The north east of the US is in the grip of a deep freeze with temperatures as low as -30C in some parts of the region.
Schools closed early on Thursday and many delayed opening on Friday so pupils would not have to stand shivering at bus stops.
Weather experts say a blast of Arctic air from the North Pole and strong winds are to blame.
"You are talking about 30 degrees below normal highs. That is pretty cold," said National Weather Service meteorologist James Brown in Maine.
"This is pretty much a piece of Arctic air that came off the North Pole and came into New England."
Forecasters said a storm will follow the chill, bringing the chance of snow, sleet and freezing rain across much of the country.
Early on Friday at the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the wind chill was recorded at -85C.
Along the shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York wind gusts approached 70mph and the National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning.
Elsewhere in New York, parts of the Adirondack Northway, north of Albany, were closed for more than four hours after a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a snow plough.
No injuries were reported.
In western Pennsylvania, 59 vehicles were involved in a pile-up in snowy conditions. Three people were hurt.
The crash was one of three that shut down different sections of Interstate 80.
Authorities in Oklahoma said more than 100 accidents were reported after freezing rain fell on roads around Oklahoma City.
Below-normal temperatures are expected this weekend and into Monday across the entire northern half of the US, according to the Climate Prediction Centre.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Millions of Kenyans at risk of elephantiasis disease
Transmitted through mosquitoes, more than three million people in Kenya are at risk of a disease that some believe is the result of witchcraft.
Elephantiasis affects mostly poor communities where sanitation levels are low and mosquito breeding is rampant.
After an initial inadequate response, the government has now launched a huge campaign to tackle neglected tropical diseases in coastal areas.
"I used to be a fisherman but I can no longer do that. To earn a living I have to do menial labour and it's very difficult," Katoi Kaviha told Al Jazeera in Marikibuni village.
The disease has enlarged Kaviha's feet to such an extent that he is now unable to walk.
Sultani Matendechero, a doctor with the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, said: "Some of them associate their condition with witchcraft, they associate their conditions with lifestyle. Mostly, these are the wrong associations."
He added that many victims were also unaware that there are remedies for the disease.
Medicine is being properly distributed for the first time this year under a multimillion-dollar campaign.
Elephantiasis affects mostly poor communities where sanitation levels are low and mosquito breeding is rampant.
After an initial inadequate response, the government has now launched a huge campaign to tackle neglected tropical diseases in coastal areas.
"I used to be a fisherman but I can no longer do that. To earn a living I have to do menial labour and it's very difficult," Katoi Kaviha told Al Jazeera in Marikibuni village.
The disease has enlarged Kaviha's feet to such an extent that he is now unable to walk.
Sultani Matendechero, a doctor with the Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit, said: "Some of them associate their condition with witchcraft, they associate their conditions with lifestyle. Mostly, these are the wrong associations."
He added that many victims were also unaware that there are remedies for the disease.
Medicine is being properly distributed for the first time this year under a multimillion-dollar campaign.
Julia Roberts set to star in her first TV series
Julia Roberts is to make her TV debut, starring in a new series about a woman facing a midlife crisis.
The 49-year-old actress will play Eleanor Flood, a middle-aged woman "forced to abandon her small ambitions" in the upcoming series, Today Will Be Different.
The show is based on Maria Semple's New York Times best-selling novel.
"I'm giddy that Eleanor Flood will be brought to life by Julia Roberts... This will be a fun ride!," the author said in a statement.
Roberts became famous for her role as Vivian in Pretty Woman, and went on to win an Oscar for best actress in 2001 for her role in drama Erin Brockovich.
The new show, which has not yet been bought by a network, will be written by Semple and produced by the star's company, Red Om Films.
The Pretty Woman star joins a growing list of Hollywood A-listers moving over to the small screen in the so-called second golden age of television.
Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep are appearing in Amazon shows in 2017, while Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman will be starring in HBO's limited series Big Little Lies, which premieres on 19 February.
Earlier this year, Variety magazine published a list of TV's highest paid talent, including actors Kevin Spacey and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
At the top of the list is the main cast of hit comedy show The Big Bang Theory.
Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and John Galecki negotiated a record $1m (£800,000) per episode in 2014.
The 49-year-old actress will play Eleanor Flood, a middle-aged woman "forced to abandon her small ambitions" in the upcoming series, Today Will Be Different.
