Morning Briefing: May 26, 2023

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Friday, including negotiators inching toward a deal in the US debt ceiling crisis, Russia sees a probable peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and political crisis in Pakistan continues as Imran Khan moves top court against the military.

TOP STORIES

• Biden, McCarthy make headway on debt ceiling agreement

US President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday showed signs of advancing closer to a deal that would raise the $31.4 trillion debt limit and prevent an economic crisis set for June 1.

Biden told reporters that Congressmen understand that default puts them at risk and that "they've all agreed there will be no default."

The two parties have been negotiating for weeks to raise the government’s borrowing limit as Republicans have demanded cut on government spending and stricter regulations for aid beneficiaries.

• Russia optimistic about Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin seemed hopeful about a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and said that despite difficulties, the "situation is developing towards a settlement."

Putin met Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union Forum, hoping to end a decades-old dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

The Russian president emphasized in talks with the leaders that one of the areas that need work concerns transport communications.

• Pakistan's Imran Khan moves top court against military deployment

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan approached the top court on Thursday against the deployment of armed forces in parts of the country, requesting it to be termed unconstitutional.

Calling it "undeclared martial law," the former premier filed a petition and said arrests of his party leaders and workers was "unlawful."

Army was deployed in the country over violence after Khan's controversial arrest on May 9. Khan's brief detention, which was later declared illegal, had sparked protests by his supporters, and attacks on state and military installations.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• A man was arrested in London after a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street, the official residence and office of the UK’s prime minister, police said on Thursday. The incident is not being treated as terror-related.

• Türkiye is creating infrastructure for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. Houses for one million refugees are being built in Syria with the support of Qatar, he added.

• Around 20,000 officials from Spain’s Ministry of Justice marched in Madrid over a dispute related to salaries and working conditions, as they urged the government to resolve the issue.

• Greece’s caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas, who was appointed by the president after no party could form the government following the May 21 elections, took oath on Thursday. Sarmas will rule until the next government is formed after elections on June 25.

• Italy will be entitled to access European Union funds to finance part of the reconstruction in areas hit by the recent flood, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a visit to the affected areas.

• US Treasury sanctions the head of Russia's Wagner Group in Mali, and cited Kremlin's efforts to use West African nation for arms shipments to Russian forces in Ukraine as the reason.

• Three out of the four cubs born in March to one of the eight cheetahs relocated from Namibia to India have died.

SPORTS

• France’s 1st female Olympic president steps down

France's first female Olympic president, Brigitte Henriques, announced her resignation on Thursday, 14 months prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Henriques, 52, was a former football player on the French national team and had been serving as the president of the organizing committee since June 2021.

The Paris 2024 Games are set to be the largest sporting event ever organized in France.

• Manchester United to play in Champions League next season

Manchester United secured a place in the UEFA Champions League next season after beating Chelsea 4-1 in an English Premier League match Thursday.

Man Utd were on a 2-0 lead before the break as Casemiro and Anthony Martial scored for the Red Devils at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty kick in the 73rd minute to make it 3-0.

Man Utd's English star Marcus Rashford scored his team's fourth goal in the 78th minute before Chelsea's consolation goal netted by Joao Felix near the end of the match.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• South Korea, Japan resume energy dialogue after 6 years

South Korea and Japan held their first energy dialogue on Thursday after a six-year hiatus to discuss ways to strengthen ties on nuclear power generation, renewable energy and hydrogen, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

The two countries held discussions on net zero goals, and the use of carbon-free energy resources, including nuclear power and hydrogen.

• Türkiye's 1st unmanned helicopter introduced to Malaysian market

Turkish defense industry company Titra Technology has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Malaysia-based drone solutions provider Aerodyne Group for the introduction of Türkiye's first unmanned helicopter, Alpin, to the Malaysian market.

Titra participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aviation Fair (LIMA 2023), one of the largest defense fairs in the Asia-Pacific region.