Morning Briefing: Dec. 22, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday, including postponement of Gaza vote for the fourth time by the UN Security Council, a deadly shooting incident at a university in Prague, and a UN report saying that over 570,000 people in Gaza face "catastrophic hunger."

TOP STORIES

• UN Security Council again postpones vote on Gaza humanitarian aid

The UN Security Council on Thursday postponed for the fourth time this week a vote on a draft resolution on humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The 15-member Council is expected to meet Friday to vote on the resolution penned by the United Arab Emirates, which reportedly calls for "urgent steps" to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of aid to stricken civilians in Gaza.

Intense closed-door negotiations have been carried out all week by the Council to avoid a US veto.

• At least 15 dead in Prague university shooting: Police

At least 15 people were killed and 24 others injured in a shooting incident at a university in the Czech capital Prague on Thursday.

Police President Martin Vondrasek said that the gunman was a 24-year-old student at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University.

The gunman's "lifeless body" was found at the university's Faculty of Arts, Vondrasek said, adding that he committed suicide after an exchange of fire with police. The suspect was not connected to any terrorist organization.

• Over 576,600 people in Gaza face 'catastrophic hunger': UN report

More than 576,600 people in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza are facing "catastrophic hunger," a UN report said on Thursday.

"The entire population of Gaza – roughly 2.2 million people – are in crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity," according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report that included data from the World Food Program, other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.

The report said that 26% of Gazans, which is about 576,600 people, have "exhausted their food supplies and coping capacities and face catastrophic hunger and starvation."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• A considerable number of Palestinians were killed late Thursday in attacks by Israel on the besieged Gaza Strip, according to media reports. including in the Jabalia refugee camp, Rafah and Khan Younis.

• Israeli snipers killed a woman late Thursday who was working in the Al-Awda Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, which has been under siege by the army in recent days, according to the government in the enclave.

• The number of journalists killed in the attacks by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 nears 100, according to the government in the enclave late Thursday.

• As many as 300,000 people are fleeing Sudan's second-biggest city, Wad Madani, in the latest wave of large-scale displacement after fighting spread across the region, the UN migration agency said on Thursday.

• Official Israeli estimates indicate that another prisoner-hostage exchange deal with Hamas and a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip could be achieved by January, Channel 13 quoted officials.

• The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Thursday reminded states of their obligations to prevent "crimes against humanity and genocide" amid a delay in voting on the Gaza resolution at the UN Security Council.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday reiterated his government position that the Israeli war on Gaza will not stop until Israeli goals are achieved, not allowing Hamas or Palestinian Authority to have control over Gaza.

• French President Emmanuel Macron calls for punishing Jewish settlers threatening peace in the occupied West Bank, saying: "I do not forget humanitarian tragedy in Gaza."

• The Netherlands emphasizes necessity of supporting the Lebanese army to fulfill its duties, affirming crucial role of military institution amid ongoing tensions on southern borders

SPORTS

• Court declares FIFA, UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions contrary to EU law

The European Court of Justice on Thursday ruled that the FIFA and UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to the EU law.

"The FIFA and UEFA rules making any new interclub football project subject to their prior approval, such as the Super League, and prohibiting clubs and players from playing in those competitions are unlawful," a statement from the court said.

• Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla reject European Super League

Several top football clubs from Germany, England and Spain, including Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid on Thursday rejected the idea of joining a possible European Super League.

The European Court of Justice decided that the FIFA and UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Turkish Central Bank's international reserves hit all-time high of $142.53B

The Turkish Central Bank's international reserves hit an all-time-high of $142.53 billion last week, the bank revealed on Thursday.

The bank's international reserves increased by $1.15 billion on a weekly basis as of Dec. 15, it announced.

Foreign currency reserves totaled $95.4 billion, while gold reserves amounted to $47.13 billion as of Dec. 15.

• Turkish contractors steer route to Development Road Project

Steps to be taken in the Development Road Project, which will connect Türkiye to the Persian Gulf via a road and rail network, are of great importance for Turkish contractors, an industry leader told Anadolu on Thursday.

"With the improvement of our political ties with Gulf countries, we focused on activities that will increase our presence in the region, especially in Saudi Arabia and Iraq," said Erdal Eren, head of the Turkish Contractors' Association.