*) Israel presents Rafah invasion plan to War Cabinet amid fears of civilian casualties Israel's military has proposed a plan for the invasion of Gaza's Rafah city, aligning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion of the necessity of a ground invasion in Rafah for what he calls a "total victory." Concerns persist about potential civilian casualties in Rafah, where 1.4 million forcibly displaced Palestinians are concentrated. The city is also a crucial entry point for aid brought in through neighbouring Egypt as the enclave faces famine. Talks in Doha involving Egyptian, Qatari, and US representatives, along with Israeli and Hamas officials, aim to secure a truce before the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. *) Jordan warns of conflict spread in region due to Israel's Gaza war Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has cautioned against the continuation of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza during Ramadan, stating that it poses a risk of escalating the conflict in the region. Speaking at a press conference in Amman with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel, Safadi emphasised the potential for an explosive situation if the aggression persists during the Muslim fasting month. He urged a halt to the ongoing war, expressing concerns about the increasing risks and casualties associated with the prolonged conflict. *) Israeli vows continued attacks on Hezbollah despite Gaza Ceasefire Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has pledged to intensify strikes against Lebanon's Hezbollah, even if a ceasefire is achieved with Hamas in Gaza. While Hezbollah indicated a willingness to cease daily attacks on Israel with a Gaza ceasefire, Gallant dismissed the idea that the temporary truce would extend to the northern front. Emphasising an independent approach, he affirmed the goal of pushing Hezbollah away from the Israeli border, either through diplomatic means or by force. *) Demonstrations across Spain call for arms embargo on Israel Hundreds of thousands rally across Spain, denouncing Israel's actions in solidarity with Palestine. Protesters demand an immediate arms trade halt with Israel, led by Podemos leader Ione Belarra, who plans to present a parliamentary motion for an arms embargo, questioning the government's sincerity in its support for Palestine. *) Algeria unveils Africa's largest mosque with world's tallest minaret Algeria unveiled Africa's largest mosque on its Mediterranean coast, overcoming political delays and cost overruns. Constructed by a Chinese firm, the Great Mosque of Algiers boasts the world's tallest minaret at 869 feet. The third-largest mosque globally and the largest outside Islam's holiest cities, it can accommodate 120,000 worshippers with modernist features honouring Algerian tradition.

*) Gaza in ‘extreme peril’ as NGOs call on Israel to execute humanitarian law The leaders of a number of UN agencies and humanitarian organisations urged Israel to provide food and medical supplies to Gaza, warning that civilians there are in “extreme peril.” The Inter-Agency Standing Committee, the highest-level humanitarian coordination forum of the UN system, called on Israel to fulfil its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law. The health system continues to be “systematically degraded with catastrophic consequences,” it said. *) Netanyahu proposes Gaza’s demilitarisation, UNRWA’s exit in post-war plan Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled a written plan aimed at demilitarising and reconstruction of Gaza. Netanyahu’s so-called “Post-Hamas Plan” was unveiled to his political and security cabinet in the dead of Thursday night, as reported by Israeli media. At the heart of the proposal lies a pivotal strategy: the establishment of a civilian entity tasked with overseeing Gaza’s demilitarisation while safeguarding the Israeli army’s operational autonomy in the blockaded enclave. *) Over 95 percent of Sudan’s population cannot afford a meal per day: WFP Ten months into the war has sent Sudan to the “verge of collapse,” with the vast majority of its people going hungry, the UN’s World Food Programme said. Eddie Rowe, the WFP’s Sudan country director, told reporters in Brussels that “at this point, less than five percent of Sudanese can afford a square meal a day.” Since last April, Sudan has been gripped by fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has killed thousands and created what the UN calls “the world’s largest displacement crisis.” *) US to sanction over 500 targets involved in Russia’s ‘war machine’ The US has planned to impose sanctions on more than 500 targets involved in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. The action to be rolled out on Friday will hit “Russia, its enablers and its war machine,” a Treasury spokesperson said. The official added that the sanctions will be imposed by both the Treasury and State Department. And finally… *) US achieves first Moon landing in 50 years with private spacecraft A private lander has touched down on the Moon but managed just a weak signal back, as flight controllers scrambled to gain better contact with the first US spacecraft to reach the lunar surface in more than 50 years. Despite the spotty communication, Intuitive Machines, the company that built and managed the craft, confirmed that it had landed. There was no immediate word from the company on the condition — or even the exact location — of the lander.

*) Israel’s war could kill nearly 86,000 more Palestinians in Gaza — study At least 85,750 more Palestinians could die from physical trauma and disease if Israel’s ongoing war against besieged Gaza further escalates in the next six months, according to a joint US-UK study. “The Crisis in Gaza: Scenario-Based Health Impact Projections”, a joint project from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Humanitarian Health tracks multiple scenarios, including a worst-case possibility in which the hostilities in Gaza raise the number of casualties to more than 115,000 Palestinians. *) LA protesters welcome Biden with ‘genocide supporter’ chants A group of pro-Palestine demonstrators welcomed US President Joe Biden to America’s second most populous city with chants ridiculing his hitherto unwavering support for Israel’s ongoing carnage in besieged Gaza. “Genocide supporter!” protesters yelled as Biden’s motorcade pulled up to the Culver City Julian Dixon Library in Los Angeles, where he delivered remarks touting his efforts to reduce US student debt. Protesters sought to interrupt the president as he concluded his remarks, but their words were not immediately discernible amid applause from the crowd. *) NZ mosque attacker radicalised ‘earlier than thought’, new research reveals Researchers have theorised that the white supremacist who murdered 51 people in the 2019 New Zealand mosque shootings was radicalised “earlier than previously thought,” based on violent posts written years before the atrocity. Brenton Tarrant had shot and killed 51 Muslim worshippers across two Christchurch mosques in March 2019, carrying out New Zealand’s deadliest modern-day mass shooting. New Zealand researchers have been pouring through Tarrant’s posts on notorious online message boards to understand what sparked the atrocity — and if it could have been prevented. *) Ukraine humanitarian appeal only 10% funded for 2024 — UN envoy The UN’s humanitarian appeal to meet needs in Ukraine is only 10 percent funded for 2024, out of $3.1 billion needed, according to the country’s resident coordinator. Denise Brown, the UN’s top representative in Ukraine, said an estimated 8.5 million Ukrainians living in dire conditions near combat zones risk going without basic humanitarian deliveries, including food and water. *) Türkiye’s first fighter jet KAAN conducts its maiden test flight Türkiye’s first domestic fighter jet KAAN, designed and manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries, has successfully conducted its maiden test flight. Temel Kotil, the head of Turkish Aerospace Industries, said on X that KAAN stayed in the air for 13 minutes and reached a speed of 230 knots at an altitude of 8,000 feet during the flight. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye has left behind another critical stage to produce its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

*) Gaza's Nasser Hospital ‘has become a place of death’ — UN An official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, expressed concern over the state of the Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis in the south of besieged Gaza. Jonathan Whittall, senior humanitarian affairs officer at OCHA in the occupied Palestinian territory, said: “The conditions are appalling. There are dead bodies in the corridors. Patients are in a desperate situation.” He also added that the hospital “has become a place of death, not a place of healing.” *) UN official says ‘there needs to be an explanation on how the veto is used’ Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the five countries that hold the veto power at the UN Security Council “have a great amount of responsibility, and there needs to be an explanation on how the veto is used.” The spokesperson’s comments came after the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on a humanitarian ceasefire in besieged Gaza for the third time. *) Russia rejects US claims of nuclear space threat Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space and that his country has only developed space capabilities similar to those of the US. Putin’s statement followed the White House confirmation last week that Russia obtained a “troubling” anti-satellite weapon capability, although such a weapon is not operational yet. *) Pakistan parties reach power-sharing agreement, Khan loyalists left out Two Pakistan parties have reached a power-sharing agreement that will return Shehbaz Sharif to the premiership, leaving out politicians loyal to jailed former leader Imran Khan despite winning the most seats in this month’s vote. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party said they had settled days of negotiations on securing a majority to form a coalition government that will also include several smaller parties. Under the deal, the PML-N and PPP will put forward former leader Sharif as prime minister and Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, as president. And finally… *) Eagles’ iconic ‘Hotel California’ lyrics at centre of rare manuscript trial In the mid-1970s, the Eagles were working on a spooky, cryptic new song. On a lined yellow pad, Don Henley, with input from band co-founder Glenn Frey, jotted thoughts about “a dark desert highway” and “a lovely place” with a luxurious surface and ominous undertones. The song, “Hotel California”, became one of rock’s most indelible singles. And nearly a half-century later, those handwritten pages of lyrics-in-the-making have become the centre of an unusual criminal trial set to open on Wednesday.

