Name: Watch: temperature in Siberia drops to lowest in 21 years
Uploaded: 2023-01-19T19:31:24.000+05:30
Duration: T00M57S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Temperatures in Russia's Yakutsk in east Siberia have plunged to -62.7 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest day in Russia in more than two decades.

South Korean investigators have called off their attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after a standoff with his security team.

South Korean investigators call off arrest attempt on President Yoon Suk Yeol

Yoon, who has already been suspended from duty by lawmakers, would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested if the warrant is carried out.

South Korean investigators called off their attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence Friday over a failed martial law bid, citing safety concerns after a standoff with his security team.
Yoon, who has already been suspended from duty by lawmakers, would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested if the warrant is carried out.
The president, who issued a bungled declaration on December 3 that shook the vibrant East Asian democracy and briefly lurched it back to the dark days of military rule, faces imprisonment or, at worst, the death penalty.
"Regarding the execution of the arrest warrant today, it was determined that the execution was effectively impossible due to the ongoing standoff," the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is probing Yoon over his martial law decree, said in a statement.
"Concern for the safety of personnel on-site led to the decision to halt" the arrest attempt, the statement said of the confrontation with Yoon's presidential security service and its military unit.
The deadline for the warrant is Monday, leaving it in limbo with just a few days remaining and Yoon defiant, vowing earlier this week to "fight" authorities seeking to question him.
CIO investigators including senior prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan were earlier let through heavy security barricades to enter the residence to attempt to execute their warrant to detain Yoon.
But soldiers under the Presidential Security Service at one point engaged in a "confrontation with the CIO at the presidential residence," an official with Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP.
Before the execution of the court-approved warrant was called off, Yoon's security detail told AFP they had been "in negotiation" with the CIO investigators who sought to access the president.
Yoon's security service -- which still protects Yoon as the country's sitting head of state -- has previously blocked attempted police raids of the presidential office.
The president himself has ignored three rounds of summons from investigators, prompting them to seek the warrant.
Yoon's legal team -- who raced to the residence and AFP saw allowed inside -- decried the attempt to execute the arrest warrant, vowing to take further legal action against the move.
"The execution of a warrant that is illegal and invalid is indeed not lawful," Yoon's lawyer Yoon Kap-keun said.
On Friday, prosecutors also indicted two top military officials including one who was briefly named martial law commander during last month's fiasco, on charges of insurrection, Yonhap reported. Both were already in detention.
Dozens of police buses and hundreds of uniformed police lined the street outside the compound in central Seoul, AFP reporters saw.
About 2,700 police and 135 police buses were deployed to the area to prevent clashes, Yonhap reported, after Yoon's supporters faced off with anti-Yoon demonstrators Thursday.
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- All-night prayers -
South Korean media reported that CIO officials wanted to arrest Yoon and take him to their office in Gwacheon near Seoul for questioning.
After that, he could have been held for up to 48 hours on the existing warrant. Investigators need to apply for another arrest warrant to keep him in custody.
After staging chaotic protests Thursday, a handful of Yoon's die-hard supporters, which include far-right YouTube personalities and evangelical Christian preachers, had camped outside his compound in the bitter cold -- some holding all-night prayer sessions.
They called early Friday for the arrest of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and chanted "Illegal warrant is invalid" as police and media gathered outside the residence.
Pro-Yoon protester Rhee Kang-san told AFP many were "rooting for the president" to survive the arrest attempt.
Lee Hye-sook, a 57-year-old Yoon supporter, said protesters were trying to stop opposition figures from "attempting to transform our country into a socialist state, similar to North Korea".
Yoon has doubled down on claims the opposition was in league with South Korea's communist enemies.
Yoon's legal team had already moved to try and block the arrest warrant at the constitutional court, calling it "unlawful".
But the head of the CIO, Oh Dong-woon, has warned that anyone trying to block authorities from arresting Yoon could themselves face prosecution.
South Korean officials have previously failed to execute similar arrest warrants for lawmakers -- in 2000 and 2004 -- due to party members and supporters blocking police for the seven days the warrants were valid.
Yoon also faces a separate Constitutional Court hearing which will confirm or reject his impeachment by parliament.
In rare comments about the South's politics, North Korean state media on Friday said Seoul was in "political chaos" over attempts to arrest Yoon.

A significant discovery of hundreds of dinosaur footprints has been made in an Oxfordshire quarry, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of Jurassic dinosaurs, including the Megalosaurus and sauropods.

Hundreds of different dinosaur footprints discovered in UK's Oxfordshire

Visitors will be able to view the Megalosaurus fossils used in the first description of a dinosaur, see photographs and video footage from the dig site.

Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham have uncovered a huge expanse of quarry floor filled with hundreds of different dinosaur footprints.
In a stunning find, the teams uncovered multiple enormous trackways dating back to the Middle Jurassic Period (around 166 million years ago).
The trackways form part of a huge &lsquo;dinosaur highway&rsquo; and include footprints from the nine-metre ferocious predator Megalosaurus, and herbivorous dinosaurs up to twice that size.
The excavation will be broadcast on BBC Two&rsquo;s Digging for Britain on January 8 and featured in a new public exhibition Breaking Ground at Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH).
These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited.
The dig, carried out at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, uncovered five extensive trackways with evidence of more in the surrounding area.
The longest continuous trackway measured more than 150 metres in length.
Four of the trackways were made by gigantic, long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs called sauropods, most likely to be Cetiosaurus, an up to 18-metre-long cousin of the well-known Diplodocus.
The fifth trackway was made by the carnivorous theropod dinosaur, Megalosaurus which had distinctive, large, three-toed feet with claws.
One area of the site shows the carnivore and herbivore tracks crossing over, raising questions about whether and how the two were interacting.
Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur worldwide to be scientifically named and described in 1824, and kick-started the last 200 years of dinosaur science.
Dr Emma Nicholls, Vertebrate Palaeontologist at OUMNH, explained: &ldquo;Scientists have known about and been studying Megalosaurus for longer than any other dinosaur on Earth, and yet these recent discoveries prove there is still new evidence of these animals out there, waiting to be found.&rdquo;
The footprints were buried under mud but came to light when quarry worker Gary Johnson felt &lsquo;unusual bumps&rsquo; as he was stripping the clay back with his vehicle, in order to expose the quarry floor.
At this point, the experts were called in. Working closely with Dewars Farm and Duns Tew Quarry Manager Mark Stanway, and his staff, the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham co-led a team of more than 100 people on a week-long excavation in June 2024.
Together, they painstakingly uncovered around 200 footprints and built detailed 3D models of the site using aerial drone photography &ndash; documenting the footprints in unprecedented detail for future research.
Professor Kirsty Edgar, Professor of Micropalaeontology at the University of Birmingham, said: &ldquo;These footprints offer an extraordinary window into the lives of dinosaurs, revealing details about their movements, interactions, and the tropical environment they inhabited.&rdquo;
Mark Stanway and his team at Smiths Bletchington provided an enormous amount of support from the initial discovery through to the full excavation. They were invaluable in providing both their extensive expertise in the local geology, and operating specialist equipment such as excavators and rock saws.
The new trackways connect to discoveries made in the area in 1997, where previous limestone quarrying revealed more than 40 sets of footprints, with some trackways reaching up to 180 m in length.
At the time, the site provided major new information on the types of dinosaurs present in the UK during the Middle Jurassic Period. The site was recognised as one of the most scientifically important dinosaur track sites in the world and subsequently designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
However, the original site is largely no longer accessible and, since the findings predated the use of digital cameras and drones, there is limited photographic evidence.
The new trackways add to the significance of the area, and even though the discoveries are separated by just thirty years, modern techniques and technology mean the prints can be recorded much more comprehensively than ever before.
Professor Richard Butler, Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Birmingham, said: &ldquo;There is much more that we can learn from this site, which is an important part of our national Earth heritage. Our 3D models will allow researchers to continue to study and make accessible this fascinating piece of our past for generations to come.&rdquo;
During the new excavation, more than 20,000 images were created of the prints. These will provide a wealth of material for further study and education and could yield valuable insights into how these dinosaurs walked, including speeds, how large they were, and if and how they interacted.
Dr Duncan Murdock, Earth Scientist at OUMNH, said: &ldquo;The preservation is so detailed that we can see how the mud was deformed as the dinosaur&rsquo;s feet squelched in and out. Along with other fossils like burrows, shells and plants we can bring to life the muddy lagoon environment the dinosaurs walked through.&rdquo;
The BBC&rsquo;s Digging for Britain team filmed the work as part of a new series due to be broadcast next week. Presented by Professor Alice Roberts, who is also the University of Birmingham&rsquo;s Professor of Public Engagement in Science, the programme will be available on iPlayer from 7th January, and broadcast on BBC Two on 8th January 2025.
The dig will also feature in the exhibition Breaking Ground at OUMNH, which tells the story of major developments in our understanding of the history of life and Earth.
Visitors will be able to view the Megalosaurus fossils used in the first description of a dinosaur, see photographs and video footage from the dig site, and learn about the latest techniques used by palaeontologists to study dinosaurs.
The excavation was funded by the Geologists&rsquo; Association, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, and the University of Birmingham Alumni Fund.

A small plane crashed into a commercial building near Fullerton Municipal Airport, California, on Thursday afternoon. The crash resulted in two fatalities and left 18 others injured, including 10 hospitalized. 

California plane crash kills two, injures 18 near Fullerton Airport

The plane was a single-engine Van's RV-10, a small model with four seats, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has opened an investigation.

A small plane crashed into a commercial building in California on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 18 others, police said.
The crash took place early in the afternoon near Fullerton Municipal Airport, 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles. The cause remains unknown.
"There are two confirmed fatalities," Fullerton police said on X.
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Additionally, 10 people were hospitalized and eight others were treated at the scene.
Investigators do not yet know if the deceased were plane passengers or if they were workers at the building where it crashed, a police officer told local station KTLA.
Television footage showed a gaping hole in the roof of the building, with smoke pouring out.
"All we hear is like a loud noise, boom, and that's it. Then we started running out" of the building, Jerome Cruz, one of the workers who witnessed the scene, told CBS News.
The plane was a single-engine Van's RV-10, a small model with four seats, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has opened an investigation.
Another crash near Fullerton Airport injured two people in November.

The Israeli military confirmed a successful operation in Syria, where over 100 commandos destroyed an Iranian-funded underground missile factory in Masyaf. 

