Morning Briefing: April 24, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday with, including Israel killing a Palestinian minor, India suspending a water-sharing pact with Pakistan, and a magnitude 6.2 earthquake shaking Istanbul, Türkiye.

TOP STORIES

• Palestinian minor shot dead by Israeli forces in West Bank raid

A Palestinian child was shot dead by Israeli forces in a military raid in the occupied West Bank, medics said.

Witnesses said that Israeli forces raided the town of Yamon, triggering clashes with angry residents, during which Israeli soldiers used live fire and tear gas.

Later, the Israeli army admitted to killing the child, claiming “he had attempted to throw an explosive device at its soldiers.”

• India suspends water-sharing pact with Pakistan amid tensions over Kashmir

India suspended a decades-old water treaty with neighboring Pakistan, a day after unknown gunmen attacked tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

New Delhi has also declared Islamabad's defense/military, naval and air advisors persona non grata at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, giving them one week to leave the country.

India also closed the border crossing with Pakistan at Wagah, while New Delhi will restrict visas under the regional SAARC framework to Pakistani citizens, the government said in a statement.

• Earthquake of magnitude 6.2 shakes Istanbul, 236 injured

A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul, Türkiye, injuring at least 236 people in panic-driven incidents, officials said.

The quake hit at 12.49 p.m. local time (0949GMT) and was felt strongly across Istanbul, home to over 15 million people, and neighboring provinces, prompting residents to flee buildings in fear.

More than 180 aftershocks have occurred.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump sharply rebuffed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying his refusal to recognize Russia's occupation of the Crimean Peninsula is "very harmful" to ongoing peace talks.
• The Beninese government confirmed that 54 soldiers were killed on April 17 in coordinated attacks by armed groups in the northern regions of the country.
• France, Germany and the UK condemned Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling for an immediate resumption of unrestricted aid delivery and renewed efforts toward a ceasefire.
• At least two people were killed and 54 injured in Russian strikes targeting Ukraine’s capital.
• The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23), a rebel movement that includes M23 rebels, agreed to work towards a truce with the Democratic Republic of Congo government during recent talks brokered by Qatar in Doha, according to a joint statement.
• Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been indicted on bribery charges.
• An administrative court in France’s northern city of Lille overturned the regional prefect's decision to terminate the state contract of Averroes High School, effectively restoring its association agreement with the French state.
• China said that if the US wants to resolve ongoing tariff tensions through negotiations, it must stop "threatening" and "coercing" Beijing.

BUSINNESS & ECONOMY

• EU fines Apple and Meta over breaches of new digital competition law

The European Union has levied major fines against American tech giants Apple and Meta, marking the first enforcement actions under its newly enacted Digital Markets Act.

Apple was fined €500 million ($570 million) for preventing app developers from directing users to cheaper purchasing options outside its App Store ecosystem.

Meta received a €200 million penalty for requiring Instagram and Facebook users to choose between seeing targeted ads or paying to avoid them—a practice the EU deemed coercive and in violation of user choice.

• Trump says China trade deal will be 'fair' amid row

US President Donald Trump said a prospective deal with China to recalibrate their trade relationship will be "fair" as the world's top two economies continue to be locked in a simmering trade war.

"We are going to have a fair deal with China. It's going to be fair," Trump said at the White House, claiming the relationship with China "got out of control" under his predecessors.

“So we want them involved, but they have to, and other countries have to make a deal, and if they don't make a deal, we'll set the deal," he added.