Global Pulse

标签： North America

北美洲

  • Powerful winter storm shuts schools, disrupts travel across US Northeast

    Powerful winter storm shuts schools, disrupts travel across US Northeast

    A severe winter storm has brought the Northeastern United States to a standstill, prompting a cascade of emergency declarations, widespread school closures, and massive travel disruptions. The powerful system, delivering heavy snowfall and intense winds, has activated a multi-state crisis response.

    In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency, instituting a vehicle ban for non-essential travel from Sunday night through Monday noon to facilitate snow clearance and emergency operations. The city’s public school system, the nation’s largest, canceled all classes and after-school programs for a traditional snow day, with no remote instruction. This marks the first blizzard warning for the city since 2017.

    The disruption extended to the highest levels of international diplomacy, forcing the closure of the United Nations headquarters complex in Manhattan. New York Governor Kathy Hochul mobilized 100 National Guard members to assist in hardest-hit regions, including Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley, where forecasts predicted up to two feet of snow and wind gusts reaching 70 mph.

    The storm’s impact crippled transportation networks across the region. Air travel suffered significantly, with over 5,000 flights canceled for Monday according to FlightAware, with further cancellations expected. Ground transit systems, including NJ TRANSIT and Rhode Island Public Transit Authority services, were fully suspended. The U.S. Postal Service warned of potential delays in mail and package delivery.

    State leadership across the Northeast echoed urgent calls for public safety. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared an emergency and ordered state workers to stay home. Connecticut implemented a commercial vehicle ban on limited-access highways, while New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a statewide emergency, emphasizing the serious nature of the storm. Despite an ongoing funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA confirmed its disaster-response operations continue unimpeded, with life safety remaining the top priority.

  • Fire breaks out in Abu Dhabi warehouse; teams battle blaze on site

    Fire breaks out in Abu Dhabi warehouse; teams battle blaze on site

    Emergency services in Abu Dhabi are actively combating a significant warehouse fire that ignited during the morning hours of Monday, February 23rd. The incident occurred at an industrial storage facility located in the Capital’s Al Muzoon district, prompting a large-scale response from local authorities.

    The Abu Dhabi Police Force, in coordination with the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, has confirmed the deployment of multiple specialized teams to the scene. First responders are currently engaged in fire suppression operations to contain the blaze and prevent its spread to adjacent structures.

    In an official communication, police authorities have issued a critical advisory to the public, urging residents to rely exclusively on information disseminated through official government channels. This directive aims to prevent the circulation of unverified claims and potential misinformation regarding the ongoing emergency situation.

    The precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet released details regarding potential casualties or structural damage assessments. The coordinated emergency response demonstrates the emirate’s preparedness protocols for industrial incidents, though the full extent of the impact will require further evaluation once the situation is fully stabilized.

  • BAFTA Awards 2026: Farhan Akhtar reveals decision to back ‘Boong’ after its big win

    BAFTA Awards 2026: Farhan Akhtar reveals decision to back ‘Boong’ after its big win

    In a landmark achievement for regional Indian cinema, the Manipuri-language feature film ‘Boong’ secured the prestigious Best Children and Family Film award at the 2026 BAFTA Awards ceremony held at London’s Royal Festival Hall. This historic victory marks the first time an Indian production has triumphed in this category, standing out against formidable international contenders including ‘Zootopia 2’, ‘Lilo & Stitch’, and ‘Arco’.

    Producer Farhan Akhtar, who backed the project through his production company, revealed his decision-making process behind supporting this unconventional venture. Akhtar cited his nearly two-decade professional relationship with director Lakshmipriya Devi as a fundamental factor, emphasizing the importance of established trust and creative familiarity. ‘This film is set in a region of India from which we rarely get to watch films,’ Akhtar explained during post-award celebrations. ‘It felt natural to support both the artistic vision and the regional representation, particularly with such a heartwarming narrative.’

    The film follows the emotional journey of its young protagonist, Boong, from Manipur, who embarks on a quest to find his missing father, believing this reunion would constitute the perfect gift for his mother. This innocent mission unexpectedly transforms into a profound journey of self-discovery and new beginnings.

    ‘Boong’s’ path to BAFTA recognition began with its premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section, followed by screenings at numerous prestigious festivals including the Warsaw International Film Festival, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, International Film Festival of India, and Indian Film Festival of Melbourne throughout 2024 and 2025. The creative team, including producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Alan McAlex alongside Akhtar and Devi, attended the ceremony to accept the award, representing India’s only nomination at the event.

