| Pompeo Orders ‘Non-Emergency’ U.S. Employees Out of Venezuela Posted: 24 Jan 2019 05:32 PM PST  While Pompeo initially scoffed at a demand by Maduro that all U.S. diplomats depart by Saturday afternoon, the State Department issued an advisory late Thursday that "non-emergency U.S. government employees" should leave. The American Embassy in Caracas will remain in operation with a skeleton staff, but the State Department warned Americans in the country that their government "has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela" and that they should "strongly consider departing" the country.
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| St. Louis cop charged in Russian Roulette shooting death of fellow officer, police say Posted: 26 Jan 2019 05:12 AM PST  A St. Louis police officer was charged with manslaughter Friday for allegedly shooting a colleague as the two played Russian Roulette, authorities said.
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| The Latest: Judge sets new hearing in Paul Manafort case Posted: 25 Jan 2019 08:37 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort (all times local):
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| Jayme Closs to receive $25,000 reward after escaping captor herself Posted: 24 Jan 2019 03:45 PM PST  A 13-year-old girl who escaped after being held captive for 88 days is to receive the $25,000 (£19,00) reward for her return. Jayme Closs was found in rural Wisconsin on January 10 after managing to escape from the man who kidnapped her after killing her parents in mid-October. The company Denise and James Closs had worked for, Hormel Foods, had offered the money to anyone with information leading to the teenager's return. The neighbours who found Jayme walking through the woods and contacted the police after her escape have agreed the money should go to her. During the nationwide search for Jayme, the FBI had offered a $25,000 reward, which Hormel soon doubled to $50,000. Jayme's parents James and Denise were long-term employees of the company The company announced that they will now donate their share of the reward money to Jayme. The FBI has not released information about what will happen to the rest. Jim Snee, president of Hormel Foods, said that Jayme's parents were long-time employees Jennie-O, a turkey plant owned by Hormel Foods. In a statement, Mr Snee said the company was "overjoyed" at the news of her return, saying her "bravery and strength have truly inspired our team members around the world". The house Jayme was allegedly held in for 88 days Credit: Radar Online/MEGA Mr Snee said the company hopes the $25,000 will be placed in a trust fund for the 13-year-old's present and future needs. Jayme disappeared from her home in Barron, Wisconsin on October 15, after suspect Jake Patterson allegedly stormed her house, shot and killed her parents, and abducted her. The 21-year-old is accused of keeping Jayme captive in his remote home in Gordon, some 66 miles from Barron. Jayme told detectives that on January 10, she was able to escape when Mr Patterson told her he would be gone for several hours. She put on a pair of his shoes and fled the house on foot, eventually finding dog walker Jean Nutter who she asked for help. Ms Nutter took the teenager to the home of Peter and Kristin Kasinskas, where they were able to contact police. The Kasinskas told CNN on Wednesday that they did not want the reward money. "Because she got herself out," Mrs Kasinskas said. Chris Fitzgerald, the sheriff of Barron County, said: "We also agree that Jayme is the hero in this case and are happy they have chosen her to receive the company's reward contribution."
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| Hamas refuses to let Qatar pay Gaza salaries Posted: 24 Jan 2019 10:59 AM PST  In November Qatar began a six-month, $150 million program to fund the wages and shipments of fuel for power generation in Gaza. The staggered payments, widely seen as a Qatari bid to increase its regional role, need Israel's permission to get through - an involvement that has riled many among Hamas' Islamist leadership. Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, said on Thursday Israel had broken previous agreements brokered by Qatar and Egypt.
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| Major Airports Face Staffing Shortages and Delays Amid Government Shutdown Posted: 25 Jan 2019 07:32 AM PST  The government shutdown's effect on aviation is taking hold.
