Global Courant 2023-05-19 11:14:38
ISTANBUL
All you need to start your Friday, including world leaders meeting in Japan to unite against Russia, China hosting Central Asian countries to strengthen ties, and Israel raiding Al-Aqsa Mosque as tensions escalate. Here is a summary of the news.
BEST STORIES
The world leaders of the elite club of rich countries that make up the G-7 gather in Hiroshima, Japan, to show a united front against Russia in the Ukraine war.
Countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany and Italy will also discuss China, its military presence in the region and the possibility of invading Taiwan.
The US will announce new sanctions on Russia, while the UK will ban the import of Russian diamonds. Eight more countries are participating this year.
While the G-7 leaders are meeting in Japan, China is hosting the Central Asian countries meeting, which aims to build alliances and gain 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 held in Xi’an, northwest China.
Trade, diplomatic relations and security concerns will be key agendas in meetings between China and post-Soviet countries.
Thousands of far-right Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem gathered for the annual “flag day” march on Thursday, and hundreds of them broke into the Masjid al-Aqsa compound.
A flag parade is held annually by Jewish settlers to commemorate the ‘unification of Jerusalem’, in reference to Israel’s 1967 occupation of the city.
Israeli soldiers intervened in the Palestinian protest with tear gas and live bullets, injuring two people, one of them a child. The Palestinian Authority condemned the march, calling it a provocation by the Israelis.
NEWS IN BRIEF
UNICEF has warned of a “children crisis” as nearly 16 million children go to bed hungry in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. About 2.3 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, said his war was not against the military. On Thursday, Khan chose not to appear before the anti-corruption agency as the government considered re-arresting him in a corruption case. At least two people were killed and one injured in a bombardment by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Belgorod region on Thursday. The Saudi city of Jeddah will host the 32nd summit of the Arab League on Friday, which the head of the Syrian regime will attend for the first time in 12 years. Turkish Coast Guard units rescued 166 irregular migrants on three separate occasions. About 102 migrants were rescued after they were ousted by Greek forces. Top leaders of Iran and Pakistan inaugurated a joint border market and an electricity transmission line on Thursday. The Mand-Pishin Border Supply Market is one of six planned border markets for the joint borders of the two neighboring countries. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to three years in prison after he lost his appeal against the corruption and influence-trafficking conviction in 2021. Elizabeth’s state funeral cost the government an estimated £162 million (about $200 million).
SPORTS
Nadal withdraws from French Open due to hip injury
Rafael Nadal announced that he was withdrawing from the 2023 French Open after he could not recover from a hip injury, adding that next year will be his last.
Nadal won the French Open last year to claim his 22nd Grand Slam singles title.
Sevilla will face Roma in the Europa League final.
Defeating Juventus 2-1 in extra time on Thursday, Sevilla will face Roma in the 2023 UEFA Europa League final.
Sevilla forward Suso gave a screech in the 71st minute to equalize the semi-final match.
The match, whose regular time ended 1-1, went into overtime. Argentine midfielder Erik Lamela’s header in the 95th minute carried Sevilla to the final in Budapest.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Russia aims to increase cargo turnover by 155% along the North-South corridor
Russia aims to increase its cargo turnover by 155% by 2030 along the North-South Transport Corridor, a 7,200-kilometer (4,473 mi) multimodal transport network.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, on the sidelines of the 14th International Economic Forum: Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2023, said that investments in the trade route ‘between friendly countries’ will increase the cargo turnover to 35 million tons by 2030.
UK rail workers to stage more strikes in June
An ongoing wage dispute with the government will lead a substantial workforce of 20,000 rail workers across the UK to launch new strikes in June.
The industrial action is expected to affect 14 train companies, causing additional travel disruptions in a significant part of the rail network.
Only a part of the news presented to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS) and a summary are available on the Anadolu Agency website. Please contact us for subscription options.
