Daily News Brief TRT World

*) Israeli aggression in Gaza signals failure of army — Hamas

The Palestinian group Hamas said that the madness directed against Palestinian civilians in Gaza reflects the failure of the Israeli army.

Hamas leader Izzat al Rishq said in a statement, "The Nazism of the occupation army was revealed in some images at Al Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, where the worst massacre against the health sector in the world was committed'' and that "the Zionist madness against civilians signals the complete failure of the occupation army in front of the resistance and is a reflection of Zionist terror from larger developments.’'

*) Türkiye-Iraq relations to shift positively after upcoming visit: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasised that relations between Türkiye and Iraq will be grounded on a different basis ahead of his upcoming visit to Baghdad.

Erdogan said "The Iraqi side attaches great importance to this visit," further highlighting the significance of enhancing relations with Iraq during the briefing held with press members in Ankara.
The Turkish president underscored the water issue as a key agenda item, noting that Iraq has raised concerns and requests regarding water resources.

*) Outrage as US university cancels Muslim valedictorian's commencement speech


A top US university has cancelled its plans for a graduation speech by a meritorious Muslim student after pro-Israel groups criticised her selection and the varsity reportedly received threats by email, phone and letter.

The decision announced by the University of Southern California is the latest controversy to roil American higher education since Israel's war on Gaza began in October last year.
Asna Tabassum, who has been attacked online for being "anti-Zionist", had been selected as class valedictorian — an honorary role whose holder traditionally gives a speech in front of up to 65,000 people.

*) Dubai airport diverts flights amid widespread flooding in UAE, Oman

Dubai's major international airport diverted scores of incoming flights as heavy rains lashed the United Arab Emirates, causing widespread flooding around the desert country.

The world's busiest air hub for international passengers confirmed a halt to arrivals before announcing a "gradual resumption".


And finally…

*) X blocks India election posts after takedown orders



Social media platform X blocked several posts in India containing political speech after authorities ordered their takedown ahead of the general election that starts Friday.
X, formerly known as Twitter, said the posts would be withheld from Indian audiences until the election was over despite its disagreement with the order.

The posts by elected politicians, political parties and candidates made unverified claims about the private lives of their opponents, which India's election commission said violated its code of conduct.

*) Mass grave found at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza

Al Jazeera Arabic has reported that a mass grave at Al Shifa Hospital was discovered by the Palestinian Health Ministry and Civil Defence Forces in Gaza.

The extracted bodies had not fully decomposed, suggesting that the 'executions' took place recently, possibly during Israel’s two-week military invasion.

The Gaza Emergency Operations Centre Director Motasem Salah said the World Health Organization and OCHA are trying "to identify the decomposed bodies and the body parts that were crushed" from their wallets and documents.

*) Israeli war cabinet divided over response to Iran attack

Following Iran's retaliatory strike against Israel on Saturday, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that “There is consensus on the necessity of responding to the Iranian attack, but disagreements revolve around the scale and timing of the response.”

The broadcaster noted that some in the war cabinet advocate for an immediate 'eye for an eye' approach, while others emphasise the importance of strategic planning for a robust response.

*) What unfolded on Day 1 of Donald Trump's historic hush money trial

Donald Trump has entered history as the first American president to stand trial on criminal charges.

The Republican presidential candidate for the upcoming elections faces charges of falsifying business records to conceal "hush money" payments at the height of the 2016 presidential election.

Trump is expected to be in court 4 days a week during the trial, which could last 6 to 8 weeks, including presentations by the parties and witness hearings.

*) Crimes against Muslims in Germany have more than doubled in 2023

The German Press Agency DPA reported that the number of crimes against Muslims in Germany has more than doubled last year.

According to the DPA, almost 1,500 Islamophobic crimes took place across Germany in 2023, compared to 610 hate crime incidents in 2022.

The dramatic surge in anti-Muslim hate crimes could be linked to the Israeli war on Gaza, according to the report.

*) Türkiye's tourism booms as millions of visitors flocking in early 2024

Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism stated that over 4.3 million tourists visited the country in the first two months of 2024.

According to entry/exit statistics, the number of foreign visitors to Türkiye in the first two months increased by 12 percent compared to the same period last year.

Most foreign visitors came to Türkiye from Iran, Bulgaria, and Russia.

*) US rules out joining any Israeli attack against Iran

The United States has said it will not join any Israeli attack on Iran, with US President Joe Biden warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "think carefully" about any escalation.

The White House said Biden did not want a wider war after helping key ally Israel repel an aerial attack by Tehran — itself in retaliation for a presumed Israeli strike that killed an Iranian general in Damascus.

*) Israeli war cabinet divided over response to Iran attack

Disagreements have arisen among members of Israel’s war cabinet over the scale and timing of an attack on Iran.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that while there is consensus on the necessity of responding to the Iranian attack, the Israeli war cabinet differs on whether to strike Iran at a larger scale or to keep the attack confined to a small area.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said the response to the Iranian attack “was canceled at the last minute” after a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden.

