PoliticsAssociated PressSome in GOP split with White House on Russia sanctions
Almost a dozen Senate Republicans broke with the White House Tuesday on Russia, voting to move forward on a resolution that would maintain sanctions on companies linked to oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The Democratic resolution would stop the Treasury Department from lifting penalties against the Russian aluminum manufacturing giant Rusal and two other companies connected to Deripaska. Senators took two procedural votes to proceed to the resolution, with 11 Republicans voting with Democrats.
- WorldBloomberg
Kenya Hunts Gunmen in Fatal Hotel Attack Claimed by Al-Qaeda
The attack on 14 Riverside Drive in Nairobi began with an explosion targeting three vehicles in the parking lot and then a suicide-bombing in the foyer of a Dusit Hotels & Resorts Co. outlet, police Inspector-General Joseph Boinnet said Tuesday in a televised briefing. Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda based in neighboring Somalia, said it killed 47 people in the attack, according to Radio Andalus, a broadcaster that supports its insurgency. The group didn't say how it obtained the figure, but if its involvement was confirmed it would be the Islamists' first significant assault in Kenya since a raid on a university campus in Garissa county in April 2015 that killed at least 147 people.
- NewsUSA TODAY
Series of storms to pummel California with rain, snow, wind; flooding, mudslides possible
California will take the brunt of the storminess: Flooding rain, yards of snow and mudslides are expected. The storms were expected to bring several rounds of heavy rain, mountain snow, gusty winds, rough surf and possible flooding through the week, the National Weather Service said. California officials ordered evacuations for residents in several zones in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles: "People in these zones must go now," officials wrote in a news release.
NewsAFPMassive US teachers' strike affects half million pupils
More than 30,000 public school teachers in Los Angeles walked off the job on Monday to press their demands for better pay, smaller class sizes and more educators. "Here we are on a rainy day in the richest country in the world, in the richest state in the country, in a state that's blue (Democrat) as it can be -- and in a city rife with millionaires -- where teachers have to go on strike to get the basics for our students," Alex Caputo-Pearl, the head of the United Teachers Los Angeles union, told a news conference. Although the teachers' union and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) agree that class sizes -- some at more than 40 -- must shrink, teacher salaries must improve and more support staff are needed, they differ on funding.
WorldReutersVenezuela's Maduro offers few fresh ideas as economy circles drain
After promising ambitious economic measures ahead of Monday's speech, Maduro's proposals included a 300 percent minimum wage hike, dialogue with business leaders, and increased use of an inexistent state-backed cryptocurrency. There is nothing there that allows one to think that Venezuela will exit the deep crisis it's experiencing," said Asdrubal Oliveros, director of Caracas-based consultancy Ecoanalitica, on Twitter. Economists had had low expectations for the speech given Maduro has repeatedly balked at making significant changes.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Huawei boss Ren Zhengfei denies espionage allegations in rare public announcement
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei has broken a lengthy silence to hit back at criticism levelled at the Chinese telecoms giant by western countries in recent months, claiming that the firm is not aiding Beijing in espionage. Mr Ren, who has not spoken to the foreign press since 2015, said that his company has “never received any request from any government to provide improper information”. The chief executive made the public appearance following the arrest of his daughter and Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver two months ago, who is alleged to have violated US sanctions on Iran.
- BusinessUSA TODAY
PG&E ex-CEO receives $2.5 million in severance as company announces plans for bankruptcy
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s former CEO Geisha Williams will receive a severance package of approximately $2.5 million as the utility gears up to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The ex-chief executive officer announced her resignation from the company on Sunday in anticipation that PG&E would declare insolvency due to the billions of dollars it potentially faces for liability in its role in recent California wildfires. State fire investigators previously blamed the utility's power lines for causing a number of California wildfires in October 2017. The following day, PG&E announced its plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on or about January 29.
- BusinessThe National Interest
F-22 vs. F-35: Which Stealth Fighter Wins in a Shootout?
TNI Staff Security, The U.S. Air Force's original plan was for the F-22 to be its high-end air superiority fighter while the F-35 was designed to be primarily an air-to-ground strike aircraft, but one which could defend itself. Key point: The answer is that the F-35 cannot match the F-22 as an air superiority fighter—it was never designed as such. Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—which is built in three versions—recently completed its developmental test phase and is operational with the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps.
PoliticsFOX News VideosJudge Andrew Napolitano: There is no reason why Bill Barr can't be Robert Mueller's boss
Fox News senior judicial analyst says the attorney general nominee will allow the Russia probe to continue.
- PoliticsTime
'Indefensible.' Why Republicans Finally Condemned Steve King
For anyone who has paid attention to Rep. Steve King's career, it was hardly shocking that he would be quoted wondering when “white supremacy” became offensive. After years of tolerating the Iowa Republican's controversial comments on immigration and diversity, his fellow GOP lawmakers came out strongly against him, and the consequences are piling up. “There is no room for white supremacy,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the top Republican in the House.
NewsAssociated PressA timeline of events in the Jayme Closs disappearance case
Notable events in the disappearance and discovery of Jayme Closs, a 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who went missing after her parents were killed in the family's home. Authorities say Jayme was found alive after being held captive for three months by a man who is now charged in her kidnapping and her parents' deaths. Oct. 15, 2018 — James Closs, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, are found shot to death in their home in Barron, a town in western Wisconsin.
