MAP

NEW YORK (AP) — The Russian lawyer who attended the Trump Tower meeting that is a focus of the special counsel's investigation into possible collusion was charged with obstructing an unrelated tax-fraud case, federal prosecutors in New York said Tuesday.

Florida police have since said that the woman who threatened JetBlue staff that she had a gun did not. Meanwhile, the airline told USA TODAY that she appeared intoxicated.

The Egyptian border crossing was closed for Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza on Tuesday, a border official said, as infighting between Palestinian factions increases. Gazans seeking to return from Egypt would still be allowed through but no one would be able to leave the Palestinian enclave, a spokesman for the Hamas-run authority in charge of the border crossing said. "For now, it is just for one day, it is not clear if it will be extended," spokesman Wael Abu Omar told AFP.

The chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security committee has asked the Trump administration how it is ensuring adequate staff at airports as some transportation employees fail to show up for work due to a partial U.S. government shutdown. Representative Bennie Thompson, a Democrat, also asked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the exact number of employees who are calling in sick and if the agency has a contingency plan for future mass absences or resignations of its screeners. More than 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay during the shutdown that began Dec. 22.

Cruise giant Carnival has pushed back a plan to add charges for more room service items on its ships.

BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing abuse by her family (all times local):

The Russian Orthodox patriarch has warned that the popularity of smartphones is paving the way for the coming of the Antichrist. In an interview on state television for Russian Orthodox Christmas on Monday, Patriarch Kirill warned that the widespread use of gadgets connected to the Internet has opened the possibility for “universal control over humanity”. The “devil acts very wisely” in offering people such a “toy”, he said. "Such control from one place forebodes the coming of the Antichrist,” Patriarch Kirill said. “The Antichrist is the person that will be at the head of the world wide web controlling all of humanity. That means that the structure itself poses a danger. There shouldn't be a single centre, at least not in the foreseeable future, if we don't want to bring on the apocalypse." The patriarch maintained he wasn't categorically against gadgets, but warned that people should be careful not to “fall into slavery to what's in your hands”. “You should remain free inside and not fall under any addiction, not to alcohol, not to narcotics, not to gadgets,” he said. The Russian Orthodox church has been trying to attract young believers, in part through the web. At a press conference featuring B-movie action star Steven Seagal in October, church officials announced they would create a council for youth affairs with a strong digital presence. Patriarch Kirill serves the Christmas Mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia Credit: AP But its leader, an outspoken opponent of feminism and gay rights, has remained suspicious of the Internet, which he previously criticised as the “enslavement of consciousness and volition” and a “marketplace of human vanity”. Twitter users mostly laughed off Patriarch Kirill's latest warning. “Well, they'll ban international Internet in Russia so the 'Antichrist doesn't come through it,' but where's the guarantee that he won't come through Gundyayev's Breguet watch?” wrote one, referring to the patriarch by his surname. The Russian Orthodox church website photoshopped a Breguet watch worth at least £24,000 off of the patriarch's wrist in a 2012 picture, but it remained clearly visible in the reflection of his arm on a well-polished table. Last month, the church again came under fire over a priest who repeatedly posted photographs of himself with Gucci and Louis Vutton luxury bags and shoes on Instagram. The patriarch would seem to have bigger problems to worry about than iPhones, most notably a schism in the church. The top Orthodox leader in Istanbul signed a decree this weekend recognising a new independent Orthodox church in Ukraine, which will challenge the Russian Orthodox church's sway over the tens of millions of believers in that country. The Moscow church has broken off ties with the Constantinople patriarchate over the “blasphemous” decision. The decree on independence was displayed to the faithful at a Kiev cathedral on Monday.

The justices left in place a 2017 decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a 2014 verdict by a federal jury in Texas that found Trinity had defrauded the government. Joshua Harman, a competitor of Dallas-based Trinity, filed the lawsuit in 2012 under the False Claims Act, which allows whistleblowers to sue companies on the government's behalf to recover fraudulently paid-out taxpayer money. Because of Joshua Harman's efforts, there is more federal and state scrutiny than ever before to ensure the safety of our nation's roads and highways," said Nicholas Gravante, one of Harman's lawyers.

A storm will slide into Southern California with soaking rain by the weekend, putting burn-scar areas at a renewed risk for life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

New California Gov. Gavin Newsom mounted the stage in Sacramento Monday to take his oath of office and deliver an inaugural address.

Mercedes-Benz's EQC 400 is a direct competition to Elon Musk's Tesla SUV—but the designs of the two cars are very different

Venezuela's armed forces declared "absolute loyalty" to President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday, just two days before the socialist leader is sworn in for a second term of office. Maduro will be sworn into office on Thursday by the Supreme Court despite the country's laws stating this is the job of parliament.

A 62.0-kWh battery pack boosts driving range by around 40 percent, but the Leaf still falls short of rival EVs.