  • Mexican drug lord killing sparks revenge attacks; businesses set ablaze, highways blocked

    Mexican drug lord killing sparks revenge attacks; businesses set ablaze, highways blocked

    Mexico has been plunged into a state of widespread turmoil and retaliatory violence following the confirmed death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the infamous leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as ‘El Mencho’. The high-profile kingpin was killed during a targeted military raid in the town of Tapalpa on Sunday, triggering an immediate and coordinated response from his loyalists.

    Within hours of the operation, suspected cartel members launched a campaign of terror across more than half a dozen Mexican states. Key transportation arteries were systematically blockaded, while vehicles and commercial establishments were set ablaze in a show of force. The Pacific coast resort city of Puerto Vallarta, a crucial tourism hub, witnessed thick plumes of dark smoke obscuring its famous ocean views, prompting several international airlines to cancel flights to the region.

    Local authorities issued urgent advisories, urging both residents and tourists to shelter indoors as sporadic gunfire erupted. The national guard military police base in Jalisco came under direct attack, while trucking associations advised drivers to seek safe routes or return to their depots indefinitely. Government security sources shared videos depicting military tanks patrolling residential neighborhoods in Aguascalientes and cartel members openly blocking roads from pickup trucks in Colima.

    A CJNG member, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, confirmed the attacks were acts of revenge for El Mencho’s death and warned of impending internal bloodshed as factions within the cartel vie for control. This pattern of explosive violence following the removal of cartel leadership has become a tragic hallmark of Mexico’s long-standing war against drug trafficking organizations, with previous operations against the Sinaloa Cartel producing similarly devastating consequences.

    International observers expressed grave concern, with former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau describing the scenes with ‘great sadness and concern’ while emphasizing the need to maintain resolve. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the disturbances but sought to project calm, stating that ‘in most of the national territory, activities are happening with absolute normalcy’ despite evidence of significant disruption across multiple states.

  • Netflix boss defends bid for Warner Bros as Paramount deadline looms

    Netflix boss defends bid for Warner Bros as Paramount deadline looms

    In a high-stakes corporate battle reshaping the entertainment landscape, Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos has vigorously defended his company’s $82.7 billion acquisition offer for Warner Bros assets, positioning it as fundamentally superior to Paramount Global’s competing $108.4 billion bid for the entire company. Speaking exclusively with the BBC’s Today programme, Sarandos characterized Netflix’s approach as growth-oriented expansion rather than consolidation, emphasizing strategic advantages over Paramount’s alternative vision.

    The executive articulated that Netflix’s targeted acquisition of Warner Bros’ studio operations and streaming networks—including prized assets like New Line Cinema and HBO Max—would create market expansion by adding capabilities Netflix currently lacks. This stands in stark contrast to Paramount’s comprehensive buyout proposal, which Sarandos suggested would inevitably lead to significant contraction through projected $22 billion in operational cuts and the effective reduction of Hollywood’s major studios from five to four through merger consolidation.

    Amid mounting external pressures, Sarandos addressed multiple fronts of opposition. He dismissed former President Trump’s threats regarding board member Susan Rice as irrelevant political posturing, maintaining the transaction represents purely business considerations. Simultaneously, he countered criticism from acclaimed director James Cameron, who had warned regulators about potential disastrous consequences for cinema culture. Sarandos presented data suggesting Netflix actually stimulates film consumption, noting subscribers average seven monthly movie views compared to Americans’ biannual cinema attendance.

    The corporate showdown approaches a critical juncture as Warner Bros shareholders prepare to vote next month on Netflix’s offer, with Paramount having faced a Monday deadline to submit its final competing proposal. While Paramount has characterized its offer as providing greater shareholder certainty and offered to cover Warner Bros’ $2.8 billion breakup fee with Netflix, Sarandos remains confident in what he describes as a ‘spectacular opportunity at a price’ that aligns with Netflix’s consistent growth trajectory, exemplified by their $6 billion investment in UK original programming since 2020.

  • Mexican military kills cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ in US-backed raid

    Mexican military kills cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ in US-backed raid

    In a landmark counter-narcotics operation, Mexican special forces have eliminated Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the infamous leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as ‘El Mencho’. The high-profile raid occurred Sunday in the Pacific coastal town of Tapalpa, Jalisco state, marking one of Mexico’s most significant victories against drug trafficking organizations.

    The operation, conducted with intelligence support from United States agencies, resulted in Oseguera sustaining fatal injuries during the confrontation. The 60-year-old cartel chieftain, who transitioned from law enforcement to become one of Mexico’s most feared criminal masterminds, died while in military custody. His body was transported to Mexico City under heavy National Guard security.

