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The terrorist threat from al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and their affiliates remains high in conflict zones in Africa and in Afghanistan – and threat levels have risen in some regions including Europe, U.N. experts said in a new report. The Islamic State group broke away from al-Qaida over a decade ago and attracted supporters from around the world. In Iraq, they are carrying out “a low-intensity insurgency with covert terrorist cells” while in Syria attacks have intensified since November, the experts said. In West Africa and the Sahel, the panel said, “violence and threat have escalated again” in conflict zones, raising concerns among U.N. member nations. The experts point to “a deficit in counterterrorism capabilities,” which Islamic State and al-Qaida affiliated groups are continuing to exploit.

Persons: Abu Hafs al, Hashemi, “, ”, Al Organizations: Islamic State, . Security, Central, Islamic Locations: Africa, Afghanistan, Europe, Iran, Pakistan, Central Asian, “, al, Iraq, Syria, Islamic, West Africa, Islamic State, Somali, Shabab, “ al, Mogadishu, Somalia, Israel, Gaza, Al, Islam, Jerusalem, France, Belgium

☆ Ukraine's experimental 'FrankenSAM' weapons reveal a huge gap in the US arsenal, military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US making experimental weapons reveals its lack of ground-based defenses, an expert told BI. AdvertisementUkraine's use of experimental "FrankenSAM" defense systems has highlighted gaps in NATO's own arsenals, according to a military expert. "The FrankenSAMs fill a critical gap" for Ukraine as its allies don't have enough ground-based air defenses to give it, Cancian told Business Insider. He said Ukraine desperately needs ground-based air defenses, with Russia launching major drone and missile strikes on cities and towns across the country. The Pentagon changed its strategy and embraced ground-based defenses again, Cancian said, but he described that realization as taking place "probably belatedly."

Persons: —, cobbling, Mark Cancian, Cancian, NASAMS, it's Organizations: US, Service, NATO, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Business, Russia, AP, Pentagon, US Navy, AIM, Getty Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv, Russia, North Korea, Iraq, Ukrainian, Crimea, China

☆ Ukraine: EU agrees $50bn funding deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

#Unity All 27 leaders agreed on an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine within the EU budget,” the EU Council’s President Charles Michel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Grateful to @CharlesMichel and EU leaders for establishing the €50 billion Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027,” he tweeted. Orban had held up the deal on the grounds he did not want the funds to come from the EU budget, meaning funds would be taken from EU member states and sent to Ukraine. Critics of Orban were quick to accuse him of blocking the deal because the EU is currently withholding funds for Ukraine due to it breaching rule of law requirements. The diplomat said the deal as outlined by Michel does not unlock EU funds for Hungary, though the summit will continue throughout Thursday.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Charles Michel, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, didn’t, Orban, Critics, Michel, Vladimir Putin, , Josep Borrell, ” Borrell Organizations: CNN, European Union, Hungary’s, Kyiv, EU, “ EU, Ukraine, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Russian, United States, Washington, “, Russia, European, Hungary, Brussels, Europe

☆ For Orban, Ukraine Is a Pawn in a Longer Game
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After months of bluster against financial aid for Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary on Thursday yielded to intense pressure from fellow European leaders, but not before he tried to change the topic in Brussels by meeting with angry Belgian farmers beside a convoy of tractors and voicing support for the protests roiling Europe. In what amounted to a campaign stop ahead of European elections in June that he hopes will shift Europe’s balance of power in his direction, Mr. Orban skipped a dinner with European leaders on Wednesday evening and went to talk to the farmers who had gathered outside the Brussels venue for Thursday’s make-or-break summit meeting on Ukraine. “We need to find new leaders who truly represent the interests of the people,” Mr. Orban told the farmers, leaving little doubt that he includes himself in what he sees as an inevitable changing of the guard in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Union. For Mr. Orban, whether to send billions of dollars to Ukraine has never been a question of immovable principle, and he folded Thursday when told that some member states were serious about isolating him, even stripping him of his vote, if he continued to block the aid. Rather, it is just one of many issues on which he has sought to establish himself as the leader of a pan-European movement in defense of national sovereignty and traditional values against what he scorns as out-of-touch urban elites.