Israeli military dismantles underground missile factory in Syria

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since civil war broke out in 2011, mainly on Iranian-linked targets.

The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that dozens of its troops were flown into Syria in September to destroy an underground missile factory funded by Iran.
The military, which rarely comments on its activities inside Syria, said in a statement that the September 8 raid involved more than 100 Israeli commandos who dismantled the facility in the Masyaf area near the Mediterranean coast.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported at the time that 27 people were killed in the raid. The Israeli military did not disclose any casualty figures.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since civil war broke out in 2011, mainly on Iranian-linked targets.
In a statement on Thursday, the military said the underground factory in Masyaf "included advanced assembly lines designed to manufacture precision-guided missiles and long-range rockets" for Lebanon's Hezbollah "and other Iranian terror proxies in the region".
Troops were flown in by helicopter, "with fire and intelligence-gathering support from aircraft, fighter jets and naval vessels", it said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the raid underscored Israel's resolve to carry out operations anywhere to defend itself.
"This is one of the most important counteractions we have taken against the Iranian axis's attempts to arm itself in order to harm us, and it demonstrates our determination and audacity to act anywhere to protect ourselves," Netanyahu said in a statement.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said: "This precision-guided missile factory was dug in the side of a mountain underground in the area of Masyaf".
"Most components in fact were sourced from Iran for precision-guided missiles and surface-to-surface missiles."
The factory had the capacity to manufacture hundreds of missiles a year, Shoshani added.
The Observatory said the facility was created and supervised by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Tehran at the time condemned the raid as a "criminal attack".
&nbsp;
- Hundreds of air strikes -
Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi, who oversaw the operation, said it was part of "a series of courageous missions" across the Middle East "with the aim of destroying the Iranian axis's missile manufacturing capabilities".
Halevi pointed to other raids in the Gaza Strip, in Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold and on Iranian territory "over the past few months".
"For years, Iran formed a ring of rocket and missile fire around Israel's borders, and we have struck both the ring and its head," he said.
Footage of the raid, released by the military on Thursday, showed soldiers boarding helicopters at a base and later landing at the target inside Syria.
The troops can be seen entering the compound as gunfire echoes in the background. Grainy images later depict soldiers returning to their base.
The military statement said critical machinery and documents found at the factory were brought to Israel for further investigation.
"The soldiers destroyed the compound and safely returned to Israeli territory," it said.
Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP after the raid that intense air strikes preceded it, destroying a separate "scientific research centre" in Masyaf used for weapons development.
Since Islamist-led rebels toppled Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian military assets in what it says is a bid to prevent them from falling into hostile hands.
In a move that drew widespread international condemnation, Israel also sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone that separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.
On Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited the buffer zone and met UN peacekeepers there, a statement from his office said.
"Israel is closely monitoring the situation in Syria, and will not jeopardise its own security. We will not allow another October 7 on any front," Saar added, referring to the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 that triggered the Gaza war.

Bangladesh's new textbooks for 2025 credit Ziaur Rahman with declaring independence in 1971, replacing previous accounts that attributed it to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 

Bangladesh Revises Textbooks, Credits Ziaur Rahman for Independence Declaration

Rakhal Raha, a writer and researcher involved in revising the textbooks, explained that the goal was to present a more accurate history, free from what he termed "exaggerated, imposed history."

In a significant change to the nation's educational curriculum, Bangladesh has introduced new textbooks that credit Ziaur Rahman with declaring the country's independence in 1971, replacing the previous version that credited founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The new textbooks, set for the 2025 academic year, feature a series of revisions, including the removal of the title "Father of the Nation" from Mujibur Rahman.
According to a report by The Daily Star, the new textbooks for primary and secondary school students now state that "on March 26, 1971, Ziaur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh, and on March 27, he made another declaration of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu." This change was confirmed by Prof AKM Reazul Hassan, the chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. The alterations were made in textbooks distributed for free to students, particularly those discussing the declaration of independence.
Rakhal Raha, a writer and researcher involved in revising the textbooks, explained that the goal was to present a more accurate history, free from what he termed "exaggerated, imposed history." He added that those responsible for the revision found no factual basis for the claim that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sent the wireless message declaring independence while he was imprisoned by the Pakistani army. As a result, the statement was removed from the textbooks.
Historically, the Awami League has maintained that Mujibur Rahman made the declaration of independence, while Ziaur Rahman, then an army major, only read it out on Mujib's instructions. In the aftermath of changes to the textbooks, the Bangladeshi government has also started phasing out the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from currency notes and other public symbols. This move gained momentum following the ousting of Mujib's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, as prime minister on August 5. Additionally, statues and murals bearing his likeness have been targeted, and the interim government canceled a national holiday that commemorated his assassination on August 15.

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting outside the Amazura nightclub in Queens, New York, on Wednesday night. While the incident is under investigation, the New York Police Department confirmed that none of the victims are in critical conditio

Mass shooting outside New York nightclub injures 10

At least 10 people were injured in a shooting outside the Amazura nightclub in Queens, New York, on Wednesday night. While the incident is under investigation, the New York Police Department confirmed that none of the victims are in critical condition.