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| Big Apple Layoffs Pump Brakes on Its Autonomous Cars Posted: 24 Jan 2019 09:53 AM PST  Apple's bid to enter the autonomous vehicle space has just suffered another setback. The Cupertino company has reportedly moved 200 employees off Project Titan, according to CNBC. Credit: ShutterstockTitan has been in development since at least 2014, and although Apple hasn't always been forthcoming in acknowledging it, a spokesperson responded to CNBC's report by confirming the layoffs as well as the company's commitment to self-driving technologies. "We have an incredibly talented team working on autonomous systems and associated technologies at Apple," the statement reads. "As the team focuses their work on several key areas for 2019, some groups are being moved to projects in other parts of the company, where they will support machine learning and other initiatives, across all of Apple." Titan has had a tumultuous ride since the beginning, as Apple reportedly backed off the idea of independently producing its own electric vehicles early on to shift its efforts to autonomous driving software. But then in August we heard the company might actually be hoping to launch its own car by 2023. At that point, Titan was said to directly involve as many as 2,700 individuals within Apple. Around the same time, the initiative gained new leadership in the form of ex-Tesla engineering executive Doug Field, who joined longtime Apple veteran Bob Mansfield to head up the secretive division. MORE: The 9 Coolest Cars from the 2019 Detroit Auto Show Field, who was previously employed at Apple from 2008 to 2013 as a vice president of hardware engineering, wasn't the only talent the tech giant poached from Tesla last year. As many as 46 employees left the electric automaker's ranks to join Apple through the first eight months of 2018, according to CNBC. It's unclear how many of these individuals were affected in the recent layoffs. All the while, Apple has continued to register and test self-driving prototypes, built off of hybrid Lexus SUVs. The company also reportedly entered into a partnership with Volkswagen in May to produce autonomous shuttles using the German manufacturer's T6 Transporter as a base. Apple's spokesperson concluded the statement following today's news by calling Titan "the most ambitious machine learning project ever." Internally, the company is reportedly spinning the move to downsize as a form of restructuring. However, Titan has proved to be something of a moving target all along, with Apple repeatedly shifting strategies, goals and personnel as it prepares to find the best path of entry into a rapidly changing automotive landscape. * I Drove BMW's Concept for the Future of Cars, and I'm Excited * The 10 Most Exciting Cars (and Bikes) to Watch in 2019 * Watch Out, Tesla: Apple Car Could Launch in 2023
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| Government labor unions are seeing mass exodus of members Posted: 25 Jan 2019 07:44 AM PST  New reports reveal that government labor unions are seeing mass exodus of members for their ranks.
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| Roger Stone indictment: Mueller pushes deeper into Trump campaign; highlights effort to use Russia hacks to derail Clinton bid Posted: 25 Jan 2019 04:35 PM PST  Roger Stone indictment: Mueller pushes deeper into Trump campaign; highlights effort to use Russia hacks to derail Clinton bid
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| Suspect in Florida bank attack dreamed of hurting classmates Posted: 24 Jan 2019 05:35 PM PST  SEBRING, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting five women at a small-town bank in Florida had dreamed of hurting classmates in high school and had long been fascinated with killing, police and a former girlfriend said Thursday.
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| Venezuela shadow government leader offers amnesty to Maduro as death toll rises from rival clashes Posted: 25 Jan 2019 02:02 AM PST  The self-declared interim president of Venezuela has promised Nicolas Maduro amnesty if he cedes power in a peaceful transition. Juan Guaido has been in hiding since the 35-year-old was symbolically sworn in Wednesday before tens of thousands of cheering supporters, promising to uphold the constitution and rid Venezuela of Mr Maduro's dictatorship. Speaking from an undisclosed location, Mr Guaido told Univision he would consider granting amnesty to Maduro and his allies if they helped return Venezuela to democracy. "Amnesty is on the table," said Mr Guaido, who just weeks earlier was named head of the opposition-controlled congress. "Those guarantees are for all those who are willing to side with the constitution to recover the constitutional order." He added that a similar move had played a role in Chile's democratic transition. Guaido vs Maduro | Who is backing Venezuela's two presidents Venezuela's powerful military threw its weight behind Mr Maduro on Thursday as the US-backed opposition leader Mr Guaido pressed a direct challenge to his authority. As the death toll from days of street protests jumped to 26, a defiant Maduro announced the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the United States, a day after President Donald Trump's administration declared his regime "illegitimate." The oil-rich but economically devastated country was plunged into uncertainty Wednesday when Mr Guaido, head of the National Assembly, proclaimed himself "acting president" - earning swift endorsement from Washington, the UK, and a dozen regional powers including Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, said: "The United Kingdom believes Juan Guaidó is the right person to take Venezuela forward. We are supporting the US, Canada, Brazil and Argentina to make that happen." Jeremy Corbyn, who has previously declined to condemn the regime, did not back Mr Hunt's position. A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: "[Mr Maduro] is still the president of the country. We don't support outside interference." He added: "We think that dialogue and a negotiated settlement are needed to overcome the crisis in Venezuela. The future of Venezuela is for Venezuelans." Security forces run after a demonstrator during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas Credit: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/ REUTERS Russia accused the United States of trying to usurp power in Venezuela and warned against US military intervention there. Mr Maduro's reelection last year was contested by the opposition, and criticized internationally - but the socialist leader has until now retained the loyalty of the powerful military, whose response was being keenly watched. Flanked by military top brass, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, himself a general, declared the 56-year-old Maduro "the legitimate president" - and vowed to defend his authority against an attempted "coup d'etat." Following Padrino's lead, eight generals in turn reiterated their "absolute loyalty and subordination" to the socialist leader in messages carried on state television. And the Supreme Court - made up of regime loyalists - doubled down by reaffirming its allegiance to Maduro's "legitimate authority." "A coup is brewing in Venezuela with the consent of foreign governments," charged the court's president Maikel Moreno.
