Morning Briefing: Sept. 7, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including the dissolution of Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, the US sending Ukraine depleted uranium tank rounds, and the hottest summer on record so far.

TOP STORIES

• ​​​​​​​Sudan’s army chief orders dissolution of Rapid Support Forces

Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who also chairs the country’s Sovereignty Council, late Wednesday issued a decree to dissolve the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The decision came “as a consequence of the rebellion of these forces on the state and the grave violations they committed against citizens,” said a council statement.

Since the beginning of the war between the RSF and the Sudanese armed forces this April, thousands have been killed and more than 4 million displaced, especially in the capital Khartoum and Darfur state.

• US announces it will send Ukraine depleted uranium tank rounds

The US announced Wednesday that it will, for the first time, supply Ukraine with depleted uranium tank ammunition as Kyiv's forces press a counteroffensive to drive Russia out of occupied territories.

The decision to supply Ukraine with the controversial anti-armor munitions comes as part of Washington's expected delivery of 31 M1 Abrams tanks, the US' premier main battle tank.

Russia has warned it would treat any delivery of depleted uranium armor-piercing ammunition as an escalation of the conflict.

• This summer marks hottest on record, says UN weather agency

The summer of 2023 was the hottest ever recorded, the UN's weather agency said on Wednesday.

"The northern hemisphere just had a summer of extremes," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a statement, citing a rash of wildfires and heat waves.

"In the southern hemisphere, Antarctic Sea ice extent was literally off the charts, and the global sea surface temperature was once again at a new record," he added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of a "climate breakdown."

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The UK is designating the Russian mercenary Wagner Group a banned "terrorist organization," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed on Wednesday.

• After the transitional president allowed him freedom on Wednesday, Gabon's former President Ali Bongo, who was ousted by the military last week, is free to travel out of the country if he wishes.

• Relations between Türkiye and the EU should not be held hostage to interests of some countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a joint press conference with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.

• Former British soldier Daniel Abed Khalifei, suspected of terror offenses including leaving fake bombs at a military base, escaped from a London prison early Wednesday, triggering a nationwide manhunt.

• A delegation of Muslim scholars from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reminded Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government on Wednesday that education is an “Islamic obligation for both men and women.”

• At least four Pakistan army troops and 12 militants were killed in a clash near the country's border with Afghanistan, the military said on Wednesday after a large group of terrorists equipped with latest weapons attacked two military posts.

• A demonstration was held Wednesday in France against the government's ban on Muslim abayas in schools. A group of teachers and staff at the Maurice-Utrillo High School in Stains organized a strike and demonstration against the ban. Students and parents joined the demonstration in front of the school.

• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook northern Chile on Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake hit at 8.48 p.m. local time (2348GMT), while its epicenter was 41 kilometers (25 miles) south-southwest of Coquimbo, Chile.

SPORTS

• Sabalenka beats Qinweni, reaches US Open semifinal

Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday defeated No. 23 seed Zheng Qinwen 6-1 and 6-4 to reach her third straight US Open semifinal.

"I think I definitely played great tennis today," the world No. 1 said after beating her Chinese opponent.

In the semifinals, Sabalenka, 25, will take on the winner of the Marketa Vondrousova-Madison Keys quarterfinal showdown.

• 2023 Ballon d'Or nominees unveiled, including Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema

The 2023 Ballon d'Or list of nominations was unveiled Wednesday by the French news magazine France Football.

The list includes include Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, who holds a record seven Ballon d'Or titles, Manchester City's Norwegian star Erling Haaland, and the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, among many others.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye eyes 4.5% GDP growth on average in 2024-2026

The Turkish government aims for a 4.5% gross domestic product growth rate on average in 2024-2026, according to the government's medium-term economic program released on Wednesday.

Unveiling the program, Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said the Turkish economy is projected to grow 4% next year, 4.5% in 2025, and 5% in 2026.

In 2022, Türkiye's economy grew 5.5% year-on-year, according to revised data.

Türkiye's year-end inflation rate is expected to come in at 65% this year and 33% next year.

• Retail sales volume down in EU, eurozone

The retail sales volume fell 1% in the euro area and 1.2% in the EU in July on a yearly basis, according to Eurostat.

According to the data, the volume of retail trade was down by 3.4% for automotive fuels, and 2.2% for food, drinks and tobacco in the euro area over the same period.

Meanwhile, the retail sales volume for non-food products was up 1.1%.