ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Saturday, including Hamas saying that more than 2 million Palestinians face death from hunger and thirst as the Israeli war drags on, Biden criticizing Russian missile strikes on Ukraine and reaffirming US support and anti-regime armed groups reaching central Aleppo in Syria, advancing into inner neighborhoods.

TOP STORIES

• Over 2M Palestinians face death from hunger, thirst amid ongoing Israeli war: Hamas

Hamas said Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face the risk of death from hunger in light of the ongoing Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

"Over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face the risk of death from hunger and thirst due to the Israeli occupation's denial of aid delivery and restrictions on access to medicine, food and water," the Palestinian resistance group said in a statement.

It warned that children are dying of hunger and families are on the verge of famine amid a lack of essentials for survival.

• Biden criticizes Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, reaffirms US support

US President Joe Biden described Russia's overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine as “outrageous,” highlighting the attack as a stark reminder of the importance of supporting Ukraine, the White House said.

“Overnight, Russia carried out a horrific aerial attack against Ukraine,” the presidential mansion said in a statement.

“Ukrainian authorities report that Russia launched nearly 200 missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, depriving Ukrainian civilians of access to electricity,” it said.

• Anti-regime armed groups reach central Aleppo, advance into inner neighborhoods

Armed opposition groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces advanced into central Aleppo.

The anti-regime groups advanced from the west toward Aleppo's city center after three days of fighting regime forces, breaking through defensive lines in the outer neighborhoods of Hamdaniyah, New Aleppo and Zahraa by midday.

The groups also seized the Saraqib district at the junction of the M4 and M5 highways in southeastern Idlib, after surrounding it from the north and south.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Four students died while two others suffered serious injuries when lightning hit them in the Southern African country of Malawi.
• The chief prosecutor of the Dutch Supreme Court has requested approval of a Court of Appeals decision to stop exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
• Hundreds of members of an elite Somali commando unit graduated from a training program in Türkiye under a bilateral pact on strengthening the Somali Armed Forces.
• Diplomats from the UK, Germany, France and Iran met to discuss bilateral issues, particularly Tehran's nuclear program and sanctions on the country.
• Türkiye’s prime concern is preserving stability in Syria's Idlib and the area close to it, the Foreign Ministry said.
• Hundreds of women marched to the seat of the South African government, the Union Buildings, in Pretoria to protest violence and abuse of women.
• The UN refugee agency sounded the alarm about a "devastating spike" in the risk of gender-based violence for women and girls forced to flee as more than 60 million forcibly displaced or stateless women and girls face high risks of such violence worldwide.
• Nine Israelis were injured in a shooting attack near the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel in the northern West Bank.
• China reiterated its warning to Washington as Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te prepares to stop over in the US territories of Hawaii and Guam as he begins a trip to the South Pacific region.
• Nearly 200 passengers reportedly went missing after a boat capsized in Nigeria, officials and residents said.
• Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pushed back any potential impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte.
• Beijing expressed a readiness to cooperate with Sweden in an investigation into the severing of two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, following a request for assistance from the Nordic country and suspicions linking a Chinese vessel to the damage.
• Venezuela's interior minister said former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who fled into exile after being granted asylum in Spain, will be arrested if he returns to the country.
• A nationwide strike by worker unions in Italy disrupted public transportation, with buses and subways suspended for four hours and airlines canceling tens of domestic and international flights.
• A Chinese editor was sentenced to seven years in jail for leaking information to Japan.
• Venezuela’s National Assembly passed a law that imposes prison sentences of 25 to 30 years on anyone who supports sanctions against the government.

SPORTS

• 2024 'The Best' FIFA Football Awards nominees unveiled

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced the shortlist of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024.

Inter Miami's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi along with Real Madrid's retired German midfielder Toni Kroos are among the Best Men's Player nominees.

Reigning UEFA Champions League champions Real Madrid also have the most nominees for the Best Men's Player award with six, including Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Coffee prices reach historic high levels in global markets

Coffee prices reached historic high levels in global markets as other commodities saw sharp fluctuations after President-elect Donald Trump’s win in last month's US elections.

Coffee stood at a record price of $3.2615 per pound on the Intercontinental Exchange.

The pound price for coffee increased by more than 70% since the beginning of 2024.

Concerns about the continuation of dry weather conditions in Brazil, which negatively affected coffee yields, and frost possibilities in that country also gave rise to prices.