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Schumer Will Force Vote Tuesday on Deripaska-Firm Sanctions

(Bloomberg) -- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will force a vote Tuesday on a measure to block the Treasury Department’s plans to lift sanctions on three Russian companies linked to oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Madeleine McCann's parents find hope in escape of Jayme Closs

The escape of Jayme Closs from an alleged kidnapper who authorities say held her for three months has brought hope to the parents of Madeleine McCann.

Indonesia recovers second black box from Lion Air crash

The cockpit voice recorder from an Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October has been recovered, officials said Monday, a discovery that could be critical to explaining why a brand new plane fell out of the sky just after take-off. The Boeing 737 MAX vanished from radar about 13 minutes after departing Jakarta, slamming into the Java Sea moments after pilots had asked to return to the capital and killing all 189 people onboard. The bright orange voice recorder was discovered early Monday about 10 metres from a flight data recorder that was located back in November, authorities said.

2019 Ram Heavy Duty Has 1,000 Lb-Ft of Cummins Torque

The diesel torque wars have reached their ultimate extreme.

U.S.'s Pompeo: Saudis assured me of accountability for Khashoggi murder

The U.S. secretary of state said Monday that Saudi leaders assured him everyone responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi would be held accountable.

Robert Mueller’s spokesman is a man of mystery

Peter Carr, spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller, has made a virtue of saying nothing at all.

F-22 vs. F-35: Which Stealth Fighter Wins in a Shootout?

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.

Worst is over for winter storm that clobbered U.S. Midwest, D.C. and New England

All Washington D.C. federal offices would be closed on Monday, but train and bus service in the metro D.C. area would resume after being shut down on Sunday, officials said. "There's some digging out to do," Jim Hayes, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said early Monday. "In Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, 6-to-12 inches of snow fell with some places getting 13 inches," he said.

McConnell Condemns King's Comments on Race as ‘Unworthy’

The Kentucky Republican is the highest ranking Republican to condemn King’s rhetoric amid the latest controversy surrounding his racist or anti-immigrant comments. Senators Tim Scott of South Carolina and King’s fellow Iowans Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley also have denounced King’s rhetoric.

Man accused of killing California police officer left behind cryptic suicide note: police

A man accused of gunning down a 22-year-old California police officer before

VW, Ford confirm alliance to build commercial vans, pickups

The announcement came after more than six months of talks between the car giants which has also included discussions around autonomous and electrification technologies. The deal reached between the American and German automakers to develop commercial vans and medium-sized pickups as early as 2022 does not involve cross-ownership, according to a joint statement.

Fraternity suspended after student dies at off-campus home

Police were called to the off-campus home early Sunday morning, but there are still few details about Noah Domingo's death.

Palestinian dies after Israel border clashes: Gaza ministry

A Palestinian teenager succumbed to his wounds on Monday three days after being shot by Israeli forces during clashes on the Gaza border, the health ministry in the coastal enclave said. In a statement, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said Abdul Raouf Salha, 14, "died as a result of his injuries from (Israeli) occupation fire last Friday east of Jabalia" in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinians have been taking part in often violent protests at least weekly since March along the Gaza-Israel border.

Russia to Japan: control over islands not up for discussion

Russia told Japan on Monday that Moscow's sovereignty over several disputed islands was not up for discussion and that disagreements between the countries still obstruct the path to a peace deal. Russia and Japan have been in dispute since World War Two over islands captured by Soviet troops in the last days of the war. The islands are known as the Southern Kuriles to Russia and the Northern Territories to Japan.

Bangkok Residents Told to Stay Inside as Pollution Reaches Dangerous Levels

The air quality index, or AQI, climbed to 182 in Bangkok at 10:14am -- higher than the levels in Asia’s famously polluted metropolises of New Delhi, Beijing and Jakarta -- before falling back to 138 by 3 p.m., according to website AirVisual, which monitors air pollution around the world. People living in areas with high pollution levels in Bangkok should avoid “unnecessary” outdoor activities or wear masks, Prayuth told reporters in Chiang Mai province Monday.

Two women rescued after being taken hostage at UPS warehouse in New Jersey

Two women have been rescued after being taken hostage at a UPS facility in New Jersey, a local prosecutor has said. The women, both UPS employees, were not seriously injured during the hours-long standoff, Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles Fiore said at a news conference. The suspect has been apprehended after the incident at the UPS processing facility in Logan Township.

The Nissan IMs Concept Is a Gilded Look at Nissan’s Future Sedans

The sedan isn't dead, it's elevating.

Pentagon to send more active-duty troops to southwest border

The Pentagon will send more troops to the border at the request of Homeland Security officials.