*) Russia aims to capture Chasiv Yar by May 9

Ukraine's top commander has said Russian forces aimed to capture the town of Chasiv Yar by May 9, setting the stage for an important battle for control of high ground in the east where Russia is focusing its assaults.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskiy, who warned this weekend that the situation in the east had deteriorated, said Russia was focusing its efforts west of Bakhmut to try to capture Chasiv Yar before moving towards the city of Kramatorsk.

Kiev's brigades were holding back the assaults in the Donetsk region for now and had been reinforced with ammunition, drones and electronic warfare devices, he said in a statement on the Telegram messenger.

General Oleksandr Syrskiy said "the threat remains relevant, taking into account the fact that the higher Russian military leadership has set its troops the task of capturing Chasiv Yar by May 9".

*) Britain’s 1st migrant deportation flights to Rwanda to take off 'within weeks'

Britain’s health secretary said that the first flights carrying migrants to Rwanda will take off "within weeks" while not disclosing whether the government had found a carrier.

Victoria Atkins said they want flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda from Britain to take off "as quickly as possible."

Asked whether the government has found an airline to carry out the flights amid reports that Rwanda's airline would not do so, she replied: "The Home Office is working on this and is ready to go."

*) Türkiye's Fenerbahce win back-to-back EuroLeague Women titles in basketball

Turkish basketball club Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding defended their FIBA EuroLeague Women crown with a 106-73 win against French opponent Villeneuve d'Ascq LM on Sunday.

US small forward Napheesa Collier scored 33 points for Fenerbahce’s women's team to be the highest scorer of the 2024 final held in Mersin, Türkiye.

Collier, Emma Meesseman and Kayla McBride combined for 72 points for the Istanbul giants as Fenerbahce became the first Turkish club to win the EuroLeague Women title twice.

US curbs diplomats' movements in Israel over Iran ultimatum

The United States has issued a security alert to its diplomats in Israel, asking them to cut down their daily outdoor activities. The American embassy in Jerusalem cited concerns of Iranian retaliation over an Israeli strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus earlier in April that left seven Iranian military officials dead.

An embassy notice said, "Out of an abundance of caution, US government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel" outside the Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva areas until further notice.

No Security Council 'consensus' on Palestinian UN membership: presidency

Members of the UN Security Council failed to reach a consensus on a bid by Palestinians for full UN membership.

Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who holds the council's rotating presidency for April, confirmed that the deadlock continued during a closed-door meeting.

Israelis protest against Netanyahu in Tel Aviv

Protesters have again taken to the streets in Tel Aviv to demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of dozens of captives held in Gaza.

Demonstrators carried large photos of captives as well as signs with slogans, some in English and some in Hebrew.

US House speaker negotiating Ukraine aid with White House

House Speaker Mike Johnson is negotiating with the White House as he prepares for the treacherous task of advancing wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel through the House, a top House Republican said.

House Republican Leader Steve Scalise told reporters that Johnson had been talking with White House officials about a package that would deviate from the Senate's $95 billion foreign security package and include several Republican demands.

Japan calls for law-abiding fix to handling of frozen Russian assets

Japan's finance minister Shunichi Suzuki said that any handling of frozen Russian assets must abide by international law. He added that the topic will likely be discussed at next week's meeting of his counterparts from G7 advanced economies.

The EU and the Group of Seven nations (G7) froze some 300 billion euros of Russian central bank assets following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The EU and G7 have been debating if and how these funds can be used for over a year.

China, Türkiye must dissuade Iran from retaliating against Israel — Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged his Turkish, Chinese and other counterparts to use their influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel, the State Department said.

Blinken spoke by telephone over the past day to his Chinese, Turkish, Saudi and European counterparts "to make clear that escalation is not in anyone's interest and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Thursday.

CNN report on Gaza 'Flour Massacre' reveals Israeli disinformation drive

A CNN investigation has unveiled significant discrepancies in the Israeli military's account of a devastating incident on February 29 in Gaza, now widely referred to as the "Flour Massacre."

The CNN report, substantiated by eyewitness testimonies and video evidence, raises serious questions about the transparency of Netanyahu's extremist government, casting doubt on their official narrative.

US will defend Philippines from any attack in South China Sea — Biden

US President Joe Biden has pledged to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea, as he hosted the first joint summit with Tokyo and Manila amid growing tensions with Beijing.

"The United States' defense commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are ironclad," Biden said as he met Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday.

*) Israel will invade Rafah and return to Khan Younis — minister

Israel's war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has claimed without proof that Palestinian resistance group Hamas has been defeated militarily and the Israeli army will invade Rafah and reoccupy Khan Younis, a local media outlet reported.

*) EU lawmakers approve major revamp of pact on migration and asylum

European Union lawmakers have approved a major revamp of the bloc’s migration laws on how to manage the entry of thousands of people without authorisation.

The members of the European Parliament voted on Wednesday on the "Pact on Migration and Asylum", regulations and policies meant to help address the issue of who should take responsibility for migrants and asylum seekers when they arrive.

