Government shutdown explained: What would happen if it went ahead, and why is it even a possibility?

Government funding may run out at midnight on Friday unless both chambers of Congress pass a spending bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law. There have been 18 government shutdowns since 1976 that have occurred under both Republican and Democratic presidents, according to the Congressional Research Service. What is a government shutdown?

Prosecutors to seek death penalty in Chinese scholar case

CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a former physics student charged with the kidnapping and killing of a University of Illinois scholar from China, they told a judge in a Friday filing that also made a new allegation that the 28-year-old suspect once choked and sexually assaulted someone else years ago.

This Flu Map Shows How the Biggest Influenza Outbreak in Years Spread Across the U.S.

This season's deadly flu is all over the continental U.S.

Texas 'tourniquet killer' becomes first U.S. inmate executed in 2018

In the first U.S. execution of 2018, Texas on Thursday put to death a man convicted of raping and murdering five girls and young women, using a tourniquet to torture and strangle his victims. Anthony Shore, 55, was executed by lethal injection in the state's death chamber in Huntsville, dying at 6:28 p.m., Robert Hurst, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said by telephone. It was the 546th in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, the most of any state.

Experts: Shackled children face long road to recovery

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the torture and abuse case against the parents of 13 children and young adults in California (all times local):

Turkey 'not satisfied' with US assurance over Syria force

Turkey on Thursday described as far from satisfactory US assurances playing down plans to create a border force in northern Syria made up of Kurdish militia forces deemed as "terrorists" by Ankara. Washington said it is training a 30,000-strong border force on Syria's northern frontier with Turkey, comprised of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, whom Ankara accuses of being a terror group.

Parents Charged With Torture And Abuse Of 13 Kids May Face Life In Prison

A California couple accused of holding their 13 children captive in their home for years face up to life in prison.

Helicopter with Zimbabwe opposition leader crashes, kills 5

RATON, N.M. (AP) — A group of prominent friends, including a key Zimbabwean opposition leader and a Texas-based investor and philanthropist, was heading to a ranch in the U.S. state of New Mexico when their helicopter crashed and burned in a remote area, killing five people aboard.

Confronting China and Russia, not tackling terrorism, is now America's top security priority

Countering China and Russia is a bigger focus for US national security than defeating terrorism, the American administration announced yesterday.  Donald Trump’s new national defence strategy named “inter-state strategic competition” as its primary concern rather than jihadist attacks.  It marks a tipping point after almost two decades when the US has focussed on countering terrorism following the September 11 attacks.  China, Russia, North Korea and Iran were all mentioned as powers that were threatening the international order.  The strategy signals a return of a Cold War-style mentality in American foreign policy that will focus on countering rival great powers.  James Mattis,  US Secretary of Defense Credit: EPA/WALLACE WOON James Mattis, the US defence secretary, explained the rationale behind the 11-page national defence strategy in a speech on Friday.  “We will to continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we’re engaged in today, but great-power competition - not terrorism - is now the primary focus of US national security,” he said.  Mr Mattis added: "To those who would threaten America's experiment in democracy: they must know if you challenge us, it will be your longest and worst day." The document itself included a similar message: “Inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security.” It called out threats posed by rival nations. “China is a strategic competitor using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarising features in the South China Sea,” it read.  US President Donald Trump, right, and Russia's President Vladimir  Credit: APEC-SUMMIT “Russia has violated the borders of nearby nations and pursues veto power over the economic, diplomatic, and security decisions of its neighbours. “As well, North Korea’s outlaw actions and reckless rhetoric continue despite United Nation’s censure and sanctions. "Iran continues to sow violence and remains the most significant challenge to Middle East stability.” John McCain, the Republican senator of Arizona, welcomed the strategy, saying: “It gets the big decisions right, prioritises the threats we face, and offers clear guidance for making tough choices.” Mr Mattis also called on Democrats to agree new funding ahead of a midnight Friday deadline, warning that the military would suffer if they blocked budget proposals.  Appealing to Congress, he said: "No strategy can survive without predictable funding. As hard as the last 16 years have been, no enemy has harmed the US military more than defence spending caps and sequestration." Mr Trump cancelled his trip to Florida on Friday in an attempt to help avoid a government shutdown as Republicans piled pressure on their political opponents.   The US president was due to fly to his Mar-a-Lago resort but stayed in Washington as scrambled negotiations played out behind the scenes.  A fierce blame game erupted in the American capital as political rivals pointed the finger at each other over who was at fault.  Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, accused Democrats of being unpatriotic by threatening to block a funding extension.   “The American people, the citizens who actually elected us, will be watching," he said.  "They will see which senators make the patriotic decision, stand up for the American people and vote to continue government funding." Chuck Schumer, the most senior Democrat in the Senate, noted that Mr Trump once said that America could use “a good shutdown”.

