Tag: Breaking News
BREAKING: School shooting reported at California high school
Palmdale, Ca — Deputies have responded to a Palmdale high school following a report of shots fired.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed deputies are at Highland High School. They have not yet confirmed reports of an active shooter.
Details regarding possible injuries were not immediately available, but firefighter-paramedics have responded to the school in the community north of Los Angeles.
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UPDATE: Per the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department: One suspect has been detained in relation to the reported shooting. Still no reports of deaths or injuries. Reporting updates as they come available.
LAUER AXED: ‘Today Show’ host latest to be targeted by sexual misconduct claims
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Matt Lauer has been fired from his high profile role as host of “The Today Show,” according to a press release by the network.
Lauer, who had hosted the morning news show for more than 20 years, was terminated after a colleague complained about inappropriate sexual behavior toward her, NBC News chief Andrew Lack said in a memo published to the show’s website (https://www.today.com/video/matt-lauer-has-been-terminated-from-nbc-news-1105840707690).
According to the statement, although the colleague’s complaint was the first official allegation received by the network regarding Lauer’s behavior, show executives have cause to believe more allegations may soon surface.
“On Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer,” the memo reads.
Lack said the allegation against Lauer “represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company’s standards. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment.”
“While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he’s been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident,” the memo continued.
Lauer’s longtime “Today Show” co-host, Savannah Guthrie, confirmed the news to viewers on Wednesday morning. “All we can say is we are heartbroken; I’m heartbroken,” Guthrie said.
Describing Lauer as “a dear, dear friend,” Guthrie said she was “heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story.”
Calls for statement to Lauer’s publicist were met with “no comment at this time”.
‘TRUMP MUST GO’: Dems call for Trump impeachment ‘for sake of Constitution’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six House Democrats on Wednesday filed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on the grounds that his remaining in office was a threat to national security.
“Given the magnitude of the constitutional crisis, there’s no reason for delay,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), the sponsor of the action.
“We have taken this action because of great concern for our country and our Constitution, our national security and our democracy,” Cohen said at a press conference at the Capitol building. “We believe President Trump has violated the Constitution.”
“Given the magnitude of the constitutional crisis, there’s no reason for delay,” Cohen added. “It’s time for Congress to take action to stop this reckless and harmful behavior by removing Mr. Trump from office and to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States.”
Cohen is joined by five of his fellow colleagues, including fellow Judiciary Committee Democrat Luis Gutiérrez of Illinois, Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York, Representative Al Green of Texas, Representatives Marcia Fudge of Ohio and John Yarmuth of Kentucky.
The allegations against the 45th president that Cohen says warrants impeachment include obstruction of justice, violations of both the foreign and domestic emoluments clause, undermining the federal judiciary and undermining the freedom of the press.
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who serves as minority whip, criticized his colleague’s actions, saying calls for impeachment against Trump are fruitless and represent the wrong move at the wrong time.
“Do we disagree with the policies? We do. But disagreeing with the policies is not enough to overturn an election, a free and fair election,” Hoyer told a waiting sea of reporters shortly after Cohen’s press conference.
“There are a large number of Democrats that believe this president ought to be impeached, we have just a made a judgment that the facts aren’t there to pursue that.”
In a statement, The Republican National Committee scolded Democrats for calling for impeachment.
“House Democrats lack a positive message and are completely unwilling to work across the aisle, so instead they’ve decided to support a baseless radical effort that the vast majority of Americans disagree with,” spokesman Michael Ahrens said. “Republicans are focused on issues the middle class actually cares about, like cutting taxes and growing the economy.”
This isn’t the first time that Democrats have called for the removal of the 45th president. Green filed his own articles of impeachment last October, claiming Trump was responsible for ongoing racial and ethnic divisions throughout the country.
That attempt failed.
HIGH SCHOOL HORROR: 1 Dead 3 injured in high school shooting
ROCKFORD, WA — One person was killed and at least three others were injured Wednesday after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Washington State.
Police say three victims, all believed to be children, have been taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment and are, at last word, in stable condition.
The shooting occurred this afternoon at Freeman High School, which is located in Rockford, approximately 19 miles outside of Spokane.
One fatality, who sources say was a student at the school, has been confirmed and law enforcement officials have taken a suspect into custody.
No other information has yet been made available.