Persons: Viktor Orban of Hungary, Orban, Mr Organizations: European Union Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Europe

BRUSSELS (AP) — Convoys with hundreds of angry farmers driving heavy-duty tractors advanced toward European Union headquarters, bent on getting their complaints about excessive costs, rules and bureaucracy heard by EU leaders at a summit Thursday. Even if the EU summit was supposed to be laser-focused on providing Ukraine financial aid for its war against invading Russia, the farmers were likely to squeeze their plight onto the informal agenda of the 27 leaders too. Jean-Francois Ricker, a farmer from southern Belgium, braved the winter night close to EU headquarters and said he expected 1,000 to 1,400 vehicles. Farmers coming to Brussels on Thursday have been insisting their protest will be peaceful and security forces have handled the protests lightly so far. I think we are addressing two very important (concerns) of them right now,” European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said.

Persons: Jean, Francois Ricker, Maroš Šefčovič, Sylvain Plazy, Mark Carlson Organizations: —, European Union, EU, Farmers, police, European Commission Locations: BRUSSELS, Belgian, Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, France, Italy, Rungis, Brussels, “

HALLE, Belgium (AP) — Farmers blocked more traffic arteries across Belgium, France and Italy on Wednesday, as they sought to disrupt trade at major ports and other economic lifelines. They also moved closer to Brussels on the eve of a major European Union summit, in a continued push for better prices for their produce and less bureaucracy in their work. I think we are addressing two very important (concerns) of them right now,” European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič said. A climax in Belgium is set for Thursday, when farmers plan to protest outside EU headquarters during a summit of government leaders. Despite the widespread inconveniences, governments in the EU are treating protests, which have been mostly peaceful, with extreme caution.

Persons: Maroš Šefčovič, Sven Pieters, Gérald Darmanin, “, Alexander De Croo, De Croo, Emmanuel Macron, ___ Sylvie Corbet, Ciaran Giles Organizations: HALLE, — Farmers, European Commission, EU, Protesters, South Locations: Belgium, France, Italy, Brussels, Ukraine, “, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Flanders, Zeebrugge, Creteil, “ Paris, ”, Chile, New Zealand, Belgian, Madrid

☆ Ukraine: Europe is braced for a showdown on funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he doesn’t oppose European funding for Ukraine, but is insisting that the money should not come out of the EU’s budget. It is widely suspected that Orban is using his veto on the funds for Ukraine to force Brussels into unlocking the money for Hungary. Beyond Europe, there are also major concerns about what a second Donald Trump presidency would mean for Ukraine and European security as a whole. As the Ukraine crisis approaches the two-year mark it is becoming increasingly difficult for Europe to manage. On the other, the consequences of Ukraine losing the war could be unconscionable for the rest of Europe.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Orban, Critics, Balázs, “, Jens Stoltenberg, Francois Mori, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, Putin Organizations: CNN —, European Union, Kyiv, EU, CNN, Financial Times, Ukraine, “, NATO, Getty, Hungarian, European Council, Foreign Affairs Locations: Brussels, Ukraine, Hungary, Russian, United States, Washington, Hungarian, “ Brussels, there’s, Budapest, Kyiv, AFP, Russia, Israel, EU, Europe

☆ Commission to Discuss New Russia Sanctions Proposal With EU Countries
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Julia PayneBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will start informal high-level meetings with member states on Saturday on the details of a proposed new set of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, three diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. The EU is keen to put a 13th package of measures together to mark the second anniversary of the war on Feb. 24. The discussions that begin on Saturday are a final step before the Commission officially delivers a new package to be debated and voted on by EU countries in the Council. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesOne source added that some minor sectoral measures such as new import bans were also likely. Poland and the Baltic states have been calling for import bans on Russian aluminium and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Persons: Julia Payne BRUSSELS, Julia Payne, Sandra Maler Organizations: European, Russia, EU, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Baltic

