03 March 2024

Weekly Newsletter

Military & Armed Conflict

A US official said Israel has "basically accepted" a Gaza cease-fire framework,the US blocked an UNSC statement blaming Israel for a deadly Gaza stampedethat killed over 100 people, and a UN expert accused Israel of deliberately starving Palestinians.Meanwhile, the US reportedly sought Israeli assurances on arms aid,Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to enter Rafah,and Joe Biden said he's hopeful for a Gaza cease-fire soon.Elsewhere, Germany's Olaf Scholz claimed Britain and France are helping Ukraine fire missiles,while US and NATO allies ruled out deploying troops to Ukraineafter Slovakia's prime minister said NATO was considering doing so.This comes as US forces were alleged to be increasing their use of AI on the battlefield,space experts said North Korea's first spy satellite is alive,US-led international military exercises began in Kenya,Greece agreed to join the EU's Red Sea mission,and satellite images revealed a floating barrier at the mouth of a disputed South China Sea shoal.Meanwhile, raiders killed at least a dozen worshippers in a Burkina Faso church,Denmark's Nord Stream probe found sabotage but no grounds for criminal charges, and Hungary approved Sweden's NATO bid.

World Politics

Iran held a parliamentary election,the UK's George Galloway won the Rochdale by-election,Italy's Sardinia elected a leftwing president,Tuvalu named Feleti Teo as its new prime minister,and Belarus held local and parliamentary elections.Meanwhile, Alexei Navalny was buried in Moscow,a Chadian opposition leader was killed in a gun fight,Brazil's electoral court banned the use of deepfakes in political campaigns,and former Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro denied allegations of attempting a coup.This comes as the UK's Rwanda plan was revealed to cost £1.8M per asylum seeker, Sri Lanka said it will end free visas for Russians and Ukrainians,and EU asylum applications reached their highest level since 2015/16.In other news, the Biden admin. said it will investigate Chinese "smart cars,"New Zealand announced plans to abolish its Maori health authority,Rishi Sunak 11833:removed the Conservative Party whip over alleged Islamophobia,and the CIA was reported to be maintaining 12 secret bases in Ukraine.

US Politics

The US Senate passed a short-term funding billafter Biden urged Congress to avoid a looming partial shutdown,the Pentagon cleared US Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin of wrongdoing over his hospitalization,Hunter Biden testified before the House Oversight and Judiciary,and Tennessee's House passed a bill banning expelled representatives from reappointment.Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell announced plans to step down as the Senate Republican leader,Ronna McDaniel announced plans to step down as RNC Chair,Marianne Williamson "unsuspended" her presidential campaign,Biden and Trump visited the Southern border,and both won their respective Michigan primaries.In other Trump news, the former president attended court in Florida in his classified documents case,he was disqualified from the Illinois primary ballot,SCOTUS agreed to hear his immunity appeal,he appealed his $454M civil fraud penalty,and he beat Nikki Haley in the South Carolina primary.

Civil Liberties

The University of Florida eliminated its diversity office,a court ordered the maker of Israel's Pegasus spyware to hand over its code to WhatsApp,Ghana passed an anti-LGBTQ bill,France's parliament voted to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution,the South Korean government threatened legal action over a doctor strike,and SCOTUS heard a challenge to a Trump-era bump stock ban.Meanwhile, Belfast ruled that the UK's immunity clause for Troubles-era crimes breaches human rights,a former colleague claimed Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in a prisoner swap before he died,a US airman immolated himself outside the Israeli embassy in Washington,a report found anti-Muslim hate speech has soared in India,and the US Supreme Court heard a landmark case on social media and free speech.

Crime & Justice

A paramedic was sentenced to five years in prison for Elijah McClain's death,Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira appeared ready to plead guilty,the US' largest health care payment processor suffered a ransomware attack,a jailed gang leader was accused of murdering an Ecuadorian presidential candidate,two men were convicted for the 2002 murder of Run-DMC's rapper,and a Dutch cocaine cartel leader was sentenced to life in prison after a six-year trial.Meanwhile, only out-of-uniform police were allowed to attend Sydney's LGBTQ paradeafter the bodies of an Australian couple allegedly killed by a cop were found.

Science & Technology

Elon Musk sued OpenAI for allegedly putting profit before humanity,the Web summit kicked off in Qatar,and Meta prepared a team to counter election disinformation..

Business

Meta announced an end to Facebook news in the US and Australia,Apple reportedly killed its self-driving electric cars project, TikTok removed more songs over a row with Universal Music,and an FAA panel found Boeing's safety culture to be inadequate and confusing..

Health

A study found that over one billion people worldwide are obese, South Korean and Japanese new births fell to a record low,Thailand's health minister said the government plans to ban recreational cannabis by year-end,and New Zealand reversed course on its tobacco ban.In other news, a cruise ship docked in Mauritius after a cholera scare.

Accidents

Over 40 were killed in a building blaze in Bangladesh,while Greece's deadliest rail crash anniversary was marked by widespread strikes.

Weather & Environment

Zambia declared a national emergency due to a drought,the White House said it will delay plans to regulate fossil fuel power plants,wildfires raged across the Texas Panhandle,rhino poaching was found to be on the rise in South Africa,and the European parliament passed a nature restoration bill.

Sports

Everton's points deduction was reduced upon appeal.

Humanitarian

Cuba asked the UN for help as food shortages worsen.

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