As the state quite literally froze over and his constituents went without basic necessities, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and his family booked a flight to Cancún, Mexico, and stayed at the Ritz-Carlton. The New York Times reported that in a group text with friends and neighbors, Cruz's wife, Heidi, revealed she wanted to escape their "FREEZING" house.

Europe recently downgraded the protected status of wolves, sparking concern among conservationists who warn this may undo decades of progress and lead to the species becoming threatened again.

Europe's top human rights court found that Russia "shot down" Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members.

Luxembourg, Ireland, and Belgium are some of the best places to work in Europe, according to two new studies. View on euronews

Spanish authorities say two people have died in northeastern Spain in a wildfire that spread quickly before firefighters brought it under control.

People around the world often name the U.S. as their top ally. China is also a common response, while Europeans commonly name the EU or other regional powers.