Morning Briefing: Oct. 2, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including a terror attack in Türkiye’s capital Ankara, a worldwide condemnation of the attack and destruction of PKK terror targets in northern Iraq.

TOP STORIES

• Two police officers wounded in terror attack in Türkiye

Two police officers were injured when one of the two terrorists on Sunday morning blew himself up in front of the General Directorate of Security in Ankara, Türkiye, the interior minister said.

“…Two terrorists, who arrived in a light commercial vehicle in front of the gate of the General Directorate of Security, carried out a bomb attack. One of the terrorists blew himself up and the other terrorist was neutralized,” said Ali Yerlikaya.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that terrorists will never succeed in destroying peace and security in the country.

• Turkish warplanes strike PKK terror targets in northern Iraq

Turkish warplanes on Sunday destroyed 20 PKK terror targets and “neutralized” numerous terrorists in airstrikes on the terror group’s hideouts in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, the National Defense Ministry said.

The strikes were launched to “eliminate terrorist attacks against our people and security forces from northern Iraq,” a ministry statement said.

This was also done to ensure border security in line with Türkiye’s self-defense rights arising from Article 51 of the UN Charter, it added.

• Terrorists used stolen car of civilian: Turkish interior minister

The perpetrators of Sunday’s foiled terrorist attack in the Turkish capital Ankara used a car they stole from a civilian they murdered, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The links of one of the dead attackers to the terrorist group PKK have been confirmed, the ministry said, adding that an investigation of the other terrorist continues.

Ankara prosecutors have launched an investigation into the terrorist attack.

• World leaders condemn terror attack in Türkiye

World leaders expressed solidarity with Türkiye and condemned a terror attack foiled by security forces in the capital Ankara on Sunday morning.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the terror attack.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that they reject terrorism and stand firmly by their NATO ally Türkiye.

European countries also condemned the attack.

The OIC, Arab and Muslim countries, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Kuwait, UAE and Pakistan also expressed solidarity with Türkiye.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye has kept every promise it made to the EU, but the bloc has fulfilled almost none of its promises to Ankara, the Turkish president told parliament on Sunday.

• Kosovo said Sunday it has evidence that Serbia was trying to annex its northern region and that the attackers had been preparing for this a long time at military bases.

• Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to attend a gathering, the second minister to arrive in the kingdom in recent days.

• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ruled out any plan in the near term to send British soldiers to Ukraine, saying Defense Secretary Grant Shapps’ suggestion is not for "here and now.”

• Ukraine reported on Sunday that the Russian army launched attacks across the country during the night with 30 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles.

• A fire broke out in a nightclub in the Spanish city of Murcia early Sunday morning, killing at least 13 people, authorities said. It took around three hours to completely extinguish the blaze.

• Over 1 million people visited Türkiye’s premiere technology and aerospace event TEKNOFEST during its five-day run in the Aegean Izmir province, organizers said on Sunday.

SPORTS

• Fenerbahce dominate with 7th consecutive win

By trouncing Caykur Rizespor 5-0 on Sunday, Istanbul's Fenerbahce finished out a perfect lucky seven, winning seven out of seven Trendyol Super Lig games.

With Sunday’s game, the Yellow Canaries took the top spot in the standings with a flawless run of 21 points, while Rizespor placed eighth with 11 points.

• Liverpool slam refereeing body over Diaz's goal

Liverpool slammed the refereeing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), on Sunday over a “significant human error” in Tottenham’s win over Liverpool in a Premier League match on Saturday.

The English Premier League club published an official statement after PGMOL’s admission that a goal by Luis Diaz was incorrectly ruled out for being offside by the video assistant referee (VAR).

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Germany, China aim to boost economic cooperation

Germany and China are keen to further strengthen their cooperation on financial and economic issues, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Sunday.

Speaking at the third German-Chinese financial dialogue in Frankfurt, which was also attended by Chinese Vice Prime Minister He Lifeng, Lindner said both sides want to create a fair and non-discriminatory market environment and strengthen the security of global supply chains.

• Türkiye's 1st aircraft factory to begin producing parts for Gokbey, Hurkus

Türkiye's first aircraft factory, TOMTAS Aviation and Technology Inc. will soon begin producing parts for the multipurpose Gokbey helicopter and Hurkus trainer aircraft.

“We will be issuing our first invoice in October,” Ali Eksi, a board member at TOMTAS, told Anadolu on the sidelines of TEKNOFEST, Türkiye's premier technology and aerospace event.