INTERNACIONAL
Trump urged to review UN immunity, lax visa rules amid national security concerns
A 1947 agreement outlining obligations as host of the United Nations continues to give employees and their family members relatively unfettered access to the U.S.
At a time of increased national security fears and immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, experts are urging a re-examination of the host nation agreement with an eye to the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff and the limited vetting given to those with U.N. visas.
«The United States appears to have taken a relaxed view of the individuals entering the country associated with the U.N., either as employees or as representatives of various country missions. And yet we know that U.N. employees have had, and continue to have, close, direct relationships with terrorist organizations, like UNRWA and Hamas,» Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital.
UN WATCHDOG PROJECT CALLS ON DOGE CAUCUS TO ‘AUDIT’ THE INTERNATIONAL ORG
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s minister for foreign affairs, talks with Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s U.N. ambassador, during a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, April 24, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Bayefsky said there is «a disconnect between the welcome routine and the significant harm to American interests. Hosting the U.N. does not require the host country to facilitate or endure threats to its national security.»
The federal government grants G visas to employees, spouses and children of international organizations, including the U.N., who reside in, or are visiting, the U.S. According to the State Department’s website, «if you are entitled to a G visa, under U.S. visa law, you must receive a G visa. The exceptions to this rule are extremely limited.» The Department of State also explains that «Embassies and consulates generally do not require an interview for those applying for G-1 – 4 and NATO-1 – 6 visas, although a consular officer can request an interview.»
Hugh Dugan, a senior advisor to 11 U.S. former ambassadors to the U.N., told Fox News Digital that it «appears to me that the issuance of the G visas for [U.N. employees] is a relatively rubber stamp exercise.» While not requiring interviews of personnel has «become a matter of convenience, frankly, we should always be able to assess a threat to our country.»’
Dugan, a former National Security Council special assistant to the president and senior director for international organization affairs, said nations like Russia and China are only allowed to travel a certain distance from U.N. headquarters. «We are mindful of our adversaries’ activities and presence here, but the door is open to participate in the U.N. and the host country agreement makes that possible so that no country would be barred because of a certain political atmosphere or issue that might be brewing between us and them.»
Former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi displays the photo of Gen. Kasim Soleimani at the United Nations. (Peter Aitken for Fox News Digital)
Fox News Digital asked the State Department whether it requires interviews for staff from adversarial member states, including Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, North Korea, Iran and China, but received no response. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that consular officers «have full authority to require an in-person interview for any reason.»
Peter Gallo, formerly an investigator with the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), told Fox News Digital that he is particularly concerned about the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff participating in activities related to their employment. Gallo explained that «U.S. legal system has come to accept that pretty much it’s a blanket coverage.» He added that «immunity breeds impunity.»
REPUBLICANS SEEK TO BLOCK THE REAPPOINTMENT OF UN OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF ANTISEMITISM
Gallo claimed that there is an epidemic of sexual offenses and misconduct among U.N. staff. He cited an incident in which a U.N. employee outside the U.S. sexually harassed «a young female in his department.» Gallo said it took two years after receipt of the investigation report for an investigation to be completed, which resulted in the demotion of the offending employee. Gallo said the employee who was harassed, and her harasser remained in the same organization.
Gallo said that if employees take part in misconduct while based at U.N. headquarters, the U.S. government should be able to examine cases and determine whether staff should retain their G visas.
Dugan said that if U.N. personnel «knew that [immunity] could be lifted at any time by us… they might start behaving a lot differently.»
China’s Vice President Han Zheng addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 21, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)
In response to questions about whether U.N. staff have been accused of sexual misconduct in the U.S., or whether U.N. staff who engaged in misconduct have had their G visas revoked, a State Department spokesperson explained the department «generally does not provide» revocation statistics. They also said that «all visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted. Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States.»
The spokesperson said officials of the U.N. «are expected to respect applicable laws of the United States, including criminal laws. Failure to do so may constitute an abuse of privileges of residence.» They added that this «applies for those who hold diplomatic immunity for their positions as well.»
