More than 5,600 people killed, nearly 1,500 kidnapped in Haiti in 2024: UN
The United Nations said more than 5,600 people were killed and nearly 1,500 were kidnapped in Haiti last year. The deaths reported on Tuesday, Jan. 7, mark a more than 20% increase from 2023 as a U.N.-backed security mission struggles to quell gang violence.
One of the worst gang massacres in recent history occurred in December 2024. Officials said more than 200 people were murdered after a gang leader ordered their executions over allegations of witchcraft.
The U.N. said 315 gang members or people allegedly associated with gangs were hanged by law enforcement or locals, and another nearly 300 were killed in “alleged summary executions” at the hands of police officers.
Gang violence has reportedly forced more than 700,000 Haitians to flee their homes in recent years, with many staying in unsanitary makeshift shelters.
Most Haitians are unable to leave the country because all commercial flights have been halted. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recently extended a ban on commercial flights into Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince until at least March 12 after gangs hit several commercial jets with gunfire in November 2024.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for more money and international help for a thinly stretched multinational security force led by Kenya to help bring Port-au-Prince back under control.
Currently, gangs reportedly control around 85% of the Haitian capital.
Around 550 international police officers are involved in the security mission backed by the U.N. However, those numbers are far below the 2,500 officers promised.
Turk also recommended the U.N. continue its arms embargo against Haiti to keep them from getting “in the hands” of gang members.
In addition to the deaths in 2024, the U.N. said more than 2,200 were injured in Haiti last year.
Over 2 million Nigerians kidnapped, more than 600,000 killed in one year: Report
A new report is shedding light on rampant violence in Nigeria. The findings from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show on Thursday, Dec. 19, that more than 2 million Nigerians were kidnapped and more than 600,000 were killed between May of last year and April of this year.
The report also notes that 7 out of 10 households in Nigeria reported murders to law enforcement and kidnapping victims paid out more than $1.4 billion in ransoms over the same time period.
The NBS said the killings and kidnappings are mostly from armed gangs in the northwest and north-central part of the country, while terrorism occurs largely in the northeast of the West African nation.
The news comes as security concerns continue to rise, and security forces are stretched thin as they try to rein in gang violence and terrorism. Security analyst Saheed Shehu says the latest number should be a wakeup call for the Nigerian government to take action now.
Nigerian defense authorities say they are making progress, saying two weeks ago, the military killed 8,000 terrorists and arrested 11,000 suspects, while rescuing 6,000 victims. However, Shehu says he is skeptical of those numbers given the recent findings in the NBS report.
Shehu said, “It does not balance with this report. So, something must be wrong somewhere.”
Quelling gang and terrorist activity has been a major challenge for Nigeria’s government. The country invested 12% of this year’s budget, or around $4 billion, to defense, the largest allocation to any department of government.
Hamas announced on Monday, Dec. 2, 33 hostages have been killed as Israel’s more than year-long war against the militant group continues. This marks the first time the Palestinian militia group has revealed the number of Israeli hostage deaths since the war in Gaza began. The announcement has also drawn the attention of President-elect Donald Trump.
Hamas claims other hostages have gone missing. The militant group warned Israel if it continues its military campaign in Gaza, “you could lose your hostages forever.”
The militant organization blames Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the hostages’ deaths. Hamas called for total withdrawal of Israeli forces before any hostage deal can be reached.
Israel estimates around 60 hostages are still alive and Hamas’ death count reportedly aligns with Israeli intelligence numbers.
In October 2023, Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 others during the Nova Music Festival. Since then, Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas to the point they no longer pose a threat to his country.
Shortly after Hamas’ announcement on Monday, President-elect Donald Trump responded on Truth Social.
In the post, he demanded the immediate release of the remaining Israeli hostages and warned Hamas if the hostages aren’t freed by the time he takes office on Jan. 20, there will be “hell to pay.”
Netanyahu thanked Trump for his social media remarks on Tuesdy during a press conference.
“I want to thank President Trump for his strong statement yesterday about the need for Hamas to release the hostages. The responsibility of Hamas, and this adds another force to our continued effort to release all the hostages. Thank you, President Trump,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also welcomed Trump’s comments on Truth Social, writing, “We all pray for the moment we see our sisters and brothers back home.”
Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in ‘every major city’ of Tennessee: TBI
Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang, has been making headlines due to its growing presence in the U.S., with recent incidents linked to the gang ranging from apartment shootouts in Aurora, Colorado, to kidnappings and murders near Dallas, Texas. Now, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the gang has a presence in every major city in Tennessee.
