'There are no minor incursions'

Abbey Monsour and Julius Lasin, USA TODAY
·5 min read

The U.S. faced a rare retort from an ally that has received millions of dollars in military assistance, the Jan. 6 committee seeks cooperation from Ivanka Trump, and tens of thousands of people have their student debt erased.

👋 Hello! It's Abbey and Julius with Thursday's news.

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Ukraine pushes back on Biden's Russia remarks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back Thursday on President Joe Biden's suggestion that a "minor incursion" by Russia into Ukraine might not merit a strong international response. "We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations," Zelenskyy wrote in a tweet. On Wednesday, Biden said the U.S. would hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable if Russia invaded Ukraine, but he suggested the consequences would depend on the extent of Russia's aggression. Biden clarified his comments Thursday: "If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion. Let there be no doubt if Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price."

President Joe Biden warned Russia during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday.
President Joe Biden warned Russia during a news conference in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday.

Jan. 6 committee seeks cooperation from Ivanka Trump

The special House committee investigating the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, seeks the cooperation of former President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, who lawmakers said witnessed attempts to persuade Vice President Mike Pence to intervene in the certification of Joe Biden's victory in 2020's presidential election. The panel's request comes a day after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the transfer of hundreds of Trump White House documents that the former president sought to shield from House investigators. The committee's request to the former president's daughter focused on her contacts and proximity to the president during the Capitol siege and the hours leading up to it.

Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka has been asked to speak to the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka has been asked to speak to the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

What everyone's talking about

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Dangerous winter storms, bitter cold hits winter-weary East

Sleet, snow and bitterly cold temperatures are sweeping across a wide swath of the South and East as the weather-battered region prepared for more travel chaos. Much of the region was slammed by a series of snow and ice events in the past three weeks, which dumped more than a foot of snow in areas that often don't see that much all year. Winter storm warnings and advisories were in effect for more than 30 million Americans, the majority in the South and East. Thursday night could bring temperatures close to the lowest of the season. Ice and snow as far south as North Carolina could result in slick roads Thursday night, the National Weather Service warned.

A man clears heavy snow off his driveway on Dewey Avenue in Pittsfield, Mass., on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Berkshires got about six inches of snow followed by rain.
A man clears heavy snow off his driveway on Dewey Avenue in Pittsfield, Mass., on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. The Berkshires got about six inches of snow followed by rain.

Biden's public service revamp helps 70,000

Biden's overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has erased the student debt of more than triple the projected number of borrowers. The initiative, which was rolled out in 2007, was designed to entice people to work in public jobs. After they worked 10 years in those jobs and made payments, their college debt would be erased. In practice, the federal government forgave almost no one's debt. In October, the Biden administration loosened the standards, and the agency estimated more than 22,000 borrowers would benefit immediately, and 27,000 would qualify as soon as they proved they worked in an eligible job. Data from the Department of Education shows roughly 70,000 borrowers have qualified for nearly $5 billion in relief. The Biden administration estimates as many as 550,000 borrowers will benefit from the changes to the program.

Real quick

Man's best friend saved a young girl in a blizzard

A 10-year-old girl survived 18 hours in a freezing winter blizzard in Russia. Her survival secret: a stray dog. After going missing and getting caught in the snowstorm, the girl clung to the warmth of the animal before a pack of authorities and volunteers could find her. The blizzard had led to up to 2 feet of snowdrifts. A tip came from someone who recalled seeing a girl playing with a dog. The girl, who was appropriately dressed for the cold, was found with the animal on a mattress under a low balcony. The girl said she was "hugging a fluffy dog for warmth."

A break from the news

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine, Ivanka Trump and 'Havana Syndrome.' It's Thursday's news.

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