Morning Briefing: July 13, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including the International Court of Justice saying it will issue an advisory opinion on legal consequences related to Israeli actions in occupied Palestinian territories on July 19, Biden remarking that he will remain a stalwart ally of Ukraine and will work to marshal international support as Kyiv continues to confront an ongoing Russian invasion and a WHO warning that without immediate action, more than 1 million children will suffer acute malnutrition in Congo.

TOP STORIES

ICJ to issue advisory opinion July 19 on legal consequences related to Israeli occupation of Palestine

The International Court of Justice said it will issue an advisory opinion on legal consequences related to Israeli actions in occupied Palestinian territories on July 19.

“The International Court of Justice will deliver its Advisory Opinion in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” the Court said in a statement.

"A public sitting will take place at 3 p.m. at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court, during which Judge Nawaf Salam, President of the Court, will read out the Advisory Opinion.”

• Biden says he 'will not bow down to Putin,' will maintain backing for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden said he will remain a stalwart ally of Ukraine and will work to marshal international support as Kyiv continues to confront an ongoing Russian invasion.

The president said that during meetings with NATO allies in Washington, he made it clear that he "will not bow down to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

"I will not walk away from Ukraine. I will keep NATO strong. That's exactly what we did, and exactly what we'll continue to do," he told reporters at a tightly-watched news conference.

• Without immediate action, over 1 million children will suffer acute malnutrition in DRC: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that without immediate action, more than 1 million children will suffer acute malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Describing the current situation in Congo as "catastrophic," WHO's senior emergency officer, Adelheid Marschang, told a UN briefing in Geneva: "In the past months, DRC has faced escalating conflict and violence, leading to mass displacement, widespread disease, gender-based violence, and severe mental trauma, particularly in the eastern part of the country."

Marschang noted that the Congo has "the highest number of people in need of humanitarian aid" in the world, with 25.4 million affected.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heightened his demands as discussions between Tel Aviv and the Palestinian group, Hamas, resumed on a new cease-fire and hostage exchange in Gaza.
• At least 65 people are missing after a landslide hit two passenger buses in Nepal.
• Pakistan’s top court ordered the election body to allot legislative reserved seats to the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
• One person was confirmed dead and two missing following a helicopter crash into the ocean off the US state of Hawaii, said police.
• Australia pledged to give a record $250 million in military aid to Ukraine, bringing total assistance provided to the war-hit nation to $1.3 billion.
• Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that Israeli leaders could face international prosecution and arrest warrants for crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
• Hezbollah announced it launched missile attacks on two military sites in northern Israel, and the Israeli army in response fired bursts of gunfire at towns in southern Lebanon.
• Pakistan and Azerbaijan agreed to further enhance ties and cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity, defense and people-to-people linkages.
• Facebook and Instagram parent company, Meta, is moving to remove restrictions on former President Donald Trump's accounts.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of efforts for peace in neighboring Syria, urging all peace advocates to support the pivotal call.
• A peace mission by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Mozambique is set to withdraw next week, an official announced at a ministerial meeting of the bloc.
• At least 12 people, including eight students and three teachers, were killed and several injured following the collapse of a school building in Nigeria's northcentral city of Jos, according to officials and witnesses.
• The Israeli army inflicted heavy damage on a hospital in Gaza City, rendering it out of service again after recent repairs.
• The Polish parliament recognized the 1944 deportation of Ukraine’s Crimean Tatars as an act of “genocide” against the Crimean Tatar people.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is satisfied with the results of this week’s NATO summit in Washington.
• An Egyptian source denied the existence of security arrangements between Cairo and Tel Aviv regarding borders with the Gaza Strip.
• More than 10,000 prisoners have been released up to 70 days early by former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government as part of emergency measures to address severe overcrowding in jails, newly released figures show.
• The top EU crisis management official condemned the demolition of a school by Israel in the occupied West Bank, noting that education facilities are protected under international humanitarian law.
• Elon Musk claimed that the European Commission offered his platform an "illegal secret deal" to "quietly" censor speech after the Commission accused the platform of breaching EU digital laws.
• A Polish military plane crashed while rehearsing for an airshow, killing the pilot, said the armed forces.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has engaged in intense diplomacy at the NATO leaders' summit in Washington.
• Russia expressed support for Türkiye’s initiative to normalize relations with Syria, saying it is prepared to assist in the process.

SPORTS

• Alcaraz reaches 2024 Wimbledon men's final

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the 2024 Wimbledon men's singles final by beating Russia's Daniil Medvedev 6-7(1-7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

The reigning champion eliminated Medvedev at the tournament for the second straight time.

In his post-game speech, the 21-year-old Spaniard admitted he did not begin the match well but slowly gained the upper hand against the 2021 US Open winner as it progressed.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Dow closes above record 40,000 as US stocks finish week higher

The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 40,000 for the first, while US stocks finished the week on a higher note.

The blue-chip index, which includes 30 prominent American companies, rose 247 points, or 0.62%, to end the session at 40,000.90.