world news: 2018-02-18

Saturday 24 February 2018

NRA representative says media ‘loves mass shootings’ as ‘crying white mothers are ratings gold’

A National Rifle Association spokeswoman accused the media of loving mass shootings because they boost viewership. You guys love it,” NRA representative Dana Loesch said during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Last week’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead, has attracted intensive media coverage - as has the aftermath, which has seen some survivors demanding more gun control.

Deputy at Parkland school did not go inside to confront shooter, sheriff says

An armed resource deputy at Stoneman Douglas High School did not go into the building as the shooting was underway, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said after reviewing security camera footage.

911 Call From Domestic Disturbance Involving Nikolas Cruz Released

The call was placed by family friend Roxanne Deschamps, who took in the suspected killer before the Florida school shooting.

These Companies Are Sticking By The NRA

In what may be a pivotal moment for American gun law reform, the National Rifle Association has become a primary target for anti-gun activists and survivors of last week’s mass shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 dead.

NRA's LaPierre blames FBI, mental illness and security 'failures' for Florida shooting — not guns

The head of the National Rifle Association denounced lawmakers and the media on Thursday for renewing the debate over U.S. gun laws in the wake of last week’s deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school.

New charges filed against parents in California abused siblings case

A California couple accused of keeping 13 children imprisoned, chained and starved in a squalid suburban home were hit with additional charges on Friday as defense lawyers said they were overwhelmed by the sheer amount of evidence in the case. David Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise, 49, were advised of the new charges during a brief hearing in Riverside County Superior Court at which they appeared dressed in black at a table with their attorneys but did not speak. A spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said the new charges included three counts of child abuse against both defendants.

Three executions planned Thursday in three U.S. states

A trio of inmates are scheduled to be executed on Thursday, one each in Alabama, Florida and Texas, raising the possibility that U.S. prison authorities will carry out three death sentences on the same day for the first time since 2010. The circumstances behind each case could halt any of the executions, including the one in Texas, where the convict received an unprecedented clemency recommendation. The state has conducted all three of this year's U.S. executions.

As Ivanka visits South Korea, Trump targets the North

President Trump announced that the U.S. was imposing a new round of sanctions taking aim at North Korea, the latest effort to tighten the economic vise in response to the Stalinist regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. He announced the sanctions as Ivanka visited the Olympic Games in South Korea.

Deputy at Parkland school did not go inside to confront shooter, sheriff says

An armed resource deputy at Stoneman Douglas High School did not go into the building as the shooting was underway, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said after reviewing security camera footage.

NRA's LaPierre blames FBI, mental illness and security 'failures' for Florida shooting — not guns

Russia's Man In The White House

First, did a presidential candidate compromise our interests in exchange for electoral help from a foreign adversary?

Why Schools Are Flooded With Threats After Mass Shootings

In the days since last week’s mass shooting at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, schools across the country have been receiving an onslaught of copycat threats.

Three executions planned Thursday in three U.S. states

Shepard Smith: People Go To Prison For What Jared Kushner Did

White House senior aide Jared Kushner’s multiple omissions on required financial disclosure forms for his security clearance would “be a crime, punishable by prison” for other people, Fox News host Shepard Smith said Thursday.

As Ivanka visits South Korea, Trump targets the North

Texas, Alabama halt executions, Florida puts inmate to death

Texas Governor Greg Abbott commuted the death sentence of a convicted murderer less than an hour before he was set to be executed on Thursday, after the death row inmate's family begged for mercy and won a rare clemency recommendation. Florida executed a man convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of a college student, the state's Department of Corrections said. Alabama halted its planned execution on Thursday of a convicted murderer who has spent more than three decades on death row after his lawyers warned his failing health left him with veins that were unusable for a lethal injection.

Late pastor Billy Graham to lie in honor in US Capitol

The body of Reverend Billy Graham, a spiritual advisor to several presidents, will lie in the US Capitol Rotunda next week so Americans can pay respect to the globally influential preacher, lawmakers said Thursday. The rare honor of placing an American's remains in the Capitol is usually reserved for US presidents, military officials and politicians. Graham, who died Wednesday at age 99, would be only the fourth private citizen so honored, and the first person since US senator Daniel Inouye in 2012.

Lucky flight catches glimpse of SpaceX launch from the air

Elon Musk's SpaceX launched another rocket on Thursday morning, successfully sending three satellites into space. After the Falcon9 took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base northwest of Santa Barbara, a lucky flight from Hawaii to LAX got an up-close look at the rocket as it made its way towards space. SEE ALSO: SpaceX boat tries to catch pricey rocket nosecone in the Pacific Ocean, but misses Redditor tKMagus shared a video of the rocket from his window seat of the plane, which gave a unique perspective we can't see back on Earth. In the comment section, tKMagus said the pilot was aware of the rocket and notified the cabin of its whereabouts. Another Redditor popped into the comments to say they think they spotted the plane as they watched the Falcon9 launch, making the whole world feel really teeny. Comment from discussion Simplycax's comment from discussion "I got to see SpaceX Falcon9 launch with the StarLink prototype from my flight into LAX. It was an awesome way to start my morning.". We're guessing that tKMagus was pretty happy with their choice of a window seat for the overnight flight, and they were probably also grateful they chose the left side of the airplane. WATCH: This flying jet ski blows boring boats out of the water

Trump aides say U.S. forces can legally stay in Syria, Iraq indefinitely

President Trump has all the legal authority he needs to keep U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq indefinitely, the Pentagon and State Department told Sen. Tim Kaine, who has been pushing for a new AUMF.