    The elimination of El Mencho triggered immediate retaliatory violence across multiple Mexican states. Cartel operatives erected blockades using burning vehicles, attacked businesses, and created widespread disruption. Popular tourist destination Puerto Vallarta witnessed dramatic scenes as plumes of dark smoke rose above the bay, prompting several international airlines to suspend flights to the area.

    The operation comes amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to intensify efforts against cartels responsible for producing and smuggling fentanyl and other drugs across the U.S. border. While praising the operation’s success, U.S. officials acknowledged Mexican leadership in executing the mission.

    Security analysts now monitor whether the cartel’s leadership structure will fracture into competing factions, potentially triggering extended violent confrontations. The CJNG under Oseguera’s command had diversified into multiple criminal enterprises including drug trafficking, fuel theft, extortion, and sophisticated financial fraud operations, employing innovative tactics such as weaponized drones.

    President Sheinbaum faces the complex challenge of balancing intensified cartel operations with maintaining national stability, while simultaneously affirming Mexico’s sovereignty against potential unilateral U.S. actions.

  • US tariff policy ‘hasn’t changed’, says Trump’s trade representative

    US tariff policy ‘hasn’t changed’, says Trump’s trade representative

    The Trump administration has initiated a rapid legal recalibration of its international trade policy following a landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down the primary mechanism used to impose sweeping global tariffs. Despite this judicial setback, White House officials maintain the president’s protectionist trade agenda remains fundamentally unchanged.

    On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump had exceeded his executive authority by utilizing the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to implement a comprehensive tariff program last April. This legislation had served as the foundation for the majority of tariffs enacted during Trump’s second term.

    Within hours of the ruling, the administration deployed alternative legal provisions to announce a new 10% blanket tariff on imports from all nations, subsequently raising this rate to 15% on Saturday. This emergency tariff authority, while immediately effective, carries a 150-day limitation before requiring congressional consultation for extension.

    US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer characterized the administration’s response as a strategic adaptation rather than a policy shift. “The legal tool to implement it—that might change, but the policy hasn’t changed,” Greer stated during a Sunday interview with ABC News. He described the new tariff structure as “roughly equivalent” to the previous system despite reduced flexibility.

    The court’s decision has created significant uncertainty for numerous countries that had previously negotiated bilateral trade agreements with the United States following the original IEEPA tariff announcement. The White House has indicated these nations will now be subject to the new universal rate, while simultaneously expecting them to honor concessions made in their individual agreements.

    Among affected nations, the United Kingdom faces particular complications. Having secured a preferential 10% rate on most goods through bilateral negotiations, British exporters now confront the heightened 15% tariff. The UK government has expressed confidence that its “privileged trading position” will be preserved despite the legal developments.

    Commerce Secretary Scott Bessent addressed financial concerns surrounding the ruling, noting that while the Court determined the IEEPA tariffs were illegally implemented, it provided no guidance regarding potential refunds of approximately $130 billion already collected. Bessent predicted this matter would be adjudicated in lower courts while assuring that “tariff revenue will be unchanged this year and will be unchanged in the future.”

    The administration continues to defend its tariff philosophy as essential for national security and economic revitalization, arguing that protectionist measures bolster domestic manufacturing and address trade deficits perceived as threatening. Critics counter that tariffs primarily burden American consumers and businesses while creating destabilizing uncertainty in global markets.

    International businesses have reported severe operational challenges due to the constantly shifting tariff landscape. Fraser Smeaton, co-founder of a UK costume company that exports 60% of its products to the US, described experiencing rate fluctuations from 0% to 145% throughout the past year, with changes occurring sometimes within hours of court decisions or presidential announcements.

    President Trump himself denounced the Supreme Court’s ruling as “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American,” reflecting the administration’s determination to maintain its trade policy objectives through alternative legal avenues despite judicial opposition.

  • More than 200 political prisoners in Venezuela launch hunger strike

    More than 200 political prisoners in Venezuela launch hunger strike

    In a significant demonstration of protest, more than 200 political prisoners in Venezuela have initiated a hunger strike at Rodeo I prison near Caracas, demanding inclusion in the newly enacted amnesty legislation. The strike, which commenced on Friday night, represents a direct challenge to the limitations of the reform measures promoted by the United States following the dramatic capture of former president Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd.

    The amnesty law, ratified by Venezuela’s congress on Thursday, has faced substantial criticism for its exclusionary provisions. Notably, the legislation does not apply to cases involving military personnel or terrorism charges—precisely the categories encompassing most detainees at Rodeo I. This has left approximately 214 individuals, including both Venezuelan citizens and foreign nationals, without the prospect of release under the current framework.