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| U.S. Coast Guard searches for missing cruise crew member Posted: 25 Jan 2019 03:17 AM PST ![U.S. Coast Guard searches for missing cruise crew member]( "U.S. Coast Guard searches for missing cruise crew member") Exactly a month ago, another Royal Caribbean crew member went overboard in the Atlantic, off Puerto Rico, and was never found. A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd was not available for comment early Friday. Neither was a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard 7th District, which patrols the Florida coast.
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| Diesel Truck Battle: F-150 Diesel Vs. Nissan Titan XD Posted: 25 Jan 2019 08:49 AM PST  For when you want a diesel, but don't need to tow 30,000 pounds.
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| Bishop Stowe Errs on Covington Catholic Posted: 25 Jan 2019 03:30 AM PST  Two days ago, Bishop John Stowe of the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., condemned the Covington Catholic schoolkids who went to the March for Life, mostly because some of them wore MAGA hats. There is a defensible argument against wearing the hats to the march, which would basically have been the same as the argument against wearing a Bush-Cheney T-shirt to the march in 2005.
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| Canada ambassador walks back comments on Huawai executive Posted: 24 Jan 2019 02:47 PM PST  Canada's ambassador to China on Thursday walked back comments that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has a "strong case" against extradition to the United States, following a political backlash. Meng was arrested on December 1 while changing planes in Vancouver at the request of the United States, which says she committed fraud by lying to bankers about allegedly violating American sanctions on Iran.
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| The Irish Border Is Now Giving the EU a Brexit Headache Posted: 25 Jan 2019 01:01 AM PST  Its surefootedness and unified communications have helped it get most of what it's wanted since talks started 18 months ago. Mixed messages this week surrounded the Irish border and what would happen to it if the U.K. leaves without a deal.
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| Roger Stone arrest: Trump confidant faces major indictment as president attempts to reopen government Posted: 25 Jan 2019 01:16 PM PST  Donald Trump's former campaign adviser Roger Stone has been arrested by the FBI as part of Robert Mueller's investigation into possible campaign links to Russia. The FBI has charged Mr Stone on seven counts, invcluding witness tampering, obstruction and false statements about his interactions related to the release by WikiLeaks of hacked emails during the 2016 presidential election. "I am a fervent supporter of the president," he added, vowing to never testify against the president or pleading guilty to the charges.
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| Witness: El Chapo cursed, tortured and shot enemies, ordered one buried alive Posted: 24 Jan 2019 06:30 PM PST  A witness against Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán said the alleged Mexican drug lord interrogated, tortured, and shot enemies – and ordered one buried alive.
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| The Latest: Venezuela says baseball tournament safe Posted: 26 Jan 2019 09:02 AM PST  UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local):
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| Western Digital quarterly revenue misses estimates, shares fall Posted: 24 Jan 2019 01:46 PM PST  (Reuters) - Western Digital Corp reported a bigger-than-expected 20.7 percent fall in quarterly revenue on Thursday, exacerbating concerns that a China-led slowdown in smartphone demand is weighing on sales of its data storage devices.
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| Australian detained in China receives consular visit: official Posted: 25 Jan 2019 05:21 AM PST  The Australian embassy in Beijing was on Friday granted consular access to Australian national Yang Jun, who is detained in China on national security grounds. "Access to Mr Yang was provided in accordance with our bilateral consular agreement with China," the statement said. The Chinese-Australian author and democracy advocate, whose pen name is Yang Hengjun, was detained shortly after he made a rare return to China from the United States last week.
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| Tour the Second Annual Kips Bay Palm Beach Show House Posted: 25 Jan 2019 08:00 AM PST |
| 2019 Editors' Choice Awards: The Best Trucks, SUVs, and Vans Posted: 24 Jan 2019 10:55 AM PST  Our extensive automotive knowledge and comprehensive testing help us separate the best from the rest.
