Morning Briefing: April 5, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday with, including US President Joe Biden calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the Israeli army sacking two senior officials for and workers killing in Gaza, diplomatic tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, and Türkiye vowing zero tolerance for terrorism.

TOP STORIES

• Biden tells Netanyahu ‘immediate cease-fire is essential’

​​​​​US President Joe Biden called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He also told the Israeli premier that the killing of aid workers in Gaza is "unacceptable," and said that future US policy will depend on his counterpart's implementation of major reforms.

"He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps,” according to the White House.

• Israeli army sacks 2 senior army commanders over killing of aid workers

The Israeli army’s chief of general staff sacked two top army commanders Thursday who were linked to a deadly strike on a convoy of World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza.

Herzi Halevi dismissed the commander of the Nahal Brigade -- one of the army's main infantry brigades -- and another senior commander within the same brigade, according to Israel’s Channel 14.

Halevi issued an apology on Wednesday for the Israeli strike, and termed the incident as a "misidentification.”

• Somalia expels Ethiopia’s ambassador, closes 2 consulates

Escalating a months-long dispute, Somalia on Thursday said it was sending Ethiopia’s ambassador to the country back home for consultations and ordered the closure of two Ethiopian consulates in the Horn of Africa nation.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Mogadishu said that the government ordered the closure of the Ethiopian consulates in Garowe in the semiautonomous state of Puntland and Hargeisa in the breakaway region of Somaliland.

• Türkiye vows zero tolerance for terrorism

Türkiye on Thursday vowed to end terrorism, stressing there will be no tolerance for terrorist organizations in the future of its "region."

In a statement, the Turkish National Security Council, which met Thursday at the Presidential Complex in Ankara under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, declared there will be absolutely no tolerance for "terrorist organizations or their supporters in the future of our region.”

“Attacks targeting our citizens living in Europe by the PKK/KCK-PYD/YPG terrorist organizations are closely monitored,” said the statement.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Israel has agreed to open additional routes for the delivery of badly needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, the White House announced Thursday.
  
  
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that “if we don't see the changes that we need to see, there'll be changes to our policy.”
  
  
• Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed on Thursday claims suggesting that Russia could be targeted by "Islamic fundamentalists," maintaining that Russia has warm relations with Muslims.
  
  
• Eleven security personnel and 15 militants were killed in overnight clashes in southeastern Iran, authorities announced on Thursday.
  
  
• The Israeli army is using an artificial intelligence-powered program that designates thousands of Palestinians as potential targets for military strikes in the Gaza Strip, a new investigation has found.
  
  
• Kosovo on Thursday seized the assets of fugitive Kosovo Serb politician Milan Radoicic, who admitted to planning the events that resulted in the death of a police officer in a siege in Banjska on Sept. 24.
  
  
• The leader of Yemen’s Houthi group said Thursday that American and British airstrikes on his country since January have killed 37 people and injured 30 others.
  
  
• Former US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Israel needs to “finish what they started,” adding they are losing the public relations war.
  
  
  SPORTS
  
  
• Palmer gives Chelsea last-minute 4-3 Premier League win over Manchester United

English midfielder Cole Palmer gave Chelsea a last-minute 4-3 English Premier League win over Manchester United in a week 31 match on Thursday.

Liverpool, which beat Sheffield United 3-1 on Thursday, lead the Premier League standings with 70 points, while Manchester United are in sixth spot with 48 points and Chelsea are 10th with 43 points.

• Saudi Arabia to host women's tennis finals for next 3 years

Saudi capital Riyadh will host the women's tennis finals for the next three years, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed on Thursday.

"Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the next three editions of the WTA Finals from 2024-2026, following the announcement Thursday of a new agreement between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation," a WTA statement read.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Current head Kristalina Georgieva sole nominee in IMF leadership

The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that managing director Kristalina Georgieva is the only candidate in a leadership search.

"The period for submitting nominations for the position of the next Managing Director closed on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. One candidate, the current Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, has been nominated," it said in a statement.

• Global markets remain mixed following Fed boss Powell’s statements

Global markets remained mixed following US macroeconomic data pointing to strong activity, and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s statements indicating a “wait-and-see” approach displayed by the bank.

ADP Nonfarm Employment Change for March came in at 184,000 on Wednesday, which was higher than expected, signaling that the tight stance in the labor market continues.