*) Arab Group calls on UNSC to take action on besieged Gaza The Arab Group in New York has urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action on besieged Gaza. It said in a statement that “regrettably, the UN Security Council remains inert, unable to denounce the daily atrocities perpetrated by the occupying authorities.” The group, which is a coalition of Arab states promoting common interests at the UN, called on the Security Council to take immediate action. *) Israel declares Brazil’s Lula ‘persona non grata’ as Gaza row escalates Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s comparison of Israel’s war in besieged Gaza to the Holocaust has unleashed a diplomatic firestorm. Israel declared Lula “persona non grata” and Brazil recalled its ambassador in Tel Aviv. The row erupted the day before when Lula said the ongoing war on the blockaded enclave “isn’t a war, it’s a genocide,” and compared it to “when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.” *) Ukraine faces ‘extremely difficult’ frontline battles: Zelenskyy Ukrainian troops, reeling from losing a key town, now faced “extremely difficult” conditions all along the frontline with Russia because of delayed foreign aid, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian military said it was critically short of ammunition and shells, worsened by the holdup of a $60 billion US aid package. After visiting frontline troops in the Kharkiv region, Zelenskyy said the situation was extremely difficult in several parts of the frontline, where “Russian troops have concentrated maximum reserves.” *) Julian Assange begins last-ditch effort to block US extradition WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange began what could be his last chance to stop his extradition from Britain to the United States. Assange has been battling the authorities in British courts for more than 13 years. US prosecutors seek to put Assange on trial on 18 counts relating to WikiLeaks’ high-profile release of vast troves of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. And finally… *) India’s centuries-old heritage hit by Delhi ‘development’ demolitions For nine centuries, Indians prayed at the forest shrine of Baba Haji Rozbih, a revered Sufi master whose grave is one of the capital Delhi’s oldest Muslim sites. Then, in early February, the Delhi Development Authority reduced the site to rubble, the latest victim of a “demolition programme” it says has cleared “illegal religious structures” including a mosque, tombs, shrines and Hindu temples. The demolitions come at a sensitive time, as Hindu nationalists have been emboldened to claim ancient Muslim monuments for the country’s majority faith.

*) Israel insists on attacking Gaza to ‘impose displacement’ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel insists on continuing its attacks on Gaza to “impose displacement,” especially on the city of Rafah. In a meeting of the Palestinian government held in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, Abbas said the Israeli government and its army are continuing their attacks on various cities in Gaza, especially Rafah, with the aim of forcibly displacing citizens. He added that the situation in Rafah has become “extremely dangerous and difficult.” *) Israel to restrict Palestinian access to Al Aqsa Mosque in Ramadan Israel approved restricting the entry of Palestinians living in Israel and Jerusalem to the Al Aqsa Mosque during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, beginning in the second week of next month, local media claimed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave his approval to the recommendations of far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir. Netanyahu gave the approval despite the country’s security agency warning that restrictions on Palestinians’ access to the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan could add fuel to the fire. *) US strikes Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen: Military US forces in the Red Sea conducted “five self-defence strikes” to foil attacks by land and sea from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, US Central Command said. It said it struck three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel and one unmanned surface vessel. Central Command said it had determined the missiles and vessels presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant ships in the area. *) Militia kills 15 in eastern DRC: local sources Militia fighters killed 15 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s troubled Ituri province, local sources said. This was the second such attack in less than a week. The sources said the CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) militia, which claims to defend the interests of the Lendu group, again targeted victims from the rival Hema tribe. And finally… *) Türkiye celebrates anniversary of joining NATO alliance The Turkish National Defence Ministry commemorated Türkiye’s 72nd anniversary of joining NATO. The commemoration underscored the nation’s steadfast commitment to its obligations and responsibilities within the alliance. A ministry posted on X said that “as the second-largest military force within the Alliance, Türkiye proudly occupies a pivotal position at its core.”

*) Israeli attacks in Gaza fuel 'catastrophic' medicine shortage The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has issued a warning this week regarding a scarcity of medicines and medical supplies. They highlight the inability to provide over 60 percent of essential primary healthcare drugs. Approximately 350,000 individuals in Gaza with chronic illnesses lack access to medication, raising concerns about severe health complications. In Rafah, more than half of Gaza's population, roughly 1.4 million Palestinians, endure harsh living conditions and are exposed to disease, states the United Nations. The Health Ministry emphasises the heightened risk of respiratory, skin, and infectious diseases due to overcrowding and cold weather, particularly hepatitis A. *) Prabowo leads Indonesia presidential race by a wide margin Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto is leading the country's presidential election by a significant margin, according to results from the election commission released on Friday. With 50 percent of the votes counted, the 72-year-old former general is poised to succeed the current popular leader, Joko Widodo. While the official outcome is anticipated in late March, early indications suggest Prabowo is set to win decisively. Currently, he holds 56.89 percent of the votes, more than double that of his closest competitor, ensuring a first-round majority, as per the election commission's website. *) South Africa says Israel not complying with world court's interim ruling As Israel prepares for a possible ground offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, South Africa has accused it of disregarding previous orders from the UN's top court to prevent genocide in Palestine. South Africa's Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, expressed horror at the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, particularly in Rafah on the Egyptian border. She stated that Israel's actions support their allegations of ongoing genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories, as presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). *) US warns Russia to 'stay out of our elections' after Putin remark The US issued a stern warning to Russia, instructing them to refrain from interfering in American elections, in response to President Putin's recent comments seemingly favouring President Biden's re-election. During a press briefing, White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby emphasised the administration's efforts to counter Russia's negative influence globally and within Ukraine. Kirby reiterated the US's readiness to push back against Russian actions, particularly in Ukraine, and urged Putin to respect American elections. And finally… *) Nepal pursues sacred statues of Hindu deities once smuggled abroad Several sacred statues of Hindu deities, previously stolen and smuggled abroad, are now being repatriated to Nepal as part of a global initiative to return such artefacts to their countries of origin. Last month, the United States returned four idols and masks of Hindu gods, including a 16th-century statue of Uma-Maheswora, an incarnation of Shiva and Parvati, stolen four decades ago. Devotees in Patan, near Kathmandu, joyously welcomed the return of these artefacts, with crowded alleys witnessing offerings of money and flowers. Traditional drummers and chanters in customary attire marked the occasion with celebratory prayers.

*) Israel attacks Nasser Hospital in Gaza At least one person was killed, and many others were wounded in an attack by Israeli forces on the Nasser Hospital in besieged Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis. The attack was carried out in the hospital’s orthopaedics section, according to a WAFA report. The Palestinian news agency said the hospital has been under a blockade by Israeli forces for the last 25 days. *) UN seeks immediate action to end ‘dangerous escalatory cycle’ in Yemen The UN’s special envoy for Yemen has called for immediate action to end the “dangerous escalatory cycle” in the war-stricken country. Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy, said he was engaging the Yemeni parties and relevant regional actors to support de-escalation in the Red Sea “to protect the mediation space in Yemen.” The UN envoy called for all regional parties to refrain from “military opportunism” and for progress towards a mediated agreement to be protected. *) Putin says he regrets not starting ‘operation’ in Ukraine sooner Russian President Vladimir Putin said the only thing he regrets is that the “special military operation” in Ukraine did not start earlier. Commenting on Western reactions to his interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson in a televised show, Putin said it was good that Western politicians watched the interview, but it was unfortunate that his words were being twisted. *) MIT suspends students over protests against Israel’s attacks on Gaza The president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology has suspended a student group that held demonstrations against the Israeli military’s possible ground invasion of Gaza’s Rafah. In a video statement, Sally Kornbluth said the group, Coalition Against Apartheid or CAA, held a demonstration without going through the university’s permission process required of all groups. *) Storms batter eastern Australia, knock out power to 174,000 homes Storms packing powerful winds have toppled trees, killed one person and knocked out power from 174,000 homes and businesses in eastern Australia. The wild weather hit large swathes of Victoria on Tuesday, dumping torrents of rain and unleashing gusts of more than 150 kilometres per hour, according to the state government and emergency services. The Australian Energy Market Operator said in an update that, at its peak, 530,000 homes and businesses lost power, and about 174,000 were still cut off on Wednesday afternoon.

*) South Africa requests ICJ to take action against Israel’s Rafah offensive South Africa has urged the UN top court to assess Israel's plan to extend the Gaza offensive into Rafah for potential emergency measures, citing grave concerns about large-scale harm to Palestinians. In January, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent a genocide and help Palestinian civilians in Gaza, in a case initiated by South Africa. The court has yet to give a final ruling on the issue, but the far-right Benjamin Netanyahu administration stresses that it will continue with the Rafah invasion. *) UNRWA faces shutdown due to lack of funds in Gaza The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, has warned of an imminent closure in besieged Gaza if funding decisions aren't reversed within weeks. Director Marta Lorenzo stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid amid hunger and disease, citing the International Court of Justice's call for immediate action. She lamented UNRWA's limited time before operations cease, emphasising the potential exacerbation of humanitarian suffering. *) CIA, Mossad chiefs, Qatar PM meet Egyptians on Gaza truce US CIA Director William Burns, Israel's Mossad Chief David Barnea and Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met in Cairo to discuss a Gaza truce with Egyptian officials. The quartet meeting responds to mounting international pressure against Israel's Gaza onslaught while Israeli intelligence assesses Hamas's response to a proposed deal amid its ongoing war that has claimed over 28,000 lives in Gaza. *) US House leader rejects Ukraine aid bill despite Biden's plea US House Speaker Mike Johnson threw a wrench into vital support for Ukraine, blocking a vote on the $95 billion aid package already approved by the Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he has no intention even of allowing a vote on the bill. The move ignores President Joe Biden's calls and raises international concerns about the US's commitment to Kiev facing Russia's aggression. And finally… *) UN: Distressing to see nations prioritising weapons over food, climate UN Chief Antonio Guterres has criticised governments prioritising arms over global issues like the climate crisis and hunger and urges UN action to address the deadly nexus threatening international peace. Climate chief Simon Stiell underscores the devastating links, emphasising the need for enhanced action.