Norfolk Southern pushing for 'more stable' rail service in 2018: CEO

Norfolk Southern Corp is working toward a "more stable, resilient" network for 2018 following service issues in recent months, the No. 4 U.S. railroad's top executive said on Thursday. Norfolk's rail network, which spans 22 states across the eastern United States, grappled with a storm in the Southeast earlier this month and struggled with other service issues such as periodic crew shortages in 2017.

Myanmar finalizes Rohingya repatriation preparations as doubts mount

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar was making final preparations to take back the first batch of Rohingya Muslims who had fled conflict in troubled Rakhine state, state media said on Saturday, despite growing doubts about the plan among refugees and in the United Nations.

from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2DReLP5

South Africa's ANC to force Zuma to quit as president: eNCA TV

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Saturday it would work for close coordination between the party and the government, declining to comment on a report its executive planned to force Jacob Zuma to step down as president.

from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2DubUxR

Woman killed friend hours after posing for Facebook photo with deadly weapon

Cheyenne Rose Antoine, 21, pleaded guilty on Monday after Brittney Gargol, 18, was found dead near a landfill site in Saskatchewan, Canada, in March 2015. The blue belt with a large buckle was found on the roadside near Gargol’s body, according to the Saskatoon Star Phoenix. An autopsy ruled Gargol died of strangulation.

Abuse in house of torture was 'severe, pervasive, prolonged'

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A California couple tortured a dozen of their children for years, starving them to the point that their growth was stunted, chaining them to their beds for up to months, preventing them from using the toilet at times and forbidding them from showering more than once a year, a prosecutor said Thursday.

Government shutdown explained: What would happen if it went ahead, and why is it even a possibility?

Government funding may run out at midnight on Friday unless both chambers of Congress pass a spending bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law. There have been 18 government shutdowns since 1976 that have occurred under both Republican and Democratic presidents, according to the Congressional Research Service. What is a government shutdown?

9 victims in Phoenix serial killings differ in age, gender

PHOENIX (AP) — Police in the Phoenix area say they have linked nine killings to convicted felon Cleophus Cooksey Jr. Here are more details about the serial killing case:

California parents starved 13 children, taunted them with pie: prosecutor

The father, David Turpin, 57, is also accused of sexually abusing one of his young daughters, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin told reporters in announcing the charges before the couple's first court appearance later on Thursday. Turpin and his wife, Louise, 49, each faces 94 years to life in prison if convicted on the more than two dozen charges that include torture, child abuse and false imprisonment. The couple pleaded not guilty to all charges during a brief hearing before Judge Michael Donner, who ordered each defendant to remain held on $12 million bail and set the next hearing in the case for Feb. 23.

Phoenix Serial Killer Suspect Identified After DNA Allegedly Connects Him to 9 Killings

Seven men and two women were shot between Nov. 27 and Dec. 17

The Latest: Man accused in 9 killings had bleak upbringing

PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on nine killings in the Phoenix area that have been linked to the same convicted felon (all times local):

Gay Olympian Adam Rippon attacks choice of Mike Pence to lead US Olympic delegation

Adam Rippon, the 2016 US men’s figure skating champion, said he was “not buying” the plan to get the ultra-conservative Republican to head up the prestigious ceremony. Mr Pence, who is known for his profoundly conservative views on marriage equality and LGBT rights, has a record of supporting the widely discredited practice of gay conversion therapy. “You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy?

Norfolk Southern pushing for 'more stable' rail service in 2018: CEO

Norfolk Southern Corp is working toward a "more stable, resilient" network for 2018 following service issues in recent months, the No. 4 U.S. railroad's top executive said on Thursday. Norfolk's rail network, which spans 22 states across the eastern United States, grappled with a storm in the Southeast earlier this month and struggled with other service issues such as periodic crew shortages in 2017.

Parents Charged With Torture And Abuse Of 13 Kids May Face Life In Prison

A California couple accused of holding their 13 children captive in their home for years face up to life in prison.

