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Unbiased headline news for Tuesday March 5, 2024 – Haiti finds itself in a state of emergency and a nighttime curfew following a surge in violence triggered by armed gangs attacking the country’s two largest prisons, resulting in the release of numerous inmates. The Haitian government initiated the 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday evening, coupled with a curfew spanning from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. The decision aims “to restore order and take appropriate measures to regain control of the situation,” as stated in a press release. — In a groundbreaking move, France has become the world’s first country to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. This historic development occurred with French lawmakers overwhelmingly supporting the bill in a 780 to 72 vote, influenced by the U.S. decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. The legislation grants women a “guaranteed freedom” to decide for themselves whether abortion is the right choice. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, addressing Congress Hall, emphasized the nation’s “moral debt” to women who endured illegal abortions in the past. — The United States and South Korea have launched an 11-day joint military exercise, featuring intensified field training drills and a focus on countering threats from North Korea, which possesses nuclear capabilities. The annual Freedom Shield exercise, encompassing both computer-simulated and field-based training, commenced as scheduled, confirmed a spokesman from the South Korean Defense Ministry. This year’s iteration includes 48 joint field drills, nearly doubling the number from the previous year, and will run until March 14. — Despite its vast population of nearly 22 million, Mexico City grapples with dwindling water supplies. The Water Basin Organization of the Valley of Mexico revealed concerns last week, indicating that the ominous “day zero,” when the Cutzamala System might no longer provide sufficient water for residents, could arrive on June 26 and extend until September. — Allen Weisselberg, the former chief financial officer of the family real estate company of ex-President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to perjury charges arising from his testimony during Trump’s civil fraud trial. Weisselberg openly acknowledges engaging in conduct related to sworn testimony on May 12, 2023, and Oct. 10, 2023, specifically regarding the dimensions of Trump’s triplex on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. When queried about his plea, the Manhattan judge inquired, “Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?” during Weisselberg’s court appearance. — In a pre-dawn gunfight near Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, four Northern California sheriff’s deputies sustained injuries, with one in critical condition, as they confronted a suspect who had led them on a car chase and repeatedly fired at them. The suspect ultimately died in a crash, as reported by authorities. The shooting transpired shortly after midnight local time, and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the suspect’s demise following the vehicle crash. — A recent lawsuit alleges that a falling utility pole was the cause of the devastating 1 million-acre Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas Panhandle. A series of wildfires, scorching over 1.2 million acres in the Panhandle over the past week, prompted the legal action. The plaintiff is suing the Southwestern Public Service Company, asserting that human error led to the Smokehouse Creek fire, resulting in the destruction of her home. — Apple faces a substantial fine of nearly 2 billion dollars from the European Union for exploiting its market dominance to detrimentally impact music streaming apps and their users. The tech giant, with its proprietary music streaming service, is accused of hindering rival companies from promoting alternative and more affordable products outside of Apple’s App Store, according to the top EU antitrust regulator. The regulator stated, “For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store.”

Unbiased headline news for Monday March 4, 2024 – Firefighters in Texas confronted challenging conditions, including rising temperatures, intensified winds, and dry air during the weekend while striving to contain the largest wildfire in state history. Their efforts aimed at preventing further devastation of the Panhandle and transforming it into a desolate wasteland. Focused on the fire’s northern and eastern perimeter, firefighters worked diligently to counteract aggressive gusts from the southwest that posed a threat to the flames, potentially leading to the consumption of additional acreage. Jason Nedlo, a spokesperson for the firefighting team, provided updates on their strategy and progress. — In Pakistan’s National Assembly, lawmakers elected Shehbaz Sharif as the new prime minister for the second time, amid protests from allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan. Allegations of rigging in last month’s election echoed through the parliament as Sharif assumed the role, succeeding Khan, who had been ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022. Imran Khan, currently serving prison terms in multiple cases, faces restrictions that prevent him from seeking or holding office. The contentious transition of power heightened tensions within the political landscape. — Alaska Airlines and Boeing are facing a $1 billion lawsuit from three passengers of the flight that made an emergency landing due to a blown-off door plug mid-flight. Kyle Rinker, Amanda Strickland, and Kevin Kwok, who were on Alaska Flight twelve-eighty-two during the incident, allege negligence on the part of the airline and manufacturer. The complaint, filed on February 20th in Multnomah County, Oregon, details the January emergency landing when an unused exit door detached from the aircraft. The passengers seek accountability for the traumatic experience and potential dangers resulting from the incident. — A recent poll reveals a decline in President Joe Biden’s approval rating, with challenges emerging as the 2024 election campaign gains momentum. According to The New York Times and Siena College survey, only a quarter of the nation’s voters believe the country is heading in the right direction. The poll indicates that Biden trails Donald Trump in several key areas, with more than twice as many voters feeling personally harmed