Morning Briefing: May 9, 2023

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including at least 12 killed in Gaza in Israeli airstrikes, tensions between Israel and EU, Syria’s reentry in Arab League draws mixed reaction, and thousands of Serbs protest against mass shootings.

TOP STORIES

Twelve people, including children and women, were killed and 20 others injured in overnight airstrikes by the Israeli army in Gaza, said Gaza Health Ministry.

In a statement, the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, said three members of its leadership and their wives and children were killed in the airstrikes.

Those killed include the group’s senior leader Tareq Izzeldeen, commander Khalil Bahitini, and secretary-general of the group’s military council Jahed Ahnam.

Tensions continue to rise between the EU and Israel as the bloc canceled its Europe Day diplomatic event in Tel Aviv, opposing the participation of far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

EU’s spokesperson Peter Stano said that they did not want to offer a platform to someone whose views contradict the bloc’s values.

Ben-Gvir, a hard-liner Jewish settlement activist and part of the coalition government in Israel, criticized the move.

Tensions also rose after Benjamin Netanyahu-led government bulldozed a Palestinian school funded by the EU.

The reinstatement of Syria into the influential Arab League after 12 years has drawn mixed reactions.

Iran welcomed the move while the UN said that regional engagement is vital for Syria’s peace process.

The US said it will not normalize ties with Assad’s Syria and that sanctions will remain in full effect. The EU said it will reassess its position on the issue but also ruled out lifting sanctions or normalizing ties with the Assad regime. Qatar, a vocal critic of the Assad regime, said its position remains unchanged.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Serbia’s capital Belgrade to protest against the government after recent mass shootings left 17 dead and sent shockwaves across the country.

The demonstrators, calling for an end to violence, are being backed by the opposition party. They demanded the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic as well as other key figures in the government. They also demanded an urgent session of the parliament to discuss the security situation.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Canada on Monday expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei, who was accused of being involved in a plot to intimidate Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong.
• A possible meeting at the level of heads of state on Syria will most likely be held this year, says Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
• At least 14 people were injured on Monday in Russian attacks throughout various regions of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. A drone strike in the capital injured five people, and damaged more than 10 cars.
• Uzbekistan announces snap presidential election a week after changes to its constitution. President Mirziyoyev cites reason such as the balance of power after extending the presidential term from five to seven years.
• Azerbaijan says progress in normalization with Armenia “falls short of expectations,” in terms of “drafting a peace treaty, the delimitation of the state border and the restoration of transport and communication.”
• Twitter is in the process of removing old inactive accounts that have sat idle for multiple years, says owner Elon Musk. The criteria for determining the removal of accounts were not immediately clear.
• South Korea reports 16 new monkeypox cases for May’s first week, pushing the country’s total to 60, according to health authorities. Eleven cases have been reported from the capital Seoul.

SPORTS

Lionel Messi on Monday was named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

He is the first-ever athlete to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Laureus World Team of the Year Awards in the same year. The footballer guided Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title by defeating 2018 champions France 4-2 on penalties in Qatar.

Olympique Lyon’s president Jean-Michel Aulas has resigned from his post after over three decades, the French Ligue 1 club said.

Aulas will remain honorary president while John Textor has been appointed interim president. Under the helm of Aulas, Lyon won seven consecutive French Ligue 1 titles from 2002 to 2008.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

The US Congress failure to raise the nation’s debt limit, which could lead to defaulting on its debt, would cause “calamity” for the world’s biggest economy, the Treasury secretary has warned.

The government could default on its debt as early as June 1, Jannet Yellen told local media in an interview.

German biotech firm BioNTech’s net profits plunged to €502.2 million ($555 million) in the first quarter of this year, from €3.7 billion ($4.07 billion) a year ago, according to the company’s financial results.

Due to lower COVID-19 vaccine sales, the company’s revenues plummeted. BioNTech estimates €5 billion in revenue from the COVID-19 vaccine for the full 2023 financial year.

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