Morning Briefing: June 23, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including Israeli killing 41 Palestinians in two separate attacks targeting Gaza City, Russia saying Ukraine's attack disrupted the infrastructure of a nuclear plant substation and warning against future attacks, and US warship arriving in South Korea after the signing of a new North Korea-Russia security pact.

TOP STORIES

• 41 Palestinians killed in 2 Israeli attacks on Gaza City

At least 41 Palestinians were killed and several others injured in two separate Israeli attacks targeting Gaza City as Israel’s months-long offensive continued

Medical sources told Anadolu that the Israeli army targeted a house in the neighborhood of Al-Tuffah in eastern Gaza City, killing 17 Palestinians and injuring several others.

They said 24 more Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in an additional Israeli bombing of the Al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City.

• Russia says Ukraine attack disrupted infrastructure of nuclear plant substation, warns against future attacks

Russia said a Ukrainian attack on a nuclear power plant substation in southeastern Ukraine disrupted the plant’s infrastructure facilities and warned against any more attacks.

A statement by the Russian-installed management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant said the damage caused by the attack on the Raduga substation in the city of Enerhodar, disrupted the normal functioning of its facilities, including the plant's transport department and printing house, which it said were left without power.

“A repeated attack on key infrastructure facilities of Enerhodar poses a threat to the life support of the city,” the statement added, warning that such acts could affect the plant’s safety.

• US warship arrives in South Korea after new North Korea-Russia security pact signed

A nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier was anchored in South Korea amid heightened tensions in the wake of a new security treaty between North Korea and Russia.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt entered the naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers (199 miles) southeast of Seoul, early Saturday, joined by the Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Halsey and the USS Daniel Inouye, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported, citing the South Korean Navy.

It marked the first arrival of a US aircraft carrier in South Korea in seven months, since the November visit of the USS Carl Vinson.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Cuba decided to join in South Africa’s case against Israel before the International Court of Justice.
  
• Azerbaijan said Armenia fired at its military positions in the country’s western Kalbajar region.
• The Israeli army detained at least 25 Palestinians from areas across the occupied West Bank.
• Jordan condemned the Israeli army for shelling near the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Gaza, which also hit the Geneva-based humanitarian group facility, and urged “immediate and effective” international action to protect civilians and relief organizations’ facilities.
• The Lebanon-based Hezbollah group fired anti-tank missiles, striking two houses in the Metula area of northern Israel, causing fires but no casualties are reported.
• The Houthi group in Yemen said the US and the UK conducted four airstrikes on Saturday, targeting the western Al Hudaydah province.
• At least three people were killed and 29 injured in a Russian airstrike on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv.
• Christian Tein, a key pro-independence figure in New Caledonia, has been charged after deadly riots rocked the French Pacific territory last month, the BBC reported Saturday.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to take urgent action on climate change.
• A man was sentenced to 12 months in prison by a court in the northern French city of Beauvais for painting racist graffiti on the facade of a mosque.
  
• China launched an astronomical satellite developed with France to capture bursts of high-energy gamma rays from distant parts of the universe, according to state media.
• Boeing's first astronaut mission using its Starliner capsule has been extended once again, with the spacecraft now set to remain docked at the International Space Station (ISS) until at least July 2, a week later than the previous target date of June 26.

SPORTS

• Czech Republic's Patrik Schick scores against Georgia at EURO 2024 to secure 1 - 1 draw

Patrik Schick scored a second-half goal as the Czech Republic secured a 1 - 1 draw with tournament debutants Georgia in a UEFA EURO 2024 group match in Germany's Hamburg.

Georgia scored the opener just before halftime as Georges Mikautadze successfully converted a penalty.

The Czech Republic leveled the match, however, in the 59th minute as Bayer Leverkusen forward Schick scored with his chest after a rebound off the post.

• Portugal qualify for last 16 at EURO 2024

Portugal shutout Türkiye 3 - 0 to book their place in the UEFA EURO 2024 Round of 16 on Saturday.

Midfielder Bernardo Silva scored the opening goal in the 21st minute in a Group F match at BVB Stadion Dortmund.

Turkish defender Samet Akaydin accidentally scored an own goal with a backpass in minute 28 as Portugal doubled the lead.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US agencies find weakness in bankruptcy plans at 4 major banks

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Federal Reserve Board said they found weakness in bankruptcy plans at four major American banks.

A joint review by the agencies examined submissions from eight of the largest and most complex banks in the US and found weaknesses in plans for Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase.

Each weakness identified in the 2023 plans from the four banks is a "shortcoming," which is a weakness that raises questions about the feasibility of the plan, the agencies said in a statement.