| Donald Trump's team sanctions Venezuela, pushes China trade talks and makes another border wall pitch Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:33 PM PST  The White House holds its first news conference in 41 days while lawmakers continue to negotiate border security issues.
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| Huawei exec's extradition hearing pushed to March Posted: 29 Jan 2019 02:13 PM PST  The extradition hearing for a top Huawei executive at the center of a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing was pushed back to March on Tuesday, after the US unveiled sweeping charges against her and the Chinese tech giant. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, was indicted along with Huawei and two affiliates in a US case related to alleged Iran sanctions violations that has inflamed tensions with China. In Meng's first court appearance since being released, the judge moved the start of her extradition hearing to March 6, a month later than previously scheduled, in order to allow the defense time to review the evidence in the case.
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| Woman rages after being seated next to ‘big’ passengers on United Airlines plane: ‘I eat salad, okay?’ Posted: 29 Jan 2019 05:00 AM PST  A woman was reportedly thrown off a flight after raging against "big" passengers she claimed she was wedged between in a middle seat. The outburst was filmed and later shared online by Norma Rodgers, one of the passengers on the receiving end of the woman's insults, and has since been viewed more than one million times. Footage of the incident shows the passenger complaining about being seated between Ms Rodgers and a man she had been travelling with, named only as Mac.
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| Polar vortex freezes U.S. Midwest with snow, dangerously cold air Posted: 29 Jan 2019 05:05 PM PST  A blast of Arctic air from the polar vortex brought dangerous, bone-chilling cold to a wide swath of the United States on Tuesday, stretching from the Dakotas through Maine, with snow expected as far south as Alabama and Georgia. The Midwest was the hardest-hit region, as temperatures plunged below zero Fahrenheit (minus 18 degrees Celsius). By nightfall the mercury was hovering at 0F in Chicago, 7F (minus 14C) in Detroit and minus 21f (minus 29C) in Minneapolis.
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| William Barr would put rights of Americans at risk Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:49 PM PST  Attorney general nominee is the wrong person to take the helm of the Department of Justice, writes Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice
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| Young boy found after being lost for days in the woods says he made friends with a bear Posted: 29 Jan 2019 09:29 AM PST ![Young boy found after being lost for days in the woods says he made friends with a bear]( "Young boy found after being lost for days in the woods says he made friends with a bear") Kids say the darndest things, and a young boy who was lost for three days in a heavily wooded area of North Carolina is spinning a yarn that is leaving investigators baffled. Casey Hathaway was reportedly playing with other children in his grandmother's backyard when he wandered into a nearby woods and disappeared from view. Nobody could find the young boy, and authorities and volunteers scoured the woods for three days before he was eventually found alive. Having endured chilly temperatures and heavy rain, the boy was still in good health, but he says he didn't make it through the ordeal alone. "He made a comment about having a friend while he was in the woods -- his friend was a bear," on of the investigators, Maj. David McFadyen of the Craven County Sheriff's Office, told CNN in an interview. "In the emergency room he started talking about what happened in the woods and he said he had a friend that was a bear with him while he was in the woods." The youngster likely had a rather uncomfortable time while he was lost in the woods, as nighttime temperatures dropped as low as 20 degrees and two inches of rain fell during the three days he was missing. As for whether or not a bear actually joined him, authorities can't say for certain one way or the other. Authorities note that there are indeed bears in the area, but nobody involved in the search for the boy reported seeing one while combing the woods. The boy was found in a tangle of vines, according to investigators, and while he was cold he was otherwise unharmed. Search party members could hear him calling out for his mother, which helped them locate him. Police say the young boy will be interviewed -- or at least questioned to the extent that one can question a three-year-old -- in order to get a better idea of how he survived, and perhaps they'll learn a little bit more about his bear friend in the process.
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| 'Don't Tip Immigrants': New Jersey restaurant owner shocked by anti-immigrant message left on bill Posted: 28 Jan 2019 02:41 PM PST  Couple discriminated against Spanish-speaking server, left no tip.
