Morning Briefing: Oct. 19, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start Saturday, including, Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Moscow will never allow Ukraine to develop nuclear weapons; the US saying growing Russia-China alignment makes NATO and Indo-Pacific cooperation "more vital than ever" and Hamas confirming death of leader Yahya Sinwar in Israeli attack.

TOP STORIES

• Russia will never allow Ukraine to develop nuclear weapons: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would never allow Ukraine to develop its own nuclear weapons.

In a meeting with BRICS media managers, Putin commented on reports claiming Ukraine’s plans to develop weapons of mass destruction.

“This is another provocation,” he said.

“It is not difficult to create nuclear weapons in the modern world. I do not know if Ukraine is capable of doing this now. This is not so easy for Ukraine today. But in general, there are no big difficulties here. Everything is clear how it is done,” the president added.

• US says growing Russia-China alignment makes NATO, Indo-Pacific cooperation 'more vital than ever'

The US defense chief said allies are troubled by the growing alignment between Russia and China, including China's support for Russia's war on Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference following NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Lloyd Austin expressed concern about China's "increasingly coercive" behavior in the Indo-Pacific, which he said has profound implications for the whole world.

"We're also troubled by the growing alignment between Russia and the People's Republic of China, including The PRC's support for Putin's indefensible war choice against Ukraine," he noted.

• Hamas confirms death of leader Yahya Sinwar in Israeli attack

The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, confirmed the death of Yahya Sinwar, the head of the movement’s political bureau, in the Gaza Strip.

In a televised statement, Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya praised Sinwar as a “hero who fought the Israeli forces until his last breath.”

He also stressed that Israeli hostages “will not be released until the complete cessation of Israeli aggression in Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The death of the Hamas leader "should mark a turning point" in the Middle East conflict, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met members of Hamas' Political Bureau and discussed developments in negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza that would allow for hostage and prisoner exchanges.
• The US, South Korea and Japan urged the international community to take action on North Korea’s human rights issues, shifting from monitoring abuses to promoting accountability.
• US President Joe Biden said he knows how and when Israel will carry out its attack on Iran as Tehran warns it will respond "decisively."
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Armenia and Azerbaijan can use the 3+3 South Caucasus Regional Cooperation Platform to work on a peace treaty.
• The UN sounded the alarm over an escalating "dire and dangerous situation" in northern Gaza and demanded humanitarian access to the Jabalia area.
• Data from the Israeli army revealed that 53 soldiers were injured in the last 24 hours, raising the number of wounded soldiers since the onset of the Gaza war to 4,948.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope for an immediate cease-fire, following Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a UN spokesperson said.
• Nine Palestinians were killed and more than 50 injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting houses and a group of civilians in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, which has been under assault for 14 consecutive days.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would struggle to form a government if elections were held today, according to a new poll released.
• Hamas announced that Mahmoud Hamdan, also known as Abu Yusuf, who served as the commander of the Al-Sultan Brigade in Rafah, was killed alongside the slain leader Yahya Sinwar.
• Israeli media reported the firing of at least 50 rockets from Lebanon toward northern Israel.
• The Vatican has reprimanded several Swiss bishops in connection with allegations of sexual abuse and their handling of it, including coverups, said the Swiss Bishops' Conference.
• The White House downplayed the near-term potential for meaningful negotiations on an agreement that could end Israel's war on the besieged Gaza Strip, and release the more than 100 hostages held there for over a year.
• Russia continues to pose a "significant and direct threat" to the security of NATO member states and President Vladimir Putin is “resorting to increasingly irresponsible rhetoric," according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
• South Korea claimed that the North has sent 1,500 soldiers to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine.
• Russia is “concerned” about the possible consequences for the Middle East after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israel, a Kremlin spokesperson said.
• China lauded South Africa for pushing Taiwan’s representative office out of the capital, Pretoria, state media reported.
• Turkish authorities arrested nine suspects as part of an ongoing investigation into an international cyber-espionage network, security sources said.

SPORTS

• Istanbul is to host 'L'Etape Türkiye by Tour de France' cycling race Saturday

Istanbul will host on Saturday "L'Etape Türkiye by Tour de France," a special event designed for amateur athletes inspired by the iconic Tour de France.

The prestigious event, being held for the first time in Türkiye, is scheduled to take place Oct. 19-20.

Omer Kafkas, the general manager of the competition’s organizer in Türkiye, told Anadolu that the event will host a very different demographic structure in our organizations within the scope of these types of organizations.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Record number of UK businesses facing financial distress, report shows

A record number of UK businesses are experiencing significant financial distress, according to data by Begbies Traynor, a firm specializing in corporate restructuring.

Begbies Traynor's The Red Flag Alert report for the third quarter revealed that 632,756 companies are now classified as being in “significant” financial distress, marking a 32% increase compared to the same period last year. The surge highlights the toll of high inflation and lingering debt from the pandemic on businesses.

Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, emphasized the widespread nature of the crisis.