Morning Briefing: Oct. 30, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday with, including Israel killing of several Palestinians in northern Gaza, UN chief sending a letter to Israeli premier over ban on Palestinian refugee agency, and millions of Americans casting early votes ahead of next week's presidential election.

TOP STORIES

• Several killed in fresh Israeli bombardment in northern Gaza

At least 16 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others injured on Tuesday evening in a new Israeli bombardment of three homes in the town of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.

"Civilians are calling on civil defense and medical crews to rescue them, but unfortunately, northern Gaza has no civil defense or medical services,” Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian civil defense, told Anadolu.

The strike came as civilians in the besieged northern town searched for survivors in the aftermath of an earlier Israeli raid that killed at least 93 people.

• UN chief sends letter to Israeli premier over ban on Palestinian refugee agency

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, raising concerns over Israel’s recent move to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

"We are in contact with Israeli authorities," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters during a press briefing, adding that Guterres had sent the letter "a few hours ago... outlining his concerns".

The letter, according to Dujarric, addresses issues related to international law raised by the new Israeli measure.

The letter came a day after the Israeli parliament passed a bill that would ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and occupied territories. The legislation, to take effect in 90 days, would affect UNRWA's work in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

• Millions of Americans cast early ballots ahead of next week's presidential election

More than 51 million Americans have cast early ballots ahead of next week's national election, according to data published Tuesday.

The University of Florida's Election Lab reported that 51,354,949 people cast their votes early via in-person voting and mail-in ballots. Roughly 26.8 million people have gone into polling stations to vote while 24.6 others have voted via mail.

Just over 800,000 more Democrats than Republicans -- 9,892,219 to 9,048,267 -- have voted early. About 6.1 million others not affiliated with either major party have also done so.

The Nov. 5 election is seven days away, and polling indicates that Vice President Kamala Harris, and her Republican challenger, Donald Trump, are locked in a dead heat, particularly in the seven critical battleground states.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• China launched into space the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft carrying three astronauts, including a woman.
• The Pentagon said a "small number" of North Korean troops are already in Russia's Kursk region.
• The US said it is "deeply concerned" by the loss of civilian life in an Israeli airstrike on northern Gaza that killed 93 people.
• Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour urged the Security Council to match their words with decisive action.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Türkiye is never complacent about eliminating terrorist threats at their source.
• Eight Austrian nationals belonging to UN peacekeepers force in Lebanon were injured in an Israeli rocket attack, the Austrian foreign minister said.
• UN agencies slammed the Israeli parliament's passing of a law to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), underlining the importance of the work of the organization for the Palestinians.
• Türkiye celebrated the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.
• The death toll from Israel’s airstrikes against Lebanon since last October has reached 2,792.
• Qatar said mediation efforts aimed at establishing a cease-fire in Gaza are ongoing, expressing optimism for an agreement amid intensified violence.
• Canada announced a new round of sanctions against Myanmar in response "to ongoing and increasing aerial attacks by the Myanmar military regime."

SPORTS

• Olympiacos Piraeus defeat Real Madrid 79-69 in EuroLeague

Greece's Olympiacos Piraeus defeated Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid 79-69 in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague round 6 game.

Greek forward Sasha Vezenkov dropped 23 points for the hosts at Peace and Friendship Stadium. Croatian forward Mario Hezonja became the top scorer of the Spanish team with 15 points.

• Napoli beat AC Milan 2-0 in Italian Serie A clash

Napoli beat AC Milan 2-0 in an Italian Serie A week 10 clash.

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku brought an early lead to the visitors in the fifth minute at San Siro.

Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted the second goal for Napoli in the 43rd minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• German auto industry’s transformation could result in 190,000 job losses by 2035

Labor supply in the German auto industry is expected to fall 6.3% by 2035, according to a recent study by the research institute Prognos commissioned by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

The fall is expected to stem from the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and an unspecified amount of decline in demand for workers.

• US, Taiwan to start negotiating deal to address double taxation

The US and Taiwan will start negotiating a comprehensive tax agreement to address double taxation, the US Treasury Department announced

A comprehensive tax agreement is expected to provide critical benefits for both countries, particularly to support President Joe Biden's CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to strengthen the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain, create jobs and incentivize investments in semiconductor manufacturing facilities across the US, it said in a statement.