Morning Briefing: July 25, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using an address before a joint session of US Congress to urge the creation of a regional anti-Iranian security pact that he dubbed the "Abraham Alliance." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saying that Ankara can be a part of guarantee mechanism, if there is an agreement on two-state solution and Israel killing 589 Palestinians in West Bank since Oct. 7.

TOP STORIES

• Netanyahu wants anti-Iran "Abraham Alliance," reiterates demand for 'total victory' in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used an address before a joint session of Congress to urge the creation of a regional anti-Iranian security pact that he dubbed the "Abraham Alliance."

Netanyahu told lawmakers that the world saw "a glimpse" of his proposed pact on April 14 when Arab states and the US intercepted a slew of Iranian missiles and drones bound for Israel that were launched by Tehran in retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack on Iran's Consulate in Damascus that killed senior military officials.

The alliance would be a "natural extension" of normalization agreements known as the "Abraham Accords" that Israel brokered with Arab states during the former Trump administration, said Netanyahu.

• Türkiye can be part of guarantee mechanism, if there’s agreement on 2-state solution: Foreign minister

Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Fidan said his country can be part of the guarantor mechanism that Ankara proposed, if an agreement on a two-state solution is reached.

Fidan warned that without the immediate implementation of the two-state solution, a fourth Gaza war is inevitable. “We will be perpetually entangled in conflicts,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has another agenda, Fidan said, adding: “Cease-fire in Palestine doesn’t align” with his political objectives.

• Israel kills 589 Palestinians in West Bank since Oct. 7

The Israeli army has killed at least 589 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry said.

In its statement, the ministry noted that some 142 children were among the slain.

Earlier in the day, the Health Ministry announced that three Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces during raids across the West Bank.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Broadband internet with limited bandwidth was restored as offices and industries reopened in Bangladesh.
• At least 26 people, including women and children, have been killed over land dispute in Papua New Guinea.
• The EU Commission sharply criticized the Austrian judicial system in a report released on Wednesday, pointing out political influence on judicial appointments and a lack of transparency as major issues.
• A pirogue carrying 300 migrants from Gambia capsized near the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott earlier this week, after a week at sea, the International Organization for Migration said.
• At least two pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested by police in front of Union Station in Washington, DC, while some protesters attempted to raise the Palestinian flag.
• The UN human rights chief said he is shocked by the deaths concerning a land dispute in Papua New Guinea, which killed dozens.
• Hamas condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for allowing illegal Jewish settlers to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.
• Bangladesh's main opposition party claimed that over 2,000 of its leaders and activists have been arrested in the past few days for what they described as "false cases" of “vandalism and arson” during violent student protests advocating for government job quota reforms.
• Greece's housing market is experiencing a dramatic surge in prices, bucking the trend in much of Europe and exacerbating economic challenges for many still recovering from the 2009 debt crisis.
• Over 1,000 people evacuated due to the wildfires in Italy's southern Puglia region, Italy’s state-run ANSA news agency reported.
• At least two people were killed and 13 injured in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region due to multiple Russian airstrikes that caused damage to infrastructure, including the office of a Swiss non-governmental organization.
• Evgenii Serebriakov, who allegedly carried out a car bomb attack in Russia’s capital Moscow, was captured in Türkiye, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
• A Eurofighter jet of the Italian Air Force crashed in Australia, Italy’s state-run ANSA news agency reported.
• Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of trying to blow up the Middle East by changing the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
• Soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces arrived in Warsaw Wednesday to encourage compatriots in Europe to join their fight against Russia.
• Moscow said that it prevented three British military aircraft from violating Russian borders above the Black Sea.
• Germany announced that it will continue to send weapons to Israel, which has been carrying out intensive airstrikes and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip, killing over 39,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.
• Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his delegation were forced to remain in their aircraft after disembarking in Paris amid security concerns.
• In his first Prime Minister’s Question session at the parliament, British Premier Keir Starmer told the lawmakers that his newly elected government has already started taking necessary steps to realize an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the comments by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba regarding Ukraine's readiness for negotiations with Russia align with Moscow's position, though further clarifications are needed.
• At least four elders were reportedly executed by Fano armed groups in northern Ethiopia.
• The Palestinian presidency urged the US administration to call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately halt the devastating Israeli war on Gaza.
• Thousands of people under care were abused in New Zealand during the last seven decades which the Royal Commission of Inquiry called "national disgrace."
• The Israeli army killed 55 more Palestinians in attacks in the Gaza Strip, taking the overall death toll to 39,145 since last Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the enclave said.
• Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, denied allegations that he donates $45 million monthly to support Donald Trump, according to the US press.
• At least 121 people onboard, including crew members and 116 passengers, were stuck after a ferry lost its control "due to an oil leak" in Japan.
• 18 bodies of passengers and crew have been recovered after a plane crashed in Nepal.