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| Police: No footage yet showing 'Empire' actor being attacked Posted: 30 Jan 2019 11:03 AM PST  CHICAGO (AP) — Detectives have reviewed surveillance footage of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett walking to a downtown Chicago apartment after an early-morning visit to a Subway restaurant, but none of it showed an attack on the actor, a police official said Wednesday.
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| Top airline is selling flights for $44 Posted: 29 Jan 2019 12:35 PM PST  Winter weather and the general lull of the post-holiday season can leave just
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| China decries 'political manipulations' behind Huawei case in US Posted: 28 Jan 2019 08:10 PM PST  China on Tuesday decried the "political manipulations" behind the US case against Huawei as Washington indicted the tech giant's chief financial officer and levelled sweeping charges against the company. "For some time, the US has used state power to discredit and crack down on specific Chinese companies in an attempt to strangle the enterprises' legitimate and legal operations," China's foreign ministry said in a statement attributed to spokesman Geng Shuang. "There are strong political motivations and political manipulations behind the actions," Geng said.
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| Trump boosts bills to teach his favorite book — the Bible — in public schools Posted: 29 Jan 2019 02:06 PM PST  Steven Fitschen, president of the National Legal Foundation, reacts to the president's tweet praising his effort to teach teach the Bible in public schools.
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| Goldman Sachs ups 'no-deal' likelihood after UK parliament amendment vote Posted: 29 Jan 2019 10:29 PM PST  Goldman Sachs nudged up its estimated probability of a "no-deal" Brexit on Wednesday after British lawmakers instructed Prime Minister Theresa May to reopen a Brexit treaty with the European Union to replace a controversial Irish border arrangement. Britain's parliament rejected a proposal to give parliament a path to prevent a potentially chaotic "no-deal" exit, but accepted two amendments - one seeking to replace the Irish backstop with alternative arrangements, and another rejecting the notion of a "no-deal" Brexit. Goldman Sachs analysts upped their "no-deal" Brexit probability to 15 percent from 10 percent, and cut their probability of Brexit not happening at all to 35 percent from 40 percent.
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| Dangerous arctic chill sweeps over US Midwest Posted: 29 Jan 2019 09:51 PM PST  Tens of millions of people in the United States are bracing for a potentially life-threatening deep arctic chill forecast to hit swaths of the country on Wednesday. The US Postal Service -- known for its commitment to bringing the mail whatever the weather -- has even reportedly suspended deliveries in Iowa due to the severe cold. Temperatures in almost a dozen states stretching more than 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) from the Dakotas to Ohio were forecast to be the coldest in a generation, if not on record.
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| As historic cold blasts Midwest, cities focus on vulnerable, homeless Posted: 29 Jan 2019 03:09 PM PST  As the Midwest girds for days of subzero temperatures, officials are scrambling to get some of their most vulnerable out of the cold.
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| What we know about husband and wife killed in Houston officer-involved shooting Posted: 29 Jan 2019 05:05 PM PST  One suspect accused of shooting four Houston Police officers suffered debilitating injuries for many years, his sister said.
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| Russia claims no knowledge of plane sent to Venezuela 'to extract 20 tonnes of gold' from national bank Posted: 30 Jan 2019 03:36 AM PST  Russian authorities have moved to quash suspicions that 20 tonnes of gold are about to be moved from the Venezuela's national bank to Moscow. Allegations that a Russian jet which landed in Caracas was due to load an $840 million portion of the country's gold reserves surfaced early on Wednesday. Venezuela's opposition-controlled parliament, sidelined by the Maduro regime, said in a tweet that they received information from the Bank of Venezuela that a plane from Moscow arrived to Caracas to "extract at least 20 tons of gold" - 20 per cent of the bank's holdings. "We are demanding the Bank [to reveal] details of what is happening. That gold does not belong to Calixto Ortega, [head of the Bank]. It belongs to the Venezuelan people," the tweet read. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, said on Wednesday that he is not aware of any plans to bring gold to Moscow. Hyperinflation in Venezuela "Russia is prepared to help resolve the political situation [in Venezuela] in any way possible, without interfering into the country's internal affairs," Mr Peskov was quoted as saying by the RBC news outlet. On Monday, Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that an empty passenger plane departed from Moscow to Caracas. The Boeing 777, with space for some 400 passengers and belonging to Russia's Nordwind Airlines, was parked by a private corner of the airport after flying direct from Moscow, according to flight tracking data and Reuters photos. It was the first time it had made the route, the data showed. Novaya Gazeta said that the plane carried two crew teams and suggested there was no obvious reason for it to fly there: Russian tourists are officially recommended not to visit Venezuela, sales of package tours to the country have stopped long ago, and Russia's Foreign Ministry hasn't announced plans to evacuate Russian citizens from the country. Venezuelan social media was alive with theories, including that the place had brought mercenaries, or was there to escort Maduro into exile. Venezuela's Finance Minister Simon Zerpa claimed there were no Russian planes in the Caracas airport, despite the pictures. Responding to questions about the gold, Peskov urged journalists "to be careful with different hoaxes." Maduro claims he is facing a Washington-backed coup attempt led by opposition leader Juan Guaido, who last week proclaimed himself president and was recognized by the United States as the legitimate head-of-state. Russia has accused US President Donald Trump's administration of trying to usurp power in Venezuela and warned against any military intervention. The Kremlin on Tuesday condemned new U.S. sanctions against Venezuela's vital oil sector as illegal interference in the OPEC member's affairs. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Russian government "will do anything" to support Maduro. Guaido is currently petitioning the Bank of England to prevent Mr Maduro getting his hands on $1.3 billion (£1 billion) in gold held in London vaults. Venezuela, which is struggling to provide basic services, has some $8 billion in foreign reserves around the world. On Monday the US placed sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company – a move designed to cripple Maduro's regime financially, and sway the military to defect.
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| 2 Suspects Killed and Five Officers Injured in a Houston Shootout, Police Say Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:53 PM PST  Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the incident a "horrific attack"
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| Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen to testify at closed House hearing next week Posted: 28 Jan 2019 04:12 PM PST  President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen will testify next week at a closed hearing of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee after postponing an appearance before another congressional panel, citing threats from Trump. Cohen, who is set to go to prison in March after pleading guilty to crimes including campaign finance violations during Trump's 2016 election campaign, had expressed concern about testifying because of threats against his family from Trump. "Mr. Cohen has relayed to the Committee his legitimate concerns for his own safety as well as that of his family, which have been fueled by improper comments made by the President and his lawyer," Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, the panel's chairman, said in a statement.
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| US Midwest braces for dangerous arctic chill Posted: 29 Jan 2019 08:51 AM PST  Millions of Americans braced Tuesday for a dangerous polar vortex which began to settle over a large swath of the United States, threatening to set new records as schools and businesses closed and authorities warned of frostbite. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast temperatures between -10 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -40 Celsius) by Wednesday, with wind chill making it seem as cold as -65 degrees Fahrenheit in one area of Minnesota. The culprit was a lobe of arctic air broken away from the polar vortex that usually encircles the North Pole.
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| With shutdown over, scientists rush to salvage wolf study Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:29 PM PST  TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — A 60-year-old study of wolves and moose at Isle Royale National Park is back on track after being derailed by the partial government shutdown, and enough private funding has been raised to ensure the work will go on even if federal agencies are idled again, officials said Monday.
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| Kids (not just infants!) can now fly for free on Frontier Airlines, but there's a catch Posted: 30 Jan 2019 07:37 AM PST ![Kids (not just infants!) can now fly for free on Frontier Airlines, but there's a catch]( "Kids (not just infants!) can now fly for free on Frontier Airlines, but there's a catch") Frontier Airlines is letting kids fly for free as part of their Discount Den program, which costs about $60 a year. Here's what you need to know.