Among staff who have raised internal alarm bells is U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, who traveled to the U.S. in 2024 to deliver a report before the Third Committee of the General Assembly. Albanese, whose antisemitism has been condemned widely by senior U.S. diplomats and the State Department, was allowed to tour multiple U.S. college campuses while in the U.S.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In addition to qualifying for «rubber stamp» G visas, staff of international organizations like the United Nations can qualify for green cards if they have spent half of at least seven years of employment inside the U.S., or have been in the U.S. for a combined total of 15 years prior to retirement.
INTERNACIONAL
Qué es la terapia CAR-T y por qué marca un antes y un después para el cáncer y enfermedades autoinmunes
La terapia CAR-T representa un hito en la medicina personalizada al revolucionar el tratamiento del cáncer y de enfermedades autoinmunes. Este enfoque, desarrollado inicialmente para la oncología, se basa en la modificación genética de linfocitos T, permitiendo que reconozcan y eliminen células responsables de diversas patologías. Su aplicación marca un antes y un después, ya que no solo ofrece alternativas para tumores refractarios, sino que también abre una nueva etapa clínica en el abordaje de enfermedades autoinmunes y trastornos vinculados al envejecimiento celular.
Este enfoque consiste en la modificación genética de linfocitos T para que identifiquen y eliminen células responsables de patologías. Actualmente, su implementación sugiere una nueva etapa clínica, especialmente fuera del cáncer.
El interés por expandir la terapia más allá de la oncología responde a la magnitud de afecciones como el lupus, la artritis reumatoide y los trastornos vinculados al envejecimiento intestinal.
La médica especialista en enfermedades autoinmunes Andrea Buschiazzo explicó en una nota anterio de Infobae que la capacidad de inducir remisión completa y ofrecer beneficios duraderos sin recurrir a inmunosupresores implica “una esperanza significativa para pacientes con enfermedades autoinmunes refractarias”.
Investigaciones del Semir Beyaz en el Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, un laboratorio estadounidense líder, demostraron que la terapia puede restaurar la funcionalidad juvenil del intestino en ratones, optimizando la actividad de las células madre intestinales y reduciendo la inflamación asociada a la edad, según la revista científica Nature y el medio de divulgación científica New Scientist.
El procedimiento CAR-T se basa en extraer linfocitos T del paciente, reprogramarlos con ingeniería genética para que expresen un receptor quimérico (CAR), multiplicarlos in vitro y reintroducirlos en el organismo. Estos linfocitos modificados identifican con precisión células dañinas —tumorales, autorreactivas o envejecidas— y las eliminan sin desencadenar una respuesta inmunitaria generalizada. El principio se ilustra a través de la analogía “llave y cerradura”: el receptor CAR actúa como llave que abre el cerrojo molecular de la célula objetivo, permitiendo su eliminación selectiva.
(Captura de video CNN)
Si bien la primera aprobación clínica ocurrió en 2017 en Estados Unidos y Europa para leucemia linfoblástica aguda y linfomas, desde entonces los avances permitieron explorar nuevas aplicaciones.
El médico brasileño Jonathan Miranda recibió un diagnóstico de cáncer en estado avanzado. Un estudio PET Scan detectó la presencia de un tumor de 12 centímetros en el páncreas y lesiones en pulmones, hígado, bazo y la región sacra. Optó por iniciar una terapia CAR-T bajo la supervisión del doctor Vanderson Rocha. Miranda fue noticia estos días: tras un mes de tratamiento, un nuevo PET Scan evidenció una remisión casi total.
