Morning Briefing: August 1, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including the Iranian government declaring three days of national mourning for the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, the UN urging an end to discussions by means of "missiles, armed drones and other deadly attacks" and the US saying it is not aware of or involved in the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

TOP STORIES

• Hamas leader’s assassination: Iran declares 3 days of national mourning

The Iranian government has declared three days of national mourning following Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran.

In an official statement issued Wednesday, Iran's newly elected government led by President Masoud Pezeshkian said the assassination of the Hamas leader has "caused grief to the Islamic nation, the devotees of the resistance movement and all the free people of the world."

The assassination “adds another page to the disgraceful record of crimes by the sinister and usurping Zionist entity,” the statement noted, referring to Israel.

• UN urges end to discussions via 'missiles, armed drones and other deadly attacks' after assassination of Hamas leader

The UN called for an end to talks "by means of missiles, armed drones and other deadly attacks" following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli airstrike in Iran.

"The (UN Security) Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss alarming developments in the Middle East," Rosemary DiCarlo, UN political affairs chief, told the Council.

DiCarlo cited a pledge by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to avenge Haniyeh's death. She also referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks claiming that his country was fighting an existential war with Iran.

• US not involved in assassination of Hamas chief Haniyeh, claims Blinken

Washington was “not aware of or involved in” the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed Wednesday.

Washington’s statement came hours after Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran.

“It's very hard to speculate, and I've learned over many years never to speculate on the impact one event may have on something else,” said Blinken.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Since Tuesday evening until early Wednesday, the Middle East witnessed two assassinations, including of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike on a southern suburb of Beirut and Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
• Iran sent a letter to the president of the UN Security Council condemning Israel's strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut and called for "immediate action" in response to “this criminal act.”
• The local government in Nagasaki province declared it will not invite Israel to its annual conference to commemorate the US nuclear bombing of Japan.
• The Russian military commenced the third phase of exercises focusing on training for the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.
• Hamas’s armed wing said the assassination of the group's political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran is a "landmark and dangerous event" that will have implications on the region.
• China imposed a ban on exports of drones and related equipment for military use.​​​​​​​
• The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that illegal Israeli settlers prevented injured Palestinians from leaving after they launched an attack in Bethlehem in the southern occupied West Bank.
• Hamas’s military wing said they destroyed several Israeli military vehicles in an operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
• The White House said it cannot confirm reports about the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike in Iran.
• The Turkish foreign minister said that by assassinating Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Israel has also “killed peace.”
• US patience is running out on the release of election results in Venezuela which gave President Nicolas Maduro another term and was met with protests from the opposition, the White House said.
• Israel has purchased $11 billion worth of US weapons since the start of its war on the Gaza Strip last Oct. 7, the Defense Ministry said.
• The UN condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.
• Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for continuing negotiations to reach a cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip.
• Israel is ready to respond to any attack by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
• The US announced that it is pausing $95 million in assistance to Georgia as relations between the two countries remain tense concerning a controversial "foreign influence" bill.
• Britain has reiterated concern over rising tensions in the Middle East as Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defense Secretary John Healey travelled to the region to call for an end to the conflict in Gaza and de-escalation in the wider region.
• China urged the US to withdraw an intermediate-range missile system from the Philippines "as soon as possible" because the region needs "peace and prosperity,” not missiles and confrontation.
• Ukraine claimed that it downed 89 drones amid what it described as one of Russia’s largest airstrikes on the country.
• Germany has called for an investigation following a UN report which accused Israel of torturing Palestinian prisoners in Gaza.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with the wife and children of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.
• At least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip.

SPORTS

• France's Cassandre Beaugrand wins historic Olympic gold at Paris 2024 women's triathlon

Cassandre Beaugrand won France's first-ever Olympic triathlon gold at the Paris 2024 Games.

"Glory day! Triathlon in GOLD for France! Incredible achievement by Cassandre Beaugrand! The first individual French medal in triathlon in the history of the games. Congratulations," French President Emmanuel Macron said on X.

Following the suspense in the River Seine, Beaugrand, a 27-year-old female triathlete, crossed the line in 1 hour, 54 minutes and 55 seconds to beat Switzerland's Julie Derron, who took an Olympic silver.

• Paris Olympics see rare camaraderie between divided Koreas

The Paris Olympics have brought rare moments of cheer between the divided Koreas, which are currently witnessing hostile relations.

A joint photo of six young sportspersons from North and South Korea as well as China has gone viral on social media.

The group took pictures after winning medals in table tennis, mixed doubles in Paris where the Olympic Games have been going on since last week.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Rising confidence on inflation, solid labor market could put September rate cut on table: Fed chair

US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said rising confidence on inflation and a solid labor market could put a September rate cut on the table for the central bank.

"The question will be whether the totality of the data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks are consistent with rising confidence on inflation and maintaining a solid labor market," Powell told a press conference after the conclusion of the Fed's two-day monetary policy meeting.

"If that test is met, the reduction in our policy rate could be on the table as soon as the next meeting in September," he added.

• US sanctions entities facilitating weapons to Houthis

The US Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on multiple entities that have facilitated weapons procurement for Ansar Allah, commonly referred to as the Houthis.

The sanctions include two individuals and four companies located in China, including Hong Kong, and Yemen "who have directly supported Houthis’ efforts to procure military-grade materials abroad and ship these items to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, enabling the group’s ongoing attacks," it said in a statement.

The Houthis have deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ballistic missiles and cruise missiles to attack US military forces, merchant vessels, their crews and civilian populations in Israel since November 2023, it noted.

• Boeing posts $1.4B loss in 2nd quarter, revenue falls 15%

US-based aerospace manufacturer Boeing saw a net loss of over $1.4 billion in the second quarter of this year and an annual revenue decline of almost 15%, according to its financial results statement.

The defense contractor posted a net loss of nearly $1.44 billion in the April-June period, a steep decline from a $149 million loss recorded in the same period of last year.

Its net loss from operations widened to almost $1.1 billion from $99 million during that period.