*) UNGA president warns another phase of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza ‘is at our doorstep’ The president of the UN General Assembly expressed grave concern over Israel’s assault on the city of Rafah in the southern besieged Gaza. Dennis Francis said on X that he was “deeply distressed by the escalating military operation into Rafah,” where over a million civilians were already sheltering in the most dire conditions. Francis said “another phase of this humanitarian catastrophe” was “at our doorstep” and that this was “not a path to sustainable peace.” *) Egypt hits back at Israeli minister Smotrich’s ‘disgraceful’ remarks The diplomatic tensions between Egypt and Israel escalated following controversial remarks made by Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Egypt’s foreign ministry condemned as “disgraceful” and “irresponsible” comments by Smotrich who claimed Cairo has “considerable responsibility” for Hamas’s October 7 attack. In a statement, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said, “Egypt fully controls its territory, and does not allow any party to involve Egypt’s name in failed attempts to justify its own shortcomings.” *) Kremlin, Musk deny Russian army using Starlink Both the Kremlin and Elon Musk rejected Ukraine’s claims that Russian troops fighting on the frontline were using Starlink internet terminals. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Starlink could not be “officially supplied” in Russia and thus “it cannot be officially used here in any way.” Musk also rejected Kiev’s claims, saying his “companies have probably done more to undermine Russia than anything.” *) Qatar frees eight ex-Indian officers after dropping death sentences Qatar released eight Indian ex-naval officers after dropping their death sentences, India’s foreign ministry said. The men were charged with spying for Israel, according to sources, though India and Qatar did not confirm the charges. Their death sentence, handed down in October, was dropped in December. The Indian foreign ministry credited the Qatari emir for the decision more than 18 months after their arrest challenged diplomatic ties between the two countries. And finally… *) Biden joining TikTok causes stir over national security concerns US President Joe Biden’s debut on TikTok has caused a stir — not least because the Chinese-owned social media platform is still officially considered a security risk by Washington. Republicans criticised Biden for using an app that is banned on US federal government devices over fears it harvests data for Beijing. Even the White House admitted it still had concerns about TikTok.

*) More than 100 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah A series of Israeli air strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah has killed at least 100 Palestinians, according to health officials in the besieged enclave. The strikes hit over a dozen houses and several mosques in different parts of Rafah, authorities said. TRT World correspondent Mohammad al Kassim reported that at least 40 air strikes hit several locations in Rafah and that Israeli naval and artillery shelling took part in the violent attacks on early Monday. *) Trump’s remarks put allies at risk: NATO The head of NATO has warned that Donald Trump was putting the safety of US troops and their allies at risk. The Republican presidential front-runner said Russia should be able to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO members who don’t meet their defence spending targets. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said “any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US.” *) Death toll in Senegal protests over delayed election rises to three The death toll amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of the presidential election until December has climbed to three. The announcement of the delay just three weeks ahead of the planned February 25 vote triggered violent clashes between protesters and police in Dakar and several other cities. President Macky Sall said the delay is necessary because electoral disputes threatened the credibility of the poll, but some opposition lawmakers have denounced the move as an “institutional coup.” *) Khan-backed independents dominate parliament in Pakistan ballot: commission Pakistan’s national election vote count concluded with independents, mostly backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, winning 101 of the 264 seats, the election commission’s website showed. The final tally was released more than 60 hours after voting ended on February 8 national elections, a delay that has raised questions about the process. The independents came in ahead of the party of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, which won 75 seats, making it the largest single party in parliament as Khan’s independents ran as individuals. *) Scholar fired for criticising Israel slams German academic censorship Ghassan Hage, an internationally renowned scholar, has slammed German academic institutions for suppressing criticism of Israel, after he was abruptly fired over allegations of anti-Semitic social media posts. He said: “What to me is a fair, intellectual critique of Israel, for them is antisemitism.” The scholar said he finds “Germany’s pseudo philosemitism self-serving, and at times racist, instrumentalised to racialise the Palestinian and more generally the Arab and Muslim community in Germany.”

1) UN human rights chief says destruction in Gaza is a 'grave breach' of Geneva Convention The UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza is a violation of the Geneva Convention and a war crime. "Extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly, amounts to a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and a war crime," he said. 2) Pakistan awaits election result as vote count continues Polls closed Thursday evening in Pakistan's pivotal general elections, with counting now in progress. Pakistan’s chief election commissioner said that the results of national and provincial elections are being compiled and will be announced as soon as possible. Contrary to predictions, national broadcasters reported that the PTI-backed candidates are ahead on dozens of seats nationwide. 3) Kremlin says Xi and Putin accuse US of 'interfering' in Russia and China's affairs. The Kremlin said Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have accused the United States of "interfering" in their countries' affairs. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Xi and Putin denounced the "US policy of interfering in the internal affairs of other states" during an hour-long telephone call. He said, "The leaders of the two countries realise that the US is practically implementing a policy of double containment, (toward) both Russia and China". 4) Biden calls Israel's Gaza war 'over the top' US President Joe Biden said Israel's military response to the October 7 attacks has been "over the top." Speaking at the White House, Biden said "I'm of the view…that the conduct of the response in Gaza has been over the top." "I've been pushing really hard, really hard to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza," he added. 5) Protesters utilise Picasso's Guernica to condemn Israel's brutality in Gaza A group called "Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against the State of Israel" organised a demonstration protest at Madrid's renowned Reina Sofia Museum to denounce Israel's continued attacks on Gaza. Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the Museum in front of the powerful Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" painting which is one of history's most evocative anti-war artworks. As visitors to the museum paused before the haunting masterpiece, they were invited to join in a moment of silence to honour those who died in the conflict. Demonstrators read a statement later published on social media saying, "Zionist Israel began systematically bombing the people of Gaza four months ago.” "Today, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, calling for an immediate ceasefire and urging the Spanish government to sever diplomatic ties with Israel while halting arms purchases and sales to the Zionist state."

*) Saudi Arabia says no normalisation with Israel without Palestinian state Saudi Arabia has told the US that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognised as per the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Saudi foreign ministry in a statement called for a halt to “aggression” in besieged Gaza. Earlier, the White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said the Biden administration received positive feedback that Saudi Arabia and Israel were willing to continue normalisation discussions. *) Yemen’s Houthis launch missiles on ships in Red Sea Yemen’s Houthi group launched six missiles toward two merchant ships, reportedly causing light damage to one of the vessels, the US military said. US Central Command said in a statement that “Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired six anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” The missiles targeted Marshall Islands and Barbados flagged vessels owned and operated by Greece and the UK respectively. *) Opposing Ukraine aid bill is playing into Putin’s hands: Biden President Joe Biden has said that Congress will be doing the Kremlin’s bidding if it fails to renew funding for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The US president blamed Donald Trump for playing politics with US national security. Biden called out Trump for pressuring Republican lawmakers not to pass a $118 billion bill that would fund Ukraine’s military in return for strict US immigration curbs, a Republican demand. *) EU agrees on first law tackling violence against women EU member countries and lawmakers have reached an agreement on the bloc’s first rules to tackle violence against women, the European Parliament and officials said. The law seeks to protect women in the 27-nation European Union from gender-based violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment. The text criminalises cyberstalking, cyberharassment and cyber incitement to hatred or violence across the European Union. *) Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson says will interview Putin ‘soon’ Tucker Carlson, a firebrand American talk show host, has said he was in Moscow to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement makes Carlson the first American media personality to land a formal interview with Putin since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. Carlson, known for conservative opinions that have garnered a vast right-wing following, did not specify when the interview would be broadcast but mentioned that it would be free to watch on his personal website.

*) US military says it conducted strike against two Houthi drones The US military says that its forces conducted a strike against two Houthi drones in Yemen. The US Central Command said in a post on X that its forces identified the explosive USVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. It added that the USVs presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. *) Biden’s Syria, Iraq strikes driven by US electoral agenda, Russia says Russia has accused US President Joe Biden of carrying out strikes in Iraq and Syria to boost his image as the presidential election campaign “is heating up” and not in retaliation for a deadly attack on US soldiers. The US began the airstrikes on Friday against dozens of targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and allied groups after three US soldiers were killed in Jordan in an attack that Washington blamed on Iranian-backed groups. Russia said there was no justification for the US action. *) Trump urges US Republicans to reject Ukraine aid deal Former US president Donald Trump has urged Republicans to reject a bill tying the toughest border security measures in a generation to $60 billion in Ukraine aid. Trump said they need a separate border and immigration bill. He added that “it should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form.” *) Senegalese lawmakers vote to delay election until December Senegalese lawmakers have voted to delay a presidential election due to take place this month until December 15. The president of the National Assembly announced that lawmakers had passed the measure on Monday after several opposition deputies were forcibly removed from the chamber by police. Senegalese lawmakers have gotten physical as they debated the unprecedented move to delay this month’s presidential election, which also sparked clashes outside parliament and prompted international concern. *) Turkish President Erdogan vows to stand by victims of Feb. 6 earthquake Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to heal the wounds of the victims of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes that hit the southern part of the country. Erdogan said on X that “the pain of the lives lost in the Kahramanmaras-centred earthquakes that we experienced a year ago continues to burn our hearts as fresh as the first day.” Türkiye is marking the first anniversary of the powerful quakes that killed a total of 53,537 people and injured more than 107,000 others.

