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Haiti violence: Haiti gangs demand PM resigns after mass jailbreak

Haiti is experiencing a three-day state of emergency due to violent confrontations with militant groups demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The nation enforced a curfew beginning Sunday evening following the insurgent groups' assault on two correctional facilities, which resulted in at least a dozen fatalities and the escape of approximately 4,000 prisoners.

In the wake of Prime Minister Jovenel Moïse's 2021 assassination, Haiti, home to 11 million residents and the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, has witnessed a deteriorating security landscape. The anticipated elections to find Moïse's successor have been delayed, while a coalition of gangs, spearheaded by ex-police officer Jimmy Chérizier, known as "Barbecue," has gained dominion over Port-au-Prince. The refusal of Prime Minister Henry to resign by the February 7 ultimatum has led to extensive protests and a surge in violence.

The current location of Prime Minister Henry is undisclosed, though he was last known to be in Kenya soliciting military support as part of an initiative endorsed by the UN Security Council for a multinational security mission in Haiti last October.

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JetBlue and Spirit Airlines terminate $3.8 billion merger

JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have decided to call off their proposed $3.8 billion merger, acknowledging the improbability of clearing the necessary legal and regulatory hurdles by their July deadline. This development follows a decision by a federal court in January, which argued that the merger would likely result in higher prices for budget-conscious consumers and reduce competition within the industry. Although the airlines challenged this ruling, with a court hearing scheduled for June, they have now chosen to abandon the merger plan. As part of the termination agreement, JetBlue is set to pay Spirit a $69 million breakup fee.

The merger attempt began in 2022 when JetBlue moved to acquire Spirit after a previous merger plan between Spirit and Frontier Airlines fell through. Both airlines have been navigating financial difficulties, with JetBlue experiencing a downturn in revenues and Spirit dealing with operational losses, exacerbated by the grounding of several aircraft due to engine issues over the last year. Had the merger proceeded, it would have formed the fifth-largest airline in the United States, capturing about 10% of the domestic market, while the top four airlines—American, United, Delta, and Southwest—dominate approximately 70%.

This decision also casts uncertainty on the future of another potential airline industry consolidation, specifically whether Alaska Airlines will move forward with its intended acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.

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Award-winning ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen dies at 72

Chris Mortensen, a distinguished journalist renowned for his NFL coverage on ESPN for over 30 years, passed away on Sunday morning at 72, as confirmed by his family. Since joining ESPN in 1991, Mortensen became a staple on the network's NFL programming and "SportsCenter," renowned for breaking significant news stories. Among his notable reports was the 2016 announcement of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning's retirement. That same year, Mortensen was honored with the Pro Football Writers of America's Dick McCann Award, an accolade recognized at the Pro Football Hall of Fame's enshrinement ceremony.

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