Connect with us

World

Italy, US, Canada, Australia halt UNWRA funding over Hamas allegations

Published

on

Italy, US, Canada, Australia halt UNWRA funding over Hamas allegations

The EU says it’s “extremely concerned” by Israel’s allegations that staff of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees were involved in 7 October attacks.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Italian government has suspended funding to the UN’s Reliefs and Works Agency UNWRA, joining the US, Canada and Australia. 

It comes after several UNWRA staff were alleged to have been involved in Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel. 

On Friday, the European Commission and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had also called in a joint statement for UNRWA to “provide full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved.”

UNRWA announced earlier on Friday it was probing the potential involvement of several of its staff members in Hamas’ 7 October attacks, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and provoked a war in Gaza that has left claimed the lives of more than 26,000 Palestinians.

According to a statement by the US Department of State, the allegations relate to twelve UNRWA employees.

Advertisement

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said Friday he had immediately fired the employees suspected of involvement “to protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance,” to the besieged Gaza Strip.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “horrified by this news,” according to his spokesperson.

The US has responded by pausing its funding to UNRWA while investigations take place. The UN agency has played a pivotal role in ensuring life-saving aid reaches the population of Gaza since the outbreak of the war.

The EU executive meanwhile says it will “assess further steps” and “draw lessons” from the results of the investigation. 

The EU’s neighbourhood commissioner Olivér Várhelyi and humanitarian aid commissioner Janez Lenarčič echoed the calls for a transparent investigation.

Advertisement

EU payments of development aid to the Palestinian territories were temporarily suspended in response to the 7th October attacks, pending a review to ensure no EU cash inadvertently reached the hands of Hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the bloc.

Contracts in the value of €331 million were screened, with no diversion of funds to terrorist groups found, allowing development aid to flow again.

The EU is the biggest donor of development aid to the Palestinian territories, with a significant portion of aid channelled through UNRWA, to support vulnerable and displaced families. 

For 2021 to 2023, the EU’s contribution to UNRWA’s programme budget amounted to €281 million.

Advertisement

World

How the Iran war is about to hit your wallet

Published

on

How the Iran war is about to hit your wallet

Strikes on gas sites in the Iran war are driving up energy costs, pushing up prices for power, food and more worldwide.

Strikes on gas sites are now part of the US-Israel war with Iran. But its effect will echo far beyond the Gulf, hitting power, food, and prices worldwide. As gas supply shrinks and costs rise, who will feel it most, and how far could the shock spread?

In this episode: 

  • Justin Dargin (@justindargin), Energy Expert, Middle East Council on Global Affairs

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Tamara Khandaker, Sarí el-Khalili, Chloe K. Li, Tuleen Barakat, Catherine Nouhan and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili. Alex Roldan is our sound designer. 

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, Alexandra Locke, Catherine Nouhan, Alex Roldan, and Noor Wazwaz. Our host is Malika Bilal. 

Advertisement

Our editorial intern is Tuleen Barakat. Our engagement producers are Adam Abou-Gad and Vienna Maglio. Andrew Greiner is lead of audience engagement. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Advertisement
Continue Reading

World

2 people killed in collision between jet and vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, source says

Published

on

2 people killed in collision between jet and vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, source says

NEW YORK (AP) — An Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on the runway after landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, crushing the nose of the plane, according to authorities and photos of the wreckage.

Two people were killed, according to a person familiar with the investigation into the crash. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an active investigation.

Two Port Authority employees who were traveling in the fire truck also were injured, the person said.

There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada, according to a statement from the airline. The flight originated at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the major airport serving Montreal.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement that the jet had struck a rescue and firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident at about 11:45 p.m. The airport was closed as of 3 a.m. to facilitate the investigation, officials said.

Advertisement

Photos and videos from the scene showed severe damage to the front of the aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from a mangled cockpit. Nearby, a damaged emergency vehicle lay on its side.

Stairways used to evacuate passengers from aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ. The impact left the jet with its crumpled nose tilted upward.

In the moments before the crash, an air traffic controller could be heard on a radio transmission giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then trying to stop it.

“Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” the transmission says. The controller can then be heard frantically diverting incoming aircraft from landing.

Jazz Aviation issued a statement confirming the accident and noting the passenger and crew list was preliminary and subject to confirmation.

Advertisement

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the incident.

Continue Reading

World

Trump, Starmer agree Strait of Hormuz must reopen as Middle East conflict escalates

Published

on

Trump, Starmer agree Strait of Hormuz must reopen as Middle East conflict escalates

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday to discuss escalating tensions in the Middle East, with a focus on the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore global shipping.

The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to resume global shipping, Downing Street said in a statement.

STEALTH BOMBERS LANDING AT UK BASES ‘IN DAYS’ AFTER TRUMP PRESSURES STARMER: REPORT

Keir Stamer, UK prime minister, during a news conference providing an update on the situation in the Middle East, at Downing Street in London, UK, on Thursday, March 5, 2026.  (Tolga Akmen/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Advertisement

“They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market. They agreed to speak again soon.”

The call came amid a rapidly intensifying conflict in the region, with Iran blocking the strategically vital strait since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets on Feb. 28.

The military action triggered swift retaliation from Tehran and has since escalated into a broader regional war as Iran has sent missiles into numerous neighboring countries not directly involved in the initial conflict.

UK NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DEPLOYED TO ARABIAN SEA BEFORE IRAN TARGETS KEY US-UK BASE: REPORTS

President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House, on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Advertisement

On March 21, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran demanding the reopening of the key maritime route, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that failure to comply would result in further U.S. action, including potential strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure.

EU PUSHES FOR END OF IRAN WAR IN A MANNER WHERE ‘EVERYBODY SAVES FACE’

Bulk Carrier, Belray, in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026 in northern Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Getty Images/Getty Images)

Sunday’s conversation between Trump and Starmer perhaps reflected a thaw in the tense relationship between the two leaders.

Advertisement

Trump had publicly criticized the U.K. government, stating that Britain “should have acted a lot faster” in allowing the U.S. to use British military bases for strikes targeting Iranian missile sites.

Starmer had also maintained that the use of U.K. bases could only be justified under the principle of “collective self-defense” in the region.

He had initially declined to support the U.S.-Israeli military operation, drawing repeated criticism from the White House.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, Trump appeared to apply public pressure, sharing a “Saturday Night Live” clip Sunday mocking the British prime minister’s handling of the crisis.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending