Morning Briefing: Aug. 29, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including the US announcing new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence in the occupied West Bank, the US also warning of a potential oil leak from a tanker attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea and the EU urging the international community to address concerns over repeated violations of the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.

TOP STORIES

• US announces new sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence in occupied West Bank

The US announced new sanctions against an Israeli NGO and an individual over extremist settler violence in the occupied West Bank against Palestinians.

The State Department announced that it is imposing sanctions on Hashomer Yosh, an Israeli nongovernmental organization, which the US accused of providing material support to the US-designated outpost Meitarim Farm, and U.S.-designated individuals Yinon Levi, Neriya Ben Pazi and Zvi Bar Yosef.

The agency is also sanctioning Yitzhak Levi Filant, the civilian security coordinator of the Yitzhar settlement in the West Bank, accusing him of leading a group of armed settlers to set up roadblocks and conduct patrols to pursue and attack Palestinians in their lands and forcefully expel them from their lands.

• EU urges international community to address concerns over repeated violations of status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem

The European Union’s foreign policy chief called on the international community to address concerns over repeated violations of the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem.

Josep Borrell wrote on X that he shares Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi's concerns about the repeated violations of the status quo of the holy sites, which are "under continued threat, including from (Israel’s National Security) Minister (Itamar) Ben-Gvir."

"They are fully legitimate and must be addressed by the international community," he said, quoting Safadi's remarks that urged the UN Security Council and all members of the international community to take "immediate effective action to stop the illegal Israeli measures" that violate the historical and legal status quo at occupied Jerusalem’s holy sites.

• US warns of potential oil leak from tanker attacked by Houthis in Red Sea

A Greek-flagged oil tanker attacked by Yemen’s Houthi group in the Red Sea last week could be leaking oil and possibly lead to an environmental catastrophe, the Pentagon warned.

Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said the MV Delta Sounion, carrying approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil, was immobilized and on fire in the Red Sea.

"The MV Delta Sounion...appears to be leaking oil, presenting both a navigational hazard and a potential environmental catastrophe," Ryder said during a news conference.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The FBI said it has conducted an extensive analysis of the suspected shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. However, the motive for the attack remains unidentified.
• The World Food Program (WFP) announced that it is temporarily halting staff movements in Gaza after its vehicle came under fire by Israeli forces at a checkpoint.
• Azerbaijan announced that its military positions in the Nakhchivan exclave came under fresh fire from Armenian forces.
• Israel's major military operation in the occupied West Bank must not constitute the premises of a war extension from Gaza, including full-scale destruction, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
• Ukraine reported that 38,000 people remain in the city of Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub in the eastern Donetsk region, as Russian forces continue to advance amid the ongoing conflict.
• The Israeli army’s large-scale offensive in the occupied West Bank “risks seriously deepening the already catastrophic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,” UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.
• China called for "constructive" dialogue and cooperation with the UN regarding allegations of human rights violations in its northwestern Xinjiang province.
• Cryptocurrency giant Binance has been accused of seizing funds from Palestinian users at the request of the Israel Defense Forces.
• A Kremlin spokesman said that Ukraine's decision to halt the extension of a Russian gas transit contract will significantly harm European consumers, leading to higher gas prices and reduced industrial competitiveness in Europe.
• Recently published photos have, for the first time, exposed the grim realities of the nearly two-decade old killings of 24 Iraqi men, women and children by US Marines.
• Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was brought to court in Paris.
• The Israeli army claimed to have assassinated a field commander from the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad in an airstrike near the Syrian-Lebanon border.
• Russia criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent actions and statements regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, calling them "provocative."
• The US and China agreed to maintain "high-level" exchanges and communication at all levels, besides discussing a new round of interaction between the two countries' heads of state in the "near future."
• Germany called for a swift end to Israel’s 57-year-long occupation of the West Bank.
• Germany and the UK called for progress in cease-fire talks between Hamas and Israel and urged Israeli authorities to allow unhindered humanitarian access into Gaza.
• The Philippines has reported two new mpox cases, raising the tally of active cases in the country to five this year, the Health Ministry announced.
• Israel's foreign minister said the country's army will order Palestinians to evacuate parts of the northern occupied West Bank amid an ongoing major military incursion in the area.
• The Israeli army killed 11 Palestinians in raids in the northern occupied West Bank.
• At least four Palestinians were killed, including three children, and three others were injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential apartment in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City.

SPORTS

• Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal signs right-back Cancelo from Manchester City on 3-year contract

Manchester City's right-back Joao Cancelo joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal on a three-year contract.

"Al-Hilal Club Company, chaired by Mr. Fahad Bin Saad Bin Nafel, has completed the signing of the Portuguese international player Joao Cancelo coming from Manchester City; to represent Al-Hilal first football team for three seasons," Al-Hilal said in a statement.

"The signing ceremony took place at the Four Seasons George V hotel in the French capital Paris in the presence of the club’s chairman of the board of directors," it added.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US chipmaker Nvidia posts record quarterly revenue of $30B, up 122% from year ago

US-based chipmaker Nvidia posted record quarterly revenues amid booming demand for artificial intelligence (AI), according to its financial results statement.

The California-based company posted record revenue of $30 billion for the second quarter of the 2025 fiscal year ended July 28, up 122% from $13.5 billion in the same period last year.

The company said it also saw record quarterly data center revenue of $26.3 billion, which soared 154% from the same period of 2023.

• War's economic ramifications increase, Bank of Israel says

The Bank of Israel has kept its policy rate at 4.5%, saying that "since the outbreak of the war, and in recent months in particular, geopolitical uncertainty and its economic ramifications have increased."

"These, alongside the fiscal uncertainty, are also reflected in the high yield spreads between Israeli government bonds and US bonds and in CDS spreads that are near record levels," it added.

The bank said inflation has also been on an upward trend in recent months and it is above the target range.