Morning Briefing: Jan. 21, 2024

By Faruk Zorlu

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including the killing of 4 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers in Israeli attack on Syrian capital, Ax-3 space mission crew entered International Space Station, and welcomed aboard by astronauts, and the huge anti-Israel rally in Madrid.

TOP STORIES

• 4 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps advisers killed in Israeli attack on Syrian capital: Report

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that four of its advisers were killed in an Israeli attack on the Syrian capital, Damascus.

In a statement, the IRGC said that “in addition to the killing of four military advisors serving in Syria, there were also deaths among Syrian forces” in the Israeli attack.

The statement provided no additional information about the number of deaths in Syrian forces.

The Iranian Mehr News Agency also reported that four Iranian IRGC members were killed in an Israeli raid on a neighborhood in the Syrian capital.

• Ax-3 space mission crew enters International Space Station

The Ax-3 space mission crew entered the International Space Station (ISS) at 07.16 Eastern Standard Time (ET) (GMT1216) after the docking process.

The mission was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida at 4.49 p.m. ET on Thursday (2149GMT) on a Falcon 9 rocket of private space exploration company SpaceX.

The Dragon capsule, carrying the crew including Türkiye's first-ever space traveler Alper Gezeravci, docked at the ISS at 05.42 a.m. ET (1042GMT) on Saturday.

The four-person crew will conduct more than 30 scientific researches during their 14-day duty on the ISS.

• Stop 'genocide in Palestine': Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards stage nationwide anti-Israel rally

Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards on Saturday protested across the country against ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, blaming the US and EU for sponsoring the onslaught and urging Madrid to stop supporting Israel and take concrete steps for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire to stop genocide.

On the call of the Solidarity Network against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP), a conglomerate of over 100 civil society organizations in Spain, a massive number of people staged anti-Israel rallies in more than 90 provinces and districts, with the largest one in the capital Madrid, where over 50,000 people are estimated to have participated in solidarity with Palestine.

The Saturday’s rally in the capital was the largest since Israel's relentless attacks on the Gaza Strip, during which civil society as well as left-wing political party leaders urged the international community to end the "genocide in Palestine."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Two of the UK Royal Navy’s ships based in Bahrain collided, according to an official statement.

• At least 165 Palestinians have been killed and 280 injured in the last 24 hours, and people are still trapped under rubble as Israeli forces continue their assault on the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's Health Ministry said.

• The Israeli army continued incursions into several cities in the occupied West Bank, detaining 22 more Palestinians and destroying several homes, as well as taking people's money and vehicles, according to prisoners' affairs groups.

• An Italian court has sentenced a senior naval officer to 20 years in prison for spying for Russia.

• Iran announced the successful launch of a satellite into the highest orbit yet amid escalating tension with the West over its ballistic missile program.

• Sudan's government announced that it is suspending its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

• The US carried out airstrikes against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Gulf of Aden, according to the American military.

• Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in for a second five-year term as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo following a December election.

• Multiple missiles targeted Iraq's Ain al-Asad military base, which houses US troops, wounding a soldier and causing some damage to the facility, an official said.

• Clashes between the Taliban administration and Pakistani border force occurred Saturday in the Kunar province of Afghanistan, according to reports in Afghan media.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Bulgaria may miss target entry date into Eurozone, says Prime Minister Denkov

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov on Saturday announced that the country may miss its target entry date into the Eurozone, which is January 1 next year.

Speaking with Darik Radio, Denkov, however, insisted that the country's target date for entry into the Eurozone is not "sacred."

“What is sacred is not the date but having a clear direction and working on it. This is good for business, good for citizens, good for welfare, and good for the control of financial institutions,” he said.

The premier, however, stressed that the government is working hard to expedite the accession process.

• Sudan suspends membership in 8-country eastern African trade bloc

Sudan's government on Saturday announced that it is suspending its membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in the capital Khartoum, which is loyal to the army led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said the decision is a reaction to the eight-country eastern African trade bloc's failure to respect Sudan’s decision to stop involvement in the country’s internal affairs.

The Foreign Ministry statement comes a day after the IGAD discussed the conflict in Sudan in the Ugandan capital Kampala where it invited the leader of paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

SPORTS

• Leverkusen continue unbeaten Bundesliga run by topping Leipzig 3-2

Bayer Leverkusen continued their unbeaten German Bundesliga run Saturday by topping Leipzig 3-2.

Leipzig's young Dutch forward Xavi Simons' finish into the bottom corner of the net brought an early lead to the hosts in the seventh minute at Red Bull Arena.

Nigerian striker Nathan Tella's shot from close range equalized in the 47th minute.

• Mike Maignan subjected to racial slurs during Milan's 3-2 Serie A victory against Udinese

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was subjected to racist slurs from Udinese fans during an Italian Serie A match which ended with a 3-2 Milan victory.

The match was briefly suspended in the first half and Milan went to the locker room after racist chants against the French goalkeeper.

The match restarted after a short pause.

English midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek brought the lead to Milan in the 31st minute at Bluenergy Stadium.