Morning Briefing: Aug. 15, 2023

By Emre Basaran

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including a grand jury's indictment of former US President Donald Trump, Algeria saying Denmark apologized for recent burnings of the Muslim holy book, and regional outrage at an announcement by Niger's military administration that the country's ousted leader will face trial.

TOP STORIES

• Georgia grand jury indicts Trump, 18 allies on election meddling charges

A Georgia grand jury returned a 41-count indictment late Monday against former President Donald Trump and 18 of his political allies on charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results

The indictments were handed up after the grand jury spent the day hearing testimony from witnesses, including ex-lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan, and evaluating evidence from prosecutors.

Trump has now been indicted four times across both state and federal courts since he left office.

• Algeria says Danish foreign minister apologizes for recent Quran burnings

Algeria said on Monday that Denmark's foreign minister apologized for a recent string of Quran burnings by far-right extremists in front of the diplomatic missions of several Muslim nations, including Algiers'.

During a phone call with his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf, Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed his regret over the burnings of the Muslim holy book in Copenhagen, according to a statement by Algeria's Foreign Ministry.

Offering his apologies for the acts, Rasmussen emphasized that they were unacceptable and entirely contrary to Denmark's tradition of tolerance, the statement added.

• West African bloc condemns Nigerien military's plan to prosecute ousted president, US 'dismayed'

Plans by Niger’s military administration to try ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" were met with condemnation from regional governments and “dismay” in Washington.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) condemned the move as "yet another form of provocation and contradicts the reported willingness of the military authorities in Niger to restore constitutional order through peaceful means."

The US, for its part, said it was "incredibly dismayed" by the reports.

NEWS IN BRIEF

- At least 41 people have died in multiple rain-related incidents in India's mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh over the past day, disaster officials said on Monday.

- Thailand announced on Monday its first death related to mpox, with officials saying the patient, diagnosed with mpox three weeks ago, had already been infected with HIV and syphilis.

- Britain's health secretary said on Monday that asylum seekers, who were moved from the Bibby Stockholm after traces of Legionella bacteria were found, should be put back on the floating barge.

- At least 10 suspects were arrested by security forces over Sunday’s attack on a popular shrine in Iran’s southern city of Shira, which killed 1 and injured 9 others.

- Türkiye's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Azerbaijan's legitimate concerns were not taken into account on the Lachin road, causing Baku to take "it deems appropriate within framework of its sovereign rights."

- A group of elephants have escaped from the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and killed two people before destroying crops, according to police.

- Google on Monday commemorated Türkiye’s first woman astronomer and mathematician Nuzhet Gokdogan with a special "Doodle" on its homepage on her 113th birthday anniversary.

SPORTS

• Al-Hilal to sign Neymar Jr., claims French sports daily

A French sports newspaper has claimed that Saudi side Al-Hilal will sign Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Brazilian star Neymar Jr. Neymar will join Al-Hilal for €80 million (about $87.4 million), the L'Equipe claimed on Monday, adding that the 31-year-old has already agreed on a two-year contract.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• US financial tech firm PayPal names new president, CEO

US-based multinational financial technology company PayPal announced Monday that its board of directors named a new president and CEO, Alex Chriss. Chriss currently serves on the executive leadership team of American business and financial software company Intuit and will start his new role and join the board on Sept. 27, PayPal said in a statement.