LA snow dusts Hollywood sign as winter storm tightens grip

Snowflakes have been falling in Los Angeles, including around its iconic Hollywood sign, as a winter storm tightens its icy grip on southern California this weekend.

San Francisco broke a 132-year record low temperature, dipping to 39F (4C) on Friday morning. 

Tens of millions of residents in the Golden State are under blizzard, wind and flood warnings.

The storms have blacked out nearly a million properties from coast to coast.

The West Coast's main motorway, Interstate 5, was partially closed south of the Oregon border. 

Los Angeles - a city famed for its palm trees and sun-kissed boulevards - is under its first blizzard warning in more than three decades.

On Friday people in the city marvelled at the unfamiliar sight of a snow flurry around the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee. 

But elsewhere in Los Angeles, flooding trapped cars in North Hollywood, and officials warned of widespread flooding in neighbourhoods throughout the surrounding county.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that "significant mountain snows are likely Friday night into early Saturday, with major impacts to travel and infrastructure. 

"Downed trees and power lines are possible. Lower elevations may experience significant snowfall over areas where snow is unusual."

The NWS warned swimmers on the state's world-famous beaches to beware of "strong rip currents and high surf".

Mountain communities can expect snowfall between 2ft and 7ft (60cm and 2.1m). Avalanche warnings have been posted in some areas.

Some weather forecasters around Los Angeles witnessed thunder snow, reports the LA Times. 

The rare phenomenon - combining lightning and blizzards - sometimes accompanies intense winter storms. 

Other parts of California that will see a rare blanketing of snow include the Mojave Desert, the Santa Clarita Valley and the Inland Empire. 

Earlier in the week, the storm dumped snow farther north along the West Coast, including in the city of Portland, Oregon, which saw one its snowiest days on record. 

Ukraine war: Zelensky wants Xi Jinping meeting following China's peace plan

 

By George Wright & Jaroslav Lukiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he plans to meet China's leader Xi Jinping to discuss Beijing's proposals on ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking on the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, he said the proposal signalled that China was involved in the search for peace.

"I really want to believe that China will not supply weapons to Russia," he said.

China's plan calls for peace talks and respect for national sovereignty.

However, the 12-point document does not specifically say that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine, and it also condemns the usage of "unilateral sanctions", in what is seen as a veiled criticism of Ukraine's allies in the West.

The Chinese authorities have so far not publicly responded to Mr Zelensky's call for a summit with Mr Xi.

Meanwhile, Russia hailed the Chinese peace proposals. "We share Beijing's views," the foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing was considering supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia - a claim strongly denied by Beijing. On Friday, American media again reported that the Chinese government was considering sending drones and artillery shells to Moscow.

Asked about the Chinese plan, US President Joe Biden told ABC News on Friday: "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin's applauding it, so how could it be any good?

"I've seen nothing in the plan that would indicate that there is something that would be beneficial to anyone other than Russia," he added.

China appears to be siding with Russia, though it would like to find a way of rescuing President Putin by arranging some kind of face-saving peace deal, says the BBC's World Affairs Editor John Simpson.

The Chinese proposals follow a visit by the country's top diplomat Wang Yi to Moscow, where he met President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.

After the talks, Mr Wang was quoted by China's state-run Xinhua news agency as saying that Beijing was willing to "deepen political trust" and "strengthen strategic coordination" with Moscow.

• Why China launched a charm offensive over Ukraine

Western officials gave the latest proposals a lukewarm reception. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said Beijing "doesn't have much credibility" because it had "not been able to condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine".

President Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and Russian troops made significant advances during the first few days in Ukraine's north, east and south.

But the attack on the capital Kyiv was soon repulsed and the Ukrainian military was later able to retake large areas.

The conflict - the biggest in Europe since World War Two - has since become a grinding war of attrition.

At a lengthy news conference in Kyiv on Friday, Mr Zelensky also said victory "will inevitably await us" if allies "respect their promises and deadlines".

Poland said it had already delivered four German-made Leopard II tanks to Ukraine and was ready to deliver more. Germany has said it will provide 14 Leopard tanks, with Spain and Canada also sending tanks.

The US - by far the biggest provider of military aid to Ukraine - has pledged to send 31 of its M1 Abrams tanks and the UK is providing 14 Challenger 2 tanks.

The Ukrainian leader added that his country had failed to engage sufficiently with countries in Africa and Latin America after many nations in those continents abstained during a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution condemning Russia's invasion.

"We didn't work well for many years, we didn't pay attention, I think it's a big mistake," he said.

Asked if he could name his worst moment of the war so far, Mr Zelensky said Bucha, a town outside Kyiv where Russian troops are accused of having killed civilians in the early part of the war. The small town had been under Russian control until Ukrainian troops fought back last April to reclaim it.

"What I saw. It was horrible," Mr Zelensky said, visibly moved.

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• China's war neutrality claim fades with Russia visit

The US marked a year since Russia invaded Ukraine by announcing a new range of sanctions against Russia and new aid for Ukraine.

The latest restrictions target more than 100 entities both within Russia and worldwide, including banks and suppliers of defence equipment. The US said it wanted to stop those helping Russia exploit loopholes to get sanctioned materials.

The White House's fresh round of aid for Ukraine is worth $12bn (£10bn), comprising $2bn from the Department of Defense including ammunition and drones and $10bn from the State Department including budgetary support to the Ukrainian government.

A further $550m will be supplied to both Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova to strengthen their energy infrastructure.

Moldova is Europe's poorest country and has been heavily impacted by the war. Its leaders have warned for several weeks that Russia is plotting to seize power.

It comes days after US President Joe Biden flew to Kyiv for a surprise visit and held talks with Mr Zelensky.

On Friday, the EU also approved its 10th round of sanctions against Russia, imposing restrictions on technology that has a civilian and military dual use.

Traveling Experience

 I have expreience a lot of travels but lastly when i go back to Pakistan from UAE, that was amazing and i am going to share my expreience with all of you.

I was in Alain UAE working in my office but suddenly i think i need to go back to visit my home as its one and half year ago when i was gone to my home lastly.

I purchase a ticket from Alain that was from Dubai to Lahore. My seat was confirmed and i the flight time was morning 12:00. I have to appear at airport for boarding before 3 hours of flight time. I was residing in Alain and its difficult to reach at Dubai at 09:00 so i went to Sharjah to stay with my friend so that i can reach at Dubai air port on time and can shop some things from Dubai. 

I reached to my friend named usman gujjar before 2 days of flight and we started shopping. 

After meeting with him i came to know that he is also going to Pakistan and that's a co-incident. We both was very happy because we can spend time freely in Pakistan also. 

We do a lot of shopping. I buy choclates for my little sibbling, perfumes for friends, clothes for me, some home appliances for my home, some watches for little cousins, some dry fruits for my elders, two mobile for little brothers, also bluetooth watches and a lot of things more. 

After packing i started to wait for my flight. My flight was next day and i was very excited because after a one and half year I was going to see my family after one and a half year. 

Next day, i was on time for my flight. I do my boarding and started wait to start my journy towards my original home. Flight started to move and i slept because i didn't sleep from two days.

I was very happy when my flight landed on Lahore Air port. I go outside and see, there are a lot of my friends and also my family, waiting to recieve me.

Then we started moving towards home and i started to distribute the gifts when we reached home to the childerens and family.

They all was very happy. I was also too much happy because after a long time i was meeting with my family and friends. I remain 15 days at my home and i really enjoyed my travel to my home. After 15 days, the times came when i have to return back to my job in UAE. 

Now i am on duty and doing my work and i am here happy with my colleagues.

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