    Family members of the prisoners have confirmed the widespread participation in the protest action. Yalitza Garcia, mother-in-law of detained Argentine police officer Nahuel Agustin Gallo—who faces terrorism accusations—verified the scale of the hunger strike. Similarly, Shakira Ibarreto, daughter of a policeman arrested in 2024, emphasized that the exclusions within the amnesty law prompted the drastic measure.

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) conducted a landmark visit to Rodeo I on Sunday, marking the first time the organization has been granted access to the facility. Filippo Gatti, ICRC’s health coordinator for Venezuela, characterized the visit as ‘a first step’ toward improved humanitarian oversight.

    Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who engineered the amnesty under Washington’s pressure following Maduro’s capture, has faced opposition criticism over the legislation’s selective application. The law explicitly excludes those accused of ‘promoting or facilitating armed or forceful actions’ against Venezuela’s sovereignty—charges that have been leveled against Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Corina Machado.

    Despite these exclusions, the amnesty has already benefited thousands. Legislative officials reported that over 1,500 political prisoners have applied for amnesty, with hundreds already released prior to the bill’s formal approval. On Sunday, five individuals were released from Rodeo I to emotional reunions with families, while the NGO Foro Penal documented 23 total releases nationwide.

    The situation underscores the complex transition underway in Venezuela following Maduro’s extradition to the United States, where he and his wife await trial on drug trafficking charges. While the amnesty law represents a significant step toward addressing human rights concerns, the ongoing hunger strike highlights the limitations of current reforms and the persistent challenges in achieving comprehensive justice for all political detainees.

  • Watch: Winter storm covers parts north-east US in snow

    Watch: Winter storm covers parts north-east US in snow

    A significant winter storm system has descended upon the northeastern United States, blanketing the region in a thick layer of snow and unleashing a cascade of operational disruptions. Meteorological agencies have issued a series of severe weather warnings, emphasizing hazardous conditions and near-zero visibility in many areas. In a decisive response to ensure public safety, state and local authorities have enacted preemptive travel bans, urging residents to avoid all non-essential journeys.

    The storm’s impact has been immediately felt beyond the transportation sector, with utility companies reporting scattered power outages as heavy, wet snow strains electrical infrastructure and brings down tree limbs onto power lines. Emergency services are on high alert, coordinating efforts to address downed wires and assist stranded motorists. The severe weather has also prompted the closure of numerous public facilities, including schools and government offices, bringing daily life to a temporary standstill for millions of residents from coastal areas to inland communities.

    Meteorologists are closely monitoring the storm’s trajectory, which is expected to continue delivering a potent mix of heavy snowfall and strong winds throughout the day. Residents are advised to stay indoors, check on vulnerable neighbors, and prepare for potential prolonged power disruptions. This event marks one of the first major winter tests for the region’s emergency preparedness protocols this season.

  • ‘Wanted to know why Muslims do this’: UAE expat tries fasting in Ramadan for first time

    ‘Wanted to know why Muslims do this’: UAE expat tries fasting in Ramadan for first time

    In an inspiring display of cultural curiosity, Junior Gomes, a Brazilian expatriate residing in the United Arab Emirates, has embarked on his first Ramadan fasting experience to better understand Islamic traditions. The Director of Operations at Little Legends sports academy, who was raised in South Africa, decided to personally experience the month-long spiritual practice after observing his fasting students.

    Gomes, who previously relied exclusively on takeout and restaurant meals, has undergone a remarkable culinary transformation during Ramadan. With guidance from friends, he now prepares balanced home-cooked meals including spring rolls and other nutritious dishes—a significant departure from his previous lifestyle. ‘I never cooked in my life before this,’ Gomes admitted, expressing pride in his newly acquired kitchen skills.

    The daily Ramadan routine involves pre-dawn awakenings at 4:00 AM for suhoor meals carefully designed with proteins, carbohydrates, and sufficient fluids. Despite maintaining his rigorous gym schedule and managing multiple responsibilities at the children’s sports academy, Gomes reports the experience has been less challenging than anticipated. He particularly notes the psychological difficulty of the final hours before sunset when thirst and hunger intensify, followed by heightened appreciation for nourishment after breaking the fast.

    Beyond physical adaptation, Gomes has discovered deeper philosophical insights. ‘The whole self-control thing is quite important,’ he reflects. ‘You actually learn to appreciate things more. During the day, be a better person. Have some self-control. Be grateful. Give back.’

    In a surprising familial coincidence, Gomes discovered his brother in Brazil had independently decided to fast alongside his Muslim wife, creating an unplanned bond of shared experience across continents. This unexpected connection has added another layer of meaning to his cultural exploration, demonstrating how Ramadan traditions can bridge geographical and cultural divides.