Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down yesterday by a ground-to-air missile, according to U.S. officials. Also, e-cigarette sales have declined for the first time in a five-year-period of steady growth. Are they just a fad? Then, it's Filmweek on AirTalk!
US officials say ground-to-air missile shot down Malaysia Airlines plane
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down yesterday by a ground-to-air missile, according to U.S. officials. Both the Ukrainian government and Russian separatists deny involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin placing the blame on Ukraine and Ukraine’s Minister of Interior Defense arguing that Russian weapons fired the shot. Rescue workers in the debris field have begun a sweep of the large area -- there are thought to be no survivors of the flight. In a press conference yesterday, Malaysian Airlines’ European vice president Huib Gorter revealed the nationalities of the plane’s passengers; a majority were Dutch and European, with 23 Malaysian passengers, not including the crew.
What are the potential motivations behind this incident? If it was an accident, will it make a difference, diplomatically? How will the involved parties deal with the situation? Will the U.S. potentially be involved?
Guests:
Robert English, Director of the USC School of International Relation; he’s an expert on Ukraine and the politics of Russia and former Soviet states
Israel may widen ground operation in Gaza
Israel initiated ground operations in Gaza yesterday following Hamas violation of a cease-fire proposal from Egypt. The IDF dropped leaflets in Gaza warning citizens to evacuate, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ground offensive may expand. In the first hours of ground operations, at least 20 Palestinians and 1 Israeli soldier have been killed. The Israeli military says it has uncovered eight tunnel access point in Gaza so far and has fired on 150 sites in the coastal territory. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have also continued, with the Gazan death toll mounting. Sirens warning of rockets are sounding in Southern Israel, which is under fire from Hamas missiles; as far north at Tel Aviv, the Israeli Home Front Command banned large gatherings asa safety precaution.
Hamas’ political leader Khaled Meshal leads the battle against Israel from a base in Qatar, and says Israel’s ground operations are “bound to fail.” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas argues that the Israeli ground incursion will only “lead to more bloodshed,” and is expected to continue cease-fire negotiations today in Turkey today.
How will fighting in Gaza progress? What are the potential outcomes of Israel’s ground operations? How might the U.S. and U.N. become involved as the situation develops?
Guest:
Robert Danin, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations
First dip ever in e-cig sales raises question: is this just a fad?
E-cigarette sales have declined for the first time in a five-year-period of steady growth. This news comes in the mists of Reynolds American Inc. agreeing to sell its popular Blu e-cig brand to rival tobacco company Imperial Tobacco Group. The sales of e-cigs rose 1.7% in 2013-- which equals out to $1.7 billion -- but saw a 2.9% decline in May 2014 compared to last year. What does this mean for the e-cigarette business? Does this number indicate the e-cig is just another fad? Or are we seeing a new type of nicotine user emerge?
Guest:
Matt Richtel, reporter for the New York Times has been writing about big tobacco and the e-cigarette market
Filmweek (7/18/14): Sex Tape, The Purge: Anarchy, Planes: Fire and Rescue and more
Host Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Peter Rainer, Andy Klein and Charles Solomon review this week’s releases, including "Sex Tape," "The Purge: Anarchy," "Planes: Fire and Rescue" and more. TGI-Filmweek!
Sex Tape
The Purge
Planes: Fire and Rescue
Guests:
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC and the L.A. Times Community Papers chain
Charles Solomon, animation film critic for KPCC and Indiewire Animation Scoop
How celebrity stalking cases have changed since 1989 murder of Rebecca Schaeffer
It was 25 years ago that obsessed fan Robert Bardo used DMV records to track down 21-year old actress Rebecca Schaeffer at her home.
Bardo shot and killed the "My Sister Sam" star and he remains in prison to this day. After the attack, California prohibited the DMV from releasing home addresses and the LAPD created the country's first threat management team.
Anti-stalking laws were passed the next year and quickly used against a man threatening director Steven Spielberg.
Last month, Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock had an extremely close run-in with a fanatical devotee. The man broke into her house at 6:30 in the morning while she slept. Bullock reacted quickly and the man was arrested.
In the Internet era, stalkers can use tabloid blogs, press releases, and social media to keep tabs on stars' whereabouts. They can also use the web to harass celebrities' friends and family.
For investigators and security staff, stalkers leave behind digital footprints as evidence against them. How do stars and their security teams contend with obsessed fans? How does the court system handle such suspects, many of whom have mental illnesses?
Guest:
Rhonda Saunders, Los Angeles Prosecutor; Created the Stalking and Threat Assessment Team for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office; In 1994, Saunders revised California's stalking law; Author “Whisper of Fear”