By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start Wednesday with, including the UN terming Gaza genocide as acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes, US stating that no policy change for Israel after deadline to improve humanitarian aid ends, Türkiye bidding to host COP31 in 2026, and resignation of UK's top cleric resigns after reports of sexual children emerge at Church of England.
TOP STORIES
- Acts in Gaza 'reminiscent of the gravest international crimes': UN official
The UN on Tuesday highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing it as "a wasteland of rubble" where there are "acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes."
"Since the escalation of this conflict in October 2023, we have briefed this Council on no fewer than 16 occasions," Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, told a UN Security Council session on Palestine.
Condemning the toll of the recent escalations, Msuya said civilians have been "driven from their homes, stripped of their sense of place and dignity" and often forced to witness the deaths of their family members.
The US State Department said it does not have a policy change to announce concerning Israel after a Washington deadline expired for Tel Aviv to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said US officials continue to talk to their Israeli counterparts about steps that Israel has taken as a result of US intervention, as well as additional steps that still need to be taken. “We, at this time, have not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of US law. But most importantly, we are to continue to watch how these steps that they've taken, how they are being implemented, how that they can be continued to be expanded on, and through that, we're going to continue to assess their compliance with US law,” said Patel.
Türkiye on Tuesday announced its candidacy to host the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanking the countries who supported the bid. Addressing COP29 in Baku, Erdogan said Türkiye is transforming its key sectors in line with its vision to achieve net zero emissions by 2053 and green growth. He added that the country will increase its installed capacity of wind and solar energy from 31,000 megawatts to 120,000 megawatts by 2035. Erdogan said the Zero Waste Project has prevented 5.9 million tons of greenhouse gases since its launch, adding that the country is strengthening its fight against climate change with the initiative.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby announced his resignation after a report found the Church of England had failed to adequately address abuses by a barrister. Welby's decision comes after the independent Makin Review into Barrister John Smyth's abuse of children and young men was published last week, prompting growing pressure on the archbishop. "Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King (Charles), I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury. The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth," Welby said in a statement. |
NEWS IN BRIEF
- South Africa said the evidence it provided in the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) shows how Tel Aviv is using starvation as weapon of war, aiming to depopulate Gaza through mass killings and forced displacements.
- At least seven Palestinians were killed and several others injured in Israeli airstrikes Tuesday in the southern and central Gaza Strip.
- Two people were killed on Tuesday evening when a rocket launched from Lebanon struck a building in Nahariya in northern Israel, Israeli authorities said.
- A new round of talks on the settlement of the Syrian conflict was held on Monday and Tuesday in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
- At least 35 people were killed and 43 others injured in a car-ramming in southern China.
- The Israeli army began the second phase of its ground operation in southern Lebanon, which the army says involves advancing toward Hezbollah’s second line of defense.
- Germany's governing parties and the main opposition reached an agreement to hold early elections on Feb. 23, 2025, according to local media reports.
- Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues,
- France decides to “sanction” the Israeli ambassador in the wake of last week’s temporary arrests of some of its consulate staffers in Jerusalem, the French foreign minister said.
- A man who stole hundreds of classified documents from the Pentagon and shared them online sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison.
SPORTS
- Barcelona, Real Madrid legends to meet in friendly game in Japan
Legendary players from Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to meet for the first time next month for a charity game in Japan.
"The star attraction is Andres Iniesta, who only recently retired and is a beloved figure in Japan after spending five years at Vissel Kobe, but there are plenty of other exciting faces," Barcelona said in a statement.
- Türkiye drops Kadioglu from national squad due to injury
Ferdi Kadioglu has been left out of the Turkish national squad due to an injury, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) announced.
"Ferdi Kadioglu has been dropped from Türkiye's team due to a capsule tear in his left big toe," the federation said in a statement.
The TFF added that Freiburg winger Eren Dinkci and Kasimpasa defender Yasin Ozcan were included in the squad.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- 7-Eleven shuts businesses in Israel
The promoter of 7-Eleven stores has joined other businesses in closing operations in Israel, a media report said Tuesday.
Seven & i Holdings Co., which owns 7-Eleven, “closed all eight of its convenience stores in Israel, as the tensions in the Middle East raised risks of continuing business,” Kyodo News reported, citing a source.
It is the first known Japanese company to have shut all its businesses in Israel as that country has continued its genocidal onslaught against the Gaza Strip for more than one year, killing more than 43,600 Palestinians.
- European gas prices hit year's highest rate
Natural gas prices in Europe rose to €44.32 ($47.06) on Tuesday, hitting this year’s highest rate due to a decline in gas storage and falling temperatures.
The gas price per megawatt-hour for December futures contract on the TTF, the Netherlands-based virtual natural gas trading venue with the most depth in Europe, closed on Monday at €43.73.
Natural gas prices surged to €44.32 per megawatt-hour at the opening session of Nov. 12.