Morning Briefing: May 10, 2024

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday with, including Gaza's border crossing still closed to aid, Eurovision protests due to Israel's participation in the contest, and Palestine's membership bid to be discussed again at the UN General Assembly.

TOP STORIES

• Gaza crossings still closed, no aid entering despite Israeli claims: Authority

Two key border crossings into the Gaza Strip are still closed, with no aid entering the enclave, local authorities said Thursday.

The statement by the Gaza-based General Authority for Crossings and Borders came in response to statements from the US State Department on the opening of crossings and entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The statement confirmed that the crossings are still closed and under Israeli control since the Israeli army invaded Rafah, took over the Rafah crossing and closed the Kerem Shalom crossing.

• Eurovision's decision to allow Israel to take part in song contest 'political,’ say pro-Palestine protesters

Pro-Palestine demonstrators in the Swedish city of Malmo protested Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday.

The move came amid heightened tensions in the country surrounding Israel’s participation in the song competition the Israeli war on Gaza continues.

Susan Zekiros, a pro-Palestinian demonstrator, told Anadolu that Israel needs to be "isolated completely everywhere, especially cultural events."

• Palestine's UN membership bid to be discussed again at UN General Assembly

The UN General Assembly will convene Friday to discuss a draft resolution to reconsider Palestine's membership bid and grant additional rights.

Palestine's membership to the UN was vetoed on April 18 by the US at the Security Council.

According to the information obtained by Anadolu, the new resolution, which is set to be presented to the General Assembly for a vote, is sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, the rotating representative of the Arab Group.

It highlights that Palestine meets membership criteria, according to Article 4 of the UN Charter and therefore should be admitted as a member.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Chad’s transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby won the country’s presidential election held this week to end a three-year transition to democratic rule, the national electoral agency announced Thursday, hours after the main opposition challenger claimed victory for himself.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Chinese President Xi Jinping decided Thursday to elevate relations between their countries to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.
• The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Thursday that Israeli residents twice set fire to the perimeter of its headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem.
• Belgium's VRT television interrupted its broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest late Thursday to condemn Israel's violations of human rights and press freedom and called for a cease-fire in Gaza.
• A Jordanian organization said Thursday that it dispatched 41 trucks carrying food aid to the Gaza Strip.
• The Netherlands banned a well-known British Palestinian surgeon from entering the country due to a Schengen-wide ban introduced by Germany, a prominent Dutch rights group announced Thursday.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Belgrade was “timed to increase tensions” between Serbia and the Western countries, the US special representative for the Western Balkans said on Thursday.
• Europe Day was marked Thursday in Ankara with a digital photo exhibition, “The Common Heritage We Build & Share.”
• Ethiopia expressed dismay Thursday over a decision by the EU Council to impose visa restrictions on citizens of the Horn of Africa nation.
• Somalia wrote Wednesday to the UN to request the termination of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), according to the Foreign Ministry.

SPORTS

• Olympiacos beat Aston Villa to play Fiorentina in Europa Conference League final in Athens

Greek football club Olympiacos beat England's Aston Villa 2-0 (6-2 on aggregate) on Thursday to play Italy's Fiorentina in the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final in Athens.

The hosts' Moroccan forward Ayoub El Kaabi scored a double against Aston Villa at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus to secure his team’s victory.

Olympiacos and Fiorentina will be vying for the third-tier Europa Conference League title on May 29 at Athens' newly-built AEK Arena.

• Bayer Leverkusen eliminate Roma to face Atalanta in Europa League final

Bayer Leverkusen reached the 2024 UEFA Europa League final on Thursday over a 2-2 home draw (4-2 aggregate win) with Roma as the Germans, who maintained their unbeaten run, will next face another Italian club, Atalanta, in Dublin.

Following a 2-2 draw at home, Leverkusen, this season's German champions, have the longest unbeaten streak in European football history.

Xabi Alonso's men, who have displayed a heroic performance this season, are now unbeaten in 49 games in all competitions to set a new record.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Turkish trade minister holds 'very productive meeting' with US counterpart

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat held a "very productive meeting" Thursday with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in Washington.

"During the meeting, we expressed our satisfaction with the increase in our bilateral trade and mutual investments and shared our intention to strengthen our trade relations in the long term.

"We agreed on the mutual goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade," Bolat wrote on X.

• Oil prices up with demand increase in world's biggest consumers

Oil prices increased on Thursday, aided by data showing elevated demand appetite in the US and China, the world's biggest oil consumers.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $83.86 per barrel at 10.07 a.m. local time (0707 GMT), a rise of 0.34% from the closing price of $83.58 per barrel in the previous trading session.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $79.39 per barrel at the same time, a 0.51% increase from the previous session that closed at $78.99 per barrel.