PoliticsReutersBid to keep U.S. sanctions on Russia's Rusal fails in Senate
Senators voted 57-42 to end debate on the measure, as 11 of Trump's fellow Republicans broke from party leaders to join Democrats in favor of the resolution, amid questions about Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. To keep the administration from lifting the sanctions, the measure must pass both the House and Senate and muster the two-thirds majority needed in both chambers to override an expected Trump veto. Many members of Congress have been questioning the U.S. Treasury Department's decision in December to ease sanctions imposed in April on the core businesses of Deripaska - Rusal, its parent, En+ , and power firm EuroSibEnergo - watering down the toughest penalties imposed on Russian entities since Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
- PoliticsBloomberg
Ocasio-Cortez Takes Shot at Banks in Embracing Committee Role
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says her pending appointment to the House panel that oversees Wall Street shows the financial industry's influence is waning in Washington. The progressive firebrand, who isn't yet officially a member of the House Financial Services Committee, took to Twitter Wednesday to send a number of missives arguing that the era of banks using campaign contributions to buy legislative favors is coming to an end. It's likely just the start of the 29-year-old lawmaker's attacks on lenders, and could preview the changing tone of the financial services panel now that Democrats control the House.
- BusinessUSA TODAY
'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says
Ford Motor Co. has confirmed plans to build a fully electric F-Series pickup, which industry observers called an unexpected move that protects the truck franchise against Tesla and other competitors. We're going to be electrifying the F-Series — battery electric and hybrid,” Jim Farley, Ford president of global markets, said this week during a presentation at the Deutsche Bank Global Automotive Conference in Detroit. In framing the company's redesign, Farley said a move toward all-electric and hybrid would “futureproof” the billion-dollar F-Series franchise, which he called a “global juggernaut.
- WorldThe Telegraph
Kenya attack: At least six killed in Nairobi hotel complex terror siege
Islamist terrorists detonated explosives and fired automatic weapons as they mounted a deadly attack on a hotel and business complex frequented by Westerners in Nairobi on Tuesday. Six people have been confirmed killed in the attack, while a Kenyan police officer told reporters 15 bodies had been taken to the mortuary. A mortuary worker added that identification papers indicated that 11 were Kenyan, one was American and one was British, while the other two did not have documents on them.
- PoliticsWPVI – Philadelphia
Pres. Trump denies Nancy Pelosi aircraft for planned trip abroad, citing government shutdown
Trump wrote a letter to Pelosi informing her that her trip had been postponed and would be rescheduled after the shutdown.
- NewsAccuWeather
Can you trust weather forecasts during the government shutdown?
With winter storms wreaking havoc up and down the California coast and a major snowstorm about to blast the Northeast, could there be a more inopportune time for the longest government shutdown in American history? Not when there are alternative weather forecasting sources. "All the government models are still running and all of the critical data from the U.S. and around the world is still coming in to our global forecasting center," said Dr. Joel N. Myers, AccuWeather founder and CEO.
NewsReutersLos Angeles teachers strike for second day as mayor seeks to restart talks
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. Negotiators for the Los Angeles Unified School District and the United Teachers Los Angeles have not met since union leaders rejected the LAUSD's latest contract offer on Friday night, calling the proposal an "insult." Asked on Tuesday afternoon whether the two parties had any intention of resuming labor talks, an LAUSD spokeswoman said: "Nothing is scheduled at this time."
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.
- BusinessThe National Review
Procter & Gamble's Toxic Sanctimony
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.
- 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.
- PoliticsBloomberg
New York's Gillibrand Takes First Step Toward Presidential Race
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced Tuesday she's taking a first step toward formally running for president in 2020, joining what's shaping up to be the biggest field of Democratic candidates in a generation. I'm filing an exploratory committee for president of the United States tonight,” Gillibrand said during a taping of CBS's “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. She's one of a dozen congressional Democrats who are either considering or have announced their intention to seek the party's 2020 presidential nomination, along with as many as another dozen current or former federal, state and local officeholders eyeing a bid.
BusinessAFPAt Detroit auto show, the future of cars is... in the future
The Detroit auto show kicked off this week with glitzy, high-production value debuts of mostly sports cars, giant trucks and SUVs -- new versions of age-old themes. But tucked away in a corner of the show were the people and companies hoping for at least a little bit of the attention: the car of the future. They were the autonomous startups, the vehicle experience designers, sensor makers and research universities all competing with the glare from of those shiny new cars.
