By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL (AA) – Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including a deadly wedding inferno in Iraq, former US President Donald Trump found liable for fraud in a civil case, Türkiye demanding opening of Zangezur corridor, and Israeli minister's first ever public visit to Saudi Arabia.
TOP STORIES
- At least 100 killed in Iraq wedding inferno
A fire engulfed a wedding party in Iraq's northern Nineveh province Tuesday night, killing at least 100 people, local authorities said on Wednesday.
Another 500 people were injured in the fire that broke out at a wedding hall, local media reported, citing Ahmed Hamdani, deputy director of the Mosul Health Department.
There were 800 people at the wedding hall when the fire broke out, according to reports.
The Iraqi News Agency said the fire was caused by fireworks, candles, and other materials used during the event.
- Donald Trump found liable for fraud in civil case
Former US President Donald Trump and his company committed repeated acts of fraud for years, a New York judge ruled Tuesday in a civil lawsuit.
New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump and his company deceived banks by submitting “fraudulent valuations” for assets.
These assets were then used by himself, his eldest sons, and his business to secure better loan and insurance terms.
The judge immediately canceled all of Trump and his co-defendants' business certificates in New York.
- Türkiye wants opening of Zangezur corridor 'as soon as possible’, says President Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday stressed the importance of opening the Zangezur corridor land route in the southern Caucasus.
"Hopefully, we will realize the Zangezur corridor as soon as possible and make our road and rail communication with friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan uninterrupted through Nakhchivan," the president said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
The remarks came a day after his visit to Azerbaijan's autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, where he met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.
- Israeli minister makes 1st-ever public visit to Saudi Arabia
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to attend a UN tourism event, marking the first public visit by a minister from Tel Aviv to the kingdom.
"I will work to advance cooperation, tourism and the foreign relations of Israel," the Times of Israel quoted Katz as saying.
The Saudi authorities have yet to comment on the Israeli minister's visit.
Recent months have seen US efforts to strike a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit Türkiye in October or November, President Erdogan told reporters late Monday on the presidential plane after his return from Azerbaijan's autonomous Nakhchivan exclave.
- The US has to get prior approval from Azerbaijan to send a mission to the Karabakh region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday at a news conference in Moscow, adding that "any mission (on Karabakh's territory) may exist only with the consent of the Azerbaijani side."
- North Korea's UN envoy Kim Song in his address to the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday described 2023 as "extremely dangerous" and blamed it squarely on the US and its partners.
- A speaker who had invited a former Nazi SS veteran to attend a session of the Canadian parliament resigned Tuesday under pressure from the government and opposition members.
- Following last month's coup in Gabon, the US suspended certain foreign assistance programs on Tuesday to "evaluate the unconstitutional intervention by members of the country's military," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
- UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday voiced strong criticism of the UN refugee treaty, calling it "absurd and unsustainable."
- The Turkish Coast Guard rescued more than 100 irregular migrants on Tuesday after Greek authorities illegally pushed them back into Turkish territorial waters.
- France will assess the operation of its embassy in Niger once Ambassador Sylvain Itte returns, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
- Brazil's Amazon rainforest is suffering from severe drought, prompting authorities to issue a warning about the potential impact on nearly 500,000 people by the end of the year.
SPORTS
- Manchester United advances in English League Cup
Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 3-0 to qualify for the fourth round in the English League Cup on Tuesday.
Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho and Brazilian midfielder Casemiro scored first-half goals for Man Utd at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's French forward Anthony Martial added one goal in the 55th minute.
- Galatasaray secures narrow win against Istanbulspor
Galatasaray secured a narrow 1-0 win against Istanbulspor in a Trendyol Super Lig match on Tuesday as Argentine forward Mauro Icardi scored the winner.
The Lions' Icardi took a shot in the area to send the ball to the bottom corner in the 42nd minute at Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
Galatasaray tops the Super Lig table with 16 points in six matches.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- UK economy faces stagnation, warns rating agency
S&P Global Ratings painted a sobering picture of British economic trajectory Tuesday in its latest UK economic outlook report.
It suggested that economic growth in the UK will continue to be lackluster, bordering on stagnation, well into 2024 which is primarily attributed to the lingering effects of high inflation and increasingly restrictive monetary policy rates as inflation gradually subsides.
- Geopolitics biggest business issue between US, China: Report
Geopolitics is the single biggest issue weighing down business sentiment in US-China relations in the long term, according to a report by the US-China Business Council (USCBC).
The report said long-standing domestic policy issues in China are having an effect on American companies’ competitiveness.
Also, the firms that conduct business in China continue to encounter systemic challenges around market access and barriers to investment, uneven regulatory enforcement, and rising compliance requirements, especially data security and privacy.