By Necva Tastan
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including Arab foreign ministers' upcoming meeting with the US Secretary of State to discuss the Gaza conflict, UN warnings that hospitals should not be part of combat and an earthquake that hit Nepal leaves at least 128 dead.
TOP STORIES
- Arab world foreign ministers, US Secretary of State to discuss Gaza war
Jordan announced its foreign minister and his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt will hold a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman to discuss the latest developments in Gaza.
The ministers will affirm the Arab position, calling for an immediate cease-fire and the immediate and urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The officials will also “discuss ways to end this dangerous deterioration that threatens the security of the entire region."
- UN repeats warning that hospitals should not be part of combat
The UN has demanded "full respect for international law," emphasizing that hospitals should not be targeted in combat, following reports of an Israeli airstrike on the main gate of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
"We continue to call for the full respect of international law, which includes the point that hospitals should not be used in any part of combat," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
An Israeli bombing targeted ambulances in front of the main gate of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, resulting in the death of several Palestinians and injury of many others.
- At least 128 dead as 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits Nepal: Official
At least 128 people were killed and more than 200 injured after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Nepal.
Nepal police spokesman Kuber Kadayat told Anadolu the casualties occurred in the two main districts in western Nepal.
“Right now, the death toll in Jajarkot district stands at 92, and in Rukum West at least 36 people have died,” he said. "The death toll may increase."
Strong tremors were felt in parts of north India after the quake.
India’s National Center for Seismology said an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 occurred at 11.32 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) with an epicenter in Nepal.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- At least 54 mosques have been destroyed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
- A unified Turkic world acting together will help pave the way to a cease-fire and permanent peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict, said the Turkish president.
- New Zealand’s Electoral Commission announced final results of the Oct. 14 elections, with the center-right National Party in the lead with 48 out of 122 seats.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, and discussed relations, regional and global issues, and the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel, which has continued its air and ground attacks on Gaza for nearly four weeks.
- The UN human rights office warned that the situation in the occupied West Bank is “alarming,” as “multi-layered human rights violations of Palestinians” are occurring.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected claims that the Wagner paramilitary group transferred air defense systems to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- Strong winds from Storm Ciaran continue to fuel an aggressive wildfire in the Spanish region of Valencia.
- The number of displaced residents in Gaza hit 1.5 million, according to a senior UN humanitarian official.
- About 260 wounded Israeli soldiers have been evacuated from the Gaza Strip in 150 air and ground rescue operations.
SPORTS
- Manchester United's Casemiro faces lengthy absence due to hamstring injury
Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro is set to be sidelined for "several weeks" due to a hamstring injury.
"Casemiro will be out for several weeks due to a hamstring injury suffered during our Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United on Wednesday," the club said in a statement.
Casemiro joins Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Amad Diallo on the list of injured Manchester United players.
- Virtus Segafredo Bologna defeat Anadolu Efes 93 - 81 in EuroLeague
Virtus Segafredo Bologna defeated Anadolu Efes 93 - 81 in Round 6 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Bologna's Tornike Shengelia was the high scorer with 19 points, five rebounds and six assists at Virtus Segafredo Arena.
For Anadolu Efes, Rodrigue Beaubois helped with 17 points and Ante Zizic finished with 15. Shane Larkin added 16 points.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna have five wins and one defeat while Anadolu Efes bagged two wins and four losses.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Russia to make additional oil and fuel export cuts in November
Russia's exports of oil and oil products will fall by more than 300,000 barrels per day in November compared to the average for the May-June period, the Russian Energy Ministry announced.
The Russian Ministry of Energy said the country has limited its supply of oil and petroleum products to ensure market stability.
A emphasized that Russia remains completely committed to the voluntary action undertaken by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil-producing nations, known as the OPEC+ group.
- South Africa urges lengthy extension of US duty-free African Growth and Opportunity Act
South Africa wants the US to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which gives several African nations duty-free access to American markets.
“We would like you to look at the extension or renewal of AGOA for a sufficiently lengthy period for it to act as an incentive for investors to build new factories on the African continent,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the opening a three-day meeting of the AGOA trade forum in Johannesburg.
AGOA is a special US legislation signed in 2000 that grants duty-free access to nearly 40 sub-Saharan African nations to US markets.