Plus: Why have there been so many avalanche deaths this winter? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| | | Hello. US President Donald Trump has said he is ashamed of "certain members" of the Supreme Court after it struck down his sweeping global tariffs in a major blow to his economic agenda. With more than 90 people killed by avalanches this winter, we take a look into whether we're seeing more of the deadly events. And find out what 'Chinamaxxing' is, and why it's taken social media by storm. Plus, test your news knowledge with our quiz of the week. | | | | | | |
| TOP OF THE AGENDA | | Trump announces new global tariff as he hits out at 'disappointing' Supreme Court ruling | | | | | Trump called the two justices he nominated and who ruled against him 'an embarassment to their families'. Credit: Reuters | | The Supreme Court's decision "represents a rare check" on Trump's "broad use of executive authority", writes North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher, after six justices ruled the president exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs via a law reserved for national emergencies. In response, Trump announced a new 10% levy on global imports which could be in place for 150 days before requiring congressional approval. The Supreme Court's decision may weaken "Trump's hand when trying to force other nations to make concessions to the US", writes Anthony. He also notes that the court is considering other major cases involving controversial uses of executive power and "this may not be Trump's only setback in the coming months". You can read Anthony's full analysis here. | | | | | | | | |
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| | | Andrew could be removed from royal line of succession | | The King's brother remains eighth in line to the throne despite being stripped of his titles, including "prince", last October. | | What could happen? > | | | | Nasa targets March to send humans around the Moon | | The 10-day journey around the far side of the Moon and back to Earth would be humanity's furthest trip into space. | | How it could be done > | | | | Dog trained to dump rubbish, Italy authorities say | | Video shows a small dog leisurely walking down a road in Sicily carrying a bag of rubbish in its mouth before dropping it. | | Watch the video > | | | | | | |
| NEWS FROM THE UK | - Crime: A man has been charged with drugging and sexually abusing his unconscious wife alongside a number of other men.
| | | - $200K costs: A couple were handed a huge medical bill when their baby was born prematurely in the US, despite their insurance covering pregnancy.
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| YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED | | More than 90 deaths this season: Are we seeing more avalanches? | | | | | The French Val d'Isere resort described the situation as of Thursday as perhaps the worst this century. Credit: Antoine Martignon | | A deadly avalanche in California on Tuesday killed eight people and has left another unaccounted for. Across the Atlantic, in the Alps, dozens of people have also been killed by them. While, avalanches at this time of year in the northern hemisphere are not unusual, this winter's death toll is higher than normal. | | | | | | Robert Greenall, digital journalist | | | | What's causing the avalanches? | | California has been coming out of a so-called snow drought, and when new snow falls, it's unable to bind to old snow underneath, and remains loose. Europe has seen two major storms in a week and a large amount of heavy snow combined with strong winds. | | Is climate change to blame? | | Climate change is likely to lead to snow-droughts followed by heavy snow, while warmer temperatures can weaken the snowpack and cause so-called wet avalanches, and also adversely affect a person's chances of surviving one. However, many factors impact the risk of avalanches, and climate change is just one. | | What about human behaviour? | | The changing behaviour of skiers is also contributing to increased risk. According to a guide in France, people are increasingly going off-piste, skiing in areas where authorities are less able to control the risk of avalanches. Experts says skiers should listen to avalanche forecasts and follow local advice. | | | |
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| PICK OF THE WEEK | | The trend boosting China's soft power | | | | | 'Chinamaxxing' is a social media trend that sees people embrace and adopt Chinese culture. Credit: AFP via Getty Images | | Chinese soft power is having a moment - the country's wellness practices are in vogue, Labubu dolls have been one of the most sought-after toys, bubble tea is a thing and tourists are flocking to the "cyberpunk city" of Chongqing. As 'Chinamaxxing' takes over TikTok, just a few years on from the Sinophobia of the Covid pandemic, why is China suddenly cool? | | | | | | | | |
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