Morning Briefing: Aug. 29, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including a row between Libya and Israel over a secret meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s expected visit to Russia, and the US president’s request to Americans.

TOP STORIES

• Libya dismisses foreign minister after controversial Israel meeting

Following massive outrage and protests, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh sacked Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush over a meeting with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Italy last week.

The prime minister took the decision during his visit to the Palestinian Embassy in Tripoli, a source told Anadolu.

While Israel said the meeting was “coordinated at the highest level” and took place with the knowledge of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Libya maintained the interaction was “informal” and “impromptu.”

• President Erdogan to visit Russia 'soon,' says Turkish official

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia's coastal city of Sochi "soon," a Turkish official said.

Omer Celik, spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party, said the visit might see new developments regarding the Black Sea grain deal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also expected to visit Russia to hold face-to-face talks for the restoration of the July 2022 agreement.

Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal last month.

• Biden urges Americans to 'speak up' against racism following shooting in Florida

US President Joe Biden said it was time for Americans to speak up because "diversity is being attacked" after a white man fatally shot three Black people over the weekend at a store in Florida.

“Now is the time for all Americans to speak up when history’s being erased, books are being banned. Did you ever think we’d have this conversation here, at this time?” Biden said at the White House.

He was addressing a reception to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a civil rights organization founded in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Former US President Donald Trump will appear in court on March 4, 2024 to face charges of attempting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, a federal judge in the nation's capital ruled.

• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

• Airline passengers were warned about potential extended flight disruptions as a technical breakdown in the UK's air traffic control system left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded.

• German police recorded 258 Islamophobic crimes in the first half of 2023, according to figures released by the parliament.

• Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania asked Belarus to expel the Russian Wagner mercenary group from its territory.

• At least 172 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since the start of this year, the UN said, the highest since 2005.

• Istanbul welcomed 1.87 million tourists in July, the highest number in a decade, as foreign tourists visiting the Turkish metropolis increased by 6% year-on-year last month.

SPORTS

• World Athletics Championships witness many firsts as Team USA leads medal table

The 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary witnessed many firsts as team USA topped the medal standings with 33 medals.

The United States dominated the nine-day mega event with 33 medals (12 golds, eight silvers, and nine bronzes), ahead of Canada, who collected six golds, two silvers, and third-placed Spain.

• Spain opens criminal probe into suspended football boss Rubiales for kiss

Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into the suspended president of Spain’s football federation Luis Rubiales for kissing a player on the lips without her consent.

Prosecutors will determine whether the kiss could be considered sexual aggression. Under Spain’s new consent law, known as “only yes means yes,” a wide variety of unwanted sexual behavior can be criminally prosecuted.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• China, US to form working group to solve trade issues

China and the US agreed to set up a working group to seek solutions to specific issues in commerce.

The working group will be composed of Chinese and US government officials as well as business representatives.

The agreement came during a trip by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the first trip to China by a sitting US commerce chief in seven years.​​​​​​​

• Iran opens last phase of world’s largest offshore gas field

The final development phase of Iran’s South Pars gas field, the world’s largest offshore gas field in the Persian Gulf, was inaugurated in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi.

The gas field will initially produce 15 million cubic meters of gas per day before increasing to 56 million cubic meters of gas, 50,000 barrels of gas condensate, and 750 metric tons of sulfur per day.