Latest news bulletin | January 7th – Morning
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00:00 EU High Representative warns against Lebanon being dragged into conflict.
00:07 The US Secretary of State visits Turkey on an urgent tour as fears mount that Gaza`s
00:17 war will explode into a broader conflict.
00:21 The death toll from earthquakes in western Japan has risen to 126, with over 200 people
00:26 still unaccounted for.
00:27 EU top diplomat Josep Borrell warned against the conflict in Gaza spilling over into Lebanon
00:47 on Saturday.
00:48 Speaking from Beirut alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Borrell said it`s absolutely
00:54 necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict, adding that already thousands
01:00 of civilians have been displaced in Lebanon.
01:02 "I think that the war can be prevented, has to be avoided, and diplomacy can prevail to
01:14 look for a better solution.
01:17 It is imperative to avoid a regional escalation in the Middle East.
01:26 It`s absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict."
01:32 Borrell`s comments came as Lebanon`s Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern
01:37 Israel on Saturday, warning that the barrage was its initial response to the targeted killing,
01:43 presumably by Israel of a top leader from the allied Hamas group.
01:49 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off his latest urgent Middle East diplomatic
01:56 mission in Turkey on Saturday, as fears mount that Israel`s war against Hamas in Gaza may
02:01 explode into a broader conflict.
02:04 Blinken met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to
02:10 discuss topics such as the ongoing carnage in Gaza, Turkey`s ratification of Sweden`s
02:15 NATO bid and U.S. approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.
02:21 Later on, Blinken also made a brief visit to Greece.
02:24 Next steps of his trip include Israel and the West Bank.
02:28 Simultaneously, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Istanbul on Saturday to protest Blinken`s
02:34 visit to Turkey.
02:35 The protest organized by the socialist and nationalist Veytin Party also called on Turkey
02:41 to cut ties with NATO.
02:45 Aftershocks threatened to bury more homes and block roads crucial for relief shipments
02:50 following the earthquake that rattled Japan`s western coastline this past week.
02:57 On Saturday, the death toll rose to 126, with more than 200 people still unaccounted for.
03:04 Ujima City in the center of Japan recorded the highest number of deaths with 69, followed
03:10 by nearby Suzu with 38.
03:14 More than 500 people have also been hurt, with at least 27 seriously injured.
03:19 Officials warned that roads could collapse completely following the increased rain and
03:23 snow expected overnight and on Sunday.
03:27 Transport links have already been weakened from the dozens of earthquakes that continue
03:31 to shake the area.
03:34 According to the Umuri newspaper, there have been more than 100 landslides in the area
03:39 and some blocking lifeline roads.
03:46 Christians around the world have celebrated Epiphany.
03:49 Pope Francis held the annual mass on Saturday, addressing some 6,000 people in St. Peter`s
03:56 Basilica at the Vatican.
03:58 The Holy Day marks the official end of the Christmas season, but takes place on different
04:03 days depending on the country.
04:06 It is commonly referred to as the Feast of the Three Kings or Magi.
04:11 In Romania, priests blessed the water and held the mass, but celebrations differ throughout
04:16 the country, with girls putting basil under their pillow to dream of their future husband
04:21 and boys swimming in a race to grab a cross thrown by the priest into the water.
04:32 In Spain, the night of the fifth is the most important.
04:34 In Madrid, thousands attended the traditional Three Kings to celebrate the arrival of the
04:40 three wise men.
04:42 They witnessed 1,500 people parade on 14 different floats, whilst 1,200 kilos of sweets were
04:50 distributed to the crowd.