Morning Briefing: Nov. 5, 2024

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday with, including US presidential candidates rallying in battleground states on the final day before the election, 54 countries and organizations issuing a collective appeal to the UN Security Council to demand urgent action to stop the transfer of arms and military equipment to Israel, and North Korea firing several short-range ballistic missiles near Japan.

TOP STORIES

• Harris, Trump rally in battleground states on final day before tight US election

With just one day to go before the US presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, are sending contrasting messages to voters as they stump in key battleground states.

At a campaign rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania on Sunday, Trump told the crowd that he "shouldn’t have left" the Oval Office when he lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden, an election in which Trump has continually made unfounded claims that the voting was rigged.

In contrast, Harris, who is also spending her final day before the election in Pennsylvania, is campaigning "to end the war in Gaza" by holding rallies in Allentown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Pennsylvania has a significant Arab and Muslim population, which political experts have said could be key to winning the critical swing state en route to winning the White House.

• Coalition of countries, organizations urges UN Security Council to halt arms transfers to Israel

A coalition of 54 countries and organizations issued a collective appeal to the UN Security Council demanding urgent action to stop the transfer of arms and military equipment to Israel amid its war on the Gaza Strip.

“Fifty-four countries and organizations make a collective call to Members of the UN Security Council for immediate steps to be taken to halt the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel, the occupying Power,” the Palestinian mission to the UN said in a statement on X.

The statement further stressed the importance of adhering to international law and previous resolutions.

• North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles: Japanese defense minister

North Korea launched at least seven short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, Japan’s defense minister said.

The missiles flew at an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles) and covered a range of 400 kilometers (249 miles), said Gen Nakatani.

All of the missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the ocean, he added.

The Japanese government alerted nearby aircraft and vessels, but there were no reports of damage, officials said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Heavy rains triggered significant flooding and "extreme danger" warnings in the Barcelona area as the same storm system that caused devastating floods in Valencia remains over Spain.
• Spain's Valencia region requested €31.4 billion ($34 billion) in emergency aid from the central government following devastating floods that killed 217 people.
• At least 24 people died after their boat sank off the coast of Comoros Islands, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
• Moldova’s incumbent President Maia Sandu is set to win a second term in office following Sunday’s presidential runoff, results posted by the electoral body showed.
• The International Labor Organization (ILO) has formally upgraded Palestine’s status to a “non-member observer state” from a previous designation as a “liberation movement.”
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the critical need for the Islamic world to set aside differences and unite in support of the Palestinian and Lebanese people in their rightful struggle against Israeli aggression.
• The Turkish president headed to Kyrgyzstan to attend an Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit.
• Early voting in the US state of North Carolina surged to a record high ahead of the presidential election on Nov. 5, with more than 4.2 million residents casting ballots in person as of Sunday.
• The UN said that all countries supplying weapons to conflicting sides have a "moral responsibility."
• The EU foreign policy chief condemned Israeli extremist settler violence in the West Bank.
• A nuclear reactor was shut Monday, a few days after it first began to resume operations since a 2011 disaster.
• China has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union's new duties for electric vehicles (EVs) produced in the country.

SPORTS

• Turkish, Israeli teams' football faceoff to be held in 'neutral country'

A football match later this month between a Turkish team and an Israeli side – whose countries are bitterly at odds over an ongoing genocide – will be held in a "neutral country" rather than Türkiye, the hosts and UEFA confirmed.

"Despite all necessary permits being obtained from UEFA to host the UEFA Europa League match against (Israel's) Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 28, 2024 at our stadium, the Turkish state authorities have decided that the match will be played in a neutral country due to the possibility of provocative actions," Istanbul side Besiktas said on X.

• Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez beats American Ann Li to win WTA Merida Open Akron

​​​​​​​Türkiye's Zeynep Sonmez lifted her maiden trophy by defeating Ann Li 6-2 and 6-1 in one hour and 10 minutes on the Yucatan Country Club court.

The 22-year-old became the first Turkish player in more than eight years to win a WTA singles title.

BUSINNESS & ECONOMY

• UN body calls for carbon market reforms to boost development in least-developed countries

Carbon markets hold untapped potential for supporting sustainable growth in least-developed countries (LDCs), according to a new report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The report underlined that while carbon markets offer a promising avenue for climate action, they have so far provided only modest financial returns for LDCs, who require stronger regulatory frameworks and partnerships to benefit fully.

• Trump threatens to impose tariffs to make Mexico stop 'onslaught of criminals and drugs' entering US

In a final pitch to voters on the eve of Election Day, former US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Mexico – one of America’s biggest trading partners – if it fails to stop migrants from entering the US.

"We’re being invaded by Mexico…If they don’t stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send into the United States of America,” Trump said.