Morning Briefing: May 25, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including the UN's special rapporteur on Palestine urging member states to impose sanctions on Israel, Israel's ongoing onslaught in the Gaza Strip, Russia's deadly attack in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, and Arab foreign ministers holding talks with the French president on the moves to stop the war in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

• Israel will not stop 'this madness' until we make it stop: UN rapporteur

The UN's special rapporteur on Palestine urged member states to impose sanctions on Israel along with an arms embargo until it stops "this madness."

“Let's be clear. As the ICJ orders Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah, Israel intensifies its attacks on it,” Francesca Albanese wrote on X.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its latest ruling on Friday ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah where more than 1.5 million displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.

• Palestinian death toll surpasses 35,900 as Israel continues to pound Gaza

At least 35,903 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip since last October, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said on Saturday.

A ministry statement added that 80,420 other people have also been injured in the onslaught.

“Israeli attacks killed 46 people and injured 130 others in the last 24 hours,” the statement said.

• 2 killed, 35 injured in Russia's strike on Kharkiv

At least two people were killed and 35 others injured in Russia's attack on a hypermarket in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to its mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Terekhov said two aviation bombs were dropped, accusing Russia of "intentionally targeting" the civilian facility. Four people are also missing, he added.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as "madness," and complained about lack of air defense systems, urging international partners to provide them as soon as possible.

• Arab foreign ministers, French president discuss moves to stop war in Gaza

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss moves to stop the war in the Gaza Strip.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said the Arab diplomats discussed with Macron "the needed actions to halt Israeli war in Gaza."

The talks also focused on sustaining “unimpeded aid delivery (into Gaza), as well pushing the political track forward based on the two-state solution," he added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• More than 20,000 patients are waiting for the opening of the Rafah border crossing to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment, said the Health Ministry in besieged Palestinian enclave.
• Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced Sunday that it captured Israeli soldiers during an operation in the Gaza Strip.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara will continue to put pressure on Israel through trade and diplomacy until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration ceases the massacre in the Gaza Strip.
• Algeria and France signed an agreement concerning the memory and retrieval of Algerian archives from the period of French colonization (1830 - 1962), according to media reports
• At least 20 people were killed in a massive fire in a gaming zone in India's western state of Gujarat.
• The US expressed concern about China's now wrapped up two-day military drills around Taiwan.
• A senior Australian minister urged Israel to "abide by" the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza Strip.
• Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his helicopter made an emergency landing due to bad weather.
• The death toll from a massive landslide in a remote region of northern Papua New Guinea has risen to more than 300, according to a lawmaker.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye on brink of disinflation, central bank head says

After hitting a peak in May, the inflation rate in Türkiye will decrease significantly, said the Turkish Central Bank governor, adding that his country is on the brink of disinflation.

Fatih Karahan noted that the bank began a monetary tightening process last year.

"While the initial rise in inflation in the post-pandemic period was driven by supply chain problems and rising energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, the subsequent period was characterized by high demand,” he said at the global First Albaraka Summit in Istanbul, titled Global Prospects for Islamic Economics: Fundamentals and Needs.

SPORTS

• Barcelona retain Women's Champions League title

Spain's Barcelona retained the UEFA Women's Champions League title with a 2 - 0 win against French opponents Olympique Lyon in the 2024 final.

Barcelona broke the deadlock in the second half of the Bilbao final at the San Mames Stadium. Spanish star Aitana Bonmati's shot was deflected by Lyon's Vanessa Gilles before going into the net in the 63rd minute.

Barca cemented their win in injury time as Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas fired a powerful first-time shot that beat Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler.

• Inter's Martinez named best overall player in Italian Serie A; Calhanoglu receives best midfielder award for 2023 - 24 season

Italian Serie A announced the winners of the best player and manager awards for the 2023 - 24 season.

Inter Milan's Argentine attacker Lautaro Martinez was named best overall player, while teammate, Turkish international midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, was named best midfielder of the 2023 - 24 season.

Alessandro Bastoni, also from Inter, was named best defender, while Simone Inzaghi, manager of Inter, which already secured their 20th Serie A title weeks ago, won the coach of the season honor.