The Latest: Trump tells farmers that wall won't hurt them

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

Chinese court sentences Canadian drug suspect to death

A Chinese court sentenced a Canadian man to death on drug trafficking charges on Monday after his previous 15-year prison sentence was deemed too lenient, deepening a diplomatic rift as Canadian premier Justin Trudeau accused Beijing of "arbitrarily" using capital punishment. Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, 36, nodded as the judge in the northeast city of Dalian asked him whether he understood the verdict, following a day-long retrial in which he declared his innocence, saying, "I am not a drug smuggler. The sentence comes against the backdrop of Beijing's anger over the arrest in Canada of a top executive from telecom giant Huawei last month on a US extradition request related to Iran sanctions violations.

The top 5 benefits that make the American Express Platinum Card a must-have

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.

Venezuela'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. The socialist government, they say, funds wage hikes by increasing the country's monetary supply, causing inflation to accelerate and negating any benefit an increase in the minimum wage could bring for Venezuelans.

May Loses Brexit Vote in Landslide, Faces Confidence Vote

Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament in a humiliating defeat, her plan for leaving the European Union all but dead. The House of Commons voted 432- 202 against the divorce she painstakingly brokered with the EU over 18 months. The largest parliamentary loss in over a century not only prompted the main opposition Labour Party to make its move to try force an election, it also hardened the EU’s position.

Three children dead after being 'trapped in freezer' in Florida

The bodies of three children – aged 1, 4 and 6 —have been discovered in a chest freezer left outside a home in Suwanee County, Florida. Deputies from the Suwannee Country Sheriff's Office said they responded to a 911 call at a residence where three children were found not breathing. Adults were reportedly performing CPR on the children when the deputies arrived at the scene.

The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Enters the Horsepower Wars against the Hellcat and ZL1

It promises 700-plus horsepower from a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8, but there's no manual transmission.

Sunday snow: More than 865 flights canceled; airlines waive fees

A sprawling winter storm that’s dumped snow from Colorado to the East Coast made a mess of air travel for the third day in a row Sunday.

Republican's questions uncovered revelations that FBI leader

Rep. John Ratcliffe confirms his questions to former FBI general counsel James Baker uncovered the claims first reported by the New York Times; Catherine Herridge has the details.

Turkey to set up Syria 'security zone' after Trump call

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria suggested by US President Donald Trump. Erdogan's comments came a day after he had a telephone conversation with Trump to ease tensions after the US leader threatened to "devastate" the Turkish economy if Ankara attacks Kurdish forces in Syria.

Will May Survive Her Brexit Defeat?

The only meaningful unity that the United Kingdom has seen in the past two years has been opposition to the Brexit deal Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated with the European Union. The defeat, as predicted, has prompted Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to propose a vote, expected to be held on Wednesday, of no confidence in the government. When future historians consider Brexit, they will surely marvel at May’s obstinate capacity for survival in the face of unending political humiliation.

Gunman in Chicago Murder of Hadiya Pendleton Sentenced to 84 Years in Prison

A Cook County judge has sentenced the convicted gunman in the Hadiya Pendleton murder to 84 years in prison.

VW will build electric vehicles for the U.S. in Tennessee

Automaker will invest $800 million and create 1,000 new jobs.

Millions digging out from killer storm, bracing for more winter havoc

Millions of Americans from Colorado to Washington, D.C., were digging out from a major winter storm Monday while forecasters warned that more could be on the way next weekend.

Venezuela president Maduro increases minimum wage by 300 per cent as inflation approaches 2 million per cent

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.

What 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 thousands of other children with developmental disabilities who need special education and consistency, parents told USA TODAY.

Trump's evolving foreign policy challenges top US diplomat

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — If Mike Pompeo was surprised, he didn't show it. But the secretary of state had woken up in the capital of Saudi Arabia on Monday to find that President Donald Trump had tweeted a threat to NATO ally Turkey warning of economic harm should the Turks attack U.S.-backed rebel forces in Syria.

West Bank Palestinians strike against social security law

Thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank joined a strike on Tuesday against their government's proposed new social security law, fearing the fund will be mismanaged. The strike, which saw much of Ramallah, Hebron and other Palestinian cities closed, comes hours before president Mahmud Abbas is due to address the United Nations. A few thousand people protested outside the Social Security Corporation in Ramallah, where Abbas's government is based.

Neiman Marcus jumps on the CBD skincare bandwagon

Neiman Marcus is investing in the cannabis beauty trend. The luxury department store chain has announced the addition of multiple CBD (cannabidiol) products to its beauty department, as part of its ‘Trending Beauty' initiative. The retailer will now stock several major cosmetics brands known for their use of CBD oil, including Sagely Naturals, Cannuka, Cannabliss Organic, Code of Harmony, Ildi Pekar, Vertly, and Yuyo Botanics.

Woman caught drinking wine from Pringles can is banned from Walmart

A woman who was caught chugging wine out of a Pringles can while riding an

The 2020 Ford Explorer Undergoes Its Biggest Changes in a Decade

Ford's three-row family hauler reverts to rear-drive architecture.