This shooting incident in Queens follows a deadly attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, where a U.S. Army veteran drove his pickup truck into a crowd, killing 15 people and injuring many others.

A violent shooting erupted outside a nightclub in Queens, New York, on New Year's Day, leaving 10 people injured, according to police. The attack took place outside the Amazura nightclub in Jamaica at approximately 11:18 pm on Wednesday.
Authorities reported that a group of three to four men approached the venue and unleashed over 30 gunshots toward a crowd standing in line for an event, damaging vehicles and striking individuals.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Big news : Mass shooting has been reported at Queens, New York. The report suggests dozens of people have been shot dead.. <a href="https://t.co/spEqWPCLDM">pic.twitter.com/spEqWPCLDM</a>
&mdash; Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrSinha_/status/1874687807966543916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The victims, six females and four males aged 16 to 20, were predominantly teenagers. Despite the severity of the incident, none of the injuries are life-threatening, and all victims are expected to recover, NYPD officials confirmed during a press briefing on Thursday.
The police are actively searching for a light-colored sedan believed to be connected to the shooting. Investigators emphasized that the incident was not linked to terrorism.
The Amazura nightclub, known for its vast 4,000-person capacity and frequent DJ and live performances, became the unfortunate scene of this violent act.
The incident coincided with a separate terror attack in New Orleans earlier that day, where 15 people lost their lives.

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one person and injuring seven others. Authorities are investigating potential terrorism links to the explosion.

Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel: One Dead, Seven Injured

Video footage shows the stainless steel truck parked at the hotel entrance before bursting into flames, followed by smaller explosions that appeared similar to fireworks.

A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside a hotel belonging to US President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas, killing at least one person and wounding seven, police said Wednesday.
US President Joe Biden said authorities were investigating any links between the Las Vegas explosion and an attack earlier Wednesday in New Orleans, where a truck plowed into a crowd of New Year's revelers, killing at least 15.
However, Biden cautioned that no such links had yet been found. The FBI and local law enforcement said they believed the Tesla blast was an isolated incident, but they were investigating whether it was an "act of terrorism."
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New footage shows the Tesla Cybertruck exploding at the entrance of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. WATCH <a href="https://t.co/GAnY4DATYp">pic.twitter.com/GAnY4DATYp</a>
&mdash; Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1874541084153614339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The electric vehicle -- made by the company owned by Trump backer Elon Musk -- pulled up to the Trump International Hotel's glass entrance before a "large explosion," Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters.
Video footage shows the stainless steel truck parked at the hotel entrance before bursting into flames, followed by smaller explosions that appeared similar to fireworks.
McMahill said there was "one deceased individual inside the Cybertruck," while seven people received "minor" injuries. He said the hotel had been evacuated.
He told a later news conference that the back of the truck contained gasoline and camping fuel canisters, as well as "large firework mortars."
McMahill also said the fact that it was a Cybertruck "really limited the damage... because it had most of the blast go up through the truck and out," noting that the glass doors of the hotel, just a few feet away, "were not even broken by that blast."
Biden said authorities were probing "any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans."
"Thus far, there's nothing to report on that score," he said.
FBI agent Jeremy Schwartz described the Las Vegas blast as "an isolated incident."
He said that an FBI joint terrorism task force was conducting the investigation with two main goals -- to confirm the identity of the "subject involved in this incident" and to determine "whether this was an act of terrorism or not."
&nbsp;
- Concerns over Trump-Musk link -
There had been indications that the suspect in the New Orleans attack had been inspired by the Islamic State group, Biden said.
McMahill said they had "no indication" so far that the blast in Las Vegas had any similar links to the jihadist group.
However, he added: "It's a Tesla truck, and we know Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it's the Trump tower."
"So there's obviously things to be concerned about there and that's something we continue to look at," McMahill said.
Musk, who backed Trump in the November election and was named by the Republican to head up a commission to trim government spending, said in a post on his social media platform X that the explosion was "unrelated to the vehicle itself."
He said earlier the "whole Tesla senior team" was investigating the blast, adding: "We've never seen anything like this."
The truck had been rented in Colorado through the carsharing company Turo, police said -- the same app that was used to rent the vehicle in the New Orleans attack.
McMahill said that was a "coincidence... that we have to continue to look in to."
A spokesperson for the app, used by millions of people in the United States, said they were working with law enforcement, but that neither renter "had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat."

The New Year began tragically in New Orleans as a suspect drove into a crowd, killing 15 and wounding dozens before dying in a shootout with police.

New Orleans Attack: 15 Dead in Suspected Terror Incident

The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US Army veteran who was honorably discharged.

