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U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Tuesday he expected to see significant progress in trade talks with Chinese officials this week and that U.S. charges against telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd were a separate issue. "Those are separate issues, and that's a separate dialogue," Mnuchin said in an interview with Fox Business Network. "So those are not part of trade discussions. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2FZWLGs

Venezuela’s self-declared interim president, Juan Guaido, has been hit with a travel ban after the country’s chief prosecutor announced he would launch a criminal investigation into the congressional leader. The supreme court – stacked with members loyal to president Nicolas Maduro – blocked Mr Guaido from leaving the counrty and froze his bank accounts, but did not strip him of his legislative immunity. It came as Mr Guaido called on Venezuelans to stage a two-hour walkout from their homes and workplaces in protest at Mr Maduro’s stewardship of the country. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2MI0MQ2

"Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization," Coats added. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2MGzXfg

Boeing reported a strong fourth quarter on Wednesday and offered a bullish 2019 outlook as executives expressed measured confidence in the prospects for a US-China trade agreement. Shares rallied on the report and 2019 forecast, which anticipates much higher than expected 2019 profits as the company ramps up commercial aircraft deliveries. "Across the enterprise, our team delivered strong core operating performance and customer focus, driving record revenues, earnings and cash flow and further extending our global aerospace industry leadership in 2018," said Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2MFwb5L

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused President Donald Trump of hiring the local mafia to assassinate him in an interview with a Russia state-run news agency. “Donald Trump has without doubt given an order to kill me and has told the government of Colombia and the Colombian mafia to kill me,” Mr Maduro told RIA news agency on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Critics argue that the 56-year-old’s claim is a red-herring tactic to rally up support in Venezuela amid mass protests against his socialist government, and the debilitating inflation and food and medicine shortages in the Latin American country. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2RWuRBo

Goldman Sachs nudged up its estimated probability of a "no-deal" Brexit on Wednesday after British lawmakers instructed Prime Minister Theresa May to reopen a Brexit treaty with the European Union to replace a controversial Irish border arrangement. Britain's parliament rejected a proposal to give parliament a path to prevent a potentially chaotic "no-deal" exit, but accepted two amendments - one seeking to replace the Irish backstop with alternative arrangements, and another rejecting the notion of a "no-deal" Brexit. Goldman Sachs analysts upped their "no-deal" Brexit probability to 15 percent from 10 percent, and cut their probability of Brexit not happening at all to 35 percent from 40 percent. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2RUKhpG

Millions of Americans braced Tuesday for a dangerous polar vortex which began to settle over a broad swath of the United States, threatening to set new records for cold as schools and businesses closed and authorities warned of frostbite. Temperatures in almost a dozen states stretching over 1,200 miles from the Dakotas to Ohio were forecast to be the coldest in a generation, if not on record. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast temperatures between -10 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 to -40 Celsius) by Wednesday, with wind chill making it seem as cold as -65 degrees Fahrenheit in one area of Minnesota. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2RpKcFq

Leaders of the U.S. intelligence community told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the nuclear threat from North Korea persisted and Iran was not taking steps toward making a nuclear bomb, conclusions that contrasted starkly with Trump's assessments of those countries. "The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2SdevDQ

Frontier Airlines is letting kids fly for free as part of their Discount Den program, which costs about $60 a year. Here's what you need to know. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2TmnPTj

Tens of millions of people in the United States are bracing for a potentially life-threatening deep arctic chill forecast to hit swaths of the country on Wednesday. The US Postal Service -- known for its commitment to bringing the mail whatever the weather -- has even reportedly suspended deliveries in Iowa due to the severe cold. Temperatures in almost a dozen states stretching more than 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) from the Dakotas to Ohio were forecast to be the coldest in a generation, if not on record. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2HF78B7

President Trump takes to Twitter to defend his foreign policy on Iran, North Korea, and other issues. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2CYd8z1

So much for "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night." The U.S. mail won't be delivered tomorrow in four states due to the crippling cold of the polar vortex. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2CRanjh

SINGAPORE (AP) — World markets were mixed Tuesday amid concerns that U.S. criminal charges against China's Huawei could complicate trade talks, though European indexes were up on optimism over Brexit. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2ShhpaK

