WORLD NEWS FLASH
UNITED STATES
A span of three days separated some rare events for the local tri-state area that literally touched the sky and earth.
First, members of the “Local Talk” staff and residents all over felt their buildings shake thanks to a 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Whitehouse Station. The tremor was not only felt in New Jersey, but as far south as Baltimore and as far north as Boston.
In a summary, the United States Geological Survey posted the following: “The April 5, 2024, M 4.8 earthquake near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, occurred as a result of oblique reverse and strike-slip faulting at shallow depths in the crust. Although this event did not occur near a plate boundary, such ‘intraplate’ earthquakes can and do occur. While this earthquake is relatively small globally, earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly widely felt in the eastern United States because of efficient seismic wave propagation in the region.
“Earthquakes in the eastern US are infrequent but not unexpected. Since 1950, 40 other earthquakes of magnitude 3 and larger have occurred within 250 km of today’s earthquake. In that time range, the April 5, 2024, earthquake is the largest. Within 500 km of the April 5th earthquake, 13 earthquakes M 4.5 and larger have been recorded since 1950, the largest being the August 23, 2011, M 5.8 Mineral Virginia earthquake which caused substantial damage and was felt throughout the eastern US.
“The April 5, 2024, earthquake occurred in a region where faults have been previously identified and may be reactivated at any time.”
The last time the area shook like this was back in August 2011, when an earthquake in Virginia shook the Northeast U.S.
Then, on April 8, a wide swath of the country was treated to a solar eclipse. While the “Local Talk” area got a partial event, several states got a total solar eclipse, with Buffalo, New York experiencing a full moon blockage of the sun at around 3:26 p.m. local time.
During the eclipse, New Jersey was hit by an aftershock from the April 5 event, leading to a rare simultaneous earthquake and eclipse.
MASS SHOOTING UPDATE
Information recent as of 4-9-2024 at 12 p.m.
2024 Mass Shooting Stats: (Source: Mass Shooting Tracker – https://www.massshootingtracker.site/data/?year=2024)
- Total Mass Shootings: 133
- Total Dead: 206
- Total Wounded: 462
- Shootings Per Day: 1.33
- Days Reached in Year 2024 as of April 9: 100
MIDDLE EAST
HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE WRECKED IN PALESTINE
With the largest hospital in Gaza largely destroyed and out of action, access to healthcare has now become “totally inadequate” following six months of brutal fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 6.
That’s the assessment following a WHO-led multi-agency mission to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza on 5 April which examined the extent of destruction following a weeks-long Israeli offensive aimed at rooting out militant forces who were allegedly operating inside.
The highly complex mission was conducted in collaboration with the acting Hospital Director.
Prior to the mission, WHO’s efforts to reach the hospital to evacuate patients and staff and conduct an assessment, were denied, delayed or impeded six times between March 25 and April 1.
Like the majority of the north, Al-Shifa Hospital “is now an empty shell after the latest siege,” said WHO, with no patients remaining at the facility.
“Most of the buildings are extensively damaged or destroyed and the majority of equipment is unusable or reduced to ashes.”
The WHO team said that the scale of devastation has left the facility completely non-functional, further reducing access to life-saving healthcare in Gaza.
“Restoring even minimal functionality in the short term seems implausible and will require substantial efforts to assess and clear the grounds for unexploded ordnance to ensure safety and accessibility,” said WHO.
The hospital’s emergency department, surgical, and maternity ward buildings are extensively damaged due to explosives and fire.
At least 115 beds in what once was the emergency department have been burnt and 14 incubators in the NICU destroyed, among other assets. An in-depth assessment by a team of engineers is needed to determine if these buildings can be made safe for future use.
The hospital’s oxygen plant has been destroyed, leaving Kamal Adwan Hospital as the only source of medical oxygen production in the north. Further comprehensive assessment is essential to evaluate the functionality of vital equipment such as CT scanners, ventilators, sterilization devices, and surgical equipment, including surgical tools and anesthesia devices, the agency reported.
Numerous shallow graves have been dug just outside the emergency department, and the administrative and surgical buildings, WHO said.
“In the same area, many dead bodies were partially buried with their limbs visible. During the visit, WHO staff witnessed at least five bodies lying partially covered on the ground, exposed to the heat” with “a pungent smell of decomposing bodies engulfing the hospital compound.
“Safeguarding dignity, even in death, is an indispensable act of humanity”, the agency added.
According to the acting Hospital Director, patients were held in abysmal conditions during the siege. They endured severe lack of food, water, healthcare, hygiene and sanitation, and were forced to relocate between buildings at gunpoint. At least 20 patients have reportedly died due to the lack of access to care and limited movement authorized for health personnel.
Despite deconfliction, Friday’s mission faced significant delays at the military checkpoint en route to Al-Shifa Hospital. On the same day, another WHO-led mission bound for Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals in northern Gaza – to deliver medical supplies, fuel, deploy emergency medical teams, and support referral of critical patients – encountered unnecessary delays, including the detention of a supply truck driver who was part of the convoy.
