Morning Briefing: Jan. 10, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday, including the UN warning that Gaza is becoming an "uninhabitable place," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks about South Africa's genocide case against Israel, break-in by armed men during a state channel broadcast in Ecuador, and 2023 declared the hottest year on record.

TOP STORIES

• Gaza becoming 'uninhabitable place' amid Israeli onslaught: UN agency

The Gaza Strip has become an "uninhabitable place" as Israel has continued its deadly military offensive in the Palestinian territory since Oct. 7, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday.

"Gaza is the worst place on earth …,"Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), told the UN News website. There are 1.9 million displaced people across the enclave ..., he added.

Most of Gaza’s population are being forced to flee to the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, he said.

• US says genocide case against Israel 'meritless, galling'

The US said Tuesday that a "genocide" case filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Irael is "meritless" and "galling."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at a news conference in Tel Aviv, said the submission distracts the world from efforts for peace and security.

"And moreover, the charge of genocide is meritless," Blinken said during his fourth Middle East tour since an Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

• Armed men enter television channel in Ecuador during live broadcast

Armed men broke into the set of a public television channel in Ecuador on Tuesday while it was broadcasting live.

Social media footage shows armed men threatening the staff inside the TC television based in Guayaquil.

Another video circulating on X also showed criminals breaking into the University of Guayaquil and local media said kidnappings took place inside.

President Daniel Noboa has issued a decree recognizing the existence of an "internal armed conflict" in the country.

• 2023 was hottest year on record, says EU's climate body

Just-concluded 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history, and likely beyond, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Tuesday in a report.

“2023 was an exceptional year with climate records tumbling like dominoes,” said Samantha Burgess, C3S's deputy director, on X.

"Temperatures during 2023 likely exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years," Burgess also said, adding that it also marked the first time on record that every day within a year exceeded a 1 degrees Celsius temperature difference above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• France's president on Tuesday named the country's education and youth minister the new premier, moving quickly to fill the just-vacated post.

• The US said Tuesday that its forces along with those of the UK shot down 21 drones and missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea amid rising tensions with the rebel group.

• Saudi Arabia is interested in normalizing ties with Israel after the war in the Gaza Strip, but any deal must lead to the creation of a Palestinian state, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK said on Tuesday.

• Israel's Health Ministry has ordered hospitals in the north of the country to prepare for the possibility of receiving thousands of injured people as tensions with the Lebanese Hezbollah group increase, a report said Tuesday.

• US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with his South Korean counterpart Chang Ho-jin on Tuesday about North Korea's increasing military cooperation with Russia.

• The number of people killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has risen to 23,210, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said on Tuesday.

• Belgium's Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter expressed support for South Africa's case against Israel on Tuesday, saying "Belgium cannot remain silent in the face of the genocide threat in Gaza."

• Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni took a swipe at the West on Tuesday following his country's removal from a major trade pact over alleged human rights violations.

• NASA announced Tuesday that it is delaying its first human moon landing to 2026, saying safety is a "top priority."

SPORTS

• Fenerbahce Beko beat Partizan Belgrade in 12th EuroLeague win

Fenerbahce Beko beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 91-76 Tuesday to secure their 12th win in Round 20 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Fenerbahce's Tyler Dorsey paced the winners with 24 points off the bench in just 21 minutes and became the highest scorer of the game at Ulker Sports and Event Hall.

• Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold ruled out for weeks with knee injury

Trent Alexander-Arnold will be sidelined for weeks with a knee injury, Liverpool confirmed Tuesday.

"So he has a little tear in the lateral ligament of his knee and he will need time to recover," assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders said in a statement. "He had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks, so let's see after that."

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• 2024 World Economic Forum to begin on Jan. 15

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is to convene in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 15-19 with the theme of Rebuilding Trust, bringing together more than 2,800 delegates from 120 countries.

The WEF said in a statement the meeting would drive dialogue, cooperation, and partnerships on global imperatives, including economic growth, climate and nature action, energy security, technology governance, and human development.

• Türkiye's Togg releases its new sedan model in Las Vegas

Türkiye's electric car brand Togg released its new sedan model at the major consumer electronics and IT fair CES 2024 in Las Vegas, the US.

The model, with fastback lines, is named "T10F," the firm revealed on X.

Turkiye's Automobile Joint Venture Group, or Togg, introduced the country's first electric vehicle prototype in December 2019.