Morning Briefing: September 1, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including, suspension of Gabon’s membership in African Union, a meeting between Turkish and Russian foreign ministers on revival of Black Sea grain deal, and former US President Donald Trump pleads not guilty in election case.

TOP STORIES

• AU suspends Gabon's membership after military coup

The African Union (AU) suspended Gabon's membership on Thursday after senior military officers seized control of the country and dismissed President Ali Bongo’s government.

The AU, comprising 55 members, suspended Gabon's participation in activities, organs, and institutions until the restoration of constitutional order in the country, said a statement.

Gabon's Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema, who ousted President Bongo, will be sworn in as "transitional president" on Monday, the junta announced.

• UN proposals may restore Black Sea grain deal: Turkish minister

The UN's latest proposals along with Türkiye's contributions could revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday.

"We think this is the appropriate ground for the revival of the July 2022 deal," said Fidan addressing a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.

Türkiye's efforts to revive the Black Sea grain deal would continue, he added.

"We stressed the critical role of the (Black Sea) initiative for both global food security and stability in the Black Sea region," said Fidan.

• Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election case

Former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges concerning his alleged attempts to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Trump, who faces 13 criminal counts, waived his right for an in-person arraignment which had been set for Sept. 6 in Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta.

A Georgia grand jury returned a 41-count indictment against Trump and 18 of his political allies on charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye-EU relations are of vital importance not only for themselves but also for the region, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Thursday.

• Death toll from a five-story residential building fire in South Africa's Johannesburg city on Thursday rose to 73, emergency officials confirmed.

• UN chief Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that presented "concrete proposals" for revival of the Black Sea grain initiative.

• At least 43 people were killed and 56 others injured in anti-UN protests this week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the government announced Thursday.

• Sweden’s counter-terrorism chief has warned that the country’s image has changed after the repeated Quran burnings in Stockholm, media reported.

• Russia agreed to increase its gas supplies to Türkiye and to set up a gas hub for sales to other countries, said Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at a news conference with Turkish counterpart Fidan.

• Niger's military authority ordered the expulsion of the French ambassador Thursday in a letter, saying he no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday announced the "successful use" of long-range weapons produced by the country.

• At least 413 children died from the deadly measles disease in war-torn Yemen in seven months, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.
  
  

• The Pentagon has launched a new website which will provide official declassified information on UFOs, www.aaro.mil, providing information, videos and photos, on resolved UFO cases.

• Twitter users would be able to make audio and video call on X without any phone number, CEO Elon Musk announced Thursday.

SPORTS

• Erling Haaland of Manchester City named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year

Manchester City's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland was on Thursday named the 2022-23 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.

Haaland beat off competition from his teammate Kevin De Bruyne and former Paris Saint-Germain attacker Lionel Messi.

The striker helped his team clinch the "Famous Treble" – winning a domestic title, domestic cup, and European cup in the same season.

• Fenerbahce, Besiktas advance to Conference League group stage

Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Besiktas reached the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, while Adana Demirspor were eliminated after losing to Genk in a penalty shootout on Thursday.

Fenerbahce beat Twente 1-0 with Edin Dzeko's goal from a penalty kick in the 72nd minute in the playoff round second leg match to reach the Conference League group stage with a 6-1 aggregate win.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Moody’s raises Turkish economic growth forecast from 2.6% to 4.2%

Moody's revised Turkish economic growth forecast to 4.2%, from 2.6%, for 2023, according to its Global Macro Outlook 2023-24 August update report released Thursday.

The global rating agency also made an upward revision to its Turkish economic growth forecast for 2023 from 2% to 3%.

"Economic activity in the first half of 2023 outpaced our expectations in multiple countries," said the report, including Türkiye.

• EU imports record 13.2B cubic meters LNG from Russia

The EU's liquefied natural gas imports from Russia reached record levels with a total of 13.2 billion cubic meters from January to July, according to data compiled by Anadolu.

Despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict, EU countries have become Russia's biggest customer in LNG.

The share of EU countries in Russia's LNG exports was 39% in the January-July period of 2021. It increased from 49% in 2022 to 52% in 2023.