USA

Houston, Feb 16 (PTI) Houstonians woke up to heaps of snow outside their homes Monday morning, with brutally cold wind chill dipping temperatures into the teens and no electricity in most areas.

The entire state of Texas is under a winter storm warning. National Weather Service forecasters have extended the winter storm warning for the Houston area to 6 a.m. Thursday, as cold weather and the threat of more rain -- freezing or otherwise -- remain.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Union activist Terrence Wise recalls being laughed at when he began pushing for a national $15 per hour minimum wage almost a decade ago. Nearly a year into the pandemic, the idea isn’t so funny.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new-old ritual is taking shape in the Biden White House, one that starts with bulky briefing packages, war-gaming the “what-ifs,” and Oval Office discussions about how to talk to this or that particular U.S. ally or adversary.

Twelve times since he took office, President Joe Biden has dialed up a world leader after reinstituting what was a long-held White House standard mothballed by Donald Trump: vigorous preparation. Gone are unnecessary digressions and over-the-top cajoling or haranguing of fellow heads of state.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — In a text message, a radicalized Trump supporter suggested getting a boat to ferry “heavy weapons” across the Potomac River into the waiting arms of their members in time for Jan. 6, court papers say.

It wasn’t just idle talk, authorities say. Investigators found invoices for more than $750 worth of live ammunition and for a firearm designed to look like a cellphone at the Virginia home of Thomas Caldwell, who’s charged with conspiring with members of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group in one of the most sinister plots in the U.S. Capitol siege.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A sprawling blast of winter weather across the U.S. is likely to blame for the deaths of two people in Texas, where an unusually snowy emergency Monday knocked out power for more than four million people, shut down grocery stores and air travel and closed schools ahead of frigid days still to come.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Congress will establish an independent, Sept. 11-style commission to look into the deadly insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol.

Pelosi said the commission will “investigate and report on the facts and causes relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex … and relating to the interference with the peaceful transfer of power.”

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 15 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” over the increased use of force and the reported deployment of armoured vehicles in Myanmar, according to his spokesman.

In a statement issued on Sunday night by Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief called on the military and police of Myanmar to ensure that the right of peaceful assembly is “fully respected” and demonstrators are “not subjected to reprisals”.

“Reports of continued violence, intimidation and harassment by security personnel are unacceptable”, he added.

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States condemned the execution of 13 Turkish hostages held by the PKK terrorists in northern Iraq.

The executions, which included military and police personnel, took place during a Turkish military operation launched on Feb 10 against the PKK, in which 48 militants were also killed, according to Turkey’s defense minister.

Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar revealed that the PKK terrorists executed 13 Turkish citizens in a cave in northern Iraq after abducting them. Most were shot in the head.

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (NNN-Caribbean News Network) — Haiti’s ambassador to the United States has requested for international community’s help to support talks between President Jovenel Moise’s government and the opposition in resolving the country’s constitutional crisis.

There has been an on-going dispute between Moise’s administration and the opposition on when the president’s term should end.

15 Feb 2021; MEMO: The US Department of Transportation has warned it would prevent Israel's El Al flights from landing in American airports if Tel Aviv continues to prevent American planes from landing in Israel, Israeli media reported yesterday.