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Headline News Weekend Edition for Dec 16, 2023 – Russia and Ukraine both reported numerous attempted drone attacks within the last day, following Hungary’s veto of 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) in European Union funding to Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force confirmed that it had successfully shot down 30 out of 31 drones launched overnight across 11 regions. Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have thwarted Ukrainian drone attacks, with its anti-aircraft units destroying 32 drones over the Crimean Peninsula, as announced by the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram. — The Israeli military acknowledged that three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were mistakenly killed by friendly fire during combat operations in Shejaiya, a dense neighborhood in the Gaza City area. The hostages, waving a white flag and not wearing shirts, were tragically identified as a threat by Israeli troops. The incident occurred “tens of meters from one of our forces’ positions,” leading to the mistaken firing upon the three hostages. The Israeli Defense Forces stated that two of them were killed immediately. — In a landmark financial trial that exposed the Vatican’s internal affairs, a tribunal convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5 ½ years in prison. The trial resulted in several verdicts, reflecting nearly 50 charges brought against various defendants over a 2 ½ year period. Cardinal Becciu, the first cardinal prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court, was found guilty of embezzlement while absolved of other charges. Nine other defendants received a mix of guilty verdicts and acquittals in this complex financial trial. — Responding to a surge in illegal migrant crossings, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, has ordered National Guard troops to a remote area along the state’s border with Mexico. The executive order aims to address the situation around the closed Lukeville Port of Entry in the Sonoran Desert, filling the void left by federal government inaction. The move has drawn criticism from Hobbs and Arizona’s U.S. senators, Mark Kelly (Democrat) and Kyrsten Sinema (independent). — The Ohio Supreme Court has dismissed the state’s challenge to a judge’s order that blocked enforcement of Ohio’s near-ban on abortions for the past 14 months. The ruling shifts the case back to Hamilton County Common Pleas, where abortion clinics requested the dismissal of the law after voters approved enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. The high court stated the appeal was “dismissed due to a change in the law.” — A Georgia teacher, Benjamin Reese, 51, faces charges of terroristic threats and cruelty to children for allegedly threatening a student offended by the Israeli flag in his classroom. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office report indicates that Reese, a seventh-grade social studies teacher, was reported for yelling at students in a hallway on Dec. 7. The incident report details the teacher’s actions following a student’s expression of offense. — With COVID-19 and flu hospitalizations rising across the U.S., federal data reveals that 17 states are experiencing “high” or “very high” levels of respiratory illness activity. Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations reached 23,432 for the week ending Dec. 9, marking the fifth consecutive week of increase. The numbers are now at levels not seen since the end of February, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — A significant recall of approximately 319,000 Power XL Dual Basket Air Fryers has been initiated due to a potential burn hazard, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Empower Brands issued the recall on Dec. 14, citing a faulty component in two models of the air fryer’s basket apparatus. The recall comes amid concerns of a burn risk associated with the affected air fryers, as reported by the CPSC and PowerXL’s website.