Israel's military said Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school. The latest deaths bring the Palestinian death toll from Israel’s offensive to 26,900, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. Here's the latest:150 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN GAZA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, HEALTH MINISTRY SAYSRAFAH, Gaza Strip — Gaza’s Health Ministry says 150 people have been killed in the last 24 hours and another 313 were wounded. The nearly four-month war began with Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted another 250. The military said Wednesday that its forces killed more than 15 Hamas militants in northern Gaza over the past day and targeted militant infrastructure in a school.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘, Biden, Jordan, — Biden, he’s, —, Khan Younis, “, Joe Biden’s, Jordan that’s, Yemen’s Houthi, U.N, Israel ”, Antonio Guterres, Houthi, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Arleigh Burke, Yahya Saree, ” Saree Organizations: Gaza’s Health Ministry, Gaza, Health Ministry, West Bank, MINISTRY, AS BIDEN, U.S . Navy, UN, GENEVA, UNRWA, Israel, World Health Organization, UNICEF, International Organization for Migration, Food, U.S . State Department, EU AIMS, The European Union, ’, SEA, U.S . military’s, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, EU, Jordan, israel, GAZA, RAFAH, Hama, Gaza City, Khan, IRAN, JERUSALEM, Islamic Republic, Tehran, The U.S, Syria, Red, U.S, United States, ”, U.N, BRUSSELS, Yemen, Belgium, Germany, Iranian, British

☆ Why scientists are killing millions of Chinese mitten crabs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Named after the dense mats of hair on their front claws, Chinese mitten crabs are intimidating creatures. Scientists across the continent are looking for ways to reduce the mitten crab population, and in doing so protect the native ecosystems being destroyed by the invasive species. Schoelynck says that scientists in Europe have reported crabs that are a hybrid of both the Chinese and Japanese species of mitten crabs. While mitten crabs are a seasonal delicacy in China, Schoelynck says that they have little meat and therefore aren’t popular in the European market. However, the crabs collected in one of the Belgium traps go to a local zoo to be used as animal feed, he says.

Persons: CNN —, It’s, “ Clancy, ”, Jonas Schoelynck, Van Loon, Schoelynck, Björn Suckow, Alfred Wegener, Clancy, Heleen, Suckow Organizations: CNN, University of Antwerp, Flanders Environment Agency, EU, Alfred, Alfred Wegener Institute Locations: Europe, Bremen, Germany, Asia, Flanders, Belgium, France, Sweden, It’s, Lier, Belgian, China

☆ Europe narrowly avoids a recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Europe’s economy avoided ending 2023 in a recession by the narrowest of margins, official data showed Tuesday. In the July-to-September quarter, GDP dipped 0.1%. Europe’s economy has struggled to regain momentum following the pandemic, hamstrung by high inflation and rapid interest rate hikes to combat it. The French economy, Europe’s second-largest, stagnated in the fourth quarter but grew 0.7% over the whole of 2023. He expects the eurozone economy to “flatline” in the first half of 2024 “as the effects of past monetary tightening continue to feed through and fiscal policy becomes more restrictive.”

Persons: —, Russia’s, ‘, Christoph Weil, ”, ” “, Jack Allen, Reynolds, “ Organizations: London CNN, Gross, Eurostat, Union, EU, ’, Commerzbank, European Central Bank, Capital Economics, ECB Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Italy, Spain

LONDON (AP) — Italian regulators said they told OpenAI that its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot has violated European Union’s stringent data privacy rules. The watchdog started investigating ChatGPT last year, when it temporarily banned within Italy the chatbot that can produce text, images and sound in response to users' questions. The growing popularity of generative AI systems like ChatGPT are also drawing increasing scrutiny from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Competition regulators in the 27-nation EU and Britain, meanwhile, are also examining Microsoft's OpenAI investments. AI systems also face broader oversight in the EU, which is f inalizing its groundbreaking AI Act, the world's first comprehensive rulebook for artificial intelligence.