SPORTS

• 36 refugee athletes from 11 countries to compete together in Paris 2024

With only two days left to the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics, the 36 athletes from 11 countries will compete in 12 sports as part of the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris.

"The IOC Refugee Olympic Team sends a great signal about what an enrichment refugees are for our Olympic community and for society at large. Watching them compete is a great moment for all of us, and we hope everyone will join," Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee president, said in a statement.

"The athletes are welcome in our Olympic community, among their fellow athletes – competing with them, but also living with them together under one roof," he added.

• Anadolu to cover Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 13 languages

Anadolu will cover in 13 languages the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will begin on Friday.

In the world’s most important sports organization, Anadolu will also deliver to its subscribers news, photos and images of 102 Turkish athletes who will compete in 18 branches.

Apart from games, press conferences and interviews will also be covered.

• Spain defeat Uzbekistan 2-1 in football opening game of Paris 2024

Spain defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 in the opening game of competition in Men's Group C, which began at 1300GMT.

Marc Pubill drew first blood for Spain in the 29th minute, then Eldor Shomurodov leveled the score from a penalty kick in the 48th minute.

Sergio Gomez tallied the winning goal for Spain in the 62nd minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Moody's upgrades ratings of 17 Turkish banks

Moody's said it upgraded the local and foreign-currency long-term deposit, issuer and senior unsecured ratings of 17 Turkish banks, while their outlooks remain positive.

The move is a result of the improvement of their operating environment, and a track record of resilient performance by the Turkish banks, the rating agency said late Tuesday in a statement.

"The revised Macro Profile score for Türkiye is underpinned by the Turkish government's improvements in governance, more specifically the decisive and increasingly well-established return to orthodox monetary policy," it said. "In turn, these factors have eased the pressure on the banks' financial performance and improved the banking sector's access to foreign funding."

• Ukraine sanctions on Lukoil risk for refineries in Hungary, Slovakia: Fitch

Ukraine's sanctions on Russian energy corporation Lukoil poses a significant risk for Hungarian and Slovakian refineries, Fitch Ratings said.

Refineries in Slovakia and Hungary face significant credit risk after crude oil from Lukoil to be shipped across Ukraine through the Druzhba pipeline has been put on hold since last month, it said in a statement.

"These volumes primarily serve the Hungarian and Slovakian markets and, while immaterial to the overall European supply balance, could significantly impact energy supply in Hungary and Slovakia over the medium-term," it added.

• US commits up to $667 million to global Pandemic Fund

The US has committed up to $667 million to global Pandemic Fund, or one third of the $2 billion resource mobilization goal, to support the Fund through 2026, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced.

The global Pandemic Fund has set a goal of raising at least $2 billion in new direct funding, in order to continue its crucial work and respond to clear demand, while it is working to develop a sustainable resource mobilization plan that brings in new donors and new financing, the Treasury Department said in a statement.

The US, in addition, has called on all existing donors to double their initial pledges to the Pandemic Fund, and called for support from new partners including governments, the private sector, philanthropies, and civil society, noting they all have roles to play to advance the Fund’s mission to make sure we are better prepared for the next pandemic.