Hawaiian's last Boeing 767 widebody was sent into retirement after completing Hawaiian Airlines Flight 19 from Sacramento, California, to Honolulu.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl in Houston (all times local):

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The normally humdrum bureaucracy of registering to vote brought tears to the eyes of some Floridians on Tuesday when most felons regained their right to vote under a state constitutional amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Fiat Chrysler's appeal in a class action lawsuit over allegations that its Jeeps and other trucks are vulnerable to hacking, one of the first legal cases involving automotive cyber security risks. The court's action paves the way for an October trial in the litigation centering on the question of whether truck buyers can sue over hypothetical future injuries without having been actual victims of cyber security attacks on their vehicles. Fiat Chrysler has received widespread support from industry groups in the dispute.

It's expensive, but fast and tech savvy.

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer offered a rebuttal to President Donald Trump's Oval Office address on the border wall. Read the full transcript.

This tax, Ocasio-Cortez declared, would fund her so-called Green New Deal, a still-developing plan to eliminate fossil-fuel energy by 2030 and lower inequality. Ocasio-Cortez’s plan would thus be a return to the 20th century norm — in fact, not even that, because the cutoffs for those very high tax brackets were often much lower than $10 million, even after adjusting for inflation.

Die-hard jihadists defending their last bastions in eastern Syria used the cover of bad weather to launch a vain but deadly counterattack against Kurdish-led fighters. The Islamic State group was unable to hold on to the positions they attacked but the assault killed 23 members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and also left nine jihadists dead. IS fighters took advantage of poor visibility to unleash suicide attackers on SDF forces along the front line in the Euphrates valley late on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday.

BMW set up a course in a parking lot to show off the SUV's off-road capabilities.

United Airlines’ newest aircraft type – the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner – is now flying paying passengers for the carrier. Jet debuted on LAX-Newark route.

Authorities in Illinois say a woman with a concealed carry license fatally

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — In a story Jan. 7 about a Kentucky traffic crash that killed a Michigan family, The Associated Press reported erroneously who a cousin of the deceased father called about the crash. Habib Abbas, of Dearborn, said he called the dead father's sister, not the dead mother's sister.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for officials to obtain records to probe whether Exxon hid its knowledge of the role fossil fuels play in climate change.

The Instant Pot DUO 60 is by far the company's best-selling model, but there's another version that's even more versatile and you might not know about it. It's called the Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker and it's available right now on Amazon at a deep discount. The DUO Plus 60 sports nine different cooking modes, whereas the DUO 60 only has seven. But today if you hurry you can snag the Plus model on sale at the same price as the DUO 60! Here's more info from the product page: * Duo Plus is the latest evolution in the #1 selling multi-cooker the Duo series with more custom features, improved usability and a large attractive blue LCD screen * Duo Plus replaces 9 common kitchen appliances including Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Saute, Steamer, Warmer, Sterilizer and it makes cake too * Up to 70% quicker. A great meal is a press of button away with 15 Microprocessor controlled programs taking the guess-work out of your cooking. You can achieve prefect results every time * All components in contact with food are food grade 304 (18/8) Stainless steel including the lid, the inner pot with 3-ply bottom and steam rack with handles. They are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.Product Dimensions: 14.17 x 14.84 x 13.31 inches * UL certified with 10 proven safety mechanisms gives you peace of mind. Highly energy efficient, this kitchen friendly cooker emits no steam when cooking, contains all smells and automates your cooking. Accessories include - steam rack with handles, recipe booklet, serving spoon, soup spoon, and measuring cup * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz

NBC, CBS and CNN said they will air the Democrats response after they and other networks agreed Monday to air the president's prime time address.

How she blends the personal and the political

Peru announced Monday it was barring entry to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his cabinet, increasing pressure on the socialist leader days ahead of his second-term inauguration. The move announced by Peru's Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio followed a decision Friday by 12 Latin American countries and Canada not to grant recognition to Maduro's hardline government following his controversial re-election in May.

More aluminum bodywork, a quicker roof, extra horsepower-and it still looks the same as before.

Sears Holdings Corp agreed on Tuesday to consider a revised takeover bid from Chairman Edward Lampert, temporarily staving off a liquidation.

Houston Sheriff Ed Gonzalez calls for 'important discussions' about race and about gun violence.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval is joining casino giant MGM Resorts International to help push the company's global expansion efforts, particularly in Japan, and work on state-level public policy related to sports betting.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's first absence from the bench extended into a second day on Tuesday as the 85-year-old jurist continued her recovery from lung cancer surgery at home. Although Ginsburg did not attend the oral arguments, she will participate in the cases and rulings by using the briefs and oral argument transcripts, Chief Justice John Roberts announced from the bench. Ginsburg, who joined the court in 1993, underwent a surgical procedure called a pulmonary lobectomy on Dec. 21 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York to remove two cancerous nodules in her left lung.

