By Faruk Zorlu
Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Saturday, including the ongoing Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, the US's decision to begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza, and UN chief's call for independent investigation into killings of Palestinians.
TOP STORIES
- Gaza crisis a testament to collapse of current global order, says Turkish President Erdogan
The Gaza crisis is a testament to the collapse of the current global order, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, pointing to conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Ukraine.
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Erdogan said the current century has been turning into an era of crises as the rules-based international order has lost meaning, becoming "no more than a slogan."
"The current international system, devoid of fundamental concepts such as solidarity, justice, and trust, cannot fulfill even its minimum responsibilities," he added in his speech at the event, held on Türkiye's southern Mediterranean coast.
- US to begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza: Biden
US will begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza with Jordan and other countries, President Joe Biden announced on Friday, a day after Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid.
"Innocent people got caught in a terrible war, unable to feed their families and you saw the response when they tried to get aid," Biden said ahead of his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House.
"But we need to do more and the United States will do more in the coming days," Biden said. The US will provide airdrops of additional food and supplies.
- UN chief calls for independent investigation into killings of Palestinians awaiting aid in Gaza
The UN chief has called for an "independent and credible investigation" into Israeli killings of more than 100 Palestinian civilians awaiting aid in Gaza, said his spokesperson on Friday.
"The Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) said himself yesterday, that there needs to be an independent and credible investigation into what happened," Stephane Dujarric said in a briefing.
There needs to be "accountability for everything (that) has happened since October 7," said Dujarric.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Hundreds of protesting farmers clashed with police in the Spanish city of Zaragoza on Friday as they tried to push their way into the La Aljafería Palace, where a government meeting was taking place.
- At least 193 Palestinians were killed and 920 others were injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's Health Ministry said.
- Four people were killed in an apparent family shooting in northwestern Germany, media reported.
- The Jordanian army said that it carried out three airdrops of food aid in northern Gaza.
- Italy's right-wing coalition government allegedly exported weapons to Israel in October-November 2023, despite previously stating no arms had been sent after Oct. 7.
- China has sent the first of the internet satellites it plans to position in High Earth Orbit into space.
- The US destroyed drones launched by Yemen's Houthi group, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
- The Spanish parliament did not approve anti-Israel motions, which included articles such as "severing diplomatic relations and imposing an arms embargo."
- Israeli settlers established a new settlement outpost on the lands of the Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya village, south of Nablus, in the northern West Bank.
- An adviser to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was killed in an Israeli attack on the Syrian port city of Banias, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.
- Tens of thousands of people have rallied across Germany, calling on the government to invest in climate protection and social security.
- French farmers took to the streets, parking tractors in front of the iconic Palace of Versailles to protest the government's agricultural policies.
- Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, said that seven Israeli hostages were killed in airstrikes on Gaza, bringing the death toll of hostages to 70.
- Ghana's parliament experienced a power outage during a debate on the President's State of the Nation Address.
SPORTS
Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco ended in goalless draw
French Ligue 1 clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco ended Friday in a goalless draw.
Neither team was able to produce a goal in the 24th-week match at the Stade Louis-II stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain are atop the French top-tier table with 55 points. Monaco are third with 42.
Second-place Brest, who has a match in hand, have collected 43 points.
- Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison out for 'two or three weeks' due to knee injury
Tottenham Hotspur said on Friday that striker Richarlison would be out for two or three weeks due to a knee injury.
"Going through from the last game, Richy picked up a bit of a knee injury so he's going to missing for two or three weeks," manager Ange Postecoglou said in a statement.
The 26-year-old Brazilian, who has also played for Fluminense, Watford, and Everton, scored nine goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- China’s manufacturing activity on contraction course for 5-month period
China’s manufacturing industry is seeing a contraction that started in the fourth quarter of 2023, as per leading economic data from the country.
As announced by China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the manufacturing industry’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 49.1, down 0.1 points in February compared to January.
There was a rise in the first three months of 2023 when the signs of post-pandemic recovery were seen. However, the manufacturing PMI started to contract in March, exceeding the growth threshold of 50 points for the first time in five months in September, only to enter a contraction course once again in the last quarter of the year.
- Global markets follow positive course
Global markets followed a positive course as the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index soared 0.4% month-on-month and 2.8% annually in January, the lowest yearly increase recorded since March 2021, according to data released in the US on Thursday.
Considered to be the indicator of inflation, the core PCE price index continued to slow down and came in line with expectations, giving hope for the Fed’s interest rate cuts to take place in the first half of 2024, analysts say.
They added that Thursday’s weekly jobless claims exceeded estimates with 215,000, pointing to a softening in the labor market.