Morning Briefing: May 19, 2023

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday with, including, world leaders meeting in Japan to unite against Russia, China hosts Central Asian states to strengthen ties, and Israel storms Al-Aqsa Mosque as tensions mount.

TOP STORIES

World leaders of the exclusive club of wealthy countries that make up the G-7 are meeting in Hiroshima, Japan to show a united front against Russia in the Ukraine war.

The countries, Canada, UK, US, France, Germany, Italy will also be discussing China, its military presence in the region and prospects of it invading Taiwan.

The US will announce fresh sanctions on Russia, while the UK will ban imports of Russian diamonds. This year, eight other nations are also participating.

As G-7 leaders meet in Japan, China is hosting a meeting of Central Asian nations, aimed to form alliances and influence in the region.

President Xi Jinping is hosting the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as part of the China-Central Asia Summit being held in the Xi’an city in northwestern China.

Trade, diplomatic relations and security concerns will be the key agenda in meetings between China and the post-Soviet nations.

Thousands of far-right Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem gathered on Thursday for their annual “flag day” march, as hundreds forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The flag march is held every year by Jewish settlers to mark the ‘unification of Jerusalem’, in reference to Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967.

As Palestinians protested, Israeli soldiers intervened with tear gas and live bullets, wounding two including a child. The Palestinian Authority condemned the march, terming it a provocation by Israelis.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• With nearly 16 million children going to bed hungry in the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, UNICEF has warned of a “children’s crisis.” Around 2.3 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition.

• Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his fight is not against army. On Thursday, Khan chose not to appear before an anti-graft agency in a corruption case as the government mulls to re-arrest him.

• At least two people were killed and another was injured Thursday in shelling by Ukrainian forces of Russia’s Belgorod region.

• The Saudi city of Jeddah will host the Arab League’s 32nd summit on Friday, with the head of the Syrian regime attending for the first time in 12 years.

• Turkish Coast Guard units rescued 166 irregular migrants in three separate incidents. Some 102 migrants were rescued after being pushed away by Greek forces.

• Top leaders of Iran and Pakistan on Thursday inaugurated a joint border market and an electricity transmission line. The Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace is one of six border markets planned for the two neighboring countries’ shared boundaries.

• Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison after he lost his appeal against a 2021 corruption and influence peddling conviction.

• Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, which took place during a period of national mourning on Sept. 19, incurred an estimated cost of £162 million (nearly $200 million) to the government.

SPORTS

• Nadal withdraws from French open due to hip injury

Rafael Nadal has announced that he is withdrawing from the 2023 French Open after failing to recover from a hip injury, adding that next year will be his last year.

Nadal won the French Open last year to claim his 22nd Grand Slam singles title.

• Sevilla to face Roma in Europa League final

Sevilla beat Juventus 2-1 in extra time Thursday and will face Roma in the 2023 UEFA Europa League final.

Sevilla forward Suso scored a screamer to level the semifinal match in the 71st minute.

The match went to extra time after regular time ended 1-1. Argentine midfielder Erik Lamela’s header in the 95th minute took Sevilla to the final in Budapest.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Russia aims 155% increase in cargo turnover along North-South corridor

Russia aims to increase the cargo turnover by 155% by 2030 along the North-South Transport Corridor, a 7,200-kilometer (4,473-mile) multimode transportation network.

Investments in trade route ‘between friendly countries’ will increase cargo turnover to 35 million tons by 2030, says Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin on the sidelines of the 14th International Economic Forum: Russia- Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2023.

• UK railway workers to stage more strikes in June

An ongoing pay dispute with the government will lead to a substantial workforce of 20,000 railway workers across the UK to initiate further strikes in June.

The industrial action is expected to impact 14 train companies, resulting in additional travel disruptions across a significant portion of the rail network.

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