Morning Briefing: Sept. 29, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including a meeting of top diplomats from India and US, twin shootings in the Netherlands, and EU’s failure to have consensus over migration.

TOP STORIES

• Top US, India diplomats meet amid fallout over Sikh leader’s murder

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Washington amid Canadian accusations of New Delhi's involvement in the murder of a Canadian Sikh leader.

They "discussed a full range of issues, including key outcomes of India’s G-20 presidency and the creation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and its potential to generate transparent, sustainable and high-standard infrastructure investments," according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

There was, however, no mention of the killing in the US readout.

Earlier in the day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was sure Blinken would discuss the matter with Jaishankar.

• 3 killed in twin Rotterdam shootings

Three people were killed in twin shootings in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, with police arresting a 32-year-old suspect.

A woman, 39, and her 14-year old daughter were killed in the first shooting in their home.

A male lecturer, 43, meanwhile, was shot dead at the Erasmus Medical Center.

Police said they suspect the attacks were carried out by a single person, and were continuing with the investigation.

• EU ministers fail to reach consensus on migration

European Union interior ministers were unable to reach a consensus on the migration crisis at a meeting in Brussels.

According to sources, Germany and Italy may be the reason behind the failure to reach an agreement due to Germany's proposal to support NGOs providing aid and search and rescue services in the Mediterranean.

This is opposed by Italy, as it might turn into "an attractive factor for migrants."

Spain's acting Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska hoped they would be able to announce an agreement regarding the crisis soon.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Tunisia’s Ennahda Party leader Rached Ghannouchi to start open-ended hunger strike from prison, a party member said.

• The US House Oversight Committee held its first hearing of an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, with Republicans acknowledging there is no clear evidence at this point of any wrongdoing by the president.

• EU member states agreed to extend temporary protection for more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees until March 2025, the European Council said.

• Ten civilians were killed in shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Al-Jarafa neighborhood of the city of Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum, the Sudanese army said.

• An unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh statelet will cease to exist by next Jan. 1, according to a decree signed by its titular head Samvel Shahramanyan.

• A looming government shutdown will "definitely" delay or otherwise negatively affect planned training for Ukrainian pilots preparing to fly F-16 fighter jets, the Pentagon warned.

• Michael Gambon, the revered British actor known for his iconic portrayal of Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, passed away at the age of 82.

SPORTS

• Fenerbahce thrash Basaksehir 4-0 in Turkish league

Leaders Fenerbahce thrashed RAMS Basaksehir 4-0 in a Trendyol Super Lig match to continue their perfect run in the top-tier Turkish football league.

Ghanaian defender Alexander Djiku scored the opening goal, with Leo Duarte netting in the 10th minute to double their lead.

Polish midfielder Sebastian Szymanski made it 3-0 in the 20th minute, and then again in the 80th minute.

• Barcelona charged with bribery for referee payments

A judge charged Barcelona football club and two of its former presidents with bribery for making around €7.3 million ($7.7 million) in payments to one of the country’s top referees.

Spanish police also raided the offices of Spain’s football federation to find more evidence related to the payments to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• US economy expands 2.1% in 2nd quarter

The world’s biggest economy expanded 2.1% in the second quarter of 2023, according to the Commerce Department's third and final reading.

The US economy grew 2% in the first quarter of this year.

The current dollar GDP jumped 3.8%, or $249.4 billion, at an annual rate, in the second quarter to reach $27.06 trillion.

• Gulf Cooperation Council, Pakistan sign free trade agreement

The Gulf Cooperation Council said it signed a free trade agreement with Pakistan.

Pakistan and the GCC signed a framework agreement to discuss the free trade pact in August 2004, but only a few rounds of talks took place. The two sides resumed the negotiations in 2021.