| Waiting for final Mueller report? It may be short on detail Posted: 16 Jan 2019 03:57 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Mueller's Russia probe has to end with a report. But anyone looking for a grand narrative on President Donald Trump, Russian election interference and all the juicy details uncovered over the last 20 months could end up disappointed.
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| US, Canada promise 'unbiased' process for Chinese executive Posted: 16 Jan 2019 06:37 AM PST  The United States and Canada on Wednesday promised an "unbiased" legal process for a Chinese executive whose arrest in Vancouver at US request has riled Beijing. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland discussed the arrest Tuesday in a phone call in which they also voiced concern about the "arbitrary detentions" of Canadians in China, the US State Department said. "They noted their continued commitment to Canada's conduct of a fair, unbiased and transparent legal proceeding and US extradition request with respect to Ms. Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei," a State Department statement said.
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| A look at large-scale extremist attacks in Kenya Posted: 15 Jan 2019 07:05 AM PST  NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Here is a look at large-scale extremist attacks in Kenya over the years:
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| GOP condemnation rises over Rep. Steve King's white supremacy comment; House to vote on rebuke Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:00 AM PST  The House was scheduled to vote on a formal rebuke of Rep. Steve King, who has received bipartisan condemnation for his comments on white supremacy.
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| Los Angeles teachers strike for second day as mayor seeks to restart talks Posted: 15 Jan 2019 09:16 PM PST  Some 30,000 Los Angeles teachers on strike for higher pay, smaller classes and more staff walked picket lines in the rain for a second day on Tuesday as Mayor Eric Garcetti embraced their cause while trying to nudge the two sides back to the bargaining table. The walkout, with teachers garbed mostly in red braving two days of rainy weather to stage mass rallies downtown, has shattered 30 years of labor peace by Los Angeles teachers but has not completely idled schools.
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| Motorists left stranded on snow-clogged I-5 in Southern California as storm wreaks havoc, triggers mudslides Posted: 15 Jan 2019 05:18 AM PST  Emergency officials called for evacuations near several burn scar areas in Southern California as a powerful storm wreaked havoc with travel on Monday.
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| Nissan brings luxurious electric sports sedan concept to Detroit Posted: 15 Jan 2019 02:55 AM PST  After debuting the newer, longer range 2019 Leaf e+ at CES last week, Nissan brought a luxurious electric sedan concept to the Detroit Auto show to show off the company's plans to provide high-performing, premium vehicles in the EV era. Nissan debuted its newest concept model, the IMS Concept, in Detroit on Monday, representing the company's pure electric future with impressive range, full drive autonomy, and, last but not least, an innovative new seating arrangement. Behold the new Nissan IMs Concept, setting the design direction for future Nissan electric vehicles.
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| The top 5 benefits that make the American Express Platinum Card a must-have Posted: 15 Jan 2019 07:28 AM PST  BGR has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. BGR and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers. With large banks like JP Morgan and American Express poised to start significantly changing up how they structure rewards associated with premium credit cards, consumers may find it trickier than ever these days to figure out how to wade through the choices of plastic available to them and come to a decision. These kinds of cards, in particular, come with generally high fees to go along with the abundance of perks. Large financial institutions have historically enticed borrowers to spring for their most luxe credit options by offering incentives like free air travel and tons of points, though as The Wall Street Journal reported in recent days some banks are now looking to tweak that model -- changing up the rewards so that you get less on the front end and you're induced to actually use the cards more to get the benefits over the long term. All of which is to say, when you consider all of the above and the various options on the market available to you, there are several reasons why the Platinum Card® from American Express is a smart choice for consumers who want the best mix of price and rewards. Here's some of what it offers. An impressive domestic lounge network One of the easiest reasons to cite for why it's worth it to spring for the Amex Platinum Card is the lounge access you're afforded. This card gets you into any of the more than 30 Delta Sky Clubs around the globe plus American Express' own luxurious Centurion Lounges -- which also happen to be multiplying. Examples include the new 12,500-square-foot Centurion Lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport's Terminal D that opened in the fall and which offers a full bar menu that features local wines and beer as well as a menu with Texas-themed dishes. In all, this card unlocks access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries. The Platinum Card's Priority Pass membership also