Persons: OpenAI, chatbot, ChatGPT, “ Organizations: San, EU, Data, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Google, Microsoft, Competition Locations: San Francisco, Italy, EU, Britain

☆ EU Deal for Ukraine 'Difficult' Despite Move by Hungary -Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Talks between European Union countries aimed at agreeing on more aid for Ukraine later this week remain "difficult", a senior EU official said on Tuesday, despite Hungary having signalled its readiness for a compromise. It has already once blocked the aid package and has also voiced opposition - along with EU paymaster Germany - to topping up the military fund. "We are not there yet," the EU official said under condition of anonymity, referring to preparations for the Thursday summit in Brussels of the leaders of the bloc's 27 member states. As the EU mounts pressure on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to agree, the official said Budapest's conditions for lifting its veto on the financial assistance to Kyiv were not acceptable to the other EU countries. The official added that Hungary's EU peers did not want to agree to review any support to Kyiv every year as that would give Orban a veto each time.

Persons: Russia's, Viktor Orban, Orban, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Heinrich Organizations: European Union, EU, Germany, Hungarian Locations: BRUSSELS, Ukraine, Hungary, Kyiv, Russia, Brussels

☆ Europe should brace for ‘harsh decisions’ if Trump is re-elected, says ECB’s Lagarde
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Europe should prepare for possible threats to its economy — including new US tariffs on its exports — if Donald Trump returns to the White House, according to European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde. “Let us prepare for potential tariffs, for potential harsh decisions that would be unexpected. The transatlantic relationship was strained during Trump’s first term, not least by a tit-for-tat trade spat between Washington and Brussels. That dispute saw the United States impose tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, to which the EU responded with tariffs on $3 billion worth of US goods, including whiskey, motorcycles and denim. The United States is the EU’s biggest source of foreign direct investment.

Persons: Donald Trump, Christine Lagarde, Mr Trump, ”, CNN’s Richard Quest, ” Lagarde, Trump, Trump’s, Lagarde, “ Organizations: London CNN, White, European Central Bank, United, EU, Republican, Ukraine, Russia, Trade, Trump, French, France, NATO Locations: Europe, United States, Washington, Brussels, Paris

☆ Northern Ireland power-sharing could resume within days, after two-year hiatus
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Eve Brennan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Sinn Féin won the most seats in the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly last year. Post-Brexit trade rules imposed customs checks on goods moving to Northern Ireland from the UK’s mainland. A deal known as the Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed to allow Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, to remain within the EU market so that it could trade goods freely across its land border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state. Unionists in Northern Ireland, like the DUP, are in favor of remaining in the United Kingdom, whereas nationalists, like Sinn Féin, are in favor of the unification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. “The people of Northern Ireland are best served by a power-sharing government in Stormont as outlined in the Good Friday Agreement.

Persons: Jeffrey Donaldson, Sinn Féin, Brexit, Sinn, Donaldson, “, ”, ” What’s, Northern Ireland Chris Heaton, Harris, Heaton, ” “, Sinn Féin’s, Michelle O’Neill, Tánaiste, Micheál Martin –, Martin, Claire Cronin, Biden Organizations: CNN, Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Sinn, Northern Ireland Assembly, Northern, Protocol, Irish, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Union, BBC Radio, Stormont, State, Government, Northern Ireland Executive, Assembly, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Executive Locations: Northern Ireland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Belfast, Republic of, Westminster, Northern, Stormont –, Stormont

☆ Russia is replacing its destroyed tanks at a rate of 100 a month, UK intel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussia is able to make 100 tanks a month, allowing it to keep its offensive effort at the same level despite suffering major losses, according to UK intelligence. Since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has lost about 2,600 MBTs and 4,900 other armored vehicles, the UK MOD said. Alex Babenko/AP PhotoUkraine has lost far fewer tanks and vehicles than Russia has in the conflict, according to weapons trackers and experts. AdvertisementMany individual European countries are still giving support to Ukraine, but member state Hungary has blocked a major $52 billion support package. Ukraine also suffered major tank losses at the start of its counteroffensive efforts last June, but losses seem to have dropped since then.

