November 17, 2024

Daily News Brief

*) Israeli blockade in southern Gaza leaves 1.2M Palestinians without water The southern Gaza city of Khan Younis warned that a week-long fuel shortage has left more than 1.2 million residents and displaced individuals in the area without access to clean water, amid ongoing Israeli strikes. The city government said: "This persistent fuel stoppage has disrupted essential services, including the operation of water wells and desalination plants. The city also raised concerns about the suspension of sewage treatment facilities, warning that untreated wastewater could flood the streets, exacerbating the risk of environmental and health disasters, and facilitating the spread of diseases and epidemics. *) Iran calls envoy's meeting with Elon Musk 'American media's fabrication' Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi strongly denied The New York Times reported meeting between Tehran's United Nations envoy and US billionaire Elon Musk, saying the American media's fabrication “is a form of testing the waters to see if the ground for such a move exists.” "There was no permission from the leadership for such a meeting," Araqchi said, referring to Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state. Araqchi added: "We are still waiting for the new US administration to clarify its policies, and based on that, we will adjust our own policies. Right now, it is neither the time for such meetings nor is it appropriate." *) Türkiye rejects EU maritime spatial planning maps, calls them 'null, void' Türkiye has strongly criticised the European Union's maritime spatial planning, rejecting the maps of the Aegean and Mediterranean used in the initiative as "null and void" and emphasising its determination to protect its maritime rights. The Turkish Foreign Ministry underlined that Türkiye is actively monitoring the EU's actions, issuing necessary warnings, and taking all measures to safeguard its interests in the region. Ankara criticised the EU for overstepping its role, stating it has no authority to mediate maritime disputes between sovereign states and calling unilateral action on maritime jurisdictions "unacceptable." *) TikTok parent ByteDance's valuation hits $300B amid US ban uncertainty TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance is valuing itself at about $300 billion after a recent buyback offer, even as the tech giant's popular TikTok app faces the prospect of a looming ban in the US. The TikTok parent in recent days told investors it was looking to buy back shares at about $180 a share, the Wall Street Journal reports. ByteDance investors have viewed President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House as an overall positive for TikTok’s hopes in the US, as per the report. A law signed by US President Joe Biden on April 24 this year gives ByteDance until January 19, 2025 to sell TikTok or face a ban. *) Climate crisis responsible for 20 percent of dengue cases worldwide Climate crisis is responsible for nearly a fifth of the record number of dengue cases worldwide this year, US researchers said, seeking to shine a light on how rising temperatures are linked to dengue infections in 21 countries across Asia and the Americas. It has typically been confined to tropical and subtropical areas but rising temperatures have led to mosquitoes encroaching on new areas, taking dengue with them. The viral disease, which is transmitted via bites from infected mosquitoes, causes fever and body aches and can, in some cases, be deadly. The analysis estimated that at least 257 million people are currently living in areas where global heating could double the rate of dengue in the next 25 years.