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US extends troop deployment at Mexico border

The Pentagon said Monday it would extend until September 30 the deployment of active-duty soldiers and Coast Guard members at the US-Mexico border, while expanding the mission to include surveillance and detection. "DoD will continue to provide aviation support," the statement added, referring to the Department of Defense.

Latest: California governor urges end to LA teacher strike

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on a strike by Los Angeles teachers (all times local):

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.

As shutdown lingers, Pelosi urges Trump to reschedule State of the Union

With Trump's address scheduled for Jan. 29, Pelosi wrote him a letter citing security concerns because the Secret Service, which is required to provide security for the address, has not received funding during the impasse. The standoff was triggered by Trump's demand for a round of funding for his promised wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Senate Democrats planned to gather on the steps of the Capitol at noon EST on Wednesday to highlight the havoc the shutdown is wreaking, as 800,000 federal workers are furloughed or work without pay, and contractors do not receive payments.

Frontier Airlines has introduced a tipping system for its flight attendants

Should you tip flight attendants?

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.

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.

Government shutdown: Passenger takes gun through airport security check onto international flight

A passenger managed to board plane with a gun in their hand luggage after being screened by security at an American airport. Having accidentally packed their firearm, the unnamed traveller managed get on to the Delta Air Lines plane to Tokyo at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on 3 January, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has admitted. After realising their mistake after the aircraft had taken off, the passenger immediately alerted staff on board, who in turn told the TSA.

Close shave: Gillette ad sparks online controversy

A commercial for the Gillette razor brand that supported the #MeToo movement and called on men to change their behavior has triggered a heated controversy online. The broadcast of the spot, which was released Sunday and lasts just under two minutes, has earned the brand praise from those who see it as an example of brave communication, with the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs even paying tribute in a tweet on Tuesday. "So nice to see @Gillette jumping on the 'men are horrible' campaign permeating mainstream media and Hollywood entertainment.

Barr Tells Senators He Might Not Release Mueller Report

In a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Attorney General nominee William Barr declined to promise that he would release Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s long-awaited report to Congress and the public. “My goal and intent is to get as much information out as I can,” Barr told the Senate Judiciary Committee, before adding that he was “not going to make a pledge to anyone on this committee” about how he would handle his responsibilities as attorney general. “As the rules stand now, the rules I think say the special counsel will prepare a summary report on any prosecutive or declination decisions, and that shall be confidential and be treated as any other declination or prosecutive material within the department,” Barr said.

Los 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. The walkout, with teachers garbed mostly in red braving two days of rainy weather to stage mass rallies downtown, has shattered 30 years of labor peace by Los Angeles teachers but has not completely idled schools.

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.

AP sources: Gillibrand moving toward 2020 bid in coming days

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is expected to move toward launching a 2020 presidential campaign within days by forming an exploratory committee, according to several people familiar with her plans.

Kidnap suspect picked out US teen target at bus stop: charges

An American 21-year-old arrested for holding a teenaged girl captive after murdering her parents chose his victim after seeing her get on a school bus, according to a charge sheet filed on Monday. Jake Patterson confessed to killing James and Denise Closs and to abducting their 13-year-old daughter Jayme, according to the document filed in court in Barron County, Wisconsin. Referred to in the document by her initials, JLC, Jayme Closs was the subject of a nationwide search following her disappearance three months ago -- until last week when she made a seemingly miraculous escape.

Say it ain't snow: 2 winter storms, then an Arctic blast from the 'fractured' polar vortex

Any hopes we had for a mild end to January appear over. A pair of winter storms will dump snow and ice across the central and eastern U.S. over the next several days.

California governor, lawmakers confront utility bankruptcy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The announcement by the nation's largest utility that it is filing for bankruptcy puts Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s problems squarely in the hands of Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers, who now must try to keep ratepayer costs down, ensure wildfire victims get the money they're owed and rethink California's energy picture in the face of climate change. 

2020 Ford Explorer Gets Evolutionary, High-Tech Redesign

Ford has completely redesigned the Explorer for 2020, but you might not realize it from the photos. The exterior styling is so familiar that it would be easy to overlook the extensive re-engineer...

William Barr: Trump’s attorney general nominee to defend Mueller probe in testimony after attacking it in Justice Department memos

Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general will tell Senators at his confirmation hearing “it is vitally important” that Special Counsel Robert Mueller be allowed to complete his Russia investigation. William Barr is scheduled to face questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, which will include his views on the special counsel’s probe into Russian election medlling and potential coordination between Moscow and the president’s 2016 campaign. Mr Barr will say he has known Mr Mueller for decades, respects him and believes he should be allowed to complete his work, according to the transcript.

