ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday with, including Israel killing more than 1,200 Palestinians in its siege of northern Gaza that began nearly four weeks ago, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, North Korea confirming that it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, and Ukraine accusing Russia of striking a nine-story building in the city of Kharkiv.

TOP STORIES

• Israel killed over 1,200 Palestinians in northern Gaza in 4 weeks: Health Ministry

The Israeli army has killed over 1,200 Palestinians in its siege of northern Gaza that started nearly four weeks ago, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said.

“The Israeli army continues to commit massacres and target shelters and civilians in Beit Lahia, resulting in casualties amid a severely strained health care system,” Munir al-Bursh, director general of the ministry, told Anadolu.

He stressed that “the Israeli occupation is committing murder and destruction due to the absence of oversight or accountability to stop its crimes.”

• North Korea fires intercontinental ballistic missile

North Korea confirmed that it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, marking Pyongyang's 12th missile test this year.

The Missile Administration conducted a critical test that resulted in the longest-ever flight time for one of the country's missiles, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, citing a Ministry of National Defense statement.

"The test-fire, conducted under the order given by the head of state of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK and demonstrated the modernity and creditability of its world's most powerful strategic deterrent," KCNA reported, adding that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally observed the launch.

• Ukraine accuses Russia of striking 9-story building in city of Kharkiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of striking a nine-story building in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, adding that people were injured in the attack.

“Unfortunately, there are injured, including children. More people may be under the rubble. All relevant services are working at the site,” he wrote on Telegram.

Zelenskyy indirectly reproached Western partners for “delaying decisions,” meaning Ukraine’s request for the US to authorize the use of long-range weapons for striking targets inside Russian territory.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Former US President Bill Clinton is facing backlash for remarks that justified Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
• World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned an Israeli attack on a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.
• The US expects North Korean troops in Russia to deploy into the fight against Ukraine "in the coming days," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
• France and the European Union condemned North Korea for launching an intercontinental ballistic missile.
• More than 62 million Americans have cast early ballots with five days to go until Election Day, according to data.
• Switzerland confirmed that it deported three Ukrainian convicted criminals for the first time.
• The UN Security Council unanimously extended the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for three months.
• The World Bank Group said in a report that 1.2 billion people are at high risk from climate change worldwide.
• Citizens in the Serbian capital Belgrade told Anadolu they are closely following the Nov. 5 presidential election in the US and are hoping for former President Donald Trump to declare victory.
• Search and rescue efforts continued in Spain after an unprecedented storm killed at least 158 people and caused widespread destruction.
• At least 10 people were killed and seven others injured when a building in Nigeria's southwestern city of Ibadan collapsed, an official said.
• Colombia's government and members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group will meet in Venezuela on Friday to revive stalled peace negotiations.
• Typhoon Kong-rey claimed the life of one foreign national in Nantou County as authorities evacuated thousands of people to safe shelters and closed schools and businesses across the island, local media reported.
• At least two dozen people have been hospitalized after a fire broke out in a hospital in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said US policies in the Middle East have pushed the region to the brink of a major conflict.
• Vietnam asked China to release 10 of its fishermen who were arrested by the China Coast Guard from the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands, which Hanoi also claims and calls Hoang Sa.
• Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that Russian forces took over another settlement in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
• Israeli army forces advanced near the Indonesian Hospital and two shelters for displaced civilians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip amid a major offensive in the area, according to witnesses.

SPORTS

• Upcoming Spanish league fixture between Valencia, Real Madrid postponed because of deadly floods

A Saturday Spanish La Liga match between Valencia and Real Madrid has been postponed due to deadly flash floods, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said.

"It has been agreed to postpone matches that were to be played in professional and non-professional competitions, both in 11-a-side football and in indoor football," RFEF said in a statement.

"In the case of professional football, and after receiving yesterday's request from La Liga and Liga F, at the request of several clubs involved, the matches of matchday 12 of the First Division and matchday 13 of the Second Division that were to be played in the Valencian Community during this weekend are postponed, by the decision of the sole Judge of Professional Competitions," it added.

• UEFA to invest over $1B in women's football to grow game in Europe

UEFA confirmed that it will invest €1 billion (approximately $1.08 billion) over the next six years to enhance women’s football.

"Unstoppable is our roadmap to lay the groundwork for a sustainable future, unlocking the full potential of women’s football. As we enter this exciting new era, we must continue with the same passion that has driven us this far," UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement.

"Our dedication to the cause remains as strong as ever. Our mission is simple – to help women’s football gain a prominent place in the European sporting community," he added.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US agency sends $2.5M to consumers deceived by false credit offers

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it is sending more than $2.5 million to consumers who were deceived by allegedly false "pre-approved" credit offers by a credit services firm.

The regulator argued that American consumers were misled by deceptive claims from Credit Karma, which agreed to an FTC order that required the company to stop making these types of deceptive claims and to pay money to compensate consumers who were harmed.

The FTC said it is sending checks and PayPal payments to 50,994 consumers who filed a valid claim before the March 4 deadline.