Morning Briefing: Jan. 28, 2024

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including protests against Israeli attacks in Gaza in several European cities, a UN special rapporteur criticizing countries for suspending funding for the agency, and a rise in the number of journalists killed by Israeli forces since Oct. 7.

TOP STORIES

• Protests in Europe demand end to 'genocide' in Gaza

Demonstrators in Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain took to the streets Saturday to demand an end to the "genocide" in Gaza and a cease-fire.

A demonstration in support of Palestine was organized in Berlin where thousands gathered at Alexanderplatz Square.

About 15,000 protesters gathered in Stockholm in solidarity with Palestine and marched in front of the Foreign Ministry building.

Hundreds in Rotterdam formed a convoy of vehicles to show solidarity with Palestine. In the march in Vienna, demonstrators called for an end to "genocide" in Gaza.

More than 3,000 demonstrators gathered at Vittorio Emanuele Square, the point where the march started in Rome, and held a rally to protest the ban on demonstration rights and Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Thousands of demonstrators in Madrid also filled the streets Saturday in support of Palestinians and to demand an end to “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

• UN special rapporteur on Palestine slams countries that suspended funding for UN agency because of Israeli allegations

The UN special rapporteur on Palestine decried countries on Saturday that announced a suspension of funding to a UN agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians following allegations of involvement by employees in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

“The day after International Criminal Court (ICJ) concluded that Israel is plausibly committing Genocide in Gaza, some states decided to defund UN Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA,) collectively punishing millions of Palestinians at the most critical time, and most likely violating their obligations under the Genocide Convention,” Francesca Albanese wrote on X.

The US, UK, Italy, Australia, Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands decided to suspend funding to UNRWA following the claims.

• Death toll of Palestinian journalists killed due to Israeli onslaught on Gaza rises to 120: Media office

The number of journalists killed by the Israeli army since the beginning of its onslaught on the Gaza Strip last Oct. 7 has risen to 120, the Gaza media office announced on Saturday evening.

“The number of journalists killed since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip has risen to 120, after our colleague Iyad Al-Rawwagh, a broadcaster and presenter at Al-Aqsa Voice radio station, was killed by Israeli treachery in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip,” said the office.

Earlier on Monday, the government office said Israel “assassinates journalists in an attempt to obscure the Palestinian narrative and erase the truth.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Yemen’s Houthis said Saturday that they are “keen on peace” and encouraged “adjustments” in the American stance towards Yemen and Palestine.
• Thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Saturday in several cities calling for the dismissal of their government, coinciding with protests by the families of hostages held in Gaza in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence.
• US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland is set to embark on a diplomatic mission to Türkiye on Jan. 28-29, according to diplomatic sources.
• At least nine foreign nationals were killed in an armed attack by unidentified assailants in southeastern Iran, said Iranian media.
• Iranian-backed groups on Saturday launched a rocket attack on the Koniko Gas Plant, where US forces are stationed in eastern Syria.
• Pro-Palestinians continued on Saturday to demand a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip as they set up camp across from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s home in the state of Virginia.
• At least 174 Palestinians were killed and 310 others injured in the last 24 hours as the Israeli army continued its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry in the enclave said on Saturday.
• Norway on Saturday welcomed investigations of some UN aid agency staffers’ alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel but said it will continue to support Palestinians via the agency.
• Israeli soldiers killed a young man in his 20s with indiscriminate fire during an overnight incursion into a village in the West Bank, Palestinian media reported on Saturday.

SPORTS

• Defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka wins 2024 Australian Open

Reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka won the 2024 Australian Open women's singles title on Saturday.

The Belarusian second seed beats China's Qinwen Zheng, the world No. 12, in straight sets, 6-3 and 6-2 in the final at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka, displaying a dominant performance in Saturday's final, has retained the title for the second Grand Slam singles championship of her career after winning against Zheng, who appeared in her first major final.

• Barcelona head coach Xavi to leave club at end of season

Barcelona’s head coach Xavi Hernandez will leave the Spanish powerhouse on June 30 at the end of the 2023 - 24 football season.

"I would like to announce that on June 30 I will not continue as the coach of Barca," Xavi, 44, said after Villarreal beat Barcelona 5-3 in a Spanish La Liga match.

"I think the situation needs to change course, and as a culer (Barcelona member), I cannot allow the current situation," he said in a news conference.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Senior Russian official says Europe shows no interest in buying gas from Russia

Europe shows no interest in buying gas from Russia after the expiration of the gas transit contract with Ukraine later this year, said a top Russian official on Saturday.

Speaking at an exhibition in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow is ready to discuss gas supplies to Europe both in transit through Ukraine and also via other routes, but so far it does not see any interest in it from the other side.

• 1st Turkish astronaut performs 'gMetal' experiment in space

The first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gezeravci, continued his work on Saturday on the International Space Station (ISS) with his seventh experiment, "gMetal."

Project managers Professor Iskender Gokalp from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) and Deputy Industry and Technology Minister Ahmet Yozgatligil, will experiment with the effects of gravity on the formation of a homogeneous mixture between solid particles and the fluid medium under chemically non-reactive conditions.

Therefore, the propulsion systems of the spacecraft will be made more efficient.