Morning Briefing: September 4, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including a meeting between Türkiye and Russia’s president today, violent protests in Iraq, and a move by Ukraine’s president to replace his defense minister.

TOP STORIES

• Turkish, Russian presidents to meet today

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for talks on Monday in the Russian resort city of Sochi.

Erdogan will pay a one-day working visit to Sochi upon Putin's invitation, said a statement from Türkiye's Communications Directorate.

During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to discuss the suspended Black Sea Grain deal along with current global and regional issues.

• Protests in Iraq’s Kirkuk turn violent with four dead

The death toll from protests in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk has risen to four, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Amir Nuri told Anadolu that 15 other people have been injured.

Supporters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) demonstrated in Kirkuk on Saturday to demand the reopening of a highway linking the city to Erbil.

The highway was closed by Iraqi Turkmens who oppose the handover of the Joint Operations Command building to the KDP.

• Ukrainian president to replace defense minister

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that he will ask parliament this week to dismiss Oleksii Reznikov as defense minister.

"This week, the Parliament will be offered to make a personnel decision…I have decided to replace the Minister of Defense of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Ukrainian presidency.

He added that Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war.

Ukraine's leader nominated Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar Turk, to replace Reznikov.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The death toll from anti-UN protests last week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 100, the head of a platform of youth organizations said Sunday.

• Türkiye expressed concern about the unrest in Iraq’s Kirkuk, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference in Tehran, demanding that Iraq ends the increasing presence of the PKK terror group in Kirkuk.

• Two civilians were killed and 13 others injured in an attack by the YPG/PKK terrorist group in Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria, according to local sources Sunday.

• Thousands of people gathered in the Finnish capital on Sunday to protest racism and the government’s policy towards it, according to local media reports.

• A truck carrying 59 marketeers overturned in central Zambia early Sunday, killing 35 and leaving 24 others injured, authorities said.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed African migrants a “real threat” as his government formed a committee to examine measures against Eritrean asylum seekers following violent protests a day earlier.

• More than 870 migrants were detected crossing the English Channel via small boats on Saturday, a record number on a single day so far in 2023, the UK Home Office said on Sunday.

• Türkiye's premiere technology and aerospace event TEKNOFEST ended in the capital Ankara on Sunday. The five-day event hosted a wide array of attractions including air shows, competitions, workshops and exhibitions.

SPORTS

• Türkiye clinch European champions title in volleyball after defeating Serbia

Türkiye defeated Serbia in a five-set epic match to win the 2023 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship title on Sunday.

The Turkish women's team won the final with the sets of 27-25, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25 and 13-15 at Brussels' Palais 12.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Türkiye on winning the trophy.

• Cristiano Ronaldo becomes 1st player to score 850 official goals in history

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer in history to net 850 official goals.

On matchday five, the Portuguese superstar celebrated his 850th official career goal as Al Nassr won 5-1 against Al-Hazm in the Saudi Pro League.

Scoring 123 goals for Portugal, Ronaldo has produced 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 for Manchester United, 101 for Juventus, five for Sporting CP and 26 for Al Nassr so far.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Turkish, Israeli energy ministers discuss bilateral cooperation over phone

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar held a phone call Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The two ministers spoke about “opportunities for bilateral and regional energy cooperation, including natural gas,” Bayraktar said on the social media platform X.

Meanwhile, Katz described his phone call with Bayraktar as “productive.”