*) Hamas in consultation with factions on ceasefire: source Hamas has not informed mediators of its rejection of a proposal for a hostage swap deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, a well-informed Palestinian source said. The source, which requested anonymity, affirmed that the Palestinian resistance group’s consultations with other Palestinian factions on the proposals are “ongoing.” His remarks were in response to international media reports, some of which claimed that Hamas had rejected the proposals while others suggested that it intended to deliver its response on Sunday evening. *) US plans additional strikes on Iranian-linked targets: White House The United States will press on with its retaliation against Iran-aligned groups in Iraq and Syria, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. Sullivan declined to say if he ruled out strikes against Iran itself. The White House national security advisor said the US intended to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that it will respond when its forces are attacked. *) Israel demolishes ‘58 Palestinian structures’ in occupied West Bank in January The Israeli army has demolished 58 Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank in the month of January alone, according to a local organisation. “The demolished structures included 22 inhabited houses and 16 agricultural facilities,” the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement. It said most of the demolitions occurred in the cities of Hebron, Bethlehem, occupied East Jerusalem and Qalqilya. *) G7 eyes Russian assets as collateral to fund Ukraine The Group of Seven and the European Union have been discussing a plan to use more than $250 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, Bloomberg News reported. The assets will be used as collateral to help fund the reconstruction of Ukraine, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. *) FIFA announces venue for 2026 men’s World Cup The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will mark the first time that the world’s biggest men’s football event will take place in three countries: Canada, Mexico and the US. FIFA allocated the opener of the 39-day tournament to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and the third-place match will be at Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The final of the 2026 World Cup will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey in the US on July 19, FIFA has confirmed.

*) 'Everyone in Gaza is hungry' : UN chief appeals for heightened aid UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urgently called for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza because of severe hunger, mass displacement and a crumbling humanitarian system. "I call for rapid, safe, unhindered, expanded and sustained humanitarian access throughout Gaza," Guterres wrote on X. "Everyone in Gaza is hungry. 1.7 million people have been displaced. The humanitarian system is collapsing," he said, highlighting the critical situation. *) Hamas receives truce proposal 'positively' — Qatar Hamas has given "initial positive confirmation" to a proposal for the cessation of fighting in Gaza and the release of hostages, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman has said. US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators met with Israeli intelligence officials in Paris on Sunday where they proposed a six-week pause in the Gaza war and a hostage swap for Hamas to review. "That proposal has been approved by the Israeli side and now we have an initial positive confirmation from the Hamas' side," Majed al Ansari told an audience at a Washington-based graduate school. Ansari emphasised that a challenging path lies ahead in the negotiations. *) $54B aid package to Ukraine sends 'strong message to Putin' — EU European Council President Charles Michel has announced that all 27 EU countries have sealed a deal on additional €50 billion or $54 billion aid to Ukraine. “We have a deal,” Michel said in a post on X. The announcement came despite staunch objections from Hungary in December and in the days leading up to Thursday's summit in Brussels. *) War between rival generals in Sudan displaces 8M people: UN The number of people uprooted by the war between rival generals in Sudan is around eight million, the United Nations has said. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who was later to visit Sudan, rallied international donors to open their wallets to fight the crisis, describing the situation as "serious" on Wednesday. "Since April 2023, so less than a year ago, eight million people have been displaced from their homes in Sudan," he said, adding that more than 1.5 million had fled to six neighbouring countries. *) Spain's Catalonia declares drought emergency for Barcelona Spain's northeastern Catalonia region has declared a drought emergency for Barcelona and the surrounding area, which will now face tighter water restrictions following three years without significant rain. The head of the regional government of Catalonia, Pere Aragones, announced on Thursday that the step after reservoirs in the Mediterranean region fell below 16 percent of their capacity. That level is the benchmark set by the authorities for the application of a new round of water-saving measures that will affect some six million people.

*) US says it downed Iranian drones, Houthi missile as Gaza war rages An American warship has shot down three Iranian drones and a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis, the US military has claimed. The US Central Command said in a statement that Iranian-backed Houthis fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from the group-controlled areas of Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden. It added that the missile was successfully shot by a US Navy destroyer. Less than an hour later, the US Navy destroyer engaged and shot down three Iranian UAVs in its vicinity, CENTCOM further said. *) Access to clean water in Gaza is ‘matter of life and death’: UN agency The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has said that in besieged Gaza, access to clean water is a matter of life and death. In a post on X, UNRWA said, “In Gaza, every day is a struggle to find bread and water. Every day is a struggle to survive.” The UN agency pointed out that without safe water, many more people will die from deprivation and disease. *) ICJ rejects most of Ukraine’s terror case against Russia The top UN court has mostly rejected Ukraine’s claims that Russia was financing “terrorism” in eastern Ukraine, saying only that Moscow failed to investigate alleged breaches. Kiev had accused Moscow of being a “terrorist state” whose support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine was a harbinger of the full-fledged 2022 war. But the ICJ tossed out most of Ukraine’s pleas, ruling only that Russia was “failing to take measures to investigate facts... regarding persons who have allegedly committed an offence.” *) Indian court permits Hindus to pray inside disputed Gyanvapi mosque An Indian court has weighed in on one of the country’s most sensitive religious disputes by permitting Hindu worshippers to pray inside a mosque in the city of Varanasi. The court in Varanasi ruled that Hindu worshippers — who claim the Gyanvapi mosque replaced a destroyed temple to the deity Shiva — could pray in the building’s basement. The Gyanvapi mosque is one of several Muslim places of worship that Hindu activists, backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, have sought for decades to reclaim for their religion. *) Global air travel returns to pre-Covid levels Air travel has taken another major leap in 2023 rising to 94 percent of 2019 levels as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. The International Air Transport Association said that domestic travel in key markets such as China, India and the US had led the rebound but it expected a “normal” growth rate in 2024. Based on revenue passenger kilometres, travel in the fourth quarter of 2023 alone was 98.4 percent of where it was four years earlier, IATA said.

*) Netanyahu brags about killing 500 Palestinians in occupied West Bank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his military forces have killed hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 7. Netanyahu vowed to continue the killing spree there. The Israeli prime minister told his army soldiers to pay attention to other fronts, especially the occupied West Bank, which he said was of “utmost importance.” *) Israel orders 88,000 displaced Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City: UN Israel has repeated new evacuation orders for neighbourhoods in western Gaza City where 88,000 Palestinians had been living in shelters, the UN humanitarian agency (OCHA) has said. The area, which included the Ash Shati Refugee camp, was home to almost 300,000 Palestinians before October 7, OCHA added. The UN agency said the new order covered an area of 12.43 sq km, which amounted to 3.4 percent of the total area of Gaza. *) Report debunks Israel’s claim of tunnel beneath desecrated Gaza graveyard An investigation into a cemetery desecrated by the Israeli military in besieged Gaza has shown no evidence of a tunnel system that Israel claimed ran under the burial site, according to US broadcaster CNN. The military claimed there was a 65-foot-deep tunnel that was one-half-mile long beneath the graveyard, but CNN was denied access to the alleged tunnel when it asked. Instead, it gave CNN a tour of the site near the cemetery, which officials said led into the tunnel system and underground command centre, but there was no evidence that the tunnel below the cemetery existed. *) 100-mile bomb commissioned by Ukraine is reportedly ready After successful testing in the US, Ukraine will soon receive its first big batch of long-range missiles made by Boeing that promise to extend its range deep into Russian-held territory. They could arrive “on the battlefield” as soon as Wednesday, Politico reported. The glide bomb will allow Ukraine’s military to hit targets at twice the distance reachable by the rockets it now fires from the US-supplied HIMARS and could force Russia to move supplies even farther from the front lines. *) ‘Pandemic of snow’ in Anchorage, residents warned to clear roofs Even by Alaska standards, there’s a lot of snow this winter. So much snow has fallen — so far, more than 2.6 metres — that roofs on commercial buildings are collapsing around Anchorage and officials are urging residents to break out their shovels to avoid a similar fate at home. Over the weekend, there was nearly 16 more inches of snowfall, pushing Alaska’s largest city past the 100-inch mark earlier than at any other time in its history. The city is well on track to break its all-time record of 134.5 inches.

*) Israel kills 20 Palestinians in new Gaza massacre Israel has struck a family home in the Sabra neighbourhood of besieged Gaza, killing over a dozen Palestinians and wounding others, state-run WAFA news agency reported. WAFA said Israeli warplanes launched a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Citing sources, WAFA added that the Israeli artillery also targeted the vicinity of a residential building in Khan Younis, in the south. *) UN chief to meet donor nations after refugee agency accusations United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will meet with key donors to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Guterres’ meeting comes in the wake of Israel accusing 12 members of the UN agency’s staff for their involvement in the October 7 surprise Hamas blitz. The UN secretary general’s spokesperson said Guterres’ message to donors — especially those who have suspended their contributions — will be to at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations. *) Blinken warns Ukraine gains in doubt if no US aid US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Ukraine’s gains over two years of fighting were all in doubt without new US funding. Tens of billions of dollars in US aid has been sent to Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022, but Republican lawmakers have grown reluctant to keep supporting Kiev. Blinken offered an increasingly dire picture of Ukraine’s prospects without US approval of the so-called supplemental funding. *) Canada drops arms export controls for Türkiye Canada has dropped export controls to Türkiye for certain types of weapons, including drone optical technology, according to a notice posted online. The notice said that from now on Canada would review all exports on a case-by-case basis. Monday’s announcement from Ottawa came after Canada had earlier suspended drone technology sales to Türkiye — a fellow member of NATO — in 2020. *) Neuralink implants brain chip in first human: Elon Musk Elon Musk, the founder of Neuralink, has said in a post on social media platform X that the first human received an implant from the brain-chip startup and is recovering well. Musk said initial results showed promising neuron spike detection. The US Food and Drug Administration had given the company clearance last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.