For the first time since prosecutors stormed his private jet seven weeks ago, former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn appeared in public to deliver a passionate defence, rebutting allegations that have seen him languishing in Japanese custody. Perhaps unsurprisingly given Carlos Ghosn's profile as the most-recognised foreign executive in Japan, the public interest was enormous. Journalists staked out positions from well before dawn at the court and the detention centre, hoping -- in vain as it turned out -- to catch a glimpse of the former Nissan boss.

Turkey’s president has warned the US it has made a "grave mistake" asking for protection for Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State in Syria and threatened once again to launch an assault against them. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who considers the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) terrorists, said Turkey would “not make concessions” and said preparations for an offensive were nearly complete. "John Bolton has made a grave mistake on this issue,” a furious Mr Erdogan told parliament as the US national security adviser arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish officials. “The (YPG’s) fight with Islamic State in Syria is a huge lie." Mr Bolton was in Turkey on Tuesday as part of a tour of the Middle East with Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, aimed at limiting damage over the announcement by Donald Trump, the US president, that he would remove its troops from Syria. Such a move would leave YPG allies, whose fighters have led a coalition to defeat Isil, exposed to a Turkish attack. YPG fighter holds a sniper rifle on his shoulder as he attends the funeral of a slain commander in the northeastern city of Qamishli Credit: AFP Mr Bolton said on Sunday he would be seeking assurances from Ankara that they would not attack the YPG as a condition to a US withdraw, which Mr Trump had failed to address during a December phone call with Mr Erdogan, in a bid to salvage relations with the Kurds. Mr Bolton met for roughly two hours with  Ibrahim Kalin, his Turkish counterpart, and other senior officials at Ankara's presidency complex but was snubbed by Mr Erdogan himself, reflecting just how at odds the Nato partners are on the issue.   Mr Trump, in a tweet before Christmas, declared Isil had been defeated and said the US’s 2,000 or so troops would be returning as soon as possible. However, Mr Bolton, Mr Pompeo and even Mr Trump have tried to backtrack the comments, offering differing timelines ranging from 30 days to four months for the withdrawal.  The shifting timetable has left allies and other players in the region confused and jockeying for influence over a withdrawal strategy that appeared to be a work in progress. In Turkey's case, it appears to have emboldened Mr Erdogan, who was reported to have asked the US to hand over its 22 military bases in Syria or dismantle them.   Responding to Mr Erdogan’s threats, a top Syrian Kurdish official said his fighters are prepared to confront Turkish forces if they enter northeastern Syria. Shahoz Hasan, co-chair of the largest Kurdish group in Syria the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, says it was clear from the latest statements that Turkey has planning an assault. "We will be ready." he said. Any such offensive would likely see the YPG redirecting fighters battling the last Isil to the northern border with Turkey. Despite Mr Trump’s claim, fierce fighting is still ongoing for a small pocket of territory in eastern Deir Ezzor province. In a stark reminder of the lingering threat, a war monitor reported that the jihadists had killed 23 US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters in a counterattack in eastern Syria on Monday aimed at defending their last bastion. Isil took advantage of poor visibility to unleash suicide attackers on SDF along the front line in the Euphrates valley, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday.

The move comes 17 days after the partial government shutdown sent all but a fraction of Joshua Tree National Park's staff home.

Australia gave its strongest hint yet on Wednesday that an 18-year-old Saudi woman in Bangkok would be granted humanitarian asylum, despite efforts by Riyadh and her family to force her return home. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has documented her bid to flee her allegedly abusive family with minute-by-minute social media updates, intensifying the global spotlight on Saudi Arabia's rights record. "If she is found to be a refugee, then we will give very, very, very serious consideration to a humanitarian visa," health minister Greg Hunt told public broadcaster ABC.

This week at CES 2019 in Las Vegas NVIDIA revealed its collaboration with HD mapping companies to develop a system that allows autonomous vehicles to localize themselves on a road map. NVIDIA introduced Drive Localization this week, a system that can be used by an autonomous vehicle to "pinpoint its location within centimeters so it can understand its surroundings and establish a sense of the road and lane structures." When road markings are not clear, this system helps cars understand what exactly is happening on the road so that they can respond and react accordingly. Drive Localization is powered by the NVIDIA Drive Xavier System-on-chip, a processor specially designed for autonomous vehicle driving that can perform 30 trillion operations per second.

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Britain could crash out of the European Union without a deal, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday, urging British lawmakers to back an agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May sealed with the bloc last year. "Even a no-deal scenario is still an option -- despite the serious damage that this would cause on both sides," Maas said in a speech at Ireland's annual ambassadors' conference. He added that the EU would not accept a hard border separating EU-member Ireland from the British province of Northern Ireland. ...

