Rabia Ali
10 July 2023•Update: 10 July 2023
ISTANBUL
Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday: a phone call between Turkish and US presidents, Russia's criticism of a US decision, a presidential election in Uzbekistan, and a migrant boat missing at sea.
TOP STORIES
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden have agreed to hold a one-on-one meeting at the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.
The two leaders spoke on the phone on Sunday and discussed various topics, including Sweden's bid to join NATO and the US sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye, said the Turkish Communications Directorate.
Erdogan said Stockholm took "correct steps" by passing anti-terror amendments, but that demonstrations by PKK terror group sympathizers negated it.
He also said it would be incorrect to associate Sweden's NATO accession with the sale of F-16 jets to Türkiye.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the US decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, saying it will prolong the war and disregard potential civilian casualties.
"By supplying cluster munitions, Washington will become complicit in the mining of the territory and will fully share responsibility for the victims of the explosions, including Russian and Ukrainian children," she said.
US President Joe Biden said last week that Washington will provide Ukraine with cluster bombs because Kyiv is running out of 155 mm artillery.
Millions of people in Uzbekistan voted early on Sunday in the presidential elections.
Incumbent Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Liberal Democratic Party is likely to emerge victorious and set to become the head of the state for the third time.
After 12 hours of voting in the Central Asian country on Sunday, officials began counting ballots under the supervision of observers from political parties.
The Central Election Commission expected to release preliminary results on Monday
More than 300 irregular migrants traveling in three boats have gone missing in the Atlantic Ocean, migrant aid group Walking Borders said on Sunday.
The boats left Senegal for Spain’s Canary Islands 15 days ago, according to Helena Maleno, the group’s spokeswoman.
She noted that the irregular migrants’ families are concerned about their well-being.
Last year, at least 559 irregular migrants died while trying to reach the Canary Islands, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
NEWS IN BRIEF
- At least eight people, including six children, were killed in Somalia when the modified auto-rickshaw they were traveling in, struck a landmine, said local officials.
- A new Chinese satellite lifted off on Sunday from the country's northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, local media reported. The experimental satellite will carry out a test mission on internet technology.
SPORTS
Yusuf Can Zeybek won the golden belt after beating Ismail Balaban in the final of the 662nd Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival on Sunday.
In the matches, oil wrestlers are lathered in olive oil before clashing on the grass, wearing leather pants tied with a rope at the waist and cuffs.
Zeybek, 29, got a whopping 1 million Turkish liras, or almost $40,000, in prize money after claiming victory.
Top seed Iga Swiatek beat Belinda Bencic to move to Wimbledon's quarterfinals on the seventh day of the championships.
The Polish world No. 1 won the game with sets of 6-7, 7-6, and 6-3 on Center Court on Sunday.
Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Marketa Vondrousova, and Mirra Andreeva advanced to the next stage after beating their opponents.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Zambia and Tanzania have agreed to enhance security on the 1,710-kilometer (1,062-mile) Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) oil pipeline jointly owned by the two countries amid vandalism concerns.
The pipeline was recently converted to transport refined diesel after operating for more than four decades as a conduit for commingled petroleum products.
The recent decision by Saudi Arabia and Russia to extend existing crude oil supply cuts did not have the expected effect on prices, but analysts said the limited increase in prices reflects demand-based worries by investors.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest exporter of crude oil, announced to extend production cuts of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) through August, leaving the door open for further extensions.