The United States saw 2025 begin with a violent attack, after a man drove deliberately at high speed into a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens more.
Here is what we know so far.
&nbsp;
- What happened? -
A US citizen drove a white Ford pickup truck flying an Islamic State flag into throngs of people celebrating the New Year in the French Quarter, the Louisiana city's most iconic tourist district, around 3:15 am (0915 GMT), according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He crashed the vehicle, then opened fire and died in a shootout with police, who said he had driven with the aim of killing as many people as possible.
He had rented the truck on popular carsharing app Turo, authorities said.
&nbsp;
- What is the toll? -
Authorities had earlier put the toll at 10, but an FBI spokesman told AFP it had risen to 15, citing the New Orleans coroner's office.
The assailant shot and wounded two police officers, who were described as being in stable condition, said New Orleans police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
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&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
- What was the motive? -
This was not immediately clear, but the FBI said it was investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism.
President Joe Biden said the suspect had shared videos online that indicated he was "inspired by ISIS," using another name for the Islamic State armed group.
Officials say the pickup truck was flying a black flag of the Islamic State group and that they had recovered two improvised explosive devices.
&nbsp;
- What is the suspect's identity? -
The FBI identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US Army veteran who was honorably discharged.
He served more than 10 years in the military as a human resource specialist and an IT specialist, according to the Pentagon, which said Jabbar deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.
Jabbar held a degree in computing from Georgia State University and lived in Houston, Texas, where he had worked as a real estate agent.
The FBI said it believes the suspect may have had accomplices, but gave few additional details.
&nbsp;
- Where did the attack take place? -
The car-ramming took place in the heart of the French Quarter, a historic district known for its vibrant nightlife with many bars, restaurants and jazz venues.
The French Quarter and New Orleans in general are well known for the raucous pre-Lenten street party known as Mardi Gras.
The city was also hosting tens of thousands of people who came to see a major college football game called the Sugar Bowl, which has now been postponed by 24 hours.
New Orleans is also scheduled to host the Super Bowl on February 9.

Elon Musk has shifted his stance on the H-1B visa, now advocating for reforms to fix the "broken" system. While supporting skilled foreign workers, Musk emphasizes the need for raising the minimum salary and making the program more costly.

Elon Musk Calls for H-1B Visa Reform Amid Growing Debate

Several of Trump&rsquo;s supporters and immigration hardliners have been increasingly pushing for scrapping the H-1B visa programme amid debate over immigration.

After vowing to "go to war" to defend the H-1B visa programme, tech billionaire Elon Musk has softened his stand on the issue by calling for reforms in the "broken" system used to bring skilled foreign workers to the US.
Musk, along with Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, has been tapped by Trump to lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Last week, Musk argued that foreign workers were needed for tech companies like Musk&rsquo;s SpaceX and Tesla.
"The reason I&rsquo;m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H-1B," Musk last week wrote on X.
Musk, however, appeared to retract his earlier statement in response to a post by an X user who said America needed to be a destination for the world&rsquo;s most "elite talent" but argued the current H-1B system was not the solution.
"Easily fixed by raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically. I&rsquo;ve been very clear that the programme is broken and needs major reform," Musk on Sunday said in a post on X.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
The tech industry has long called for more H-1B visas to attract highly skilled workers to the US.
Musk, who was once on an H-1B visa and whose electric vehicle company Tesla has hired workers using the programme, defended the tech industry's need to hire foreign workers.
"Anyone - of any race, creed or nationality - who came to America and worked like hell to contribute to this country will forever have my respect. America is the land of freedom and opportunity. Fight with every fibre of your being to keep it that way!" he wrote on X on December 28.
Musk's statement also received backing from president-elect Donald Trump whose first administration restricted the programme in 2020, arguing that it allows businesses to replace Americans with lower-paid foreign workers.
However, Trump recently said: &ldquo;I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favour of the visas. That's why we have them."
Musk has been consistently posting on X in favour of the programme.
"There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent. It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley," Musk wrote on December 25 on X.
Several of Trump&rsquo;s supporters and immigration hardliners have been increasingly pushing for scrapping the H-1B visa programme amid debate over immigration.
The debate sparked when Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer, criticised Trump's selection of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favours the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the US.
Loomer declared the stance to be "not America First policy" and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves.
The debate intensified when Ramaswamy criticised American culture for promoting mediocrity instead of focusing on academic excellence and success based on merit.
&ldquo;Trump&rsquo;s election hopefully marks the beginning of a new golden era in America, but only if our culture fully wakes up. A culture that once again prioritises achievement over normalcy; excellence over mediocrity; nerdiness over conformity; hard work over laziness,&rdquo; Ramaswamy said on Thursday.
He faced backlash for the comment.
In response, Musk called for removing &ldquo;contemptible fools&rdquo; from the Republican Party who oppose his immigration agenda.
Musk later clarified that his statement was addressing the &ldquo;hateful, unrepentant racists&rdquo; he considers a threat to the Republican Party's future.

A viral video shows a tense near-miss at Los Angeles International Airport, where a Delta Airlines flight narrowly avoided colliding with a plane carrying the Gonzaga basketball team.

Viral video captures narrow escape of 2 planes at Los Angeles airport

Video footage captured the Gonzaga team&rsquo;s private jet coming to an abrupt stop, mere moments before the Delta plane soared into the sky.

