News Headlines - 09 January 2014

▽US polar vortex: the best pictures | theguardian.com

The most extreme weather in decades has swept across North America, sending the mercury plummeting and causing chaos – but also creating stunning pictures

▽BBC News - Five things you need to know about Robert Gates’ memoir

US defence secretary Robert Gates used to seethe with anger at colleagues and fantasised about quitting. In other words he comes across as remarkably human.

▽Indian diplomat indicted but already has immunity and left US - U.S. News

The Indian deputy consul whose arrest and strip-search in New York touched off a diplomatic spat between the U.S. and India has been indicted — but she's already been given immunity and has left the country, the prosecutor said Thursday.
A federal grand jury charged Devyani Khobragade with visa fraud and making a false statement for allegedly providing bogus information to get papers for a housekeeper she wanted to bring from India to the U.S.

▽A scandal for a king is no menace to Spanish democracy - FT.com

This week a judge named Princess Cristina, the king’s youngest daughter, as a formal suspect in a corruption inquiry that has been running for more than two years. The case centres on allegations that her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, Duke of Palma, embezzled millions of euros in his role as head of a not-for-profit foundation. Now, the princess will have to appear in court to answer questions about her own alleged involvement in tax evasion and money laundering.

▽Tunisian government steps down ahead of elections and amid protests - latimes.com

Tunisia’s Islamist prime minister stepped down Thursday, upholding a pledge aimed at breaking a political stalemate and paving the way for new elections in the country where the Arab Spring began.