Thieves get away with $67 million in diamonds after a heist at Brussels International Airport; Oscar Pistorius claims he shot his girlfriend after believing her to be an intruder; Newtown shooter Adam Lanza may have been motivated by Anders Breivik; the death toll rises from a helicopter crash in Yemen; SCOTUS will hear a new campaign-finance challenge; and a Chinese army unit may be responsible for cyber-attacks on the U.S. Meanwhile, Pippa Middleton has a new boyfriend, and Michelle Obama calls her bangs a “midlife crisis.”
Caitlin
CRUCIAL:
Diamond heist at Brussels airport nets gang up to £30m in gems, http://rtvote.com/15siMCX
On Monday evening, eight masked and armed men drove through a fence at Brussels International Airport and held up an armored van that was holding $67 million in diamonds. The diamonds were about to be loaded onto a plane leaving for Switzerland. The men did not shoot off their guns and made their getaway in two separate vehicles, one of which was found burned near the airport.
PISTORIUS: THOUGHT LOVER AN INTRUDER IN SHOOTING, http://rtvote.com/VtwJwn
Prosecutors have charged Olympian Oscar Pistorious with premeditated murder after his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was found shot dead in his home. Pistorious claims that he believed Steenkamp to be an intruder, and that he shot her through his bathroom door multiple times because he felt vulnerable without his prosthetic legs on. The prosecutors’ main evidence is a bloody cricket bat that was also found in the runner’s home. Pistorious claims that he bashed the locked door in with the bat and then ran downstairs with Steenkamp in his arms. Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has responded to the argument that “It was all part of the preplanning. Why would a burglar lock himself inside the bathroom?” Pistorious wept during his hearing on Tuesday.
Newtown shooter motivated by Norway massacre, sources say, http://rtvote.com/XmNp6d
Law enforcement officials have told CBS that Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old who killed teachers and students in Newtown, CT before turning the gun on himself, was trying to kill more people than Norway’s Anders Breivik. Breivik killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, setting off a bomb in downtown Oslo before killing 69 at a summer camp. Allegedly, Lanza chose Sandy Hook Elementary because it was the “easiest target” with the “largest cluster of people.” Officials also found evidence that Lanza was carrying out fantasies he conjured from videogames. A police spokesman has responded that Lanza’s motives are still “mere speculation” at this point.
Deadly military aircraft crash in Yemen, http://rtvote.com/Vtzdux
A military helicopter crashed into “Change Square” in the Yemeni capital of Sana Tuesday, killing five and injuring at least dozens. The pilot and seven passengers were killed immediately. The death toll will likely increase as fire and black smoke were left in the crash’s wake. “Change Square” is a residential area with many shops. A witness reportedly saw two houses completely destroyed on impact.
Justices to Hear Campaign-Finance Challenge, http://rtvote.com/XmKDhj
The Supreme Court will hear a case that asserts limits on campaign donations violate the First Amendment. Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon is challenging the rule. Currently, individual donors can contribute up to $46,200 to political candidates and $70,800 to political committees. A Washington federal court has already rejected McCutcheon’s challenge, but the Supreme Court will make its ruling on it before July 2014.
Chinese Army Unit Is Seen as Tied to Hacking Against U.S., http://rtvote.com/15sjzno
An investigation by security firm Mandiant has found that many of the cyber attacks on American corporations and government agencies have been carried out by a Chinese group called the People’s Liberation Army. The group used to focus on stealing intellectual property, but has moved on to trying to hack important infrastructure, such as a U.S. company that designs software for oil pipelines and power grids.
Russians Wade Into the Snow to Seek Treasure From the Sky, http://rtvote.com/Vtxgya
Citizens of Deputatskoye, the small Siberian town where a meteorite hit last Friday, have ventured out into the snow to collect rock fragments. Although selling meteorite fragments is illegal, one woman told The New York Times that she sold a fist-sized piece for $230, only to be offered $1,300 for it a few hours later.
CULTURAL:
A detailed look from White House photographer Pete Souza at Barack Obama, Copy Editor in Chief,http://rtvote.com/VtxAwY
Nudes check out nudes at Austrian museum, http://rtvote.com/15sl4ly
‘Flipper’ and ‘Lassie’ Hollywood animal trainer-turned activist Pat Derby dies in California, http://rtvote.com/Vty9a4
Pippa Middleton: new boyfriend’s mother says couple ‘very happy’, http://rtvote.com/YwXej0
Michelle Obama: My Bangs Were a ‘Midlife Crisis!’, http://rtvote.com/VtAzph
Tags: adam lanza, Anders Breivik, Barack Obama, brussels international airport, change square, deputatskoye, flipper, gerrie nel, lassie, Michelle Obama, newtown, oscar pistorious, pat derby, people's liberation army, pete souza, Pippa Middleton, President Obama, reeva steenkamp, sandy hook elementary, SCOTUS, shaun mccutcheon, the supreme court
 |
Caitlin Maguire Bio: Caitlin is the Marketing & Operations Manager for Rock the Vote @caitlinmagu Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com |