Latest news headlines for Thursday December 14, 2023 – Destruction in Khan Yunis has surpassed other areas of Gaza for the first time as Israel’s military operation against Hamas extends to the south, satellite data analysis by university researchers shows. By Dec. 11, about 20% of buildings in Khan Yunis have been either damaged or destroyed, according to data analyzed by Corey Scher of CUNY Graduate Center in New York and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University. Israeli military began operations in central Khan Yunis, Gaza’s second-largest city. — Norway has announced additional support for Ukraine coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Oslo to seek further backing from allies. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced the aid as part of a five-year, $6.8 billion commitment to Ukraine, agreed upon by Norway in February. “We are actively consulting with Ukraine to understand its most urgent needs and, along with our allies, are committed to providing the necessary support,” Stoere stated. — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, at a Washington, D.C. press conference, indicated that the Fed anticipates reducing interest rates next year. Powell added that policymakers at the central bank view current interest rates as possibly at their highest point, expressing cautious optimism about the Fed significantly easing its anti-inflation measures by the end of 2024. This announcement followed the Fed’s decision to maintain current interest rates, continuing a halt in its series of substantial rate hikes aimed at combating inflation. — The Senate has passed a defense policy bill that includes the largest troop pay raise in over two decades but omits many social conservatives’ policy goals, leading to an unusually contentious debate over what is typically a bipartisan measure. After months of negotiation following distinctly different versions passed by each chamber in July, the final bill emerged, omitting several social conservatives’ priorities to gain Democratic support. The bill passed the Senate with an 87-13 vote and now proceeds to the House, where it faces more outspoken opposition. — The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) is investigating six more schools for alleged discrimination incidents reported on their campuses. The Office for Civil Rights clarified to the schools that initiating an investigation does not imply guilt. New Jersey’s Rutgers University, Washington’s Whitman College, Stanford University in California, the University of California-San Diego, University of Washington-Seattle, and the University of California-Los Angeles have recently joined the list of institutions under investigation. — Two men wrongfully imprisoned for decades have been declared innocent and released, as announced by the Los Angeles County district attorney on Wednesday. Giovanni Hernandez and Miguel Solorio had their convictions overturned earlier this year, and on Wednesday, a judge declared them factually innocent, according to the District Attorney’s Office. At a press conference, District Attorney George Gascón extended an apology to both men, noting the profound impact of wrongful convictions, particularly given their young age at the time of arrest. — A 44-year-old man faces charges for a violent assault on a Jewish couple near a Beverly Hills synagogue, as reported by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, amidst a national rise in anti-Semitic incidents. Jarris Jay Silagi is accused of attacking a 75-year-old man and his wife on Saturday night in Beverly Hills as they headed to a synagogue for Shabbat. Silagi allegedly used a belt in the assault, causing a head laceration to the man. — In the U.S., major retailers Amazon, Target, and Walmart have decided to discontinue selling water beads, following increased pressure and reports of child injuries and fatalities from ingesting or inserting these items. Water beads, often sold as sensory toys or for children with developmental disorders, may seem innocuous but pose significant risks. These small polymer balls can swell up to 150 to 1,500 times their original size, resembling a tennis ball, when in contact with liquids, warns the National Capital Poison Center.

News headlines for Wednesday December 13, 2023 – At a recent campaign event, President Biden voiced concerns about the dwindling global support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. He emphasized Netanyahu’s need for policy changes, particularly regarding the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The President affirmed Israel’s right to counter Hamas but expressed reservations about the ongoing military actions’ impact in Gaza, as per details from a White House transcript and a pool reporter’s account. Liam White reporting. — Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip intensified on Tuesday, with a steadfast commitment to dismantling the Palestinian militant group Hamas. This objective persists despite growing international appeals for a ceasefire and the United States, a key ally, advising Israel to prioritize human life. Israel maintains its focus on targeting terrorists and terror infrastructure. However, the pressure to stop the ongoing bombings is rapidly increasing, especially with reports from Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry stating over 18,000 deaths in the conflict. Benjamin Wright reporting. — New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu officially endorsed Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, marking a significant moment six weeks before the state’s crucial early primary. At a Manchester campaign event, Sununu praised Haley for her understanding and commitment to New Hampshire’s core principles, such as low taxation, limited government, and local governance. He stressed the opportunity for New Hampshire to set a forward-looking agenda for the nation. Jessica Oakley reporting. — Argentina declared a significant devaluation of its currency and reductions in energy and transportation subsidies, as part of drastic actions proposed by newly inaugurated President Javier Milei to address the nation’s economic crisis. Economy Minister Luis Caputo, in a broadcast announcement, stated that the Argentine peso will undergo a 50% devaluation, shifting from 400 to 800 pesos against the U.S. dollar. Acknowledging the immediate impacts, Caputo remarked, “For a few months, we’re going to be worse than before.” This statement came two days after Milei, a libertarian, took office as the president of South America’s second-largest economy. — Virginia officials have concluded that a Tesla, using its Autopilot feature and traveling at high speed, was involved in a fatal accident with a tractor-trailer last July. The crash, which resulted in the death of 57-year-old Tesla driver Pablo Teodoro, is the third since 2016 involving a Tesla on Autopilot colliding with a tractor-trailer. These incidents have sparked discussions about the safety and appropriate usage areas of Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving system. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still investigating the crash. Lawrence Keller reporting. — Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, a Russian national, was charged following his unauthorized entry onto a Denmark-to-Los Angeles flight. Ochigava boarded the flight to Los Angeles International Airport on November 4 without appearing on the flight manifest. Upon his arrival, he was unable to present a passport or visa for entry into the U.S. and provided misleading information about his travel intentions to authorities. Chris Anderson reporting. — Mystic Aquarium has announced the death of Kharabali, a 9-year-old beluga whale, marking the third loss among five whales transferred from Canada in 2021. Kharabali began exhibiting abnormal swimming behavior in November. Despite being moved to the aquarium’s intensive care facility, the beluga passed away on Monday. An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death. Kyle Norris reporting. — Global Veg Corp has initiated a recall of all quantities and codes of its 5-pound Aviator brand Sundried Tomato Halves (Lot number 060923 dash 1), citing potential undeclared sulfites. This announcement, made by the New York-based company on December 4 and posted on the FDA website, clarified that the impacted products were sold in New York and New Jersey, contradicting the national scope suggested on the FDA’s statement. The tomatoes were distributed in cartons containing four 5-pound packages. Ana Keller reporting.

Latest news headlines for Tuesday Dec 12, 2023 – Israel’s Defense Forces report the seizure of what used to be Hamas’ main base in Gaza City, yet intense conflict persists further south in Gaza, exacerbating the plight of civilians. The United Nations’ humanitarian bodies indicate that nearly 90% of Gaza’s population, close to 2 million people, have been displaced. The U.N. World Food Program notes that almost the entire population is facing prolonged periods without food, with half suffering from starvation. — Bypassing Congress, the Biden administration has sanctioned an urgent sale to Israel of roughly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition, valued over $106 million, as Israel escalates its military actions in Gaza’s south. This development occurs while President Biden’s proposed aid package of nearly $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security concerns is stalled in Congress, entangled in debates over U.S. immigration policy and border security. — Russian dissident Alexey Navalny has vanished from the penal colony where he was detained since the previous year, leaving his allies unable to determine his whereabouts. “On Friday, lawyers attempted to reach IK-6 and IK-7, two Vladimir region colonies where Alexey [Navalny] could be,” his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, reported on social media Monday. “They were simultaneously informed at both locations that he is not present. Alexey’s current location remains unknown to us.” — Ex-Congressman George Santos is in discussions with federal prosecutors in Long Island for a plea bargain, as revealed by a recent court filing. “The involved parties are currently in negotiations for a plea deal with the objective of resolving the case without a trial,” the document states. Santos, a Republican, has a scheduled appearance in the federal court in Central Islip on Tuesday for a status conference. A trial was initially set for September 9, 2024. — Authorities have charged ten teenagers on Monday for a series of carjackings in Washington, D.C., highlighting a significant increase in this crime in the capital. The ten accused are linked to two carjacking syndicates in D.C., according to authorities. Charged as adults, they are allegedly behind at least 15 vehicle thefts, often involving armed robbery, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew Graves, announced at a press briefing. These charges mark the largest federal carjacking arrests in D.C. this year, stated Graves. — An American Air Force pilot is in “stable condition” after ejecting from a crashed F-16 fighter jet off South Korea’s coast, say officials. The pilot was rescued by South Korean maritime forces following an inflight emergency over the Yellow Sea at 8:43 a.m. local time, as reported by Air Force officials. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Kunsan Air Base, located approximately 110 miles south of Seoul. — Toy manufacturer Hasbro announced on Monday its decision to cut around 1,100 jobs, equating to 20% of its workforce, amid continued downturn in the toy industry. This announcement, disclosed in a staff memo and a regulatory filing, follows reports by The Wall Street Journal. The Rhode Island-based maker of Monopoly, Play-Doh, and My Little Pony stated these layoffs add to 800 job cuts already made in 2023 as part of a plan to save up to $300 million annually by 2025. — SmileDirectClub is ceasing operations, mere months after the troubled dental-aligner company sought bankruptcy protection. Announced on Friday, SmileDirectClub said it has made the “extremely tough decision to halt its global operations effective immediately.” This leaves existing customers uncertain about their ongoing treatments. The Nashville-based company confirmed the discontinuation of its aligner treatments through its telehealth platform and advised customers to seek further dental care locally.

