Morning Briefing: June 30, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start Sunday, including Iran's snap presidential election, seven countries urging their nationals to leave Lebanon amid fears of war with Israel, and the Palestinian death toll surpassing 37,800 as Israel kills 40 additional people in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• Iran's presidential election goes to run-off

Iran's snap presidential election is heading to a run-off after no candidate managed to secure 50% of the vote, according to initial results released on Saturday.

According to the final count announced by the election headquarters on Saturday, reformist candidate and former Health Minister Masoud Pezeshkian garnered the highest number of votes — 10.4 million.

His closest competitor, conservative candidate Saeed Jalili, who has served as lead nuclear negotiator and head of a top security body, came second with 9.4 million votes.

About 40% of eligible voters cast there ballots in the first round, falling short of expectations for higher turnout in this year's election.

• 7 countries urge nationals to leave Lebanon amid fears of war with Israel

Seven countries have called on their nationals to leave Lebanon amid growing fears of a full-blown war between Israel and the Lebanese group, Hezbollah, while five more countries have advised their citizens to refrain from traveling to Lebanon.

The Saudi Embassy in Beirut urged its citizens currently in Lebanon “to depart the Lebanese territory immediately” and emphasized the necessity for them “to stay in touch with the embassy in case of any emergencies.”

Australia “strongly advised” its citizens against traveling to Lebanon, citing the extremely volatile security situation. Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Australians in Lebanon on Friday to leave immediately while commercial flights are still available.

• Palestinian death toll exceeds 37,800 as Israel kills 40 additional victims in Gaza

At least 37,834 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip since October, said the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave.

A statement added that 86,858 victims have also been injured in the onslaught.

“Israeli attacks killed 40 people and injured 224 others in the last 24 hours,” it said. “Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Palestinian Hamas movement said Saturday that there is no real development in negotiations to halt the ongoing offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has persisted for nine consecutive months.

• The Israeli army said on Friday that it had evacuated some 200 soldiers from a military base in the occupied West Bank due to a fire breaking out nearby.
  

• Mauritanians started casting their ballots on Saturday to choose a new president among seven candidates, including the incumbent Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani.

• Finland on Friday approved the 24th military aid package to Ukraine worth €159 (about $170 million), bringing the Nordic country’s total support to Kyiv to around €2.2 billion ($2.4 billion).
  

• A man in Serbia's capital Belgrade was shot dead after attacking a police officer in front of the Israeli Embassy, the Balkan country's Interior Ministry said.
  

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met his Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian and Kosovar counterparts in Croatia.
  

• North Korea vowed to defend its sovereignty on Sunday in response to joint military exercises by South Korea, the US and Japan, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News.
  

• The Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano in East Flores, Indonesia, erupted twice within a single day, releasing ash and smoke clouds into the atmosphere, the state-run media reported on Saturday.
  

• China successfully launched the ChinaSat-3A satellite into space, utilizing a modified Long March-7 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the island of Hainan in China.

SPORTS

• Switzerland advances to UEFA EURO 2024 quarterfinal after beating Italy 2 - 0

Remo Freuler fired Switzerland in front with a stunning left-footed finish in the 37th minute, assisted by Ruben Vargas at Berlin's Olympiastadion.

In the 46th minute, Ruben Vargas found space on the edge of the penalty area to send a curling strike to double the lead for the Swiss team.

• EURO 2024 Round of 16 match between Germany, Denmark resumes after suspension due to rain

A UEFA EURO 2024 Round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark resumed after suspension due to rain.

The match had been suspended for about 25 minutes because of weather at the BVB Stadion Dortmund and players went inside their dressing rooms in the 35th minute.

After the rain subsided, referee Michael Oliver came back to the field with the players and the match restarted.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• EU imposes new sanctions on Belarus to tighten pressure on Russia over Ukraine conflict

The EU has announced a new package of sanctions targeting Belarus in response to its continued support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

The new measures are designed to close existing loopholes and prevent the circumvention of current sanctions, aiming to increase pressure on Belarus and enhance the effectiveness of EU sanctions against Russia.

According to the EU Council, these sanctions are aligned with those imposed on Russia and target specific sectors of the Belarusian economy, including trade, services, and transportation.

• Indian opposition demands probe into iPhone maker’s hiring practices

India’s main opposition Congress party on Saturday demanded a probe into "discriminatory" employment practices by Foxconn - iPhone manufacturer in southern India.

“While foreign investment is crucial, it should not come at the cost of disregarding our cultural values. India is clearly important to Foxconn, which exported devices worth USD 5 billion from the country last year,” Congress lawmaker Karti P. Chidambaram wrote in a letter to Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

He asked the ministry to “seek a detailed report from Foxconn on the allegation and ensure their hiring process comply with Indian laws and values.”