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| Harris: Lawmakers Should View ‘Autopsy Photographs’ of Dead Kids before Gun-Control Votes Posted: 29 Jan 2019 07:34 AM PST  Senator Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) made an emotional plea for increased gun control during CNN's town hall in Iowa Monday night, arguing that her pro-Second Amendment colleagues should be forced to examine photos of dead children before voting on gun restrictions. "I think somebody should have required all those members of Congress to go in a room — in a locked room, no press, nobody else — and look at the autopsy photographs of those babies. "This has become a political issue.
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| Venezuela crisis: US announces billions in sanctions as White House says military options still 'on the table' Posted: 28 Jan 2019 01:20 PM PST  The White House announced new sanctions against Venezuela on Monday, warning the United States would immediately block at least $7bn in assets held offshore by Nicolas Maduro and his top officials. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and National Security Adviser John Bolton joined White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders during a press conference on Monday to announce the new sanctions, which they said had been kept secret prior to the announcement. In making the sanctions public, the White House warned "all options are on the table" when it comes to dealing with the ongoing conflict in Venezuela.
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| Gaza-Egypt crossing to fully reopen Tuesday: Palestinians Posted: 28 Jan 2019 12:06 PM PST  The sole passenger crossing between Gaza and Egypt will reopen in both directions Tuesday, the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas said, after it was partially closed amid Palestinian political infighting. In a statement late Monday, the Hamas-run interior ministry announced "the opening of the Rafah border crossing in both directions on Tuesday". There was no immediate confirmation from Egypt.
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| Syria Sanctions Bill Advances in Senate After Shutdown Delay Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:20 PM PST  The measure would direct the Trump administration to impose sanctions on entities that do business with the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, such as selling petroleum products or aircraft parts. It also would let state and local governments refuse to do business with anyone who boycotts Israel. The Senate voted 74-19 to take up the bill, which was introduced by Florida Republican Marco Rubio and is supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
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| 'Your Ignorance Could Kill You:' How Minnesotans Are Preparing for Minus 60 Wind Chills Posted: 28 Jan 2019 03:49 PM PST  "One breath of wind can suck the heat out of you"
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| NASA Releases New, High-Quality New Horizons Image of the Ultima Thule "Snowman" Asteroid Posted: 28 Jan 2019 12:22 PM PST  This new image highlights all kinds of features that weren't visible in the initial images.
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| U.S. drops out of top 20 performers in global corruption index, watchdog says Posted: 28 Jan 2019 09:11 PM PST  The group said its latest report on business leaders' perceptions of corruption put the United States at 71, down from 75, on a scale of 0-100. "This is a red flag because it's really part of a pattern that we've seen since the 2008 global financial crisis of a loss of trust ... in our public institutions," she told Reuters. "People don't see us as having adequate mechanisms in place to fight corruption and ensure the accountability of our elected officials." GRAPHIC: Corruption Perceptions Index - https://tmsnrt.rs/2HCFkgJ Concerns were already mounting before the election of Donald Trump, although they have been highlighted by the actions of a rich president who defied precedent to keep his personal tax affairs secret and retain his business holdings in office.