TBI Director David Rausch addressed the escalating threat during a budget meeting with Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee this week. During the meeting, he warned of an uptick in gang activity in the state over the last few months.
Rausch explained the gang, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, began appearing in Tennessee neighborhoods two years ago. However, he noted that Tren de Aragua is now active across cities like Memphis and Nashville.
Officials are particularly concerned about the gang’s involvement in human trafficking, especially the trafficking of women. They are also worried about violent gang clashes between Tren de Aragua and the cartel spilling out onto the streets.
“They are back in all of our major cities,” Rausch said. “They are running human trafficking operations, that is where they start. They will and they have taken on the cartel head on, and they’re very violent in their efforts.”
One example cited by Rausch involved gang members filming themselves executing a cartel member in broad daylight, shooting him 31 times, and then posting the video on social media.
“They will not hesitate to attack their opponents in public and in broad daylight,” Rausch said.
While Memphis and Nashville have confirmed reports of the gang’s presence, the Knoxville Police Department says it’s unaware of any Tren de Aragua activity in their jurisdiction. However, Rausch noted gang members, who were once easily identifiable by distinct tattoos, are now altering their appearances, making it more difficult for investigators to identify them.
The TBI is working with law enforcement agencies in other states to track the gang’s movements across the U.S.
With six days until the election, former President Donald Trump stumped in Allentown, Pennsylvania as Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her “closing argument.” We have what each said about what’s at stake next Tuesday. Also, details on what happened after a gunman opened fire from a hotel in Atlanta. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Harris gives closing argument as Trump addresses Biden’s comments
Some twists on the campaign trail with under a week to go now to Election Day and already more than 50 million ballots cast. Both presidential candidates gave dueling speeches Tuesday night, Oct. 29.
The Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivered what she described as her “closing argument” to the American people near the White House as the Republican nominee former President Donald Trump looked to court Latino voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
During her address at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., the vice president emphasized its significance as the same site where former President Trump spoke to his supporters right before the riots on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“So tonight, I will speak to everyone about the choice and stakes in this election,” she said. “Look, we know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election.”
The vice president also told voters she will seek common ground, saying she will give those who disagree with her a “seat at the table.”
“As Americans, we rise and fall together,” she said. “America, for too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos and mutual distrust. And it can be easy then to forget a simple truth: it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way. We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms.”
In Pennsylvania, former President Trump reached out to voters during a rally in the majority Hispanic town of Allentown.
“I’m here today with a message of hope for all Americans,” he said. “With your vote this election — oh, do I look forward to this election. We — I’m going to say ‘we’ because we are going to do it as a group. We will end inflation. Wwe will stop the invasion of criminals into our country. And we will bring back the American dream. We’re doing it together, Pennsylvania.”
During his rally, the former president asked his supporters to vote and send in their mail-in ballots early, saying “they’ve already cheated” in the state — a reference to law enforcement in Lancaster County announcing they were investigating around 2,500 voter registration forms for alleged fraud.
Trump turned his attention to President Joe Biden after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio joined him on stage.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but I have breaking news for you Mr. President,” Rubio told Trump. “You may not have heard this: just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage, are garbage. He’s talking about the border patrol, he’s talking about nurses, he’s talking about teachers, he’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you Mr. President.”
“Remember Hillary [Clinton], she said ‘deplorable’ and then she said ‘irredeemable,’ right?” Trump responded. “But she said ‘deplorable.’ That didn’t work out. Garbage, I think, is worse right?”
What they were referring to were comments made by President Biden during a Voto Latino campaign call Tuesday night. Biden spoke about the comedian who made controversial jokes about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend.
“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage,’” the president said. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
The White House issued a statement saying, “The president referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.’” President Biden himself followed up on his comments with a post on X saying, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage…the comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, Trump told host Sean Hannity nobody from his campaign vetted the comedian before the MSG rally.
As it pertains to the alleged voter fraud in Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told CNN there will be safe elections in the state and when asked about Biden’s “garbage” comment, Shapiro said, “It’s certainly not the words I would choose.”
Supreme Court rules RFK Jr. will remain on ballot in 2 swing states
It was unlikely the Supreme Court would have ruled in his favor, because voting is already underway in both states. Kennedy’s name also remains on the ballot in some other states, but he did not ask the Supreme Court to take it off anywhere but Wisconsin and Michigan in an apparent move to secure more voters for his ally Trump.
Steve Bannon spends first day out of prison stumping for Trump
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon wasted no time showing his support for the former president after being released from prison early Tuesday morning. Bannon just finished serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from Congress during its investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bannon’s first order of business was to resume his podcast “WarRoom.” He then held a news conference urging Republicans to turn out in droves to vote for Trump on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“I’ve been empowered by my four months at Danbury Federal Prison,” Bannon said during the news conference.