Hours after pleading not guilty in a Massachusetts courtroom, Kevin Spacey landed in Washington, D.C., and was pulled over for driving too fast.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee governor's decision to grant clemency to a woman who killed a man when she was 16 had the potential to pit political interests against widespread support for her cause. Yet the governor says the decision came down to doing the "right thing."

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said it has constituted a panel with Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani as its head in a bid to deepen digital payments in Asia's third-biggest economy. The five-member panel, which includes a former deputy governor of the RBI, will identify ways to widen financial inclusion via the use of digital payments and suggest measures to "strengthen the safety and security of digital payments", the central bank said in a statement. In 2017-18, card payments in India rose 43 percent from the previous year to 10.61 trillion rupees ($151.21 billion), while payments through state-backed unified payments interface rose 16 times year-on-year to 1.01 trillion rupees, according to RBI data released in August.

Boeing reported record commercial plane deliveries for the second straight year on Tuesday and although short of the company's forecast the figures still beat those of Boeing's European rival Airbus. The US aerospace giant, which has capitalized on rising global demand for air travel, reported deliveries of 806 planes for the year, up from 763 in 2017. In October, Boeing had forecast annual plane deliveries of between 810 and 815.

“The only solution is for Democrats to pass a spending bill that defends our borders and reopens our government,” Trump said Tuesday during a roughly 10-minute televised speech from the Oval Office, employing for the first time in his presidency a format traditionally used to explain major military actions or to calm the nation during times of crisis. “This is a humanitarian crisis,” Trump said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer rejected Trump’s description of a crisis on the Mexican border in their televised response to the president’s address.

Sears is teetering on the edge of liquidation after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.

Welcome to Best Bites, a twice-weekly video series that aims to satisfy your

There were so many great sales this past holiday season on Instant Pots, and the most advanced and versatile Instant Pot multi-cooker is actually still on sale now at a deep 25% discount. But whether you just got a new Instant Pot or you've had one for years, there's a sale right now on Amazon that you should definitely take advantage of. The California Dons Instant Pot 5 Piece Silicone Accessories Set has a bunch of high-quality accessories that you really need to get the most out of your Instant Pot. And somehow, it's only $19.75 right now on Amazon! Here's what you need to know from the product page: * THE ONLY INSTANT POT BUNDLE THAT OFFERS 5 SILICONE ACCESSORIES ON AMAZON- SAVE MONEY BY BUNDLING! We have bundled a vegetable steamer, oven mitts, a pot holder, a steam release diverter and an egg bites mold into one cooking lover's dream kit. Created from silicone because silicone is flexible, lightweight, heat resistant and easy to clean. Dishwasher safe, no stains, no rust, no rough scrubbing. The chemical-free, odor-free, aesthetic and hygienic solution for your cooking needs. * THE VEGGIE STEAMER AND EGG BITES MOLD WILL HELP UPGRADE YOUR MEALS- Steam your veggies to lock nutrients in and retain natural vitamins and minerals with our silicone steamer that allows you to steam your favorite vegetables straight in your instant pot. Use the silicone egg bites mold to create divine sous vide eggs and use the mold as a reusable container and freezer tray with lid, for your on the go breakfast egg delights. Use the Egg Bites Mold for DYI Babyfood as well * OVEN MITTS, POT HOLDER AND STEAM RELEASE DIVIDER WILL GUARD YOU AND YOUR KITCHEN- The silicone mitts are heat resistant, waterproof, easy to clean and extremely protective. The silicone table protector is slip and skid resistant and can be used to move the hot pot around and set it on the counter, and the steam release diverter protects your kitchen cabinets and wallpaper from discoloration and damage by diverting the steam away. * THE ULTIMATE GIFT FOR THE INSTANT CROCK POT FANATIC IN YOUR LIFE- Know someone who just loves to cook in a pressure cooker, instant cooker or a crockpot? This bundle can be the perfect addition to their kitchen! This kit makes the ideal gift for your cooking enthusiastic loved ones. The cooking set is stylish red and can be a great housewarming gift, birthday gift, and wedding gift. Fits 5.6 or 8qt Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker, 8.25" Diameter. * YOUR SATISFACTION AND EXPERIENCE IS OUR #1 PRIORITY FULL 30 DAY NO HASSLE RETURNS - We created this instant pot bundle entirely from food grade silicone to improve your experience and increase comfort and functionality when using an instant pot. If you're not 100% satisfied we will give you a full refund or free exchange, no questions asked. We strive to be the best in the industry and in our customer service, contact us directly, and we will be happy to assist!

SYDNEY/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would consider taking in a 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family, which she accused of abuse, would kill her. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday appealing for asylum. Australia said on Tuesday it would consider resettling her if the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deemed her a refugee.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Russian lawyer who attended the Trump Tower meeting that is a focus of the special counsel's investigation into possible collusion was charged with obstructing an unrelated tax-fraud case, federal prosecutors in New York said Tuesday.