The show is based on Maria Semple's New York Times best-selling novel.
"I'm giddy that Eleanor Flood will be brought to life by Julia Roberts... This will be a fun ride!," the author said in a statement.
Roberts became famous for her role as Vivian in Pretty Woman, and went on to win an Oscar for best actress in 2001 for her role in drama Erin Brockovich.
The new show, which has not yet been bought by a network, will be written by Semple and produced by the star's company, Red Om Films.
The Pretty Woman star joins a growing list of Hollywood A-listers moving over to the small screen in the so-called second golden age of television.
Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep are appearing in Amazon shows in 2017, while Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman will be starring in HBO's limited series Big Little Lies, which premieres on 19 February.
Earlier this year, Variety magazine published a list of TV's highest paid talent, including actors Kevin Spacey and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
At the top of the list is the main cast of hit comedy show The Big Bang Theory.
Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and John Galecki negotiated a record $1m (£800,000) per episode in 2014.
Gambia's leader Yahya Jammeh keeps changing his mind
President Yahya Jammeh shocked many when he appeared to gracefully accept defeat in the Gambian presidential election.
So few were surprised when he changed his mind days later. Here are some examples of the veteran leader's famously unpredictable behaviour.
So few were surprised when he changed his mind days later. Here are some examples of the veteran leader's famously unpredictable behaviour.
Bird flu confirmed in turkeys at Lincolnshire farm
An outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed in turkeys at a farm near Louth in Lincolnshire.
More than 5,000 birds have been affected with the H5N8 strain of the disease.
A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone is now in place around the farm to prevent the disease spreading.
Most of the birds at the site have died and officials say the rest will be culled.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed the outbreak and said the disease has been affecting animals across Europe.
Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said immediate steps had been taken to stop the spread and reassure the public.
"Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers," he said.
PHE said Avian flu was "primarily a disease of birds", and there have never been any recorded cases of H5N8 in humans.
A "prevention zone" was set up across England, Scotland and Wales last week after a virulent strain of the virus was picked up in Europe.
All poultry and captive bird keepers were advised to house their birds.
Defra said theses measures remain in place and advised people to report any suspected cases.
A detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of the outbreak.
The most recent previous case of avian influenza confirmed in the UK was at a poultry farm in Dunfermline on 13 January 2016.
The outbreak is not expected to have any impact on the supplies of turkeys or other birds over Christmas.
More than 5,000 birds have been affected with the H5N8 strain of the disease.
A 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone is now in place around the farm to prevent the disease spreading.
Most of the birds at the site have died and officials say the rest will be culled.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed the outbreak and said the disease has been affecting animals across Europe.
Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said immediate steps had been taken to stop the spread and reassure the public.
"Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low and the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers," he said.
PHE said Avian flu was "primarily a disease of birds", and there have never been any recorded cases of H5N8 in humans.
A "prevention zone" was set up across England, Scotland and Wales last week after a virulent strain of the virus was picked up in Europe.
All poultry and captive bird keepers were advised to house their birds.
Defra said theses measures remain in place and advised people to report any suspected cases.
A detailed investigation is in progress to determine the most likely source of the outbreak.
The most recent previous case of avian influenza confirmed in the UK was at a poultry farm in Dunfermline on 13 January 2016.
The outbreak is not expected to have any impact on the supplies of turkeys or other birds over Christmas.
Staff at 18 airports to strike before Christmas
More than 1,500 check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew at 18 airports will strike for 48 hours from 23 December.
Members of Unite employed by Swissport will walk out on December 23 and 24 in a long-running dispute over pay.
The airports affected are Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Doncaster, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds/Bradford, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton and Stansted.
Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: "We appreciate that this is a very busy time of year at the UK's airports.
"That's why we are calling for the company to engage in constructive talks under the auspices of Acas to resolve this dispute.
"Unite's door is open 24/7 for such talks.
"Our members are only taking this industrial action as a last resort in a bid to reach a fair settlement.
"Our members have not had a pay rise since 2014."
Unite members voted by 62.5% to reject a 4.65% three-year pay deal for 2015-2017.
The union said the pay deal barely kept pace with inflation.
The staff were also said to be angry that detrimental changes to terms and conditions have been linked to the pay deal.
