Morning Briefing: Nov. 21, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday with, including China calling for restraint after Russia updated its nuclear policy and Ukraine fired US-made missiles into Russia for the first time, one in three Muslims in the UK considering leaving due to far-right riots, according to a survey, and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killing at least 39 Palestinians, including women and children.

TOP STORIES

• China calls for restraint after Russia updates nuclear threshold, Ukraine fires US-made missiles

China called for “restraint, de-escalation" and dialogue between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow updated its nuclear policy while Kyiv fired US-made long-range missiles into Russia, state media reported.

“Under the current situation, all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, promoting de-escalation through dialogue and consultation to reduce strategic risks,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.

Lin was responding to questions about Moscow adjusting its threshold to use nuclear weapons and Kyiv firing long-range missiles inside Russian territory for the first time since the war, which began in February 2022.

• 1 in 3 Muslims in UK consider leaving due to far-right riots: Survey

A third of Muslims in the UK said that recent far-right riots have led them to consider leaving the country, a survey revealed.

The survey, conducted by Survation on behalf of Tell Mama, an NGO that tracks hate crimes targeting Muslims, revealed rising concerns within British Muslim communities following the violent unrest that swept across the UK this summer.

One in four Muslims interviewed either online or by phone reported experiencing anti-Muslim hate or Islamophobia after July 30, the day following a mass stabbing in Southport.

• At least 39 Palestinians killed, including women, children, in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

At least 39 Palestinians were killed, including children and displaced people, and several injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting shelters and homes across the Gaza Strip.

In the southern part of Gaza, Civil Defense said that two Palestinians were killed and another injured when an Israeli drone targeted a gathering of civilians in the Al-Janineh neighborhood east of Rafah.

Eight Palestinians, including four children, were also killed in Israeli shelling that struck displaced peoples’ tents in the western part of Khan Younis, according to Palestinian paramedics who spoke to Anadolu.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Mali's military leader sacked the country’s civilian prime minister and the government days after Choguel Kokalla Maiga issued rare criticism of the military rulers.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country does not have the strength to push back Russia to the borders of 1991.
• Several members of the UN Security Council denounced a fourth US veto on a proposed cease-fire resolution in the Gaza Strip.
• At least 14 people were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, bringing the death toll since October last year to 3,558, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
• Iraq has begun a nationwide general population census covering the entire nation, including the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), the first such census in 37 years.
• Hamas described a US veto against a UN Security Council draft resolution on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip as a "hostile stance” that disregards the will of the international community.
• The UN expressed regret for a US veto of a draft resolution that demanded a cease-fire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
• Ukraine downplayed the threat of a large-scale missile attack by Russia, saying such threats are a "daily reality."
• US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he picked former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to be the US ambassador to NATO.
• Ukraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time.
• At least 36 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in an Israeli airstrike in the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria.
• The Biden administration announced a $275 million military aid package for Ukraine in its latest effort to expedite remaining military assistance ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
• The UK will continue to seek a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict amid the "catastrophic" situation in the Middle East, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said.
• More than 500,000 households lost power in northwestern US states as a powerful "bomb cyclone" struck the region, bringing dangerous winds and heavy rainfall.
• A Pakistani high court granted bail to the country’s incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a corruption case and ordered his release, according to court records.
• Russia said it took control of another settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
• The Russian intelligence service has arrested a German citizen who allegedly had explosives to carry out a terrorist attack on an energy facility in Kaliningrad, a coastal city along the Baltic Sea.
• US President-elect Donald Trump announced that Linda McMahon, former World Wrestling Entertainment executive and a member of his first administration, is his choice to lead the Education Department.
• SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test flight 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.

SPORTS

• Retiring Nadal's career ends with Davis Cup defeat in his homeland

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal made the final appearance of his professional career, bowing out with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.

Nadal, 38, who has struggled to regain his peak form in recent years due to injuries, played his final match for Spain in the Davis Cup against the Netherlands in the Spanish city of Malaga.

With an extraordinary career with 22 Grand Slam titles, Nadal retired as the second-most successful men's singles player of all time, trailing only Novak Djokovic, who holds 24 Grand Slam titles.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Crypto market hits $3T as Trump’s win boosts confidence

Cryptocurrency markets continued their bullish trend following US President-elect Donald Trump’s win in the November elections. His positive remarks about cryptocurrencies helped Bitcoin surge to over $93,000.

Bitcoin was trading below $70,000 before the elections, but it spiked after Trump’s win, with many altcoins also following suit. The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies rose above $3 trillion.

Reports that Trump Media and Technology Group is in talks with the cryptocurrency platform Bakkt for its acquisition further fueled market excitement, coupled with Trump’s private meeting with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. Expectations are rising that a pro-crypto figure will be nominated for the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• Global markets on mixed course amid Fed uncertainties, geopolitical tensions

Global markets followed a mixed course amid uncertainties over the Fed’s future policies and increasing geopolitical tensions while all eyes turn to chipmaker Nvidia’s balance sheets to be announced.

Risk appetite in global markets fell as Russia-Ukraine tensions escalated, giving an increase to European stock markets.

Ukraine reported that it attacked the Bryansk region in Russia with US-made long-range missiles (ATACMS) at night and Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a nuclear doctrine which allows the country to respond with nuclear weapons in the face of ballistic missile attacks.