By Necva Tastan
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Saturday, including the UN General Assembly adopting a resolution to reconsider Palestine's membership bid, US State Department's long-awaited report on Israel's use of US weapons, and South Africa filing an "urgent request" with the ICJ for additional measures amid Israeli attacks.
TOP STORIES
- UN General Assembly adopts resolution to reconsider Palestine's membership bid
The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution calling for the reevaluation of Palestine's UN membership bid and granting additional rights.
The resolution, which was spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates (on behalf of the Arab Group), was adopted by overwhelming consensus with 143 member states voting in favor, nine against and 25 abstentions.
Co-sponsored by Türkiye along with nearly 80 member states, the resolution expressed "deep regret and concern" about a veto by the US at the UN Security Council on April 18.
- Israel likely used US weapons in ways 'inconsistent' with international law: State Department report
A US State Department's long-awaited report to Congress said Friday that it is “reasonable to assess” that Israel used American-made weapons in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law.
"Nevertheless, given Israel's significant reliance on U.S.-made defense articles, it is reasonable to assess that defense articles … have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in instances inconsistent with its (international humanitarian law) obligations or with established best practices for mitigating civilian harm," said the report.
The report, however, said the "nature of the conflict in Gaza makes it difficult to assess or reach conclusive findings on individual incidents."
- South Africa files 'urgent request' with ICJ for additional measures amid Israeli attacks
South Africa filed an “urgent request” on Friday with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for additional measures amid Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, particularly in the city of Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians are taking shelter.
“In its new request, South Africa states that the provisional measures previously indicated by the Court are not capable of ‘fully address[ing]’ the changed circumstances and new facts on which [its] Request is founded,” the ICJ said in a statement.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- A rare and powerful geomagnetic storm hitting Earth this weekend could spark power outages across the world, according to scientists.
- Manu Pineda, European Parliament's Palestine delegation chair, urged governments on Friday to heed the voices of their constituents concerning the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the widespread outcry on the streets.
- Belgium, Denmark and Spain welcomed on Friday a UN resolution calling for the reevaluation of Palestine's UN membership bid.
- German environmental activists tried to occupy Tesla’s Berlin factory on Friday to stop the electric car maker’s plans to expand its manufacturing plant.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for naming the Gulf country in his proposal for a civil administration to rule the Gaza Strip under Israeli occupation.
- Violent clashes had erupted between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al-Fasher, north Darfur, in western Sudan, Sudanese activists said Friday.
- The UN Security Council on Friday expressed profound distress over reports of mass graves discovered in and around the Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals in Gaza.
- Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Friday dissolved parliament and suspended some articles of the Constitution.
- The US on Friday announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine.
- Spain’s second deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz on Friday accused Eurovision of “whitewashing Israel’s genocide."
- Twenty families were settled Friday in Shusha, the symbol city of the Second Karabakh War, which Azerbaijan liberated after 30 years of occupation.
- At least 50 people were killed after flash floods hit several parts of Afghanistan on Friday.
- Floods, triggered by relentless downpours in Kenya in the last three weeks, have claimed 267 lives, authorities reported Saturday.
SPORTS
- Türkiye can unlock its potential in football with good planning. says Sporting Lisbon B coach Filipe Celikkaya
Sporting Lisbon B manager Filipe Celikkaya, who is the son of a Turkish father and a Portuguese mother, told Anadolu that Türkiye can unlock its potential in football with good planning.
"I watch both Super Lig and Lig 1. There are many young players with potential. Turkish football needs to improve to maximize the potential it has," said Celikkaya. "If Turkish football makes good use of its potential, I think that in 20 years’ time, there may be Turkish teams that will be competing at the top level of Europe."
The 39-year-old commended Real Madrid's young Turkish player Arda Guler's talent.
- Former Australian football player Craig Foster calls FIFA to suspend Israel for attack on Gaza
Former Australia and Crystal Palace player Craig Foster urged world football's governing body on Friday to suspend Israel for attacks on the Gaza Strip ahead of next week's FIFA Congress.
"The 74th FIFA Congress is next week. There are calls for a suspension of Israel per FIFA’s statutory human rights commitments pending compliance with the ICJ (International Court of Justice) measures to prevent genocide. I support them. And call on the football community to do likewise," Foster wrote on X.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Turkish defense industry integrates new payloads into unmanned land vehicle
Different capabilities developed within the Turkish defense industry are coming together on the same platform and turning into new solutions for security forces.
The homegrown ecosystem formed in the defense industry carries out studies by taking into account developing technologies and needs arising on the battlefield and user demands.
One example of those efforts was carried out for the unmanned land vehicle platform.
New payloads were integrated into the unmanned land vehicle, Barkan, which was recently added to the inventory of security forces.
- Facing severe labor shortage, Greece moves to import workers from Egypt
Facing a severe labor shortage in many sectors of its economy, Greece moves to import seasonal workers from Egypt, the Migration Ministry said on Friday.
Recalling an agreement between the countries in November 2022 which would allow import of 5,000 seasonal farm workers from Egypt, the ministry in a statement revealed that the first group of 2,400 workers are expected to arrive to work in Greek fields this summer.