Morning Briefing: August 6, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday with, including Bangladesh’s army chief announcing an interim government after the prime minister fled the country, an attack by Iran-aligned militia on US forces at a Iraqi airbase, and Türkiye planning to join the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

TOP STORIES

• Bangladesh army chief announces interim gov't as premier flees country

Bangladesh military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman announced a transitional government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country for India due to violent nationwide protests.

Hundreds of people were killed and wounded during the protests since July, which first called for the abolition of quotas in government jobs and later Hasina’s resignation.

In an address to the nation, Zaman called for peace and said there would be “no need” of martial law if normalcy returns to the South Asian nation.

Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh.

• Iran-aligned militia’s attack at Iraq airbase marks dangerous escalation, warns Pentagon

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant agreed that an attack by Iran-aligned militia earlier in the day on US forces at an airbase in Iraq marked a "dangerous escalation," said the Pentagon.

"Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant agreed that today's Iran-aligned militia attack on U.S. forces stationed at Ain al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq marked a dangerous escalation and demonstrated Iran's destabilizing role in the region," spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

• Türkiye to join genocide case against Israel: President Erdogan

Türkiye will submit a petition this week to join the world court genocide case against Israel, the nation’s president announced.

"Our parliamentary legal team will submit our petition to join the genocide case against Israel to the International Court of Justice in The Hague” on Wednesday, said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Türkiye is doing everything in its power to end as soon as possible the “barbarism” that has claimed the lives of 40,000 innocents in Gaza over the past 10 months, he said after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Key coordinators of the student movement that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee Bangladesh announced Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as the chief advisor of the interim government.

• Continuing days of unrest, hundreds of far-right rioters clashed with anti-racism protesters and police in Plymouth, southwestern England.

• Egypt called for ending Israel’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip and access for humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave “without conditions.”

• The assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was intended to prolong the conflict in the Gaza Strip, said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

• The UN human rights chief said he is "deeply worried" about the rising risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and called for an urgent de-escalation.

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on all parties in the Middle East to "take steps to ease tensions.”

• The UN has reported an over 300% increase in malnutrition cases among children in Gaza.

• Bangladesh's president ordered the release of opposition leader Khaleda Zia hours after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid widespread protests.

• Denmark considers the delivery of its first batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine “an important milestone.”

SPORTS

• Spain advance to men's football Olympics final

Spain came from behind to beat Morocco 2-1 and advanced to the men's football Olympics final.

Morocco broke the deadlock with a penalty kick from Soufiane Rahimi in the 37th minute at Marseille Stadium.

Spain's goals came from Fermin Lopez in the 66th minute and Juanlu Sanchez in the 85th minute

• Armand Duplantis breaks Olympic record to grab the gold in men's pole vault

Armand Duplantis broke the men's pole vault Olympic record to win the gold medal and bested his own world record for the ninth time.

"The world record holder soared over the bar at 6.10m after earlier flying over at 6.00m to win a widely-expected – but brilliant – Olympic title ahead of Sam Kendricks of the USA, who won silver with a jump of 5.95m, and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, who took bronze (5.90m)," the Olympics said in a statement.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye's annual consumer inflation slows to 9-month low in July

Türkiye's annual consumer inflation significantly cooled to a nine-month low of 61.78% this July, below economists' forecasts, according to official data.

Headline inflation decreased for the second consecutive month in July from 71.60% in June, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) showed.

• Ukraine says it received $3.9B from US via World Bank project

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said his country received $3.9 billion from the US via a project of the World Bank.

“Ukraine has received $3.9 bn from the USA via a World Bank project. These funds will be used to finance priority budget expenditures such as the salaries of teachers, doctors and rescue workers, pensions and social benefits,” Shmyhal said on X.