Según destacan desde Mayo Clinic, la terapia de células T con receptor de antígeno quimérico puede ser una opción de tratamiento para:
- Leucemia linfocítica aguda de linfocitos B refractaria y recidivante
- Linfoma no Hodgkin de linfocitos B refractario y recidivante
- Linfoma de células del manto refractario y recidivante
- Linfoma folicular refractario y recidivante
- Mieloma múltiple refractario y recidivante
- Otros tipos de cáncer y afecciones médicas que están siendo sometidos a estudios clínicos
Los investigadores del Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory adaptaron la tecnología para atacar células senescentes asociadas al envejecimiento intestinal en ratones, logrando restaurar características juveniles del tejido. Corina Amor, integrante del equipo, dijo a New Scientist: “El tejido comenzó a comportarse como en ratones jóvenes”. Los senolíticos, fármacos diseñados para eliminar células envejecidas, presentan límites de especificidad y seguridad; por eso la terapia CAR-T aparece como alternativa por su enfoque dirigido a células con marcadores moleculares, como el receptor activador de plasminógeno tipo uroquinasa.
Según el Instituto Global Autoinmune, centro de investigación internacional, entre 5% y 10% de la población mundial convive con alguna enfermedad autoinmune. Estas surgen cuando el sistema inmunitario pierde la capacidad de diferenciar estructuras propias y ajenas, atacando tejidos sanos. Aun con tratamientos convencionales, muchas personas con formas refractarias obtienen respuestas inestables.
(Imagen Ilustrativa Infobae)
Buschiazzo explicó que desde 2022, casos clínicos europeos informaron remisión prolongada y suspensión de inmunosupresores en pacientes con lupus severo tratados con CAR-T anti-CD19. Según la especialista, el mecanismo permite “resetear el sistema inmunológico de forma profunda, evitar años de inmunosupresión crónica y reducir efectos secundarios a largo plazo”.
Entre las enfermedades autoinmunes más prevalentes se encuentran el lupus eritematoso sistémico, la artritis reumatoide, el síndrome de Sjögren y la esclerodermia. Los tratamientos tradicionales incluyen inmunosupresores, corticosteroides y biológicos, aunque algunos pacientes no logran controlar la enfermedad y deben recurrir a métodos avanzados como la plasmaféresis, inmunoglobulina intravenosa o células madre hematopoyéticas.
En el abordaje CAR-T, los linfocitos T se reprograman para eliminar células autorreactivas, como las B responsables de anticuerpos patógenos. El objetivo es inducir un “reinicio” inmunológico y evitar el uso prolongado de inmunosupresores, y así reducir complicaciones asociadas a los tratamientos previos.
(Imagen Ilustrativa Infobae)
Extender la terapia fuera de la oncología implica desafíos. Es necesario definir criterios de seguridad antes de aplicarla en humanos frente al envejecimiento, dado que este, a diferencia del cáncer, no se considera enfermedad justificante en personas sanas, según advirtió Joana Neves a New Scientist.
Especialistas insisten también en ajustar dosis y elegir cuidadosamente los marcadores moleculares de las células objetivo. Onur Eskiocak, del Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, resaltó a New Scientist que existen niveles bajos del marcador uPAR en tejidos sanos, por lo que es clave definir umbrales de intervención y evitar daños colaterales.
Entre los riesgos de la terapia CAR-T se encuentran el síndrome de liberación de citoquinas, la neurotoxicidad temporal y la inmunosupresión prolongada, según los expertos. Su aplicación requiere supervisión en centros especializados y estrictos protocolos de seguridad.
En oncología compleja, como el cáncer cerebral y de ovario, los avances se dirigen a identificar patrones moleculares para tratamientos dirigidos. En enfermedades autoinmunes, ensayos pioneros ya estudian CAR-T en artritis reumatoide y otras afecciones sin cura conocida.
cáncer,células cancerígenas,microbioma,bacterias,investigación biomédica,inteligencia artificial,ilustración científica,biología celular
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Newly released video shows the moment a man allegedly plowed into the famed Brisbane Synagogue in Australia on Friday, before speeding off into the night.
The suspect, a 32-year-old Sunnybank man whose name has not been released, is charged with willful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of utensils or pipes for use, according to Queensland Police.
Authorities said the attack happened just after 7:15 p.m. local time Friday, when a black Toyota Hilux utility truck struck and knocked down the gates of the synagogue, located on Margaret Street.
