Trump back on ballots, 10 ft. of snow, and beautiful caves.

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Big Stories

U.N. report finds “reasonable grounds to believe” attack in Israel included sexual violence

A United Nations report has uncovered evidence suggesting that the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel included sexual violence.

• The report is based on extensive interviews with survivors, witnesses, and health providers and the review of thousands of photographs and hours of footage from the attacks. The report indicates that rapes likely occurred at multiple locations during the attacks, and there is concern about ongoing sexual violence against hostages in Gaza.

• The investigation faced many obstacles, including the scale of the attacks and the prioritization of other tasks by Israeli authorities. Volunteer first responders lacked adequate training, leading to the mishandling of evidence. Additionally, the severe condition of many bodies delayed forensic evidence collection.

• The long-awaited report isn’t a full U.N. investigation. Israel has blocked such an investigation over what they allege is anti-Israel bias. However, it is the most extensive report yet on sexual violence on Oct. 7 conducted by an independent source based outside of Israel.

Trump wins Colorado 14th Amendment ballot challenge

The US Supreme Court has reinstated Donald Trump to the Colorado primary ballot.

• The judges unanimously ruled that the state lacked the authority to disqualify him for his actions during the 2021 Capitol riot. The Supreme Court determined that Congress, rather than states, is responsible for enforcing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

• Six Colorado voters challenged Trump's eligibility for the ballot, citing Section 3 which prohibits individuals who engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding office. However, this provision of the 14th Amendment has rarely been enforced, and its sparse record was a major factor in the high court’s decision.

• The ruling effectively ends efforts to prevent Trump from running again and will impact numerous challenges filed against his ballot eligibility in multiple states.

• In April, the Supreme Court will hear Trump’s arguments that he has presidential immunity from criminal charges accusing him of trying to change the 2020 election results.

France makes abortion a constitutional right

French lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill that puts abortion rights into the country's constitution.

• France is the only nation to explicitly guarantee a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy. The measure passed by a large margin in a special joint session of parliament, drawing widespread support among legislators.

• President Emmanuel Macron proposed the historic move as a preventative measure against potential erosion of abortion rights, echoing concerns raised by recent developments in the US. Abortion has been legal in France since 1975 and has broad support across political parties and the public.

• Following the parliamentary approval, the bill will be formally placed into the French Constitution at a public ceremony on International Women's Day.

Little Stories

• Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, admitted on Monday to causing a significant leak of national defense secrets and agreed to a 16-year prison sentence, possibly the longest in such a case. Teixeira, 22, agreed to plead guilty to six counts of retaining and transmitting national defense information in exchange for prosecutors not pursuing additional charges under the Espionage Act. (More)

• Texas' law to arrest and expel migrants entering the US illegally is heading to the Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alito's recent order puts the law on hold until March 13, following a Justice Department request. The high court will decide if state’s have the right to police immigration or if it should remain under federal jurisdiciton. (More)

• New research suggests that there may be less oxygen on Jupiter's moon Europa's surface than previously believed, which could impact the potential for life in its underground ocean. Despite low oxygen levels, microbial life may still exist in Europa's subsurface ocean. (More)

• California's ski resorts were hit by a massive blizzard, dumping over 10 feet of snow in some areas. Sugar Bowl recorded 126 inches, Soda Springs CalTrans saw 116 inches, and Kingvale CalTrans received 106 inches. Ski resorts closed lifts due to heavy snow. Another storm is expected to bring 1 to 2 feet more snow to northern California and southern Oregon. (More)

• Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty to perjury charges on Monday. Weisselberg faces five months in jail, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 10. This is his second guilty plea related to Trump Organization activities, after pleading guilty to tax fraud in 2022 and serving a five-month sentence. (More)

Extra Credit

Scientists solve the mystery behind Earth’s largest sand dunes.

NASA has a new space plane.

Rihanna banked $6 million for a single private performance.

Explore America’s most beautiful caves.