Morning Briefing: July 8, 2023

TORONTO

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's meeting with Turkish President Erdogan, the Dutch president stepping down, International Court of Justice (ICJ) rejecting Armenia's request to modify a court order that reconfirmed Azerbaijan’s right to control its borders.

TOP STORIES

• Türkiye exerts 'most intense efforts’ to end Russia-Ukraine war, says Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early Saturday that Türkiye has made the "most intense efforts to end” the Russia-Ukraine war through talks "on the basis of international law.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv wants to implement his country’s peace plan and expressed that Türkiye is ready to assume leadership in this matter.

Zelenskyy visited Türkiye on Friday to discuss relations, regional and international issues, including the latest developments in the war, the Black Sea grain deal and ensuring peace and stability in the Black Sea region.

• Azerbaijan's border control rights upheld, ICJ rejects Armenia's appeal

Baku announced Friday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) unanimously rejected Armenia's request to modify a Feb. 22, 2023 court order that reconfirmed Azerbaijan’s right to control its borders.

Baku welcomed the Court’s ruling that reconfirmed Azerbaijan’s right to control its borders.

The court found Armenia’s request for the removal of the checkpoint was unfounded.

• Dutch premier steps down following collapse of coalition government

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced his resignation Friday after a four-party coalition government fell apart due to disagreements about migration policy.

The decision by the Netherlands’ longest-serving premier to step down came after the collapse of the ruling coalition which failed to reach an agreement about how to deal with asylum seekers entering the country.

The collapse ended the fourth term of Rutte's Cabinet which was inaugurated Jan. 10, 2022.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• A court in France rejected a request Friday to overturn a controversial burkini ban on beaches in Mandelieu-la-Napoule.

• Caribbean leaders criticized economic sanctions imposed by the US on Venezuela, according to media reports.

• US President Joe Biden said the US destroyed the final munition in its chemical weapons stockpile.

• Britain said it will provide 15 Rapid Intervention Vehicles and two Major Foam Vehicles to Ukraine ahead of the 500th day of the Russian war.

• Pakistan launches project to convert uncultivated land into cultivable land to overcome food insecurity.

• Moldova denounces an agreement on the Commonwealth of Independent States Interparliamentary Assembly.

• A manhunt is underway in Belgium after a former soldier posts death threats against the prime minister.

• Trump promises to bring back a Muslim travel ban “even bigger, much stronger than before,” if he is elected.

• A group of Democrat lawmakers denounced US President Joe Biden's decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine because it "undermines" Washington’s moral authority.

• Biden said sending cluster munitions to Ukraine for the first time was a “difficult decision” but he believes Kyiv needed them as it was running out of ammunition.

• The Paris Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation because of death threats to the police officer who killed a teen last month, and his lawyer, according to media reports.

• Biden and Erdogan will meet at the upcoming NATO summit in Lithuania, a US presidential advisor said.

SPORTS

• Tsitsipas sweeps Murray at Wimbledon

Stefanos Tsitsipas swept Andy Murray in the second round of the Wimbledon gentlemen's singles.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Russia's oil, gas revenues drop 47% in 1st half of 2023

Russia’s oil and gas revenues dropped 47% in the first half of 2023 compared with the previous year, official figures revealed.

• US stocks mixed after jobs report

American stocks were mixed after the release of jobs figures.