UK's Labour calls on May to try a Brexit compromise to get deal passed

May's Brexit deal suffered a crushing defeat in parliament on Tuesday, triggering political chaos that could lead to a disorderly exit from the EU, a reversal of the 2016 decision to leave or a compromise deal of some sort. The Labour Party's finance policy chief, John McDonnell, said Labour would support May if she agreed to stay in a permanent customs union with the EU, a close relationship with its single market and greater protections for workers and consumers. "We will support a deal that brings the country back together, protects jobs and supports the economy," McDonnell said.

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.

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.

Saudi urges 'fair' energy transition, defends oil

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia called Tuesday for a "fair" and gradual global energy transition as it unveiled an ambitious domestic renewable energy programme. Experts say energy output from renewables, especially solar and wind, is growing faster than anticipated, threatening to displace oil, gas and coal as the world's main sources of power. "Balancing greenhouse gas emissions will take decades," he said at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Uses the Same Supercharger as the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Put down your fists; it's not as bad as it sounds.

No. of no-show airport security screeners soars in shutdown

ATLANTA (AP) — The number of airport security screeners failing to show up for work is soaring as the partial government shutdown goes into its fourth week.

Two Republicans Push ‘Border Bonds’ to Let Americans Finance a Wall

Representatives Steven Palazzo of Mississippi and Andy Harris of Maryland, both members of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced the Border Bonds for America Act of 2019 -- a law that would allow Americans to buy such securities from the U.S. The money would be put in a trust fund and used just to build a wall along the nearly 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) border. The tactic echoes the Liberty Bond program, which appealed to Americans’ sense of patriotism to raise funds during World War I.

Trump: 'I never worked for Russia'

Trump also disputed a Washington Post report that he had concealed details about his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and confiscated his interpreter's notes. Congressional Democrats raised the possibility of subpoenaing the translator. The New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI opened the investigation after Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey raised concerns that the president posed a threat to national security.

Democrats boycott shutdown meeting at the White House, say they will not meet until government is reopened

Ohio Congressman Brad Wenstrup, who attended the meeting, reacts to the democrats actions on 'Your World.'

Steve King: Republican congressman who defended white supremacy stripped of committee assignments

A senior Republican congressman has been blocked by his own party from sitting on committees after his universally condemned remarks about white supremacy. Steve King, in his ninth term representing Iowa in Washington, will not be given committee assignments for the next two years, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy said. Mr King had served on the agriculture, small business and judiciary committees in the last Congress, also chairing the judiciary's subcommittee on the constitution and civil justice.

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

American 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. An AFP photographer in Nairobi saw the bodies of five victims and a police source said he had seen as many as 14 dead. Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked Somali group that assaulted a Nairobi shopping mall in 2013, claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack on the DusitD2 compound, which includes a 101-room hotel, spa, restaurant, and offices for local and international companies.

Sears Chairman Eddie Lampert revises his bid to save the company, report says

Amid an auction of its assets, Sears chairman Eddie Lampert has tweaked his bid for the beleaguered retailer according to Bloomberg

Kosovars remember 45 killed by Serb forces 20 years ago

RECAK, Kosovo (AP) — Thousands gathered Tuesday in the southern Kosovo village of Recak to mark 20 years since 45 ethnic Albanians were slain by Serb forces in a mass killing that sparked international anger.

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.

Barr draws a line for Trump: ‘I will not be bullied’

President Trump's nominee for attorney general promises that he will abide by his sense of what is right and will not be susceptible to pressure from the president or from whatever quarter.

At least 14 confirmed dead in Kenya attack

Gunmen blasted their way into a hotel and office complex in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and sending workers diving under desks to escape an attack claimed by Somalia-based Islamist group al Shabaab. Michelle Hennessy reports.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT N Line Looks Sportier and Has Real Handling Upgrades

This is more than just an appearance package, and more N Line models are on the way.

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.

Brexit deal vote: UK parliament's feuding factions

London (AFP) - The British parliament is split into cross-party factions over the EU divorce deal.

Jamie Dimon says shutdown could reduce economic growth to zero this quarter if it continues

Jamie Dimon, CEO of J.P. Morgan Chase CEO, said that the partial government shutdown could sap all growth from the U.S. economy.

New York's Gillibrand Takes First Step Toward Presidential Race

Gillibrand plans to make stops this weekend in Iowa, where caucuses a little more than a year from now will mark the start of the nominating race. Gillibrand has positioned herself as a leader of the #MeToo movement. “I’ll fight for other people’s kids as hard as I would fight for my own, which is why I believe health care should be a right and not a privilege,” Gillibrand said, listing her reasons for running.

Amid shutdown, Texas governor sidesteps border wall debate

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Greg Abbott began a second term as Texas governor Tuesday by promising lower taxes and a school funding overhaul but without mentioning a national policy dispute that weighs heavily on his state: President Donald Trump's demand for a border wall.

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.