He added, “Obviously with seven days or six days left, you have to have a convergence of the get out the vote effort. I am not a huge believer in our ability to actually participate in rallies or do rallies because right now I think President Trump does great and he has people long there are going to do rallies in the different states. Our focus is one thing to make sure that we get as many American citizens, either early voting when they can or to the polls next Tuesday.”
He has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges. His trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.
Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life term on state charges
A judge sentenced the man who broke into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s northern California home and attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
David DePape, 44, was already serving 30 years in federal prison for the attack when a San Francisco jury found him guilty of multiple state charges in June.
Both the prosecution and defense said the life without parole sentence will be served concurrently with DePape’s federal sentence. It has not yet been determined where he will serve his punishment.
Suspect in custody after shots fired at Atlanta Four Seasons
A police officer and a suspected shooter are recovering after gunfire broke out at a building that houses a Four Seasons Hotel and residences in Atlanta Tuesday. The Atlanta police chief said the officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
UPDATE: Barricaded Gunman turned Active Shooter Situation Zone 5 at 75 14th Street Sound from Mayor Andre Dickens & Chief Darin Schierbaumhttps://t.co/TjSDcj3YTj
Authorities say the man fired at least once from the balcony of a residence on the 33rd floor of the 53-story high-rise building. They say he also shot through walls and doors, but no other injuries were reported.
Police said the suspect lives in the residential portion of the building and was not a guest at the Four Seasons hotel portion.
Yankees deny Dodgers a World Series sweep with Game 4 win
Despite another Freddie Freeman home run — becoming the first player to homer in games 1, 2, 3, and 4 — the Yankees crushed the Dodgers 11-4 in Game 4 Tuesday night in the Bronx, highlighted by three home runs including a grand slam by shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The game also featured an odd moment when Yankees fans tried to pry a foul ball out of the glove of Dodgers’ Mookie Betts. The fans were escorted from their seats by stadium security after that play.
The 11 runs were the most by the Yankees in a World Series game since Game 5 of the 1978 series when they scored 12 against the Dodgers.
Now the Yankees are hoping to do what no other team has done in Major League Baseball history: come back from being down 3-0 in the Fall Classic to win it all.
The Dodgers still just need one more win to claim the championship.
US Supreme Court to decide if Mexico can sue gun manufacturers
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case brought by Mexico against major American gun manufacturers amid claims that these companies are indirectly responsible for escalating violence fueled by drug cartels. The lawsuit alleged that the manufacturers failed to enforce proper safeguards, allowing firearms to be trafficked into Mexico, where they contribute to deadly crimes.
Smith & Wesson recently attempted to have the suit thrown out, prompting the high court to hear the case.
At the center of the lawsuit is the accusation that gun manufacturers designed weapons favored by cartels and granted criminals easy access to high-powered firearms.
Mexico argued that this negligence exacerbated cartel violence, resulting in numerous civilian and law enforcement casualties.
The gun companies assert that they are protected under U.S. law by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields manufacturers from liability when their products are used in criminal activities.
They maintain that they sell firearms legally and cannot be held responsible for the consequences that occur after the sale.
Lower courts permitted Mexico’s lawsuit to proceed, but the Supreme Court’s ruling will determine whether the case can advance. If the court rules in favor of Mexico, it could pave the way for additional international lawsuits against U.S. gun manufacturers, potentially reshaping the firearms industry.
According to the lawsuit, over $250 million worth of firearms are trafficked into Mexico annually. The upcoming hearing is expected to attract significant attention from both gun control advocates and Second Amendment defenders, with the outcome likely to establish a new legal precedent for holding gun manufacturers accountable for their products abroad.
Yazidi woman rescued from Gaza 10 years after ISIS kidnapping
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2014 has been rescued from Gaza and reunited with her family in Iraq. The State Department said when the girl was just 11 years old, ISIS kidnapped her in Iraq, sold her, forced her to marry a Hamas fighter and then moved her to Gaza against her will.
The rescue was a complex coordinated international effort involving Israel, the U.S., and Iraq to help the woman reunite with her family.
“The recent death of her captor in Gaza allowed her to escape,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a news conference. “And we were contacted by the Iraqi government, who was made aware of the fact that she escaped, that she was alive, and that she wanted to come home to her family. And the government of Iraq asked us to do whatever we could to get her out of Gaza and get her home.”