makes free food and drinks available at a growing number of airport restaurants and bars, so this benefit definitely helps take the sting out of getting hit with a long layover between flights. Tons of points, baby! The Platinum card is also offering a whopping 60,000-point bonus that kicks in once you make $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of your card membership. By one estimate, those points are worth up to $1,200 according to The Points Guy's recent valuation, and come on top of the card's other benefits like lounge access. When you book through an airline or via American Express Travel, you can earn 5 points for every dollar you spend on flights and hotels. This particular benefit has also been singled out for praise as being the best offering in its category among all cards, given that the 5x multiple on points for airfare can be earned even when you book through any airline - whereas you need to book through Amex Travel to get the 5 points for every dollar benefit. A combined up to $400 in airline fee and Uber credits Among the other ways this card's benefits more than offset that $550 fee each year, you also get up to $200 airline fee credit that can pay for everything from checked bag fees to in-flight food and drink purchases. The only caveat is you have to choose one airline each year that you'll direct your fee credit to, but it's a small price to pay. And as if that wasn't enough, Amex is also throwing in up to $200 in Uber savings each year. It's structured as a $15 Uber credit each month, with up to an additional $20 extra in December - which, while frequent travelers will have no problem using that up quickly, is still one more welcome perk to have. You've got to connect the card to your Uber app, and the monthly benefit is of the use-it-or-lose-it variety, but don't worry. If you don't have need of an Uber ride during a particular month, you can always use that month's credit on an UberEats delivery, instead. Complimentary premium status and memberships galore, from hotels to car rentals The Amex Platinum also has a ton of hotel-related perks alone that will quickly offset the costs that rack up from frequent travel, including complimentary gold status at Hilton and Starwood Hotels, which lets you enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton chain and which can also be matched with Marriott Gold status. Likewise, Platinum card members can also upgrade to Starwood Preferred Guest Gold Elite Status without having to meet any minimum stay requirements. And as if that wasn't enough, other elite member benefits include being given an enhanced room at check-in, when available. For car rentals, it's the same story. You get complimentary elite status with brands like Avis and Hertz, giving you the ability to take advantage of free membership in premium car rental programs that include special upgrades and discounts. The verdict: As the industry-leading charge card, the Platinum Card from American Express is the quintessential credit card. It's not even hard to not only over the card's annual fee, but actually come out ahead. If you travel a lot during the course of a year, or even if you're only on the road and hopping flights sporadically here and there, the Amex Platinum Card definitely is worthy of serious consideration. Benefits span beyond travel, like the card's stellar purchase protection, which reimburses you if you use it to buy an item that's later lost, stolen or damaged accidentally. Amex will cover you for the amount you paid, up to $10,000 per item with a $50,000 yearly maximum, for starters. You'll get plenty of use out of this card, in other words, and then some.
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| Colbert questions Trump's connection to Russia in a new game show. See who wins. Posted: 15 Jan 2019 07:07 AM PST  Was our president duped into working for Russia? The comics explore in Best of Late Night.
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| Hannity: The walls are closing in on James Comey Posted: 15 Jan 2019 06:47 PM PST  Former FBI director James Comey and his team, including Andrew McCabe, attempted to rig 2016 presidential election against Donald Trump.
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| California governor, lawmakers confront utility bankruptcy Posted: 14 Jan 2019 10:43 PM PST  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The announcement by the nation's largest utility that it is filing for bankruptcy puts Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s problems squarely in the hands of Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers, who now must try to keep ratepayer costs down, ensure wildfire victims get the money they're owed and rethink California's energy picture in the face of climate change.
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| A Look at the 2020 BMW 7-series Posted: 16 Jan 2019 01:55 AM PST |
| Gunmen kill 14 in Kenya hotel compound attack claimed by Somali Islamists Posted: 15 Jan 2019 02:07 PM PST  Eight hours after the assault began at Nairobi's upscale 14 Riverside Drive complex, a burst of gunfire was heard in the area, suggesting the situation was not yet under control. Nairobi is a major expatriate hub, and the compound targeted contained offices of various international companies, in an echo of a deadly 2013 assault on a Nairobi shopping center in the same neighborhood. "The main door of the hotel was blown open and there was a human arm in the street severed from the shoulder," said Serge Medic, the Swiss owner of a security company who ran to the scene to help when he heard of the attack from his taxi driver.
