Morning Briefing: Aug. 6, 2023

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including the arrest of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Türkiye condemning attacks on the Quran in Denmark, and the US Justice Department asking a judge to bar former President Donald Trump from sharing information related to his latest case.

TOP STORIES

• Pakistan's ex-Premier Khan arrested after sentenced to jail in corruption case

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday was arrested at his residence in Lahore after he was handed a jail term in a corruption case, said a senior leader of his party.

Farrukh Habib, former state minister for information, said on X, formerly Twitter, that the Punjab police arrested Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI), and will shift him later to Islamabad.

Khan now technically stands from holding any public office for at least five years, according to the Constitution.

• Turkish presidential advisor condemns attacks against Quran in Denmark

Presidential advisor and Ambassador Akif Cagatay Kilic on Saturday condemned attacks against the Quran in Denmark.

"The desecration of holy books is a cruel manifestation of intolerance and disrespect, and these attacks can never be explained by freedom of thought and thought," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He noted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's recent remarks when he said he emphasized the call to prevent the attacks.

• US Justice Department asks judge to bar Trump, his lawyers from sharing information about case

The US Justice Department said Saturday that a social media post by Donald Trump on his Social Truth platform is "particularly significant" in the lawsuit filed against the former president in nation’s capital earlier this week.

Prosecutors argued that the post has "witnesses, judges, lawyers, and other individuals related to legal matters pending against him."

"IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU!" Trump wrote Friday in the post.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye condemned "in strongest terms" a new provocation by the PKK terror group in Sweden that targeted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

• A fuel tanker was hit in the Kerch Strait by a Ukrainian drone, Russian authorities said on Saturday.

• France demanded that the military junta in Niger step back from its "adventurism," because the region’s stability is at stake.

• The Russian Defense Ministry said it deployed a Su-30 fighter jet after it detected a MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the US approaching above the Black Sea.

• Kuwait condemned comments by a Lebanese minister who noted the “reminder of the promise to rebuild the Beirut grain silos" destroyed in a port blast in 2020.

• Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank raided a Palestinian village, accompanied by soldiers.

• A man from the US state of Missouri was sentenced to 16 years in prison after he confessed to setting fire to an Islamic Center, according to the Justice Department.

• Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy announced the acquisition of missiles ranging from 300 to 1,000 kilometers (186 to 621 miles) after reports said the US is possibly placing armed sailors on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

SPORTS

• Real Madrid deny rumors about departure of club President Florentino Perez

Real Madrid denied rumors Saturday about the departure of club President Florentino Perez.

"These rumors are categorically false and are due to certain interests that have nothing to do with reality," the team said in a statement. "At the upcoming General Assembly of Representative Members of Real Madrid there will be no agenda item to discuss the name of Real Madrid City.”

Perez, who has been under criticism recently, is rumored to be considering stepping down from Los Merengues' top seat.

• Spain, Japan advance to quarterfinals of FIFA Women's World Cup

Spain and Japan on Saturday reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Spain beat Switzerland 5-1, while Japan eliminated Norway 3-1 in the round of 16 matches.

Spain reached their maiden quarterfinals despite playing without the reigning Ballon d’Or winner Alexis Putellas, who is still recovering from a knee injury.