Author: Supriya Jena

Severe weather caused major problems for travelers across the U.S. this Saturday, with dangerous tornadoes in the Southeast and heavy snow and strong winds on the West Coast. Because of this bad weather, thousands of flights were delayed or canceled.

Over 7,000 flights faced delays, and more than 200 were canceled, according to FlightAware. At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, about one-third of the flights were delayed. In Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston, almost half of the flights were also delayed.

In the Southeast, at least 10 tornadoes hit Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Sadly, one person died near Houston, while four others were hurt. Many homes and schools were damaged or destroyed in Brazoria County, Texas, which is about 45 miles south of Houston. Social media showed pictures of houses in ruins and downed trees and power poles in the streets.

On the West Coast, strong winds reached up to 150 mph in some mountains in California, while lower areas saw winds of about 50 mph. Heavy rain is expected from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon, with forecasts predicting up to six inches of rain before New Year’s Eve and three feet of snow in Lake Tahoe. The Weather Service warned that strong winds might uproot trees and break power lines, leading to widespread power outages.

A Jeju Air plane crashed in South Korea, killing at least 29 people when it landed off the runway and hit a wall. The plane was coming back from Bangkok with 175 passengers and 6 crew members on board. While rescuers were working, they found two people alive, according to Yonhap news agency.

Emergency teams are trying to find out what caused the fire that spread quickly. Local TV showed thick black smoke rising from the burning plane. A video shared on social media showed the Boeing 737-800 trying to land without its landing gear and crashing into a wall.

Reports suggest that the crash may have happened because the plane hit birds. This caused the landing gear to fail as the plane tried to land in the southwest part of South Korea. An official statement about the crash is expected soon.

South Korea’s acting President, Choi Sung-mok, has ordered all-out rescue efforts. His team is holding emergency meetings.

Just a few days earlier, an Azerbaijan Airline plane crashed near Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The flight was headed from Baku to Grozny. Videos from passengers showed people with oxygen masks and life jackets as they prepared for an emergency. Later, many injured passengers climbed out of the wreckage.

Azerbaijan’s first investigation suggested that the plane was mistakenly shot down by Russian air defenses. Russian President Vladimir Putin later apologized for what he called a “tragic incident.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently held an important meeting with party officials to set plans for the new year, according to state media KCNA. During this meeting, they decided to take strong steps against the United States to protect their country. The report mentioned that the military connection between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan has grown, making South Korea a key ally for the U.S.

The meeting, which took place from December 23 to 27, also looked at how to help people affected by floods earlier in the year. Additionally, North Korea wants to strengthen its relationships with friendly nations. Kim called for advancements in defense technology to improve the country’s ability to defend itself.

Such meetings often lead to important announcements, and changes were made in leadership—Pak Thae Song was named the new premier, replacing Kim Tok Hun. Choe Son Hui, the foreign minister, now holds a spot in the powerful Politburo of the Central Committee.

This meeting wrapped up a year during which Kim met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they agreed to a mutual defense plan. The U.S. and South Korea have raised concerns about the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including claims that North Korean troops may be fighting in Ukraine.

Michelle Obama faced a lot of criticism after she shared a New Year’s message with her supporters, right before Donald Trump is set to return to the White House. In a 1.5-minute video posted on Instagram, she wished everyone a happy holiday on Friday, celebrating the end of 2024. However, her message didn’t get much attention online.

In the video, which received many comments, Michelle appeared cheerful against a simple white background. She said, “Happy holidays!” and talked about the new year, mentioning that many people might feel worried and unsure about what’s coming next with Trump back in charge.

“I know it’s been tough for many of us – and people are feeling anxious,” she admitted. “But even during tough times, there’s always a reason to stay hopeful.” She also highlighted the Obama Foundation’s work to help young leaders around the world.

Michelle’s message, however, was seen by many as a criticism of Trump’s win against Kamala Harris in the November election. Many people commented on what they expect for 2025. One person wrote, “Just 24 more days until we’re out of this nightmare you created!”

Another called her message a “joke,” saying, “Trump can hopefully fix the problems your husband caused.” Someone else pointed out, “It has not been hard for most of us,” insisting that “most of us voted for Trump.”

Others shared their happiness about Trump being in office, with one commenter saying, “We’re all going to be equal now.”