Morning Briefing: Nov. 16, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start Saturday, including Russian President Putin saying the Ukraine crisis stems from NATO's long-standing policies, the WHO reporting a spike in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s health and energy systems and North Korea's Kim Jong Un calling for mass production of suicide attack drones.

TOP STORIES

• Ukraine crisis stems from NATO's long-standing policies, Putin tells Scholz

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held their first telephone conversation since December 2022 and discussed prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

The discussion included "a detailed and candid exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine," according to a statement.

Putin emphasized that the crisis stems from NATO's long-standing policies, which he described as "aggressive" and aimed at establishing an anti-Russian foothold in Ukraine, disregarding Russia's security concerns and the rights of Russian-speaking populations.

• WHO reports spike in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s health, energy systems

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it verified 2,134 attacks on health care in Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 197 health workers and patients as of Nov. 15.

In the last 2.5 years, 86% of the attacks have targeted health facilities, with many involving heavy weapons, said spokesperson Margaret Harris at a UN news conference.

Harris spoke as Ukraine approaches 1,000 days of war with Russia since Feb. 24, 2022. “WHO-verified attacks on health facilities have intensified significantly since December 2023 – occurring on a near-daily basis,” she said.

• North Korea's Kim calls for mass production of suicide attack drones

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the rapid mass production of suicide attack drones following performance tests.

Kim personally observed the testing of various suicide drones developed by a local drone technology institute and affiliated companies.

The drones, capable of precise strikes on land and sea targets, successfully hit designated locations by following preset tactical routes, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Austrian chancellor said Russia's Gazprom will stop gas supply to Austria beginning Saturday.
• US President-elect Donald Trump said he picked Steven Cheung to be his White House communications director.
• US House Speaker Mike Johnson urged the chamber’s Ethics Committee not to release its investigation into former congressman Matt Gaetz.
• The Ukrainian president said US President-elect Donald Trump's administration could help bring the war with Russia to a faster conclusion, state news agency Ukrinform reported.
• The Texas Supreme Court ruled that a legislative subpoena cannot be used to stop the execution of death row inmate Robert Roberson, according to news outlets. Roberson was convicted of shaking his 2-year-old daughter to death in 2002.
• At least 59 people were killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon, bringing the death toll since last year to 3,445, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
• Peruvian President Dina Boluarte called for stronger ties with the world’s leading economies as she inaugurated the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
• Egypt and Russia stressed the necessity for reaching an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon.
• Qatar's emir and the Azerbaijani president discussed a range of issues on the telephone.
• Iran is committed to resolving Lebanon's crisis and does not want to sabotage any initiative or agreement, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's adviser, Ali Larijani, said during a visit to Lebanon.
• Hamas armed wing said fighters killed three Israeli soldiers, shot a fourth, and targeted four military vehicles in the northern Gaza Strip.
• China launched the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern Hainan province. The ceremony was broadcast live on state media.
• Iran provided written assurances to the Biden administration last month that it would not seek to kill Donald Trump.
• The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, condemned recent statements by the State Department that denied genocide and the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.
• The EU "strongly" condemned the killing of 12 paramedics in an Israeli strike near the Baalbek district in eastern Lebanon.
• The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) completed the handover of 21 military bases to the Somali national army, marking the official end of the three-phase troop withdrawal process, the mission announced.
• Measles cases surged 20% worldwide, infecting 10.3 million people in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reiterated the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying sufficient aid has never been available throughout the 13 months of an Israeli offensive.
• US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly expressed support for a cease-fire agreement in Lebanon during discussions with Israeli officials, according to Israeli media.
• China asked the US not to allow Taiwan's president transit stopovers on US soil during his upcoming visit to Pacific nations, state media reported.
• Russia claimed its forces had taken control of the village of Stepanivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on US President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees, emphasizing that Russia does not interfere in America's internal affairs.
• The Pentagon said it has received hundreds of UFO reports in the past year.

SPORTS

• Paraguay stun Argentina 2-1 in 2026 World Cup quals

Hosts Paraguay shocked Lionel Messi-led Argentina 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Defending world champions Argentina took the lead after 11 minutes as Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez scored in the box after a deep pass.

Martinez's opener was first ruled out for offside by the referee, but then Argentina were awarded the goal after a VAR review.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Turkish private sector foreign debt at $178.5B as of September

The Turkish private sector’s foreign debt reached $178.5 billion as of September, up $14.3 billion from the end of 2023, Türkiye’s Central Bank said.

Long-term loans rose $1.7 billion to $165.2 billion while short-term loans (excluding trade credits) rose $4.1 billion to $13.3 billion.

At total 57.6% of the total long-term debt was in US dollars, while the euro accounted for 35%, the Turkish lira made up 2.5% and other currencies had a 4.9% share.