Morning Briefing: July 31, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including a deadly suicide bombing in Pakistan, an attack on the French Embassy by coup supporters in Niger, and the Palestinian president's call for unity.

TOP STORIES

• Suicide bombing kills dozens, injures hundred in Pakistan

At least 40 people were killed and hundreds of others injured in a suspected suicide bombing ahead of a political rally in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday evening, police said.

The political gathering had been organized by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, a coalition partner in the federal government.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, one of the deadliest in recent years. But the JUI has long been a target of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a conglomerate of several militant groups in the country.

• Thousands march in Niger as French Embassy comes under attack

Thousands of people supporting last week’s military coup took to the streets of Niger on Sunday, waving Russian flags in front of the French Embassy.

They also attacked the embassy as they burnt the French flag, pelted the embassy building with stones, and attempted to break in before being dispersed by tear gas.

France warned that anyone who would attack its nationals, diplomats, or interests will spur an immediate and uncompromising response from it.

• Palestinian president urges for unity against 'barbaric Israeli aggression’

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the leaders of Palestinian factions attending a meeting in Egypt to unite against “Israeli aggression.”

Upon the call of Abbas, the general secretaries-level meeting began Sunday in the Egyptian coastal city of El Alamein and is closed to the press.

"We must ensure our national unity to fight against the occupation, which targets our rights and sanctities as well as our existence,” Abbas said.

He underlined that the struggle to become a full-time member of the UN will continue.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Several have been killed and dozens reported to be wounded in Lebanon on Sunday in clashes between two groups in the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp.

• Ankara expects "concrete steps" from Stockholm to prevent attacks on the Muslim holy book, the Quran, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his Swedish counterpart in a phone call.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that threats by Hezbollah do not affect Israel and that its secretary-general should not test the country.

• France has suspended financial aid to Niger following last week’s coup in the West African country, as it urged an immediate return to constitutional order in the country.

• Azerbaijan accused Armenia of attempting to deceive the international community over the arrest of an Armenian-born man on war crimes charges.

• Over 20,000 people have been evacuated due to incessant rains brought by Typhoon Doksuri in northern China over the past three days, state-run media reported.

• People's resistance councils from various provinces of Yemen formed a group called the People's High Council of Resistance to act in coordination against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group.

SPORTS

• Galatasaray secures Mauro Icardi in €10M transfer deal
  

​​​​​​​​​​​Turkish club Galatasaray announced a three-year deal with Argentine forward Mauro Icardi from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), involving a €10 million (over $11 million) transfer fee.

He spent the 2022-2023 season at Galatasaray on loan, winning the Turkish Super Lig title and becoming a fan favorite.

• Türkiye beats Qatar in FIVB Men’s Challenger Cup Final

Türkiye defeated Qatar 3-2 on Sunday in the FIVB Men’s Challenger Cup Final.

The Turkish National Volleyball Team won the final 13-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 9-15 in Doha, Qatar.

With this victory, Türkiye secured their place in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Türkiye natural gas hub to become an 'electronic trading platform': Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said a natural gas hub he and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to work on following talks earlier this year would be set up as an "electronic trading platform."

During a press conference, Putin underlined that the natural gas hub project did not involve the storage of a large volume of gas.