Morning Briefing: Sept. 28, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including a foiled coup attempt in Burkina Faso, Canada’s Justin Trudeau’s “unreserved apology” over a Nazi appearance, and the latest in the corruption charges against US Senator Bob Menendez.

TOP STORIES

• Burkina Faso junta says it foiled coup attempt

Burkina Faso’s military government said Wednesday that it had thwarted a coup attempt by security and intelligence services.

The coup attempt was foiled on Sept. 26 as authorities in the West African country said that it has arrested officers and other perpetrators behind the attempt.

Hundreds of Burkinabe took to the streets to show their support for the transitional government.

In a post on X, junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore thanked his supporters.

Last year, Traore led a coup to become Burkina Faso’s new leader.

• Canada’s Trudeau apologizes for appearance honoring a Nazi veteran

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued “unreserved apologies” on behalf of Canada after a Nazi veteran was honored during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech to Canadian lawmakers.

The apology applied to Jews, Poles, Roma, and others targeted by Hitler’s Nazi regime.

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota invited Ukrainian veteran Yaroslav Hunka, 98, to Friday’s speech by Zelenskyy to parliament, unaware that Hunka fought with the Nazis in a volunteer unit.

• US Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to corruption charges

US Senator Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty to corruption charges Wednesday, maintaining his innocence amid growing calls for him to step down from office while the legal process plays out.

Menendez was released on a $100,000 bond by US Magistrate Judge Ona Wang, who ordered him to surrender his personal passport and barred him from traveling abroad.

Menendez was indicted last week. He accused of accepting bribes to use the power of his office to benefit businessmen and the Egyptian government.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Czech Republic approved the purchase of 24 US-made F-35 fighter jets worth 150 billion crowns ($6.5 billion), media reports said Wednesday.

• Germany announced on Wednesday that it will introduce temporary checks on the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic in a bid to curb the entry of irregular migrants.

• France's ambassador in Niger left the West African country on Wednesday, French media reported. The departure came a month after the Niger's military rulers ordered his expulsion.

• A Bahraini soldier died on Wednesday, bringing the death toll from a drone attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to three, the Gulf country said.

• Pyongyang expelled a US soldier who crossed into North Korea from the southern side of the demilitarized zone in July.

• US President Joe Biden sought to downplay the prospects for a looming shutdown that would bring much of the federal government to a halt.

• The death toll from a deadly earthquake that hit Morocco earlier this month has neared 3,000, the government said Wednesday.

• The UN will continue to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all their contacts, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday.

• A total of 1,264 Palestinians are currently being held by Israel in administrative detention, UN special coordinator for the Middle East Tor Wennesland said Wednesday.

• At least eight people were killed, including women and children, when a live mortar shell exploded in Pakistan’s southeastern Sindh province.

• The third edition this year of TEKNOFEST, Türkiye's premier technology and aerospace event, opened its doors in the Aegean city of Izmir on Wednesday. The five-day festival is set to feature competitions, air shows, exhibitions, and workshops.

SPORTS

• Olympique Marseille appoint Gattuso new head coach

French Ligue 1 club Olympique Marseille announced Wednesday that they appointed Gennaro Gattuso their new head coach.

The Italian coach replaced Spanish manager Marcelino, who stepped down on Sept. 20 after seven matches.

The 45-year-old coach helped Napoli win the 2020 Italian Cup.

• Newcastle United brush Manchester City aside in English League Cup

Newcastle United brushed aside Manchester City with a 1-0 win in an English Football League (EFL) Cup third-round match Wednesday.

Newcastle's Swedish attacker Alexander Isak netted the winning goal in the 53rd minute at St. James' Park.

With the loss, Man City missed the chance to bag their first League Cup trophy since 2021.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US consumer spending to slow in Q4: Fitch

Consumer spending in the US is expected to slow down in the fourth quarter of this year, Fitch Ratings said in a statement on Wednesday.

Some of the reasons behind the expected slowdown were listed as cooling in the labor market, slowing wage growth, and the lagging effect of the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary tightening cycle.

• Türkiye can be global hub for blockchain, Web 3.0: Binance

Türkiye can be a global hub for blockchain and Web 3.0 technologies, a manager with Binance said Wednesday.

Mucahit Donmez, Binance TR’s general manager, said the global digital currency exchange company decided on Istanbul for its Blockchain Week event this year.

The Istanbul iteration will be held on Nov. 8-9.