Morning Briefing: Sept. 21, 2024

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start Saturday, including the UN human rights chief calling the pager and radio attacks in Lebanon a "war crime;" the Israeli army claiming to assassinate a senior Hezbollah leader in airstrike in Beirut and the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting that 716 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7.

TOP STORIES

UN human rights chief calls pager, radio attacks in Lebanon 'war crime'

The UN human rights chief strongly denounced a series of deadly explosions of pagers and radio devices in Lebanon as "a war crime."

Saying that he is "appalled" by the Sept. 17 and 18 attacks on civilians, Volker Turk told the UN Security Council that "these attacks represent a new development in warfare, where communication tools become weapons."

"This has unleashed widespread fear, panic and horror among people in Lebanon, already suffering in an increasingly volatile situation since October 2023 and crumbling under a severe and long standing economic crisis. This cannot be the new normal," he warned.

The Israeli army claims to assassinate Hezbollah senior leader in airstrike on Beirut

The Israeli army claimed it assassinated Ibrahim Aqil, whom it described as the head of Hezbollah's operations and the de facto commander of the Radwan Force, in a drone strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

“Aircraft conducted a targeted, intelligence-based strike in the area of Beirut, and eliminated Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah's Operations Unit and the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force,” it said.

“During the strike, senior operatives in Hezbollah's operations staff and commanders from the Radwan Unit were eliminated alongside Aqil,” it added.

716 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces, illegal settlers in West Bank since Oct. 7: Health Ministry

At least 716 Palestinians, including 160 children, have been killed by Israeli army fire and illegal settler attacks in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023, said Palestine’s Health Ministry.

A statement said the death toll from Israeli aggression in the West Bank hit 716, with 5,750 wounded since last October.

Among the dead are 10 women, nine elderly, and 160 children, it added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US State Department approve possible sale to Bulgaria of Javelin FGM-148F missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $114 million.
• An Israeli airstrike killed at least 14 people and injured 66 others in Beirut's southern suburb, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
• Türkiye’s communications chief called for immediate action to end Israel's attacks on Gaza, marking the "350th day of this genocide."
• The UN's special coordinator for Lebanon raised concern about escalation in the region following Israeli airstrikes in Beirut.
• The Niger military administration postponed the start of the new academic year in schools and universities by at least a month due to floods.
• At least 12 Palestinians were killed and others injured by Israeli airstrikes and shelling that targeted a small bus, vehicle, home, motorcycle and civilians in parts of the Gaza Strip.
• At least three people were killed when a gold mine collapsed in northeastern Afghanistan, local media reported.
• The White House said it is "not aware" of any advance notification provided by Israel before it carried out a strike on Beirut earlier amid soaring tensions with Hezbollah.
• An Israeli airstrike killed at least three people in Beirut's southern suburb region, injuring others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
• The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has banned military personnel and civil servants from using the Telegram messaging app on official devices, an official announced.
• South Korea's president emphasized expanding cooperation with the Czech Republic in the nuclear energy sector, as well as in high-tech, transportation, and infrastructure, during a state visit to Prague, Korean media reported.
• The Kremlin said Russian special services are closely monitoring pager explosions in Lebanon and will take appropriate action.
• Norwegian police launched a preliminary investigation into a Bulgarian-based company owned by a Norwegian national in connection with pager explosions in Lebanon, which killed at least 37 victims and injured more than 3,200 in two waves of communication device and radio blasts.
• Israel announced its opposition to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the Court's prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
• At least 150 rockets were fired from Lebanon at military sites and settlements in northern Israel within one hour, according to Israeli Army Radio.
• Two Hezbollah fighters were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, according to the group.

SPORTS

Round 18 of Formula 1 to be held in Singapore

The round 18 of the 2024 Formula One World Championship will be held in Singapore on Sunday.

The Singapore Grand Prix will take place more than 62 laps of the 4.94-kilometer (3.1-mile) Marina Bay Street Circuit at 1200 GMT.

Red Bull's reigning world champion driver Max Verstappen has topped the podium seven times in this season's races.

Inter Milan to take on AC Milan in Italian league derby on Sunday

Defending champions Inter Milan will take on AC Milan in a Sunday derby in the Italian top-tier Serie A division.

Third-place Inter have eight points in four matches. Mid-table Milan have five points before this weekend's derby at Inter's home ground, the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.

Udinese are leading the league standings with 10 points.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Biden announces more than $3B in support for battery manufacturing sector

The Biden administration announced more than $3 billion in grants for 25 selected projects in 14 states to increase domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials nationwide.

It is part of the president's clean energy industrial strategy to bolster a domestic supply chain that enhances the nation's energy security and economic competitiveness, the Energy Department said in a statement.

The selected projects are estimated to support more than 8,000 construction jobs and over 4,000 operating jobs, it added.

World Bank Group provides record $42.6B in climate finance

The World Bank Group said it delivered a record $42.6 billion in climate finance in fiscal year 2024, which covers July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

The amount, which increased 10% compared to the previous fiscal year, supported efforts "to end poverty on a livable planet, investing in cleaner energy, more resilient communities, and stronger economies," it said in a report.

The World Bank Group said it committed to increasing its climate finance to 45% of total lending for fiscal year 2025.​​​​​​​