ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday with, including the head of the UN General Assembly expressing shock over Israel's offensive plan for the southern Gazan city of Rafah, results of Pakistan elections, and Türkiye announcing to make a statement at the world court on Israeli actions in Palestine.

TOP STORIES

• UN General Assembly head 'shocked' by Israel's offensive plan for southern Gaza city of Rafah

The president of the UN General Assembly voiced deep dismay about Israel's planned military offensive into the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

"I am shocked & deeply dismayed by the news of an Israeli military offensive into the south of the #Gaza Strip," Dennis Francis, the UN ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, wrote on X.

His remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to develop a dual plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah and to defeat the remaining Hamas battalions.

• Pakistan election results: With counting still on, Khan-backed independents lead

Amid delayed election results, candidates backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan are in the lead in Pakistan’s elections, ahead of two major parties, the Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

While Khan has declared victory, ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif had called for the formation of a national unity government.

• Türkiye to make statement at world court on legal results of Israeli acts in occupied Palestinian land

A total of 52 countries, including Türkiye, and three international organizations, will make oral statements at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at a Feb. 26 hearing on the legal consequences of Israel’s actions in occupied Palestinian territories, the top UN court said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• A number of countries and rights organizations including UNICEF and Amnesty International express concerns over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders to his army to plan an offensive on Rafah in the Gaza Strip
• Hamas armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said it killed seven Israeli soldiers at point-blank range in eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
• Two people were killed and 11 injured during a protest against alleged tampering with election results in northwestern Pakistan.
• South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said she has been receiving threatening messages since her country filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

• The World Health Organization said it has documented 721 attacks on health care in the occupied Palestinian territory since Oct. 7.
• At least 107 Palestinians were killed and 142 others were injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip.
• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev easily cruised to victory in this week’s early presidential election, winning 92.1% of the vote with all the ballots counted, the Central Election Commission officially announced.
• SpaceX's Dragon Capsule, carrying Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish space travelers, splashed down successfully off Florida at 8.30 a.m. Eastern Time (1330GMT).

SPORTS

• Panathinaikos beat Fenerbahce Beko for 6th straight home win in EuroLeague

Greek basketball club Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens beat Türkiye's Fenerbahce Beko 74-63 in a Friday Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game to win their sixth straight at home.

US guard Kendrick Nunn led Panathinaikos with 23 points at Athens' OAKA Altion and played a key role for the Greens. Mathias Lessort had 13 points to go along with eight rebounds for Panathinaikos.

US center Johnathan Motley was Fenerbahce's top scorer with 16 points.

• Lionel Messi fans offered partial refund for no-show in Hong Kong friendly

The organizer of the Hong Kong XI vs. Inter Miami friendly, in which Argentine superstar Lionel Messi did not play because of an injury, offered a partial refund on tickets.

"We will not escape our responsibility as organisers and that is why Tatler Asia will offer all those who purchased match-day tickets from the official channels a 50 percent refund," according to a statement by Tatler Asia.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan sign Joint Economic Commission protocol

Türkiye and the central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan signed the 11th Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Protocol and a related 62-article action plan.

Cevdet Yilmaz, vice president of Türkiye, and Akilbek Caparov, chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet, met in the Turkish capital Ankara.

The protocol covers areas from mining to finance and agriculture to education and culture.

• Canada adds 37,000 jobs in January, unemployment falls to 5.7%

Canada's employment increased by 37,000 in January, following three months of little change, according to official figures by Statistics Canada.


The unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 5.7%, marking the first decline since December 2022.


The figure came in lower than the market expectation of 5.9%.