Morning Briefing: Feb. 8, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including US President Donald Trump signing an order sanctioning the International Criminal Court; Israeli airstrikes targeting southern and eastern Lebanon in violation of a ceasefire agreement, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telling his French counterpart the EU was right to suspend sanctions on Syria.

TOP STORIES

• Trump signs order sanctioning International Criminal Court

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC) for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza.

Trump accused the court of engaging in "illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel."

He argued that the world’s criminal court's actions against Israel and the US set a dangerous precedent, putting American personnel at risk of harassment, abuse and arrest.

• Israeli airstrikes target southern, eastern Lebanon, violating ceasefire agreement

Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon and flew above Beirut and its suburbs, marking new violations of a ceasefire agreement.

Fighter jets attacked an eastern mountain range that borders the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Israel also carried out two airstrikes in the Nabatiyeh district of southern Lebanon targeting the valley between the towns of Bfaroueh and Aazze, according to NNA. The exact targets and casualty figures remain unclear.

• EU was right to suspend sanctions on Syria: Turkish President Erdogan tells French counterpart

The EU's decision last month to suspend sanctions on Syria was a step in the right direction, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a telephone call, said Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

Erdogan highlighted the importance of lifting the sanctions in Syria's new post-Assad era and said Türkiye's support for Syria will continue unabated, the directorate noted, adding that the two leaders also discussed ties as well as regional and global issues.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump said he will "probably" meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week.
• The International Court of Justice gave the Arab League the green light to join advisory proceedings on Israel’s obligations on the presence and activities of the UN, international organizations and third states in occupied Palestinian territory.
• The armed wing of the Palestinian group, Hamas, announced the names of three Israeli captives to be released as part of a fifth batch of prisoner swaps with Israel under a ceasefire deal.
• US President Donald Trump sought to temper expectations for his controversial plan to take ownership of the besieged Gaza Strip after it was widely rejected, saying there is “no rush” to implement his controversial plan
• The International Criminal Court’s president expressed "deep regret" over the US moving to impose sanctions on the court’s officials, warning that the move threatens the court’s independence and undermines the pursuit of justice for victims of serious crimes.
• The UN Human Rights Council established a fact-finding mission to investigate serious violations in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed Syria's political future and economic reconstruction in his first telephone call with the country's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
• The Gaza Municipality reported that a storm hitting the enclave has caused severe damage to the tents housing displaced Palestinian families, exacerbating their suffering.
• A powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sumatra Island.
• Norway rejected Israel's argument that countries opposed to Tel Aviv’s actions in Gaza should take in displaced Palestinians, stressing that the forced transfer of civilians is prohibited under international law.

SPORTS

• 2025 NBA All-Star Game teams confirmed

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game rosters were announced, with the drafting process led by the iconic Inside the NBA trio of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.

The NBA said four teams participating in the All-Star Game would compete for a prize pool of $1.8 million.

• Italian footballer Nicolo Zaniolo commemorates former teammate killed in 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye

Italian footballer Nicolo Zaniolo said his new jersey will commemorate Muhammed Emin Ozkan, his onetime Turkish teammate who died in the devastating Feb. 6, 2023, twin earthquakes in southern Türkiye.

“I chose the number 17 jersey for a boy who lost his life in the earthquake in Türkiye. I promised it to his father,” the 25-year-old said when an Italian journalist asked why he picked the number for his jersey at his new team, Fiorentina.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US adds 143,000 jobs in January, 169,000 less than estimates

The US economy added 143,000 jobs in January, much less than estimates, the Labor Department said.

The expectation for nonfarm payrolls was to show a gain of 169,000 last month.

• Turkish Central Bank raises inflation forecast for 2025

Türkiye’s Central Bank raised its year-end inflation forecast for 2025 while keeping it unchanged for 2026.

Annual consumer inflation is expected to reach 24% this year, up 3 percentage points from the previous forecast, Governor Fatih Karahan told a meeting held to release the bank’s first inflation report of this year.