A powerful winter storm has wreaked havoc across the United States, causing dangerous travel conditions, power outages, and evacuations. The storm has led to vehicle pileups in Oregon and Washington, heavy rain in California, and snow and freezing rain on the East Coast. Emergency shelters have been set up as residents cope with severe weather impacts.
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A Texas grandfather, Jorge Arbaiza, 61, was tragically killed in a McDonald's in Houston while buying lunch for his grandchildren. The fatal gunfire erupted between two groups, leaving his family devastated. Authorities have arrested suspect Antonio Ridge, who is linked to the shooting.
The European Union has appointed Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen as its new special envoy for the stalled Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, starting in February. Sorensen succeeds Miroslav Lajcak and aims to revive talks that collapsed in March 2023 over a failed normalization agreement. With decades of experience in the Western Balkans, Sorensen will work to ease tensions rooted in Kosovo's 2008 independence, which Serbia still refuses to recognize.
Following Barbara Lee's victory in Oakland's mayoral race using ranked-choice voting, Donald Trump has strongly criticised the system, labeling it a "fraudulent joke" and a threat to democracy. Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates by preference, potentially leading to broader appeal and reduced polarisation, though critics argue it can confuse voters and delay results.
Meghan Markle faces controversy as her rebranded 'As Ever' business name matches a small New York vintage clothing company. Additionally, the logo closely resembles the emblem of a Spanish town, Porrers, causing objection from its mayoress. Both entities claim they lack resources to sue the duchess who has Netflix as the partner of this new brand.
Intense fighting in Syria over two days has resulted in a death toll exceeding 1,000, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the 14-year conflict. Clashes between government forces and loyalists of ousted President Assad led to significant civilian casualties and mass displacement, with significant tension remaining in the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting with European leaders to coordinate a response to Russia’s “existential threat†following a policy shift by the US under Donald Trump. France, a key Ukraine ally, is considering sending military experts but not combat troops. Macron emphasized the need for European unity, warning that inaction could bring the conflict closer to Europe's borders.
Nick Jonas faced fan backlash after replying to Elon Musk's tweet about Tesla's value surge since Trump's victory. Fans criticized Jonas, citing the band's previous political neutrality. Despite the controversy, Jonas celebrated his sixth wedding anniversary with Priyanka Chopra and their daughter.
President Sisi of Egypt and King Abdullah II of Jordan firmly rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza following US President Trump’s suggestion. Sisi emphasized Egypt’s unwavering support for a Palestinian state, while Abdullah reiterated the need to keep Palestinians on their land, aligning with the two-state solution. The proposal faced widespread condemnation from regional leaders.
One person was killed and several others injured when security personnel thwarted an attack on a Bangladesh Air Force base in Cox's Bazar. The attack was launched by locals after a man was detained for not having documents for his motorcycle. Air Force personnel fired blank shots to protect the base, denying allegations of firing live bullets.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers faces criticism for proposing gender-neutral terminology in state law, replacing terms like 'mother' with 'inseminated person.' Conservatives quickly backlash, calling these changes disrespectful to mothers. The controversy reflects broader US debates over gender terminology, with national figures like Trump opposing such changes in federal policy.