Morning Briefing: Feb. 24, 2024

By Merve Berker

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Saturday, including US' reaction towards Israel's new settlement plan, UN chief's remarks on war in Ukraine and quadripartite meeting in Paris to discuss Gaza cease-fire.

TOP STORIES

• US says Israeli settlements 'inconsistent' with international law, rolling back 'Pompeo doctrine'

Israel's Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank are in contravention of international law, the Joe Biden administration said Friday in a break with ex-President Donald Trump's reversal of long-standing US policy.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is "disappointed" by the Israeli government's announcement that it would build 3,300 more new settlements, in the occupied Palestinian territory, reestablishing the US understanding that they are illegal under international law.

"It's been long standing US policy, under Republican or Democratic administrations, that new settlements are counterproductive to reaching an enduring peace. They're also inconsistent with international law," Blinken said during a press conference with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

• War in Ukraine remains 'open wound' at heart of Europe: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the global repercussions of the conflict in Ukraine on Friday, urging Russia to adhere to the UN Charter.

"Two years on – and a decade since Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol – the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe," Guterres told the Security Council a session.

It is high time for peace based on the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions, he added.

"In any war, everyone suffers. But the people of Ukraine are suffering appallingly from the war inflicted on them by Russia," Guterres said, recalling that over 10,000 civilian men, women and children have been killed.

Quadripartite meeting kicks off in Paris to discuss Gaza cease-fire, hostage swap

Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Israel began talks in the French capital Paris on Friday to discuss a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip as well as a prisoner swap deal between Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Tel Aviv, Egyptian media reported.

Delegations from the four countries met in Paris to discuss a cease-fire in Gaza and a prisoner swap deal, Al-Qahera News channel reported, without providing further details.

On Feb. 7, Hamas proposed a three-stage plan for a Gaza cease-fire that included a 135-day pause in fighting to carry out a hostage swap deal, according to a Palestinian source.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• UN experts called for an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel that would be used in Gaza.
• The EU adopted its 13th package of sanctions against Russia over Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.
• A UK court dismissed an appeal by Shamima Begum, a 24-year-old woman who lost her British citizenship for joining the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group in 2015.
• Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem “constitute a chief obstacle” to any prospect for peace, Norway's delegation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said.
• Spain will not sell arms to Israel "as long as the current situation continues," said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Friday.
• Allegations by Armenia’s premier of preparations by neighboring Azerbaijan to attack it are untrue and seek to mislead the international community, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
• The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination are being violated day after day by Israel’s illegal polices of “genocide,” the Gulf state of Oman argued to the International Court of Justice in The Hague in a public hearing.
• Victims of months of Israeli attacks on Gaza are filing a criminal complaint against top German government officials for supporting Israel’s war crimes and "genocide" against Palestinians.
• Azerbaijan said that the Armenian military had opened fire on its positions in its western district of Kalbajar.
• Qatar made an impassioned plea for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories during a public hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
• Türkiye will use all means at its disposal to halt "oppression in Gaza and harassment in Jerusalem" by Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
• Ukrainian air forces on Friday claimed to have shot down a Russian plane near the Black Sea.

SPORTS

• UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 draw unveiled

The UEFA Europa Conference League Round of 16 draw took place at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Fenerbahce have been paired with Belgium's Union SG in the last 16 draw as the Turkish club will visit the Lotto Park in Brussels in the first leg as a group winner.

Ties will take place over two legs, with group winners at home in the second leg.

• 2021 champions Villarreal to take on Olympique Marseille in Europa League Last 16

The 2020-21 season's champions Villarreal of Spain will take on French side Olympique Marseille in the 2024 UEFA Europa League Round of 16, according to the draws held on Friday.

Spanish La Liga side Villarreal bagged their maiden European trophy by beating English powerhouse Manchester United 11-10 in the penalty shootout after regular and extra time in final ended with 1-1 draw on May 26, 2021.

French Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille, on the other hand, have three trophies under their belt (1999, 2004, 2018) in the competition history.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Nvidia's market value tops $2T with booming demand for artificial intelligence

US-based global chipmaker Nvidia's market value topped $2 trillion on Friday with booming demand for artificial intelligence.

Nvidia's stock price soared 16.4% on Thursday to close at a record-high level of $785.38 per share for the tech firm, after the company late Wednesday posted record quarterly and full-year revenues.

The California-based company's stock price rose to $817.11 a share at 9.56 am EDT (1456GMT) on the Nasdaq for a daily gain of an additional 4%, which gave the firm a market capitalization of $2.04 trillion.

• Egypt, UAE sign investment deal worth $150B

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on Friday signed an investment deal worth $150 billion to develop a resort city in northern Egypt.

According to Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, the investment project seeks to develop the Ras Al-Hekma area into a massive new urban, business and tourism center.

The agreement signing ceremony, attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, was signed by Egyptian Housing Minister Assem El-Gazzar and Emirati Investment Minister Mohamed Al-Suwaidi.