The rule, passed by New York’s Taxi and Limousine Commission in December, requires that drivers for market leader Uber Technologies Inc., Lyft, Juno and Via earn at least $17.22 an hour. It’s part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s effort to cap the growth of app-based, ride-for-hire platforms and reduce traffic congestion. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2CXdxC3

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A look at how this week's snowstorm and bitter cold have affected the United States, by the numbers: from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2CRkYdT

Venezuela’s chief prosecutor has asked the country’s top court to impose a travel ban on opposition leader Juan Guaido and freeze his accounts. The United States, along with several other countries, has recognized Mr Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state and denounced leftist president Nicolas Maduro as a usurper. Mr Maduro, who was sworn in earlier this month for a second term after disputed elections last year, accuses Mr Guaido of staging a US-directed coup. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2HERCFm

It’s still a long shot, but a few Republicans are beginning to muse about a possible primary challenge to President Trump. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2FYy7pt

In an interview with Russia's RIA agency, Maduro rejected calls for an early election, said an order to arrest his rival Juan Guaido had not yet been given, and promised Caracas would honor debts to Russia and China. Facing the biggest challenge of his six-year rule, the 56-year-old socialist leader also said his armed forces remained loyal and President Vladimir Putin was firmly behind him. Maduro's comments were published on Wednesday as the fight for control of Venezuela escalated with the government preparing an investigation into self-declared interim president Guaido, and new street protests planned. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2MGGsi1

As frigid temperatures and life-threatening winds batter parts of the US, cities in the Midwest are shuttering to keep citizens inside and safe from the dangerous cold. The sudden extreme temperatures are the result of a polar vortex, a weather phenomenon that occurs in the winter and impacts parts of the northern hemisphere. What is a polar vortex? from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2UvMqVY

It is the second deadly mining disaster involving Vale in only about three years and the company has come under intense scrutiny since images of death and destruction began flooding the airwaves on Friday. While Vale has taken steps in recent years to shield itself from state intervention, the government is still indirectly the company’s largest shareholder through a Banco do Brasil pension fund, known as Previ. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Tl8r9w

"Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization," Coats added. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2MGzXfg

The sweeping U.S. sanctions on oil firm PDVSA, announced on Monday, means the state-run company may not be able to fulfill contracts with North American buyers, the government of President Nicolas Maduro said. Aimed at driving Maduro from power, the sanctions were the strongest measures yet against the 56-year-old former union leader, who has overseen economic collapse and an exodus of millions of Venezuelans in recent years. The measures triggered higher global oil prices, angry responses from China and Russia and the first serious moves against Guaido since he challenged Maduro's claim on the presidency last week. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2TiyFcU

Accused Mexican drug boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's repeated escapes from the law prove that he "knows he's guilty," a U.S. prosecutor told jurors in closing arguments at his trial on Wednesday, urging them not to let him escape again. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Goldbarg's description of Guzman's history of dramatic prison escapes capped off a day-long summation in federal court in Brooklyn in which she also attacked the defense argument that Guzman was a scapegoat. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2ToZpIz

Life-threatening temperatures across the United States and a polar vortex in the Midwest is set to impact nearly 110 million Americans this week. The extreme cold and record-breaking temperatures are blasting a swathe of states spanning from North Dakota to Missouri and into Ohio after a powerful snowstorm pounded the region earlier this week. A blast of warm air from misplaced Moroccan heat last month made the normally super chilly air temperatures above the region rapidly increase. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2MLyowN

The loss of the some $60 million in annual funding would marks another tear in ties between the Trump administration and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and potentially undermines his security cooperation with Israel in the occupied West Bank. Diplomatic sources said Palestinian, U.S. and Israeli officials were seeking a way to keep the money flowing despite Abbas's decision to turn it down as of a Jan. 31 deadline set by Congress' Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ATCA) of 2018. The ATCA empowers Americans to sue foreign aid recipients in U.S. courts over alleged complicity in "acts of war". from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Tnk1Bb

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó says his team has held talks with the army about regime change. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SeYuxi

At least eight people have died in the deep freeze, which has paralysed transport services. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2FYNLkW

