December 14, 2024

*) Gaza faces its gravest humanitarian crisis amid Israeli war — UN The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees has raised alarms over the dire conditions in Gaza, where thousands of children are hospitalised due to acute malnutrition. Louise Wateridge, UNRWA's senior emergency officer, told reporters in Geneva that Gaza now has the world’s highest number of child amputees, with many surgeries being conducted without anaesthesia. She added that a lack of medicine and medical equipment is causing preventable deaths, as health workers on the ground struggle to treat patients with basic care. *) Israel gives ultimatum to Palestinians in northern Gaza to flee The Israeli army has issued an ultimatum to Palestinians in southeastern Jabalia, northern Gaza, demanding they evacuate ahead of a planned assault. Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed the area is a launch site for rockets fired at Israel and warned residents to move to "shelters in central Gaza City." *) New Syria govt won't recognise PKK/YPG terror group's authority — Fidan Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that Syria's transitional government will not have ties with the PKK/YPG terror group, adding Ankara's embassy in Damascus will resume work on Saturday. Fidan told private broadcaster NTV on Friday that Syria now has a "sovereign national government" capable of reclaiming its territory, arguing that this government would not recognise the authority of either the PKK/YPG terror group or "any other power" on its soil. The goal is to have a structure in Syria where terrorism does not exist, terror organisations like the PKK/YPG and Daesh do not receive support, minorities are not mistreated, and basic needs are met, Fidan added. *) Canada vows to hit back hard if US imposes tariffs Canada will respond forcefully if the incoming Trump administration follows through on a promise to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Freeland, and the 10 provincial premiers have held two recent phone calls to coordinate strategies against a potential 25% tariff on Canadian imports. "If the United States imposes unjustified tariffs, Canada’s response will be robust and effective," Freeland told reporters, emphasising Ottawa’s readiness to defend its trade interests. *) First Lady Erdogan urges global unity to fight climate crisis at UN meeting First Lady Emiine Erdogan has chaired the third UN Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste at Istanbul's Presidential Dolmabahce Office. In her opening remarks, Erdogan called for global unity to address the climate crisis and waste management issues, emphasising the urgent need for collective action. She highlighted the escalating challenges posed by environmental crises, urging swift and coordinated efforts to combat their impacts.