US Grapples with Multiple Crises as Bomb Cyclone Brings Record Cold, ICE Protests Erupt, and Global Trade Tensions Rise

The United States is facing a multitude of crises, from severe weather conditions to social unrest and economic tensions. A bomb cyclone has swept across the country, bringing record cold temperatures and snow to millions of people. The extreme weather conditions have resulted in the deaths of two people in North Carolina, with over 150 million people under cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings in the eastern US. According to Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, the cold air mass is the coldest seen in south Florida since December 1989. The weather conditions have also led to warnings of ice and falling iguanas in Florida, with officials urging residents to take necessary precautions. Meanwhile, the US is also grappling with social unrest, particularly in relation to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Protests are set to take place across the country, with over 300 demonstrations planned in all 50 states and Washington DC. The protests, dubbed "ICE Out of Everywhere," are a response to recent deaths involving federal immigration agents, including the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. The killings have mobilized Americans to join ICE observer groups, with nearly 80,000 people participating in a video call to learn how to document federal agents' activities in public. The rising interest in ICE observing has been fueled by the deaths of Pretti and Good, as well as the homicide of Geraldo Campos in an immigration detention facility in Texas and the shooting of Keith Porter Jr by an off-duty ICE officer in Los Angeles. In addition to the social unrest, the US is also facing economic tensions, particularly in relation to global trade. China's trade surplus has ballooned to $1.2 trillion, with exports expanding by over 5% despite Donald Trump's tariffs. The increase in China's trade surplus has strangled manufacturing across the globe, with the US influence waning. The trade tensions have been exacerbated by the revelation that a French tech firm, Capgemini, has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with ICE to help trace and expel migrants. The contract has sparked outrage in France, with lawmakers demanding an explanation. The contract includes provisions for "skip tracing," a technique for locating targeted people, with big bonuses if successful. In other news, women's professional basketball has seen a resurgence in popularity, with a record 21,490 fans attending a game in Philadelphia. The game, which featured the New York Liberty's Natasha Cloud, marked the return of women's professional basketball to Philadelphia for the first time in nearly 30 years. In Louisiana, a shooting at a Mardi Gras parade has left six people injured, including a child. The shooting occurred during the "Mardi Gras in the Country" event in Clinton, with one person taken into custody. As the US grapples with these multiple crises, it remains to be seen how the country will respond to the challenges it faces. One thing is certain, however: the US is at a critical juncture, and the decisions made in the coming weeks and months will have far-reaching consequences for the country and the world. Sources: * "Bomb cyclone brings freezing temperatures and snow to millions in US" (The Guardian) * "Shooting at Mardi Gras parade in Louisiana leaves six people injured" (The Guardian) * "‘Backing down isn’t an option’: Minnesota ICE shootings mobilize Americans to join ICE observer groups" (The Guardian) * "As US influence wanes, the Chinese trade surplus strangles manufacturing across the globe" (The Guardian) * "More than 300 anti-ICE protests planned across US this weekend" (The Guardian) * "Unrivaled sets women’s pro basketball attendance mark of 21,490 in Philly" (The Guardian) * "French MPs demand explanation over tech firm’s contract to help ICE in US" (The Guardian)