Severe Cold Snap Claims 97 Lives Across U.S.
A severe cold snap in the U.S. has resulted in at least 97 deaths, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reporting 16 fatalities linked to hypothermia since January 19. Over 100,000 homes and businesses remain without power, particularly in Mississippi and Tennessee, as extreme weather conditions affect around 60 million people under National Weather Service warnings. The storm has also caused significant disruptions, including more than 1,100 vehicle collisions in North Carolina.
ICE Uses Facial Recognition App for Surveillance Operations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are employing a facial recognition app that accesses a government database containing over 1.2 billion images, according to federal records reviewed by Bloomberg News. This technology is part of a broader surveillance strategy that includes monitoring protests and identifying individuals, even U.S. citizens, during enforcement operations. Reports indicate that ICE agents have used this technology to create profiles and track individuals without their consent, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