The changes include freezing overtime payments for the foreseeable future and restructuring pay.
The strike was announced shortly after Virgin Atlantic pilots voted to take industrial action over union recognition.
They will work "strictly to contract", also from 23 December.
Their union, the PPU union, said 88% of its members voted in favour on a turnout of 80%.
The action will see a removal of "pilot goodwill", with pilots who are members of the PPU working strictly to their contract.
Members of Unite employed by Swissport will walk out on December 23 and 24 in a long-running dispute over pay.
The airports affected are Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Doncaster, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Leeds/Bradford, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton and Stansted.
Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: "We appreciate that this is a very busy time of year at the UK's airports.
"That's why we are calling for the company to engage in constructive talks under the auspices of Acas to resolve this dispute.
"Unite's door is open 24/7 for such talks.
"Our members are only taking this industrial action as a last resort in a bid to reach a fair settlement.
"Our members have not had a pay rise since 2014."
Unite members voted by 62.5% to reject a 4.65% three-year pay deal for 2015-2017.
The union said the pay deal barely kept pace with inflation.
The staff were also said to be angry that detrimental changes to terms and conditions have been linked to the pay deal.
The changes include freezing overtime payments for the foreseeable future and restructuring pay.
The strike was announced shortly after Virgin Atlantic pilots voted to take industrial action over union recognition.
They will work "strictly to contract", also from 23 December.
Their union, the PPU union, said 88% of its members voted in favour on a turnout of 80%.
The action will see a removal of "pilot goodwill", with pilots who are members of the PPU working strictly to their contract.
Russian reality show to allow 'murder, rape, anything'
A new Russian reality TV show set in the -40C Siberian wilderness will "allow rape and murder", its adverts boast.
Game 2: Winter, described as the "ultimate survival test", sets 30 male and female contestants against each other and the elements for nine months.
It will be streamed online around the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Each contestant gives consent that they could be maimed, even killed," reads the advert. "Two thousand cameras, 900 hectares and 30 lives.
"Everything is allowed: fighting, alcohol, murder, rape, smoking, anything."
Game 2 has been created by 35-year-old Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Pyatkovsky.
In an interview with the Siberian Times, he said "any claim of participants even if they were to be killed or raped" would be refused.
"We will have nothing to do with this," he said. "This will be spelt out in a document to be signed by the participant before the start of the show."
However, Mr Pyatokvsky warned contestants that Russian laws still apply, and contestants who commit a crime could face jail time.
The show's prize money has been set at 100m rubles (£1.3m).
Rules of the game stipulate the contestants must be over 18 and "mentally sane".
People from all over the world will be allowed to participate and the show will be streamed in English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.
Contestants will receive training to survive in Siberian territory but no more than 100kg of equipment will be permitted, and no firearms are allowed.
"The show will absolutely extreme, there are no exceptions," Mr Pyatkovsky said. "There will be no doctors with the participants.
"If someone gets sick, wounded and realise that he or she cannot pass the test, then the participant will quit the game forever."
Game 2: Winter, described as the "ultimate survival test", sets 30 male and female contestants against each other and the elements for nine months.
It will be streamed online around the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Each contestant gives consent that they could be maimed, even killed," reads the advert. "Two thousand cameras, 900 hectares and 30 lives.
"Everything is allowed: fighting, alcohol, murder, rape, smoking, anything."
Game 2 has been created by 35-year-old Russian entrepreneur Yevgeny Pyatkovsky.
In an interview with the Siberian Times, he said "any claim of participants even if they were to be killed or raped" would be refused.
"We will have nothing to do with this," he said. "This will be spelt out in a document to be signed by the participant before the start of the show."
However, Mr Pyatokvsky warned contestants that Russian laws still apply, and contestants who commit a crime could face jail time.
The show's prize money has been set at 100m rubles (£1.3m).
Rules of the game stipulate the contestants must be over 18 and "mentally sane".
People from all over the world will be allowed to participate and the show will be streamed in English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.
Contestants will receive training to survive in Siberian territory but no more than 100kg of equipment will be permitted, and no firearms are allowed.
"The show will absolutely extreme, there are no exceptions," Mr Pyatkovsky said. "There will be no doctors with the participants.
"If someone gets sick, wounded and realise that he or she cannot pass the test, then the participant will quit the game forever."
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