Morning Briefing Dec. 7, 2024

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including Türkiye hoping Syria's march would continue "without disaster;" Russia and Belarus signing a mutual security guarantees agreement and Syrian opposition groups taking control of Daraa from regime forces.

TOP STORIES

• Türkiye wishes Syria's march to continue 'without disasters': President Erdogan

Addressing key regional issues, including the ongoing situation in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday wished the march of anti-regime forces toward Damascus continues without accidents or disasters.

“Idlib, Hama, Homs and the target, of course, is Damascus. The opposition's march continues. Our wish is that this march in Syria continues without accidents or disasters," Erdogan told reporters following Friday prayers in Istanbul.

The president also expressed frustration over Syria's leadership. "We made a call to (Bashar al) Assad. We said: 'Come, let's determine the future of Syria together.' Unfortunately, we did not receive a positive response to this," he said.

• Russia, Belarus sign mutual security guarantees agreement

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed an agreement on mutual security guarantees.

Following a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, the agreement was signed in Minsk, along with 10 other documents, including a deal to form the Union State's united electricity market.

“In conditions of unprecedented external pressure, Russia and Belarus closely interact in international affairs, invariably providing each other with genuine allied mutual support,” Putin said in his address to the Council.

• Syrian opposition groups take control of Daraa from regime forces

Syrian opposition groups took control of Daraa near the Jordanian border in southern Syria.

Military opposition groups fighting Assad’s regime forces in Daraa, advanced by seizing settlements and military positions in rural areas, taking control of key locations.

After intense fighting, opposition groups also took control of the provincial capital from regime forces.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• At least 32 more Palestinians were killed in relentless Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll since last year to 44,612, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave.
• At least 23 Palestinians were killed when the Israeli army targeted homes in northern and southern Gaza.
• As anti-regime armed groups reach Homs city center and pressure on Damascus increases, the regime army on the Iraqi border has started shifting some forces to the west.
• Anti-regime groups in Syria have captured the districts of Rastan and Talbiseh in Homs province, a region of strategic importance that serves as a gateway to the national capital of Damascus, sources said.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow hopes its “signal” to the West with the use of its Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile is “taken seriously.”
• South Korea’s ruling party leader said President Yoon Suk Yeol needs to be quickly suspended from exercising his authority, disclosing that Yoon ordered the arrests of key politicians during his failed declaration of martial law.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underlined that the chaos in Syria should not be allowed to benefit terror organizations such as PKK, Daesh/ISIS.
• As Syrian regime forces continued to withdraw from the east, the US-backed terror group, PKK/YPG, expanded and took control of territories that the regime forces left behind.
• Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled a presidential run-off scheduled for Dec. 8, and results of the first round of the Nov. 24 election, according to media reports.
• Russia advised its nationals in Syria to leave as sources said anti-regime armed groups have reached the Homs city center.
• Former Turkish Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu has been elected secretary general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- the first Turk to hold the post.
• The Israeli army announced it has reinforced its forces in the occupied Golan Heights in response to rapid developments in Syria.
• Lebanon indefinitely closed major border crossings with Syria, following Israeli forces' overnight airstrikes.
• Germany voiced concern about Russia and Iran's interference in Syria, urging all parties in the conflict to protect civilians and advance the process for a political solution.
• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized to the nation for his failed attempt to implement martial law, hours before an impeachment vote.
• Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the global community failed to ensure democracy and secure the rights and freedoms of women in Afghanistan as she testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee.

SPORTS

• Charles Leclerc given 10-place grid penalty ahead of season finale in Abu Dhabi

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has been handed a 10-place grid penalty at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after constructors were forced to fit a new battery for the season’s final race, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed.

"Leclerc, on Soft compound tyres, set his quickest time of 1:24.542 after being restricted to the garage for the first half of the session due to a problem with this SF-24," FIA said in a statement. "And it later emerged that Ferrari has fitted a third ERS of the season to his car, exceeding the permitted allocation. He will therefore take a grid penalty for Sunday’s grand prix."

It is a significant setback for Ferrari, which currently trails McLaren by 21 points in the battle for third place in the Constructors' Championship.

.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Germany’s Scholz rejects tax fraud allegations in latest testimony

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz strongly denied any involvement in a multibillion-euro tax fraud scandal during his tenure as Hamburg mayor, as he appeared for his third testimony before a parliamentary committee.

The Social Democrat, who served as Hamburg's mayor from 2011 to 2018, faced new questions about his alleged dealings with banks involved in the “cum-ex” scandal, which has been described as one of Germany's biggest tax frauds.

“I have always advocated for a fair tax system throughout my political career,” he told the investigation committee of Hamburg parliament, adding that the allegations made were baseless claims lacking any supporting evidence. He also reaffirmed his support for thorough investigations into tax evasion schemes.

• Asian stock markets down, except China, in November

Asian stock markets were on a downward trend in November, except for China, as Beijing diverged in the region due to the government’s supportive decisions.

The risk appetite in Asian markets was under pressure last month due to fueling concerns that US President-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, especially on China of up to 60% on all products, signaled he would once again weaponize tariffs in economic competition.

Trump recently said that he would impose a 10% tariff on all imports from China, as well as 25% on products from Canada and Mexico.

• EU states fail to agree on new sanction package against Russia

EU states failed to agree on a new sanction package for Russia, according to the Politico news outlet.

Latvia and Lithuania refused to support the package as it also extended a provision that permits Western companies to keep working in Russia despite existing sanctions, it said, citing diplomats familiar with the issue.

Critics of the provision, which was initially designed to benefit companies, said they want to divest from Russia but cannot for various reasons. They said the benefit is being abused and gives companies too much political cover to stay in Russia, said the US news outlet.