International
US seeks six months in jail for ex-Trump aide Bannon
AFP
The US Justice Department asked a judge Monday to sentence Donald Trump’s former aide Steve Bannon to six months in prison for refusing to testify in Congress’s probe of the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Bannon, a longtime political strategist and vocal advocate for the Republican former president, was found guilty in July on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to testify.
The Justice Department said in a sentencing recommendation that the 68-year-old Bannon should receive the six-month sentence and pay a fine of $200,000 because he repeatedly sought to delay the proceedings by hinting he might cooperate.
Bannon “has pursued a bad-faith strategy of defiance and contempt,” the department said.
The investigation by a special House committee depicted Bannon last week as knowing in advance of the plan by hardline Trump supporters to attack the Capitol to prevent Democrat Joe Biden from being confirmed as the next president.
It also showed him advocating for Congress to block Biden — who defeated Trump in the November 2020 election — from becoming president.
“The rioters who overran the Capitol on January 6 did not just attack a building — they assaulted the rule of law upon which this country was built and through which it endures,” the department said.
“By flouting the Select Committee’s subpoena and its authority, the defendant exacerbated that assault.”
The maximum sentence for contempt of Congress is 12 months, and a $100,000 fine.
The department’s recommendation of six months in prison is at the top end of the standard sentencing guidelines, a calculation based on the context of the crime and the defendant’s own justice record.
Sentencing is set for October 21.
But Bannon, who currently runs a streaming political commentary website, “Bannon’s War Room,” could appeal the sentence, delaying its implementation well into next year.
International
Mexican influencer “La Nicholette” kidnapped in exclusive area of Culiacán
The content creator known as “La Nicholette,” also referred to as “La Muchacha del Salado,” was kidnapped Tuesday afternoon in Isla Musalá, one of the most exclusive residential areas of Culiacán, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
The abduction was captured by the security camera of the young woman’s vehicle, a lilac-colored Tesla Cybertruck, which was later found abandoned at the scene.
Video footage circulating on social media shows a masked man carrying a long firearm preventing the influencer from entering her vehicle, while another individual forces her into a white sedan, reportedly an older-model Toyota Corolla.
According to media reports, the incident occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) at the intersection of Tachichilte Avenue and San Esteban Street, within the Musalá residential area.
Authorities have not yet released official details regarding the victim’s whereabouts or the motives behind the kidnapping.
International
Major winter storm to blanket U.S. and Canada with snow, ice and arctic cold
A major winter storm — the strongest of the season so far — is threatening large areas of the United States and Canada, bringing heavy snowfall, ice accumulation and an Arctic cold wave expected to affect millions of people, particularly toward the end of the week.
“A large winter storm will produce heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the southern Rockies through the Plains and the south-central region beginning Friday, then move eastward toward the East Coast by Sunday,” the U.S. Weather Prediction Center (WPC) warned.
The storm is expected to begin with intense snowfall in Colorado on Friday and spread eastward, leaving a wide snow band across Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee, before reaching the East Coast and impacting major cities such as Washington, Boston and New York.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures could drop below -10°C (14°F) even in parts of the southeastern United States. However, the most serious concern is the wind chill, as strong winds accompanying the storm could drive perceived temperatures down to below -45°C (-49°F) in some areas.
Forecasters warn that these well-below-average temperatures could persist through the end of January and into early February, particularly across the Ohio Valley and parts of the East Coast.
Snow accumulations are expected to exceed 15 centimeters (six inches) in cities such as New York and Washington, raising concerns about travel disruptions, power outages and hazardous conditions.
International
Trump announces preliminary NATO agreement on Greenland, suspends tariffs on Europe
The President of the United States confirmed that the agreement will be beneficial for all members of the Atlantic Alliance and has halted the trade sanctions previously threatened against Europe.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday from Davos, Switzerland, a preliminary agreement with NATO regarding Greenland, describing it as “very good for the United States and all NATO countries.” He also confirmed the suspension of tariffs that his administration had warned it would impose on eight European countries starting February 1.
In a statement published on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the agreement followed a productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and establishes a framework for a future joint solution concerning Greenland and the Arctic region.
“This solution, if implemented, will be very beneficial to the United States of America and to all NATO countries,” the president stated, underscoring the strategic importance of the Danish autonomous territory, which has been at the center of heightened diplomatic tensions in recent weeks.
Trump added that the preliminary understanding also includes discussions related to the Golden Dome missile defense system, particularly in the context of Greenland. He noted that further details would be released as negotiations progress.
As a result of the agreement, the administration suspended the tariffs it had previously announced against countries such as Germany, France and Denmark, which Trump had criticized for conducting military exercises on the Arctic island without prior coordination with Washington.
The president assigned Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoffto lead the negotiations, stating that he will receive direct updates on their progress.
The announcement marks a new chapter in U.S.-European tensions over Arctic geopolitics, particularly regarding Greenland, a territory Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring for global security and strategic defense reasons.
Mexican influencer “La Nicholette” kidnapped in exclusive area of Culiacán
Major winter storm to blanket U.S. and Canada with snow, ice and arctic cold
Trump announces preliminary NATO agreement on Greenland, suspends tariffs on Europe
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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