WORLD NEWS FLASH
UNITED STATES
In a rare show of unity, the highest court in the land made a ruling that settled a big matter in an ununited nation.
On March 4, all nine Supreme Court Justices ruled that Colorado’s decision to keep former President Donald J. Trump off the primary ballot was not valid under the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The gist of Amendment says that someone who engaged in an insurrection cannot run for office, and was put into effect after the Civil War to keep loyalists to the Confederacy from sabotaging laws during Reconstruction.
Specifically, the Court said that only an act of Congress could keep someone from running for Federal office, and not necessarily anything regarding Trump’s own due process. Translation: it prevents states from unilaterally keeping any candidate they do not like off of a ballot. For example, GOP states could retaliate by kicking incumbent President Joseph R. Biden off of ballots.
Because of this ruling, similar moves to kick Trump off of ballots in Illinois and Maine will also be null and void.
Upon the ruling, Trump was quite celebratory.
“While most states were thrilled to have me, there were some that didn’t, and they didn’t want that for political reasons,” Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago residence. “I want to start by thanking the Supreme Court for its unanimous decision today. It was a very important decision, very well crafted. I think it will go a long way toward bringing our country together, which our country needs.”
So for now, the only way to keep Trump out of the White House is for voters to decide. From previous elections, Trump has won – and lost. (Fair enough.)
MASS SHOOTING UPDATE
Information recent as of 3-5-2024 at 12 p.m.
2024 Mass Shooting Stats: (Source: Mass Shooting Tracker – https://www.massshootingtracker.site/data/?year=2024)
MIDDLE EAST
HAMAS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST HOSTAGES
TW… Following a 17-day visit to Israel, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict reported on March 4 that she and a team of experts had found “clear and convincing information” of rape, and sexualized torture being committed against hostages seized during the October 7 terror attacks.
Pramila Patten added in a press release issued along with the report, that there are also reasonable grounds to believe that such violence, which includes other “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” may be continuing against those still being held by Hamas and other extremists in the Gaza Strip.
The report from her Office, arose from an official visit to Israel at the invitation of the Government, which included a visit to the occupied West Bank, between January 29 and 14 February 14.
In the context of the coordinated attack by Hamas and others of October 7, the UN mission team found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations, including rape and gang rape in at least three locations in southern Israel.
The team also found a pattern of victims, mostly women, found fully or partially naked, bound and shot across multiple locations which “may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence.”
In some locations, the mission said it could not verify reported incidents of rape.
The mission made up of Ms. Patten and nine experts – which was not investigative in nature – conducted 33 meetings with Israeli representatives, examining more than 5,000 photographic images and 50 hours of video footage. It conducted 34 confidential interviews including with survivors and witnesses of the October 7 attacks, released hostages, first responders and others.
The report says that Israeli authorities have faced numerous challenges in collecting evidence.
The team also visited Ramallah in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, to hear the views and concerns of officials and civil society representatives since October 7, which allegedly implicate Israeli security forces and settlers.
Ms. Patten heard concerns raised over cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Palestinians in detention, including sexual violence in the form of invasive searches, threats of rape and prolonged forced nudity.
The information gathered will complement that already gathered by other UN officials on allegations of conflict-related sexual violence inside Gaza, for potential inclusion in the Secretary-General’s annual report on the issue.
Ms. Patten’s recommendations include a call for the Israeli Government to grant full access to the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the Human Rights Council-mandated independent Commission of Inquiry on the occupied territory, “to conduct fully-fledged independent investigations into all alleged violations,” according to the press release.
She called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all those being held as hostages and to ensure their protection, including from sexual violence.
Ms. Patten also called on all relevant and competent bodies to bring all perpetrators of sexual violence to justice, offering the full support of her office to bolster national efforts.
HAITI
GANG VIOLENCE GRIPPING NATION
The already dire human rights situation in Haiti has deteriorated even further amid unrelenting and expanding gang violence, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Feb. 9.