In a tense and alarming moment at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a Delta Airlines flight narrowly avoided a collision with a plane carrying the Gonzaga University basketball team. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, just days after a deadly plane crash in South Korea, leaving witnesses and passengers shaken.
At approximately 4:30 pm local time, Key Lime Air Flight 563, a chartered plane carrying the team, was taxiing across the runway after landing from Washington ahead of their game against UCLA. Suddenly, air traffic controllers shouted urgently, "Stop, stop, stop!" The pilot halted the Embraer ERJ-135 jet just in time as Delta Flight 471, an Airbus A321 bound for Atlanta, sped past during takeoff. WATCH VIDEO: 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 &ldquo;STOP STOP STOP!&rdquo; LAX ATC urgently called out to a Key Lime Air jet as a Delta jet took off from runway 24L. Was this a runway incursion? All of it captured live during Friday&rsquo;s Airline Videos Live broadcast. <a href="https://t.co/5vwQfVzggQ">pic.twitter.com/5vwQfVzggQ</a>
&mdash; AIRLINE VIDEOS (@airlinevideos) <a href="https://twitter.com/airlinevideos/status/1873030759977763081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Video footage captured the Gonzaga team&rsquo;s private jet coming to an abrupt stop, mere moments before the Delta plane soared into the sky. An aviation enthusiast present at the airport described the scene, saying, "In all my years of watching planes, I&rsquo;ve never seen or heard anything like it."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since launched an investigation into the incident. According to a statement, air traffic controllers had instructed the Gonzaga team&rsquo;s plane to hold short of the runway, but the jet began to roll forward. Controllers quickly intervened, ordering the pilot to stop before crossing the runway edge.
Despite the close call, Delta Flight 471 faced no delays and continued on schedule. Gonzaga University confirmed the safety of their team, noting that the aircraft was a chartered Embraer ERJ-135.
This incident adds to a troubling week for aviation safety. Just days earlier, a Jeju Air flight crash in South Korea claimed 179 lives, and a separate crash in Kazakhstan left 38 dead. The FAA&rsquo;s ongoing investigation at LAX aims to determine how such a critical near-miss occurred and to ensure stricter safety measures in the future.

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Temperatures in Russia's Yakutsk in east Siberia have plunged to -62.7 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest day in Russia in more than two decades.

Watch: temperature in Siberia drops to lowest in 21 years

Watch: Temperature in Siberia drops to lowest in 21 years

Temperatures in Russia's Yakutsk in east Siberia have plunged to -62.7 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest day in Russia in more than two decades.

Temperatures in Russia's Yakutsk in east Siberia have plunged to -62.7 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest day in Russia in more than two decades.
The weather agency in Russia&rsquo;s Yakutia region said a temperature of -62.7 degrees Celsius was recorded at Tongulakh at 9 am on 18 January 2023, breaking the station&rsquo;s all-time low for the third time this month, BNO News said in a report.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Russia was -67.8&deg;C (-90.0&deg;F), which happened two times, first in 1892 and then in 1933. This was also the world&rsquo;s lowest temperature ever recorded in a populated region.

Discover the remarkable story of Buddha Air's Flight BHA953, where expert handling by the flight crew turned a right engine flameout into a safe emergency landing at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport.

Buddha Air flight makes emergency landing at Kathmandu airport

A technical issue on Buddha Air's Flight BHA953 led to an emergency landing back in Kathmandu. The crisis highlighted the skill and resilience of the flight crew, ensuring the safety of all 76 passengers on board.

A Buddha Air flight with 76 people on board made an emergency landing at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport after experiencing a left engine flameout. The flight was en route to Chandragadi. No injuries were reported.

A Buddha Air flight with 76 people on board made an emergency landing at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu on January 6 after experiencing a left engine flameout. Flight BHA953, which had departed from TIA at 10:37 AM local time and was en route to Chandragadi, encountered the engine issue and initiated a VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range) approach to Kathmandu at 11:15 AM, as confirmed by a press release from the Tribhuvan International Airport and Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
The flight had 72 passengers and 4 crew members aboard. Buddha Air later confirmed the incident on X, stating, "Flight number 953 from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, with call sign 9N-AJS, was diverted back to Kathmandu after a technical issue was detected in the right engine. The aircraft safely landed at Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:15 AM."
The airline also assured passengers that its technical team was inspecting the aircraft, and arrangements were being made to send passengers to Bhadrapur on a different flight. Meanwhile, TIA temporarily suspended other operations during the emergency landing of the Buddha Air flight.&nbsp;
[This is a developing story, more details are awaited.]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to resign from his position as leader of the Liberal Party this week following internal party dissent and plummeting approval ratings. 

Justin Trudeau Expected to Resign Amid Dissent and Low Approval Ratings

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to resign from his position as leader of the Liberal Party this week following internal party dissent and plummeting approval ratings.&nbsp;

