Morning Briefing: August 4, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including former US President Donald Trump’s court appearance, coup supporters march in Niger, a stabbing rampage in South Korea and the desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark.

TOP STORIES

• Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 2020 election charge

Former US President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election loss during his appearance in the federal court Thursday.

He is facing four criminal charges related to his alleged efforts to reverse election loss, and was released pending trial on minimal conditions.

Speaking to reporters, the former president said Thursday that charges are political “persecution”. "When you look at what's happening, this is a persecution of a political opponent," Trump told reporters, dubbing it "a very sad day for America."

• Niger junta threatens attack against ECOWAS as thousands rally against foreign troops

Thousands of coup supporters rallied in the Nigerien capital of Niamey on Thursday, demanding the French military and other foreign troops leave the country.

The demonstrators were carrying placards with statements such as “Down with France” and chanted slogans against foreign troops.

Meanwhile, the country’s recently installed junta has threatened to attack a member country of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) if the West African bloc intervenes militarily in the country. Niger has also terminated all military cooperation and protocols with France.

• At least 13 injured as man goes on stabbing rampage in South Korea

A man rammed a car into a sidewalk Thursday in South Korea and then embarked on a stabbing spree at a department store, injuring at least 13 people.

Police arrested the suspect, who was in his 20s, around 10 minutes after the attack. At least eight of the stabbing victims are in critical condition, Yonhap News reported.

The man stabbed nine people and injured four others with the car.

• Danish ultranationalists desecrate Quran for 4th consecutive day

Members of the ultranationalist group, Danske Patrioter, or Danish Patriots, continued Thursday to desecrate Islam’s holy book, for a fourth day in Copenhagen.

The group burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish, Iraqi, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian and Iranian embassies under the protection of police as it chanted slogans against Islam and unfurled anti-Islamic banners.

Members live-streamed the extreme Islamophobic incident on social media.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Israeli ministers criticized the Supreme Court on Thursday for hearing petitions which challenge the legality of an amendment that transfers the authority to dismiss a prime minister from the courts to the Knesset, or parliament.

• Türkiye has appointed a woman, Staff Col. Gokcen Firat Yas, as an admiral for the first time in Turkish Naval Forces history, following a Supreme Military Council meeting Thursday.

• A group of Greenpeace activists on Thursday took a stand against British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's support for a significant increase in North Sea oil and gas drilling by staging a protest at his residence.

• A six-month cease-fire between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) took effect Thursday after months of talks with the nation’s largest remaining armed rebel group.

• The Turkish Coast Guard rescued 110 irregular migrants on Thursday who were pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces in the Aegean Sea.

• French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) filed a lawsuit in Paris against X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding copyright legislation.

SPORTS

• Emporio Armani Milan sign former EuroLeague MVP Nikola Mirotic

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Thursday acquired Spanish basketball star Nikola Mirotic in one of the biggest signings in Europe.

In a statement, Emporio Armani Milan announced that 32-year-old power forward Mirotic, who is of Montenegrin descent, has inked a multi-year deal with the Italian club until 2026.

The 2021-22 EuroLeague season's MVP (Most Valuable Player) arrived from Spain's Barcelona, where he played between 2019 and 2023.

• France cancels open water swimming training in Seine River due to pollution
  
  France canceled a training session Thursday for an open water swimming event in the Seine River due to pollution caused by heavy rains.

"Following recent heavy rainfall in Paris, the water quality in the Seine has currently fallen below acceptable standards for safeguarding swimmers’ health.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Apple posts nearly $82B in revenue in April-June period

US multinational technology company Apple saw quarterly revenue of $81.8 billion in the April-June period, according to its financial results statement released Thursday.

The figure is down 1% from the same period last year.

• Russia to cut oil export by 300,000 barrels per day in September

Russia will cut oil exports by 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, “as part of efforts to ensure market stability,” Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday.

This came just minutes after Saudi Arabia’s announcement to extend its existing production of 1 million bpd through September.