Morning Briefing: May 8, 2025

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including Pakistan holding a top security meeting after deadly Indian missile strikes, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s arrival in Paris for his first visit to Europe, a new drone strike reported in Port Sudan amid an ongoing military conflict, and the Vatican conclave's first round of voting failing to elect a new pope.

TOP STORIES

• Pakistan holds top security meeting after overnight missile strikes by India

Pakistan summoned an emergency meeting of its top security body to discuss the situation after overnight Indian military strikes killed at least 26 people, according to state-run Pakistan Television.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting of the National Security Committee in the capital Islamabad, which was also attended by the three services chiefs and key Cabinet members.

The meeting was expected to take key decisions to respond to the Indian air strikes.

• Syrian President Sharaa arrives in Paris, his first visit to Europe since taking office

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Paris for his first official visit to a European country since taking office, the state news agency SANA reported.

The visit came at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Sharaa is set to hold talks with Macron focused on Syria’s reconstruction and repeated Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, the news agency said, quoting a source from the Information Ministry.

• New drone strike reported on Port Sudan amid fighting between military rivals

Witnesses reported a new drone strike in the eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan amid raging fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Sounds of explosions were heard near the Flamingo naval base in the city, witnesses said, adding that Sudanese air defenses thwarted the attack.

No information was yet available about casualties or damage.

• Black smoke signals no pope elected in 1st round of Vatican conclave

Black smoke rose from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the first round of voting in the papal conclave failed to elect a new pope.

Continuing a centuries-old tradition, 133 cardinal electors gathered at the Vatican to begin the process of selecting the 267th head of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis last month.

The day commenced with a solemn mass at St. Peter's Basilica celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who also presided over the 2013 conclave that elected Francis.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Russia's unilateral ceasefire has officially taken effect and is scheduled to remain in place until midnight on May 11.
• Saudi Arabia announced that it will host the Munich Security Conference Leaders Meeting in AlUla in the northwest during the last quarter of the year.
• Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa revealed that his administration is engaged in indirect negotiations with Israel through mediators to prevent an escalation between the two nations.
• The European Union would pursue to gradually lift sanctions on Syria, French President Emmanuel Macron said during a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa, who traveled to Paris on his first visit to a European country since taking office.
• An Indian army soldier was killed in shelling by Pakistan's army in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official statement.
• Pakistan’s military confirmed that at least 31 people were killed after India launched missile strikes into its territory and due to cross-border firing along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the phone and expressed Türkiye's readiness to "do its utmost to prevent further escalation of tensions" between India and Pakistan.
• A federal appeals court ordered detained Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk to be transferred to a court in Vermont in a blow to the Trump administration as it seeks to deport her for her pro-Palestinian speech.
• Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafale aircraft, with Chinese-made J-10C aircraft, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliament.
• The foreign ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain expressed deep alarm over Israel’s reported plans to expand military operations in Gaza and establish a prolonged presence in the territory.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Fed chair warns sustained tariffs likely to result in higher inflation, slowdown in US economic growth

US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell warned that if the recently announced large tariff increases are sustained, they will likely result in an increase in inflation, a slowing of economic growth, and an increase in unemployment.

"As economic conditions evolve, we will continue to determine the appropriate stance of monetary policy based on the incoming data, the outlook, and the balance of risks," Powell said in a press briefing after the FOMC's policy rate decision.

"The tariff increases announced so far have been significantly larger than anticipated. All of these policies are still evolving, however, and their effects on the economy remain highly uncertain," Powell said.

• Trump to revoke Biden's chip restrictions: Report

The Trump administration intends to lift the Biden-era AI chip ban rule as part of an initiative to update semiconductor trade regulations that have faced fierce resistance from tech companies and foreign governments, Bloomberg reported.

Though not complete, the repeal aims to change a program that former President Joe Biden started that established three broad tiers of countries to regulate the export of chips from Nvidia and other firms.

The Trump administration will not implement the so-called AI diffusion rule when it takes effect May 15, sources told Bloomberg.

SPORTS

• Pro-Palestinian protests to be allowed at 2026 World Cup in US, Trump assures

Pro-Palestinian protests would be permitted at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, US President Donald Trump announced.

"People are allowed to protest. You have to do it in a reasonable manner, not necessarily friendly, but reasonable," Trump said when asked if people who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests should be concerned about attending the World Cup in the country during his first 2026 World Cup task force meeting, which included several Cabinet members and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Many football clubs from around the world are supporting the fans' call to "Show Israel The Red Card."

• Trump taps son of former New York City Mayor Giuliani for key World Cup post

US President Donald Trump has tapped Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to serve as executive director of his 2026 FIFA World Cup task force ahead of the US co-hosting the tournament next year.

“He’s gonna be great,” Trump said at the inaugural meeting of the task force. “I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a highly competitive golfer, which I mean, really good. And he’s also a highly competitive person and he loves what we’re doing.”

Trump was in his first term as president when the US won the right to host next year’s iconic soccer tournament in a shared bid with Mexico and Canada.