Florida police have since said that the woman who threatened JetBlue staff that she had a gun did not. Meanwhile, the airline told USA TODAY that she appeared intoxicated.

The Egyptian border crossing was closed for Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza on Tuesday, a border official said, as infighting between Palestinian factions increases. Gazans seeking to return from Egypt would still be allowed through but no one would be able to leave the Palestinian enclave, a spokesman for the Hamas-run authority in charge of the border crossing said. "For now, it is just for one day, it is not clear if it will be extended," spokesman Wael Abu Omar told AFP.

The chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security committee has asked the Trump administration how it is ensuring adequate staff at airports as some transportation employees fail to show up for work due to a partial U.S. government shutdown. Representative Bennie Thompson, a Democrat, also asked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the exact number of employees who are calling in sick and if the agency has a contingency plan for future mass absences or resignations of its screeners. More than 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay during the shutdown that began Dec. 22.

Cruise giant Carnival has pushed back a plan to add charges for more room service items on its ships.

BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on a Saudi woman who says she is fleeing abuse by her family (all times local):

The Russian Orthodox patriarch has warned that the popularity of smartphones is paving the way for the coming of the Antichrist. In an interview on state television for Russian Orthodox Christmas on Monday, Patriarch Kirill warned that the widespread use of gadgets connected to the Internet has opened the possibility for “universal control over humanity”. The “devil acts very wisely” in offering people such a “toy”, he said. "Such control from one place forebodes the coming of the Antichrist,” Patriarch Kirill said. “The Antichrist is the person that will be at the head of the world wide web controlling all of humanity. That means that the structure itself poses a danger. There shouldn't be a single centre, at least not in the foreseeable future, if we don't want to bring on the apocalypse." The patriarch maintained he wasn't categorically against gadgets, but warned that people should be careful not to “fall into slavery to what's in your hands”. “You should remain free inside and not fall under any addiction, not to alcohol, not to narcotics, not to gadgets,” he said. The Russian Orthodox church has been trying to attract young believers, in part through the web. At a press conference featuring B-movie action star Steven Seagal in October, church officials announced they would create a council for youth affairs with a strong digital presence. Patriarch Kirill serves the Christmas Mass in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia Credit: AP But its leader, an outspoken opponent of feminism and gay rights, has remained suspicious of the Internet, which he previously criticised as the “enslavement of consciousness and volition” and a “marketplace of human vanity”. Twitter users mostly laughed off Patriarch Kirill's latest warning. “Well, they'll ban international Internet in Russia so the 'Antichrist doesn't come through it,' but where's the guarantee that he won't come through Gundyayev's Breguet watch?” wrote one, referring to the patriarch by his surname. The Russian Orthodox church website photoshopped a Breguet watch worth at least £24,000 off of the patriarch's wrist in a 2012 picture, but it remained clearly visible in the reflection of his arm on a well-polished table. Last month, the church again came under fire over a priest who repeatedly posted photographs of himself with Gucci and Louis Vutton luxury bags and shoes on Instagram. The patriarch would seem to have bigger problems to worry about than iPhones, most notably a schism in the church. The top Orthodox leader in Istanbul signed a decree this weekend recognising a new independent Orthodox church in Ukraine, which will challenge the Russian Orthodox church's sway over the tens of millions of believers in that country. The Moscow church has broken off ties with the Constantinople patriarchate over the “blasphemous” decision. The decree on independence was displayed to the faithful at a Kiev cathedral on Monday.

The justices left in place a 2017 decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturning a 2014 verdict by a federal jury in Texas that found Trinity had defrauded the government. Joshua Harman, a competitor of Dallas-based Trinity, filed the lawsuit in 2012 under the False Claims Act, which allows whistleblowers to sue companies on the government's behalf to recover fraudulently paid-out taxpayer money. Because of Joshua Harman's efforts, there is more federal and state scrutiny than ever before to ensure the safety of our nation's roads and highways," said Nicholas Gravante, one of Harman's lawyers.

A storm will slide into Southern California with soaking rain by the weekend, putting burn-scar areas at a renewed risk for life-threatening flooding and mudslides.

New California Gov. Gavin Newsom mounted the stage in Sacramento Monday to take his oath of office and deliver an inaugural address.

Mercedes-Benz's EQC 400 is a direct competition to Elon Musk's Tesla SUV—but the designs of the two cars are very different

Venezuela's armed forces declared "absolute loyalty" to President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday, just two days before the socialist leader is sworn in for a second term of office. Maduro will be sworn into office on Thursday by the Supreme Court despite the country's laws stating this is the job of parliament.

A 62.0-kWh battery pack boosts driving range by around 40 percent, but the Leaf still falls short of rival EVs.