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to resign as the leader of the Liberal Party this week amid internal party dissent and low public opinion ratings, according to a media report.
The Globe and Mail newspaper citing sources said it is unclear when exactly Trudeau, who has been Canada's prime minister since 2015, will step down, but a resignation is expected to come before a national caucus meeting on Wednesday.
One of the sources, who spoke recently to the Prime Minister, said Trudeau, 53, realises he needs to make a statement before he meets the Liberal caucus so it doesn&rsquo;t look like he was forced out by his own MPs.
The sources said they are unsure about what the Liberal Party's national executive plans to do to replace Trudeau as leader. They said it remains unclear whether he will leave immediately or stay on as Prime Minister until a new leader is selected.
The Liberal Party national executive, which decides on leadership issues, plans to meet this week, likely after the caucus session, the report said.
On Friday, The Globe reported that Trudeau&rsquo;s advisers are looking at how he can remain Prime Minister while a new Liberal leader is selected.
A source said on Sunday they believed that Trudeau would stay in his position until a new leader was chosen.
The party has two options: appoint an interim leader on the recommendation of the national caucus or hold a shortened leadership contest. A leadership contest would require the Prime Minister to request that Governor-General Mary Simon prorogue Parliament, which constitutional experts say is not guaranteed, the paper said.
Another source said it makes sense for Trudeau to remain as Prime Minister until a leader is chosen so he can deal with the incoming US administration of Donald Trump and his threat of 25-per-cent tariffs.
A Liberal Party source said a leadership race would take at least three months, although the party constitution requests at least four months.
The news of resignation comes as Trudeau's popularity continues to dwindle in Canada, which should hold an election by late October.
Public opinion polls show that his party will likely be swept out of power by Pierre Poilievre&rsquo;s Conservatives.
According to Canadian pollster Angus Reid, Trudeau has a disapproval rate of around 68 per cent as of December 24.
Trudeau faced a difficult few months in politics. His own party members are calling for his resignation. In September, he faced a no confidence vote in parliament that later failed, despite efforts from the Conservative Party to remove him from office.
On December 16, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that she was stepping down from Trudeau's cabinet, dealing a significant blow to the prime minister. Later in December, one of Trudeau's key allies, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, said that he planned to present a formal motion of no-confidence against him.
Trudeau took over as Liberal leader in 2013. If he resigns, it would likely spur fresh calls for a quick election to put in place a stable government.

Ukraine's forces launched a counterattack in Russia's Kursk region, marking a critical escalation in the nearly three-year conflict. 

Russia says Ukraine launches 'counterattack' in Kursk region

Ukraine's forces launched a counterattack in Russia's Kursk region, marking a critical escalation in the nearly three-year conflict.&nbsp;

Russia said Sunday that Ukraine had launched a "counterattack" in the western border region of Kursk, where Kyiv's forces began a shock ground offensive last August.
It was not immediately clear how much Ukraine had advanced in the region, but pro-Kremlin military bloggers reported earlier that a powerful new offensive was under way.
The assault comes at a critical juncture in the nearly three-year conflict, with both sides seeking to strengthen their negotiating hand ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House on January 20.
"At about 9:00 am Moscow time (0600 GMT), in order to halt the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack," the Russian defence ministry said.
The Ukrainian army did not comment on the operation, simply saying in its daily report that fighting was under way in the Kursk region without elaborating.
Ukraine used two tanks, a dozen armoured vehicles and a demolition unit in the assault, which was directed towards the village of Berdin -- about 15 kilometres (nine miles) northeast of Sudzha, Moscow said.
"The operation to destroy the Ukrainian army formations continues," it added.
Pro-Kremlin military bloggers acknowledged the Russian army had come under pressure but said Moscow was fighting back.
"The main events of the next attempted offensive by the Ukrainian army are clearly still ahead of us," influential pro-Russian Telegram channel Rybar said.
Images purportedly showing a column of Ukrainian armoured vehicles driving through the snow were shared by pro-Russia military blogger Dva Mayora on Telegram.
&nbsp;
- Attack 'from several directions' -
Ukrainian officials gave little detail on the new offensive, with a prominent lawmaker urging silence.
"I can't understand why it is necessary to officially report on the Kursk region. Maybe better to do it afterwards when the operation is over?" Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko said.
Other officials expressed their glee at the operation, which comes almost three years since Moscow launched its full-scale military assault on Ukraine.
"Russia is getting what it deserves," Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said.
The head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, said on Telegram that defence forces were "working" in the area, without elaborating.
"In the Kursk region, the Russians are very worried because they were attacked from several directions, and it was a surprise for them," he said.
Kyiv seized dozens of villages in the Kursk region shortly after its incursion started on August 6, 2024, but its advances stalled after Moscow rushed reinforcements to the area, including thousands of troops from its ally North Korea.
A Ukrainian army source told AFP last November that Kyiv still controlled 800 square kilometres (around 300 square miles) of the Russian border region, down from previous claims it controlled almost 1,400 square kilometres.
&nbsp;
- Zelensky on Trump -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last year the Kursk operation has boosted Kyiv's "exchange fund" -- its negotiating position on swapping prisoners of war -- and diverted tens of thousands of Russian troops away from the eastern front.
He said Saturday evening that "up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian airborne troops" had been lost in battles in the Kursk region on that day and the day before.
And in an interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman released Sunday, he underlined the key role Trump would play.
"Trump and I will come to an agreement and... offer strong security guarantees, together with Europe, and then we can talk to the Russians," Zelensky said, according to the published translation of the interview held in Kyiv over the New Year.
"We and Trump come first, and Europe will support Ukraine's position," he added. Trump, he said, "has enough power to pressure him, to pressure Putin".
&nbsp;
- Airports briefly shut -
But Kyiv has so far been unable to halt Moscow's advances in Ukraine, which were seven times higher in 2024 than the year prior, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War.
Both Russia and Ukraine have exchanged regular attacks since the year began.
Russia said Sunday it had downed dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight in a barrage that damaged homes and triggered air alerts, while Kyiv said Moscow fired 103 drones into its territory.
Four Russian airports briefly suspended traffic early Sunday for "safety" reasons, a spokesperson for Russia's civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia said.
Elsewhere on the front line, Ukrainian authorities in the eastern Donetsk region reported Sunday that five people had been wounded in Russian shelling.