*) Ceasefire talks between Israel, Hamas advance following Paris summit The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reports progress in negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding an exchange of hostages. This follows the conclusion of a summit in Paris with the participation of Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar. Talks centred on a two-month ceasefire would also release many Palestinian prisoners. However, the source noted there are still gaps in demands between the conflicting parties. *) Norway and Ireland stand firm in support of UNRWA amid controversy Norway has expressed support for the UN organisation in Palestine following allegations of some staff involvement in the October 7 attacks on Israel. Norway's Representative Office to Palestine said, "Norway continues our support for the Palestinian people through UNRWA. International support for Palestine is needed now more than ever." While Norway calls the UN agency the "most important humanitarian organisation" in the besieged enclave, Ireland confirmed they have no plans to suspend funding for the organisation’s vital Gaza work. *) Iran Executes Four Alleged Israeli Operatives according to state media Iranian state media reported that Iran executed four people on Monday, stating they were connected to an Israeli intelligence operation. The defendants were accused of illegally entering Iran from the Kurdish region of northern Iraq to conduct a bombing operation for Israel's Mossad at a Ministry of Defence factory. Israel neither confirms nor denies its involvement in operations in Iran. *) Türkiye Voices Concerns over UNRWA Funding Suspensions The Turkish Foreign Ministry says it is concerned over recent decisions by certain countries to suspend funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The ministry noted the significant risks faced by its personnel, with over 150 fatalities in Gaza, highlighting the organisation’s crucial role in supporting millions of Palestine refugees despite challenging circumstances. Türkiye said in a statement that "the suspension of funding to the organisation, following allegations against a few staff, will primarily harm the Palestinian people." It called for a collaborative resolution, urging reconsideration of funding suspensions. *) Western Nations Urge Kosovo to Reconsider Euro Adoption Five Western nations, including the US, France, Italy, Germany, and the UK have collectively urged Kosovo to replace the Serbian dinar with the euro, starting on February 1. The embassies of the five nations issued a joint statement expressing concerns about the impact of the new cash payment regulation due to worries about potential tensions with Belgrade.

*) World awaits ICJ verdict on Gaza genocide case against Israel The top UN court will hand down an initial decision in a case against Israel over what South Africa and many others say is a genocide in besieged Gaza, a landmark ruling closely watched in the Middle East and around the world. The International Court of Justice could order Israel to stop its war on Gaza or to facilitate humanitarian aid. The court will not, however, pass judgement on whether or not Israel is actually committing genocide in Gaza. *) US, Israel seal huge arms deal as Tel Aviv rains bombs on Gaza The US and Israel have concluded a massive arms deal that includes the supply of F-35 and F-15 fighter jets to Tel Aviv, Israeli Channel 12 reported. The channel cited officials from the Israeli Defence Ministry who participated in the deal as saying an agreement has been reached between the US and Israel in which the Israeli army will be supplied with drones and thousands of rounds of ammunition in the coming days. The officials said the deal is of an exceptional size as Israeli war continues in Gaza and fighting in the north with the Lebanese Hezbollah group escalates. *) Pakistan alleges Indian involvement in killing of two citizens on its soil Pakistan has accused neighbouring India’s intelligence agency of involvement in the extrajudicial killings of its citizens. Islamabad said it had “credible evidence” linking two Indian agents to the assassinations of two Pakistanis in Pakistan last year. Pakistan’s foreign office said the assassination of Pakistani nationals on Pakistani soil was a violation of the country’s sovereignty and a breach of the UN Charter. *) India razes Muslim shops in Mumbai after controversial temple opening Authorities in India’s financial capital Mumbai have torn down several Muslim-owned makeshift shopfronts after religious clashes sparked by a divisive temple that was opened this week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Minor clashes broke out Sunday in parts of Mumbai, including one incident where Hindus chanting religious slogans passed through a Muslim neighbourhood on the megacity's outskirts. No serious injuries were reported in the melee but by Tuesday, authorities had called in excavators to knock down more than a dozen shopfronts belonging to Muslims in that locality, according to local media reports. And finally… *) ‘Salt-tea’ suggestion kicks off a storm in a teacup and rocks US-UK ties The US Embassy in London has stepped in after an American professor made an “unthinkable” suggestion that “threatens the very foundation” of the US-UK “special relationship.” Michelle Francl, a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, authored a just-released book, “Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea,” in which she suggested that adding a pinch of salt to tea could help reduce its bitterness. Her suggestions, however, are anathema to Britain’s tea culture. It prompted the US embassy to issue a statement, ensuring the “good people of the UK that the unthinkable notion of adding salt to Britain’s national drink is not official United States policy. And never will be.”

*) Israeli bombardment targets children in Gaza refugee camp The Israeli army has carried out an airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza which killed four children. The children’s bodies were found in the debris of houses, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. It added that the Israeli military continued its attacks from the air and ground on the Khan Younis region in southern Gaza. *) Israel shells two hospitals in Gaza's Khan Younis The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has accused the Israeli army of shelling two medical facilities of Nasser and al Amal hospitals in Khan Younis. A ministry spokesman said Israeli forces blocked roads to the two facilities and prevented ambulance dispatches there, leaving facilities “at severe risk." *) Zelenskyy says Russia 'playing' with lives of Ukraine POWs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russia was "playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners". This comes after Moscow accused Kiev of downing a military plane carrying dozens of its own captured soldiers. Ukraine did not deny the targeting of the plane. Moscow said 74 people — 65 of them Ukrainian prisoners of war — were killed when a military transport plane was shot down in the western Belgorod region. *) Mali gold mine collapse kills scores of workers More than 70 people have been killed after a tunnel collapsed at a Malian gold mining site, local sources say. Mali's Ministry of Mines in a statement on Tuesday had announced the death of several miners but did not give precise figures. Gold mining sites are regularly the scene of deadly landslides and authorities struggle to control artisanal mining of the precious metal. And finally… *) Largest NATO military exercise since Cold War kicks off The US Navy dock landing ship Gunston Hall has left the port to mark the first movement for the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, American officials say. Some 90,000 troops from the United States and fellow NATO allied nations are due to join. More than 50 ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers, more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones and at least 1,100 combat vehicles will take part. The Steadfast Defender 2024 drills will run through May.

*) Israel suffers deadliest single-day loss since start of Gaza ground war Twenty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the biggest single-day losses since the start of its ground war in Gaza. Intense fighting has been raging in southern and central Gaza, where Israel says it has been attacking the remaining strongholds of Hamas and trying to clear areas near the border. It was in one of those border areas that 21 of the soldiers died when there was an explosion in a building and it collapsed. Israel's brutal war on Gaza — now in its 110th day — has killed at least 25,490 Palestinians and wounded 63,354, local authorities say. *) EU says Israel can't 'have veto' to block creation of Palestinian state EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has said that Israel cannot be allowed to unilaterally block the creation of a Palestinian state after the war. This comes after Borell chaired talks between the EU's 27 foreign ministers and top diplomats from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and key Arab states. Meanwhile, speaking at the UN Security Council meeting, the Palestinian foreign minister said Israel had denied Palestinians existence, rights and humanity. *) Ukraine war hits day 700 amid spike in Russian missile strikes The war in Ukraine has hit its 700th day amid a spike in Russian missile strikes. A wave of new Russian missiles hit Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, killing 18 people and wounding more than 100, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rescue workers in Kharkiv hauled survivors from smouldering piles of rubble as apartment blocks were toppled by the strikes. *) Türkiye slams international failure to stop bloodshed in Gaza Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has criticised the international community for its perceived failure to intervene and halt Israel's ongoing conflict with Palestine. Fidan said that the argument claiming the current war is primarily about ensuring Israel's security lacks credibility. He criticised the proponents of this viewpoint for neglecting to address the security concerns of Palestinians and Palestine's right to self-defence. And finally… *) Trump triumphs in New Hampshire primary, leaving Haley in shadows Donald Trump has won the New Hampshire's Republican primary, delivering a setback to rival Nikki Haley. Tuesday was his second straight victory in his quest for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He won Iowa's leadoff caucuses by 30 percentage points. Allies of President Joe Biden, meanwhile, are hoping their write-in campaign on the Democratic side is successful.

