Morning Briefing: June 26, 2023

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday, including the latest on the Greece general elections, a phone call between the US and Ukraine presidents, and the Israeli premier’s stance on West Bank settlements.

TOP STORIES

• Greece’s conservatives sweep repeat elections

The conservative New Democracy party led by former Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis won a landslide victory in a repeat election held on Sunday. So far, 80% of the votes have been counted.

In Greece’s second election in just five weeks, the New Democracy party won 40.48% votes, gaining an outright majority in the parliament to form a single-party government, according to the Interior Ministry.

Mitsotakis is set to become the prime minister for a four-year term.

• Biden, Zelenskyy forge stronger alliance, address support for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed a stronger alliance in a phone call.

They also discussed recent events in Russia, including the Wagner paramilitary group's recent armed rebellion against Moscow.

According to the White House, the two leaders discussed support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.

Biden “reaffirmed unwavering US support, including through continued security, economic and humanitarian aid,” it said in a statement.

• Israeli premier slams Ben-Gvir’s call for West Bank settlements outposts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday voiced opposition to calls by his far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for settlers to erect settlement outposts everywhere in the occupied West Bank.

Such calls "harm Israel’s vital interests and they must stop immediately," said Netanyahu as cited by The Jerusalem Post newspaper.

He, however, vowed to authorize settlement-building plans across the West Bank in response to Palestinian attacks against settlers.

Estimates indicate that about 700,000 Israeli settlers are living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the occupied West Bank.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in a phone call on Sunday discussed latest developments and Sweden's NATO membership.

• China called Wagner's decision to withdraw from Russia's southern military district Moscow's “internal affair,” according to a statement by its Foreign Ministry.

• More than 1.6 million Muslim pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia so far for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as delegations continue to reach the kingdom.

• At least 11 people were killed when gunmen burst into a billiard hall in northern Honduras and opened fire, local media reported on Sunday.

• Morocco said it had thwarted more than 25,000 attempts by irregular migrants to cross the Mediterranean into Europe this year.

• The Turkish Coast Guard on Sunday rescued 14 irregular migrants in the North Aegean Sea who were illegally pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities.

• Al-Shabaab, Somali based al-Qaeda affiliate group, beheaded five people in southeast Kenya as police say all victims of gruesome act were civilians and included students.

SPORTS

• Türkiye crowned 2023 CEV Men's Volleyball European Golden League champions

Türkiye became the 2023 CEV Men's Volleyball European Golden League champions after beating Ukraine 3-2 in the final on Sunday.

The Crescent Stars beat Ukraine with 14-25, 25-22, 26-24, 22-25, and 15-6 sets to clinch the trophy for the third time.

Kaan Gurbuz with 19 points, while Efe Bayram contributed with 15 points.

• Belgium defeat Spain 64-58 to become 2023 FIBA Women's EuroBasket champions

Belgium became the 2023 FIBA Women's EuroBasket champions after beating Spain 64-58 on Sunday.

The Red Devils clinched the EuroBasket trophy in their maiden competition final.

Belgium grabbed a historic victory with their effective 21-10 fourth-quarter display at Arena Stozice in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Emma Meesseman led her team to victory with 24 points and eight rebounds as Kyara Linskens contributed with 18 points.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

• Austrian housing market faces racist discrimination: Study

The Austrian housing market suffers from racist discrimination especially for people with Muslim backgrounds, a study commissioned by the Ombud for Equal Treatment (GAW) shows.

In early 2023, 157 advertisements in the major Austrian cities of Graz, Vienna, Innsbruck and Linz were responded to by two fake profiles, public broadcaster ORF reported citing the study.

The first profile "Muhammad Asif" received an appointment in only 50% of the cases.

The second profile with the fictitious name "Michael Gruber", who always called after "Asif", always received an appointment.