Morning Briefing: Sept. 24, 2023

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) — Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including an anti-Brexit protest in the UK, Australia urging reform at the UN, and the 19th Asian Games in China.

TOP STORIES

• Thousands in London protest Brexit, call for rejoining EU

Anti-Brexit protesters gathered in London to call for rejoining the EU.

Organized by the National Rejoin March, thousands marched toward Parliament Square and demanded: "We want our star back."

Protesters carried EU flags and wore hats and t-shirts that featured the EU flag. They carried banners that called on the government to resign.

• Australia urges UN reform, warning of 'existential' risk of great power conflict

Foreign Minister Penny Wong argued for reform of the UN, warning that a great power conflict was an "existential threat" to the entire world.

"Often small countries, vast distances from major powers, have borne the brunt of a race for dominance, with legacies of those contests casting shadows across the generations.

Calling for reforms in the UN Security Council and said they must ensure greater permanent and non-permanent representation for Africa, Latin America, and Asia, including permanent seats for India and Japan. "And we must demand more of the permanent members, including constraints on the use of the veto," she said.

• Biggest-ever Asian Games begin in China

The 19th Asian Games commenced in Hangzhou, China, as President Xi Jinping and leaders of several nations attended the opening ceremony.

The ceremony featured a historic "digital reality fusion" torch ignition, and the event boasts record-breaking participation of more than 12,000 athletes from 45 countries, including North Korea, making it Asia's largest sporting event.

The Games will continue until Oct. 8, following postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ireland's Shannon airport.

• China's president met Cambodia's king in the eastern city of Hangzhou, where he arrived to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games.

• The leader of PEGIDA, an Islamophobic group, once again tore up a copy of the Quran, in front of the Turkish Embassy in the Netherlands, with Ankara strongly condemning "despicable attacks" against the Muslim holy book.

• Iran and the Maldives have agreed to restore diplomatic ties after more than seven years.

• Scores of Palestinians staged a protest in Gaza City to demand an end to Israel's years-long blockade.

• At least 18 people, including 10 security personnel, were killed with more than 40 others wounded when a truck-full of explosives detonated in the central Somali city of Beledweyne.

• Azerbaijan said it sent fuel to meet the needs of Armenian-origin residents of the Karabakh region.

• At least two civilians were killed and as many were injured as the Bashar al-Assad regime forces attacked Syria's Idlib.

• At least 34 people were killed Saturday in a fire at a smuggled fuel depot in southern Benin, near the border with Nigeria.

SPORTS

• Bayern Munich hammer Bochum 7-0 as Kane scores hat-trick

Bayern Munich hammered Bochum as Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win on matchday five of the German Bundesliga.

Kane registered the hat-trick and assists while other goals came from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Matthijs de Light, Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel in the huge home victory at Allianz Arena.

• Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest to win 6 straight matches in league

10-man Manchester City defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0 to win six straight matches in the English Premier League.

First-half goals led the Sky Blues to the win as goals came from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland in the seventh and 14th minutes at Etihad Stadium.

• Türkiye beat Japan to qualify for Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Turkish women's volleyball team defeated Japan 3-1 to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

"The #1 ranked team in the world & also the reigning VNL & European Champions have QUALIFIED to the 2024 Olympic Games!," the International Volleyball Federation wrote on X.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Olive oil, essential part of Greek cuisine, becoming luxury due to skyrocketing prices

Olive oil, an essential part of the Greek culture and cuisine, is becoming a luxury good because of skyrocketing prices, the president of one of Greece’s major olive producers’ union said Saturday.

The wholesale price of olive oil in Crete, one of the country’s biggest olive oil producing regions, is currently around €8.40 ($9) per liter, which means its retail price would be around €12 to €15 during the winter, Myron Chiletzakis, vice president of the Heraklion Agricultural Cooperative (EASH) told major broadcaster OpenTV.

Also speaking to public broadcaster ERT, he argued that 80% of the country’s olive oil production is exported and that is also behind skyrocketing prices domestically.