The UK's Arctic blast leads to snow, health alerts, and flooding challenges. Communities rally for support, highlighting resilience during severe disruptions and cold waves.

UK Battles Snow, Health Alerts & Floods

The UK's Arctic blast ushers in snow, health alerts, and flooding, causing significant disruptions. Communities unite as they face severe weather and rising floodwaters with resilience.

The UK faces an arctic blast with snow and ice warnings across England, Scotland, and Wales. Up to 30 cm of snow is expected. Amber health alerts urge caution for the vulnerable. Flooding in Greater Manchester has forced evacuations and disrupted travel.

The UK is grappling with an arctic blast that has brought severe frost, heavy snow, and widespread disruptions. Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in effect across most of England, Wales, and Scotland, with temperatures expected to drop significantly over the weekend. Up to 30 cm (1 ft) of snow is forecast in some regions.
Amber Health Alerts Sounded Across England: England is under amber cold health alerts, signaling heightened risks for cold-related illnesses and fatalities. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, are urged to take extra precautions.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recommended actions such as checking on at-risk individuals and ensuring support systems are in place. NHS services also advised avoiding early morning or late-night travel when frost and darkness increase risks.
Weather Warnings at a Glance January 4: Snow and ice warnings cover most of England (except the southwest) and Wales from noon to midnight. January 5-6: A snow warning for Scotland runs from midnight Sunday to 12:00 GMT Monday. January 3: Existing warnings are active in northeast Scotland, northwest England, western Wales, and parts of Northern Ireland until 10:00 GMT.
 Flooding Sparks Crisis in Greater Manchester
 While snow warnings dominate headlines, flooding in Greater Manchester has added to the chaos. Declared a 'major incident' on January 1, rising waters forced evacuations and train cancellations in areas like Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport, and Wigan.
The Met Office has warned of hazardous driving conditions and advised against non-essential travel. Residents are urged to plan routes carefully and check for delays or closures.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy emphasized the government&rsquo;s commitment to accelerating flood defence projects. "We&rsquo;re working urgently to support affected communities and enhance resilience," she said.
As the UK faces snowstorms, icy roads, and floodwaters, officials continue to stress vigilance and preparation to ensure public safety.

China is addressing a surge in respiratory illnesses, including human metapneumovirus (HMPV), influenza A, and other pathogens. 

China Faces Surge in Respiratory Illnesses, Including HMPV

Social media posts have drawn attention to the strain on healthcare facilities, particularly pediatric hospitals, which are struggling with rising pneumonia cases and reports of "white lung" syndrome.

China is currently dealing with a surge in respiratory illnesses, including the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), raising concerns similar to those during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Social media posts and reports suggest overwhelmed hospitals and crematories as multiple viruses&mdash;including HMPV, Influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19&mdash;circulate widely.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
⚠️ BREAKING: Hospitals in China 🇨🇳 Overwhelmed as Severe "Flu" Outbreak, Including Influenza A and HMPV, Resembling 2020 COVID Surge. Hospitals in China are overwhelmed as outbreaks of "influenza A" and "human metapneumovirus" resemble the COVID-19 surge from three years ago. <a href="https://t.co/mPF6XGjQCY">pic.twitter.com/mPF6XGjQCY</a>
&mdash; SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) (@COVID19_disease) <a href="https://twitter.com/COVID19_disease/status/1873035805104718184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
While there are unverified claims of a national emergency, Reuters reported that China&rsquo;s disease control authority has launched a pilot monitoring system for pneumonia of unknown origin. This initiative aims to better prepare for potential outbreaks and contrasts with the initial unpreparedness during the emergence of Covid-19 five years ago.
&nbsp;
Official Response
The National Disease Control and Prevention Administration is working to establish a procedure for laboratories to report and verify cases of unknown respiratory illnesses. According to state broadcaster CCTV, these measures will help authorities create standardized protocols to manage new pathogens.
Between December 16 and 22, data showed an increase in respiratory infections, particularly in northern provinces, with a notable rise in cases of HMPV among children under 14. Kan Biao, an official with the disease control authority, mentioned that while respiratory infections are expected to rise in winter, the overall numbers could be smaller than last year.
&nbsp;
Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)
HMPV is a respiratory virus that affects vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms range from mild cold-like conditions&mdash;cough, fever, and nasal congestion&mdash;to severe respiratory complications like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, much like Covid-19. However, there is no vaccine for HMPV, and experts warn against indiscriminate use of antiviral drugs. A respiratory expert in Shanghai highlighted the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
 Public Concerns and Warnings
Social media posts have drawn attention to the strain on healthcare facilities, particularly pediatric hospitals, which are struggling with rising pneumonia cases and reports of "white lung" syndrome. A post shared by the X handle "SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19)" claimed that multiple respiratory illnesses are overwhelming hospitals and crematories.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that China&rsquo;s enhanced monitoring system aims to address gaps in its previous response to unknown pathogens. Officials stress the importance of public awareness and cooperation in managing the current outbreak. 
Outlook
With respiratory infections expected to increase during winter and spring, Chinese health authorities are focusing on early detection, enhanced preparedness, and effective treatment protocols. The ongoing surge underscores the need for vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate the impact of these illnesses.

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