by Biden’s policies rather than benefiting from them. Additionally, a majority expresses concerns about the current state of the economy, contributing to the shifting dynamics of the upcoming election. — The New York Attorney General’s Office took action against Nassau County’s recent anti-transgender sports ban by issuing a cease-and-desist letter. The letter, directed to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, highlights the immediate impact of the order, forcing sports leagues to navigate an impossible choice: either discriminate against transgender women and girls, violating New York law, or seek alternative venues for their activities. “The Order’s immediate effect is to force sports leagues to make an impossible choice: discriminate against transgender women and girls, in violation of New York law, or find somewhere else to play,” emphasized the letter from the New York Attorney General’s Office. — A Florida woman who endured a life-altering incident involving a New York City bus has been granted $72.5 million in her lawsuit against the city’s transit agency. Aurora Beauchamp, now 68, recounted being struck and dragged by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in March 2017. The city jury ruled in favor of Beauchamp, who was crossing a street in a designated crosswalk when the bus, making a right turn, collided with her and dragged her approximately 20 feet. The significant award reflects the impact of the incident on her life and underscores the responsibility of the transit agency. — A volcano on Fernandina island in the Galapagos has entered a state of eruption, illuminating the nighttime sky with cascading lava towards the sea. The La Cumbre volcano, situated on an uninhabited island, initiated its eruption around midnight on Saturday, according to Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute. Officials note that this eruption could be the largest since 2017, and images shared on social media by Galapagos visitors capture the spectacle of the volcano against a crimson red sky. The 1,476-meter volcano’s last eruption occurred in 2020, adding to the dynamic geological activity of the region. — In his 21st NBA season, LeBron James achieved the remarkable milestone of 40,000 points during Saturday night’s game. The Los Angeles Lakers faced a 124-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets, but James, still going strong in his illustrious career, surpassed the milestone with a layup against Michael Porter Jr. in the second quarter.

Unbiased headline news for Saturday March 2, 2024 – A vessel targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels succumbed to the waters of the Red Sea on Saturday, marking the first complete destruction amid their campaign against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. The Rubymar, laden with fertilizer and previously leaked fuel, now poses a threat of ecological harm to the Red Sea. Persistent Houthi assaults have already disrupted crucial waterway traffic, affecting cargo and energy shipments from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. The U.S. Central Command disclosed additional information regarding the food aid dispatched to Gaza on Saturday, in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Over 38,000 meals were airdropped along Gaza’s coastline by U.S. C-130s, facilitating civilian access to vital aid. A statement emphasized that the Department of Defense’s humanitarian airdrops contribute to the ongoing U.S. government initiatives providing life-saving assistance to the people in Gaza. Seven individuals lost their lives in Odesa, Ukraine, when debris from a Russian drone struck an apartment block overnight, as reported by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service on Saturday. Among the casualties was a 3-month-old baby. An additional eight people sustained injuries. Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper attributed the incident to Ukrainian air defenses shooting down the Shahed drone, resulting in falling debris impacting the apartment building. The Pentagon is anticipated to lift its flight ban on the V-22 Osprey, potentially as early as next week. This development paves the way for the resumption of flights for the tilt-rotor aircraft, grounded for nearly three months. The Naval Air Systems Command imposed the grounding last December following a crash off Japan that claimed the lives of eight airmen. Another incident earlier in the year involved the death of three Marines in a separate Osprey crash during a training exercise off the northern coast of Australia. — Police have made a significant arrest related to the distressing death of 23-year-old pregnant Rebekah Byler, causing shockwaves in an Amish community in Pennsylvania. Early Saturday morning, the Pennsylvania State Police announced the apprehension of Shawn Cranston, a 52-year-old resident of Corry, Pennsylvania. Cranston faces multiple charges, including criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary, and criminal trespass, in connection with the murder of the Amish woman. Almost a year after the arrest of a teen migrant from Guatemala in connection with the death of a Florida police officer, the case has been dismissed, according to Jose Baez, the teen’s lawyer. The footage revealed instances of Aguilar Mendez being thrown to the ground, subjected to a chokehold, and tased multiple times. Five minutes after Aguilar Mendez was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, Sergeant Michael Kunovich of the Saint Johns County Sheriff’s Office suffered a heart attack and passed away, as confirmed by Arroyo. In a significant move, the two largest pharmacy chains in the U.S., CVS and Walgreens, have announced plans to commence the sale of abortion pills as early as this month. The drug in question is mifepristone, commonly known as the abortion pill, and its acquisition will necessitate a prescription. The Food and Drug Administration, in 2000, approved mifepristone as a safe and effective method for terminating unwanted pregnancies. Jon Stewart’s heartfelt farewell to his dog, Dipper, on The Daily Show Monday has triggered an outpouring of donations to the New York City animal shelter from which the pup originated. The executive director of Animal Haven, Tiffany Lacey, disclosed that the shelter has received nearly $50,000 in donations within five days. These unexpected contributions, made in memory of Dipper, will be directed towards supporting dogs at the shelter, particularly for vet care, training, food, and treats.