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| Maduro hits out at US over sanctions on Venezuelan state oil firm Posted: 28 Jan 2019 07:54 PM PST  Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, has hit out at the US after the Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil firm PDVSA. The move is aimed at severely curbing the OPEC member's crude exports to the United States and at pressuring the socialist leader to step down. Minutes before the announcement, Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader who proclaimed himself interim president last week with US backing, said congress would name new boards of directors to the company and its US subsidiary, Citgo. Mr Guaido, supported by the United States and most countries in the Western Hemisphere, says Mr Maduro stole his re-election and must resign to allow new, fair polls. In a live national broadcast on Monday, Mr Maduro accused the United States of trying to steal US refining arm Citgo Petroleum, the OPEC member's most important foreign asset, which also manages a chain of US gas stations. He said Venezuela would take legal actions in response. Opposition National Assembly President Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela, prays next to his wife Fabiana Rosales Credit: AP In the first sign of serious retaliation, three sources with knowledge of the decision told Reuters that PDVSA had ordered customers with tankers waiting to load Venezuelan crude bound for the United States to prepay for the cargoes or they will not receive authorisation to fill the vessels or leave the ports. The Trump administration sanctions stopped short of banning US companies from buying Venezuelan oil, but because the proceeds of such sales will be put in a "blocked account," PDVSA is likely to quickly stop shipping much crude to the United States, its top client. "If the people in Venezuela want to continue to sell us oil, as long as the money goes into blocked accounts we will continue to take it, otherwise will we not be buying it," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at a White House briefing. Oil at sea, already paid for, would continue its journey to the United States, he said. White House national security adviser John Bolton said at the briefing the measure would cost Mr Maduro $11 billion in lost export proceeds over the next year and block him from accessing PDVSA assets worth $7 billion. While there are significant exceptions, such as rules that should allow Citgo to keep using Venezuelan crude in US refineries, the sanctions will likely cause some reordering of global oil flows as Venezuela seeks to sell elsewhere. Gulf refineries that use Venezuela's heavy crude will have to look for alternatives to replace supplies. Despite a sharp decline in oil exports due largely to mismanagement of the industry and the economic crisis Venezuela remains the fourth-biggest vendor of oil to the United States, supplying some 500,000 barrels per day. National Security Advisor John Bolton (L) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin Credit: Getty Citgo, Valero Energy Corp and Chevron Corp are the three largest buyers of Venezuelan crude in the United States. "They are not allowing tankers bound for Valero, Citgo and Chevron to leave Venezuelan ports if not prepaid," a PDVSA source said referring to a decision by the company's trade and supply division. Other exceptions in the sanctions will make it easier for Chevron Corp to keep participating in a joint venture in Venezuela, and allow U.S. entities in Venezuela to keep buying PDVSA gasoline. The sanctions, contained in an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump, freeze US-based assets of PDVSA, Venezuela's largest source of revenue. The Trump administration had long held off on targeting Venezuela's vital oil sector for fear that it would hurt US refiners and raise oil prices for Americans. White House officials had also expressed concern about inflicting further hardship on the Venezuelan people. The latest sanctions appear to seek to build on the momentum that has mounted in recent weeks against Maduro at home and abroad. Guaido vs Maduro | Who is backing Venezuela's two presidents US officials said the sanctions on PDVSA were intended to prevent Maduro's government from siphoning off funds from the oil company to maintain his grip on power. Mr Mnuchin said oil supplies were sufficient to ensure no significant impact on U.S. gas prices in the short term and that the U.S. Treasury Department would issue temporary licenses to permit some transactions with PDVSA. Even though the Venezuelan military has shown no sign of abandoning Maduro, Bolton said: "Our assessment based on numerous contacts on the ground is that the rank and file of the Venezuelan military is acutely aware of the desperate economic conditions in the country and we think they look for ways to support the National Assembly government." Countries around the world have recognised Mr Guaido, the National Assembly speaker, as Venezuela's rightful leader, and the United States vowed to starve MrMaduro's administration of oil revenue after he was sworn in on January 10 for a second term that was widely dubbed illegitimate. Mr Guaido's team of advisers is rushing to take control of Citgo Petroleum, before a potential bond default that could leave half the company in creditors' hands, sources close to the talks told Reuters on Monday. Mr Maduro has promised to stay in office, backed by Russia and China, which have bank rolled his government and fought off efforts to have his government disavowed by the United Nations. Mr Bolton reiterated that Mr Maduro would be held responsible for the safety of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Venezuela as well as Guaido and other opposition figures. He also not rule out US military intervention, although such action is widely considered to be unlikely. "The president has made it very clear on this matter that all options are on the table," Mr Bolton said.