White powder and 'racist' letter sent to Meghan Markle

A package containing white powder and an allegedly racist message sent to Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle is being treated as a hate crime, police said on Thursday. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command were called in after the package was received on February 12 at a sorting office in St James's Palace in central London. Contacted by AFP, Prince Harry's press service at Kensington Palace declined to comment on the report.

Corporate partners cut cord with NRA as gun control debate rages

By Barbara Goldberg and Gina Cherelus NEW YORK (Reuters) - The fallout over last week's shooting rampage at a Florida high school started to take its toll on the National Rifle Association's roster of corporate partners on Friday as a half dozen companies severed marketing ties with the gun advocacy organization. The exodus of corporate names, ranging from a major insurer to car rental brands and a household moving company, occurred after the NRA launched a counter-offensive against a student-led campaign for tighter U.S. gun ownership laws. At the same time, gun control activists are stepping up pressure on Amazon.com Inc and other online streaming platforms to drop the online video channel NRATV, featuring gun-friendly programming produced by the NRA.

Attorney: Mayor has turned over phone code in affair probe

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville Mayor Megan Barry's attorney said Friday that she has provided the passcode for her personal cellphone to state authorities, who are searching the device as they investigate whether laws were broken during her affair with her former bodyguard.

Texas governor issues last-minute reprieve for son who ordered family killed

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday issued a last-minute reprieve for a death row prisoner who hired a gunman to kill his family after his father, whom he sought to murder, pleaded for his son's life. Thomas Bartlett "Bart" Whitaker, 38, had been one of three men awaiting execution Thursday in three different US states. Another, Eric Branch, was executed as scheduled in Florida for the 1993 murder of a student.

Citizenship agency removes description of US as 'nation of immigrants'

Immigrants become American citizens during a naturalization ceremony. The government agency in charge of granting citizenship to prospective Americans has removed a passage from its mission statement that describes the United States as a nation of immigrants. The move by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services agency was first revealed via an email shared with the Intercept, confirmed by the Guardian Thursday.

The Pentagon Has Delivered Its Transgender Military Proposal To Trump

Defense Secretary James Mattis has delivered his recommendations concerning transgender troops to President Donald Trump, the Pentagon confirmed to HuffPost on Friday.

The Best Costumes Of The Olympic Women's Figure Skating Competition, Ranked

The women’s figure skating competition at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics has come to a close, with Russian athletes Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva taking gold and silver respectively, and Canada’s Kaetlyn Osmond earning the bronze.

'How dare you': CNN's Camerota clashes with NRA's Loesch over her claim that media 'love' mass shootings

The national spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association on Friday doubled down on her claim that members of the media “love” mass shootings, like last week’s school massacre in Parkland, Fla., because of the bump in television ratings that some networks experience.

The Latest: Gardner spokeswoman: No 'political games'

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Latest on the indictment of Republican Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (all times local):

Five-day assault on Syria enclave kills more than 400

Fresh bombardment on Eastern Ghouta killed dozens Thursday, bringing the number of dead civilians in a five-day assault by the Syrian government to more than 400. Mounting calls for a humanitarian truce in one of the bloodiest episodes of Syria's seven-year conflict failed to stop 46 more people being killed by air strikes and rocket fire. Regime backer Russia said there was "no agreement" at the UN Security Council on a 30-day ceasefire for Syria and presented amendments to a draft resolution that would allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians from besieged Eastern Ghouta.

Donald Trump Proposes Pay Bonus For Armed Teachers

President Donald Trump doubled down on his suggestion that arming teachers could help prevent school shootings on Thursday, adding that those trained to use firearms could receive extra pay.

NRA representative says media ‘loves mass shootings’ as ‘crying white mothers are ratings gold’

Broward Sheriff Deputy Resigns After Video Shows He Avoided School Shooting

Footage shows the school resource officer did not enter the school during the attack

As Ivanka visits South Korea, Trump targets the North

Alabama postpones execution of inmate with damaged veins

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama on Thursday halted the execution of an inmate who had argued that his veins were too damaged for lethal injection, because medical staff did not think they could connect the intravenous line by the time the death warrant expired at midnight.

Are Pickup Trucks Becoming the New Family Car?

Pickup truck sales are the hottest they’ve been in a decade, and it’s no wonder: Driving one is no longer a bumpy, jarring experience that you have to endure. Truck makers today are building pick...

U.S. Biathletes Boycott Russia Event

By TARIQ PANJA from NYT Sports http://ift.tt/2CEBsEb

Winter Olympics 2018 Results: Ester Ledecka Wins Gold in Two Sports

By VICTOR MATHER from NYT Sports http://ift.tt/2CFFxb8

Catching Forgeries and Aiding Justice

By As told to PATRICIA R. OLSEN from NYT Business Day http://ift.tt/2EZ1jfk

What’s on TV Saturday: Oscar-Nominated Movies and ‘Notes From the Field’

By SARA ARIDI from NYT Arts http://ift.tt/2osX7tO

The Speed of 12 Olympians: Capturing Their Twists, Turns and Leaps in Fractions of a Second

By ALEXANDRA GARCIA, TROY GRIGGS, JON HUANG, K.K. REBECCA LAI, JASMINE C. LEE, HAEYOUN PARK, BEDEL SAGET, ARCHIE TSE, JOE WARD a from NYT Sports http://ift.tt/2F1Lnc0