Latest news bulletin | February 16th – Morning
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Israeli forces stormed in Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis seeking for hostages taken by
00:06 Hamas.
00:11 Dozens killed and injured in Russia and Ukraine after both countries trade deadly missile
00:17 fire.
00:20 Russia`s continued war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and climate threats are
00:25 all hampering the EU`s economic growth predictions for 2024.
00:31 Farmers continue to protest in Poland, Spain and France as discontent with EU policies
00:37 persists.
00:43 Israeli forces stormed in Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis seeking for hostages taken by
00:48 Hamas.
00:49 Hours before, Israeli fire killed a patient and wounded six.
00:53 Only a day after the army sought to evacuate thousands of displaced who had taken shelter
00:57 at Nasser Hospital.
00:59 Israeli military spokesman said that forces were conducting a precise and limited operation.
01:06 We have credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages,
01:12 indicating that Hamas held hostages at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
01:17 We emphasized that there is no obligation for patients or staff to evacuate the hospital.
01:24 However, we have been urging other Gazans in Arabic, on the phone and via loudspeakers
01:32 to move away from the danger that Hamas puts them in.
01:36 Via humanitarian corridor, we opened for this purpose.
01:40 Nasser, which is the main hospital in southern Gaza, has reportedly been besieged since February
01:45 6, according to the World Health Organization.
01:48 The organization is also denouncing that the last time they were able to access the hospital
01:52 was on January 29.
01:53 A recent UN report said Israel has carried out more than 350 attacks on health care facilities
01:59 in Gaza since October 7.
02:04 Several people are reported to have been killed in airstrikes in both Ukraine and Russia.
02:10 On Thursday, missiles hit targets in multiple regions across Ukraine, damaging homes and
02:16 infrastructure facilities.
02:19 Crews and ballistic missiles were fired at locations as far west as Lviv, close to the
02:24 border with Poland.
02:26 A number of people were injured in the strikes.
02:29 Ukrainian officials say some of at least 10 projectiles were intercepted.
02:34 Kupyansk in the east was also hit and at least two people were said to have died in the overnight
02:40 assault.
02:42 Russia has in recent weeks intensified air attacks, while Ukraine has also stepped up
02:48 cross-border strikes into Russia.
02:52 The governor of Belgorod region says six people were killed and 18 injured in the border city
02:57 in Russia, when a barrage of Ukrainian missiles struck a shopping mall.
03:09 Russian authorities may be generating enough new forces to sustain losses caused by the
03:14 current tempo of their offensive operations in Ukraine through 2025, says the Institute
03:19 for the Study of War.
03:21 The UK defence ministry recently said that the average daily number of Russian casualties
03:26 in Ukraine has risen by almost 300 during the course of 2023.
03:30 If the numbers continue the current rate over the next year, Russia will have lost over
03:35 half a million personnel in Ukraine.
03:38 In early December it reported that the assaults on Avdiivka have resulted in 90% increase
03:44 in Russian casualties.
03:46 Ukraine said on Thursday it was withdrawing troops from some parts of the eastern town
03:50 of Avdiivka to better position after a month of heavy fighting.
03:54 Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, considered to be one of Ukraine's largest and best equipped,
03:59 confirmed that it was urgently redeployed to Avdiivka, adding that the situation in
04:03 the area is "hell and extremely critical".
04:07 The Institute for the Study of War says that there are no confirmed changes to the front
04:11 line in this area, although Russian forces reportedly advanced in the south and north
04:16 of Avdiivka.
04:18 Russian sources claim that Russian forces advanced to or even beyond the main Ukrainian
04:22 ground line of communication in Avdiivka, along Industrial Avenue, which then becomes
04:27 Grushevskogo Street.
04:30 Ukrainian military sources say that the supply and evacuation of Avdiivka has become challenging,
04:35 but alternative logistics routes prepared in advance have been activated.
04:43 The Greek Parliament on Thursday approved the legislation of same-sex civil marriage.
04:48 Polls showed that the majority of Greeks were in favor of the bill drawn up by the center-right
04:53 government and supported by four left-wing parties.
04:57 The Greek Orthodox Church was against it.
05:01 "Today is a day of joy, because from tomorrow a gap between us will be closed, and a bridge
05:15 of coexistence will be built in a free state with free citizens."
05:21 The bill grants full parental rights on married same-sex partners with children.
05:26 It precludes gay couples from parenthood through surrogate mothers in Greece.
05:31 The issue has divided Greeks.
