Morning Briefing: July 4, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Astana, the US announcing additional security assistance for Ukraine and the UN rapporteur calling on all to ‘wake up’ regarding Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• Türkiye's Erdogan, Russia's Putin discuss strategic projects and trade goals

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met to discuss bilateral and global issues in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where leaders have gathered for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The two leaders discussed various issues, including the latest situation in the Ukraine war, Israel's current attacks on Palestinian territories, efforts to find a solution to the crisis in Syria, and the fight against terrorism.

• US announces additional security assistance for Ukraine

The Pentagon announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.

"This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package valued at up to $150 million to provide Ukraine with key capabilities, including: additional air defense interceptors; artillery and other fires, and anti-tank weapons," it said in a statement.

Ukrainian officials have been urging their allies for months to supply more air defense systems.

• UN rapporteur calls on all to ‘wake up’ regarding Gaza

The UN’s special rapporteur on Palestine called on people from all over the world to “wake up” regarding the atrocities in Gaza, where Israel has killed nearly 38,000 people since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack. by Hamas.

“Only a deep-seated dehumanization of Palestinians in Gaza would allow any Government to see gravely injured children as a security threat and leaving them to die,” Francesca Albanese said on X.

“German people, fellow Europeans, fellow humans -please, wake up,” she urged.

Her statement came after it was reported that German doctors arranged the evacuation of 32 severely injured children from Gaza, but the government has delayed it for months, not providing visas for their family members over alleged security concerns.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Egypt’s new government was sworn in, seeing several major changes, including the defense, foreign and economy portfolios.
  
  
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Astana.
  
  
• The UN says at least 28 airstrikes were conducted by Israel on the occupied West Bank since October.
  
  
• US Central Command said its forces destroyed two Houthi radar sites in Yemen in the past 24 hours.
  
  
• Turkish security forces destroyed more than 30 targets used by the PKK terror group in an air operation in northern Iraq.
  
  
• The UN said it estimates at least nine out of 10 people in the Gaza Strip have been displaced at least once since Oct. 7, 2023.
  
  
• A Hezbollah commander was killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon amid growing border tensions.
  
  
• Greece is on alert as extreme weather has prompted wildfires and is expected to bring storms.
  
  
• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider barter trade as a means to circumvent Western financial sanctions hindering economic cooperation.
  
  
• Islamic authorities in Russia's Caucasian region of Dagestan temporarily banned women from wearing the "niqab," a veil covering the lower part of the face, due to security concerns.
  
  
• Indonesia opened an electric vehicle battery plant that is being touted as the Southeast Asian region's first and largest.
  
  
• The UN human rights chief warned that the rising far-right in Europe should ring an alarm bell.

SPORTS

• LeBron James agrees to 2-year, $104M deal to stay at Los Angeles Lakers: Insider

Basketball superstar LeBron James has agreed to a $104-million deal to stay at the Los Angeles Lakers for two years, an insider said.

"Free agent LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $104 million maximum deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Deal includes player option and no trade clause," Adrian Wojnarowski, an NBA insider, said on X.

US forward James, 39, who has a 21-year NBA experience, won four NBA titles, the last with the Lakers in 2020.

• Kemba Walker announces retirement after 12 NBA seasons

Kemba Walker, a four-time All-Star, has retired as a professional basketball player after a 12-year NBA career.

"Basketball will forever be a part of my life so this isn't goodbye. I'm excited for what's next," Walker said in a post on X on.

"This has all been a dream. When I look back, I still can't believe the things I achieved in my career," he said.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• D-8 member states unveil new generation barter trading system

The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation held a news conference on the New Generation Barter Trading System in Istanbul.

Mustafa Tuzcu, the Turkish deputy trade minister, said the economic size of the D-8 member states is about $5 trillion, and trade volume is at $2.5 trillion.

Tuzcu said the organization’s 10-year plan is to increase the trade between member states to at least 10%, and to reach this target.