International
Israel’s ambassador to the UN gives 48 hours to UNRWA to evacuate its centers in Jerusalem
The ambassador of Israel to the UN, Danny Danon, today gave the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) 48 hours to evacuate its centers in Jerusalem, in accordance with an Israeli law that prohibits the organization from providing services in the territory of the Hebrew State.
“UNRWA will have to cease operations and evacuate all the premises in which it operates in Jerusalem, including the properties located in Ma’alot Dafna (in East Jerusalem) and Kfar Aqueb,” Danon warned on Tuesday at a press conference prior to a Security Council session, which deals with the issue of the agency.
The ambassador recalled that the law prohibits the agency from operating “within the sovereign territory of the State of Israel,” as well as having contact with Israeli officials and maintaining “any service or representative office activity within our territory.”
Thus, he said, Israel, which gave the agency until January 30 to leave its offices in East Jerusalem, “will end all collaboration, communication and contact with the UN or with anyone acting on its behalf.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded today to the letter sent to him by Danon last Friday, informing him that UNRWA must “cease its operations in Jerusalem and evacuate all facilities in which it operates in the city no later than January 30, 2025,” that is, six days in advance.
In a four-page response, Guterres describes this “unilateral demand” as “manifestly unreasonable and inconsistent with Israel’s international obligations,” and recalls that Danon has ignored his messages, which gave him “ample opportunities” to consult and negotiate with the UN
The United States said on Tuesday before the UN Security Council that the closure of the UNRWA offices in Jerusalem “is a sovereign decision of Israel,” and went further, stressing that “the United States supports the implementation of this decision.”
The diplomat Dorothy Shea, who acting heads the US mission until the arrival of the new ambassador, Elise Stefanik, thus adapted her speech to the new airs of foreign policy marked by President Donald Trump, aligning herself more clearly with Israel.
“The UNRWA,” Shea said, “exaggerates the effects of the laws (approved by the Israeli parliament to almost completely restrict the agency’s activities) by suggesting that they are going to force the cessation of their humanitarian operations in full.” These statements are “irresponsible and dangerous,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Louis Charbonneau, urged governments on Tuesday to make it clear to the Government of Israel that the international community “will not allow it to dismantle” the offices of the UNRWA.
“Governments must make it clear to the Israeli authorities that the world will not allow them to liquidate the rights of Palestinian refugees. They must support efforts to hold Israeli authorities accountable for starving Palestinian civilians in Gaza as a weapon of war,” he said in a statement.
The law to which Danon refers was approved last year and prohibits UNRWA from providing services in Israeli territory, including East Jerusalem, where more than 300,000 Palestinians live who do not enjoy the same rights as other Israeli citizens (they cannot vote, for example, in national elections).
The agency has about 30,000 employees and is responsible for carrying out some of the tasks of a State (such as providing health or educational services) to the Palestinians who were displaced after the creation of the State of Israel and their descendants, both in Gaza and the West Bank and in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
Israel accuses UNRWA of having links with Hamas, although so far it has only presented specific evidence against some workers.
The UN has repeated on numerous occasions that the services provided by UNRWA are irreplaceable because there is no agency or NGO that has its logistics, personnel and capabilities to carry them out, compared to what the Government of Israel advocates.
International
Lula invites Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to BRICS Summit in Brazil
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has invited Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to participate in the next BRICS summit, which will take place in Brazil this July.
“I am inviting all these countries here—Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico—to take part in BRICS in Brazil. Even if they are not official members, it is important for them to participate because this is a time for global discussion,” Lula stated.
Strengthening Multilateralism and Free Trade
While attending the presidential handover ceremony in Uruguay, Lula emphasized the importance of including these countries in the conversation, given that BRICS represents nearly half of the world’s population and global GDP.
“It is crucial that at this BRICS summit, we truly strengthen two fundamental pillars: multilateralism and free trade. Without trade freedom, there is no multilateralism, and there is no democracy,” he declared.
Lula also proposed drafting a serious document to present at the summit in Rio de Janeiro in July, reaffirming the commitment to respecting multilateralism and promoting free trade.
International
Navy warship saves lithuanian adventurer caught in Pacific Storm
An Australian warship rescued a Lithuanian rower on Monday after he encountered a tropical cyclone while attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean from California.
Aurimas Mockus was brought aboard the Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules, where he underwent a medical checkup, Vice Admiral Justin Jones said in a statement.
“Due to the highly unfavorable maritime conditions, Mr. Mockus’ vessel could not be recovered, except for two oars and some personal belongings,” stated the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which coordinated the rescue.
Three Days Adrift in the Coral Sea
The 44-year-old adventurer spent three days adrift in the Coral Sea, approximately 740 kilometers (460 miles) east of Mackay, a coastal city in Queensland. He had rowed non-stop from San Diego in a closed vessel, aiming to reach Brisbane.
Mockus began his 12,000-kilometer (7,500-mile) journey in October and was only days away from Brisbane when he encountered the storm, which is expected to make landfall in Australia soon.
Brisbane is located 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Mackay in a straight line.
Mockus activated an emergency beacon on Friday after rowing into stormy seas and 80 km/h (50 mph) winds generated by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, according to the rescue authority.
A rescue aircraft established radio contact with Mockus on Saturday, where he reported feeling “fatigued,” the authority said.
International
UK investigates TikTok over teen data use in content recommendations
The UK’s data protection office announced on Monday that it is investigating how TikTok uses teenagers’ personal information to generate content recommendations on the social media platform.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) expressed growing concerns about how social media platforms use data generated by children’s online activity to fuel their recommendation algorithms. This raises the potential risk of exposing young users to inappropriate or harmful content.
The regulator stated that it aims to assess the strength of TikTok’s safety procedures regarding the personal data of users aged 13 to 17.
“It’s about what they are collecting and how their systems work,” said Information Commissioner John Edwards. “I expect to find that there are many benign and positive uses of children’s data in their recommendation systems.”
Lula invites Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to BRICS Summit in Brazil
Navy warship saves lithuanian adventurer caught in Pacific Storm
UK investigates TikTok over teen data use in content recommendations
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