Hawaiian's last Boeing 767 widebody was sent into retirement after completing Hawaiian Airlines Flight 19 from Sacramento, California, to Honolulu.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl in Houston (all times local):

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The normally humdrum bureaucracy of registering to vote brought tears to the eyes of some Floridians on Tuesday when most felons regained their right to vote under a state constitutional amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Fiat Chrysler's appeal in a class action lawsuit over allegations that its Jeeps and other trucks are vulnerable to hacking, one of the first legal cases involving automotive cyber security risks. The court's action paves the way for an October trial in the litigation centering on the question of whether truck buyers can sue over hypothetical future injuries without having been actual victims of cyber security attacks on their vehicles. Fiat Chrysler has received widespread support from industry groups in the dispute.

It's expensive, but fast and tech savvy.

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer offered a rebuttal to President Donald Trump's Oval Office address on the border wall. Read the full transcript.

This tax, Ocasio-Cortez declared, would fund her so-called Green New Deal, a still-developing plan to eliminate fossil-fuel energy by 2030 and lower inequality. Ocasio-Cortez’s plan would thus be a return to the 20th century norm — in fact, not even that, because the cutoffs for those very high tax brackets were often much lower than $10 million, even after adjusting for inflation.

Die-hard jihadists defending their last bastions in eastern Syria used the cover of bad weather to launch a vain but deadly counterattack against Kurdish-led fighters. The Islamic State group was unable to hold on to the positions they attacked but the assault killed 23 members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and also left nine jihadists dead. IS fighters took advantage of poor visibility to unleash suicide attackers on SDF forces along the front line in the Euphrates valley late on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday.

BMW set up a course in a parking lot to show off the SUV's off-road capabilities.

United Airlines’ newest aircraft type – the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner – is now flying paying passengers for the carrier. Jet debuted on LAX-Newark route.

Authorities in Illinois say a woman with a concealed carry license fatally

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — In a story Jan. 7 about a Kentucky traffic crash that killed a Michigan family, The Associated Press reported erroneously who a cousin of the deceased father called about the crash. Habib Abbas, of Dearborn, said he called the dead father's sister, not the dead mother's sister.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for officials to obtain records to probe whether Exxon hid its knowledge of the role fossil fuels play in climate change.

The Instant Pot DUO 60 is by far the company's best-selling model, but there's another version that's even more versatile and you might not know about it. It's called the Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker and it's available right now on Amazon at a deep discount. The DUO Plus 60 sports nine different cooking modes, whereas the DUO 60 only has seven. But today if you hurry you can snag the Plus model on sale at the same price as the DUO 60! Here's more info from the product page: * Duo Plus is the latest evolution in the #1 selling multi-cooker the Duo series with more custom features, improved usability and a large attractive blue LCD screen * Duo Plus replaces 9 common kitchen appliances including Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Saute, Steamer, Warmer, Sterilizer and it makes cake too * Up to 70% quicker. A great meal is a press of button away with 15 Microprocessor controlled programs taking the guess-work out of your cooking. You can achieve prefect results every time * All components in contact with food are food grade 304 (18/8) Stainless steel including the lid, the inner pot with 3-ply bottom and steam rack with handles. They are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.Product Dimensions: 14.17 x 14.84 x 13.31 inches * UL certified with 10 proven safety mechanisms gives you peace of mind. Highly energy efficient, this kitchen friendly cooker emits no steam when cooking, contains all smells and automates your cooking. Accessories include - steam rack with handles, recipe booklet, serving spoon, soup spoon, and measuring cup * Power supply: 120V - 60Hz

NBC, CBS and CNN said they will air the Democrats response after they and other networks agreed Monday to air the president's prime time address.

How she blends the personal and the political

Peru announced Monday it was barring entry to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his cabinet, increasing pressure on the socialist leader days ahead of his second-term inauguration. The move announced by Peru's Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio followed a decision Friday by 12 Latin American countries and Canada not to grant recognition to Maduro's hardline government following his controversial re-election in May.

More aluminum bodywork, a quicker roof, extra horsepower-and it still looks the same as before.

Sears Holdings Corp agreed on Tuesday to consider a revised takeover bid from Chairman Edward Lampert, temporarily staving off a liquidation.

Houston Sheriff Ed Gonzalez calls for 'important discussions' about race and about gun violence.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval is joining casino giant MGM Resorts International to help push the company's global expansion efforts, particularly in Japan, and work on state-level public policy related to sports betting.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's first absence from the bench extended into a second day on Tuesday as the 85-year-old jurist continued her recovery from lung cancer surgery at home. Although Ginsburg did not attend the oral arguments, she will participate in the cases and rulings by using the briefs and oral argument transcripts, Chief Justice John Roberts announced from the bench. Ginsburg, who joined the court in 1993, underwent a surgical procedure called a pulmonary lobectomy on Dec. 21 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York to remove two cancerous nodules in her left lung.

