Morning Briefing: October 11, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including Israel’s plan for a full offensive on the Gaza Strip, the US’ latest declaration of support and military assistance for Israel, and another earthquake in the space of a few days in western Afghanistan.

TOP STORIES

• Israel signals ‘full’ Gaza offensive as US ammunition arrives

Israel’s defense minister has said its forces have retaken control of areas around the Gaza Strip and will launch a “full” offensive.

Yoav Gallant said the Palestinian Hamas group “will regret” its actions and Gaza “will never be the same.”

Israel also announced the arrival of the first transport plane carrying “advanced American ammunition,” which it said is designed to inflict “significant blows.”

At least 1,200 Israelis, and 900 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began on Saturday.

• US ready to send more military aid to Israel: President Biden

President Joe Biden has said the US is prepared to send additional military assets to the region to support Israel.

“Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back,” he said, pointing to his decision to deploy the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean.

He also confirmed that Americans are among the hostages captured by Hamas.

• Afghanistan hit by another powerful earthquake in days

A strong earthquake has struck Herat in western Afghanistan, just days after two powerful tremors caused massive damage in the same region.

The magnitude 6.3 occurred early on Wednesday morning, with local media reports saying that dozens of people have been wounded.

The number of dead and injured from last week’s earthquakes has already exceeded 4,500, according to official figures, and is expected to rise further.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Israeli army told Anadolu on Tuesday that it has no information confirming allegations that “Hamas beheaded babies.”
  
  
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on all influential actors in the region to make a serious push for peace in the Middle East.
  
  
• US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said contingency planning is underway in case the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups intensifies.
  
  
• Russia has dismissed Ukraine’s accusations that Moscow has an interest in triggering a war in the Middle East, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov terming the claims “groundless.”
  
  
• Flying the Palestinian flag “may not be legitimate,” UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said, adding that targeting Jewish neighborhoods and waving pro-Palestinian or pro-Hamas symbols could be public order offenses.
  
  
• Migrants who had been removed by the UK from the Bibby Stockholm barge in August after the discovery of legionella bacteria will be returned to the vessel next week, according to media reports.

• Canada has said it will welcome 11,000 migrants from Colombia, Haiti and Venezuela this fall, with the condition that they must have a Canadian relative.

SPORTS

• Türkiye, Italy to co-host EURO 2032

Türkiye and Italy will co-host the 2032 UEFA European Football Championship, while the UK and Ireland will host EURO 2028, the European football body has announced.

“The joint bidders presented 20 potential host stadiums, of which 10 will be chosen, five per country, by October 2026,” a UEFA statement said about Türkiye and Italy’s bid.

• Alexey Lutsenko wins Tour of Türkiye ‘Queen Stage’

Alexey Lutsenko of Astana Qazaqstan Team stormed to victory in the “Queen Stage” of the 58th Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye.

Lutsenko completed the 64-mile ride between Fethiye and Babadag mountain in 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 17 seconds, ahead of Bora Hansgrohe’s Ben Zwiehoff and Astana’s Harold Tejada.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US Treasury head calls for IMF, World Bank climate change reforms

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has called for reforms in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in dealing with climate change and poverty.

“Low-income countries have been particularly hard hit by the recent global shocks, and we saw an increase in global poverty for the first time in twenty years during the pandemic,” she said during her speech at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Morocco.

• Azerbaijan signs deal with Iran for transportation lines

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev announced that an agreement has been reached with Iran for the construction of a road and railway that will provide access to Nakhchivan via Iranian territory.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan aims to increase the carrying capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway from 1 million to 5 million tons.​​​​​​​