- WorldYahoo News Photo Staff
PHOTOS: Kenya's security forces kill gunmen in deadly Nairobi hotel attack
Kenyan security forces have killed the militants who stormed an upscale Nairobi hotel compound, taking at least 14 lives and forcing hundreds of others to make terrifying escapes, the government said on Wednesday.
- WorldReuters
Brexit deal defeat makes 'softer, later' exit more likely: Goldman Sachs
A vote in Britain's parliament on Tuesday crushing Prime Minister May's deal to leave the European Union has made a softer, later Brexit, or even no Brexit at all, slightly more likely, Goldman Sachs said on Wednesday. quot;We think the prospect of a disorderly 'no deal' Brexit has faded further," Goldman Sachs' European economist Adrian Paul wrote in a note. The bank maintains its base case scenario that "a close variant" of the current Brexit deal will ultimately command a majority in the House of Commons.
- LifestyleArchitectural Digest
Pro Party Hosts Always Have These Candles on Hand
Light up the room without coming on too strong
- WorldThe Independent
New migrant caravan travelling to US from Honduras adding to tensions over border
Yet another migrant caravan is making the long and dangerous journey to the United States, with the situation on the US-Mexico border having already contributed to the longest government shutdown in American history. Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Nelly Jerez said that between 800 and 1,000 people were travelling together and headed towards the Agua Caliente border crossing into Guatemala. Hundreds of Honduran refugees and migrants also left a bus station in the northern city of San Pedro Sula and moved along to join the caravan.
BusinessUSA TODAYSears, Kmart may survive: Eddie Lampert wins Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction
Sears Holdings could escape its brush with annihilation after the retailer's chairman and largest investor prevailed in an auction for a shrunken version of the company. The owner of the Sears and Kmart chains will be sold to hedge fund manager and longtime Sears backer Eddie Lampert's ESL Investments if a judge signs off, according to a person familiar with the auction results. The deal would prevent Sears from liquidating the rest of its stores.
- NewsAssociated Press
California college student found dead, fraternity suspended
A Southern California college student has been found dead in a home near campus and his fraternity has been suspended, authorities said Monday. Noah Domingo, 18, of La Crescenta, California, was found Saturday near University of California, Irvine. Irvine police received a call around 9:40 a.m. that Domingo was unresponsive and found him dead in a bed at the home, said Kim Mohr, a police spokeswoman.
BusinessAFPAlliance talks continue as Ford, VW call off joint Detroit appearance
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.
- PoliticsBloomberg
Barr Say He, Not Mueller, May Write the Public Report on Russia Probe
William Barr vowed to protect Robert Mueller's Russia investigation from political interference but said he -- not Mueller -- may ultimately write the public version of the special counsel's findings if he's confirmed as attorney general. I will commit to providing as much information as I can consistent with the regulations” on special counsels, Barr, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Justice Department, said Tuesday in the first of two days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Barr, 68, has been through the confirmation process before and served as attorney general in the 1990s.
- NewsReuters
Suspect shot by police dies after standoff at New Jersey UPS facility
A 39-year-old gunman opened fire at a United Parcel Service Inc facility in New Jersey and held two employees hostage for hours on Monday before police fatally shot him, officials said. William Owens barricaded himself and two women inside the sorting facility in Logan Township and police sent a heavily armed SWAT team to the location, about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of downtown Philadelphia, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said in a statement. The standoff ended when Owens was shot while exiting the building with the hostages, the statement said.
- NewsAccuWeather
Snowstorms to be followed by Arctic outbreak in eastern half of nation
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. The second in this pair of snowstorms will bring heavy snow and, in some cases, blizzard conditions, to the central Plains and Midwest from Friday into Saturday before impacting the mid-Atlantic and Northeast this weekend. "Temperatures from the central Plains to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley will plummet from the 20s, 30s and 40s Fahrenheit during the storm to the single digits, teens and 20s immediately behind it," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
- PoliticsYahoo News
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand moves toward launching 2020 presidential campaign
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday moved toward launching a 2020 presidential campaign by forming an exploratory committee. The New York Democrat announced her intentions on CBS' “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ahead of a trip to Iowa this weekend.
WorldAFPAmerican citizen killed in Nairobi attack: official
A US citizen was killed Tuesday in an attack by Islamist militants on an upmarket hotel and office complex in Nairobi, a US official said. "We can confirm that a US citizen was killed in the attack. An AFP photographer in Nairobi saw the bodies of five victims and a police source said he had seen as many as 14 dead.
- BusinessCar and Driver
A Look at the 2020 BMW 7-series
The BMW flagship sedan also gets revised engines and plenty of new tech. From Car and Driver
NewsUSA TODAYWhat happens to the 62,500 students with special needs during Los Angeles teachers' strike?
The disruption triggered by the strike that began Monday in the nation's second-largest school district could set back Daniel and thousands of other children with developmental disabilities who need special education and consistency, parents told USA TODAY. About 62,500 students with special needs attend schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District School, said associate superintendent for Special Education Beth Kauffman. Students with developmental disabilities — from autism to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — sometimes need one-on-one aides and services such as behavioral and speech therapy at school.
