US AND CANADA

META SHUTS DOWN FACT-CHECKING PROGRAM AS ZUCKERBERG INTRODUCES COMMUNITY NOTES IN NEW MODERATION PUSH

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday the company will eliminate its fact-checking program in favor of user-generated "community notes," mirroring rival platform X's approach. This dramatic shift comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, marking a significant departure from Meta's previous content moderation strategy.

FIRST US CONGESTION CHARGE INTRODUCED IN NEW YORK AMID CONTROVERSY

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New York City has become the first city in the United States to introduce a congestion charge system to reduce jamming and provide much-needed finance for public transport. Under the program, which took effect Jan. 5, 2025, drivers of cars must pay up to $9 to enter the congestion zone south of Central Park; that would include iconic sites such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Wall Street financial district.

BIDEN BANS OFFSHORE DRILLING IN 625 MILLION ACRES TO SAFEGUARD COASTLINES

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President Joe Biden announced a sweeping ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along most of America's coastlines, marking one of the most significant environmental protection measures of his presidency. The executive order will safeguard 625 million acres of ocean waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska's Bering Sea.

CARTOONIST LEAVES WASHINGTON POST AFTER BEZOS SATIRE

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Blocked by Newspaper, In the latest clash of editorial independence with owners and management, American Pulitzer Prize winner Ann Telnaes stepped down as editorial cartoonist for the Washington Post. Her move came after her satirical cartoon showing the owner, billionaire Jeff Bezos, along with other tech tycoons, kneeling before a statue of President-elect Donald Trump, was not allowed to see the light of day.

TRUMP SEEKS DELAY IN NEW YORK SENTENCING, AIMING TO POSTPONE UNTIL AFTER INAUGURATION

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President-elect Donald Trump launched an aggressive legal campaign Monday to postpone his criminal sentencing in New York, just days before he faces the historic prospect of becoming the first president to be sentenced as a convicted felon. The scheduled January 10 sentencing comes amid the critical presidential transition period, merely ten days before his inauguration.

TRUMP FACES SENTENCING IN HUSH MONEY SCANDAL: JUST DAYS BEFORE INAUGURATION

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President-elect Donald Trump is facing sentencing on January 10, just ten days before his inauguration. This follows his conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Judge Juan Merchan, presiding over the Manhattan case, has indicated that Trump is unlikely to face jail time or other punitive measures, favoring an "unconditional discharge."

CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU SET TO ANNOUNCE RESIGNATION AS PRESSURE AND POLITICAL CRISIS GROW

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after nine years in office, is preparing to announce his resignation, marking the end of an era for the Liberal Party. Trudeau, who rose to power in 2015, will reveal his decision on January 8, 2025. This announcement comes at a time when his popularity has sharply declined amid rising inflation, a housing crisis, and increasing voter disillusionment. With polls showing his party's worst pre-election standing in over a century, it has become clear that Trudeau's leadership no longer garners the support it once did.

APPLE AGREES TO $95 MILLION SETTLEMENT OVER SIRI PRIVACY CONCERNS

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Apple has reached a $95 million settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit addressing privacy concerns over its voice assistant Siri's unauthorized recordings of user conversations. The settlement, which awaits judicial approval, could provide compensation of up to $20 per device for eligible U.S. consumers who owned Siri-enabled Apple products between September 2014 and December 2024.