News Wrap: 'Dangerously cold' temperatures expected in eastern U.S.

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: National weather officials are warning of dangerously cold temperatures across large parts of the Eastern U.S. heading into the weekend. Winter advisories were in effect today for areas stretching from Texas to Maine.

Some states in the South Atlantic could see more heavy snow starting tomorrow. In the meantime, emergency crews have been working to repair icy power lines in Mississippi, in one case even using a helicopter to access those lines.

The state also dispatched the National Guard to help clear the roads five days after a massive storm, while, in Nashville, more than 100 people lined up outside this church to stock up on food items. The death toll from the frigid weather has now risen to at least 85 people.

President Trump says he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to strike Ukraine's capital for a week due to the frigid weather there. Ukraine has been experiencing one of the coldest winters in years, and Russian strikes have repeatedly knocked out heating for thousands.

Speaking during his first Cabinet meeting of the new year, President Trump said Putin agreed, though the Kremlin has not confirmed that.

President Donald Trump:

And I have to tell you, that was very nice. A lot of people said, don't waste a call. You're not going to get that. And he did it. And we're very happy that they did it.

Man:

That's correct.

President Donald Trump:

Because, on top of everything else, it's not what they need is missiles coming into their towns and cities. So...

Amna Nawaz:

The president also said he's ordered Venezuela's airspace to reopen to commercial traffic, saying that Americans will soon be able to visit. Venezuela's government has not yet commented. Soon after the announcement, American Airlines said it would aim to restart service in the coming months. The carrier was the largest U.S. airline in Venezuela before flights were suspended in 2019.

Meanwhile, in Venezuela today, lawmakers approved the opening of the nation's oil sector to privatization.

(Applause)

Amna Nawaz:

The National Assembly's decision would ease state control and reverse a key principle of the country's socialist movement that's ruled Venezuela for over two decades. It also comes after President Trump said the U.S. would take control of Venezuela's oil exports with plans to revitalize the industry by attracting foreign investment.

The European Union has listed Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization following Tehran's violent crackdown on protests that left thousands dead. This puts the E.U. in line with the U.S. and Canada, which have already designated the group as such.

Iran's foreign ministry slammed the designation as -- quote -- "illegal and unjustified." The 27-nation bloc also sanctioned 21 Iranian officials and organizations today. The E.U.'s foreign policy chief said -- quote -- "Repression cannot go unanswered."

Kaja Kallas, Foreign Affairs High Representative, European Commission:

The means that were taken by the regime are really, really severe. So that's why we are also sending a clear message that, if you are suppressing people, it has a price.

Amna Nawaz:

Activists say Tehran's crackdown on protesters has killed more than 6,400 people.

Also today, Iranian state media is reporting that the country will carry out live-fire shooting drills in the Strait of Hormuz next week. That could disrupt traffic in the waterway, where about 20 percent of the world's oil passes through.

In Illinois, a former sheriff's deputy was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 for help; 31-year-old Sean Grayson, who is white, apologized during the sentencing, saying -- quote -- "I made terrible decisions that night. I'm sorry."

Grayson and another deputy responded to Massey's home in July of 2024 after she reported a possible intruder. Grayson shot Massey as she held a pot of boiling water. The killing prompted protests over systemic racism during police encounters.

Gymnast Jordan Chiles is one step closer to potentially reclaiming a disputed bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The highest court in Switzerland has sent the case back to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to examine new evidence. Chiles' third place finish on floor exercise was hastily overturned after Romania claimed the Americans didn't file a score challenge in time by a matter of seconds.

Today's ruling cited audio-visual recordings of the final, which could change the outcome, though it's expected to take at least a year before a verdict is ready.

The U.S. trade deficit widened by the most in more than three decades in November. That's according to data out today, which was delayed by the government shutdown. The latest figures represent a sharp pivot from prior months, when the deficit had shrunk amid President Trump's tariffs. Economists say the data also points to ongoing volatility in global trade.

In the meantime, on Wall Street today, stocks ended mixed after a dramatic day of ups and downs. The Dow Jones industrial average managed a slight gain of around 55 points. The Nasdaq lost more than 170 points. The S&P 500 ended a touch lower on the day.

Twenty-five classic movies are entering the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. And fans of a certain age will be totally bugging about one of those.

Alicia Silverstone, Actress:

Ew, get off of me. As if.

Amna Nawaz:

The iconic '90s comedy "Clueless" made this year's list. Like the others, it was selected for preservation due to its -- quote -- "cultural, historic or aesthetic importance."

The newest film to be included was Wes Anderson's "Grand Budapest Hotel" from 2014 and the oldest, a silent film, "The Tramp and the Dog," which dates back to 1896. Four documentaries also made the cut, including 1981's "Brooklyn Bridge" by Ken Burns.

And social media star and nonprofit founder Shirley Raines has died.

Shirley Raines, Nonprofit Founder:

Hey, my love. How are you?

Man:

All right. I'm doing good. How are you?

Shirley Raines:

Good to see you, baby.

Man:

Thank you.

Amna Nawaz:

Known to millions on TikTok simply as Ms. Shirley, Raines helped to feed and care for homeless people on Skid Row in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California and Nevada. She began the work in 2017 following the death of one of her six children.

Her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz says Raines -- quote -- A"used her powerful media platform to bring dignity, resources and hope to some of the most underserved populations." No cause of death was announced. Shirley Raines was 58 years old.