Morning Briefing: July 4, 2023

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including Israel’s ongoing operation in the occupied West Bank, a mass shooting in Philadelphia, and beefed up presence of security forces in France.

TOP STORIES

In an ongoing operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli forces have killed at least nine people, local health officials said.

About 100 people are reported to have been injured, including 20 in serious condition, added the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Tensions ran high as Israeli forces carried out major land and air assaults. Following the attack in Jenin, the Palestinian Authority decided to suspend all forms of contacts and security coordination with Israel.

The UN expressed concern over the raid, while the US said it supported Israel’s right to defend itself.

In another mass shooting in the US city of Philadelphia, four people were killed and four others injured on Monday night, according to media reports.

Multiple gunshots were heard in the Kingsessing section of southwest Philadelphia as a suspect was taken in custody, police said.

The male suspect was wearing a bulletproof vest and was armed with a rifle and a handgun, they added.

At least two children were among those shot, but it is unclear if they were killed.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for a “massive presence” of security forces on the ground amid ongoing protests over last week’s fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old of North African descent, local media reported.

French police also arrested 157 people overnight in nationwide protests over the police killing.

Protests have continued to rock the country since last Tuesday, when an officer shot Nahel M. dead during a traffic check in the Paris suburb of Nanterre after he allegedly ignored orders to stop the engine.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• To manage migration challenges, Brussels seeks to work “very closely” with key countries of origin and transit, the EU Commission chief said on Monday.

• Türkiye hopes to see an end to violence, bloodshed in France at the earliest, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, voicing concerns that recent events will unleash a “new wave of pressure and intimidation” against immigrants and Muslims.

• China called on Japan and South Korea to “resist resurgence of Cold War mentality,” urging its two East Asian neighbors to maintain cooperation and avoid being swayed by outside influence.

• A strong magnitude 5.4 earthquake was reported in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Azerbaijan. No causalities were reported.

• The prime ministers of the Netherlands and Luxembourg urged Serbia and Kosovo on Monday to reduce tensions “as soon as possible” and to continue their dialogue mediated by Brussels.

• Protests in France spread to Greece as a demonstration was held in front of the French Embassy in Athens.

• Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn opened a new session of the Southeast Asian nation’s parliament, which will elect the country’s new prime minister and form a government on Tuesday.

• China has been experiencing its hottest days in six decades, with temperatures reaching 40 C (104 F) in recent days, local media reported.

• Vietnam on Monday banned the movie “Barbie” over a scene showing a map of China’s unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea.

SPORTS

Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic advanced to the second round of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships with straight-set victories.

The 36-year-old Serbian kicked off the event with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 victory against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin.

Swiatek, the world No. 1 in women’s singles, beat China’s Zhu Lin 6-1, 6-3 in the Wimbledon opener to move to the second round.

Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq confirmed Monday the appointment of Steven Gerrard as their new manager on a two-season contract.

The 43-year-old previously served Glasgow Rangers and Aston Villa as a head coach.

During his playing career, the Liverpool legend produced 186 goals and 155 assists in 710 appearances for the Reds in 1998-2015.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

American electric carmaker Tesla marked its fifth consecutive period of production outstripping deliveries.

In the second quarter of the year, it produced almost 480,000 vehicles, though deliveries were just over 466,000.

The company produced a total of 460,211 Model 3/Y and 19,489 Model S/X vehicles this April-June.

Ankara and Abu Dhabi are expected to sign a framework agreement during the Turkish president’s upcoming visit to the United Arab Emirates, Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said.

Without sharing details, Simsek said the pact would be “pretty comprehensive. Technically, we have advanced a lot.”

On June 22, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Simsek paid a one-day working visit to the UAE to meet officials and hold a series of delegation meetings.

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