Morning Briefing: Aug. 3, 2024

ISTANBUL 

Here’s a rundown of all the news that you need to start Saturday, including the Pentagon telling Israel about “future defensive force posture changes,” a report that the US is preparing to send more combat aircraft to the Middle East, and US President Joe Biden saying Ismael Haniyeh’s assassination is not helpful for cease-fire deal in Gaza.

TOP STORIES

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart about Washington’s “future defensive force posture changes” in the Middle East.

“Secretary Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense (Yoav) Gallant this morning about the destabilizing threats posed by Iran its partners and proxies.

“The secretary reiterated ironclad support for Israel’s security and informed the minister of additional measures to include ongoing and future defensive force posture changes that the department will take to support the defense of Israel,” Pentagon spokesman Sabrina Singh told reporters.

The US is preparing to send more combat aircraft to the Middle East amid rising tensions between Israel and countries in the region.

American forces in the Middle East are taking “necessary measures” to increase their combat readiness and to protect US troops and allies against threats from Iran or Iran-backed militia groups, The New York Times reported, citing an anonymous US military official.

While it has been unclear how many planes will be sent, the officials said the US is working on “calibrating” measures to “send enough of the right types of aircraft as quickly as possible to help defend Israel without appearing to escalate the conflict.”

US President Joe Biden said the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has not been good for efforts to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

“It has not helped,” the president told reporters late Thursday when he was asked if Haniyeh’s killing ruined the chances for a truce.

Biden said he had a “very direct” conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We have the basis for a cease-fire. He should move on it, and they should move on it now,” he added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Denmark applauded Thursday’s multinational prisoner exchange as great diplomatic victory for Türkiye.

• Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a home in Gaza City, according to civil defense teams,

• An explosion rocked the Somali capital Mogadishu, with police fearing casualties and reporting gunfire shortly after the blast.

• Biden warned Netanyahu against escalating tension amid the risk of a regional war.

• Israeli police arrested Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri for mourning slain Hamas leader Haniyeh. Hours later Sabri was released by Israel but barred from the mosque until at least Aug. 8.

• US Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe said the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was a “mission failure” and the agency takes “full responsibility.”

• India asked its nationals in Israel to avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay vigilant given rising regional tensions.

• The United Arab Emirates said it had distributed tents and relief supplies to displaced Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip.

• The Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority said it had blocked access to Instagram.

• Five days after President Nicolas Maduro was reelected in Venezuela, Argentina’s foreign minister said opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had won the race.

• The navies of Pakistan and Türkiye held naval drills in the north Arabian Sea.

• Hezbollah said it had targeted military sites in northern Israel while Tel Aviv continued air raids on southern Lebanese towns.

• France urged its nationals in Iran to leave the country “as soon as possible.”

• Israel’s foreign minister said he ordered officials to summon Türkiye’s deputy envoy after the Turkish Embassy lowered its flag to half-mast in observation of a day of mourning for Haniyeh.

• China voiced hope that the US and Russia would resolve bilateral issues through dialogue.

• Beijing detected five human cases of cutaneous anthrax, which is mostly found in animals, state media reported.

• At least four Palestinians were killed and several injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a home in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed condolences to Khaled Meshaal, the acting head of Hamas’ political bureau, over the assassination of Haniyeh, the Turkish Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

SPORTS

Women’s tennis world no. 1 Iga Swiatek won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Polish star beat Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in straight sets – 6-2, 6-1 – at Court Philippe-Chatrier in 59 minutes.

Chinese world no. 7 Zheng Qinwen, who had eliminated Swiatek, will face 13th-seed Donna Vekic from Croatia in the women’s singles final on Saturday.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

The International Monetary Fund said it is boosting its number of executive directors by adding a 25th chair for Sub-Saharan Africa.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the decision will make the Board of Governors, its highest decision-making body, more inclusive and will reflect the region’s role in the global economy

“Approval by the Board of Governors to change the size of the Executive Board requires an 85 percent majority of the total voting power,” said a statement. “The Fund’s membership approved the resolution allowing for the creation of a 25th chair, exceeding the required threshold.”

Türkiye’s exports totaled $22.5 billion in July, hitting a historic high for the month, according to the nation’s trade minister.

Exports posted an annual rise of 13.8%, while imports dropped 7.9% to $32.3 billion.

The foreign trade balance narrowed by 42.3% on a yearly basis to $7.2 billion.

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