Morning Briefing: Nov. 20, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday with, including US approving potential $100 million sale of military equipment to Ukraine, Russia's Putin signing revised nuclear doctrine, Israeli premier rejecting to expand negotiating team's mandate for Hamas deal, and SpaceX launching 6th Starship test flight.

TOP STORIES

• US approves potential $100M sale of military equipment to Ukraine

The US State Department on Tuesday authorized a potential $100 million sale of military equipment and services to Ukraine.

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

The package includes vehicle refurbishment, technical assistance, training, publications and logistics and support, said the agency.

The announcement came amid reports that the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use long-range US missiles to target deep within Russia. ​​​​​​​

• Putin signs revised Russian nuclear doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Tuesday a decree approving Moscow's updated nuclear doctrine.

According to the document, published on the government portal's website, aggression against Russia and its allies by a non-nuclear country with the support of a nuclear state will be considered as a joint attack.

Also, Russia may use nuclear weapons in a critical threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to its allied state -- Belarus.

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• Netanyahu rejects request to expand negotiating team's mandate for Hamas deal: Media

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused a request from his negotiating team to expand its mandate, which would have enabled progress in a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, Israeli media reported Tuesday.

For months, Israeli negotiators have expressed frustration over the limited mandate granted by Netanyahu, according to media reports and opposition leaders. This restriction is said to have impeded indirect negotiations with Hamas.

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily, Netanyahu met the negotiating team earlier this week.

The report said both Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected proposals from the team’s leaders to expand their mandate for negotiating a deal to recover Israeli hostages in Gaza. The team “sought to expand the parameters in order to conduct negotiations and bridge the issue of ending the war.”

• SpaceX launches 6th Starship test flight

SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test flight Tuesday in the US state of Texas, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump watching side-by-side at the launch site as an attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster upon its return to Earth with a giant pair of metal arms failed.

"And unfortunately, we did not have a pass on those commit criteria. So they're a no-go for tower catch," said the SpaceX commentators hosting the live launch online. "We're constantly evaluating the criteria for catch. There's a lot of things that need to go well in order to line that up. Unfortunately, today, we will forgo booster catch."

Despite the failure to achieve the main objective of catching the 20-story-tall rocket booster in space, the mission conducted a successful offshore water landing of the booster and reignition of the Starship engines after orbiting the Earth.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Lebanese army said Tuesday that three soldiers were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a military post in Sarafand, a village in southern Lebanon.
• The Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday said that Ukraine attacked its Bryansk region with six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles on Monday night.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday urged NATO to review Russia's recent revisions to its nuclear doctrine.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if his country’s security and military are threatened and if he has no other option, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned Tuesday.
• The UK expanded its military support to Kyiv with an additional £7.5 million ($9.50 million) in military aid, the defense secretary said on Tuesday, which marks the 1,000th day since Russia's war on Ukraine launched in 2022.
• More than a dozen soldiers were killed Tuesday in multiple attacks on a military base in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, said local and military sources.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not confirm nor deny Tuesday that Kyiv used long-range US missiles amid Moscow’s claims that it downed ATACMS ballistic missiles above one of Russia’s border regions.
• Gaza’s civil defense said Tuesday that most of its emergency vehicles have ceased operations due to a lack of fuel, raising alarms about worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
• Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urges wealthier G20 nations on Tuesday to expedite their national climate neutrality targets within the next 10 years.
• Twenty-five people have died due to the spread of epidemics and shortages of food and medicine in Wad Ashib village in central Sudan, a local activist group said on Tuesday.
• The European Union signed a new political framework Tuesday for dialogue and cooperation on security and defense issues.

SPORTS

• Wales promoted to Nations League A after Türkiye stunned at Montenegro

Wales were promoted to UEFA Nations League A after Türkiye took a heartbreaking 3-1 loss at Montenegro on Tuesday.

Craig Bellamy's Wales, which were battling Türkiye for the top spot, beat Iceland 4-1 at Cardiff City Stadium to win League B - Group B4 with 12 points after the sixth matchday.

Wales, which remain unbeaten with three wins and three draws, gained promotion to the tournament's top division.

• Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leaders Fenerbahce set to face Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leaders Fenerbahce Beko will visit Virtus Segafredo Bologna on Wednesday in Italy.

Led by Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce improved to 8-2 after winning five games in a row in the European top-flight club basketball competition.

On Nov. 15, Istanbul's Fenerbahce beat Zalgiris Kaunas 72-65 in a Round 10 game in Lithuania.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Russian ruble weakens to 1-year low amid escalating tensions

The Russian ruble weakened Tuesday to its lowest in more than one year as Moscow reacted to US President Joe Biden’s approval of Ukraine using American-supplied long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to hit Russian territory.

The ruble fell 0.82% to 100.5 per dollar -- its lowest since last October.

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• Emirates airlines halts flights to Baghdad until end-November

Emirates airlines will not operate flights to and from Baghdad until the end of November, the company announced on Tuesday.

"Customers transiting through Dubai on Emirates with final destination Baghdad will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice," the company said in a statement.

It added that low-cost international carrier flydubai would continue to operate flights to Baghdad.