Persons: —, Alex Babenko Organizations: Service, Business, UK Ministry of Defence, MOD, Ukraine, Pentagon, Leopard, Avdiivka Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Germany, Hungary, Avdiivka

☆ Hungary accuses EU of blackmail over Ukraine aid stand-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Viktor Orban, Hungary's prime minister, arrives on day one of the European Union (EU) leaders summit at the EU Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, May 30, 2022. Hungary accused the European Union of blackmail after a leaked document reportedly suggested that the bloc plans to sabotage Budapest's economy if it vetoes fresh aid for Ukraine at a summit later this week. "Hungary does not give in to blackmail," Bóka János wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "The document drafted by Brussels bureaucrats only confirms what the Hungarian Government has been saying for a long time: access to EU funds is used for political blackmailing by Brussels," he added. It added that budget talks remain ongoing and will continue to be based on reaching a compromise that is acceptable to all 27 member states.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Hungary's, Bóka János Organizations: European Union, EU, European, Ukraine, Financial Times, Hungarian Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Hungary, European Union, Kyiv, Hungarian Government, Budapest, Hungarian, Ukraine

☆ Israeli dossier details UNRWA workers’ alleged involvement in October 7 attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Of the 13 UNRWA employees alleged to have been associated with the attack, the Israeli document alleges 10 were Hamas operatives, two were Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives and one is unidentified. It also alleges that at least one UNRWA employee supplied logistic support to the attack. In a statement Sunday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said nine UNRWA staff members at the center of the allegations had been fired. At least 152 UNRWA staffers have been killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began, according to the agency. Israel has strongly opposed calls for a ceasefire, maintaining that it needs to press on with its aim of eliminating Hamas.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Israel, Jack Lew, David Satterfield, Stephane Dujarric, UNWRA, Philippe Lazzarini, António Guterres, ” Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Organizations: CNN, United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Islamic Jihad, Middle East, UN, UNRWA, Assembly, UN’s, Hamas, of Health Locations: Gaza, Israel, East, Germany, Norway, Ireland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Drone Strike Kills 3 U.S. Soldiers in Jordan, White House Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The allegation, made by Israel, is a serious blow to the reputation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, generally known as UNRWA. The agency looms especially large in Gaza, where most of the population of more than two million people are registered as refugees. “Behind the scenes Israel has often favored UNRWA’s work,” said Anne Irfan, an expert on Palestinian refugee rights at University College London. Many settled in refugee camps that the agency helped create, which have since become built-up, mostly impoverished urban areas. Palestinians are the only refugee group whose support is not handled under the global mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Persons: Here’s, —, “, ” Hector Sharp, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Ahron Bregman, Israel, Anne Irfan, Megan Specia, Ben Hubbard Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israel, United Nations, UNRWA, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Department, King’s College London, University College London, Refugees, European Union Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, United States, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Three West African nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have withdrawn from the regional economic bloc known as ECOWAS, their respective juntas announced Sunday, accusing the bloc of “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations. The juntas said in a joint statement read on state television that they have “decided in complete sovereignty on the immediate withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alleging that the bloc has “moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism” after nearly 50 years of its establishment. “Furthermore, ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure,” their statements read. It is the latest twist in a series of events that have deepened political tension in West Africa since it experienced its latest of a string of coups — in Niger — last year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Persons: juntas, “ Organizations: Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Associated Press Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, West Africa, Niger —

