News

At least three people have died after Cyclone Garance struck the French overseas territory of La Reunion island with wind speeds reaching 155 mph (96 mph), according to French police. The cyclone made landfall Friday on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean island east of Madagascar, causing widespread damage including blown-off roofs while cutting power and drinking water access for numerous residents. After several hours, the storm exited through the southwest of the island, with Meteo France weather agency confirming the worst had passed. Authorities subsequently downgraded the storm alert from the highest "purple" level to "red," allowing emergency workers to emerge from shelters and begin damage assessment and rescue operations. Despite this downgrade, residents remained under a mandatory shelter-in-place order as heavy rainfall became the primary concern after wind speeds decreased. Weather conditions were expected to improve by […]

A jury in Illinois has convicted 73-year-old Joseph Czuba of murder and hate crime charges for the fatal stabbing of six-year-old Palestinian American Wadee Alfayoumi in October 2023. Czuba, who faces life imprisonment at his May sentencing, was found guilty Friday of a crime prosecutors described as motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. The attack, which also left the boy's mother Hanan Shaheen critically injured, stands as one of the most severe hate crimes in the US following the outbreak of Israel's war on Gaza. Court records show that Czuba, who was Shaheen and Alfayoumi's landlord, used a military-style knife with a 7-inch serrated blade to stab the child 26 times during the attack in Plainfield Township, approximately 40 miles southwest of Chicago. During this week's trial, Shaheen testified that Czuba told her, "You, as a Muslim, must die." Prosecutor Michael Fitzgerald […]

In Lubbock, Texas, pregnant mother Leah has been avoiding public spaces for two weeks following the measles-related death of an unvaccinated six-year-old child—the first US measles fatality in nearly a decade. Despite being vaccinated herself, Leah fears contracting measles could harm her unborn baby. Her paediatrician advised accelerating her older son's second vaccine dose as risks increase. The US eliminated measles in 2000, but rising anti-vaccine sentiment has triggered multiple outbreaks. The current Texas outbreak originated in a Mennonite community near Lubbock and has spread to over 130 cases across Texas and New Mexico, with 18 hospitalizations. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described the outbreak as "not unusual"—a claim contested by medical professionals and local residents. Public health experts worry Kennedy's past vaccine skepticism and recent actions could worsen the situation. Katherine Wells, Lubbock Public Health Department director, hasn't […]

More than 40 construction workers remain trapped following an avalanche near India's Tibetan border, with rescue efforts hindered by severe weather conditions. The avalanche struck Friday at a camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand state amid blizzard conditions. Initially, 57 workers who had been clearing snow became trapped, with 15 subsequently rescued while 42 others remain missing, according to Ridhim Agarwal from the state's disaster relief force. Emergency response teams are attempting to reach the high-altitude camp, which had reportedly been under an avalanche warning since Thursday evening. However, their efforts face significant challenges due to ongoing harsh weather. "It has been snowing with strong winds. … The roads are completely blocked. We have deployed snow cutters to open the road," said Deepam Seth, Uttarakhand's top police officer, in comments to NDTV. The Indian army's Central Command announced they are […]

Approximately 880 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees, including weather forecasters, were terminated Thursday in the latest wave of federal workforce reductions by the Trump administration, according to CBS News. The layoffs come as Elon Musk, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), continues efforts to cut government spending through funding reductions and staff dismissals. A NOAA spokesperson declined to comment on internal personnel matters but assured that the agency would continue to "provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission." Prior to these cuts, NOAA employed about 12,000 staff worldwide, including 6,773 scientists and engineers. Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman criticized the move, stating that Americans "depend on NOAA for free, accurate forecasts, severe weather alerts, and emergency information." He added that "Musk's sham mission is bringing vital programs to a screeching halt" and warned […]