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| Dem senator explodes at Ted Cruz for 'crocodile tears' over shutdown Posted: 24 Jan 2019 12:59 PM PST  In an impassioned speech, the Colorado senator decried Cruz as a hypocrite over his role in forcing a 2013 government shutdown.
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| Malaysia Police Seek 1MDB Documents From Goldman's Lawyer Posted: 24 Jan 2019 03:58 PM PST  Police have raided Rahmat Lim & Partners, the law firm that represented Goldman in the deals, on Thursday morning to search for the documents, The Edge newspaper reported, citing a person it didn't identify. Saiful Azly Kamaruddin, acting director for the police's commercial crime investigation department, confirmed the raid. Rahmat Lim & Partners, which acted as Malaysian legal counsel for Goldman in support of an unnamed U.K. law firm, confirmed that the police came to their offices and said it had already given the police documents that weren't subject to attorney-client privilege, it said in an emailed statement late Thursday.
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| Venezuela's 'interim president' urges military to defect amid promise of possible amnesty for Nicolas Maduro Posted: 25 Jan 2019 11:58 AM PST  Venezuela's self-proclaimed "interim president" has appealed to the country's military to abandon President Nicolas Maduro and join his side, asking citizens to "extend a hand of friendship" to soldiers to convince them to defect. Juan Guaido, the 35-year-old head of the opposition-controlled national assembly, called for massive protests next week at an open-air press conference in Caracas, interrupted by frequent cheers of "presidente". Hours before, in an interview aired by Latino broadcaster Univision, he suggested to Mr Maduro that he would guarantee safe passage out of the country. "This amnesty, these guarantees are on the table for everyone who is prepared to put themselves on the side of the constitution in order to recover the democratic order," he said. Some American diplomats on Friday evacuated Caracas under police escort, obeying an order from Mr Maduro to leave despite Mr Guido urging them not to. It was also reported that Russian military contractors had flown into Venezuela to beef up security for Mr Maduro. Nicolas Maduro holding a news conference inside the presidential palace on Friday, as his rival Juan Guaido called a press conference of his own Mr Guaido called on members of the military – who on Thursday pledged their loyalty to Mr Maduro – saying "it is the moment" for them to come out in defence of the constitution. He told Cuban advisers, embedded with the Venezuelan forces, that they should leave the military, although they were welcome to remain in the country. Mr Guaido was recognised by the United States as the country's legitimate leader on Wednesday – a move which was swiftly followed by a series of countries in the Americas, including Canada, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, said Britain believed Mr Guaido was "the right person to take Venezuela forward". It was reported on Friday that Mr Maduro's government had been stymied in an attempt to withdraw $1.2 billion in gold it holds in the Bank of England. The bank denied Venezuela's withdrawal request after US officials asked their UK counterparts to help block the regime's access to overseas assets, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The US on Thursday said it wanted to divert such funds to Mr Guaido. The Washington-led move has put the US on collision course with both Venezuela and Russia, which has stationed its planes in Venezuela. Mr Maduro has frequently visited Moscow to seek support from Mr Putin, and Moscow now accuses the US of trying to usurp power in Venezuela. Vladimir Putin attends the talks with Nicolas Maduro during meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on Dec 5, 2018 Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, is to speak at a UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela on Saturday, in an attempt to drum up support for Mr Guaido. Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said Moscow would insist on "compliance with international law". Reuters reported that Kremlin-linked military contractors who have conducted secret missions for Russia in Ukraine and Syria had flown into Venezuela in recent days, citing multiple sources close to them. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said he had "no such information". Mr Maduro also retains some allies in Latin America. Mexico, which under leftist leader Andres Manual Lopez Obrador, who took office a month ago, has charted a more conciliatory course with Venezuela, said they would not be changing their position towards President Nicolas Maduro. They offered on Friday to mediate between the opposition and Mr Maduro's government. At least seven people have died in a week of unrest and protests, with some NGOs giving the toll as high as 26. Riots in Caracas on January 23 Mr Guaido's assumption of power on Wednesday was greeted with jubilation at home by opponents of the embattled Mr Maduro. On Friday hundreds gathered for Mr Guaido's press conference, excited to see what would happen. The youthful politician, who was briefly detained earlier this month by security services, said he hoped to hold free and fair elections to designate the official president. Gustavo Misle, a retired university professor, was holding a sign that had a skeleton attached to the back of it. The cardboard said "we are hungry" and had legal currency stapled to it and gun casings. Inflation in Venezuela is currently at a million per cent, and the years of chronic shortages of food and essential items show no signs of abating. "People like me are hungry," he told The Telegraph. "We either buy food or medicines, and our retirement isn't worth anything. "I support Guaido because it's the first time I've seen that we can have changes and complete changes."
