February 29, 2024

*) Six children die of malnutrition as Gaza death toll nears 30,000 Six children have succumbed to malnutrition in Israeli-blockaded Gaza, Palestinian officials have reported. The overall toll for Palestinians in the nearly five-month Israeli war has exceeded 30,000. Officials revealed that two children died at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City due to "dehydration and malnutrition," prompting urgent calls for international intervention. Separately, Kamal Adwan Hospital reported four infant deaths, with seven others in critical condition. *) Israeli police warn curbing access to Al Aqsa Mosque in Ramadan may fuel tensions Israeli police have issued a warning regarding potential tensions in occupied East Jerusalem if restrictions on Palestinian entry to Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan are imposed. The caution comes as Benjamin Netanyahu's extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated limiting access to Islam’s third-holiest site, proposing a ban on occupied West Bank residents and allowing only Palestinian citizens of Israel aged 70 and above. Unnamed senior police officials, as reported by Israeli media, stated that the decision is anticipated in the upcoming weekend. *) Fuel shortage shuts down last functioning hospital in northern Gaza The only functioning hospital in northern Gaza has been forced to cease operations due to a critical shortage of fuel. The Gaza-based Health Ministry issued a statement, underscoring the gravity of the situation as the Kamal Adwan Hospital grapples with an inability to secure the necessary fuel to run its generators. This abrupt halt in services leaves the local population without access to essential healthcare, posing significant challenges to the well-being of the community in the affected region. *) Australia spy chief drops 'traitor' bombshell on unnamed politician Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess has made a sensational public accusation. Burgess alleged that a former Australian politician was recruited by a foreign spy agency and "sold out" the country to a foreign power. While Burgess did not disclose the identity of the politician or the foreign power involved, citing national security concerns, his statement has sparked outrage and demands for transparency from the government. However, the Australian government has so far remained tight-lipped on the matter. *) Apple drops electric car plans while Tesla aims to ship Roadsters next year Apple has reportedly abandoned its plans to build its own car. The decision comes after nearly a decade of work on the project, codenamed "Project Titan," which involved a team of nearly 2,000 employees. Project Titan initially aimed to develop a fully autonomous vehicle, highlighting Apple's ambitions in the self-driving car space. However, the project faced challenges and setbacks, and the company ultimately decided to shift its focus to other areas. While Apple exits the scene, Tesla remains a major player, with CEO Elon Musk recently announcing plans to begin deliveries of the company's Roadster electric sports car next year.