Morning Briefing: July 25, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including Israel’s approval of judicial overhaul bill, China’s call for Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate situation, and a scheduled meeting between the Turkish president and his Palestinian counterpart.

TOP STORIES

• Israeli parliament approves judicial overhaul bill

The Israeli parliament approved a controversial bill on Monday as part of the government’s judicial overhaul plan.

The plan was spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and had triggered weeks of mass protests.

The opposition claims that the contentious judicial overhaul plan would curtail the powers of the Supreme Court and increase the powers of Netanyahu, while the government says the package is meant to restore power to elected officials.

The judicial overhaul plan has divided Israel, facing unprecedented opposition from across society, including the military and the business sector.

• China urges Russia, Ukraine to ‘jointly deescalate the situation’

Following the US announcement of sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, China said that all relevant parties must work to “jointly deescalate the situation.”

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that the irresponsible provision of cluster munitions could easily entail humanitarian problems.

Her remarks come after RIA Novosti journalist Rostislav Zhuravlev was killed in a Ukrainian cluster munitions strike.

“China believes that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis,” she added.

• Turkish, Palestinian presidents to meet Tuesday in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas will meet on Tuesday in the capital Ankara for talks.

During the talks at the presidential complex, the two presidents will discuss the Palestine-Israel issue as well as other regional and international developments.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also expected to visit Türkiye this week. However, the trip was postponed after sudden surgery to receive a pacemaker.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Greece’s wildfires on Corfu island were possibly caused by arsonists, the mayor said Monday, as residential areas were evacuated with tourists being taken to the village of Kassiopi.

• Experts from the UN’s nuclear watchdog observed mines on the periphery of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, its director general said. Europe's biggest nuclear power plant has been under Russian military and operational control since March 2022.

• French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that “a digital public order" was needed following widespread riots in late June sparked by the police killing of a teenager.

• With its new constitution, Mali has dropped French, which has been the West African country's official language since 1960.

• Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party said Monday that it has secured a landslide victory in weekend parliamentary elections.

• Former US President Barack Obama’s chef was found drowned in a pond on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, according to reports.

SPORTS

• Attila Szalai joins Hoffenheim until 2027

Attila Szalai moved to Hoffenheim from Fenerbahce Monday to sign a four-year contract until 2027.

The Yellow Canaries said on the Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that they would pay a €12.3 million ($13.6 million) transfer fee to the Turkish club for Szalai.

• Germany beat Morocco 6-0 in FIFA Women's World Cup game

Germany thrashed Morocco 6-0 in their Group H opener at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Playing at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Alexandra Popp scored twice while, Klara Buehl and Lea Schueller netted one goal each for Germany.

Morocco's Zineb Redouani and Hanane Ait El Haj scored own goals.

In another clash on Monday, Brazil defeated Panama 4-0 in Group F and Italy secured a 1-0 win against Argentina in Group G.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Elon Musk regains spot as world's richest person

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has recaptured the title of "the richest person in the world," surpassing French luxury goods mogul Bernard Arnault, the president of group LVMH.

According to Forbes magazine's list of the world's richest people, Musk's net worth increased by 1.75% as of noon local time to $240.7 billion.

• UK announces financing high-speed electric railway in Türkiye

The UK government announced Monday that it is financing the construction of a high-speed electrified railway in southern Türkiye.

The announcement came from the UK government’s export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF), which has underwritten €781 million ($872 million or £680 million) for the project.

The construction will enable Turkish conglomerate Ronesans Holding to complete a 286-kilometer (177-mile) electric railway connecting the southern provinces of Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Gaziantep.