Morning Briefing: June 14, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including the indictment hearing of Former US President Donald Trump, Russia's stance on the extension of the Black Sea grain deal, and latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war.

TOP STORIES

• Trump pleads not guilty in classified documents case

Becoming the first former US president to face federal changes, Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 counts brought by prosecutors related to his alleged retention of classified government records.

Trump was indicted by a Florida grand jury last week and faces separate state charges related to his business dealings in New York.

After his arraignment in Miami, he lashed out at serving US President Joe Biden and that he would go after him if reelected in 2024.

• Putin says Russia contemplating to withdraw from grain deal

President Vladimir Putin said Russia is now considering to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal.

" …These corridors, along which ships go, are constantly used by the enemy to launch drones, marine drones," the Russian leader said, adding that one corridor was recently used to attack a vessel guarding the TurkStream gas pipeline.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine agreed last July in Istanbul to resume Ukrainian grain exports, halted after Ukraine war erupted last February. The deal has been renewed several times since then.

• Allies making 'difference' in Ukraine counteroffensive, says NATO chief

Aid from NATO allies has significantly improved Ukraine's counteroffensive as Kyiv seeks to force Russia to retreat from its territory, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Ukrainian forces are "gaining ground" as they begin a long-anticipated counteroffensive to end Russia's war on Ukrainian territories, he added.

Earlier, Putin said Ukraine's counteroffensive launched this month was unsuccessful and the casualties it suffered were "catastrophic."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Food assistance to 2.5 million of the 5.5 million people in Syria would be cut after the UN's World Food Program announced an "unprecedented" funding crisis.

• Thousands of health and social services employees gathered in Belgium to protest unfavorable working conditions, rallying outside the Brussels-North railway station with the banners and flags of their labor organizations in hand.

• Kosovo police units withdrew from northern Serb municipalities after tensions resurfaced following detention of a suspect in the May 29 attack on NATO's peacekeeping force in the area.

• There will be "no hesitation" when making a decision to use nuclear weapons in response to an aggression against Belarus, warned President Alexander Lukashenko.

• A 31-year-old man was arrested by police over suspected links to the murder of three people and injuries to three others in Nottingham, England early Tuesday.

• An Israeli court ordered the Palestinian Authority to pay 5.5 million shekels ($1.5 million) in compensation for dozens of Israeli tour guides for losses incurred during the Palestinian intifada.

• Dozens were killed after a boat carrying residents, including women and children, capsized in northern Nigeria, an official said.

• At least four people were reported dead while thousands of people are being evacuated as a severe storm over the Arabian Sea nears coastal areas of India and Pakistan.

• Over 108 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide in 2022 as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations, according to a UN report.

SPORTS

• PSG superstar Mbappe denies joining Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe denied the rumors about his move to Real Madrid this summer, as he said on Twitter that he will continue at PSG where he is happy.

The France forward, 24, permanently joined PSG from Monaco in 2018 after a season-long loan at the Paris club.

• Enner Valencia leaves Fenerbahce for Brazil's Internacional

Ecuadoran forward Enner Valencia left Fenerbahce after a three-year stint to join Internacional, the Brazilian side announced.

The Porto Alegre club said Valencia, 33, signed a three-year contract with them and will be introduced to Internacional fans on June 26. Valencia scored 59 goals in 116 appearances.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Lebanon will not be able to pay salaries by end of June: Prime minister

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that his government will not be able to pay salaries to civil servants by the end of June if the parliament does not approve additional appropriations for wages.

Lebanon has been facing a crippling economic crisis since 2019, which, according to the World Bank, is one of the worst the world has seen in modern times.

In April, the government approved a decision to raise public sector salaries in addition to hiking the transportation allowance for employees.

• Kuwait purchases Türkiye's Bayraktar TB2 drones

Kuwait said it purchased Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones in a deal signed directly with Ankara, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

The deal, which is worth $367 million, will "enhance the defense capabilities of the Kuwaiti army," said the Kuwaiti Defense ministry.

The contract includes "preparing special facilities to those aircraft, including electronic warfare equipment, and mobile ground control stations that are compatible with NATO standards."