edited by Marcello Frisone
The US carried out a raid on a Houthi compound in Yemen after pro-Iranian Shiite rebels claimed responsibility for a Red Sea missile attack on a British oil tanker that caught fire. Following the United States, Canada also announces that it will suspend further funding for UNRWA, the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees, which has announced an investigation into the alleged involvement of staff in the October 7 attack in Israel. Tensions remain high across the Taiwan Strait following the island's elections and the presidential victory of William Lai, viewed by Beijing as a dangerous “separatist,” and the subsequent visit of a US delegation to Taipei.
Tajani, Italy also stops funding UNRWA
“The Italian government has suspended funding Unrwa , after Hamas's horrific attack against Israel on October 7th. Allied countries have recently made the same decision. “We are committed to providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population and protecting Israel’s security.” This was announced by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on X.
Michel (head of the EU Council) will not run for the European Parliament elections
Charles Michel, President of the Council of Heads of State and Government of the European Union, gave up his candidacy for a seat in the European Parliament on Friday January 26 amid criticism that the move would undermine his current role at a crucial time. The about-face is embarrassing for Michel, the former Belgian prime minister, and is sure to raise questions about his judgment, less than a week before the summit that is expected to result in an agreement on financial support for the EU Ukraine in wartime.
Michel's about-face came just weeks after he announced he would run in June's European Parliament elections. The move had drawn criticism as it meant he had to leave office several months before his official deadline of November 30.
Iran: “Israel should be punished for genocide, good verdict in The Hague”
The leaders of Israel's “Zionist regime” should be “immediately tried and punished for committing genocide against the Palestinians,” Israel's foreign minister said Iran, Hossein Amirabdollahian, who “congratulated” the Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and South Africa on its “success” in the legal proceedings against Israel. Tehran's diplomatic chief also told X that “the White House's full support for Zionist crimes will never be forgotten.” In a separate comment, also on .
Israel, UN takes immediate action against UNRWA leaders
“We call on the UN to take immediate action against the UNRWA leadership,” said the Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz after thanking the United States and Canada for the decision to suspend funding to UNRWA due to the links of 12 of its employees to Hamas in the October 7 attack. “We have been warning for years: UNRWA is perpetuating the refugee issue, hindering peace and serving as the civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza.” Katz – who hoped other countries would follow the example of the US and Canada – stressed that UNRWA “is a price to pay must pay for his actions”. UNRWA is not the solution.”
Tajani, Italy is committed to peace, we must not give up
“Italy’s goal is to work for de-escalation and peace. My visit to Lebanon, Israel and the West Bank aimed to contribute to a positive solution. It is clear that there is an ongoing war, so it is not that easy, but we must never give up,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani interviewed on Radio 24. ù
“If you believe in peace, you have to work for peace,” he continued. A peace that is just, a peace that guarantees the security of the State of Israel and that gives the Palestinian people hope of having an independent state recognized by all in the future. But of course the Palestinian state must recognize Israel, otherwise it will be difficult to continue without this requirement. I heard very helpful words from Palestinian Authority President Abu Mazen: he called for the unconditional release of the Israeli hostages. This is a very important signal, the exact opposite of what Hamas is saying. The Palestinian Authority is an alternative to Hamas,” emphasized Tajani.
Colombia: 17,000 hectares destroyed by forest fires in three months
Large forest fires that have been raging for almost three months Colombia , have so far destroyed at least 17,000 hectares since last November, while there are still several active flame fronts, creating a smoke emergency in the fire-affected capital Bogota itself. This was announced by local authorities, who attribute the disaster to the record temperatures that make this month of January the hottest in decades, and to the ongoing drought. Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said there were still 26 active fronts as of last Monday and there had been a total of over 340 fires since November.
The flames reached very close to Bogota, less than a kilometer from the El Paraiso neighborhood, where several residents – the Colombian Red Cross reports X – were hospitalized due to the effects of the smoke. In addition, the mountain forests of the Nevada y Cocuy Natural Park, 250 km from the capital, are burning. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has declared a natural disaster in recent days and diverted funds intended for other public sectors to fight the fire. Yesterday, Bogota's El Dorado International Airport fully reopened after operations were restricted due to smoke and 138 flights were grounded.
Israel, the army continues operations in Khan Yunis
The Israeli army continues its operations Khan Yunis , the Hamas stronghold in the southern Gaza Strip. This was announced by the military spokesman, after which the soldiers “carried out targeted raids on terrorist targets, including a weapons depot containing large quantities of ammunition, rifles and various technical aids.” According to the same source, an airstrike eliminated “three terrorists who were planning to plant explosives next to the troops.” “Numerous terrorists were killed” – he added – in various “hand-to-hand” battles.
Biden is ready to close the borders if a new law is passed
Joe Biden attacks Republicans and calls on them to pass a bipartisan bill that emerged from negotiations and represents “the toughest and fairest reforms we have ever had in our country to protect the border” with Mexico. Reforms that would give him “new emergency powers as president to close the border if it is overwhelmed by waves of migration.” “And if I were given that power, I would use it the day I sign the bill,” he promises.
“We have all known for too long that the border has been broken. Now is the time to solve the problem,” the president explains in a note, recalling that two months ago he instructed his team to begin negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators “to take the border crisis seriously and finally tackle it”. “What has been negotiated, if signed into law, would be the toughest and fairest reform package we have ever had in our country to protect the border. It would give me as president new emergency authority to close the border if it is overwhelmed by waves of migration,” he notes.
“And if I were given this power, I would use it the day I sign the bill,” he assures. “Furthermore,” he continues, “Congress must finally provide the funding I requested in October to protect the border.” This includes an additional 1,300 border agents, 375 immigration judges, 1,600 asylum officers and more than 100 state-of-the-art inspection machines to help “To detect and stop fentanyl at our southwest border.” “Securing the border through these negotiations is a victory for America. For everyone who calls for stricter border controls, this is the right path. If you are serious about the border crisis, pass a bipartisan bill and I will sign it,” is the president’s challenge. Funds for Ukraine are also linked to the new regulation.
Milei withdraws the tax package from the omnibus law
Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced that the government Milei will scale back the omnibus bill's fiscal package (including taxes, provincial export withholding and pensions) and will receive congressional approval next week after strong opposition from several state governors. “There is disagreement about the economic chapter. We have had to make uncomfortable decisions to achieve zero deficit, but we definitely don't want this package to delay what we believe is necessary and urgent,” Caputo said in a surprise press conference.
“We are withdrawing the package,” Caputo added, “to facilitate the approval of the omnibus law.” This will speed up the process and make the situation easier for many governors.” Caputo emphasized that “the most important thing is the structural part, that will lead to change in Argentina”, and stressed the importance of “respecting the goal of growth and starting with deregulation”, which will give more freedom to the private sector.
After hectic negotiations, the Casa Rosada decided to take its time on Thursday and postponed the analysis of the omnibus law in the Chamber of Deputies until next week. Mileis Freedom Advances only has 37 votes in the chamber, but at least 129 of the total 257 are needed to pass the bill. The Casa Rosada can rely on the consensus of the party of the former center-right President Mauricio Macri (Pro ) or 37 yes. However, the balance is formed by the so-called dialogue forces, such as the 34 votes of the Radical Civic Union (UCR), in addition to the dissidents of the PRO, who have formed their own blocs such as the Federal Coalition (23 votes) and Innovation Federal (9).
After the USA, Canada is also suspending UNRWA funding for the Palestinians
After the USA too Canada announces that it will stop further financing Unrwa , the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees announced an investigation into the alleged involvement of staff in the October 7 attack in Israel. “I have spoken directly with UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini to express Canada's concerns about allegations that agency staff were involved in the brutal terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023,” he wrote to Canada's Minister for International Affairs Development, Ahmed Hussen.
Canada “welcomes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' directive to UNRWA to investigate these very serious allegations.” Canada has “temporarily suspended any further funding to UNRWA pending the investigation,” and if the allegations are proven true, it will stand the hope that “UNRWA will take immediate action against those found to have been involved in the terrorist attack on Hamas.” In the meantime, “aid to the people of Gaza will not be reduced,” and Canada expresses “strong concern about the humanitarian crisis” in the Palestinian enclave and calls on “all parties to respect international humanitarian law.”
Taiwan: After US delegation visit, “33 jets and 6 Chinese military ships around the island”
Tensions in the Strait remain high Taiwan after the island's elections and the presidential victory of William Lai, seen by Beijing as a dangerous “separatist”, followed by the visit of a US delegation to Taipei. Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported detecting the presence of 33 Chinese People's Liberation Army aircraft and six naval units around the island in the last 24 hours.
This is a record number since Taiwan's parliamentary and presidential elections on January 13th. According to the ministry, 13 aircraft crossed the so-called “middle line” of the Taiwan Strait, which does not exist for China. They reported from Taipei that two Chinese hot air balloons had also been discovered that had also crossed the “center line.” Incidents of this kind have become a sensitive issue since the “espionage crisis” between China and the US in February last year.
US attacks Houthis in Yemen after attack on British tanker
The US conducted a raid on a US compound Houthis in Yemen after pro-Iranian Shiite rebels claimed responsibility for a rocket attack in the Red Sea on a British oil tanker that caught fire. Centcom announced this: “At 03:45 local time (01:45 Italian time), the US military command in the Middle East (Centcom) launched an airstrike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was preparing to be launched in the Red Sea” , we read in a statement describing the Yemeni rebel missile as an “imminent threat” to commercial and military vessels in the region.
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Marcello Frisone
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