Morning Briefing: February 8, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday, including general elections in Pakistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel in the wake of its rejection of a cease-fire deal, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev winning a new term in office.

TOP STORIES

• Polls open across Pakistan for high-stakes general elections

Polls opened for Pakistan’s crucial general elections early Thursday with millions of voters set to elect a new government for the next five years amid heightened security, officials and local media reported.

A party needs a simple majority of 169 seats to form a government.

A fierce three-way contest is expected between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and Prime Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan People's Party headed by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and independent candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, whose founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan is in jail.

• US' Blinken says Hamas' response to cease-fire proposal 'creates space' for agreement

At a press conference in Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Hamas' response to a proposal for a cease-fire and hostage deal had some "clear non-starters" but creates "space for an agreement to be reached.”

Meanwhile, Hamas said that the Israeli government and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are seeking in every possible way to “mislead domestic public opinion and prolong the aggression,” and that a delegation will head to Egypt's capital to follow up on dialogue about what Hamas presented in its proposal.

Late Wednesday Netanyahu vowed to continue a deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip until achieving a "crushing victory" over Hamas. "Giving into the outrageous demands of Hamas will not only fail to bring about the release of the hostages but will invite an additional massacre and a disaster for Israel," he told reporters. "There is no other solution besides complete victory."

• Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev reelected: Preliminary results

Ilham Aliyev was reelected Azerbaijan's president on Wednesday with over 92% of the vote, according to preliminary results.

Mazahir Panahov, head of the Central Election Commission, announced the preliminary results of the presidential election, saying Aliyev got 92.1% of the vote from 54.47% of ballots counted.

Aliyev's closest competitor, independent candidate Zahid Oruj, got 2.2%.

About 6.5 million people were eligible to vote, including those abroad. The last presidential election, which is held every seven years, was held in 2018.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that it carried out an airstrike in Iraq, killing a senior leader of the Kataib Hezbollah resistance group.

• A UN official warned Wednesday about the "increased risk" of malnutrition in the Gaza Strip due to the conflict, with a 12-fold increase compared before the current conflict began on Oct. 7.

• Meeting with Libya’s premier in Tripoli, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated “Türkiye’s support for Libya’s integrity, stability, and prosperity.”

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned against the consequences of Israel's possible military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

• A space capsule carrying Turkish, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish astronauts has undocked from the International Space Station, freeing the ship to make its way back to Earth, with splashdown set for Friday.

• Gaza’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that at least 27,708 Palestinians have been killed and 67,174 others injured in Israeli attacks in the enclave since Oct. 7.

• New York City police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters Wednesday for blocking the street in front of the building where President Joe Biden was set to speak.

• The US Senate blocked a bipartisan bill Wednesday combining border measures and foreign aid to Israel and Ukraine.

SPORTS

• Ivory Coast to play Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations final

Ivory Coast, the hosts of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will face Nigeria in Sunday's final.

The development came after Ivory Coast beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 on Wednesday in a semifinal in Abidjan.

Ivorian forward Sebastian Haller, who is also a Borussia Dortmund player, scored a second-half volley.

• Qatar beat Iran to face Jordan in 2023 Asian Cup final

Qatar beat Iran 3-2 on Wednesday to face Jordan in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup final.

Iranian star Sardar Azmoun scored an early goal in the semifinal at Doha's Al Thumama Stadium. Qatar's Jassem Gaber scored the equalizer in the 17th minute.

Qatar are the defending winners of the competition.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• OECD annual inflation rises to 6% in December

Annual consumer inflation in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) area rose to 6% in December, following three consecutive months of declines, according to data released on Wednesday.

The figure was up from over two-year low of 5.8% in November, the Paris-based organization said in a statement.

• EU signs $431M deal with Türkiye to support recovery after 2023 earthquakes

The European Union signed an agreement with Türkiye on Wednesday on a €400 million ($431 million) grant to finance recovery operations following the devastating twin earthquakes that hit the country last February.

The signing ceremony was held at European Commission headquarters in Brussels.​​​​​​​