Morning Briefing: Feb. 4, 2024

By Gozde Bayar

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including demonstrations in various European cities calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, US and UK's new strikes against Houthis in Yemen, and Iraq declaring 3 days of mourning for victims of US airstrikes.

TOP STORIES

• Thousands gather in France, Switzerland, German to call for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

Thousands of people on Saturday gathered in France and Switzerland to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

In Paris, hundreds of protesters, carrying Palestinian and South African flags, denounced the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

Criticizing French President Emmanuel Macron for “complicity” in Israel's attacks on Palestinians, the protesters urged the government to work toward peace in the Middle East.

In Geneva, thousands of protesters marched through the city center in support of the people of Gaza.

In Berlin, 2,000 Palestinian supporters rallied at Potsdamer Platz against Israel's Gaza attacks.

• Houthi group says US, UK carried out new attack on Hodeida, Sanaa in Yemen

The Houthi group in Yemen said the US and UK carried out a new attack on the capital, Sanaa, and the western coastal province of Hodeida.

The Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television wrote on X that the US and the UK targeted the cities of Dhamar, Hajjah and Al-Bayda, as well as Sanaa.

The US and the UK carried out 11 airstrikes on the Hayfan and Al-Barah regions in the city of Taizz, according to the Ansarullah news site affiliated with the Houthis.

The attacks in Sanaa mainly targeted the An-Nahdayn and Attan regions.

Earlier, Al-Masirah television reported that the strikes targeted the districts of Al-Luhayyah and Al-Durayhimi, without providing details.

• Iraq declares 3 days of mourning for victims of US airstrikes

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Sudani ordered three days of mourning Saturday for military personnel and civilians killed by US airstrikes, according to Iraqi news agency, INA.

“Prime Minister Al-Sudani has declared a general mourning for three days across state departments and institutions as a tribute to the martyrs of our armed forces and civilians who lost their lives due to the US airstrikes on the Akashat and Qa'im areas in the western Anbar province,” said a statement from the media office of the prime minister.

“In protest against the American aggression that targeted Iraqi military and civilian sites, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon the Charge d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Baghdad, David Burger,” INA quoted the agency.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The return of the Axiom-3 Mission crew from the International Space Station (ISS) was postponed until at least Monday due to "unfavorable recovery conditions," SpaceX announced.
• The head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Ibrahim Kalin met Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar to discuss the situation in Gaza.
• The US Central Command, or CENTCOM, announced it targeted six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles intended for launch from Yemen toward the Red Sea.
• The Jordanian Armed Forces denied involvement in airstrikes conducted by the US in Iraq, state news agency Petra reported.
  
• Russia on Saturday condemned the US strikes on Iraq and Syria, and requested a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the issue.
• Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the "military approach" of the US, particularly recent attacks on Yemen, and the reinstatement of Houthis on the list of designated terror groups has “complicated” the situation in Yemen.
  
• Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill made history after she was appointed as Northern Ireland's first nationalist first minister.
• The Israeli army detained 12 more Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
• At least 107 Palestinians were killed and 165 injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.
• Iran condemned the US attacks in Iraq and Syria.
• Senegal’s President Macky Sall announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for Feb. 25.
  
• A Pakistani court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to seven years each in prison on charges of an unlawful marriage.

SPORTS

• Qatar beat Uzbekistan on penalties to advance to Asian Cup semifinal

Qatar defeated Uzbekistan 3-2 on penalties to advance to the Asian Cup semifinal.

A deadlock was broken with an own goal from Utkir Yusupov in the 27th minute but Uzbekistan leveled when Odiljon Hamrobekov made a close-range finish in the 59th minute.

The match ended 1-1 after normal and extra time at Al Bayt Stadium.

• F1 driver Hamilton excited to 'fulfill a childhood dream' with Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton said he is excited to “fulfill a childhood dream” when he moves to Ferrari in 2025.

"I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red," Hamilton wrote on X.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Eurasian Economic Union celebrates 10th anniversary in Kazakhstan

The Eurasian Economic Union met in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and First Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev attended the council meeting hosted by Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.

Smailov said in his opening speech that this year they are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the bloc.