Morning Briefing: March 5, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday, including Israeli forces' opening of fire on Palestinians awaiting aid, more than 13,000 children killed by Israel since Oc.t 7, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini's warning that his agency is at 'breaking point,' and French lawmakers enshrining right to abortion in its Constitution.

TOP STORIES

• Israeli forces open fire on Gazans waiting for aid trucks: Media office

The Israeli army opened fire on Palestinians with live bullets as they waited to receive food aid at the Kuwait roundabout south of Gaza City.

The Media Office in Gaza said in a statement that Israel's targeting of Palestinians is an indication that it wants to further increase hunger and continue the siege and humanitarian disaster.

Holding the US, Israel and the international community responsible, it called for an end to the "genocidal war" and the entry of 1,000 trucks of aid, especially to northern Gaza.

The statement did not provide further information about casualties.

• 13,430 children killed in Gaza since Oct. 7: Media office

A total of 13,430 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, the Media Office in Gaza said.

It noted that 8,900 women were killed over the course of 150 days, adding that 7,000 people, 70% of whom are women and children, are still under the rubble or missing.

The media office said that 364 health personnel and 132 journalists also lost their lives during the period.

• UNRWA is at 'breaking point,' chief warns, seeking General Assembly support

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, called on UN member states to continue supporting the agency as some donors freeze funding after Israeli accusations.

"I am here today because UNRWA, the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees, is at a breaking point," Philippe Lazzarini told the UN General Assembly in New York.

Despite "prompt and decisive" action and the "unsubstantiated nature" of the allegations, 16 countries have paused funding totaling $450 million, Lazzarini said.

• French lawmakers enshrine right to abortion in Constitution

In a special joint session, France’s parliament voted to enshrine the right to abortion in its Constitution, making it the first country in the world to do so.

A total of 780 deputies and senators approved the introduction into Article 34 of the Constitution the sentence: "The law determines the conditions under which the freedom guaranteed to women to have recourse to a voluntary termination of pregnancy is exercised.”

Only 72 voted against. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Versailles describing the day as “a day of mourning.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Ankara ready to bring 'new nightmares' to those using terrorism to target Türkiye, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He also said issues over Türkiye’s borders with Iraq will be resolved this summer.
  
  
• A 10-year-old Palestinian Yazan al-Kafarneh child has died from severe hunger amid famine due to Israel’s ongoing crippling siege on the Gaza Strip, taking the death toll to 16 children dying from starvation.
  
  
• EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell hailed US Vice President Kamala Harris' call for a cease-fire in Gaza, saying that now the UN Security Council can pass a resolution for such a step.
  
  
• An American staffer at the US Embassy in Israel was found dead, the embassy said.
  
  
• Spain announced that it has initiated a process of sanctioning 12 Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
  
  
• The US carried out "self-defense strikes" against Houthi targets in Yemen, US Central Command said.
  
  
• US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov discussed the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war in a phone call.
  
  
• Armed gangs attempted to take control of Haiti’s main international airport in the latest of a series of attacks, including one that led to a mass escape from two major prisons.
  
  
• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered another setback as the House of Lords passed five amendments to his new Rwanda bill.

SPORTS

• Bayer Leverkusen surges to German top-tier lead, moves 10 points clear of Bayern Munich

With just 10 games remaining in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen has surged to the top of the German top division, 10 points ahead of second-place Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen moved up to 64 points after defeating 10-man Koln 2-0 at the RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday, with goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo.

• Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 to hurt their Serie A title chances

Napoli beat Juventus 2-1 on Sunday to hurt their Italian Serie A title chances.

Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted the hosts’ first goal. Juventus' Italian attacker Federico Chiesa equalized the score.

Teammate Giacomo Raspadori scored to bring victory to his team in the 88th minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Insufficient income issue of protesting French farmers: Representatives

Insufficient income was the common problem of protesting French farmers, according to farmers' representatives.

The 60th Agricultural Show in Paris started in a tense atmosphere on Feb. 24, due to farmers' anger.

President of the Rome-based World Farmers' Organisation, Arnold Puech d'Alissac, told Anadolu that the reasons for the farmers' protests varied in each European country.

• EU slaps Apple with $1.9B antitrust fine over App Store abuses

EU regulators dealt a hefty blow to tech giant Apple, slapping the company with a staggering €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) fine for "abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps."

The penalty marks the first time the European Commission has fined Apple and ranks as the third-largest antitrust fine in history, trailing only behind significant penalties imposed on Google for its shopping search and Android cellphone software.