ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including 500,00 Palestinians facing hunger and thirst in Gaza, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation denouncing the US veto on cease-fire in Gaza, and the EU agreeing on a deal to regulate artificial intelligence.

TOP STORIES

• 500,000 Palestinians face hunger, thirst in Gaza: Municipality

Half a million Palestinians are at risk of hunger and thirst in cities where Israeli attacks continue, said Gaza Municipality, which described the humanitarian situation as "disastrous" as the Israeli army deliberately targeted food and water infrastructure.

“Some construction equipment and vehicles became unusable as a result of Israel's targeting of the Gaza Municipality's garage,” according to a spokesman, who noted the municipality “had difficulties in opening the streets that were closed due to Israeli bombardment.”

• Organization of Islamic Cooperation denounces US veto on Gaza cease-fire

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday denounced the US veto against UN Security Council’s draft resolution seeking a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

“The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, expressed his disappointment and denunciation of the failure of the UN Security Council to vote in favor of a decisive ceasefire resolution,” the 57-member group said in a statement.

The failure, he said, reflects negatively on the UN Security Council’s role in “maintaining international peace and security, protecting innocent civilians, and putting an end to the worsening humanitarian situation as a result of the continued brutal Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”

• EU agrees to 'historic' deal on Artificial Intelligence regulation

EU officials have agreed on a provisional deal on the world's first comprehensive laws aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The proposed regulations, collectively known as the AI Act, are set to undergo a vote in the European Parliament early next year. The law is not expected to take effect until at least 2025.

The legislation also includes bans on “social scoring,” which involves assessing individuals based on certain metrics, as well as on AI systems designed to "manipulate human behavior to circumvent their free will."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The US is buying Iran's heavy water for its nuclear reactors through an intermediary despite sanctions, according to Tehran’s top diplomat.
• The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 17,700, with 48,780 injured since Oct. 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Saturday evening.
• Germany will continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russia as the military conflict, which began in February 2022, will not end anytime soon, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday.
• A contingent of the Uganda People's Defense Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo, part of the East African Community Regional Force, has started withdrawing from the country, the army confirmed.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday reiterated his call to reform the UN Security Council, where the US vetoed a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza the previous day.
• The Philippines and China accused each other of intruding into their respective territorial waters in the South China Sea.
• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the US for using its veto to block a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and described the move as immoral.
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed Saturday to continue efforts to achieve a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
• The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned and urged the international community to denounce Russia’s intention to organize a presidential election in March in Ukrainian territories illegally annexed by Moscow.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, along with his counterparts assigned by the joint Arab-Islamic extraordinary summit, visited Canada to push for a cease-fire in Gaza.
• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) confirmed the death of 133 employees in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes.
• Another massive pro-Palestine demonstration took place in London, with tens of thousands of people calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
• China on Saturday made another successful flight of its methane-propelled carrier rocket, transporting three satellites into orbit, state-run media reported.

SPORTS

• Leipzig beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in Bundesliga
  

RB Leipzig beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 on Saturday in a German Bundesliga week 14 match.

Dortmund defender Mats Hummels' challenge to Lois Openda in the 15th minute caused him a red card and left Dortmund with 10 men early.

Algerian defender Ramy Bensebaini's own goal brought the lead to the visitors in the 32nd minute at Signal Iduna Park.

• Bournemouth shock Man United; Premier League leaders Arsenal defeated by Aston Villa

Bournemouth shocked Manchester United with a 3-0 shutout Saturday in an English Premier League week 16 match.

English striker Dominic Solanke's accurate shot to the bottom corner brought an early lead to the visitors in the fifth minute at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils seemed to pull themselves together at the beginning of the second half and even missed several chances.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Greece hopes visa facilitation scheme for Turkish citizens to improve intersocietal ties

Greece hopes that the visa facilitation scheme announced Dec. 7 by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a statement with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would contribute to the improvement of intersocietal ties.

In an exclusive interview with Anadolu, Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis, in reference to the visit, said: “It was undoubtedly a very good day for Turkish-Greek relations after a long time. And I think we can be much more optimistic today than we were before. Everything went very well. Better even than expected.”