Morning Briefing: July 2, 2024

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday, including patients fleeing Gaza hospital amid possible Israeli assault, a US Supreme Court ruling granting former President Donald Trump immunity for official acts, and heightened security alert in US bases in Europe.

TOP STORIES

Medical and technical teams began evacuating patients from Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis city late Monday ahead of a possible Israeli ground assault.

The Israeli army did not specifically order those in the hospital to leave, but medical teams started evacuating patients, injured people and some of the hospital’s medical equipment as the hospital is located in one of the areas where residents received text warnings from Israeli authorities to move to another location.

Medical sources told Anadolu that the medical teams moved several patients and injured people to Nasser Hospital in central Khan Younis.

“We conclude that under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power requires that a former president have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in a ruling.

However, Roberts added, not everything is official.

US commanders in Europe have placed bases in a higher state of alert due to a “combination of factors,” the Pentagon said Monday.

“I won’t speak to intelligence matters…but it was due to a combination of factors potentially impacting the safety and security of service members stationed in the European theater,” spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.

“US European Command is taking steps to increase vigilance for our service members, their families and our facilities,” she added.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court’s decision Monday to grant substantial immunity from prosecution to former President Donald Trump on election subversion charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
• Yemen’s Houthi group announced Monday that they carried out military operations targeting four ships in the Red, Arabian and Mediterranean Seas and Indian Ocean in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
• At least 23 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, bringing the overall death toll to 37,900 since last Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the battered enclave said on Monday.
• Pier built by the US military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza has not been re-anchored yet, the Pentagon said Monday.
• Russia’s permanent representative to the UN criticized a US-backed three-phase cease-fire plan for Gaza on Monday, saying it lacks details for its implementation.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an investigation on Monday into the release of the director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Mohammad Abu Salmiya, terming it as “a severe mistake and an ethical failure,” according to a statement by his office.
• Efforts of anti-Turkish elements to disrupt peace in Türkiye will not be realized, Türkiye’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on Monday, commenting on violence after a crime by a Syrian national in the Kayseri province on the previous day.
• Australian ruling Labor Party Senator Fatima Payman said Monday that the prime minister’s decision to indefinitely suspend her from the party’s caucus had left her in “exile,” after supporting a motion in parliament to recognize a Palestinian state.
• The World Meteorological Organization on Tuesday declared Tropical Cyclone Freddy the longest tropical cyclone on record, at 36 days.
• At least 39 people have been killed in anti-government protests over planned tax hikes, according to a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

SPORTS

• Portugal beat Slovenia on penalties to face France in EURO 2024 quarterfinals

Portugal beat Slovenia 3-0 via a penalty shootout Monday to play against France in the UEFA EURO 2024 quarterfinals.

A heroic performance by Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa during the penalties sent the Selecao to the last eight in the tournament.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva scored during the shootout.

• France beat Belgium 1-0 to book their place in EURO 2024 quarterfinals

France qualified for the EURO 2024 quarterfinals after beating Belgium 1-0 in a last-16 match in Dusseldorf on Monday.

The French national team broke the deadlock just near the end of the match, as experienced Anderlecht defender Jan Vertonghen’s own goal in the 85th minute sent Belgium out.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Saudi Arabia announces major oil, gas discoveries

Saudi Arabia on Monday announced the discovery of seven oil and natural gas deposits in the country’s east.

The discovery was made by Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said in a statement cited by the state news agency SPA.

• IMeta’s ‘pay-or-consent’ ad model fails to comply with EU competition rules: European Commission

iMeta’s “pay or consent” advertising model aimed at Facebook and Instagram users in Europe fails to comply with the Digital Markets Act, the European Commission said Monday in a preliminary finding.

EU regulators want equivalent services for users who do not want to pay for an ad-free experience or consent to the company collecting their personal data.

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