Melissa Kent

Freelance journalist based in Berlin. Proud Montréalaise. Reporter at @dwnews. Former @CBCNews correspondent UN, US, Canada.

[Nabil Abi Saab @NabilAbiSaab]

UN envoys of Palestine, #Ireland, #Spain and #Norway posed for a celebratory picture at the #UNSC stakeout, hours after the 3 countries recognized the State of #Palestine.

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

😮

[MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 @MFA_Ukraine]

👋 Meet Victoria Shi — a digital representative of the MFA of Ukraine, created using AI to provide timely updates on consular affairs!

For the first time in history, the MFA of Ukraine has presented a digital persona that will officially comment for the media.

[Laura Rozen @lrozen]

Blinken had a meeting yesterday with Malta FM

[Rami Ayari @Raminho]

NOW: #UNSC adopts resolution on #Gaza that "demands an immediate #ceasefire for the month of #Ramadan respected by all parties leading to a lasting sustainable ceasefire, and also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs, and further demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain."

14 voted in favor and #US abstained.

[Margaret Besheer @mbesheer]

.@USUN will bring its #UNSC #Gaza resolution that "Determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained ceasefire" for a vote Friday morning. If it fails to be adopted, elected council members will bring their own version for a vote afterwards.

[Richard Walker @rbsw]

Here she is: Yulia Navalnaya waiting in line to vote outside the Russian embassy in Berlin

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

The New York News Daily, The Chicago Chronicle and D.C. Weekly might all sound like good places to get local news. But they are not news organizations at all. They’re mock news sites created to push Russian propaganda: via @NYTimes https://t.co/617tsyvabg

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

Alexei Navalny’s message to his supporters in the event he is killed - in excerpt from ‘Navalny’ documentary. https://t.co/U5UIxM17KT

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

Northern Ireland Has a Sinn Fein Leader. It’s a Landmark Moment. via @NYTimes https://t.co/I5yFdkQw6i

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

WHO DG @DrTedros refutes Israeli accusations the UN agency ‘is in “collusion” with Hamas and is “turning a blind eye” to the suffering of hostages being held in Gaza’ calling such claims harmful and dangerous. Full statement:

[Steve Rosenberg @BBCSteveR]

This morning an electronic billboard on my way to work is displaying this Putin quote: “Russia’s borders do not end anywhere.”

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

As Russians Steal Ukraine’s Art, They Attack Its Identity, Too https://t.co/pmaYEpSoB5

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

Finding some surprises while cleaning the canals of Amsterdam. https://t.co/QsEJgj58Se

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

NEW: UN chief appoints @SigridKaag of the Netherlands as new Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for #Gaza.

‘In this role, she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor, and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza.’

Starts on 8 January. https://t.co/UhBErQgTxN

[Nabil Abi Saab @NabilAbiSaab]

Beaking: Sigrid kaag is the leading candidate to be the special UN "Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator" in #Gaza.

She is the former Dutch FM, also the former head of the joint OPCW-UN mission in Syria (2013).

The resolution requested (OP4) the UNSG to "appoint a Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator with responsibility for facilitating, coordinating,monitoring, and verifying in Gaza, as appropriate, the humanitarian nature of all humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza provided through states which are not party to the conflict, and further requests that the Coordinator expeditiously establish a UN mechanism for acceleratingthe provision of humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza through states which are not party to the conflict, consulting all relevant parties, with the goal of expediting, streamlining, and accelerating the process of providing assistance while continuing to help ensure that aid reaches its civilian destination, and demands that the parties to the conflict cooperate with the Coordinator to fulfill their mandate without delay or obstruction."

[Rami Ayari @Raminho]

Debate in #UNSC consultations got heated. #Russia not only concerned with delays but also with the fact that the text is being watered down and members don't even know what it looks like. #US and #UAE said that they are really close to reaching an agreement.

Main issues remain OP4 (monitoring mechanism) and OP2 (suspension of hostilities and urgent steps towards cessation). This also frustrating some as yesterday it was only OP4 and now OP2 is back in question. Some members oppose the idea of getting less than res. 2712 (urgent and extended humanitarian pauses) but UAE says new wording in updated text on that is stronger.

[The Elders @TheElders]

On the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of #HumanRights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein considers the need for renewed multilateral cooperation from leaders to protect rights and ensure dignity, equality and freedom for all.

Learn more: https://t.co/JbOmOLAadi

#UDHR75

[Ted Knudsen @ted_knudsen]

Berlin restaurant politely announcing that they will no longer take card payments in 2024 because they don’t want to pay taxes.

[Melissa Kent @KentUNCBC]

US vetoes draft UNSC resolution calling for humanitarian ceasefire in #Gaza calling it unrealistic and dangerous as “it would simply leave Hamas in place, able to regroup and repeat.”
UK abstains.
Remaining 13 council members vote yes to the draft put forward by @UAEMissionToUN