Morning Briefing: July 14, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including the latest on the extension of the Black Sea grain deal, a mass grave discovered in Sudan, humanitarian aid delivery to Syria, and a strike by Hollywood actors and writers over wages.

TOP STORIES

• Russian president signals possible suspension of Black Sea grain deal

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia may suspend its participation in the Black Sea grain deal and return when the part of the deal concerning its interests is implemented.

As the deadline nears, Putin claimed that nothing had been implemented from the Russian part of the deal.

The agreement was initially signed in July last year in Istanbul by Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine and aimed to resume grain exports from Ukrainian ports. On May 18, the deal was extended for an additional 60 days.

• Mass grave shock: UN reveals 87 civilians killed, buried in Sudan

Dozens of Sudanese civilians, including women and children, were found buried in a mass grave in Sudan’s West Darfur state, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said Thursday.

At least 87 ethnic Masalit and others, allegedly killed last month by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militia in West Darfur, have been buried in a mass grave, said the OHCHR.

Sudan has been ravaged by a conflict between the army and the RSF since April that has killed nearly 3,000 people and injured thousands.

• Syria allows UN access to Bab al-Hawa crossing for aid delivery

Syria has granted permission to the UN to use the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for aid delivery after the UN Security Council failed to extend the humanitarian mechanism earlier this week.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, the Syrian envoy said that the border crossing can be used to deliver aid for a period of six months.

The long-running aid operation, which has been in place since 2014 and allows aid to 4 million people in Syria through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, expired on Monday.

• Hollywood production grinds to halt as actors join writers on strike

The union representing Hollywood actors officially announced a strike on Thursday over wages, use of artificial intelligence, and profits from digital streaming, joining more than 11,000 already striking film and television writers.

The strike by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which will mark the first Hollywood shutdown in 63 years, will begin at midnight.

The strike came as SAG-AFTRA was unable to reach a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The frontrunner in the race to become Thailand's next prime minister failed to garner a minimum of 375 votes in the country's parliament on Thursday as lawmakers will hold a second round at a later date.

• US and ally-supplied cluster munitions intended to bolster Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive against Russia have been delivered to the war-torn nation, the Pentagon confirmed.

• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday that his government would be dissolved next month and handed over to a caretaker setup, indicating that general elections in the country will be held in October.

• A US Navy aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait on Thursday to “demonstrate” Washington’s “commitment to a free and open” Indo-Pacific, a move slammed by China.

• Appearance of F-16 jets in Ukraine will be seen as a “nuclear” threat, as Moscow has informed the US, UK, and France that it cannot ignore ability of fighter jets to carry nuclear weapons, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

• US President Joe Biden endorsed Ukraine's entry into NATO, but maintained it must happen after Russia's war on its eastern European neighbor concludes.

• Europe braces for more sweltering heat, as Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland are all facing major heatwaves with temperatures expected to climb to 48 degrees Celsius, says European Space Agency.

SPORTS

• AC Milan signs US winger Pulisic

AC Milan signed US winger Christian Pulisic from the English Premier League club Chelsea on Thursday.

"AC Milan is happy to announce the signing of Christian Mate Pulisic from Chelsea FC. The American winger has signed a contract with the Rossoneri until 30 June 2027, with an option to extend his stay until 30 June 2028," the Italian football club said in a statement.

The US international scored 26 goals and produced 21 assists in 145 appearances for Chelsea.

• Vondrousova to face Jabeur in Wimbledon final

Tunisian sixth-seed Ons Jabeur on Thursday beat world no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus to face Czech player Marketa Vondrousova in Saturday's Wimbledon women's singles final.

Jabeur, 28, came back against Sabalenka, winning the semifinal match with the sets of 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3 at London's Centre Court to reserve her place at the 2023 women's final.

The Tunisian athlete previously played final in the 2022 Wimbledon, but lost to Elena Rybakina.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Former Celsius CEO arrested, bankrupt crypto firm to pay $4.7B

The former CEO of the bankrupt crypto firm Celsius was arrested on Thursday, while the company has agreed to pay a $4.7 billion settlement with US regulators.

Alex Mashinsky, born in Ukraine, was arrested by federal law enforcement, as the Justice Department charged him on seven counts that included securities, commodities and wire fraud, and conspiracy to manipulate the price of Celsius' token CEL.

• Russian oil firms to decide whether to reduce output or exports

Russian companies will decide whether to reduce their oil output or exports in line with the country’s planned cutback in exports in August, Russia’s TASS news agency quoted Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak as saying on Thursday.

In July, Russia announced that it would reduce oil exports by 500,000 barrels per day in August to ensure market stability.