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| Judge cancels Paul Manafort's Feb. 8 sentencing in Virginia case Posted: 28 Jan 2019 05:57 PM PST  A federal judge has canceled Paul Manafort's Feb. 8 sentencing in Virginia until DC plea dispute resolved
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| Roger Stone Pleads Not Guilty to Lying to Congress, Obstruction Posted: 29 Jan 2019 08:29 AM PST  Roger Stone, the notorious Republican political operative and long-time friend of President Donald Trump, pled not guilty on Tuesday to seven criminal counts, including lying to Congress, obstruction, and witness tampering. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors have accused Stone of lying to congressional investigators about his efforts to inform Trump campaign officials of WikiLeaks's plan to release hacked Democratic National Committee emails that proved damaging to Hillary Clinton. Sitting in federal court in Washington, D.C., U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson ordered Stone to return Friday afternoon for another hearing.
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| Woman bitten on rear by python lurking in her toilet Posted: 29 Jan 2019 12:41 PM PST  A woman in Australia got a rather unpleasant surprise when she sat down on her
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| Alibaba sales grow at weakest pace in three years as slowing China bites Posted: 30 Jan 2019 06:43 AM PST  E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's quarterly revenue grew at its weakest pace since 2016, as the impact of a slowing Chinese economy and a crippling Sino-U.S. trade war kept buyers away during its top-sale season. Net income rose 33 percent to 30.96 billion yuan, however, beating estimates and sending Alibaba's stock up by about 1.6 percent in pre-market trade. Alibaba typically posts its highest revenue in the December quarter due to its mega "Singles' Day" in November - the world's biggest online sales event that outstrips the sales of U.S. shopping holidays Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined.
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| Dutch Cabinet Gets Emergency Powers in Case of No-Deal Brexit Posted: 29 Jan 2019 06:55 AM PST  A majority of lawmakers in the parliament's lower house in The Hague granted the cabinet a six month period -- rather than a year as the government had proposed -- to use special powers as the country of about 17 million prepares for the eventuality of the U.K. leaving the European Union without a divorce agreement. Under the new legislation, the government will have to submit emergency measures to parliament within ten weeks after implementing them. If the government fails to submit within the set time-frame, the measures will be scrapped.
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| Pentagon won't rule out sending troops to Colombia Posted: 29 Jan 2019 08:32 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan on Tuesday would not rule out sending U.S. military forces to Colombia or the region in connection with the ongoing political upheaval in Venezuela.
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| The Latest: Serving warrants among most dangerous police ops Posted: 29 Jan 2019 03:19 PM PST  HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the injury of five Houston police officers Monday (all times local):
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| Meet one of the ranchers who invited Speaker Pelosi to tour the border Posted: 29 Jan 2019 02:47 AM PST  California rancher Chris Burgard teamed up with other border ranchers to invite Nancy Pelosi to view the crisis at the border firsthand, even offering to pay for her plane ticket.
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| US government scientists correct Trump over climate change statements: 'Winter storms don't prove global warming isn't happening' Posted: 29 Jan 2019 09:36 AM PST  Donald Trump has again appeared to fundamentally misunderstand climate change by suggesting extreme cold weather in the US is evidence global warming does not exist. "In the beautiful Midwest, wind chill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded," Mr Trump tweeted late on Monday evening. It follows a number of recent tweets by the president expressing gleeful disregard for the scientific consensus that holds human carbon emissions responsible for recent global temperature increases.
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| Palestinian president Abbas accepts government resignation Posted: 29 Jan 2019 11:48 AM PST  Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas accepted the resignation of his government Tuesday, in a reshuffle seen as a bid by the ageing leader to strengthen his position as a decade-old political split deepens. Analysts view replacing prime minister Rami Hamdallah after five years as part of Abbas's efforts to further isolate his political rivals Hamas, who run the Gaza Strip. Hamdallah's government will remain in place while a new administration is formed.
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