this is Shades of the Day — bringing you different shades of opinion in news & culture so that you can see the big picture quickly. We believe that seeing multiple POVs is the best way to stay informed.

It’s Sunday, January 5 — here’s what you’ll find in today’s edition:

• Winter storm incoming in the central US

• Ukraine’s bold military move in Kursk

• Italy’s PM Meloni meets Trump

• 6 quick hits of news from the last 24 hours

Winter storm in central US

A major winter storm is slamming the central U.S. with snow, ice, and severe cold, Yahoo News reports, prompting states to declare emergencies and warn residents of dangerous travel conditions.

According to AP, blizzard warnings stretch from Kansas to New Jersey, making travel near impossible as snow and ice pile up.

Kansas City is facing a historic snowfall with up to 13 inches expected, warns KansasCity.com, while wind gusts up to 35 mph add to the mayhem.

Fox Weather talks about the storm reaching over 60 million people, stretching across 25 states with a mix of snow and ice.

Aljazeera notes it's the worst storm in over a decade, forecasting life-threatening conditions and noting climate change links to its severity.

Ukraine’s bold move in Kursk

Theguardian.com: Ukraine has made a bold military move, launching a surprising offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, capturing the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe.

BBC says Russian troops in Kursk are nervous, with Ukraine's unexpected attacks from multiple directions.

Telegraph.co.uk adds that Russia's general Yevkurov is now overseeing defense operations in Kursk, showing Kyiv's counteroffensive is no joke.

NBC News hints Ukraine’s strategy might be a counter move to months of pressure, coinciding with the recent election of Trump as U.S. President.

Kyiv Independent highlights mixed reports on outcomes, underlining the uncertain nature of this unfolding offensive.

Meloni meets Trump

Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister, paid a visit to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago—highlighting an intriguing diplomatic meetup between Italian and American political figures.

The NYT says this visit underscores Italy's strategic move to align with Trump before his presidency, marking it as politically significant.

Yahoo News captures the big picture by noting that Trump and Meloni's meetup at Mar-a-Lago was a lavish display of political networking on the international stage.

Meanwhile, ABC News views the affair as a noteworthy interaction—one that shines a light on Trump's continued influence and Meloni's diplomatic outreach.

1) President Biden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Denzel Washington.

2) Ann Telnaes quits Washington Post after her cartoon criticizing Bezos's relationship with Trump was rejected, raising press freedom concerns.

3) Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at 100, was remembered at The Carter Center in Georgia with a service attended by loved ones.

4) Trump's hush money case involves 34 felony counts, potentially impacting his political trajectory.

5) Trump accused of falsifying business records in hush-money case, calls NY trial a “political bias” setup by a “corrupt” judge.

6) Trump advocates for a one-bill approach to address border, energy, and tax policies, with Speaker Johnson supporting this in the House.