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A major winter storm, linked to four deaths, has hit US states from Texas to Virginia, breaking snowfall records.

The freezing weather has closed highways and schools, grounded flights and prompted governors to declare states of emergency.

On Tuesday a temperature of -40F (-40C) was recorded northwest of Grand Lake, Colorado, compared with 83F (28C) in Hollywood, California, according to the National Weather Service.

A snowstorm warning for 31 million people – from southern Texas east through Georgia and north to the Carolinas and into Virginia – is in effect.

Snow covers Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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Snow covers Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. Pic: AP

A further 172 million people have been under cold weather alerts, enduring temperatures 20-35F below average.

Four people have died of suspected hypothermia, two in Austin, Texas, along with another in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and also in Georgia where temperatures fell as low as 16F (-9C) in parts of the state overnight.

Kristyn Tramel walks her dog Bluey with her 8-year-old son Penn in the French Quarter is seen in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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A snowy scene in New Orleans’ French Quarter on Tuesday. Pic: AP

In Louisiana, around 10in (25cm) had already fallen in some parts of New Orleans by Tuesday evening, breaking the record of 2.7in (6.8cm) set in 1963.

It has been more than a decade since snow last fell on the city.

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People attempted to ski along the city’s historic Bourbon Street, and elsewhere in the city a priest and nuns engaged in a snowball fight.

In Texas, the first-ever blizzard warnings were issued for several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border, where 6in (15cm) fell in Pine Forest.

In Houston, both major airports and Port Houston – one of the largest ports in the US – suspended operations.

Meanwhile, snow and ice triggered about 168 crashes involving vehicles in Harris County, the local sheriff said.

Snow has covered the white-sand beaches of normally sunny vacation spots, including Alabama and Florida, where snowploughs have been deployed.

On ramp to Interstate 10 is closed due to heavy snow on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Pensacola, Fla. (Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
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Road closures have hit parts of Pensacola, Florida. Pic: Tampa Bay Times/AP

Ahead of the storm, governors in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida declared states of emergency.

The ice and snow forced the closure of airports not just in Texas, but Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi too.

Workers plow snow off the roadways at the closed George Bush Intercontinental Airport Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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Snowploughs have been clearing the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Pic: AP

There were 2,718 flights cancelled on Tuesday and 20,323, delayed according to Flightaware.com

Severe winter weather is also hitting the northeastern US, where a state of emergency has been issued in at least a dozen New York counties, with up to 2ft (60cm) of lake-effect snow and extreme cold expected around Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

Freezing temperatures saw inauguration proceedings in Washington DC moved inside the Capitol’s Rotunda for the start of Donald Trump’s second presidency on Monday.

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US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s jet makes unscheduled landing in UK after in-air issue

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US defence secretary Pete Hegseth's jet makes unscheduled landing in UK after in-air issue

An aircraft carrying US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has had to make an “unscheduled landing” in the UK.

The jet was about 30 minutes into its journey back to the US after a NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Brussels, when it suffered a “depressurisation issue”.

Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman, confirmed the aircraft had been diverted to the UK due to a crack in the aircraft windscreen.

He posted on X: “On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defence Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield.

“The plane landed based on standard procedures, and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe.”

Mr Hegseth also posted: “All good. Thank God. Continue mission!”

Open source flight trackers spotted the aircraft lose altitude and begin broadcasting an emergency signal.

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The aviation news website Airlive reported the Boeing C-32A – a military version of the Boeing 757 – had a “depressurisation issue”.

It went on to land at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk at about 7.10pm.

Mr Hegseth had been at a meeting of NATO defence ministers which was also attended by UK Defence Secretary John Healey.

In February, a US Air Force plane carrying secretary of state Marco Rubio and the Senate foreign relations committee chairman, Senator Jim Risch, was similarly forced to return to Washington DC after an issue with the cockpit windscreen.

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Charlie Kirk posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump

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Charlie Kirk posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump

Charlie Kirk has been posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump.

The USA’s highest civilian honour was received by the conservative activist’s widow, Erika, at the White House.

Mr Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on 10 September while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

He founded Turning Point USA and toured American university campuses, debating students about current affairs.

Erika Kirk at the White House. Pic: Reuters
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Erika Kirk at the White House. Pic: Reuters

Erika Kirk and Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters
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Erika Kirk and Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters

Addressing those attending the ceremony in the White House rose garden, the US president said they were there to “honour and remember a fearless warrior for liberty” and a “beloved leader who galvanised the next generation”.

He said Mr Kirk’s name was being entered “forever into the eternal roster of true American heroes”.

Mr Trump described Charlie Kirk as an “American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest calibre”.

He said his nation had been “robbed” of an “extraordinary champion”.

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And Mr Trump said Mr Kirk was assassinated in the “prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith, and relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America”.

The ceremony coincided with what would have been Mr Kirk’s 32nd birthday.

Mr Trump described Erika Kirk, now head of Turning Point USA, as someone who had “endured unspeakable hardship with unbelievable strength”.

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Charlie Kirk. File pic: AP
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Charlie Kirk. File pic: AP

A 22-year-old man, Tyler Robinson, from the city of Washington in Utah has been charged with Mr Kirk’s murder. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty.

At a memorial event held at a stadium in Arizona, Erika Kirk told an enormous crowd she forgave her husband’s killer.

“The answer to hate is not hate,” she said.

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Grammy-winning R&B and soul star D’Angelo dies after ‘prolonged battle with cancer’

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Grammy-winning R&B and soul star D'Angelo dies after 'prolonged battle with cancer'

Grammy-award winning R&B and soul singer D’Angelo has died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family has said.

He died on Tuesday, leaving behind a “legacy of extraordinarily moving music” following a “prolonged and courageous battle with cancer,” his family said in a statement.

The prominent musician, born Michael D’Angelo Archer, was 51 years old.

A family statement said: “We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.

“We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time, but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”

The singer rose to prominence in the 1990s with his first album, Brown Sugar.

The track “Lady” from that album reached No. 10 in March 1996 and remained on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 20 weeks.

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