Author: Andrew Rogers

A rare winter storm brought snow to parts of the southern United States on Sunday, creating short-lived excitement before warmer air and sunshine caused it to melt away. Snowflakes fell as far south as Florida and Georgia, areas where snowfall is uncommon and often fleeting. In the Florida Panhandle, snow fell early Sunday, including near Pensacola. Vehicles, grass, and rooftops briefly turned white. By the afternoon, most of the snow had melted. Weather officials lifted winter storm warnings as road conditions improved and temperatures rose. Georgia also saw unusual snowfall. Parts of north and central Georgia recorded light to moderate…

The Brightline West high-speed rail project has announced a new target date for completion. The company now expects the train line linking Las Vegas and Southern California to be finished by late 2029. This timeline means the long-awaited rail service will not be ready for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The update ends years of hope that visitors could travel between Las Vegas and Southern California by train during the global sporting event. Project leaders said the revised schedule reflects realistic construction planning after years of delays. Brightline West first began development work in 2018. The project aims…

The US military has placed about 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota. The move comes as protests continue in Minneapolis and state leaders prepare National Guard forces to support public safety. Defense officials say the order does not mean troops will be sent right away. The soldiers are being told to prepare in case the president decides to act. Such planning is standard practice, officials say, whenever unrest raises security concerns. The troops come from two battalions of the 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska. They are under prepared-to-deploy orders and could be sent if federal…

China is signaling a possible change that could make travel easier for Canadians, but the rule is not active yet. Beijing has hinted that Canadian passport holders may soon be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa. The idea is under discussion, but no formal decision has been announced. The topic came up during talks in Beijing on January 16. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. After the meeting, both sides told reporters that China is actively considering a unilateral visa-free policy for Canadians. The proposal would apply to holders…

Hailee Steinfeld opened up about how she handled her husband Josh Allen’s playoff game while preparing for the Golden Globes. In her Beau Society newsletter on January 16, the actress admitted she was more than a little distracted. “The day of the [Golden] Globes, something exciting was on TV that I’m sure you were all watching,” Steinfeld wrote. “Kickoff just happened to be at the same time as glam, so I was a little (lot) distracted.” Though she could not attend the Buffalo Bills’ playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in person, Steinfeld was fully invested in watching from home.…

Tensions escalated in Minneapolis as protests over ICE enforcement actions continued, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to mobilize the state National Guard to support local law enforcement. Protesters gathered in subfreezing temperatures Saturday in downtown Minneapolis and near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, chanting and holding signs. Federal officers in riot gear faced demonstrators, with some arrests reported, though the protests largely remained peaceful. A smaller, far-right group supporting ICE also staged a protest near City Hall but was outnumbered and eventually dispersed. Authorities urged demonstrators to remain calm and peaceful. The National Guard is staged and ready to…

President Donald Trump has invited the presidents of Egypt, Turkey, and Argentina to join his newly created “Gaza Board of Peace,” a move aimed at advancing his 20-point peace plan for the region. Argentinian President Javier Milei confirmed that he had accepted the invitation, sharing the offer letter from Trump on the social media platform X. Milei described the invitation as an honour and said Argentina stands with countries confronting terrorism and promoting peace. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also received an invitation, confirmed by Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty. The Egyptian president is reviewing the offer, which Trump…

The European Union will hold an emergency meeting of its ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight member countries over Greenland, officials confirmed. Trump’s plan ties the tariffs to his goal of acquiring Greenland, a Danish territory, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from European and American political leaders. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said the measures “will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic” and could embolden shared enemies. She added that Greenland and Denmark have made it clear the territory is not for sale. Kaja Kallas, vice…

A massive fire broke out late Saturday at a multistory shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, killing at least three people and injuring around a dozen others, authorities said. The blaze engulfed Gul Plaza shortly after 10 p.m. local time. Firefighters and rescue workers rushed to the scene as flames spread quickly through dozens of shops. Most shop owners had already closed their stores or left the mall when the fire began. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and police said an investigation would start once the blaze is fully under control. Many buildings in Karachi lack modern fire prevention…

The Syrian army continued its push into Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria on Saturday, despite calls from the United States to halt its advance. State media reported that troops captured the city of Tabqa, nearby dams, and the Freedom Dam, previously known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqaa. Kurdish authorities have not confirmed losing control of these strategic locations, and it remains unclear if fighting continues in some areas. For days, Syrian forces gathered near villages west of the Euphrates River and demanded that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) redeploy across the river. Skirmishes have occurred over control…