February 15, 2024

*) Israel attacks Nasser Hospital in Gaza

At least one person was killed, and many others were wounded in an attack by Israeli forces on the Nasser Hospital in besieged Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis.

The attack was carried out in the hospital’s orthopaedics section, according to a WAFA report.

The Palestinian news agency said the hospital has been under a blockade by Israeli forces for the last 25 days.

*) UN seeks immediate action to end ‘dangerous escalatory cycle’ in Yemen

The UN’s special envoy for Yemen has called for immediate action to end the “dangerous escalatory cycle” in the war-stricken country.

Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy, said he was engaging the Yemeni parties and relevant regional actors to support de-escalation in the Red Sea “to protect the mediation space in Yemen.”

The UN envoy called for all regional parties to refrain from “military opportunism” and for progress towards a mediated agreement to be protected.

*) Putin says he regrets not starting ‘operation’ in Ukraine sooner

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the only thing he regrets is that the “special military operation” in Ukraine did not start earlier.

Commenting on Western reactions to his interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson in a televised show, Putin said it was good that Western politicians watched the interview, but it was unfortunate that his words were being twisted.

*) MIT suspends students over protests against Israel’s attacks on Gaza

The president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology has suspended a student group that held demonstrations against the Israeli military’s possible ground invasion of Gaza’s Rafah.

In a video statement, Sally Kornbluth said the group, Coalition Against Apartheid or CAA, held a demonstration without going through the university’s permission process required of all groups.

*) Storms batter eastern Australia, knock out power to 174,000 homes

Storms packing powerful winds have toppled trees, killed one person and knocked out power from 174,000 homes and businesses in eastern Australia.

The wild weather hit large swathes of Victoria on Tuesday, dumping torrents of rain and unleashing gusts of more than 150 kilometres per hour, according to the state government and emergency services.

The Australian Energy Market Operator said in an update that, at its peak, 530,000 homes and businesses lost power, and about 174,000 were still cut off on Wednesday afternoon.