*) Palestinians in Gaza flee Israeli attacks Israel has pounded the southern city of Khan Younis, pushing thousands of Palestinians in Gaza to flee even further south. Families made their way on foot down the coastal highway. Others loaded blankets and belongings into vehicles or donkey carts. The UN says Israel's war has displaced some 85 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million residents, and one in four of them are starving. At least 25,295 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks and 63,000 wounded. *) Families of captives storm Israel's Knesset Dozens of family members of captives held in Gaza have stormed a committee meeting in Israel's parliament demanding a deal to win their loved ones' release. The family members of the captives held up signs and yelled, "You won't sit here while they are dying there!" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist to the Israeli public that pursuing the devastating aggression in Gaza is the only way to bring the captives home. At the same time, he has rejected the United States' proposal for a postwar resolution, saying he will never allow a Palestinian sovereignty. *) China 'races against time' to find survivors of devastating landslide Rescuers are racing to find dozens of people still trapped after a landslide struck a remote and mountainous part of southwestern China, killing 11. The pre-dawn landslide buried 18 homes and sparked the evacuation of more than 200 people when it struck Yunnan province. Local media said rescue workers are now in a "race against time" to find those missing after a night of sub-zero temperatures. *) Zelenskyy calls for unity as Russia rules out peace plan Russia's foreign minister has clashed with the United States and Ukraine's supporters at a UN meeting where Moscow ruled out peace plans backed by Kiev and the West. Sergey Lavrov claimed that Ukrainian forces have been "a complete failure" on the battlefield and are "incapable" of defeating or weakening Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Ukrainians to remain united and committed to a common goal of thwarting Russia's assault on their country. And finally… *) More than 75,000 march across France to condemn 'racist' immigration law Protests against France's contentious immigration law have taken place in various cities nationwide. A demonstration that kicked off in Paris saw the participation of trade unions and lawmakers from the far-left LFI or France Unbowed party. The protesters claimed the law is "racist" and targets immigrants and French citizens with dual nationality. They called for granting residence permits to everyone residing in the country.

*) Death toll of Palestinians in Gaza from Israeli strikes passes 25,000 The death toll of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza has passed 25,000, Health officials in the enclave said amid heavy Israeli strikes. Gaza's Health Ministry said in a statement that 178 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, one of the deadliest days so far of the war. A total of 25,105 Palestinians have been killed and 62,681 have been injured in Israeli strikes since October 7, the statement said. *) Ram Temple inauguration: religious ceremony or political rally for Modi? A grand temple to Hindu god Lord Ram is set to open on a site in India millions believe is his birthplace. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the inauguration with a religious spectacle in Ayodhya, months before he seeks a rare third term in elections. The construction of the temple had been a political promise of Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP but the site has been contested for decades, with both Hindus and Muslims laying claim to it. *) More than 13,000 people killed in Sudan conflict: UN More than 13,000 people have been killed and 26,000 others injured in the ongoing conflict in Sudan since last year, the United Nations said. Fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has been ongoing since April 2023. Several ceasefire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators have failed to end the violence. *) Dozens killed in Ukrainian strike on Donetsk — Russia At least 25 people have been killed and 20 others injured due to shelling in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk, which is currently under Russian control. The injuries also included two children, according to Denis Pushilin, the Russian-affiliated head of the region. He also claimed the artillery shells were fired from the settlements of Kurakhove and Krasnohorivka, which are under Ukrainian control. Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on Pushilin's claim. And finally… *) Republican DeSantis suspends his presidential campaign, backs Trump Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nominee, throwing his support behind frontrunner Donald Trump. DeSantis said in a video on X that he could not “ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources” without “a clear path to victory.” His withdrawal from the race comes less than two days before the New Hampshire primary. Polls showed him far behind ex-president Trump and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley.

*) US says ‘no way’ to solve conflict without Palestinian state There is “no way” to solve Israel’s long-term security challenges in the region and the short-term challenges of rebuilding besieged Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. The comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press conference he had told Washington that he objected to any Palestinian statehood that did not guarantee Israel’s security. *) Israel’s war on Gaza to hit economies across Middle East: Qatar The war in Gaza will hit economies across the Middle East if it is not resolved and the conflict urgently needs a non-military solution, Qatar’s Finance Minister Ali al Kuwari said. He also noted that the solution is really to look for a permanent solution for the main issue in the Middle East which is the Palestinian problem. Al Kuwari added this cannot be fixed by military actions. *) North Korea says tested ‘underwater nuclear weapon system’ North Korea has tested an “underwater nuclear weapon system” in response to joint naval exercises by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, which involved a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, state media said. The drills were “seriously threatening the security” of the North, so in response, Pyongyang “conducted an important test of its underwater nuclear weapon system in the East Sea of Korea,” according to the country's defence ministry. North Korea has been stepping up pressure on Seoul in recent weeks, declaring it the “principal enemy,” saying the North will never reunite with the South and vowing to enhance its military capabilities. *) Pakistan strikes show Iran not ‘well-liked’ in region: Biden US President Joe Biden has said air strikes by Pakistan and Iran on each other’s territory showed Tehran was not “well-liked,” as the White House warned against any escalation. The US president stressed that Washington was now trying to understand how the Iran-Pakistan situation would develop, adding: “Where that goes we’re working on now – I don’t know where that goes.” Tensions between Islamabad and Tehran have soared after Iran struck alleged militant targets in Pakistan and Pakistan responded in kind. And finally… *) Türkiye propels into space history with launch of country’s first astronaut Colonel Alper Gezeravci, a fighter pilot in the Turkish Air Force, has blasted off to space for a two-week mission in the International Space Station, putting Türkiye among the group of nations that have successfully sent astronauts into space. Colonel Gezeravci told TRT World in an exclusive interview that “it’s a very symbolic, important step. However, it’s not the last. It’s the beginning of a journey for our great country.” Gezeravci’s highly anticipated first remarks in space were an echo from the early years of the Turkish Republic, as he quoted the country’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk: “İstikbal göklerdedir (meaning, the future is in the skies)!"

*) Gaza's internet outage enters sixth day, longest since war began A telecommunications blackout in besieged Gaza has entered its sixth day. This is the longest continuous outage since Israel began its attacks on the Palestinian enclave. Palestinian telecoms provider Jawwal blamed Israel's "heavy bombardment" of the territory for a previous blackout. Humanitarian leaders have said communications blackouts impeded deliveries of aid, as Israeli attacks have killed at least 24,448 Palestinians and wounded 61,504 so far. *) US fires wave of missiles on Yemen The US military has fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against Houthi-run sites, US officials have said. This is the fourth time in days the US directly targeted the group in Yemen as violence ignited in the wake of Israel's war on Gaza continues to spill over in the Middle East. The strikes come after a one-way attack drone was launched from a Houthi-run area in Yemen and struck a US-owned and -operated vessel in the Gulf of Aden. *) Pakistan strikes 'seven locations' of BLA terror group inside Iran Pakistan has launched air strikes inside Iran against terror group Balochistan Liberation Army. Pakistan foreign ministry stated that the country had employed high precision to target militants inside Iran. It comes after Iran carried out strikes against what Tehran said were "terrorist targets" in Pakistan — an attack that Islamabad blamed Iran for killing two children and wounding three girls. *) UK lawmakers approve controversial bill to send refugees to Rwanda UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has won a crunch parliamentary vote on his contentious plan to send refugees and migrants to Rwanda. Right-wing Conservatives had threatened to kill the bill but they ultimately backed down, and the government won comfortably by 320 votes to 276. The bill is the British leader's answer to a UK Supreme Court ruling late last year that deporting refugees and migrants to Rwanda is illegal under international law. And finally… *) Hundreds of flights cancelled in Germany amid heavy snowfall Heavy snowfalls and freezing rain across Germany have led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and trains. At Frankfurt airport, Germany's biggest, more than 500 flights were cancelled, while in Munich over 250 arrivals and departures were cancelled. Freezing rain across western and southern Germany also led to countless crashes on icy roads and the weather service warned of an extreme risk of black ice.

*) Qatar announces humanitarian deal between Israel, Hamas Israel and Palestinian resistance group Hamas have reached an agreement that will enable humanitarian aid to be delivered to civilians in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of medicines to Israeli hostages. The agreement is a joint effort between Qatar and France, according to the Qatari Foreign Ministry. The ministry added that the humanitarian aid is scheduled to be dispatched to Egypt today before reaching Gaza. *) US Senate rejects measure to force human rights report on Israel Meanwhile, the US Senate has rejected a resolution that would have forced the State Department to examine whether Israel committed human rights violations in Palestine’s Gaza. As voting continued, 54 senators voted to set the resolution aside, thus meaning it cannot move ahead in the 100-member Senate. Israel's brutal war on Gaza — now in its 103rd day — has killed some 24,285 Palestinians and wounded 61,154, Palestinian authorities say. *) Russia calls Ukraine peace meetings 'pointless' In the Ukraine conflict, Russia has said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plan to resolve the nearly two-year war had no hope of succeeding. Putin dismissed meetings devoted to Zelenskyy's plan as "pointless and harmful". A statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website underlined that the meeting had exposed differences between participants and produced no increase in support for the proposals. *) Sudan accuses east African bloc of violating sovereignty, suspends ties Sudan's army-aligned government has frozen ties with the East African bloc of Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD. For nine months war has been raging between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and has now spread to the remains of the ancient Kush kingdom. IGAD extended an invitation to paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to a summit in Uganda, which he accepted. But the move prompted the foreign ministry, loyal to army chief and Sudan's leader Abdel Fattah al Burhan, to announce it was suspending its ties with the bloc. And finally… *) OpenAI braces AI for anti-disinformation tools for 2024 elections ChatGPT maker OpenAI has said it will introduce tools to combat disinformation ahead of the dozens of elections this year. With elections due in the US, India and UK, OpenAI said it will not allow its tech to be used for political campaigns. It is working on tools that would attach reliable attribution to text generated by ChatGPT, and also give users the ability to detect if an image was created using AI.

