Morning Briefing: Oct. 10, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday with, including Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov saying France is ready to support Kyiv in acquiring more weapons and ammunition, the US warning that Lebanon must not turn into anything similar to Gaza in the wake of threats from Isreal’s prime minister, and David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper winning the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

TOP STORIES

• France ready to support Kyiv in acquiring more weapons, ammunition: Ukraine

Ukraine said that France is ready to support Kyiv in acquiring more weapons and ammunition as the war-torn country continues its defense against Russian attacks in its eastern regions.

“We require additional ammunition and weapons, and France is ready to support us in this area,” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov wrote on Facebook after talks with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu during a visit to France.

Umerov added that the main topic of talks with Lecornu was the strengthening of Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

• In wake of Netanyahu's threats, US warns Lebanon must not turn into anything similar to Gaza

Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threats toward Lebanon, the US warned that the situation there must not turn into something resembling the situation in the Gaza Strip, where more than 42,000 people have been killed in the last year.

"We cannot and must not see the situation in Lebanon turn into anything like the situation in Gaza. That would, of course, not be acceptable," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"It is up to the Lebanese people, not anybody else, to decide on who their government is," he said.

• David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper win 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to American biochemist David Baker and British scientists Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, recognizing their pioneering work in protein design and AI-based protein structure prediction, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Baker was awarded half of the prize for his achievements in “computational protein design.” His research, which began in 2003, achieved the previously unattainable: creating entirely new proteins.

Baker’s work has since led to the production of numerous innovative proteins, opening up potential applications for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials and precise molecular sensors.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Hezbollah released footage that showed military bases, facilities and vital installations in the northern Israeli city of Haifa that was captured by one of its drones.
• Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that the risk of the Russia-Ukraine war spreading is greater than ever and that the use of nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction in the conflict cannot be ruled out.
• Illegal Israeli settlers launched attacks that targeted Palestinians, their property and a mosque in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.
• The White House strongly rejected a threat from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Lebanon will see "destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza" if the Lebanese people do not oust Hezbollah.
• The Israeli army said it identified 90 rockets within less than 10 minutes that were launched from Lebanon.
• A journalist was killed when Israeli warplanes targeted a Palestinian television crew, and two others were injured in attacks by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip.
• The UN warned that unilateral actions by various factions in Libya will undermine that country's sovereignty and lead it into further crisis.
• Four Palestinians were shot dead by the Israeli military in Nablus in the northern West Bank.
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and Syria.
• A pilot was killed when a fighter jet crashed in Kuwait, the military said.
• Residents across much of Florida are bracing for Hurricane Milton's expected landfall as the powerful Category 4 storm nears the southern US state.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban highlighted migration, competitiveness and demographic challenges as critical issues confronting the European Union in an address to the European Parliament.
• UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy embarked on a visit to Bahrain and Jordan to drive efforts towards security and stability in the region.
• Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko described the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which comprises former Soviet republics, as a “regional association of nine powerful and wealthy states.”
• Russia said it has regained control of two settlements in its Kursk region which were previously captured by Ukrainian forces during an incursion that began in August.
• Two people were killed and six others injured in fresh Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon amid a massive aerial campaign against the country.
• Over a dozen US states filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the platform is deliberately designed to be addictive for minors.
• A dispute between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Elon Musk, the owner of X, emerged after Australia’s request to remove footage of the April shopping mall and church attacks was rejected, highlighting another instance of social media companies clashing with national sovereignty.
• A study revealed that Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the southeastern US in late September, was significantly intensified by climate change.
• An Israeli military operation in northern Gaza is leaving at least 400,000 Palestinians trapped in the area, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said.
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen, reaffirming their commitment to modernize Alliance command and control and expand the bilateral military presence in Japan's Southwest Islands.
• Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved parliament to pave the way for an early election scheduled for Oct. 27.
• The FBI arrested an Afghan man living in Oklahoma City who was allegedly planning to conduct a terrorist attack in the US on Election Day on behalf of Daesh/ISIS, the Justice Department announced.

SPORTS

• Monaco climb to EuroLeague top spot by beating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 85-79

Monaco climbed to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague top spot by beating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 85-79.

Despite falling behind in the first half, Monaco turned the tide in the third quarter and managed to stay on top until the game’s end.

French guard Elie Okobo and US guard Mike James led their team to victory with 17 points each at Monaco's Salle Gaston Medecin.

• Nepal’s Nima Rinji becomes world’s youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters

An 18-year-old Nepali climber made history in mountaineering, becoming the world's youngest climber to ascend all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet).

Nima Rinji Sherpa joined the coveted club of 8,000 meters early Wednesday when he reached the summit of 8,027-meter Mt. Shishapangma, located in Nepal, The Himalayan daily reported.
He completed all 14 peaks in just 2 years and 40 days.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Oil prices rise with escalating Middle East conflict, US economic growth

Oil prices rose due to escalating tensions in the Middle East and positive economic indicators in the US, the world's largest oil consumer, which offset earlier news that Hezbollah was seeking a cease-fire with Israel.

International benchmark Brent crude increased by 0.70% to reach $77.72 per barrel at 10.48 a.m. local time (0748GMT), up from the previous session's close of $77.18.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by 0.56% to $73.98 per barrel, up from the prior session's close of $73.57.