole, aging Russian-built nuclear power plant, Metsamor.
No choice has yet been made, but Monday’s announcement paves the way for an American project to be selected. That would deal a blow to Russia, which traditionally has viewed the South Caucasus as its sphere of influence but whose clout there has diminished as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
'Diversify partners’
“Considering Armenia’s multiplicity of dependencies on Russia, it is a political priority to diversify partners when it comes to nuclear cooperation,” said Narek Sukiasyan, a political scientist in Yerevan.
“The United States seems to be the preference now.”
Vance’s visit comes just six months after the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed an agreement at the White House seen as the first step toward peace after nearly 40 years of war.
Vance was also seeking to advance the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP),” a proposed 43-kilometer (27-mile) corridor that would run across southern Armenia and give Azerbaijan a direct route to its exclave of Nakhchivan and in turn to Turkiye, Baku’s close ally.
The route would better connect Asia to Europe while — crucially for Washington — bypassing Russia and Iran at a time when Western countries are keen on diversifying energy and trade routes away from Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.
The TRIPP corridor, which envisages new or updated rail infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines and fiber-optic cables, would transform the South Caucasus, a region riven by closed borders and longstanding ethnic conflicts.
“We’re not just making peace for Armenia,” Vance said. “We’re also creating real prosperity for Armenia and the United States together.”
He is set to visit Azerbaijan on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the White House.
A statement on the nuclear sector deal was signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and US Vice President JD Vance, who is on a two-day visit to the country.
The two said they had completed negotiations on what is known as a 123 Agreement, which allows the US to legally license nuclear technology and equipment to other countries.
The agreement will allow up to $5 billion in initial US exports to Armenia, plus an additional $4 billion in longer-term fuel and maintenance contracts, Vance said.
“This agreement will open a new chapter in the deepening energy partnership between Armenia and the United States,” Pashinyan said at a joint press conference with Vance.
Long heavily dependent on Russia and Iran for its energy supplies, Armenia is now reviewing proposals from US, Russian, Chinese, French and South Korean companies to construct a new nuclear reactor to replace its sole, aging Russian-built nuclear power plant, Metsamor.
No choice has yet been made, but Monday’s announcement paves the way for an American project to be selected. That would deal a blow to Russia, which traditionally has viewed the South Caucasus as its sphere of influence but whose clout there has diminished as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.
'Diversify partners’
“Considering Armenia’s multiplicity of dependencies on Russia, it is a political priority to diversify partners when it comes to nuclear cooperation,” said Narek Sukiasyan, a political scientist in Yerevan.
“The United States seems to be the preference now.”
Vance’s visit comes just six months after the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed an agreement at the White House seen as the first step toward peace after nearly 40 years of war.
Vance was also seeking to advance the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP),” a proposed 43-kilometer (27-mile) corridor that would run across southern Armenia and give Azerbaijan a direct route to its exclave of Nakhchivan and in turn to Turkiye, Baku’s close ally.
The route would better connect Asia to Europe while — crucially for Washington — bypassing Russia and Iran at a time when Western countries are keen on diversifying energy and trade routes away from Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.
The TRIPP corridor, which envisages new or updated rail infrastructure, oil and gas pipelines and fiber-optic cables, would transform the South Caucasus, a region riven by closed borders and longstanding ethnic conflicts.
“We’re not just making peace for Armenia,” Vance said. “We’re also creating real prosperity for Armenia and the United States together.”
He is set to visit Azerbaijan on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the White House.
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