Morning Briefing: Sept. 26, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including the purported killing of Russian commander by Ukrainian forces, Turkish President Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan, and Egypt’s expected elections in December.

TOP STORIES

• Ukraine says Russian Black Sea Fleet commander killed

Ukraine claimed Monday that its forces killed 34 Russian officers, including the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, in a strike on the naval headquarters in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, local media reported Monday.

The commander of the fleet, Viktor Sokolov, was not named directly in the statement.

On Sept. 14, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Sokolov as the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Ukraine’s Crimea and Sevastopol territories were illegally annexed by Russia in 2014

• Azerbaijan's victory in Karabakh 'matter of pride': Turkish President Erdogan

The successful completion of Azerbaijan's recent victory in Karabakh inspires pride, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

On Monday, Erdogan paid a one-day visit to Azerbaijan's autonomous Nakhchivan exclave to discuss bilateral relations, particularly recent developments in Karabakh.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Türkiye “want peace, and stability in the region, not war,”

Ahead of the news conference, Aliyev and Erdogan took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of a natural gas pipeline running from Türkiye to the Nakhchivan exclave.

• Egypt to hold presidential elections in December

Egypt will hold presidential elections on Dec. 10-12, the country’s election authority said on Monday.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, whose current six-year term ends in 2024, has yet to declare his intent to seek a third term.

Seven political figures have announced plans to run, including Ahmed Tantawi, a former parliamentarian, who is seen as a strong opposition candidate if he officially enters the race.

The national authority head said the presidential vote will be held under full judicial supervision.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that the first batch of Abrams tanks promised by the US have arrived in Ukraine.

• President Joe Biden extended official US diplomatic recognition to the Cook Islands and Niue for the first time Monday as he hosted Pacific Island leaders at the White House for a second annual summit.

• A fire caused heavy damage to a mosque in southeastern Sweden, according to local media. Police said the mosque faced threats and that this was an arson attack.

• France’s highest court, the Council of State, on Monday ruled that the government ban on Muslim dress abaya in French schools is legal.

• Canada warned travelers on Monday to “exercise a high degree of caution” if going to India due to a breakdown in relations between the two countries over the assassination of a Sikh-Canadian leader.

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a letter to Germany’s chancellor that she was astonished to learn of Berlin’s recent decision to finance two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea and disembarking them in southern Italy.

• US-based artificial intelligence (AI) research company OpenAI announced Monday that it will be introducing new voice and image capabilities in ChatGPT.

SPORTS

• Al-Nassr reach Round of 16 in Saudi King Cup

Al-Nassr reached the Round of 16 in the Saudi King Cup by beating Ohod 5-1 on Monday.

Sadio Mane drew the first blood for Al-Nassr. Seko Fofana made it 2-1 for Al-Nassr. Anderson Talisca netted the third goal.

Ayman Yahya scored another in the 81st minute. Sami al-Najei tallied the club’s fifth goal.

• PSG strike Olympique Marseille in Le Classique

Paris Saint-Germain hammered rivals Olympique Marseille 4-0 in Sunday's Le Classique in the French league.

Home team PSG's Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi scored the opener in the first 10 minutes.

PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani doubled the lead before the break.

Goncalo Ramos scored a brace to name the result as PSG won.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Moody's warns US government shutdown would be ‘credit negative’

Credit rating agency Moody's warned Monday that a government shutdown in the US would be “credit negative” for the country.

The rating agency said a possible shutdown would have the largest impact on entities that rely on federal funding for revenue or debt servicing payments.

• Deutsche Bank subsidiary to pay millions for anti-money laundering violations

A Deutsche Bank subsidiary has agreed to pay a total of $25 million in penalties for anti-money laundering violations and misstatements about investments, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Monday.

Charges against DWS Investment Management Americas Inc. include the failure to develop a mutual fund anti-money laundering (AML) program, the SEC said in a statement.​​​​​​​