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| Saudi urges 'fair' energy transition, defends oil Posted: 15 Jan 2019 06:45 AM PST  Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia called Tuesday for a "fair" and gradual global energy transition as it unveiled an ambitious domestic renewable energy programme. Experts say energy output from renewables, especially solar and wind, is growing faster than anticipated, threatening to displace oil, gas and coal as the world's main sources of power. "Balancing greenhouse gas emissions will take decades," he said at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
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| Jamie Dimon says shutdown could reduce economic growth to zero this quarter if it continues Posted: 15 Jan 2019 05:57 AM PST  Jamie Dimon, CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase CEO, said that the partial government shutdown could sap all growth from the U.S. economy.
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| Venus-Jupiter conjunction: Set your alarm for this celestial meet-up on Tuesday morning Posted: 16 Jan 2019 10:15 AM PST  Jupiter and Venus will shine bright together before dawn on Tuesday in an astronomical event known as a conjunction.
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| Venezuela president Maduro increases minimum wage by 300 per cent as inflation approaches 2 million per cent Posted: 15 Jan 2019 05:16 AM PST  Venezuela's president has raised the country's minimum wage by 300 per cent as part of routine wage increases as his government battles hyperinflation. Nicolas Maduro increased the minimum wage to 18,000 bolivars, around £5.20, per month amid an economy suffering from annual inflation nearing two million per cent. Mr Maduro announced his economic plans at the start of his second, disputed, term on Monday, as calls increased for him to surrender power.
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| Two Republicans Push ‘Border Bonds’ to Let Americans Finance a Wall Posted: 15 Jan 2019 02:12 PM PST  Representatives Steven Palazzo of Mississippi and Andy Harris of Maryland, both members of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced the Border Bonds for America Act of 2019 -- a law that would allow Americans to buy such securities from the U.S. The money would be put in a trust fund and used just to build a wall along the nearly 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) border. The tactic echoes the Liberty Bond program, which appealed to Americans' sense of patriotism to raise funds during World War I.
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| Mayday: The Prime Minister's Brexit Plan Has Crashed Posted: 16 Jan 2019 02:12 AM PST  Theresa May now faces a vote of no confidence, but it won't be enough to oust her from Britain's most powerful political position.
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| Wild-Styled 2020 Toyota Supra Debuts With More Power and Tech Posted: 15 Jan 2019 06:28 AM PST   Toyota unveiled the highly anticipated all-new Supra sports car at the Detroit auto show. Sharing platform and powertrain with the redesigned BMW Z4 roadster, the Supra promises to be a natural h...
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| Procter & Gamble’s Toxic Sanctimony Posted: 16 Jan 2019 03:30 AM PST  Recognized around the world as a symbol of manly civility for more than a century, Gillette will now be remembered as the company that did itself in by sacrificing a massive consumer base at the altar of progressivism. In case you hadn't seen or heard: Parent company Procter & Gamble launched a Gillette ad campaign blanket-demonizing men as ogres and bullies. At home and at work, in the boardroom, on the playground, and even while barbecuing in the backyard, Gillette sees nothing but testosterone-driven trouble.
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| Mega Gallery: Every Photo from 2019 10Best Trucks and SUVs Posted: 16 Jan 2019 05:40 AM PST |
| Congressional Democrats move to stop U.S. Census citizenship question Posted: 16 Jan 2019 01:57 PM PST  Democrats in the U.S. Congress on Wednesday were moving ahead with legislation to prevent the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, following a court decision this week blocking inclusion of such information. Representative Carolyn Maloney, a senior Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told reporters that she is re-introducing her bill, which was ignored by Republicans in 2017-2018 when they controlled the House of Representatives.
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| The Latest: Snow, accidents shut Northern California freeway Posted: 16 Jan 2019 04:18 PM PST  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on California storms (all times local):
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| Vance County Schools to keep lunches to a 'minimum' to conserve food, funding during government shutdown Posted: 16 Jan 2019 10:47 AM PST  Vance County Schools said it's making changes to lunch menus to conserve food and funding during the government shutdown.
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| Brexit deal vote: UK parliament's feuding factions Posted: 14 Jan 2019 08:11 PM PST  London (AFP) - The British parliament is split into cross-party factions over the EU divorce deal.