*) Israel kills 25 civilians in new Gaza carnage — Palestine Israel has killed 25 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others during new bombardment of different areas in besieged Gaza, Palestinian news agency WAFA has reported. One such Israeli bombardment targeted a house north of Rafah, killing 11 people, most of whom were children and women, and injuring many others. In addition, Israel also killed eight people and wounded dozens during a bombing of a site near the Civil Defence headquarters in Khan Younis City. This new carnage brings the total of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes to some 24,100, while 60,834 others are wounded, according to Palestinian authorities. *) Russia declares state of emergency in Ukraine attacked region Meanwhile in the war in Ukraine, now in its 692nd day, the mayor of southern Russian city Voronezh has declared a state of emergency. Russian officials say a Ukraine-launched drone attack damaged several buildings and wounded a child. The Russian Defence Ministry said it had destroyed five drones and intercepted three others overnight over the region, which borders Ukraine. *) North Korea abolishes agencies seeking unification with South North Korea has formally abolished a handful of government agencies charged with promoting cooperation and unification with the South, according to state media. This comes just weeks after the nation's leader Kim Jong-un said that continuing to seek reconciliation with South Korea was a "mistake". He called for a constitutional amendment to change the status of South Korea to a separate state and said unification with the South is no longer possible. *) Iran says it bombed 'Mossad' and 'terrorist' sites in Iraq and Syria Iran's Revolutionary Guard has launched missile attacks as Tehran described them as the espionage headquarters of Israel's Mossad and terrorist groups in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, state media has reported. The headquarters have been the centre for developing espionage operations and planning terrorist actions in the region, according Iranian media. At least four civilians were killed and six wounded in the strikes on Erbil, the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq said in a statement, describing the attack as a "crime." And finally… *) Trump wins Republican race in frigid Iowa Donald Trump romped to a lightning-quick victory in Iowa's caucuses as the presumptive Republican standard-bearer to challenge President Joe Biden in November's election. Biden acknowledged that Donald Trump was the "clear frontrunner" to be the Republican candidate in the US election. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy, a multi-millionaire former biotech executive, ended his White House bid and endorsed Trump.

*) Israel kills almost 24,000 Palestinians as war hits 100-day mark Israeli attacks on Gaza have continued for over a 100 days since October 7th. During which, a total of 23,968 Palestinians have been killed and 60,582 injured by Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said. And the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor estimates at least 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, wounded or reported missing in the past 100 days. *) More Palestinians killed by Israeli army fire in occupied West Bank Meanwhile in the occupied West Bank, four more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire, including a 14-year-old boy. A statement by the Palestinian Health Ministry said the boy lost his life after Israeli forces opened fire in a refugee camp northwest of Jericho city. According to the state news agency Wafa, the boy was shot in the chest by Israeli forces. He was then transferred to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The ministry said another two Palestinians were killed near a town east of Al Halil, without providing any details. *) US downs missile fired from Yemen at American warship: military A US fighter aircraft has shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired at a US Navy destroyer from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. United States Central Command says there were no injuries or damage reported in the incident that took place in the southern Red Sea. Houthi media reported US and British strikes hit the port city of Hudaida, but a US defence official refuted the allegation. It marks the third consecutive day of reported strikes against the group over its attacks on Red Sea shipping. *) 83 countries hold Ukraine peace talks in Davos Meanwhile in the war in Ukraine, national security advisers from 83 countries have held talks seeking common ground on Ukraine's peace formula. The fourth round of discussions was based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 10-point proposals for peace in Ukraine, nearly two years on from Russia's full-scale offensive. Brazil, India and South Africa participated in the talks – countries that sit alongside Russia in the BRICS group. And finally… *) IMF: Artificial intelligence to impact 60 percent of advanced economy jobs Artificial intelligence will impact 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has said. A new International Monetary Fund report notes that half of the jobs impacted by AI will be negatively affected, while the rest may actually benefit from enhanced productivity gains. But this number decreases to 40 percent for emerging markets and 26 percent for low-income countries, the IMF report says.

*) Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, S Africa says at ICJ South Africa has told judges at the International Court of Justice that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and pleaded with the court to urgently order Israel to halt its war on Gaza. South African lawyers said the latest Gaza war is part of a decades-long oppression of the Palestinians by Israel. Genocides are “never declared in advance,” but ICJ has 13 weeks of evidence showing a “pattern of conduct that justifies the plausible claim of genocidal acts,” a top lawyer for South Africa told the UN’s top court. *) ICJ genocide hearings offer hope for Palestinians: Amnesty International Amnesty International has said that ongoing proceedings at the ICJ related to South Africa’s genocide case against Israel have the potential to safeguard Palestinian civilians. The rights watchdog said the case could lead to bringing an “end to the man-made humanitarian catastrophe” in besieged Gaza, and provide a glimmer of hope for international justice. As the US continues to use its veto power to block the UN Security Council from calling for a ceasefire, war crimes and crimes against humanity are rife, and the risk of genocide is real, Amnesty International further said. *) Israel to counter genocide accusations at World Court Israel will respond to strong accusations brought by South Africa at the UN’s top court that its brutal war in besieged Gaza is a state-led genocide campaign aimed at wiping out the Palestinian population. Israel has rejected the accusations of genocide as baseless and said South Africa was acting as a mouthpiece for Hamas resistance group. The 1948 Genocide Convention, enacted in the wake of the mass murder of Jews in the Nazi Holocaust, defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” *) Russia warns of risk of nuclear response if Ukraine hits missile launch sites A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin warned that any Ukrainian attacks on missile launch sites inside Russia with arms supplied by the US and its allies would risk a nuclear response from Moscow. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said that some Ukrainian military commanders were considering hitting missile launch sites inside Russia with Western-supplied long-range missiles. He did not name the commanders or disclose more details of the alleged plan and there was no immediate reaction from Ukraine to his threat. *) US and UK strike Yemen’s Houthis; rebels say counterstrikes under way The US and British militaries have bombed more than a dozen sites used by the Houthi positions in Yemen, in a massive strike using warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets, US officials have said. The military targets included logistical hubs, air defence systems and weapons storage locations, they said early on Friday. Houthi officials said they targeted American and British warships in the Red Sea in reaction to the strikes.

*) All eyes on ICJ as South Africa’s Gaza genocide case against Israel begins A legal battle over whether Israel’s war in Gaza amounts to genocide is set to open at the UN’s top court with preliminary hearings into South Africa’s call for judges to order an immediate suspension of Israel’s military invasion. Israel denies the genocide charge even as it has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, mostly kids and women, wounded nearly 60,000, uprooted 85 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million population and flattened some 60 percent of the enclave’s infrastructure. The case that will begin on Thursday, and is likely to take years to resolve, strikes at the heart of Israel’s national identity as a state created by the Zionists in the aftermath of the Nazi genocide in the Holocaust. *) WHO cancels sixth aid mission to Gaza in two weeks over security concerns The World Health Organization has cancelled another planned medical aid mission to Gaza over security concerns. This was the sixth cancellation by the UN agency in just two weeks, as it sounded a fresh alarm over the spread of infectious diseases in the besieged Palestinian enclave. WHO said intense Israeli bombardment, restrictions on movement, fuel shortage and interrupted communications make it impossible for WHO and its partners to reach those in need. *) Netanyahu diverges from his key ministers on Gaza reoccupation Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has no plans to reoccupy Gaza or expel its Palestinian population. Netanyahu’s statement stood in contrast to extremist members of his far-right government who have repeatedly called for an ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. Netanyahu went further to claim that the Israeli military is doing its utmost “to minimise civilian casualties,” despite the Israeli army killing more than 23,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounding nearly 60,000 others. *) Looting, arson in Papua New Guinea cities leave 15 people dead At least 15 people were killed in widespread looting and arson across Papua New Guinea’s two largest cities, the country’s police commissioner said. A police and public sector protest on Wednesday over a pay cut that officials blamed on an administrative glitch descended into lawlessness over the day. TV footage showed thousands in the streets of Port Moresby, many carrying what appeared to be looted merchandise as black smoke billowed over the city. *) Musk’s X sheds over 1,000 staff from teams combating online hate — watchdog Elon Musk’s X has shed more than 1,000 staff globally from teams responsible for stopping abusive content online, according to new figures by Australia’s online watchdog. Australia’s eSafety Commission said these “deep cuts” and the reinstatement of thousands of banned accounts has created a “perfect storm” for the spread of harmful content. The regulator has in recent months zeroed in on X — formerly known as Twitter — previously saying Musk’s takeover coincided with a spike in “toxicity and hate” on the platform.

