China's Lunar New Year travel rush kicks into high gear with 9 billion trips expected

Early-rising stargazers in the UK witnessed a partial lunar eclipse just before dawn on Friday, with a "blood moon" created as the Moon moved into Earth's shadow, turning a dusky red. The eclipse was visible in most of the UK, while some western areas and the Americas may have seen a total eclipse. This natural phenomenon occurs when Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon, causing it to appear red due to Rayleigh scattering in...

Defending champion Iga Swiatek advanced to the Indian Wells semi-finals after defeating Zheng Qinwen, setting up a match against teenager Mirra Andreeva. Swiatek, aiming for her third title at Indian Wells, could become the first woman since 1991 to win back-to-back titles. In the other semi-final, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Madison Keys in a rematch of the Australian Open final. Full Article

BMW's net profit for 2024 dropped by 36.9% to 7.68 billion euros, citing subdued demand in the Chinese market. The company expects a lower earnings margin of 5% to 7% in 2025 due to tariffs impacting earnings and a challenging competitive environment. BMW's chief financial officer noted that added tariffs on U.S. imports would decrease autos earnings margin by one percentage point, with ongoing challenges in China and supply chain support measures as headwinds for...

The U.S. and Israel have reached out to Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland to discuss resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip under Trump's proposed plan, despite strong opposition and legal concerns. Sudan rejected the idea, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland claim they were unaware of any contacts. The plan, which involves moving over 2 million Palestinians, has faced criticism and concerns about potential war crimes. Full Article

Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, used his court-martial to portray himself as a patriotic whistleblower exposing alleged lies of the Biden administration regarding the war in Ukraine. He pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and sharing classified documents, claiming he aimed to save lives and challenge what he saw as government misinformation. Teixeira's leaks revealed sensitive information about Russia's actions in Ukraine and other countries, prompting a security overhaul and disciplinary actions within...

Citizens searching for missing relatives in Jalisco found skeletal remains and clothing at the Izaguirre Ranch, exposing an embarrassing oversight by state authorities and highlighting Mexico's high number of disappearances. The ranch was allegedly used as a cartel training base, with authorities previously finding a body and making arrests. Search collectives like Jalisco Search Warriors play a crucial role in uncovering such sites, prompting authorities to take action and investigate further. Full Article