05:34 LGBTQI+ organizations have led the marches in support of the bill.
05:45 Russia's continued war in Ukraine is still affecting the EU's economic growth, as is
05:50 the conflict in the Middle East.
05:53 Disruptions in trade are also being felt due to the attacks by Houthis on Western ships
05:58 in the Red Sea.
06:01 Climate risks and frequent extreme weather also remain a threat.
06:07 Taking all factors into account, the European Commission has downgraded its winter economic
06:13 forecast published on Thursday.
06:15 "Growth in the EU and the euro area is now estimated at 0.5 percent in '23, marginally
06:24 below our autumn projections.
06:27 For '24, GDP growth is estimated at 0.9, which is 0.4 lower than projected in autumn.
06:39 In '25, the EU economy is forecast to expand by 1.7, unchanged from the previous forecast.
06:47 For the euro area, we project growth at 0.8 this year and 1.5 in '25."
06:56 A leading Bruegel Institute analyst in Brussels said the good news is that energy prices are
07:02 abating.
07:03 "Since the European economy is a net importer of energy, it implies that it's very sensitive
07:14 and vulnerable also to possible energy price changes.
07:19 But the good news is that all three main types of energy, petroleum, gas and electricity,
07:27 the prices went back to values well before the start of the war, and also forecast and
07:34 market expectations suggest that these energy prices will remain low."
07:40 The European Commission has also said that as inflation continues falling, real wages
07:46 will rise and with that, consumption will also increase.
07:50 The forecast expects trade with foreign partners to even out after last year's poor performance.
07:57 Unrest on Europe's streets as farmers continue to protest.
08:06 In Poland, demonstrations and roadblocks continue.
08:11 Farmers there blocked the roads leading up to the border crossing with Ukraine as they
08:15 denounce unfair competition from their neighboring war-torn country.
08:20 They oppose measures introduced by the EU to lift tariffs on agricultural imports from
08:26 Ukraine, which they say depress their prices.
08:30 In Spain, protests entered their 10th consecutive day in several regions.
08:36 "There are many more to come, and if we don't hear them, we'll continue to do so."
08:41 Dozens of tractors also reached the Ministry of Agriculture in Madrid.
08:46 Spanish farmers say rural Spain is facing a crisis and ask for a crackdown on food import
08:52 from non-EU countries.
08:55 Protests continue in France, where they first erupted, and where farmers say the government's
08:59 concessions are not having an impact.
09:02 They block the access to the famous Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley.
09:12 It was supposed to be a celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl winners, but
09:18 a shooting turned it into a tragedy.
09:23 One person died and more than 22 people were shot at the end of the parade.
09:28 Eight children were among the wounded.
09:32 The gunfire caused the watching crowd, including the city's mayor and his family members, to
09:36 run for cover.
09:39 "We became part of a statistic of too many Americans.
09:42 Those who have experienced or been part of or connected to a mass shooting.
09:47 That is something that I hope we all recognize is highly problematic for all of us."
09:53 Police have detained three suspects in connection to the shooting.
09:58 Investigations are still underway to discover a motive.
10:02 Hospitals say they are treating not only gunshot wounds, but also people who had suffered other
10:06 injuries in the sudden stampede that the shooting caused.
10:12 In a statement, the Kansas City Chiefs said all of its players, coaches and staff, as
10:16 well as their family members, are safe and accounted for.
10:21 The shooting was at least the 48th mass shooting in the United States so far this year, according
10:27 to the Gun Violence Archive.
10:28 A Russian citizen in Sweden is facing deportation
10:39 back to Russia, where he will be forced to fight in the war against Ukraine.
10:45 Sergei Parobny lives in the coastal northern city of Ljubljana with his wife Irina and
10:50 his 14-year-old son Ivan.
10:53 Sergei says his relatives in Russia have received his military conscription order.
10:57 Yet, the Swedish government is determining whether it is legitimate or not.
11:04 As Ukrainian citizens, Sergei`s wife and son are allowed to stay in Sweden.
11:11 Norwegian far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik on Thursday lost his second attempt
11:18 to sue the state for allegedly breaching his human rights whilst in prison.
11:22 Breivik killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in 2011.
11:27 Since his 2012 sentencing, he has been in isolation in a two-story complex with an Xbox,
11:33 pets and a gym, where he claims to be subjected to inhumane punishment.
11:38 Breivik is serving 21 years detention, which could extend indefinitely if he is still considered
11:43 dangerous by the authorities.
11:45 [WHOOSH]