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TRUMP RESPONDS TO NORTH KOREA; President on whether or not US will attack: ‘We’ll see’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Sunday responded to news of the latest nuclear test by North Korea, calling North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s actions “hostile and dangerous to the United States”.
“North Korea has conducted a major Nuclear Test. Their words and actions continue to be very hostile and dangerous to the United States,” the president said in a series of tweets. “North Korea is a rogue nation which has become a great threat and embarrassment to China, which is trying to help but with little success. South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!”
The president’s comments came hours after North Korea tested what experts have estimated to be a 120 kiloton hydrogen bomb, its most powerful nuclear weapon to date.
The president refused to give North Korea any hint as to when or how the United States will respond to their latest round of tests. Later Sunday morning, after issuing statement on social media, the president was asked by waiting reporters whether the US would launch a preemptive attack.
“Will you attack North Korea?” the president was asked by a sea of waiting reporters.
“We’ll see,” he responded.
The president is scheduled to meet with his national security team Sunday to discuss the latest developments in North Korea, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Sunday morning.
“The National security team is monitoring this closely,” Sanders said. “The President and his national security team will have a meeting to discuss further later today. We will provide updates as necessary,” said Sanders.
Meanwhile, Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said on Sunday that he plans to draft a new sanctions package that would cut economic ties with anyone who did business with North Korea, including China, the country’s only major ally.
“There’s a lot we can do to cut them off economically, much more than we’ve done,” Mr. Mnuchin said, speaking on “Fox News Sunday”. Mnuchin called Pyongyang’s actions “unacceptable” and stressed the need for stronger steps.
Last month, the president warned that if the threats from North Korea continued, they will be met with “fire and fury like the world has never seen.”
BREAKING NEWS: NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR THREAT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — According to military officials, North Korea has successfully tested a nuclear weapon that has the ability to be loaded on to a long-range missile that is capable of reaching the United States.
The rogue nation tested the weapon overnight, causing a 5.6 magnitude tremor. South Korean officials said the latest test took place in Kilju County, where the North’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site is located.
China, North Korea’s only major ally, has publicly condemned the test.
North Korea “has ignored the international community’s widespread opposition, again carrying out a nuclear test. China’s government expresses resolute opposition and strong condemnation toward this,” a Chinese foreign ministry official said in a statement.
I will, of course, be watching for developments on this breaking story and will report the latest updates as they come available.
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NORTH KOREA ‘READY FOR WAR’ WITH UP TO 60 NUKES CAPABLE OF REACHING US
WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Korea has developed an arsenal of up to 60 nuclear weapons capable of reaching the U.S., say latest intelligence reports.
The rogue state has lashed out at the United States over the last week in response to tough new sanctions imposed by the United Nations over it’s refusal to disarm it’s forbidden nuclear program.
A July assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency found North Korean military leaders have already developed a compact nuclear warhead that can be placed inside one of its advanced missiles, which intelligence officials say are capable of reaching approximately half of the United States.
“The [intelligence community] assesses North Korea has produced nuclear weapons for ballistic missile delivery, to include delivery by ICBM-class missiles,” an excerpt of the DIA analysis reads.
The DIA assessment coincides with a report published on Tuesday by the Japan defense ministry which documents similar findings.
“It is conceivable that North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons into warheads and has acquired nuclear warheads,” the Japanese white paper reports (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/08/north-korea-nuclear-miniaturised-warhead-advanced-considerably-japan).
The threat of impending war between North Korea and the U.S. have led to mandatory emergency disaster drills being carried out by the Japanese government due to the geographical proximity of North Korea to Japan’s north west (http://kotaku.com/japan-preparing-for-north-korean-missile-strikes-with-d-1797626196).
Last week, US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Washington would not seek UN Security Council action following North Korea’s latest missile test, because “the time for talk is over”.
On Saturday the UN Security Council voted unanimously to approve new sanctions against North Korea that included a ban on coal and other exports worth more than $1bn. North Korea responded by blaming the Trump administration for the sanctions and claimed the U.S. teetered “on the knife’s edge of life and death”.
“We are ready to retaliate with far bigger actions to make the US pay a price
for its crime against our country and people,” said the official Korean Central News Agency, adding it would send “packs of wolves” to “strangle” any nation who opposes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Reactions to Tuesday’s disturbing developments were swift, with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton tweeting, “We’ve been playing the diplomatic game for a long time with #NorthKorea and it’s only given them time to advance their weapons program. North Korea’s rhetoric is always over-the-top, but we need to continue to prepare against possible provocative or hostile action.”