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| William Barr defends Robert Mueller and says he won’t be ‘bullied’ by Trump as next Attorney General Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:56 AM PST  William Barr has told Congress that he would protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian election meddling from political pressure, despite his past criticism of the inquiry. Donald Trump's nominee to become the next attorney general was grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday during his first day of confirmation hearings. Mr Barr, who was attorney general under President George Bush in the 1990s, also faced questions about an unsolicited, 19-page memo he wrote last year that called Mr Mueller's probe "fatally misconceived" for examining whether the president obstructed justice by firing former FBI Director James Comey in 2017.
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| PG&E ex-CEO receives $2.5 million in severance as company announces plans for bankruptcy Posted: 15 Jan 2019 07:51 AM PST  The ex-PG&E CEO resigned Sunday ahead of the utility's impending bankruptcy due to potential liability for its role in recent California wildfires.
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| 2020 Ford Explorer Gets Evolutionary, High-Tech Redesign Posted: 15 Jan 2019 06:28 AM PST   Ford has completely redesigned the Explorer for 2020, but you might not realize it from the photos. The exterior styling is so familiar that it would be easy to overlook the extensive re-engineer...
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| Fortnite left players exposed to 'massive invasion of privacy' Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:00 PM PST  Children playing Fortnite were exposed to a potential "massive invasion of privacy" thanks to an oversight in the game's security, researchers have revealed. The popular shooting game enjoyed by more than 80 million people around the world left users vulnerable to a flaw that if exploited, allowed hackers to steal virtual currency and read private conversations online. The bug was fixed in mid-December, according to researchers who shared their findings with Fortnite's developer, Epic Games. To take control, the researchers sent a message to their victim over social media including a malicious link. Once clicked, the user's Fortnite authentication token - code that confirms a user is logged in - could be captured by the attacker without the user entering their username or password. "Fortnite is one of the most popular games played mainly by kids. These flaws provided the ability for a massive invasion of privacy," said Oded Vanunu, head of products vulnerability research for Check Point, who found they were able to access target accounts. Fortnite | Read more It comes as the police's fraud arm warned that scammers are using the multiplayer Battle Royale-style game to trick young players into handing over their parents' bank details. Criminals are increasingly targeting children on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube with adverts claiming to offer free "V-bucks", a currency used to buy extras like character outfits. After clicking the link, victims can be asked questions about their account, which the perpetrator uses to log in, and steal credit or debit card details that are stored there. Fortnite fever has gripped the nation since it launched in July 2017, with parents growing concerned that their children have become "addicted" to the multiplayer title. Users could protect themselves in future using by turning on two-factor authentication which prompts the player to enter a security code sent to their email address upon logging in. Epic Games have been contacted for comment.
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| No One Is More Elated About Meghan Markle Than This Kid Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:50 AM PST  This kid had the most relatable reaction ever
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| Pro-EU UK Conservative lawmaker puts forward legislation for second Brexit referendum Posted: 16 Jan 2019 05:22 AM PST ![Pro-EU UK Conservative lawmaker puts forward legislation for second Brexit referendum]( "Pro-EU UK Conservative lawmaker puts forward legislation for second Brexit referendum") LONDON (Reuters) - A member of Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party on Wednesday submitted legislation making provisions for a second referendum on Britain's departure from the European Union. The bill submitted by Dominic Grieve, who has previously called for a second referendum, is unlikely to make much progress through the legislative process as it depends on government support, and May is opposed to another public vote. The symbolic presentation of the bill was conducted without debate. ...
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| Snowstorms to be followed by Arctic outbreak in eastern half of nation Posted: 16 Jan 2019 03:13 AM PST  Following a pair of snowstorms set to deliver a one-two punch to the midwestern and northeastern United States into this weekend, the coldest air so far this winter season has its sights set on the eastern half of the nation.
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| JetBlue wants to fly you to Puerto Rico and take you to 'Hamilton' for free -- Here's how Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:47 AM PST  JetBlue, the largest operating airline in Puerto Rico, is doing more than just encouraging travelers to visit the island.