For the first time since prosecutors stormed his private jet seven weeks ago, former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn appeared in public to deliver a passionate defence, rebutting allegations that have seen him languishing in Japanese custody. Perhaps unsurprisingly given Carlos Ghosn's profile as the most-recognised foreign executive in Japan, the public interest was enormous. Journalists staked out positions from well before dawn at the court and the detention centre, hoping -- in vain as it turned out -- to catch a glimpse of the former Nissan boss.

Turkey’s president has warned the US it has made a "grave mistake" asking for protection for Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State in Syria and threatened once again to launch an assault against them. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who considers the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) terrorists, said Turkey would “not make concessions” and said preparations for an offensive were nearly complete. "John Bolton has made a grave mistake on this issue,” a furious Mr Erdogan told parliament as the US national security adviser arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish officials. “The (YPG’s) fight with Islamic State in Syria is a huge lie." Mr Bolton was in Turkey on Tuesday as part of a tour of the Middle East with Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, aimed at limiting damage over the announcement by Donald Trump, the US president, that he would remove its troops from Syria. Such a move would leave YPG allies, whose fighters have led a coalition to defeat Isil, exposed to a Turkish attack. YPG fighter holds a sniper rifle on his shoulder as he attends the funeral of a slain commander in the northeastern city of Qamishli Credit: AFP Mr Bolton said on Sunday he would be seeking assurances from Ankara that they would not attack the YPG as a condition to a US withdraw, which Mr Trump had failed to address during a December phone call with Mr Erdogan, in a bid to salvage relations with the Kurds. Mr Bolton met for roughly two hours with  Ibrahim Kalin, his Turkish counterpart, and other senior officials at Ankara's presidency complex but was snubbed by Mr Erdogan himself, reflecting just how at odds the Nato partners are on the issue.   Mr Trump, in a tweet before Christmas, declared Isil had been defeated and said the US’s 2,000 or so troops would be returning as soon as possible. However, Mr Bolton, Mr Pompeo and even Mr Trump have tried to backtrack the comments, offering differing timelines ranging from 30 days to four months for the withdrawal.  The shifting timetable has left allies and other players in the region confused and jockeying for influence over a withdrawal strategy that appeared to be a work in progress. In Turkey's case, it appears to have emboldened Mr Erdogan, who was reported to have asked the US to hand over its 22 military bases in Syria or dismantle them.   Responding to Mr Erdogan’s threats, a top Syrian Kurdish official said his fighters are prepared to confront Turkish forces if they enter northeastern Syria. Shahoz Hasan, co-chair of the largest Kurdish group in Syria the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, says it was clear from the latest statements that Turkey has planning an assault. "We will be ready." he said. Any such offensive would likely see the YPG redirecting fighters battling the last Isil to the northern border with Turkey. Despite Mr Trump’s claim, fierce fighting is still ongoing for a small pocket of territory in eastern Deir Ezzor province. In a stark reminder of the lingering threat, a war monitor reported that the jihadists had killed 23 US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters in a counterattack in eastern Syria on Monday aimed at defending their last bastion. Isil took advantage of poor visibility to unleash suicide attackers on SDF along the front line in the Euphrates valley, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday.

The move comes 17 days after the partial government shutdown sent all but a fraction of Joshua Tree National Park's staff home.

Australia gave its strongest hint yet on Wednesday that an 18-year-old Saudi woman in Bangkok would be granted humanitarian asylum, despite efforts by Riyadh and her family to force her return home. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has documented her bid to flee her allegedly abusive family with minute-by-minute social media updates, intensifying the global spotlight on Saudi Arabia's rights record. "If she is found to be a refugee, then we will give very, very, very serious consideration to a humanitarian visa," health minister Greg Hunt told public broadcaster ABC.

This week at CES 2019 in Las Vegas NVIDIA revealed its collaboration with HD mapping companies to develop a system that allows autonomous vehicles to localize themselves on a road map. NVIDIA introduced Drive Localization this week, a system that can be used by an autonomous vehicle to "pinpoint its location within centimeters so it can understand its surroundings and establish a sense of the road and lane structures." When road markings are not clear, this system helps cars understand what exactly is happening on the road so that they can respond and react accordingly. Drive Localization is powered by the NVIDIA Drive Xavier System-on-chip, a processor specially designed for autonomous vehicle driving that can perform 30 trillion operations per second.

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Britain could crash out of the European Union without a deal, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday, urging British lawmakers to back an agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May sealed with the bloc last year. "Even a no-deal scenario is still an option -- despite the serious damage that this would cause on both sides," Maas said in a speech at Ireland's annual ambassadors' conference. He added that the EU would not accept a hard border separating EU-member Ireland from the British province of Northern Ireland. ...