Unbiased headline news for Thursday February 29, 2024 – Aid convoys transporting food reached northern Gaza this week, as reported by Israeli officials on Wednesday. This marks the first significant delivery to the devastated and isolated area in a month. The United Nations has issued warnings about worsening starvation among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians amid Israel’s offensive. International calls for a cease-fire have intensified, with the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar actively working to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary halt in fighting and the release of hostages seized during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. — In a recent ruling, a New York appeals court determined that former President Donald Trump must pay the entire bond amount equivalent to the $454 million civil fraud judgment against him. This decision follows Trump’s offer to pay a $100 million bond while requesting the court to temporarily pause the penalty. Trump’s legal team argued that the $355 million penalty, along with additional interest, was deemed “exorbitant and punitive.” The total sum, including interest, amounts to approximately $454 million. — The Justice Department is currently investigating the door plug blowout incident on a Boeing 737 Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight on Jan. 5. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that the door plug detached a few minutes after takeoff from Portland International Airport, leading to an emergency landing. The probe will not only address the specific Alaska Airlines case but also examine whether Boeing violated its deferred prosecution agreement from 2021. — Hunter Biden, on Wednesday, denounced the GOP-led impeachment inquiry into his father, President Joe Biden, labeling it a “political charade.” He reiterated that he had “never” involved his father in his professional matters. Hunter Biden engaged in a six-hour exchange with Republican lawmakers, who have focused on him in their quest to find potential wrongdoing by the president. However, the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees have yet to present conclusive evidence linking President Biden to his family’s business arrangements. — Border-protection officials have announced that a new system for resupplying Coast Guard vessels at sea is not only cutting costs but also enhancing national security. Collaborating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Air and Marine Operations groups, several federal partners implemented a new airborne deployable delivery system. This system allows Coast Guard vessels and other ships to stay on patrol instead of returning to port for resupplying. — Jocelyn Dor, a Haitian national residing in the United States, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for participating in the smuggling of 24 firearms to his native country. A resident of Orlando, Florida, Dor was a member of the infamous Haitian 400 Mawozo criminal gang, responsible for the kidnapping of 17 missionaries in 2021. U.S. District Court Judge John D. Bates handed down a 60-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release. — South Korea’s fertility rate, already the lowest globally, experienced a further decline in 2023, according to the country’s statistics agency. The fertility rate, measuring the number of expected babies per woman in her lifetime, reached just 0.65 in the October-December quarter. This figure represents a 0.05 decrease from the same period the previous year, raising concerns about the impact on economic growth and the strain on pensions and social welfare programs. — Ivan Cantu, a Texas man who had long claimed his conviction was based on false testimony and questionable evidence, was executed on Wednesday. Cantu, convicted over 20 years ago for fatally shooting two people, including his cousin James Mosqueda and Mosqueda’s girlfriend, Amy Kitchen, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. In his final words, the 50-year-old inmate maintained his innocence.

Unbiased headline news for Wednesday February 28, 2024 – European military heavyweights Germany and Poland have firmly stated that they will refrain from deploying troops to Ukraine, dismissing reports suggesting Western countries’ potential involvement as the conflict with Russia extends into its third year. The head of NATO echoed this sentiment, asserting that the U.S.-led alliance has no intentions of sending troops to Ukraine. Other central European leaders also affirmed their decision against providing soldiers. Simultaneously, the Kremlin issued a warning, stating that a direct conflict between NATO and Russia would become inevitable if the alliance deploys combat troops. — The U.S. Army is implementing a substantial reduction in its force, slashing approximately 24 thousand positions, or nearly 5%. This restructuring aims to enhance readiness for the next major war, addressing challenges in recruitment that prevented filling all available positions. The cuts primarily target already-empty posts, particularly those related to counterinsurgency that saw increased demand during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars but are less essential today. Notably, about 3,000 of the reductions will affect Army special operations forces. — The U.S. National Guard has initiated an “aviation safety stand down” for all its Army National Guard helicopters, ordering a comprehensive safety review following two recent crashes resulting in the tragic deaths of two soldiers. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard, emphasized the paramount importance of safety in a statement. This safety stand down comes after the fatal crash during training that claimed the lives of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Abbott, who were piloting an AH-64D Apache helicopter. — In the Mexican city of Maravatio, two mayoral candidates were fatally shot within hours of each other, raising concerns about potential interference in the upcoming June 2 election. Experts warn that the growing influence of drug cartels in Mexico could contribute to heightened violence during the election period. The ominous development follows the pattern observed in the 2021 nationwide election, where approximately three dozen candidates were killed. It’s noteworthy that the formal commencement of election campaigns is set for this Friday. — Following a series of widely reported crimes allegedly committed by migrants, Mayor Eric Adams indicated support for modifying New York’s sanctuary city laws. Adams expressed the view that migrants involved in serious crimes should face deportation, emphasizing the need for the city to collaborate with federal ICE agents. During a news conference, the mayor asserted that individuals repeatedly engaging in criminal activities should not be allowed to remain in the city, advocating for communication with ICE in the deportation process. — A convicted felon, Leon Ruffin, who escaped custody on Sunday by pepper spraying his transporting deputy and stealing her car, has been apprehended in New Orleans, according to authorities. Ruffin, 51, facing a second-degree murder charge, was located at a hotel in New Orleans East with the assistance of New Orleans Police and the U.S. Marshals Service, as revealed by Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto in a media briefing. — The family of Leonard Allan Cure, an exonerated Georgia man fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in October, has filed a $16 million federal lawsuit, alleging excessive force during the encounter. Cure, who spent 16 years in a Florida prison after being wrongfully convicted in 2003, was shot by Sheriff’s Deputy Buck Aldridge during a traffic stop on October 16, 2023—three years after his exoneration in an armed robbery case. — Toyota is issuing a recall for approximately 381,000 Tacoma midsize pickup trucks in the U.S. due to a potential safety concern. The recall, affecting certain trucks from the 2022 and 2023 model years, addresses a risk where a part can separate from the rear axle, increasing the likelihood of a crash. Toyota disclosed in a statement that welding debris left on axle ends could lead to loosening nuts over time, potentially causing them to fall off. The company did not confirm whether any crashes or injuries resulted from the identified problem.

Unbiased headline news for Tuesday February 27, 2024 – Hungary’s parliament has given its approval to Sweden’s NATO membership, putting an end to over 18 months of delays that have hindered the alliance’s expansion efforts amid Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. The vote, with 188 in favor and six against, marks the resolution of extensive negotiations to persuade Hungary’s nationalist government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, to lift its opposition. The government submitted the necessary protocols for Sweden’s NATO entry in July 2022. — The Israeli military is escalating its campaign against Hamas militants in the southern Gaza Strip, focusing on the critical city of Khan Younis to seize weapons and uncover concealed infrastructure. The Israel Defense Forces carried out clearing operations in both western and eastern Khan Younis amid ongoing heightened conflict in the region. The military reported findings of weapon parts, grenades, ammunition, and additional military equipment during the operations. — Meta, Facebook’s parent company, announced its collaboration with several European countries to combat disinformation in their upcoming parliamentary elections, particularly in the context of the increasing use of artificial intelligence. Marco Pancini, head of European Union Affairs at Meta, revealed that the Elections Operations Center will soon become operational to proactively identify and address potential threats in real time. — A tragic avalanche in Kyrgyzstan claimed the lives of four tourists, as reported by the Czech and Slovak foreign ministries. The incident occurred in the country’s northeast, near the border with Kazakhstan and China, reminiscent of a similar fatality involving a French tourist in early February. According to Kyrgyz state media, 23 tourists from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were skiing when the avalanche was triggered, highlighting the dangers faced by the group. — Emergency responders acted swiftly on Monday after a letter containing an unidentified white powder was sent to Donald Trump Jr.’s Florida residence, the eldest son of former President Donald Trump. Preliminary results on the substance were inconclusive, but officials do not believe it poses a deadly threat. The details of the letter were first reported by The Daily Beast, with a person familiar with the matter providing information on the condition of anonymity. — The trial date for Alec Baldwin, facing involuntary manslaughter charges over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” set in October 2021, has been scheduled for July. New Mexico’s First Judicial District Court announced that jury selection will commence on July 9th, and the trial is anticipated to extend from July 10th to 19th. Baldwin was indicted on January 19th after prosecutors dropped the initial manslaughter charges last April. — The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill on Monday, aiming to eliminate school vaccine requirements for religious exemptions, specifically for certain schools. Under the bill, known as HB 5105, public virtual schools not participating in extracurricular activities or sports in public school settings would be exempted from vaccine requirements. The applicability of religious exemptions to students attending in-person public schools remains unclear. — Family Dollar Stores, a subsidiary of Dollar Tree Inc., pleaded guilty on Monday to charges related to holding FDA-regulated products under “insanitary” conditions at a now-closed distribution center in West Memphis, Arkansas, infested with rodents. The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed that Family Dollar faced one misdemeanor count for causing regulated products to become adulterated. The plea deal includes a fine and forfeiture amounting to 41.675 million dollars.