Passenger plane skids off runway in Turkey's Trabzon Airport

Turkish authorities are using a large crane to lift a passenger plane that skidded off a runway in northern Turkey and stopped on the side of a slope just meters away from the Black Sea. The Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800, with 168 people on board, overshot the runway while landing at Trabzon Airport on Jan. 13.

Russian Money Ties to NRA Under FBI Scrutiny

Greg Gordon, investigative reporter for McClatchy DC, talks with Rachel Maddow about news that the FBI is looking into whether Russian money was funneled to the Trump campaign through the NRA.

Evangelical Trump voters weigh in on Trump's presidency

Evangelical leaders offer their thoughts on President Trump's first year in office and weigh in on the president's vulgar comments about immigrants.

Phoenix police: Serial killing suspect tied to 9 attacks

PHOENIX (AP) — A serial killing suspect shot and killed nine people, including his own mother, and used a victim's gun in some of the slayings that unfolded in a three-week span late last year, authorities said Thursday.

Delta Air to tighten rules for onboard service animals

Delta Air Lines is tightening the requirements for passengers traveling with onboard service and emotional support animals, the carrier said on Friday, following a sharp uptick in pet-related safety issues in recent years. Effective March 1, Delta, the second largest U.S. airline by passenger traffic, said it will require passengers seeking to fly with pets to present additional documents outlining the passenger's need for the animal and proof of its training and vaccinations, 48 hours prior to the flight. This comes in response to what the carrier said was a 150 percent increase in service and support animals - pets, often dogs, that accompany people with disabilities - carried onboard since 2015.

Google CEO: ‘No Issues’ with freeing female employees from NDAs

Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki says they “want to provide a more open environment” for employees to be able to tell their stories.

In Chile, pope met by protests, threats, burned churches

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — As he does during every papal visit, Pope Francis produced plenty of surprises in Chile: He married a couple during a flight, stopped his motorcade to help a fallen police officer and wept with victims of sex abuse by priests.

Government shutdown explained: What would happen if it went ahead, and why is it even a possibility?

Government funding may run out at midnight on Friday unless both chambers of Congress pass a spending bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law. There have been 18 government shutdowns since 1976 that have occurred under both Republican and Democratic presidents, according to the Congressional Research Service. What is a government shutdown?

Helicopter with Zimbabwe opposition leader crashes, kills 5

RATON, N.M. (AP) — A group of prominent friends, including a key Zimbabwean opposition leader and a Texas-based investor and philanthropist, was heading to a ranch in the U.S. state of New Mexico when their helicopter crashed and burned in a remote area, killing five people aboard.

Woman killed friend hours after posing for Facebook photo with deadly weapon

Cheyenne Rose Antoine, 21, pleaded guilty on Monday after Brittney Gargol, 18, was found dead near a landfill site in Saskatchewan, Canada, in March 2015. The blue belt with a large buckle was found on the roadside near Gargol’s body, according to the Saskatoon Star Phoenix. An autopsy ruled Gargol died of strangulation.

Norfolk Southern pushing for 'more stable' rail service in 2018: CEO

Norfolk Southern Corp is working toward a "more stable, resilient" network for 2018 following service issues in recent months, the No. 4 U.S. railroad's top executive said on Thursday. Norfolk's rail network, which spans 22 states across the eastern United States, grappled with a storm in the Southeast earlier this month and struggled with other service issues such as periodic crew shortages in 2017.

UK and French leaders reach border deal, disagree on Brexit

CAMBERLEY, England (AP) — The leaders of Britain and France met Thursday against a military backdrop to pledge closer cooperation on defense, security and borders after Britain leaves the European Union.

Egypt's Sisi to run for second term in March election

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Friday he will run for a second term in office in an election in March, which the former military commander is widely expected to win.

from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2rqbvb0

China accuses U.S. warship of violating its sovereignty

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry has accused a U.S. warship of entering its territorial waters without permission and said it would take "necessary measures" to ensure its sovereignty is protected.

from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2EZnWfE

Cuba, U.S. hold talks on law enforcement despite tensions

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban and U.S. officials concluded on Friday a week of talks on law enforcement cooperation in Washington with a meeting on the combat against illicit drug trafficking, at a time of heightened tensions between the old Cold War foes.

from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2mXC96m