June 2, 2023

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, June 2nd. *) Deadly protests rock Senegal as court sentences opposition’s Sonko to jail Nine people have been killed in Senegal in clashes between riot police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after a court sentenced him to two years in jail. The government said that the deaths occurred after protests broke out in parts of the capital Dakar and other cities. The court ruling cast serious doubt on the opposition leader’s chances of running for president next year. *) US averts first-ever default as Congress passes debt deal Fending off a US default, the Senate has given final approval to a ceiling and budget cuts package, and sent it to President Joe Biden for signing it into law before the fast-approaching deadline. The upper chamber of Congress late on Thursday rubber-stamped a bill passed a day earlier by the House of Representatives to extend the country’s borrowing authority through 2024. The compromise package negotiated between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy leaves neither Republicans nor Democrats fully pleased with the outcome. *) US imposes sanctions in Sudan as warring sides fail to abide by ceasefire The United States has announced that it will levy sanctions against key defence companies and people “perpetuating the violence” in Sudan as warring sides fail to abide by a ceasefire agreement. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the measures are intended to hold accountable those responsible for undermining the peace, security and stability of Sudan. Sullivan further said the ongoing fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group is a tragedy that has already stolen far too many lives, and that it must end. *) Türkiye: Sweden must fulfil commitments against terrorism for NATO bid Türkiye has called on Sweden to fulfil its commitments regarding the fight against terrorism in order to start the ratification of the Nordic country’s accession to NATO. Turkish Foreign Minis