Morning Briefing: March 7, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday, including an urgent request filed by South Africa for additional measures at the world court for the Gaza genocide case, the death toll of Palestinians due to starvation rising to 20, Nikki Haley dropping out of US Presidential race, and Sweden officially joining NATO later this month.

TOP STORIES

• South Africa files 'urgent request' for additional measures in genocide case against Israel

South Africa on Wednesday filed an urgent request for additional provisional measures and the modification of the interim ruling of the International Court of Justice in the genocide case against Israel, said the top UN court.

In its new urgent request, South Africa said it is filing this due to the "new facts and changes in the situation in Gaza, particularly the situation of widespread starvation," the court said in a statement.

According to the request, the ongoing acts by Israel are breaches of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and violations of the provisional measures issued by this court in January.

• Palestinian death toll from hunger in Gaza rises to 20

The Palestinian death toll from hunger in the Gaza Strip has risen to 20 amid a crippling Israeli blockade, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Famine in northern Gaza has reached fatal levels, especially for children, pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement.

He said a 15-year-old boy and a 72-year-old man died of malnutrition and dehydration at Al-Shifa Medical Complex and Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

• Nikki Haley drops out of US presidential race

Nikki Haley, the former US envoy to the UN, and governor from the state of South Carolina, said Wednesday she is abandoning her 2024 presidential campaign, leaving ex-President Donald Trump, with a clear path to the Republican nomination.

Haley did not endorse her former boss in announcing her withdrawal, instead, she said it is now his task to earn the votes of those who supported her White House bid.

Haley told supporters that she was filled with gratitude for the “outpouring of support” but it was time to suspend her campaign.

• Sweden to officially join NATO on March 11

Sweden will officially join NATO on Monday after completing its membership procedures last month, local media reported on Wednesday.

The Nordic country will become the 32nd member of the military alliance at a ceremony to be held at NATO's headquarters in Brussels on March 11, according to the Swedish TV4 broadcaster.

In May 2022, Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO, abandoning their long-standing policy of military neutrality, after Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• At least two sailors died in an attack in the Gulf of Aden by the Yemen-based Houthi group, the British Embassy in Yemen said Wednesday.
  
  
• Türkiye on Wednesday slammed Israeli approval of 3,500 housing units in the occupied West Bank, denouncing the move as "further expansion of the occupation of the Palestinian territories.”
  
  
• Senegalese President Macky Sall dissolved his government Wednesday and appointed Sidiki Kaba as the new prime minister, the president’s office announced.
  
  
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated his call for a cease-fire in Gaza on Thursday, stressing the need for peace, stability and international solidarity.
  
  
• British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" about a planned military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, at a meeting with an Israeli minister in London.
  
  
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday reiterated Türkiye’s determination in the fight against terrorism, stating the country will eventually eradicate “the roots” of terrorists.
  
  
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Northern European facilities housing American nuclear weapons would be considered legitimate military targets in a direct clash between the Russian Federation and NATO.
  
  
• Moldova's government on Wednesday approved a decision to suspend the post-Cold War Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.
  
  
• Haitian gang leader and former police officer Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier warned Wednesday of “civil war” if Prime Minister Ariel Henry does not step down.

SPORTS

• Real Madrid, Manchester City advance to Champions League quarterfinals

Real Madrid and Manchester City advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Neither team was able to produce a goal in the first half, but Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock with a close-range finish in the 65th minute at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

• EURO 2024 to kick off in 100 days

This summer's European football championship, largely known as the UEFA EURO 2024, is set to kick off in June.

The 17th European football championship will start with the Germany vs. Scotland match on June 14 at Munich's Allianz Arena.

Being the hosts, Germany have automatically qualified for the tournament.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• OECD area inflation down to 5.7% in Jan.

The annual inflation in the Organization for Economic Co-Operation (OECD) area fell to 5.7% in January, down from 6% in December.

The organization stated on Wednesday that two-thirds of OECD countries saw inflation fall in the month, with the largest declines in Czechia, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Austria, and Iceland.

Inflation stood below 3% - or negative - in 14 OECD countries in Jan. 2024.

• Strike to hit Germany's Frankfurt Airport on Thursday

Security staff's strike will cause major disruptions at Germany's Frankfurt Airport on Thursday, the airport authorities cautioned.

Security checkpoints will be closed on Thursday due to the strike and passengers departing from Frankfurt Airport will not be able to pass through the legally required security checks.

"The strike will cause major disruptions and flight cancellations throughout the day," the airport announced on X.