Major donors were told by the UN to not cut aid to Palestinians

U.S. presidents confront mass incarceration with an exhibit of incarcerated artists at President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D.C.

The United Nations is running out of money next month, if it doesn’t get US and other major donors to continue funding it.

Mr. Guterres said he was “horrified” by the accusations and understood the “concerns” of donor countries, but noted that “UNRWA’s current funding will not allow it to meet all requirements” to support Gazans in February.

The United Nations secretary general said on Sunday that nine of the 12 employees had been fired, one was confirmed dead and the identities of the two others were still being determined.

The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council relief Agency wrote on the social media that donors don’t starve kids for the sins of a few aid workers.

Nearly 600,000 Palestinian residents of the territory are facing catastrophic hunger and starvation in Gaza, according to the World Food Program, another U.N. agency.

An art exhibit by incarcerated artists is currently on display at President Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington, D.C. The Presidential Portrait Project challenges U.S. presidents’ records on mass incarceration with watercolors, mixed media, and colored pencil portraits. Caddell Kivett wants visitors to leave with a deeper understanding of the effects of mass incarceration, and to speak with their elected officials about their concerns.

The Nanmoku story: How the Palestinians will survive in a city with few workers — and the U.S. drone strike kills Israel-Hamas talks

Nanmoku, Japan’s most aged village, could have no one left in just over a decade. It’s an example of the rural depopulation that some Asian and European nations are experiencing due to its majority-elderly population. It’s offering financial incentives in the hopes of attracting young people and staying on the map. The residents toldNPR about their hopes for the future. Listen to the story and read it.

The Republican-led House Committee on Homeland Security has released two draft articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of “breach of public trust” and refusal to comply with the law. The articles were “sham” according to Democrats and the Department of Homeland Security.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, and there is a plan to release hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting. NPR’s Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv that it would be similar to the November exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, done in phases over several months.

President Biden is vowing to respond after a drone strike in northeast Jordan killed three American service members and wounded at least 34 more early Sunday. Iran denies involvement but the White House says that the attack occurred at a support base on the Jordanian side of the border with Syria. The number of wounded service members are expected to fluctuate as many suffer from traumatic brain injury.

Source: Up First briefing: Strike kills U.S. troops in Jordan; [Israel-Hamas talks continue](https://lostobject.org/2024/01/12/outrage-is-occurring-in-the-middle-east-as-a-result-of-the-u-s-led-strikes/)

Up First : A High-Energy, Low-Density, High-Fidelity, Non-Perturbative New Physics Newsletter

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Previous post In the first few weeks of it’s existence, over 24,000 tech workers were laid off
Next post After the sun hits the solar panels, the Japanese moon landers gets back to work