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UN special rapporteur criticizes proposed Israeli draft bill on prison guards

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UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese strongly criticized an Israeli draft bill aimed at recruiting volunteers as prison guards, warning that it could lead to increased abuses against Palestinian detainees. In a post Sunday on X, Albanese called the proposal “so sickening,” saying “Israel MUST BE STOPPED: starting with its politicians, its soldiers, its settlers, and its ideological fanatics.” “We must save the Palestinians from the depravity of the century,” she emphasized. The draft bill, introduced by Zvika Fogel, a member of parliament with the far-right Jewish Power party, was outlined in a tweet thread by Itay Epshtain, an expert on international humanitarian law. The bill aims to expand Israel’s prison guard force with volunteers holding full authority over detainees, citing a rise in incarcerations due to ongoing conflicts. Epshtain said the political motivation behind the bill is “to bring violent extremists into the Israeli Prison Service, where they can torment Palestinian detainees and prisoners.” He added that an explanatory note accompanying the legislation highlights the need for increased staffing to manage the growing number of incarcerated Palestinians. Albanese’s remarks reflect broader international concerns over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners under Israeli custody. Human rights groups have warned that the inclusion of volunteers in prison services could exacerbate existing abuses and lack of accountability. The bill is expected to be reviewed by Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Albanese and other advocates have urged the global community to intervene and address what they view as a dangerous and unjust policy. Israel has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and reduced the enclave to rubble. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

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Climate change adds 41 days of extreme heat in 2024

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Newly published research indicates that climate change added an average of 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, harming human health and ecosystems. The joint report by World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central warns that every country needs to prepare for rising climate risks to minimize deaths and damage in 2025 and beyond. The world experienced an average of 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to human-caused warming, the study said, suggesting that a much faster transition away from fossil fuels is needed to avoid a future of relentless heat waves, drought, wildfires, storms and floods. The report noted that climate change intensified 26 of the 29 weather events studied by World Weather Attribution which killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions. “Climate change had a stronger influence than El Nino on many extreme weather events,” it added. Friederike Otto, lead of WWA and senior lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London, said the impacts of fossil fuel warming “have never been clearer or more devastating” than in 2024, adding: “We are living in a dangerous new era.” He said extreme weather killed thousands of people, forced millions from their homes this year and caused unrelenting suffering, recalling that floods in Spain, hurricanes in the US, drought in the Amazon and floods across Africa are “just a few examples.” “We know exactly what we need to do to stop things from getting worse: stop burning fossil fuels,” said Otto. “The top resolution for 2025 must be transitioning away from fossil fuels, which will make the world a safer and more stable place.” – ‘Failed scorecard’ Citing projections that this year is set to be the hottest on record, the report also noted that the first six months saw record-breaking temperatures, extending a streak that started in 2023 to 13 months, with the world’s hottest day in history recorded on July 22. “If the world does not rapidly transition away from oil, gas and coal, the number of dangerous heat days will continue to increase each year and threaten public health,” warned the scientists. According to the study, a faster shift away from fossil fuels, improvements in early warning, real-time reporting of heat deaths and international finance to help developing countries become more resilient are the key resolutions for 2025 to both tackle climate change and protect people from extreme weather. “Another devastating year of extreme weather has shown that we are not well prepared for life at 1.3-1.5°C of warming,” said Julie Arrighi, director of programs at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. “In 2025, it’s crucial that every country accelerate efforts to adapt to climate change,” she added. Ben Clarke, researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said this annual report reads like a “failed scorecard.” “The world is not cutting emissions and preparing for climate change quickly enough. The consequences are record-breaking extreme weather events that cause deaths, displacement, and loss of livelihoods.”

