Morning Briefing: Oct. 10, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including Israel’s total blockade of Gaza, clashes at Israel-Lebanon border, and Turkish President Erdogan’s mediation offer on Israel-Palestine conflict.

TOP STORIES

• Israel announces complete blockade of Gaza, intensifies attacks

Israel on Monday announced laying a "complete siege" to the Gaza Strip amid intensified fighting with the Palestinian Hamas group.

“There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed (to Gaza),"Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.

Later on Monday, the Israeli authorities suspended water supply to Gaza.

The Israeli forces also intensified attacks and increased airstrikes on Gaza Strip.

Israeli Navy struck central areas of the Gaza Strip along the Mediterranean coast, firing dozens of rockets.

More than 137,000 people in Gaza have been displaced and have taken refuge in schools, says UN.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces has risen to 704. At least 900 Israelis have been killed during the ongoing conflict.

• Israeli army hits targets in Lebanon

The Israeli army on Monday confirmed hitting several targets in Lebanon by using its combat helicopters.

The airstrikes on Lebanese targets come after the infiltration of several gunmen into northern Israel from Lebanon.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility Monday for the operation in southern Lebanon against Israeli soldiers.

• Türkiye ready for any kind of mediation between Israel, Palestine: President Erdogan

Ankara is ready to undertake a mediator role in the current Israeli-Palestinian tension, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

"I would like to state that Türkiye is ready for any kind of mediation, including prisoner exchanges, if the parties request it.”

The president said that there will be no peace in the region without independent sovereign Palestinian state within 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

Türkiye is also making necessary preparations to supply humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip.

NEWS IN BRIEF

The number of people dead and injured in last week's earthquake that jolted northwest Afghanistan has exceeded 4,000, a disaster management official said.

• The US said Monday it does not have any information that Iran helped Hamas plan Saturday’s unprecedented attack on Israel.

• Sudan, Iran normalize ties after 7-year hiatus as Khartoum and Tehran will reopen embassies in coming period and exchange official delegations.

• The US has no intention to send ground troops to Israel amid its war with the Palestinian group Hamas, the White House said Monday.

• Two Palestinian journalists were killed early Tuesday in an airstrike by Israeli warplanes on the Gaza Strip, while filming the targeting of a residential building by Israeli warplanes.

• Police in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh have registered a case after students at a university held a rally in support of Palestine, officials said Monday.

• Türkiye "neutralized" 162 PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Iraq and Syria in operations carried out since Oct. 1, the date of a foiled terrorist attack in the capital Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

• Egypt has become the first country to achieve "gold tier" status on the path to elimination of hepatitis C, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

SPORTS

• Jasper Philipsen wins 2nd stage of Türkiye cycling race

Jasper Philipsen of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team won the 58th Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye stage two on Monday.

The 25-year-old from Belgium came first in the 166.5-kilometer (103-mile) ride, completing the Kemer-Kalkan stage in 4 hours, 13 minutes, 54 seconds.

Starting from Antalya on Sunday and ending in Istanbul on Oct. 15, the cyclists will travel 1,235 kilometers (767 miles).

• Tottenham, Milan take over as leaders of Premier League, Serie A, respectively

Tottenham and AC Milan took over as leaders of the English Premier League and Italian Serie A, respectively.

The reigning champions Manchester City lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the Premier League, while Inter Milan drew 2-2 with Bologna in Serie A.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Nobel Prize in economic sciences awarded to American economist

The 2023 Nobel Prize in economic sciences has been awarded to American economic historian and labor economist Claudia Goldin for her works related to women's labor market outcomes.

Goldin has provided the first comprehensive account of women's earnings and labor market outcomes through the centuries, the Nobel committee said.

• Fed's top banking regulator supports new capital rules

The US Federal Reserve's top regulator on banking said Monday he supports newly proposed capital rules and requirements on banking institutions across the nation.

"Access to credit and other financial services is key to families navigating the many challenges they face and building a better future," Michael Barr said in a speech at the American Bankers Association Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.