US police launched a manhunt Wednesday for a Californian man suspected of killing his wife and two young daughters, and warned that he was armed and dangerous. Shane Franklin Miller allegedly shot his 34-year-old wife Sandy and daughters Shelby, eight, and 4-year-old Shasta on Tuesday in Shingletown, 230 miles (370 km) north of San Francisco. "Miller is considered armed and dangerous, possibly having access to a cache of weapons," said Shasta County Sheriff's Office, adding that they were pursuing leads in northern California, while declaring a nationwide manhunt.

The Canadian parliament on Wednesday approved new provisions to strengthen its anti-terrorist laws in the wake of the Boston marathon bombing and a foiled plot to attack trains near Toronto. The House of Commons voted 183 to 93 in favor of the bill, which had already received Senate approval. The new laws restore provisions from the 2001 anti-terrorist legislation that had expired in 2007, such as allowing authorities to keep suspects in preventative custody or under surveillance.

The CIA asked the top US counterterrorism agency to add the deceased Boston bombing suspect to a terror watchlist more than a year before the attacks, officials said Wednesday. The spy agency made the move after Russian officials contacted their CIA counterparts in September 2011 about concerns they had over the possible terror ties of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who was killed during a shootout with police last week.

Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev remained in serious condition in hospital on Saturday unable to answer questions on the devastating attack, officials said. Investigators released stunning images of Tsarnaev's final moments of freedom, slumbering wounded in a boat in a suburban backyard. They are also stepping up inquiries into a trip to Muslim regions of Russia taken by his accomplice brother. The 19-year-old is "serious but stable", Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick told reporters. "I think not able to communicate yet."