Morning Briefing: Oct. 28, 2023

By Gozde Bayar

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including internet being cut in the Gaza Strip amid heavy Israeli attacks, a resolution to halt hostilities that was approved by the UN General Assembly and Israel rejecting the UN resolution for an immediate truce in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• Internet services in Gaza cut off, says Palestinian telecom provider

Communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip were completely cut off amid heavy Israeli bombing of feeder lines, towers and networks, according to a service provider.

The Palestine Telecommunications Company said "landline, wireless and internet communications services were completely cut off amid intense Israeli bombing on the lines with the West Bank, and on the towers and networks."

• UN General Assembly approves resolution for immediate 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution that called for an immediate "durable and sustained humanitarian truce" in Gaza.

The draft resolution, which was presented by nearly 50 countries, including Türkiye, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was approved by a 120-14 vote, with 45 nations abstaining.

• Israel rejects 'despicable' UN resolution for Gaza cease-fire

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen termed "despicable" a UN General Assembly resolution demanding a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.

"We reject outright the UN General Assembly despicable call for a cease-fire," Cohen wrote on X.

"Israel intends to eliminate Hamas just as the world dealt with the Nazis and ISIS," he added.

NEWS IN BRIEF​​​​​​​

• The United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, strongly urged an end to the intensifying conflict between in Israel and Palestine, in particular decrying the suffering of the children in Gaza.
• The UK-based charity, Oxfam, said it is "deeply concerned" about the total communication blackout amid intense airstrikes against the Gaza Strip.
• The humanitarian aid network providing critical life-saving services to residents in the besieged Gaza Strip is at risk of failure, which risks "unimaginable consequences" for more that 2 million people, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
• A recent public opinion poll showed that 49% of Israelis support postponing any ground invasion in Gaza.
• Iraq's Sunni Affairs Office urged mosques to show solidarity with Palestinians who are facing an intense Israeli bombardment in Gaza.
• Israel is seeking “more impunity to commit the worst atrocities” by completely cutting off Gaza’s communications with the world, according to Spain's acting social rights minister.
• Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf deplored the intense bombing in Gaza, which caused the complete outage of telecommunications and internet.
• Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, denied allegations by Israel that it is using a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip for military purposes.
• The Palestinian death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 rose to 7,326, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced.
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged a de-escalation in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and said humanitarian efforts should be stepped up for the civilian population in Gaza.

SPORTS

• Formula 1 to return to Mexico this weekend, Sergio Perez set for home race

Formula 1 will return to Mexico this weekend as Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez, the only Mexican driver in the competition, is set for a home race Sunday in Round 20.

Perez's Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen has already won the 2023 Formula 1 title after a sprint race in Qatar earlier in October.

Verstappen won the Formula 1 title for the third straight year.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US Fed's inflation indicator softens to 3.7% in September

The US Federal Reserve's preferred inflation indicator softened in September on an annual basis, according to Commerce Department figures.

The core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 3.7% annually in September, slightly down from the revised figure in August.

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• Huawei's revenues up 2.4% in first 9 months of year

Huawei's revenue rose 2.4% in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, hitting 456.6 billion yuan ($62.3 billion).

The Chinese technology company said in a statement that its net profit margin was at 16%.