The UN Secretary-General reiterated his deep concern on Tuesday over the “rapidly deteriorating” security situation in Haiti as violent gangs tighten their grip on the country in the wake of a jailbreak at the weekend which saw nearly 4,000 criminals return to the streets.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York that António Guterres wanted to see “urgent action, particularly in providing financial support for the multinational security support mission,” which has been authorized by the Security Council in a bid to restore law and order to the crisis-wracked nation, the poorest in the western hemisphere.
Kenya and Haiti signed a deal a few days ago which expects to see a contingent of 1,000 Kenyan officers lead the support mission, although it is unclear whether Kenya’s high court will allow it to go ahead amidst constitutional challenges.
Benin confirmed last week it would supply personnel to the mission, which Mr. Dujarric reminded is not a UN peacekeeping force. “This force will need to address the pressing security requirements of the Haitian people and prevent the country from plunging into further chaos,” he said.
Adding to the insecurity is the whereabouts of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who was in the Kenyan capital to sign the deal, but has not yet returned to Haiti, which has been living under a 72-hour state of emergency and curfew.
Around 80 percent of the capital is now controlled by the armed gangs who tried to take control of Haiti’s main airport on March 4 in a bid to oust the current government and prevent the controversial premier’s return.
The UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported that fresh violence and upheaval in the capital has led around 15,000 people to flee their homes, many of whom were previously displaced.
“Despite the security constraints, our humanitarian partners on the ground have begun to respond to these new displacements by providing food, hygiene and health kits, mattresses, blankets and sheets as well as lamps”, said the UN Spokesperson.
The World Food Program (WFP) and partners have delivered over 5,500 hot meals to some 3,000 people living in three new displacement sites while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has started distributing emergency shelter material to more than 300 families.
The humanitarian community in Haiti is calling on all sides to put an immediate stop to the violence, Mr. Dujarric emphasized, to allow safe access to those civilians in need.
Around 5.5 million people – nearly half of the country’s population – need humanitarian assistance.
UNITED KINGDOM
ROYAL NAVY SCORES BIG HAUL
A Royal Navy warship seized drugs with a street value of £290.66m in two separate blows to drug runners in the Caribbean.
British sailors, Royal Marines and a US Coast Guard team on HMS Trent intercepted a suspected smuggling speedboat south of the US Virgin Islands.
The smugglers began offloading their illegal cargo as they fled towards land, but Trent, her fast sea boats and an American patrol aircraft gave chase – eventually recovering over 2,700kg of cocaine and other drugs, with an estimated street value of £220.56m.
Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps said: “This operation sends a clear message: The Royal Navy remains resolute in its efforts to disrupt and dismantle the operations of drug traffickers across the world.
“We will continue to ensure that those who seek to profit from illegal drugs face the full force of justice.
“I’d like to congratulate the ship’s company for their invaluable work keeping illegal drugs off our streets.”
This was HMS Trent’s second drugs bust in the space of only three weeks, having seized £70.1m of cocaine in a separate operation in January.
During a high-speed chase, the smugglers tried to offload their illegal cargo, but Royal Marines coxswains and the USCG boarding team closed in, took control of the vessel, and detained four crew members.
During a ten-hour search, Trent’s 60-strong crew scoured 24 square miles of ocean for the abandoned cargo, eventually retrieving almost 900kg of cocaine.
A Royal Marine who took part in the operation and cannot be named for operational reasons said: “This was a challenging operation and required us to push the boats to their limit.
“Despite their best efforts to evade us, they finally gave up the chase and we were able to get alongside and enable members of the US Coast Guard to seize the vessel.”
Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Langford, said: “The achievements of this ship and her crew in the last nine months have been spectacular, and it is brilliant to see the hard work and dedication of this amazing team paying off.
“The team is rightly proud of their efforts, and those of our USCG colleagues.
Trent’s second bust more than tripled her total amount of drugs seized – again in a coordinated operation with the USCG and a US Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
These successful interceptions not only disrupt criminal networks in the UK but also underscore the Royal Navy’s vital role in maintaining maritime security and upholding international law in the region.
HMS Trent’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Mike Rydiard, who was in temporary command for the second drugs bust, said: “I am immensely proud of my combined team of Trent Ship’s company, UCSG team and 47 Commando Royal Marines who carried out the intercept and pursuit in challenging conditions to get the right result.”
