Happy New Year 2025

Tag: region

  • East Coast battered by high winds as winter storms hit region

    East Coast battered by high winds as winter storms hit region

    Check out what’s clicking on FoxBusiness.com.

    Severe weather knocked out power for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the eastern portion of the U.S. 

    More than 77,000 homes and businesses in Pennsylvania were without power as of 10 a.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.US. Over 37,000 in New Jersey, about 22,000 in New York and nearly 16,000 customers in Connecticut were without power on Monday morning.

    More than 55,000 people in Virginia and nearly 50,000 in Maryland were also affected. Over 16,000 in Kentucky and more than 17,000 people in Alabama were also out of power as of 9 a.m. Monday, according to the outage tracker.

    People walk along the Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan as snow falls in New York City on Feb. 15, 2025. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

    TRIPLE THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS, EXTREME FLOODING AND SNOW THREATENS WIDE SWATH OF US

    The outages came as a powerful storm system brought severe weather – including snow, rain and strong winds, to the central and eastern U.S.

    In total, the National Weather Service (NWS) offices nationwide have issued cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings for more than 58 million Americans from the U.S.-Canada border to Texas. However, the weather is expected to continue to hammer a significant part of the U.S. over the coming week. 

    The NWS office in State College, Pennsylvania, warned that strong winds would continue into Monday as freezing temperatures and “scattered snow showers” persist. 

    A Connecticut road is closed on Feb. 17 after strong winds toppled trees and knocked out power for thousands across the East Coast.

    A Connecticut road is closed on Feb. 17 after strong winds toppled trees and knocked out power for thousands across the East Coast. (Fox News Digital / Fox News)

    The NSW office in New York also posted on X that the area is in store for a “blustery and cold day” on Monday. It is projected that daytime temperatures will be in the upper 20s and low 30s. The office expects “blustery winds” of up to 50 mph that “will make it feel like it is in the teens.” A few flurries are also possible, the office said.  

    LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING LOOMS AS TORRENTIAL RAINS SOAK TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY

    The NWS office in Louisville, Kentucky, posted on X, that a winter storm watch is still in effect for the entire area, with snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches expected Tuesday night and through Wednesday. It also warned travelers that “hazardous road conditions will negatively impact the Wednesday morning commute.” 

    Weather isn’t easing up in Alabama either. The NWS office in Birmingham posted a five-day weather outlook on X showing how colder weather will arrive through the week. 

    GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

    Rain is expected from Tuesday into Wednesday. 

    “There’s also a small window of snow mixing in or switching over to snow in the early morning hours across the northern portions of Central Alabama,” the office posted on X.

    In Virginia, the NWS office warned that there could be “a significant winter storm” on Wednesday and Thursday. However, there is still uncertainty with respect to the exact magnitude and placement of the heaviest snow.

    FOX Weather contributed to this report

  • Ceasefire disputes between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah throw region into turmoil

    Ceasefire disputes between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah throw region into turmoil

    Palestinian security prisoners arrive in Gaza

    Gazans chant “The army of Mohammed will return!” as they celebrate the return of Palestinian security prisoners released by Israel as part of the ceasefire for hostages deal in Khan Younis, Gaza. (Video: Majdi Fathi/TPS-IL)

    Ceasefire disputes between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah are threatening to derail deals Sunday as arguments break out over several key details.

    Israel accused Hamas of changing the order of hostages it planned to release. As a result, Israeli forces blocked thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza.

    Israeli forces also announced Friday that they will not fully withdraw from southern Lebanon as the ceasefire requires until the Lebanese government fully implements its own responsibilities. According to the agreement, both groups were expected to make withdrawals by Sunday.

    “IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon fired warning shots to remove threats in a number of areas where suspects were identified approaching the troops,” the IDF wrote in a Sunday statement. 

    HAMAS RELEASES 4 FEMALE HOSTAGES AS PART OF ISRAEL CEASEFIRE

    The ceasefire agreement between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah remains fragile as disagreements rise over details.

    “Additionally, a number of suspects in proximity to IDF troops that posed an imminent threat to the troops were apprehended and are currently being questioned at the scene.”

    BITTERSWEET REJOICING AS FIRST HOSTAGES RETURN TO ISRAEL AFTER 471 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY

    The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed concern over the situation in a statement on X, saying Lebanese civilians had been attempting to return to their homes that were still occupied by Israeli forces.

    “The IDF must avoid firing at civilians within Lebanese territory. Further violence risks undermining the fragile security situation in the area and prospects for stability ushered in by the cessation of hostilities and the formation of a Government in Lebanon,” UNIFIL wrote.

    The disputes come just after President Donald Trump called for Egypt and Jordan to accept refugees from Gaza to “clean out” the region.

    People walk towards Israeli military helicopters as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, three female hostages who have been held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, return to Israel

    Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, three Israeli hostages who were held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack, return to Israel as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas on Jan. 19, 2025. (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)

    “I’d like Egypt to take people,” Trump said. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’”

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    Trump said he applauded Jordan for accepting Palestinian refugees but that he told the king: “I’d love for you to take on more, because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.”

    Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

  • Colombia president decrees emergency powers to restore order in coca region wracked by rebel combat

    Colombia president decrees emergency powers to restore order in coca region wracked by rebel combat

    Colombia’s president issued a decree Friday giving him emergency powers to restore order in a coca-growing region bordering Venezuela that has been wracked in recent days by a deadly turf war among dissident rebel groups.

    President Gustavo Petro’s decree, which can be extended, gives him 90 days to impose curfews, restrict traffic and take other steps that would normally violate Colombians’ civil rights or require congressional approval.

    AT LEAST 80 PEOPLE KILLED IN NORTHEAST COLOMBIA AS PEACE TALKS FAIL, OFFICIAL SAYS

    It is the first time in more than a decade that a Colombian president has used such an extreme measure and underscores the seriousness of the current conflict in a country that for decades was paralyzed by political violence.

    However, it applies only to the rural Catatumbo region near the border with Venezuela, where the Colombian state has struggled for decades to gain a foothold. In the past week, at least 80 people have been killed and an estimated 36,000 more displaced as fighting intensifies between the National Liberation Army, or ELN, and holdouts from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

    Police patrol in Tibu, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, following guerrilla attacks that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee their homes in the Catatumbo region.  (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

    Petro’s conservative opponents have criticized the move, accusing the former guerrilla of riding roughshod over the constitution. But some activists have celebrated it, saying they are hopeful the move translates into better infrastructure, health care and schools in the traditionally lawless region.

    “Why are the armed groups here? Because the last government hasn’t made investments. They’ve abandoned us,” Jaime Botero, an activist in the town of Tibu, told The Associated Press.

    Earlier this week Petro reactivated arrest orders against 31 top ELN commanders that had been suspended as part of an effort to woo the the Cuban revolution-inspired insurgency into a peace deal to end its 60 year war against the state. Petro also suspended all peace talks, which have advanced slowly since he took office in 2022.

    The ELN has traditionally dominated in Catatumbo but has been losing ground to holdouts from the FARC, a guerrilla group that largely disbanded after signing a peace deal in 2016 with the government.

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    The current conflict is spilling across the border into Venezuela, where some of those fleeing the violence have sought refuge.

    The current whereabouts of the ELN peace negotiators is unknown. But Cuba’s government this week said they are not there, leading some to speculate they may be hiding in Venezuela, which is one of the sponsors of Petro’s peace initiative with the ELN.