Morning Briefing: Sept.18, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including the start of the UN’s General Assembly in New York, President Erdogan’s rejection of attacks on Muslim values and the death toll in Libya floods surpassing 11,000.

TOP STORIES

• UN General Assembly’s 78th session begins today

More than 150 heads of state and government as well as hundreds of ministers, diplomats, NGO representatives, and journalists, are gathering in New York for the 78th session of the UN General Assembly which begins on Monday.

Ahead of one of the world's most high-profile events, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has tightened security, with several roads in Manhattan closed by erecting barricades for security reasons.

As a tradition, Brazil will be the country to deliver the first speech at the General Assembly, followed by the US.

• Türkiye rejects attacks on Muslim values under freedom of thought: President Erdogan

Türkiye will not accept the justification of attacks on the sacred values of 2 billion Muslims worldwide under the guise of freedom of thought, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"To us, these actions are provocations that aim to incite people," he said at a dinner event organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee in New York.

The Turkish president also said he agreed with his US counterpart Joe Biden to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between their two nations.

• Death toll from Libya floods climbs to 11,300, says UN

At least 11,300 people have been killed and over 10,000 others are still missing by deadly floods in Libya’s eastern city of Derna, the UN said.

More than 40,000 people have been displaced across Libya’s northeastern areas since the start of the devastating floods on Sept. 10.

Derna was the hardest-hit by the killer flooding after the city’s dams burst, washing away homes and people.

Rescue efforts are in full swing in the coastal city to search for survivors amid massive destruction in the city.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Tesla CEO Elon Musk to establish Tesla's seventh factory in Türkiye during a meeting at the Turkish House in New York.
• EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited the Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean, which has been inundated with irregular migrants in recent days, and presented a 10-point action plan to support Italy.
• Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated the importance of re-opening communication channels and the promotion of a positive agenda with Türkiye.
• Some important government buildings in the capital Khartoum were hit during heavy clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), local media reported on Sunday,
  
• The G77+China summit in Havana, Cuba, concluded with a joint declaration that committed to strengthening cooperation among the nations of the Global South and demanded the removal of US blockades on Cuba.
• Hundreds of Israeli settlers on Sunday forced their way into the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish New Year.
• Australians gathered nationwide to show their support for constitutional change at an upcoming referendum to recognize the role of the country's Aboriginal minorities.
• The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) announced that it has begun the second phase of a drawdown of its peacekeeping troops from Somalia.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un left Russia on Sunday after completing a crucial six-day visit, Russian media said.
• Israel renounced the inclusion of the Ancient City of Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) on the World Heritage List by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

SPORTS

• Real Madrid stages comeback against Real Sociedad in Spanish league

Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to extend their perfect run in the Spanish La Liga on Sunday.

Visitors' Ander Barrenetxea scored the opening goal following a rebound by Real Madrid goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the fifth minute at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Federico Valverde's vicious strike occurred in the 46th minute.

• Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay sets women's 5000-meter world record

World champion Ethiopian athlete Gudaf Tsegay broke the women's 5000-meter world record in a Diamond League competition in the US city of Eugene.

Tsegay, 26, smashed the record with a run of 14 minutes and 00.21 seconds to beat Kenyan Kipyegon's record that she previously set in June during the Paris Diamond League.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Hungary, Slovakia to ban imports of Ukrainian grain

Hungary and Slovakia announced that they will implement their own bans after the European Commission decided not to extend the period of restrictive measures imposed on Ukraine's exports of cereals and other food products to the EU.

The Hungarian government announced on Facebook that it has banned imports of 24 products from Ukraine.

Slovak Prime Minister Ludovit Odor noted that the decision was taken to be fair to farmers and prevent pressure on the Slovak market.

• US commerce official sees promising future for US-Türkiye trade ties

The US assistant secretary of commerce for global markets expressed optimism about the potential for significant growth in trade between the US and Türkiye, highlighting the importance of the "deep strategic partnership" between the two countries.

On the goal to achieve a $100 billion trade volume between the US and Türkiye, Arun Venkataraman told Anadolu this is attainable "given the depth of commercial relationships, given the entrepreneurship that exists in both countries."