Morning Briefing: Sept. 3, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday with, including US President Joe Biden’s comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the hostage deal, UK suspending 30 arms export licenses to Israel, and Türkiye hitting several targets in northern Iraq and neutralizing many terrorists.

TOP STORIES

• Biden does not believe Netanyahu doing enough to secure hostage deal

US President Joe Biden said Monday that he does not think Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a hostage deal with Hamas.

His remarks came in response to a reporter's question during his arrival at the White House.

Biden also said he believes a final deal for the release of hostages held by the Palestinian group is "very close."

Earlier, The Washington Post reported that the US plans to present a "take it or leave it" cease-fire deal to the parties in the coming weeks.

• UK suspends 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel

The UK has suspended 30 arms export licenses to Israel after a review, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on Monday.

During a speech in parliament, Lammy said that the decision comes following a review of export licenses for UK arms which found there was a "clear risk" that they would be used in a way that could breach international law.

"Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government's legal duty to review Britain's export licenses," said Lammy.

Around 30 of 350 licenses will be suspended, he noted, however adding: "This is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo."

• Türkiye hits 20 targets in northern Iraq, 'neutralizes' many terrorists

Türkiye on Monday hit 20 targets in Zap, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil, Asos, and Metina regions of northern Iraq where some ringleaders of the PKK terrorist organization were based, the National Defense Ministry said.

Stressing that this came in an airstrike in line with "our right to self-defense arising from Article 51 of the UN Charter," the ministry wrote on X: "During the air operation, 20 targets consisting of caves, bunkers, shelters, warehouses and facilities used by the terrorist organization were destroyed."

It added that a large number of terrorists were killed as a result of the operation.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Israeli army on Monday evening carried out an airstrike on a gathering of people buying bread in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, killing at least five and injuring several others.
• A school bus slammed into pedestrians outside a middle school in eastern China on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people, including five students, state-run media reported.
• A suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday killed six civilians, including a woman, and injured 13 others, according to a police statement.
• Britain's maritime agency reported a fresh incident Monday off the coast of Al Hudaydah in western Yemen.
• The Israeli army has detained at least 98 Palestinian journalists since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7 last year, including 52 still languishing in Israeli jails, a prisoners' group said Monday.
• The armed wing of the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Monday blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and army for the death of Israeli captives in Gaza by deliberately obstructing a cease-fire and hostage swap deal.
• Hundreds of Israeli protesters on Monday evening broke through a police barrier near the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, triggering violent clashes with the police.
• Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate and incumbent Bangladesh transitional government chief, has sought UN support for the "voluntary return" of Rohingya refugees who are currently sheltering in the country’s southeastern Cox's Bazar district.
• A polio vaccination campaign for children under the age of 10 continued for the second day in the central Gaza Strip on Monday amid a deadly Israeli offensive on the enclave.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

SPORTS

• European football giants rope in new stars before transfer deadline

European football giants have strengthened key areas with stars in a challenging market ahead of the summer transfer window, which shut last week.

Real Madrid, the 2024 Champions League winners, signed Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Argentina striker Julian Alvarez departed the English Premier League winner Manchester City.

• Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos suffers ankle injury

Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos has injured his right ankle, the Spanish club announced on Monday.

"Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Dani Ceballos, he has been diagnosed with a grade 3 sprain with ligament damage to his right ankle. His progress will be monitored," the club said in a statement.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye's GDP increases 2.5% in 2nd quarter

The Turkish economy grew 2.5% at an annualized pace in the second quarter of 2024, according to official data released on Monday.

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the April-June period reached 9.95 trillion Turkish liras, or approximately $308.16 billion, as reported by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat).

• Oil prices continue to fall amid cease-fire attempts in Middle East

Oil prices decreased on Monday amid a growing desire to achieve a cease-fire in the Middle East, home to a vast majority of global oil reserves, by easing supply concerns.

International benchmark Brent crude decreased 0.4% to $76.64 per barrel at 10.32 a.m. local time (0732 GMT), up from the previous session's close of $76.93.

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