- EntertainmentCar and Driver
See the New 2019 McLaren 600LT Spider in Photos
All the better to listen to its top-exit exhaust pipes. From Car and Driver
- WorldReuters
'El Chapo' paid former Mexican president $100 million bribe: trial witness
Accused Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman once paid a $100 million bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, a former associate testified on Tuesday that he previously told U.S. authorities. Alex Cifuentes, who has described himself as Guzman's onetime right-hand man, discussed the alleged bribe under cross-examination by one of Guzman's lawyers in Brooklyn federal court. Cifuentes testified that he had told U.S. prosecutors Pena Nieto reached out to Guzman first, asking for $250 million.
- HealthThe Telegraph
'Planetary health diet': Britons urged to cut meat intake to equivalent of one beefburger a fortnight
Britons have been told to restrict their meat intake to the equivalent of one beefburger a fortnight by health experts in new dietary recommendations branded "fanatical" by critics. The Eat-Lancet Commission, a group of 37 health experts, has spent two years compiling the "planetary health diet", which they claim is the healthiest and most sustainable food plan for everyone in the world. They say it could cut premature deaths globally by 11 million and help feed the growing worldwide population which is due to reach 10 billion by 2050.
NewsReutersIn third year, U.S. women's marches turn to 2020 elections
Millions of people took part in the women's marches in Washington and other cities in the United States and abroad on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after the Republican president was sworn in. Vanessa Wruble, a co-founder of the original Women's March on Washington who left to start March On, a separate grassroots coalition, said the movement has evolved from being a reaction to Trump's presidency. Women's March, a national nonprofit organization that evolved from the initial Washington march, is using its #WomensWave marches in Washington and elsewhere on Saturday to roll out a 10-part policy platform that includes raising the federal minimum wage and protecting reproductive rights.
- NewsUSA TODAY
'Blockbuster' storm heads east, could drop 40 inches of snow. Then an Arctic blast will freeze 200 million
After hammering California with rain and snow, a 'blockbuster' winter storm is taking aim on the East, where as much as 40 inches of snow could fall over the weekend. Road travel may become "impossible" due to the heavy snow; flight delays and cancellations are also likely. After the storm heads offshore on Sunday, the intense cold will be the main weather story as bitterly cold air straight from the Arctic will roar in, bringing below-freezing temperatures to 200 million Americans.
- 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.
- PoliticsTime
Nancy Pelosi's Suggestion That President Trump Deliver the State of the Union in a Letter Has 112 Years of Precedent
When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked President Trump on Wednesday to postpone the State of the Union address, she gave him two options – reschedule the speech, or send it to Congress in a letter. Pelosi's letter argued that the speech raised safety concerns because many members of the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, which handle security for the event, are furloughed due to the partial government shutdown. Pelosi's suggestion for a written State of the Union might seem strange to many Americans, but in fact, the U.S. went without a presidential address to a joint session of Congress for 112 years.
- BusinessAOL.com
Marriott is rolling out a brand new rewards program -- Here's everything you need to know
This included SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest), Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards — three previously unrelated loyalty programs that existed with separate point-value systems and benefits. The merger essentially unified the currency for all three separate rewards programs and allowed for members of any of the three programs to use their points across Marriott's entire combined portfolio of 29 brands and 6,700 participating resorts and hotels. Today, Marriott has solidified the mega-merger under the new name and introduction of Marriott Bonvoy, the new travel-focused loyalty program that will be taking the place of the three merged programs.
- BusinessConsumer Reports
Netflix Price Hike Points to the Changing Math of Cord Cutting
Netflix is planning to boost prices for all of its monthly streaming video plans, and analysts say consumers should expect future price hikes from both Netflix and most other streaming services. The price increase is Netflix's first since 2017 and its biggest ever. We change pricing from time to time as we continue investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience,” a Netflix spokesperson told Consumer Reports in an email.
WorldAFPUK PM May reaches out to rivals in Brexit deadlock
British Prime Minister Theresa May faces deadlock Thursday over a new Brexit plan, after narrowly surviving a no-confidence vote sparked by the crushing defeat of her EU withdrawal deal. With the clock ticking, May has appealed to opposition leaders to meet for cross-party talks before she presents an alternative proposal to parliament on Monday. But her opponents have set out a list of demands for cooperating -- including ruling out the possibility that Britain would leave the EU in March without any deal at all.
- U.S.WTVD – Raleigh/Durham
California mother charged in stabbing death of 2-year-old son
A Covina woman has been charged with stabbing her own 2-year-old son to death, officials said Wednesday.
- BusinessThe Telegraph
Apple boss Tim Cook attacks 'shadow economy' of data in call for new privacy law
Apple's chief executive Tim Cook has called for the US to introduce a national privacy law, attacking a “shadow economy” in which people's personal data is bought and sold without their knowledge. Mr Cook said companies should have to collect as little data as possible and make it easy for people to delete the information that is held about them. It is the latest attempt from Apple to position itself as the steward of consumers' privacy, and to draw a line between itself and companies such as Facebook and Google.
- 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.