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Cyclone Chido: Mayotte begins repatriations as aid needs grow

Africa /

Days after Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte, transport links to the French overseas territory are gradually resuming, allowing some residents to be repatriated. Sea connections between Mayotte and the Comoros have reopened, enabling the return of around 500 undocumented Comorians. While commercial flights have yet to resume, French authorities have established an air route to Reunion Island for evacuations of French citizens. Since the cyclone struck, about 3,000 people have been evacuated from Mayotte, which is now facing shortages of essential supplies. Locals report widespread lack of water and electricity, with many living in makeshift shelters after their homes were destroyed by the storm. In response to the disaster, the European Commission is providing emergency aid to Mayotte and Mozambique. Several countries, including Belgium, Germany, and Italy, have also pledged shelter and essential supplies.

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South Korean court holds first hearing on President Yoon’s impeachment

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South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Friday held the first preparatory hearing of a trial on the validity of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment by parliament over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Yoon’s lawyers Bae Bo-yoon, Yun Gap-geun and Bae Jin-han appeared before the top court, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News. The court will again hear the two sides on Jan. 3. Lawmakers voted to impeach Yoon, 63, on Dec. 14 over his failed bid to impose martial law in the country. He faces treason and insurrection among other charges. Representatives from the parliament also appeared before the court and sought the appearance of 15 witnesses in the case. The lawmakers are represented by former Constitutional Court Justice Kim Yi-su and former National Human Rights Commission Chairman Song Doo-hwan. Justices Lee Mi-son and Cheong Hyung-sik presided over the hearing. Shocking the nation with the announcement of martial law on Dec. 3, Yoon was forced to rescind the order within six hours after parliament passed a motion against it that night. The top court has six months, since Dec. 14, to decide whether to uphold or dismiss the impeachment, while Prime Minister Han Duck-soo officiates as president since Yoon remains suspended from his duties.

 Ahead of the first hearing by the top court, Yoon had refused to entertain notices from the Constitutional Court. But the court had said it will proceed with its trial beginning today. Yoon was impeached in a second parliamentary vote held on Dec. 14 when at least 12 lawmakers from his People Power Party joined the opposition bloc of 192 parliamentarians, led by the Democratic Party, to suspend the president. In the 300-seat parliament, at least 200 lawmakers should vote to suspend a sitting South Korean president. If the top court upholds the impeachment motion, Yoon will be removed from office and a fresh presidential election is due within two months from that date. Police were also searching the office of the Presidential Security Service for CCTV footage of the compound. Police were searching the place where Yoon allegedly met with senior police officials to discuss martial law plans. Separately, parliament is set to hold a separate vote to impeach Han, the acting president, after he refused to appoint three Constitutional Court judges. This will be the first time in South Korea’s history that a vote to impeach the acting president will be held.

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5 journalists killed in Israeli airstrike near Gaza hospital

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Five journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were killed early Thursday when an Israeli airstrike struck their broadcasting van near al-Awda Hospital in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian officials and media reports. The journalists were covering events at the hospital when the vehicle, marked with the word “PRESS” in large red letters, was hit. The victims have been identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan and Ayman al-Jadi. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reported that al-Jadi was waiting for his wife, who was in labor with their first child, outside the hospital at the time of the attack. Footage from the scene showed the van engulfed in flames as civil defense teams worked to recover the bodies and extinguish the fire. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it targeted a vehicle carrying members of Islamic Jihad.  “Prior to the attack, many steps were taken to reduce the chance of harming civilians, including the use of precision weapons, aerial observations and additional intelligence information,” the military said in a post on X. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the deaths, calling for accountability. Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 45,400 people, most of them women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

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Trump alleges Chinese military presence at Panama Canal

World /

 US President-elect Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that “wonderful soldiers of China” are operating the Panama Canal “lovingly but illegally.” In a post on his Truth Social platform on Christmas Day, Trump alleged that the Chinese presence is aimed at ensuring that the US invests billions of dollars in repairs without reaping any benefits. “The United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money and gets nothing in return,” he said. Trump also addressed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him “Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada” and suggesting that Canada could achieve significant tax cuts and “would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World” if it joined the US as its 51st state. Turning to domestic politics, he criticized “radical left lunatics” for allegedly obstructing the US court system and targeting political opponents, including himself.  “Their only chance of political survival is to get pardons from (incumbent President) Joe Biden,” he added.

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