Authorities said her captor was likely killed by an Israeli airstrike during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Approximately 2,600 Yazidis remain missing since the 2014 ISIS attacks, which the U.N. has described as genocide.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he’s determined to find and rescue the remaining missing Yazidis.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accused of witness tampering, intimidation; bail denied
A U.S. district judge upheld a decision on Wednesday, Sept. 18, to deny hip-hop superstar Sean “Diddy” Combs bail after accusations of witness tampering. Combs’ legal team claimed that the rapper could post a $50 million bond, but Judge Robyn Tarnofsky denied the request on Tuesday, Sept. 17. She said, even if bond were posted, she couldn’t “reasonably assure his return to court or the safety of the community, or a lack of witness tampering.”
Authorities believe that Combs tried to silence people who might speak out against him. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. upheld the decision to deny bail after an appeal from Combs’ legal team.
Prosecutors said since being sued in November by his ex-girlfriend, who accused him of years of physical and sexual abuse, Combs has tried to get in touch with her and other witnesses who have received grand jury subpoenas, as well as a person he allegedly harmed. He reportedly called or texted one of the potential witnesses 58 times over a period of four days.
Prosecutors argue that Combs’ power and influence give him the ability to “intimidate” witnesses and victims. Prosecutors said that witnesses they interviewed expressed a fear of Combs.
Combs’ defense contends that he did not know he was under a criminal investigation when he contacted the witnesses and victims, and do not see it as an “obstruction of justice,” adding, that he is not a threat to flee and has “earned” the court’s trust.
Combs is indicted on accusations that he ran a “criminal enterprise” through his businesses, which involved sex trafficking, kidnapping, arson and forced labor. The indictment alleges Combs “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires.”
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs indicted on sex trafficking, kidnapping charges
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been indicted on serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and kidnapping. The indictment was unsealed Tuesday, Sept. 17, the morning after Combs’ arrest at a Manhattan hotel.
The indictment alleges that from 2008 to the present, members of the Combs enterprise were involved in a range of criminal activities, including sex trafficking, forced labor, interstate transportation for prostitution, coercion, narcotics offenses, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors claim that while the Combs enterprise was intended to operate a global business in media, entertainment, and lifestyle sectors, it also sought to maintain Combs’ power and fulfill his personal desires, particularly through the exploitation of women and commercial sex workers.
One notable aspect of the indictment is the reference to “freak off” parties, which were described as elaborate sex performances arranged and directed by Combs. The indictment alleges that Combs participated in and recorded these activities.
The indictment further claims that Combs used deception to lure women into romantic relationships, only to coerce them into prolonged sex acts with male sex workers. After these encounters, both Combs and the victims were reportedly administered IV fluids to recover from the physical strain and drugs used during the parties, according to the court documents.
Combs has been in the news recently, with raids conducted at his homes in Beverly Hills and Miami. Court documents reveal that the raids uncovered narcotics, more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, and firearms, including three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers and high-capacity magazines.
The indictment also includes allegations of violence against women, detailing incidents where Combs allegedly assaulted women by striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects, and kicking them. It refers to a video-recorded incident from March 2016 at a Los Angeles, California hotel, showing him assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.
Prosecutors allege that in late 2023, following public accusations of these crimes, Combs and his associates attempted to pressure victims and witnesses into silence through bribery. If convicted on all charges, Combs faces decades in prison. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has pledged to “fight like hell” for his client’s release on bail and maintains that Combs is not only not guilty but outright innocent.
Nine people were convicted in the kidnapping conspiracy and five were acquitted — including Molitor — who has filed paperwork to run in the 2024 Republican primary.
One of his campaign promises is not enforcing the state’s new “red flag law.” The law allows officials to remove guns from a person if they are found to be a danger to themselves or others.
Molitor has been critical of his experience at trial, saying the kidnapping scheme “set up by the feds.” In particular, Molitor called out a former FBI informant who was involved in the plan as part of the agency’s investigation to prevent a kidnapping from actually happening.
The government said the former informant, referred to as “Steve,” went rogue, calling him a “double agent.” Steve lost his job the same month six men were arrested for the kidnapping scheme.
In February, Molitor spoke publicly about the importance of becoming involved in local government.
“I’d actually like to talk about what i’m doing going forward because of this,” Molitor said. “Getting involved locally — it matters.”
He was joined by one of the others acquitted — Bill Null — who said he had dreams of becoming governor.
“I honestly want to put my name on the ballot for governor,” Null said. “I might be reaching for the stars, but we’ve gotta do something.”
Trent Taylor, the current Wexford County sheriff, told The Detroit News that “anybody can run for sheriff” and there are “no set qualifications.