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| Ford figures no-deal Brexit could cost it $1 billion Posted: 24 Jan 2019 02:20 PM PST  A big blow in a market where Ford is already struggling.
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| Arizona governor urges new leaders at facility after rape Posted: 25 Jan 2019 04:02 PM PST  PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona is looking into whether it can remove the board of directors of a long-term care facility where a nurse is accused of raping an incapacitated woman who later gave birth, the governor said Friday.
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| Activists wary of Saudi Davos welcome after Khashoggi murder Posted: 24 Jan 2019 10:18 AM PST  Activists are criticising the World Economic Forum for allowing a large Saudi presence in Davos this week without devoting time to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi presence "is deeply distressing", Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo told AFP on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the global elite in the Swiss Alps. The WEF's annual meeting, he said, comes "literally months after one of the most atrocious violations we have ever seen against the journalistic community".
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| The Indefensible Morality of Andrew Cuomo Posted: 26 Jan 2019 03:30 AM PST  The Catholic Church is no exception — it is, like all churches and all religions, full of sinners. Andrew Cuomo, their brother in baptism, has yet to find his road to Damascus. The governor of New York is proud to be a Catholic, but, like his father before him, only when it suits his political purposes.
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| Rep. Ilhan Omar proposes taxing wealthiest Americans up to 90% Posted: 25 Jan 2019 01:41 PM PST  Rep. Ilhan Omar outlines some of the ways programs like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal could be funded, including taxing the wealthiest Americans up to 90 percent.
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| The Best of BRAFA, the Brussels Art Fair Posted: 25 Jan 2019 12:24 PM PST |
| Homeland Security ex-officials warn of security risks from shutdown Posted: 24 Jan 2019 02:16 PM PST  Former secretaries of the Homeland Security Department condemned as "unconscionable" the continued failure to pay frontline homeland security workers, including Transportation Safety Administration officers, Customs personnel, Border Patrol agents and Coast Guard members. They said it posed both immediate and long-term national security risks, as agencies struggle to retain and recruit talent.
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| U.S. seeks to cut off money for Venezuela's Maduro, aid opposition Posted: 24 Jan 2019 06:49 PM PST ![U.S. seeks to cut off money for Venezuela's Maduro, aid opposition]( "U.S. seeks to cut off money for Venezuela's Maduro, aid opposition") Although short on details, the announcement signals that Washington is willing to go beyond traditional diplomatic measures and will seek to drain cash from Maduro's government, which is already struggling under an unprecedented economic meltdown. Such a move would significantly strengthen the hand of Guaido, who swore himself in as interim head of state on Wednesday with the support of Washington and nations around the region. "What we're focusing on today is disconnecting the illegitimate Maduro regime from the sources of his revenues," national security advisor John Bolton told reporters at the White House.
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| Airbus warns no-deal Brexit could spark 'harmful decisions' for UK Posted: 24 Jan 2019 10:30 AM PST  Airbus chief Tom Enders on Thursday warned the European aerospace giant could make "very harmful decisions" for Britain if it leaves the European Union without a deal, while Ford said it could cost them $800 million. Enders branded the government's handling of Brexit a "disgrace" and suggested 14,000 jobs at its sites designing and manufacturing wings at Filton in southwest England and Broughton in north Wales were under threat. "If there is a no-deal Brexit, we at Airbus will have to make potentially very harmful decisions for the UK," Enders warned in a video published on the group's website.
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| Erdogan: Turkey can go it alone to establish Syria safe zone Posted: 25 Jan 2019 06:20 AM PST  ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's president warned on Friday that Ankara can go it alone in establishing a safe zone in northeastern Syria if talks with Washington on the issue fail to produce results.
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| Trump floats ending shutdown with a 'down payment' on wall, but Pelosi doesn't blink Posted: 24 Jan 2019 03:57 PM PST  Coming off a defeat in the U.S. Senate, the president suggests he might reopen government if Congress agrees to a down payment for his wall.
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| European powers poised to recognize Venezuela's Guaido Posted: 26 Jan 2019 08:18 AM PST  Britain, Germany, France and Spain all said they would recognize Guaido unless fresh elections were announced. Venezuela has sunk into turmoil under Maduro with food shortages and daily protests amid an economic and political crisis that has sparked mass emigration and inflation that is seen rising to 10 million percent this year. Maduro cruised to re-election in May last year amid low turnout and allegations of vote-buying by the government.
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