ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start Saturday, including the US sanctioning Russian media outlet RT for "covert activities" and "military procurement;" the UN refugee agency saying that one of its workers was killed by a sniper in the West Bank; Russia expelling 6 British diplomats on spying allegations and Boeing's workers going on strike after overwhelmingly rejecting a contract.
TOP STORIES
The US announced new sanctions on Russian state media outlet RT, accusing the network of conducting covert cyber intelligence and influence operations targeting countries across Europe, Africa, and North and South America.
“These Kremlin-backed media outlets are not only playing this covert influence role to undermine democracy in the United States, but also to meddle in the sovereign affairs of countries around the world,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters.
Blinken, citing new information from RT employees, claimed that the outlet possessed cyber capabilities and engaged in “covert information influence operations and military procurement.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said an employee was killed by a sniper in the northern West Bank.
“An UNRWA sanitation labourer in the northern West Bank was shot and killed on the roof of his home by a sniper yesterday,” the agency wrote on X.
Russia revoked the accreditations of six British diplomats in Moscow on spying allegations.
The Federal Security Service said it acquired documents confirming that the Directorate of Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the British foreign office made it its main task "to inflict strategic defeat" on Russia.
It said after the beginning of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine in 2022, the directorate was transformed "into a special service," working against Russia.
More than 30,000 employees from Boeing are set to strike, bringing most aircraft production to a halt after staff overwhelmingly rejected a new labor contract.
Workers in the US state of Oregon and the Seattle area in Washington voted 94.6% against a tentative agreement presented Sunday by the US aircraft maker and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, according to CNBC.
They also voted 96% in favor of a strike, significantly surpassing a two-thirds majority needed to initiate a work stoppage.
NEWS IN BRIEF
SPORTS
Galatasaray confirmed the signing of Hungary player Roland Sallai from Freiburg on a four-year deal.
"As part of the agreement, Sallai's former club will receive a transfer fee of €6 million ($6.6 million), paid in four installments over four seasons," Galatasaray said in a statement.
"The player has signed a four-season contract starting from the 2024-2025 season, with a net annual salary of €2.5 million ($2.7 million) for each football season," the Lions added.
Formula One heads to Baku for round 17 of the 2024 championship
The 2024 Formula One World Championship continues with its 17th round set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday.
The race will be held at the 6,003-kilometer (3,3730-mile) Baku City Circuit, featuring 51 laps.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull is currently leading the drivers' standings with 303 points.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
The US administration announced it is taking steps to target China-founded e-commerce platforms amid de minimis shipments.
"Over the last ten years, the number of shipments entering the United States claiming the de minimis exemption has increased significantly, from approximately 140 million a year to over one billion a year," the White House said in a statement.
"This exponential increase in de minimis shipments makes it more challenging to enforce U.S. trade laws, health and safety requirements, intellectual property rights, consumer protection rules, and to block illicit synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and synthetic drug raw materials and machinery from entering the country," it added.
The World Bank approved a grant of $6.39 million for a project to reduce pollution in the Black Sea.
A statement by the bank said that the Black Sea became one of the most polluted water bodies in Europe due to eutrophication, chemical pollution, invasive species, ineffective wastewater treatment, industrial hot spots and atmospheric deposition.
The project, Blueing the Black Sea Global Environment Facility Project (BBSEA GEF), will invest in pollution prevention and reduction, while going over the regulations of the countries concerned, which are Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine, whose governments and private sectors will be supported with the grant.
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