Morning Briefing: June 26, 2024

By Dilara Hamit

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Wednesday with, including the death toll in Nairobi, Kenya rising to 10 after police opened fire on anti-tax hike protesters, the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for former Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, and family members of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh being killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• 10 killed in Kenyan capital when police open fire on protesters storming parliament

At least 10 people were killed Tuesday when police opened fire at hundreds of protesters who stormed the parliament compound in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

"Dozens have been injured, and the death toll is likely to rise, as many are suffering from gunshot wounds," said a volunteer with the Red Cross who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Enraged by proposed tax hikes, the protesters forced their way onto the parliament grounds, leading to chaotic scenes and mass looting.

• International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Russian military chief, ex-defense minister

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for former Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov.

The ICC said in a statement posted on its website that the decision was made after an investigation into alleged international crimes committed in Ukraine between at least Oct. 10, 2022 and at least March 9, 2023.

Shoygu and Gerasimov are accused of ordering attacks on civilian infrastructure that resulted in excessive incidental harm, as well as committing crimes against humanity, according to the statement.

• Family members of Hamas chief, including his sister, killed in Israeli airstrike on their home in Gaza

Family members of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas group, including his sister, were killed in an Israeli airstrike Tuesday on their home in western Gaza City.

According to medical sources, at least 10 people of the Haniyeh family were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in the Shati (Beach) refugee camp.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Moscow limits access to 81 Western media outlets in response to sanctions against Russian media in EU

• Moscow, Kyiv exchange 90 captured military personnel each in prisoner swap, says Russian Defense Ministry

• Turkish security forces "neutralized" a total of 1,045 terrorists, including seven who were on the country's most-wanted red list, during operations against the PKK terror group over the past year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

• The EU started membership negotiations with Ukraine.

• WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleads guilty to espionage charge, ends years-long stalemate with US

• North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile, Japan said.

• The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) underlined its funding gap, saying the agency has a budget until the end of August.

• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that growing tensions between Israel and Lebanon could trigger a war with ‘disastrous consequences’ for the entire Middle East

• A major international anti-human trafficking operation resulted in 219 arrests and the identification of 1,374 potential victims, including 153 children, in 39 countries, Interpol announced Monday.

• The US military’s floating pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip resumed operations again after a maintenance halt, the Pentagon said.

• The leaders of France’s three biggest political groups clashed over several topics in their first televised debate ahead of snap elections.

SPORTS

• England, Denmark, Slovenia reach EURO 2024 last 16 as matchday 3 games end goalless

England, Denmark and Slovenia reached the EURO 2024 last 16 as Matchday 3 games in Group C ended goalless Tuesday.

England settled for a goalless draw with Slovenia thanks to vital saves by Slovenian goalie Jan Oblak at Cologne Stadium.

• Austria beat Netherlands 3-2 to reach EURO 2024 last 16 as Group D leaders

Austria beat the Netherlands 3-2 on Tuesday to reach the EURO 2024 last 16 as Group D leaders.

Austria drew first blood with Dutch winger Donyell Malen's own goal in the sixth minute at Olympiastadion in Berlin.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US Treasury targets shadow banking network moving money for Iran’s military

The US Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it has targeted a shadow banking network moving money for Iran’s military.

The Treasury Department said its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning nearly 50 entities and individuals that constitute multiple branches of a sprawling "shadow banking" network used by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to gain illicit access to the international financial system and process the equivalent of billions of dollars since 2020.

• Volkswagen to invest initial $1B in US electric carmaker Rivian

German multinational vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen Group will invest an initial $1 billion in American electric carmaker Rivian, the two companies announced Tuesday in a joint statement.

An additional investment of $4 billion is planned, while the total size of the deal is expected to be $5 billion, they said.