The proceedings were briefly interrupted by a group of demonstrators in the public gallery who wore shirts marked “this pact kills” and said “vote no!”

The 27 EU member countries must now endorse the reform package, possibly in a vote in late April before it can enter force.

*) South Korea's PM, top officials offer resignations over election defeat

South Korea's prime minister and senior presidential officials have offered to resign en masse, media reports said, after their conservative ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections.

The results of Wednesday's election posed a huge political blow to President Yoon Suk-yeol, setting back his domestic agenda and leaving him facing an intensifying political offensive by his liberal opponents during his remaining three years in office.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and top advisers to Yoon submitted their resignations on Thursday, South Korean media, including Yonhap news agency, reported. Yoon's office didn't immediately officially confirm the reports.

In a separate news conference, ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon said he would step down as well to take responsibility for the election defeat.

With most of the votes counted, the main opposition Democratic Party and its satellite party appear to have won a combined 175 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.

Another small liberal opposition party was expected to win 12 seats under a proportional representation system, according to South Korean media tallies.

Yoon's ruling People Power Party and its satellite party were projected to have obtained 109 seats.

The final official results were expected later Thursday.

*) Trump takes another dig at Jewish voters who back Biden

Donald Trump has lashed out at Jewish voters who back President Joe Biden and framed this year's election as a referendum on the strength of Christianity in the US, part of his sharp-edged continuing appeal to evangelical conservatives who are a critical element of his political base.

Speaking in Atlanta ahead of a fundraiser, the presumptive Republican nominee on Wednesday renewed his running criticism of Biden's reaction to Israel's brutal war on besieged Gaza.

"Biden has totally lost control of the Israel situation," said Trump, whose rise in 2016 depended heavily on white Christian conservatives.

"Any Jewish person who votes for a Democrat or votes for Biden should have their head examined.”

And finally…

*) We have two years to save the planet: UN climate chief

Governments, business leaders and development banks have two years to take action to avert a far worse climate crisis, the UN's climate chief has said in a speech that warned global warming is slipping down politicians' agendas.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said on Wednesday that the next two years are "essential in saving our planet".

"We still have a chance to make greenhouse gas emissions tumble, with a new generation of national climate plans. But we need these stronger plans, now," he said.

*) Israel blocks food three times more than other aid in Palestine's Gaza: UN

Israel has been blocking far more convoys carrying food aid within Gaza, where famine is looming, than convoys carrying other kinds of aid, the UN said.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the United Nations' humanitarian agency pointed to statistics from March showing that it was much more difficult to get clearance for delivering food than other aid in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Israel is facing mounting international pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, which is facing a humanitarian catastrophe six months into the start of Israeli bombardment.

*) Australia considers recognising independent Palestinian state

Australia has become the latest country to advocate formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday that recognising a state of Palestine could restart the moribund Middle East peace process and undermine extremist forces in the Middle East.

"Recognising a Palestinian state — one that can only exist side by side with a secure Israel — doesn't just offer the Palestinian people an opportunity to realise their aspirations", she told an audience in Canberra.

"It also strengthens the forces for peace and undermines extremism. It undermines Hamas, Iran and Iran's other destructive proxies in the region."

*) Palestine hails Turkish export restrictions on Israel amid Gaza onslaught

Israel threatened to hit back at Türkiye over its decision to restrict exports of certain goods, saying they will “appeal to pro-Israel countries and organisations in the US to stop investments in Türkiye and prevent the import of products from Türkiye.”

Israel will "contact countries and organisations in the US to stop investments in Türkiye and to prevent the import of products from Türkiye, and to our friends in the American Congress to examine a violation of the boycott laws and impose sanctions on Türkiye accordingly,” Israel Katz, Tel Aviv’s foreign minister, said on X on Tuesday.

A statement by Katz’s office said he ordered the Foreign Ministry’s economic office to “draw up an extensive list of products that Israel will prevent Türkiye from exporting to Israel.” “Türkiye unilaterally violates the trade agreements with Israel, and Israel will take all necessary measures against it,” the statement said.


*) Europe's top court condemns Switzerland in landmark climate ruling

Europe's top rights court has said Switzerland was not doing enough to tackle the climate crisis in a historic decision that could force governments to adopt more ambitious climate policies.
Hopes had been high for a legal turning point ahead of the rulings in the three cases, treated as a priority by the 17 judges of the court's Grand Chamber.

The Swiss association of Elders for Climate Protection — 2,500 women aged 73 on average — had complained about the "failings of the Swiss authorities" in terms of climate protection that could "seriously harm" their health.

The court ordered the Swiss state to pay the association almost $87,000 within three months.
And finally…

*) Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs dies at 94

Nobel prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs, who proposed the existence of the so-called "God particle" that helped explain how matter formed after the Big Bang, has died at age 94, the University of Edinburgh said.

The university, where Higgs was an emeritus professor, said he died on Monday following a short illness.

Higgs' work helps scientists understand one of the most fundamental riddles of the universe: how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.8 billion years ago.

Higgs won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work, alongside Francois Englert of Belgium, who independently came up with the same theory.