Morning Briefing: Aug. 5, 2023

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including sentencing of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny to 19 more years in prison, Georgia's declaring day of mourning after a deadly landslide, and EU commissioner's warning against disaster risks associated with extreme temperatures.

TOP STORIES

• Russian opposition figure Navalny sentenced to 19 more years in prison

The Moscow City Court on Friday found Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny guilty of extremism and sentenced him to 19 more years in prison.

According to investigators, Navalny and his supporters founded a group called the "Anti-Corruption Foundation" in 2014 to conduct activities that aimed at changing the country's constitutional system and threatening public security and the state integrity.

• Georgia declares day of mourning as 11 killed, 35 missing in landslide

Eleven people were killed in a landslide in northwestern Georgia, while 35 others remain missing, the country's Interior Ministry announced on Friday.

Search and rescue operations were launched with 400 rescuers and two helicopters following the incident that occurred on Thursday evening in the resort town of Racha-Lechkhumi and the Kvemo Svaneti region, the ministry said in a statement, while Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili declared that next Monday would be a day of mourning.

• EU commissioner warns against weather, disaster risks

The EU commissioner for crisis management on Friday warned countries against disaster risks associated with extreme temperatures, saying the bloc stands "ready to assist."

"Disaster situation in Europe," tweeted Janez Lenarcic, who is also in charge of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

Serbia is on red alert for high temperatures and rain, while Slovenia is expecting heavy rain, he said.​​​​​​​

NEWS IN BRIEF

• West African defense chiefs have drawn up a plan for possible military intervention to restore democratic rule in Niger, an official said Friday, as a seven-day deadline given to coup leaders to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum drew closer.
• The anti-Islam and ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots) recently announced on social media that they would stage Quran burnings across Denmark and extended their acts of provocation to the cities of Odense and Vejle.
• The US expressed support for Poland's response to an incursion into Polish airspace earlier this month by two Belarusian helicopters.
• The UN announced that it will be closing its rights office in Uganda this weekend.
• A mosque in Germany received a threatening letter, said an official.
• Israel has granted visa-free entrance to nearly 6,800 Palestinian Americans in the last two weeks, the state-run Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA) said on Friday.

SPORTS

• PSV win Dutch Super Cup

PSV Eindhoven beat Dutch Eredivisie champions Feyenoord 1-0 to win the 2023 Dutch Super Cup on Friday.

Visitors PSV were victorious at Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam after Dutch winger Noa Lang, who arrived from Club Brugge in July, scored the winning goal in the 79th minute.

• Football stars flock to Saudi Arabian league

The big-budget transfer wind has turned its route to Saudi Arabia this year.

The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund took over 75% of Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr clubs, with its large budget allocated to football.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Extreme heat drops olive oil production expectations to 5-year low

Yield expectations for this season's olive oil crop have fallen to their lowest levels for the last five years.

Extreme heat and drought are to blame for the low yield.

The EU's olive oil production, which was 2.27 million tons in the 2021-2022 period, was predicted to decline to 1.38 million tons this season, the lowest level in the last five years.

• US adds 187,000 jobs in July, lower than estimates

The US economy added 187,000 jobs in July, lower than market estimates, while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, the Labor Department announced on Friday.

The market expectation for nonfarm payrolls was a gain of 200,000 in July.