Morning Briefing: April 10, 2024

By Muhammed Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday, including Biden's criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Spanish premier's coming European tour to support Palestinian recognition.

TOP STORIES

• Biden says Netanyahu making 'mistake' with his approach to war on Gaza

US President Joe Biden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday over the war on Gaza, calling his approach a “mistake.”

“I think what he’s doing is a mistake. I don’t agree with his approach,” Biden told the US-based Spanish language TV network Univision in an interview.

What I’m calling for is for the Israelis to just call for a cease-fire, allow for the next six, eight weeks total access to all food and medicine going into the country,” he said. “There’s no excuse to not provide for the medical and the food needs of those people. It should be done now.”

• Spain’s premier to embark on European tour to rally support for recognition of Palestine

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will embark on a European tour to try to convince more nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state, the government spokesperson announced on Tuesday.

Starting on Friday, Sanchez will begin a series of “trips, meetings and contacts” with European and international leaders to “share his concern around the situation in Gaza and the need to push forward the recognition of Palestine as a state,” spokesperson Pilar Alegria said at a press conference.

In late March, the prime ministers of Spain, Ireland, Malta, and Slovenia signed a joint statement saying they stand ready to recognize the state of Palestine, calling it the “only way to achieve peace and security” in the region.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Millions of people across North America gazed in awe at the heavens Monday afternoon as they took in celestial phenomena that will not reoccur for two decades.
  
  
• Palestinian shoppers in occupied East Jerusalem are increasingly favoring Turkish goods in local markets and bakeries due to their quality and affordability.
  
  
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that his heart is "broken" knowing that many Muslims in Gaza, Sudan and other places will not be able to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan because of conflict and hunger.
  
  
• Türkiye has shown its support to Palestine, which has been reeling under Israeli oppression, by sending its people over 45,000 tons of humanitarian aid, said the nation’s president on Tuesday.
  
  
• In a ruling with possible effects throughout the continent, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on Tuesday condemned Switzerland for failing to protect the climate, local media reported.

SPORTS

• There was no winner in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League six-goal quarterfinal first leg duel between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
  
  
• English Premier League side Arsenal failed to win at home in a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on Tuesday, which ended 2-2.
  
  
  BUSINESS & ECONOMY
  
  
• Oil prices rose on Tuesday after hopes fell that negotiations between Israel and Hamas would lead to a cease-fire in Gaza amid concerns the lingering conflict could disrupt supplies from the Middle East, a key oil-producing region.
  
  
• Israel’s economy has lost strength since Tel Aviv launched a war against the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, with the central bank recently revealing that the cost of the attacks is expected to hit around $67 billion.