President Trump also took to Twitter to address the American people on the ever growing danger over North Korea, tweeting,”After many years of failure,countries are coming together to finally address the dangers posed by North Korea. We must be tough & decisive!”
In an interview broadcast Saturday on MSNBC’s Hugh Hewitt Show, national security adviser H.R. McMaster said the concept of a North Korea armed with nuclear-tipped intercontinental weapons would be “intolerable, from the president’s perspective.”
“We have to provide all options . . . and that includes a military option,” he said.
BREAKING: OTTO WARMBIER DEAD AT 22
CINCINNATI, OH — Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old Ohio college student who was held in North Korea for 17 months before being released just last Tuesday, has died.
Warmbier suffered a devastating brain injury while being held prisoner and was in an unresponsive state when released by North Korean officials and flown home to the United States.
On Monday, his family paid tribute to Warmbier in a statement.
“It would be easy at a moment like this to focus on all that we lost — future time that won’t be spent with a warm, engaging, brilliant young man whose curiosity and enthusiasm for life knew no bounds,” the family’s statement continues. “But we choose to focus on the time we were given to be with this remarkable person. You can tell from the outpouring of emotion from the communities that he touched — Wyoming, Ohio, and the University of Virginia to name just two — that the love for Otto went well beyond his immediate family.”
The family also thanked “the wonderful professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who did everything they could for Otto.”
In a statement, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, called Warmbier a “promising young man.”
“He was kind, generous and accomplished,” Portman said. “He had all the talent you could ever ask for and a bright future ahead of him. His passing today is a loss for Ohio and for all of us. Jane and I are lifting up the Warmbier family in our prayers at this difficult time, and we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of this remarkable young Ohioan.”
In a statement from The White House, President Donald Trump sent his condolences to Warmbier’s family and condemned the North Korean regime.
“Melania and I offer our deepest condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier on his untimely passing,” said the president. “There is nothing more tragic for a parent than to lose a child in the prime of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with Otto’s family and friends, and all who loved him.
“Otto’s fate deepens my Administration’s determination to prevent such tragedies from befalling innocent people at the hands of regimes that do not respect the rule of law or basic human decency. The United States once again condemns the brutality of the North Korean regime as we mourn its latest victim.”
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said late Monday that the United States holds North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un directly accountable for Warbier’s death.
“We hold North Korea accountable for Otto Warmbier’s unjust imprisonment, and demand the release of three other Americans who have been illegally detained,” said Tillerson.
Warmbier had gone to North Korea as a tourist on his way to Hong Kong for a study abroad program, but was stopped when he tried to leave the country. At trial, North Korean officials accused him of trying to steal a poster as he left the country. He was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor.
The North Korean government says it played no role in Warbier’s death and says the student fell into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill in March 2016. US doctors say they found no evidence to back up these claims.
BREAKING: 19 DEAD, 50 INJURED AFTER EXPLOSION AT U.K. CONCERT. TERROR SUSPECTED, SAY POLICE
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — An explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England late Monday has resulted in at least 19 fatalities and 50 injuries, say police.
Sources close to the case say law enforcement officials have are treating the incident as a “terrorist incident.”
British Transport Police say an initial explosion occurred in the foyer of Manchester Arena at approximately 10:30 p.m. Although it police have yet to confirm, eyewitnesses to the event say additional explosions occurred shortly after.
Concert goer Sasina Akhtar told the Manchester Evening News that Grande had just finished her final song of the concert when “there was an explosion behind us at the back of the arena. We saw young girls with blood on them, everyone was screaming and people were running. There was lots of smoke.”
David Richardson, who had brought his 13-year-old daughter to see the show, said he heard two explosions just after the show.
“It was about 40 feet behind us near one of the exits. We just thought it was people messing about then it happened again. Another explosion sounded. Then we saw the smoke. Everyone just fled.”
A video that was uploaded to social media shortly after the event shows the outside of the arena and the sound of an explosion could be heard coming from inside.
So far, no terrorists groups have claimed credit for the bloodshed, but an unconfirmed report suggests that the act may have been carried out by a suicide bomber.
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