Hours after pleading not guilty in a Massachusetts courtroom, Kevin Spacey landed in Washington, D.C., and was pulled over for driving too fast.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee governor's decision to grant clemency to a woman who killed a man when she was 16 had the potential to pit political interests against widespread support for her cause. Yet the governor says the decision came down to doing the "right thing."

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said it has constituted a panel with Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani as its head in a bid to deepen digital payments in Asia's third-biggest economy. The five-member panel, which includes a former deputy governor of the RBI, will identify ways to widen financial inclusion via the use of digital payments and suggest measures to "strengthen the safety and security of digital payments", the central bank said in a statement. In 2017-18, card payments in India rose 43 percent from the previous year to 10.61 trillion rupees ($151.21 billion), while payments through state-backed unified payments interface rose 16 times year-on-year to 1.01 trillion rupees, according to RBI data released in August.

Boeing reported record commercial plane deliveries for the second straight year on Tuesday and although short of the company's forecast the figures still beat those of Boeing's European rival Airbus. The US aerospace giant, which has capitalized on rising global demand for air travel, reported deliveries of 806 planes for the year, up from 763 in 2017. In October, Boeing had forecast annual plane deliveries of between 810 and 815.

“The only solution is for Democrats to pass a spending bill that defends our borders and reopens our government,” Trump said Tuesday during a roughly 10-minute televised speech from the Oval Office, employing for the first time in his presidency a format traditionally used to explain major military actions or to calm the nation during times of crisis. “This is a humanitarian crisis,” Trump said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer rejected Trump’s description of a crisis on the Mexican border in their televised response to the president’s address.

Sears is teetering on the edge of liquidation after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.

Welcome to Best Bites, a twice-weekly video series that aims to satisfy your

There were so many great sales this past holiday season on Instant Pots, and the most advanced and versatile Instant Pot multi-cooker is actually still on sale now at a deep 25% discount. But whether you just got a new Instant Pot or you've had one for years, there's a sale right now on Amazon that you should definitely take advantage of. The California Dons Instant Pot 5 Piece Silicone Accessories Set has a bunch of high-quality accessories that you really need to get the most out of your Instant Pot. And somehow, it's only $19.75 right now on Amazon! Here's what you need to know from the product page: * THE ONLY INSTANT POT BUNDLE THAT OFFERS 5 SILICONE ACCESSORIES ON AMAZON- SAVE MONEY BY BUNDLING! We have bundled a vegetable steamer, oven mitts, a pot holder, a steam release diverter and an egg bites mold into one cooking lover's dream kit. Created from silicone because silicone is flexible, lightweight, heat resistant and easy to clean. Dishwasher safe, no stains, no rust, no rough scrubbing. The chemical-free, odor-free, aesthetic and hygienic solution for your cooking needs. * THE VEGGIE STEAMER AND EGG BITES MOLD WILL HELP UPGRADE YOUR MEALS- Steam your veggies to lock nutrients in and retain natural vitamins and minerals with our silicone steamer that allows you to steam your favorite vegetables straight in your instant pot. Use the silicone egg bites mold to create divine sous vide eggs and use the mold as a reusable container and freezer tray with lid, for your on the go breakfast egg delights. Use the Egg Bites Mold for DYI Babyfood as well * OVEN MITTS, POT HOLDER AND STEAM RELEASE DIVIDER WILL GUARD YOU AND YOUR KITCHEN- The silicone mitts are heat resistant, waterproof, easy to clean and extremely protective. The silicone table protector is slip and skid resistant and can be used to move the hot pot around and set it on the counter, and the steam release diverter protects your kitchen cabinets and wallpaper from discoloration and damage by diverting the steam away. * THE ULTIMATE GIFT FOR THE INSTANT CROCK POT FANATIC IN YOUR LIFE- Know someone who just loves to cook in a pressure cooker, instant cooker or a crockpot? This bundle can be the perfect addition to their kitchen! This kit makes the ideal gift for your cooking enthusiastic loved ones. The cooking set is stylish red and can be a great housewarming gift, birthday gift, and wedding gift. Fits 5.6 or 8qt Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker, 8.25" Diameter. * YOUR SATISFACTION AND EXPERIENCE IS OUR #1 PRIORITY FULL 30 DAY NO HASSLE RETURNS - We created this instant pot bundle entirely from food grade silicone to improve your experience and increase comfort and functionality when using an instant pot. If you're not 100% satisfied we will give you a full refund or free exchange, no questions asked. We strive to be the best in the industry and in our customer service, contact us directly, and we will be happy to assist!

SYDNEY/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday it would consider taking in a 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled to Thailand saying she feared her family, which she accused of abuse, would kill her. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived in Bangkok on Saturday appealing for asylum. Australia said on Tuesday it would consider resettling her if the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deemed her a refugee.