Footage shows the truck driving in front of the place of worship, and then suddenly stopping and backing up into the gates, knocking one side down.
The Brisbane Synagogue in Brisbane, Australia. (Google Maps)
AUSTRALIAN PM ANNOUNCES NATIONAL BRAVERY HONORS AFTER ANTISEMITIC TERROR ATTACK
The driver could then be seen putting the vehicle back into drive and speeding away in the same direction.
Police quickly tracked down the car and took the driver into custody without incident.
No one was injured during the incident, officials said.
A general view of Brisbane City Skyline, Australia taken on Monday December 8, 2025. (Robbie Stephenson/PA Images via Getty Images)
TRUCK SMASHES INTO FAMED SYNAGOGUE, POLICE CHARGE MAN WITH HATE CRIME: ‘VERY DISTRESSING’
The suspect, who is believed to have acted alone, is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the community.
The incident came two months after a father and son allegedly carried out Australia’s deadliest terror attack, targeting a Jewish «Hanukkah by the Sea» celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14.
People visit a floral tribute outside the Bondi Pavilion after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Dec. 19, in Sydney. (Steve Markham/AP Photo)
AUSTRALIAN PM ALBANESE GETS BOOED DURING BONDI BEACH VIGIL HONORING HANUKKAH ATTACK VICTIMS
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, 50, are accused of killing 15 people and wounding dozens of others.
Sajid Akram was killed, and Naveed Akram was critically injured in a gun battle with police at the scene.
Naveed Akram is charged with one count of committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and additional firearms and explosives offenses, according to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions’ website.
People attend a floral memorial in honour of the victims of a mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 16, 2025. (Flavio Brancaleone/Reuters)
BONDI BEACH SUSPECTS FILMED ANTISEMITIC VIDEO MANIFESTO, AUSTRALIAN INVESTIGATORS SAY
Weeks after the massacre, police clashed with anti-Israel demonstrators as Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Australia.
At least 27 people were arrested, including 10 for allegedly assaulting officers, after violence broke out as authorities attempted to clear thousands of protesters gathered near Sydney’s Town Hall, according to officials.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Herzog warned of rising antisemitism during the visit, calling it a global emergency, and defended Israel’s actions in Gaza when asked about the protests.
Fox News Digital’s Efrat Lachter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
australia,crime world,anti semitism,police and law enforcement,crime,world
INTERNACIONAL
India y Brasil firmaron acuerdo clave sobre tierras raras para blindar su soberanía tecnológica y reducir la dependencia de China
Minerales críticos
Crecimiento industrial
Submarinos
Canales para ver el Banfield vs. Newell’s por el Torneo Apertura
Choque múltiple entre dos colectivos y un auto en La Paternal: hay ocho heridos
Asamblea Legislativa: Milei prepara un mensaje “ambicioso”, con eje en las nuevas reformas
Javier Milei recibió una invitación para visitar Ucrania: quiere concretar el viaje a mitad de año
Qué es la terapia CAR-T y por qué marca un antes y un después para el cáncer y enfermedades autoinmunes
La abundancia de calamar atrae a la flota china de aguas distantes, que opera al acecho en la “Milla 201″
Ayuda Escolar Anual: a cuánto asciende, donde se tramita y quien puede cobrarla
Escándalo en MasterChef: una famosa abandonó a los gritos y acusando que está todo arreglado
Del himno peronista de Kelly Olmos al exabrupto de Agustina Propato: las perlitas del debate por la reforma laboral
Villarruel cuestionó la apertura de importaciones: «Sin industria, se pasa a depender de China»
CHIMENTOS2 días agoEscándalo en MasterChef: una famosa abandonó a los gritos y acusando que está todo arreglado
- POLITICA2 días ago
Del himno peronista de Kelly Olmos al exabrupto de Agustina Propato: las perlitas del debate por la reforma laboral
- ECONOMIA14 horas ago
Villarruel cuestionó la apertura de importaciones: «Sin industria, se pasa a depender de China»
