Putin
In November 2006, Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. officer who defected from the organization, was murdered by poisoning from a radioactive toxin. The decade old murder case was reopened on Jan. 21, 2016 when a British inquiry said “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin probably approved Litvinenko poisoning,” according to the New York Times. Putin, a former K.G.B. officer himself, has had multiple allegations of silencing political opponents. In March 2015, Putin was blamed for the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent opposition political leader. The allegations come during a period of deteriorating relations between the West and Russia, caused by sanctions Western Nations have leveraged on Russia in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine.
Obama’s Immigration Executive Action
In late 2014 President Barack Obama announced an executive action that would “offer a lawful presence and a work permit” to 5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to the Los Angeles Times. Actual implementation of the executive action has been on standstill due to multiple lawsuits. On Jan. 19, 2016, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case United States v. Texas, which would determine the legality of Obama’s executive action. A previous federal appeals court ruled to block Obama’s executive action and the administration has decided to appeal to the Supreme Court. A ruling on immigration is expected in June, in the middle of an election season where immigration has been a hot topic.
Major East Coast Snow Storm
After a relatively warm first half of winter, the Northeastern United States will see record breaking levels of snowfall for the second year in a row. A major storm is expected to bring over a foot of snow to major cities such as DC and Boston, according to Vox Media. People have been warned to stay indoors to avoid the dangers of the storm. Schools across the region have been closed. Thankfully, with last year’s record breaking snowfall, the Northeast has the experience to more effectively deal with the storm this year.