Latest News Headlines for Monday Dec 11, 2023 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled for meetings with President Joe Biden at the White House and congressional leaders on Tuesday, amid discussions in Washington about additional military support for Ukraine. “Amid escalating missile and drone attacks by Russia on Ukraine, the discussions will center on Ukraine’s immediate needs and the crucial role of ongoing U.S. assistance at this decisive time,” announced White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. — In Philadelphia, a coalition of students, legislators, and religious figures convened at Congregation Rodeph Shalom to express strong opposition to antisemitism on university campuses and in local communities. This meeting occurred a day after the resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, following critique over her congressional hearing testimony. Magill repeatedly failed to confirm whether advocating for Jewish genocide on campus breached the university’s conduct policy. — France reported that its naval vessel in the Red Sea, the frigate Languedoc, was the target of two drones launched from Yemen, both of which were successfully neutralized. The brief announcement by France’s Armies Ministry didn’t identify the drone attackers. The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen, known adversaries of Israel, have pledged to attack ships in the Red Sea. — Kenya experienced a nationwide electricity outage on Sunday evening, disrupting significant areas including Nairobi’s main airport, a key link between East Africa and global destinations in Asia and Europe. The blackout, which started around 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), marks the third major power failure in the country in the past three months. Critical facilities affected included Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Eldoret Airport in western Kenya, where backup generators failed following the grid collapse. — Authorities have apprehended a man in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Catholic priest during a weekend attack in a church rectory in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was attacked Sunday “amid a break-in” at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, as per the Omaha Archdiocese. Gutgsell later succumbed to his injuries at an Omaha hospital, stated church authorities. — Montana police have arrested a woman for driving her vehicle repeatedly into a group of religious demonstrators on a sidewalk, injuring one man. Genevienne Rancuret, 55, was apprehended in Billings on Saturday, a few hours post-incident, and jailed on charges of felony assault with a weapon – her vehicle, felony criminal mischief, and DUI, according to the police. Her legal representation status is currently unknown. — Delegates from various nations convened this week at an annual global climate summit, aiming to forge agreements on limiting global temperature rise. The summit, hosted in the fossil fuel-rich United Arab Emirates, has stirred disappointment among activists advocating for a departure from fossil fuels. Yet, the current global and U.S. reliance on both fossil fuels and renewable energy is evident, with Wyoming standing as a prime example. — A man was dramatically saved after being trapped for seven hours under a boulder estimated to weigh between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds, reported a rescue team on Friday. The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office received an alert about the hiker trapped on Tuesday afternoon, as stated by Inyo County Search & Rescue, a volunteer group. The man was stuck beneath a boulder below Santa Rita Flat near Independence in the Inyo Mountains.

In California, a recurring pattern is observed where homeless individuals battling drug addiction appear resistant to help. This resistance is often interpreted as a desire to continue their drug use, unimpeded by interventions. Such situations contribute to the deterioration of communities and urban areas, not only in California but also in cities like Portland, Oregon, and others across the nation. This opinion is backed up by the fact that many rebab facilities and treatment centers go two-thirds unused because many don’t want assistance or they don’t like the rules if they do use these facilities. So they go back on the streets like an endless loop. A balanced perspective suggests that the ongoing degradation of neighborhoods is a direct result of a cyclic problem: the homeless, struggling with drug addiction, are frequently returned to the streets without adequate treatment. This issue requires a nuanced approach. The solutions proposed by Republicans are often viewed as overly stringent, while those offered by Democrats are considered excessively lenient. As a result, those advocating for a centrist approach find themselves bearing the burden of this dilemma. They argue for a balanced strategy that neither criminalizes addiction nor neglects the need for effective rehabilitation and support systems. The goal is to create a sustainable solution that addresses the root causes of addiction and homelessness, while also considering the well-being and safety of the broader community.