What we’re reading: Haley loses Nevada primary, Israel-Hamas negotiations and more

By Abigail Elston, Staff Writer

Published Feb 8, 2024

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign rally on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in Aiken, S.C. Haley, a former two-term governor of South Carolina, is stumping in her home state, where former President Donald Trump has remained popular ahead of the GOP primary on Feb. 24. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

Nikki Haley loses Nevada’s Republican primary to “none of these candidates”

Republican candidate Nikki Haley lost Nevada’s presidential primary on Tuesday, with GOP voters in that state opting for “none of these candidates” instead of her, according to AP News.

Haley is considered the last rival to former President Donald Trump, who did not participate in Nevada’s primary. Trump is instead concentrating on Thursday’s caucuses to boost his path to the GOP nomination.

Tuesday’s primary was not essential in order to win the GOP nomination, but Haley’s loss is still a blow, as she hoped to present a viable challenge to Trump.

Supreme Court to hear arguments in Trump eligibility case

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, with lawyers Christopher Kise and Alina Habba, attends the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (Shannon Stapleton/Pool Photo via AP) (AP)

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case challenging former president Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for president on Thursday, according to CBS News.

The question at the center of the case is whether Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, 2021 were in violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which disqualifies “officers of the United States” from holding office if they have engaged in “insurrection or rebellion.”

The decision will determine whether or not Trump is eligible to appear on ballots nationwide, and if not, who voters will need to shift their focus to.

Ceasefire negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas

Israeli activists set up tents for blocking trucks carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza, in southern Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. The activists say no aid should enter the territory until Israeli hostages held captive by the Hamas militant group are released. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) (AP)

Hamas responded to an Israeli ceasefire offer by issuing a series of demands, according to the BBC.

The Palestinian militant group requested a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, a rebuilding of Gaza and an end to the war after three 45-day truce periods.

It is expected that Israel will decline the demands.

Search underway for five missing Marines after helicopter crash in California

U.S. Marines leave a command center, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in Kitchen Creek, Calif. A Marine Corps helicopter that had been missing with five troops aboard as an historic storm continued drenching California was found Wednesday morning in a mountainous area outside San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) (AP)

Rescuers began their search for five missing Marines on Wednesday, after their helicopter had been “reported overdue” when traveling from Las Vegas to San Diego, CNN reported.

The helicopter, a CH-53E Super Stallion, crashed in Southern California’s Pine Valley, prompting a search through parts of Cleveland National Forest. The search was hindered by heavy snow and winds in the area.

Search teams located the helicopter on Wednesday morning, but there is still no sign of the missing Marines on board. Rescue efforts are ongoing.