World

(Reuters) – An arctic blast gripped much of the United States today leaving nearly 2 million without power, at least 14 dead from weather-related car crashes and thousands stranded due to flight cancellations.

PARIS,  (Reuters) – Charles Sobhraj, a convicted killer who police believe killed more than 20 western backpackers on the “hippie trail” through Asia in the 1970s and 1980s, returned to France today after nearly two decades behind bars in Nepal.

(Reuters) – Arctic cold extended its grip over much of the United States on Friday, combining with snow, ice and howling winds from a deadly winter storm roaring out of the Midwest to disrupt energy supplies and thwart travel for millions of Americans ahead of the holiday weekend.

WASHINGTON/KYIV,  (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval yesterday to a $45 billion aid package for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned his citizens that Russia could launch attacks over Christmas and urged them to heed air raid alarms.

AMSTERDAM, (Reuters) – Shell SHEL.L will pay 15 million euros ($15.9 million) to communities in Nigeria that were affected by multiple oil pipeline leaks in the Niger Delta, the oil company yesterday said in a joint statement with the Dutch division of Friends of the Earth.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji’s prime minister last night after a coalition of parties voted to instal him, signalling an end to Frank Bainimarama’s 16 years in power.

ROME, (Reuters) – The corruption scandal rocking the European Parliament, in which suspects were found with suitcases full of cash, is like something out of crime drama television series “Narcos”, EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said yesterday.

ROME, (Reuters) – The corruption scandal rocking the European Parliament, in which suspects were found with suitcases full of cash, is like something out of crime drama television series “Narcos”, EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said today.

 (Reuters) – Fiji’s opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka is expected to become prime minister when parliament sits tomorrow after winning backing from a coalition of three parties, signalling an end to Frank Bainimarama’s 16 years in power.

DETROIT,  (Reuters) – A dangerously frigid arctic air mass gripped a vast expanse of the United States yesterday ahead of what could be one of the coldest Christmas Days on record, as a looming winter storm threatened to upend travel plans for millions of Americans.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – For President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, his surprise visit to Washington this week was a clear success: he returns to Europe with new financial and military commitments from the United States and bipartisan support for Ukraine’s war with Russia.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Fiji’s Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is due to meet today to decide if its decision to form a coalition with the opposition stands, a move that comes after the Pacific country’s military was called in to help police maintain law and order.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Sam Bankman-Fried was released on a $250 million bond package yesterday while he awaits trial over the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange, which a U.S.

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, (Reuters) – A Shanghai hospital has told its staff to prepare for a “tragic battle” with COVID-19 as it expects half of the city’s 25 million people will get infected by the end of next week, while the virus sweeps through China largely unchecked.

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – A Belgian judge ruled yesterday that European lawmaker Eva Kaili will remain in custody for another month as an investigation continues into corruption charges in a graft case involving World Cup host Qatar, Belgian prosecutors said.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Airlines canceled more than 3,800 U.S. flights today and tomorrow and U.S.

(Reuters) – Fiji’s military will help police maintain law and order, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said today, citing growing concerns of ethnic tension after an election last week resulted in a hung parliament.

NASSAU, (Reuters) – FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried left the Bahamas yesterday on an aircraft bound to the United States, according to a person familiar with the matter and a Reuters witness who saw the plane take off.

MEXICO CITY,  (Reuters) – A cross-section of Mexican journalists, columnists and cultural commentators demanded in an open letter yesterday that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stop harassing critical media, arguing he fans the flames of violence with his rhetoric.

WASHINGTON/KYIV,  (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the U.S. Congress yesterday that aid to Ukraine is an investment in democracy, not charity, and invoked American victory over the Nazis in a key World War Two battle to press for continued assistance.