Morning Briefing: May 2, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including the Pentagon saying that more than 50% of the construction of a pier off Gaza’s coast is complete, an Israeli opposition leader saying that Netanyahu has “no political excuse” to shun a hostage deal with Hamas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meeting with Netanyahu, where he reiterated US opposition to an Israeli offensive in Rafah

TOP STORIES

- Pentagon says over 50% of Gaza pier construction complete

Over 50% of the construction of a temporary pier off Gaza’s coast to increase humanitarian aid deliveries has been completed, a Pentagon spokesperson said.

"In terms of an update on JLOTS (Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore), so as of today, we are over 50% complete on setting up the pier," Sabrina Singh told reporters.

"The floating pier has been completely constructed and set up. The causeway is in progress," she added.

- Netanyahu has ‘no political excuse’ to shun hostage deal with Hamas: Israeli opposition leader

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “no political excuse” to shun a hostage deal with Hamas, opposition leader Yair Lapid told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday.

Lapid met with the top US diplomat, who arrived in Israel on the last leg of a regional tour to push for a cease-fire deal between Tel Aviv and Hamas to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

“Netanyahu doesn’t have any political excuse not to move to a deal for the release of the hostages,” Lapid told Blinken as posted on his X account.

- Blinken meets Netanyahu, reiterates US opposition to Israeli offensive in Rafah

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reiterated US opposition to an Israeli military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Blinken held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the last leg of a regional tour to push for a cease-fire deal in Gaza.

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Blinken told Netanyahu that the US opposes a military operation in Rafah, home to more than 1.4 million displaced Palestinians at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that it recorded at least 800 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank that resulted in casualties or property damage since Oct. 7.
• Nearly 1,000 Palestinian workers remain forcibly disappeared in Israel, a Palestinian nongovernmental organization said.
• Türkiye will seek to be part of South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
• Floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in Kenya have claimed the lives of 179 people, officials said.
• The Israeli army said that 10 more soldiers had been injured in fighting in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours.
• Pope Francis denounced the arms industry for “profiting from death.”
• The Israeli army detained 20 more Palestinians in military raids across the occupied West Bank, according to prisoners’ affairs groups.
• Over 60 people were arrested by Georgian authorities during a rally in the capital Tbilisi against a controversial “foreign agents” bill, the country’s Interior Ministry said.
• Talks are underway with all relevant parties to resolve conflicting points between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, an informed Egyptian source said.
• At least 19 people were killed after a section of an expressway in south China's Guangdong Province caved in early Wednesday morning.
• New York Police Department officers entered the Columbia University building held by pro-Palestinian protesters late Tuesday amid reports that dozens of people have been taken into custody

SPORTS

- English team Aston Villa to take on Greek side Olympiacos in Conference League semifinal

The 1982 European Cup winners Aston Villa will play their second UEFA competition semifinal.

Under the helm of multiple-Europa League winner Spanish coach Unai Emery, the Villans have been enjoying a good season. They are fourth in the English Premier League with 67 points and participated in their first European campaign since 2010-11.

- Bayer Leverkusen to take on AS Roma in Europa League semifinal

Undefeated German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will take on Italian Serie A side AS Roma in the UEFA Europa League semifinal first leg on Thursday.

The German club will take on the Italian side as a rematch of last season's Europa League semifinal clash, which was won by Roma with a 1-0 aggregate

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

- $34 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion starts pumping oil

The long-awaited and expanded CAN$34 billion ($24.7 billion) Trans Mountain pipeline began pumping crude oil Wednesday to the Pacific coast for eventual shipment to countries like Japan, China and India.

Four years in construction and plagued with ballooning costs so much so that it had to be purchased by the Canadian government to keep it alive, the expanded pipeline is now capable of handling 890,000 barrels per day, up from 300,000.

- US Treasury to offer $125 billion in securities

The US Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it will be offering $125 billion in securities next week to refund $107.8 billion of privately held Treasury notes.

"This issuance will raise new cash from private investors of approximately $17.2 billion," it said.

The securities include a 3-year note for $58 billion maturing May 15, 2027; a 10-year note for $42 billion maturing May 15, 2034 and a 30-year bond for $25 billion maturing May 15, 2054.

- Bitcoin dives below $57,000 after 2 months

That marked the lowest level for the world's biggest cryptocurrency since Feb. 27, when its price plummeted to $54,450.

The price of Bitcoin was trading just above $58,000 as of 8.34 a.m. EDT (1234GMT) for a daily loss of almost 5%, according to data from CoinMarketCap, a digital asset price-tracking website.