European settlement of the Americas killed so many people, it disturbed Earth's climate. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2RsVJ75

The number of people who logged into the site at least once a month rose 9% last year. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Uu7wUu

The New England Patriots quarterback was labelled a "known cheater" during a Pittsburgh broadcast. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2GbzBvV

In an interview, the White House press secretary says Donald Trump had divine support. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Bm9a3B

Hundreds of princes and billionaires were held and more than $100bn recouped by the state since 2017. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2S0hQGQ

France's interior minister says "the fanatic committed suicide" after killing one and injuring five. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2B96bLC

Senator Rand Paul was awarded more than $580,000 (£441,000) in damages after his neighbour attacked. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2UopeIW

A 14th employee at Canada's embassy in Havana falls ill, and the country cuts staff there by half. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2sWTxuQ

The data comes as several global firms warn China's slowing economy will hit their bottom line. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2UvE5l2

Nantes pay tribute to missing former striker Emiliano Sala during their 1-1 draw with Saint Etienne. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SbuBxT

The BBC has gained rare access to Athlan village, the site of a major US attack on al-Qaeda in Yemen. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2UqHYHO

The deep freeze gripping much of the US has been blamed on a polar vortex. Here's what that means. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Sex5LW

Stars support Empire actor Jussie Smollet, the victim of a suspected hate crime in Chicago. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2CRvIJi

The fears of six athletes who claimed asylum in Australia after the 2018 Invictus Games. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2S8Sgz1

Six women tell the BBC they were raped by security forces as part of a government crackdown. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2CRqD3G

Kennedy Agyapong tells the BBC he regrets journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale’s death, but has a clear conscious. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2sVKNEY

Two Saudis who sought asylum in the UK explain why they risked everything. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SdhEnb

The actor and superfan was "overcome with emotion" when Streisand replied to his childhood letter. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2MGAb66

The Lord of the Rings director will use unseen footage of the tense sessions for their final album. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SdIgEx

Social media outcry puts controversial construction on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast under scrutiny. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Uxh9C1

Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave. Poverty and loneliness are two of the possible causes. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2sUSv2f

A US state could become one of the first places in the world to allow corpses to become fertile soil. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2S04WbU

In most places, a crocodile would send people scurrying in fear. But not in this part of India. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Sbqv8X

The international community is split over who it recognises as the country's current president. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2BbqOqp

The story of Nastya Rybka, who was questioned in a Thai jail by the FBI about the Trump-Russia inquiry. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2HHJ9kz

Imagine onions - tonnes of them, rotting in a customs queue. It's a Dutch farmer's Brexit nightmare. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2DLoiZL

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The State Department said it has limited ability to help American citizens in Venezuela. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Rpx3fD

The extradition hearing for a top Huawei executive at the center of a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing was pushed back to March on Tuesday, after the US unveiled sweeping charges against her and the Chinese tech giant. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, was indicted along with Huawei and two affiliates in a US case related to alleged Iran sanctions violations that has inflamed tensions with China. In Meng's first court appearance since being released, the judge moved the start of her extradition hearing to March 6, a month later than previously scheduled, in order to allow the defense time to review the evidence in the case. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Sfxk9t

The contamination is considered a high health risk from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Tn3jC1

Senator Kamala Harris (D., Calif.) made an emotional plea for increased gun control during CNN’s town hall in Iowa Monday night, arguing that her pro-Second Amendment colleagues should be forced to examine photos of dead children before voting on gun restrictions. “I think somebody should have required all those members of Congress to go in a room — in a locked room, no press, nobody else — and look at the autopsy photographs of those babies. “This has become a political issue. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Rpm9Gy

“Through Her Eyes” is a new weekly half-hour show hosted by humanitarian and women’s rights activist Zainab Salbi that aims to explore a hot button news issue through the lens of a female newsmaker. Weeks after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., made headlines by calling for a top marginal income tax rate of 70 percent in an interview with “60 Minutes,” her fellow freshman congresswoman, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., suggested that the rich could pay even more. “There are a few things that we can do,” Rep. Omar said in an interview with “Through Her Eyes.” “One of them, is that we can increase the taxes that people are paying who are the extremely wealthy in our communities. from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2CNfxwo