Between mid-October and the end of March, over half of all WHO missions have been denied, delayed, impeded or postponed. “As health needs soar, the lack of a functional deconfliction system is a major obstacle in delivering humanitarian aid at the scale that is needed”, the UN health agency said.
The destruction of Al-Shifa Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex in the southern city of Khan Younis last month, “has broken the backbone of the already ailing health system.”
UNITED KINGDOM
SUPPORTING VICTIMS
Victims of serious crimes committed by those with mental disorders will be able to explain in their own words the impact the offence has had on them, thanks to tough new amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill.
New measures will mean survivors are provided with the opportunity to make a Victim Impact Statement during the Mental Health Tribunal process, which takes places before offenders are released and allows survivors to request release conditions.
The police and other criminal justice agencies will also be placed under greater scrutiny through a new statutory duty, which will mean they have to not only inform victims of their rights under the Victims’ Code – but deliver services in accordance with it.
Compliance with this duty will be overseen by the Victims’ Commissioner, and ministers will be required to consult the commissioner when agencies fail to deliver the required standard of services for victims ahead of being issued “notifications of non-compliance.”
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Chalk KC said, “Navigating the criminal justice system can feel complex and overwhelming so it is right that we hold agencies to account to ensure victims are getting the support they need.
“These new duties will improve transparency, accountability and consistency, ensuring all victims receive support wherever they are, whatever the crime.”
Justice Minister Edward Argar said, “The Victims’ and Prisoners Bill is a pivotal step towards ensuring all victims feel listened to, supported, informed, and are treated with dignity and respect.
“These additional measures build on those foundations and will mean victims always know what help they should receive.”
The Home Office is also tabling an amendment which will make it mandatory for the police to notify schools and colleges when they believe a child may be a victim of domestic abuse, so that they can provide support at the earliest possible opportunity. This builds on the landmark Domestic Abuse Act, which formally recognizes children as victims in their own right when they see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse.
Minister for Victims and Safeguarding Laura Farris said, “Today’s (April 9) amendments stand as testament to the importance of victims’ voices, transparency and information sharing throughout the criminal justice system.
“We have already legislated to ensure children are recognized as victims of domestic abuse in their own right, but we are now going further and ensuring that the police inform schools when abuse occurs, which will improve protection for vulnerable children.”
Further amendments to the bill tabled by the government include:
- A requirement to consult the Victims’ Commissioner on all changes to the Victims’ Code, to ensure measures are in the best interests of victims of crime
- A requirement for ministers to review agencies’ compliance with the Code to publish public non-compliance notifications to tackle severe and persistent issues, ensuring no agency can hide if they are not providing victims with the support they deserve
- A duty for ministers to publish an annual report on compliance with the Victims’ Code
- Clarification that confidentiality clauses cannot be legally enforced if they prevent victims from reporting a crime and will ensure information related to criminal conduct can be disclosed to support services without fear of legal action
The bill will also cement in primary legislation the four overarching principles which must underpin the Victims’ Code. These are that victims require:
- Information to help them understand the criminal justice process
- Access services which support them (including, where appropriate, specialist services)
- The opportunity to make their views heard in the criminal justice process; and
- The ability to challenge decisions which have a direct impact on them
Alongside new legislation, the government is also continuing to bolster support services, quadrupling victims’ funding by 2024 to 2025, up from £41 million in 2009 to 2010, and using ringfenced funding to increase the number of Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors by 300 to around 1,000 – a 43% increase by 2024 to 2025.
ROYAL NAVY FOILS DRUG RUNNERS AGAIN
Royal Navy warship HMS Trent seized drugs with a street value of £16.7 million 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 smuggling speedboat immediately following a port visit to the island of Martinique. The warship launched her fast sea boats, piloted by Royal Marines of 47 Commando, to intercept the speedboat, seize the drugs and detain the crew before darkness fell.
Less than 48 hours later, HMS Trent was back in action, working with a US Coast Guard patrol aircraft to track and intercept another speedboat. Across the two operations, HMS Trent seized 200kg of cocaine and other drugs, with an estimated street value of £16.7 million.
Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said, “These interceptions demonstrate the Royal Navy’s commitment to disrupt and dismantle the operations of drug traffickers across the world.
“I congratulate the ship’s company for their invaluable efforts to keep illegal drugs off our streets.”
The latest operations mean HMS Trent has now seized drugs worth £307m since she began operating in Caribbean at the end of 2023. In February, she seized £220.56m of cocaine and other drugs, having seized £70.1m of cocaine in January.
HMS Trent remains on patrol in the Caribbean, ready to conduct further operations.
Commanding Officer Tim Langford said, “The flexibility shown by my ship’s company to move straight from high-level defense engagement activity in Martinique straight into successful boarding operations is a testament to their dedication and professionalism.
“The level of cooperation between the Royal Navy, US Coast Guard and other partners has been excellent, and has been key to making these seizures possible.”
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.
