Morning Briefing: Aug. 11, 2024

​​​​​​​By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start Sunday, including the Israeli military killing at least 100 Palestinians in a school bombing in Gaza; the US' saying it is "deeply concerned” about reports of civilian casualties” and the Israeli army casting doubt on the death toll.

TOP STORIES

• Israeli military kills at least 100 Palestinians in school bombing in Gaza

At least 100 Palestinians were killed when the Israeli military bombed the Al-Taba'een school in the Al-Daraj neighborhood in eastern Gaza City.

The school was housing displaced residents. Dozens were injured in the attack.

Israeli military aircraft targeted the school while worshippers were performing the fajr (dawn) prayer, the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported.

• US 'deeply concerned' about reports of civilian casualties in Gaza after Israeli strike

The US said it was "deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties in Gaza," after an Israeli airstrike hit a school.

"We know Hamas has been using schools as locations to gather and operate out of, but we have also said repeatedly and consistently that Israel must take measures to minimize civilian harm," National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement.

Stressing that Palestinian civilians "continue to be killed and wounded," Savett added: "This underscores the urgency of a ceasefire and hostage deal, which we continue to work tirelessly to achieve."

• Israeli army casts doubt on death toll from Gaza school bombing

The Israeli army cast doubt on the reported death toll from the bombing of the Al-Taba'een School in central Gaza, which Palestinian officials said resulted in at least 100 fatalities and numerous injuries.

The military questioned the accuracy of reported casualties, claiming that only 20 people were killed.

The army claimed that their intelligence suggested the school, which was housing displaced civilians, was used for “promoting Hamas activities.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Palestine said it considered the failure of the international community and its institutions as the reason for a deadly Israeli attack on the Al-Tabin School in Gaza City.
• The Belgian foreign minister expressed concern about rising tensions in the region in a telephone call Saturday to Ali Bagheri, Iran's acting foreign minister.
• Jordan informed Iran and Israel that it would “shoot down any target” in its airspace in case the confrontation escalates between the two nations.
• Britain's foreign secretary said he was "appalled" by Israel's bombing of a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City in a strike that killed at least 100 people and injured many.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un paid a two-day visit to a flood-hit northern part of the country, state media reported.
• Two people were injured following an Israeli airstrike on the town of Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon.
• At least six Palestinians, including three children, were injured amid Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank.
• The Muslim world condemned Israel’s bombing of a school in Gaza sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City.
• Maryam Salhab, a 21-year-old pharmaceutical student, endured torture and abuse while in Israeli detention after her arrest by Israeli soldiers.
• The Palestinian presidency held the US government responsible for Israel’s attack on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza.
• Russia declared counterterrorism measures in the Bryansk region, neighboring Kursk, where fighting with Ukrainian troops entered a fifth day.
• The majority of the 2.3 million residents in the Gaza Strip have been systematically forced to migrate by the Israeli army with its evacuation orders since Oct. 7, and have been driven into a small piece of land.
• Israel conducted airstrikes on 13 shelter centers in Gaza, where displaced Palestinians have been seeking refuge, since the beginning of August, according to the Civil Defense spokesman in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
• At least nine people were killed and 16 injured in clashes between two militias in Tajoura, an eastern suburb of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, said the country’s Ambulance and Emergency Service.
• Bangladesh’s Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan said he decided to resign as students staged a protest outside the Supreme Court.

SPORTS

• Brazil beat Türkiye to win Olympic women's volleyball bronze medal

Brazil defeated Türkiye 3-1 to win the women's volleyball bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Brazilian national volleyball team sealed a third-place win in four sets: 25-21, 27-25, 22-25 and 25-15 at South Paris Arena 1.

The US will take on Italy in the gold-medal match Sunday at the same venue.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Fitch revises Serbia's outlook to positive; affirms BB+ rating

Fitch Ratings announced it revised Serbia's outlook to positive from stable, and affirmed its BB+ rating.

The revision reflects the country's strengthening credit fundamentals, investment to drive growth, expected economic growth above trend and falling government debt, it said.

The general government balance was in a small surplus in the first half of 2024, due to revenue outperformance, but the government has maintained the 2024 deficit target of 2.2% of GDP, it added.

• Ripple starts testing its stablecoin on XRP Ledger, Ethereum

Ripple Labs, a US-based technology company that has developed the Ripple payment protocol and exchange network, said Friday it started testing its stablecoin, RLUSD, on XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchain networks.

"Testing, testing…RLUSD! We’re excited to share that Ripple USD (RLUSD) is now in private beta on XRP Ledger and Ethereum mainnet," it wrote on X.

The company, however, noted that RLUSD has not yet received regulatory approval, and it is not available for purchase or trading​​​​​​​