Morning Briefing: July 22, 2023

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

TORONTO (AA) — Here's a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday with, including a call for the Israeli government to postpone its planned judicial overhaul, continuing tensions after the latest Quran burning in Sweden, and US President Joe Biden nominating Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the US Navy.

TOP STORIES

• Israeli defense chief calls for delay on judicial reform bill

Israel's defense minister has called for a vote on a controversial judicial reform bill in parliament to be postponed.

After months of political turmoil, Yoav Gallant urged the government to delay the vote on the draft law, expressing worry over the situation in the country.

Meanwhile, thousands of reservists have vowed to suspend their voluntary military service in protest of the proposed bill.

Opposing the planned overhaul, pilots, submarine officers, and other elite units have said they would refuse to continue volunteering if it meant serving a "dictatorial" government.

• Iran vows not to accept next Swedish envoy

Iran said it would not accept Sweden's next ambassador to Tehran or send its own envoy to Stockholm after the most recent Quran burning in the Nordic country.

"Upon the conclusion of the Swedish envoy's tenure in Tehran, we will refrain from receiving his successor until there is a decisive action from the Swedish government against the offender who disrespected the Quran," Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in an interview.

In an earlier announcement, Amirabdollahian said Iran would not be sending an ambassador of its own to Stockholm.

• Biden taps female admiral to lead US Navy in historic first

US President Joe Biden nominated Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy in what could mark the historic elevation of a woman to lead the US Navy and join the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Franchetti's nomination requires approval in the US Senate where Sen. Tommy Tuberville continues to hold up hundreds of military nominees in protest of a Pentagon policy that pays for service members and their dependents to travel to receive reproductive health care, including abortions, in states where it is available.

Franchetti has served in the military for nearly four decades, most recently as vice chief of naval operations.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• A massive explosion that ripped apart a busy road in South Africa's biggest city of Johannesburg on Wednesday was caused by a gas leak, an official confirmed.
• Former US President Donald Trump said he would require the death penalty for "anyone caught trafficking children across our border" if he is elected back to the White House next year.
• Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil paid an official visit to Türkiye, meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, who voiced Ankara's opposition to unilateral sanctions on the Latin American country.
• While heavy rainfall and storms continue batter northern Italy, high temperatures persist in the country's central and southern areas.
• The UAE summoned the Swedish charge d'affaires in Abu Dhabi to protest recent decisions permitting burnings of the Muslim holy book in the Nordic country.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US looks to Türkiye to play a "leadership role" in restoring the Black Sea grain deal following Russia's withdrawal.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the extension of the Black Sea grain deal over phone.

SPORTS

• Olympique Marseille announce signing of Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moved to Olympique Marseille on a free transfer.

The duration and financial details of the deal, however, were not disclosed.

• Türkiye begins countdown to 4th International Presidential Yacht Races

The International Presidential Yacht Races, one of the most prestigious sea sports organizations in Türkiye, will be run between July 25-30 under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye.

ECONOMY AND BUSINESS

• All eyes on Türkiye as olive, olive oil production in Europe threatened by drought

While olive and olive oil output in Europe, especially in Spain, is in crisis due to the drought, Türkiye aims to boost its market share by establishing new production and export strategies.

Close to achieving a $1 billion record in olive oil exports, Türkiye is focused on value-added production and sales, data compiled by Anadolu suggested.