☆ U.N. Pleads for Aid to Not Be Cut to Palestinians: Israel-Hamas War Live Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Vivek Shankar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

☆ U.N. Pleads With Major Donors to Not Cut Aid for Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Hiba Yazbek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The allegation, made by Israel, is a serious blow to the reputation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, generally known as UNRWA. The agency looms especially large in Gaza, where most of the population of more than two million people are registered as refugees. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has gone so far as to blame the agency for perpetuating rather than alleviating the plight of Palestinians and has called on the United Nations to disband it. “Behind the scenes Israel has often favored UNRWA’s work,” said Anne Irfan, an expert on Palestinian refugee rights at University College London. Palestinians are the only refugee group whose support is not handled under the global mandate of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

☆ UNRWA: What we know about Israel’s allegations against UN staffers in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Hira Humayun | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has fired several employees in the wake of the allegations, which have not been made public. UNRWA was established by the United Nations after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war to provide humanitarian assistance for displaced Palestinians. At least 152 UNRWA staffers have been killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began, according to the agency. Neither Israel nor UNRWA have specified the nature of the alleged involvement of UNRWA employees in the events of October 7, nor did they specify the number of employees allegedly involved. “A case was compiled by the Intelligence Directorate, incriminating several UNRWA employees for their alleged involvement in the massacre, along with evidence pointing to the use of UNRWA facilities for terrorist purposes,” the IDF statement said.

Persons: Israel, –, Philippe Lazzarini, “, ”, ’, António Guterres, Guterres, United Nations Gilad Erdan, Syria hadn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Micheál Martin tweeting, ” Mustafa Barghouthi, Husseim Al, Sheick, Yoav Gallant, Israel Katz, Lazzarini, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey, Benjamin Brown, Heather Law, AJ Davis, Ibrahim Hazboun, Rob Iddiols, Amir Tal, Akanksha Sharma, Lauren Izso, Caitlin Hu Organizations: CNN, UN, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, UNRWA, United Nations, United Nations ’, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Saturday, Intelligence, UN Security, US State Department, Palestinian National Initiative, International, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Israel’s, Foreign, The Agency Locations: Gaza, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany

☆ Sweden’s Leader Says He Will Meet With Orban to Advance NATO Bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Andrew Higgins | More About Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bowing to a Hungarian demand for negotiations over the expansion of NATO, the prime minister of Sweden on Thursday agreed to hold talks with Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban, the last obstacle blocking the Nordic nation’s admission to the military alliance. A vote by Turkey’s parliament on Tuesday to accept Sweden as a member of the alliance, however, left Hungary as the only holdout and strengthened Mr. Orban’s leverage. It also intensified accusations abroad that he was effectively holding Sweden’s membership for ransom. In a sign that Mr. Orban intended to use his leverage, Laszlo Kover, a close ally of the Hungarian prime minister and the speaker of Parliament, indicated Thursday that he was in no hurry to put the matter to a vote. Parliament is in recess and is not scheduled to return until Feb. 15.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Ulf Kristersson, Orban, —, Laszlo Kover Organizations: NATO, Nordic, Budapest Locations: Sweden, Swedish, United States, Hungary

☆ Nobel Peace Prize winner: The time has come to recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Opinion Narges Mohammadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The time has come to declare gender apartheid a crime. That is why I have written a letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging him to declare gender apartheid a crime against humanity. Inhumane acts committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one gender group over another are termed gender apartheid. This is why it is imperative that gender apartheid is recognized as a crime against humanity. In recent months there has been positive momentum at the United Nations towards recognizing and codifying gender apartheid.

Persons: Read, António Guterres, —, Mahsa Amini, Amini, Iran —, Shirin Ebadi, Malala Yousafzai, Nadia Murad – Organizations: CNN, Getty, United Nations, Assembly, Apartheid, UN Women’s, UN Locations: Iranian, Iran, Tehran’s, Islamic Republic, Afghanistan, South Africa, States

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