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| Al-Qaeda Hotel Attack Kills 21, Shaking Kenya Economy Pillar Posted: 16 Jan 2019 11:41 AM PST  Using hand grenades, automatic rifles and a suicide-bomber, the militants stormed 14 Riverside in Nairobi on Tuesday afternoon, a venue popular with business travelers and Kenya's elites and home to offices of companies including Pernod Ricard SA and Dow Chemical East Africa Ltd. That precipitated an 18-hour siege around the DusitD2 hotel, which President Uhuru Kenyatta said ended about 9 a.m. Wednesday with the attackers dead. Somalia-based al-Shabaab took responsibility for the assault, the latest in a recent wave of jihadist strikes across Africa, including in Nigeria and Mali, which a loose coalition of African, Western and United Nation troops are struggling to stop. It's al-Shabaab's first significant assault in Kenya since it killed 147 people at a northeastern university in April 2015 and echoed a September 2013 attack on Nairobi's Westgate mall that left 67 dead and rocked the tourism industry.
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| Where the investigations related to President Trump stand Posted: 15 Jan 2019 09:49 PM PST  A look at where the investigations related to President Donald Trump stand and what may lie ahead for him:
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| Sears, Kmart may survive: Eddie Lampert wins Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction Posted: 16 Jan 2019 11:43 AM PST  Sears Holdings could escape its brush with annihilation after the retailer's chairman and largest investor prevailed in an auction.
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| Alliance talks continue as Ford, VW call off joint Detroit appearance Posted: 14 Jan 2019 07:35 PM PST  The Detroit auto show was abuzz over what Ford and Volkswagen would announce Tuesday, after the car giants called off a joint appearance during which they were widely expected to announce an alliance. The two car giants have been in discussions for more than six months over a partnership to develop self-driving and electric technologies. A highly-anticipated announcement at the US's premiere auto show in the Motor City was called off late Monday, and the two sides planned a conference call with reporters instead for the following morning.
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| Netflix price increase for monthly subscription to hit 58 million users across US Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:47 AM PST  Netflix is raising its subscription prices for all 58 million of its US users, marking the first increase since 2017. The online streaming service will hike the prices of its basic service from $8 per month to $9 per month, while simulataneously raising the cost of a more premium service from $11 to $13. It marks the biggest price increase for monthly subscriptions since launching its streaming service in 2007, and the first since 2017.
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| Say it ain't snow: 2 winter storms, then an Arctic blast from the 'fractured' polar vortex Posted: 15 Jan 2019 02:40 PM PST  Any hopes we had for a mild end to January appear over. A pair of winter storms will dump snow and ice across the central and eastern U.S. over the next several days.
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| 'Gingers unite!': Prince Harry bonds with 4-year-old redhead Posted: 16 Jan 2019 07:45 AM PST  Prince Harry got a big surprise on Monday when a 4-year-old red-head presented him with a special sign.
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| Kirsten Gillibrand: Democrat senator and Trump critic enters 2020 presidential race Posted: 15 Jan 2019 10:00 PM PST  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand used an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to announce she was formally entering the race to become president in 2020 – the latest high profile Democrat to enter what will become a crowded field. "I'm going to run for president of the United States, because as a young mom I'm going to fight for other people's kids as hard as I would fight for my own," she said, when asked if she had any news to share with the audience. The formation of the exploratory committee will allow her to legally begin fundraising and organising her campaign, as she seeks to carve out a distinct presence in a field of candidates that could reach two dozen.
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| Barr Could Block Mueller Report Release But Would Risk Backlash Posted: 16 Jan 2019 02:28 PM PST  "Under the current regulations, the special counsel report is confidential," Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee, told the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing Tuesday. Barr's justification for keeping Mueller's findings from the public appears to rest on a technical reading of federal regulations governing special counsels, as well as Justice Department policy for handling criminal and counterintelligence investigations, the officials said.
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| Markets Right Now: Banks lead stock gains on Wall Street Posted: 16 Jan 2019 01:07 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):
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| Man accused of pushing, punching girl outside Asheville Mall Posted: 16 Jan 2019 12:12 PM PST  Police are investigating after a 51-year-old man was caught on camera pushing and punching a girl in the face outside of Asheville Mall on Saturday.
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| The 7 Hottest Cars from the 2019 Detroit Auto Show Posted: 15 Jan 2019 03:04 PM PST |
| Key things to know about Gabon Posted: 15 Jan 2019 07:25 AM PST  Gabon, one of Africa's top oil producers, has been ruled for more than 50 years by the Bongo family. President Ali Bongo, who took over from his father in 2009, oversaw the swearing-in of a new government on Tuesday, the day after returning home from an absence that prompted a foiled coup. One in two Gabonese is aged under 20.
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