*) Israel tells hospitals to prepare for 'thousands' of injured Israel has ordered hospitals in the north of the country to prepare for the possibility of receiving "thousands of injured" people as tensions with Hezbollah increase. Israel's Health Ministry has asked medical centres to prepare for the possibility of going into "deserted island mode," that is being left without medical supplies, medicine and food for days. The ministry also asked hospitals to go into emergency mode within a few hours and requested that they maintain a 50 percent occupancy rate. *) Egypt refuses to let Israel monitor buffer zone with Gaza Egypt has rejected a proposal by Israel for greater Israeli oversight over the buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border. Egypt said it is prioritising efforts to broker a ceasefire before working on post-war arrangements. Egyptian sources said that during those talks Israel had approached Egypt about securing the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow buffer zone along the border, as part of Israeli plans to prevent future attacks. *) Dozens of rabbis protest at UN to demand Israel end its war on Gaza About three dozen rabbis and rabbinical students from US organisations have protested inside the UN Security Council chamber and later in front of the main UN building. They urged a ceasefire in Gaza and asked US President Joe Biden's administration to allow such resolutions to pass instead of vetoing them in the Security Council. The protests were organised by US Jewish groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, and Rabbis for Ceasefire. *) West slams Russia's use of North Korean missiles against Ukraine Nearly 50 countries joined the US in condemning North Korea's alleged transfer of missiles to Russia, demanding an immediate end to the cooperation. In a joint statement, they said the alleged missile shipment "flagrantly" violated sanctions on North Korea by the UN Security Council, of which Russia is a permanent member. "The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia's war of aggression, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime," said the statement. *) Secret tunnel discovered under synagogue in New York More than 10 Hasidic Jewish worshippers were arrested after clashes broke out at a historic Brooklyn synagogue in New York. The discovery of the tunnel at the Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in Crown Heights prompted an emergency structural inspection from the city. Motti Seligson, the spokesperson for Chabad Lubavitch, said that some time ago, "a group of extremist students" broke through a few walls in adjacent properties to the synagogue to provide them with "unauthorised access."

*) Blinken in Tel Aviv as Gaza sees another night of Israeli terror US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has touched down in Tel Aviv amidst escalating tensions in the region. It comes as Israel intensifies its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, sparking global concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict beyond Palestine. Despite expressing concern over the civilian casualties resulting from Israel's military actions, Washington, a key ally and arms supplier to Israel, has not called for a ceasefire in Gaza since October 7. The ongoing Israeli campaign in Gaza has left over 23,000 Palestinians dead, nearly 59,000 wounded and has devastated 60 percent of the enclave's homes and businesses. *) Israel's top court blocks foreign media from independently entering Gaza Israel's Supreme Court denied international media organisations' request for independent access to report from besieged Gaza. The Foreign Press Association, representing many media outlets in Israel and Palestine, urged Israeli authorities last month to allow journalists into the conflict-ridden enclave. The court, recognizing press freedom but citing wartime conditions, justified maintaining restrictions. It argued that journalists inside Gaza could jeopardise Israeli soldiers by revealing troop positions. This decision heightens concerns about media challenges in covering Gaza, underscoring ongoing complexities in accessing information in conflict zones. *) Gangs kill 17 across three villages in Nigeria Armed gang members have killed at least 17 people in attacks in northwestern Nigeria's Kaduna state. The gang members carried out attacks on three villages in Kauru district, according to reports. At least 17 people lost their lives and 58 people were kidnapped. Nigeria is confronting attacks from armed gangs and terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, the West African branch of Daesh, in various parts of the country. *) Brazil’s Lula vows 'no pardon' for January 8 rioters President Lula da Silva has pledged no pardon for the supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro involved in last year's riots, as Brazil observed the anniversary of the attacks. Speaking at the main entry hall of Congress in Brasilia, one of the buildings targeted by far-right rioters, Lula emphasised the need to safeguard Brazil's democracy. The rioters vandalised the premises and called for military intervention to remove Lula. *) Boeing shares dive as regulators unveil inspection plan for grounded MAX jets Boeing shares tumbled on Monday following a mid-flight aeroplane panel failure, casting doubt on the company's efforts to restore its reputation. Over six percent decline in Boeing stock affected the Dow index, coinciding with US aviation authorities issuing inspection protocols for planes with configurations similar to the 737 MAX 9 involved in Friday's incident. Alaska Flight 1282, departing from Portland International Airport on Friday, experienced a pressurisation issue while gaining altitude, prompting concerns about the safety of Boeing's aircraft.

*) Israeli attacks on Palestine’s Gaza to continue throughout 2024 Israel’s military chief has said that the war in Gaza will likely continue throughout the year. Israel’s Army Chief of General Staff spoke about his country’s attacks on Gaza during a visit to the occupied West Bank, according to a statement from the Israeli army. He said 2024 will be "tough” and that they will “fight in Gaza all year, for sure.” *) 6,000 critically injured Palestinians in Gaza need 'urgent treatment' abroad The government in Gaza has announced that 6,000 critically injured people urgently need to be transported out of the enclave for treatment. In a statement, the media office in Gaza shared details about the "catastrophic situation" that the health sector is in due to Israeli attacks since October 7th. It said 30 hospitals in the area are out of service as more than 58,000 people have been injured due to the attacks. *) Qatar's emir meets US' Blinken, calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Abu Dhabi for the latest leg of his Middle East tour. It comes as fears grow that Israel's war in Gaza may spill into the wider region, after one of Hamas’s senior leaders was killed in a bomb attack in Beirut last week. Blinken held talks with both Jordanian and Qatari representatives in Amman and Doha. For his part, Qatar’s emir called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the blockaded territory. *) Bangladesh’s Hasina secures fifth term amid opposition boycott Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has won re-election for a fifth term, an Election Commission spokesman said in the early hours of Monday morning. The polls were boycotted by the country’s major opposition party and initial reports suggested the exercise had a meagre turnout of some 40 percent. Hasina has presided over breakneck economic growth in a country once beset by grinding poverty, but her government has been accused of rampant human rights abuses and a ruthless opposition crackdown. *) Hollywood stars attend 81st awards ceremony The 81st Golden Globe Awards has taken place in Los Angeles. It's been a huge year for cinema which saw Barbie and Oppenheimer dominate the box office. Oppenheimer also dominated the awards, winning best drama, best actor, as well as best director awards. Comedy film Poor Things also received two awards, including one for American actress Emma Stone.

*) S Korea: DPRK fired artillery shells near its islands, evacuation ordered North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands, Seoul's defence ministry has said, with an evacuation order issued for residents. Yeonpyeong local officials said civilians had been asked to evacuate, describing the order as a "preventative measure." Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades, after Kim enshrined the country's status as a nuclear power into the constitution while test-firing several advanced ICBMs. *) Database exposes 500 instances of Israeli incitement to genocide in Gaza A non-profit human rights organisation Law for Palestine has revealed shocking evidence of over 500 instances of Israeli officials advocating for genocide against Palestinians in besieged Gaza. These reprehensible incitements have been categorised into significant thematic areas, including genocidal intent, forced displacement, and collective punishment. Some of those calls for genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians came from Israeli decision-makers, including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other extremist ministers in the far-right government. *) Iran vows revenge after deadly twin blasts in Kerman region Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber vowed revenge for explosions that killed nearly 84 people at a ceremony to commemorate top commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone in 2020 in Iraq. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the "heinous and inhumane crime", and Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, also vowed revenge for the twin bombings. *) Israel is starving Gaza and ‘nothing is being done to stop it’ Those who have survived the bombings, repeated displacement and disease outbreaks in Gaza must now contend with another impending disaster of famine. Last month, a United Nations-backed body warned that famine could become a reality in Gaza, if food crisis levels of hunger continued. "Increased nutritional vulnerability of children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly is a particular source of concern," the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative report added. *) Biden's first 2024 ad warns of 'extremist' threat to democracy President Joe Biden's campaign has released its first television ad for the 2024 election, warning of an "extremist" threat to democracy over images of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. "There's something dangerous happening in America. There's an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs in our democracy," says the ad, released early on social media.

*) Israel dropped 65,000 tonnes of bombs in 'genocidal war' on Gaza The Israeli army bombarded Gaza with more than 45,000 missiles and bombs that weighed more than 65,000 tonnes, the Gaza Media Office has said. The office said about two-thirds of the bombs and missiles were unguided and imprecise, commonly known as dumb bombs. It pointed out that the use of such bombs indicates “the deliberate targeting of indiscriminate and unjustified killing by the occupation.” *) US imam shot outside New Jersey mosque dies, shooter at large An imam shot outside a Newark mosque in New Jersey state has succumbed to gunshot wounds, American authorities have said. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said the loss of Imam Hassan Sharif will be felt across the state and city, adding there’s no evidence indicating the shooting was motivated by an anti-Muslim bias. The Muslim cleric was in his vehicle when he was shot more than once near the mosque, Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens said at a news conference. *) Ukraine calls US weapons to Kiev ‘investment’ in NATO protection Ukraine is considering no alternative to securing stalled US military assistance for its war against Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kiev is confident the US Congress will give its approval to release the aid. Kuleba said that if Russia prevailed in the conflict, which is now more than 22 months old, “other leaders will be tempted to follow in Russia’s footprints.” *) More than 100 dead in blasts near grave of slain Iran general At least 103 people have been killed in Iran as two bombs in quick succession struck a crowd commemorating slain general Qasem Soleimani on the anniversary of his killing, state media reported. Wednesday’s blasts, which state television called a “terrorist attack,” came a day after a senior Hamas leader was assassinated in an Israeli drone attack in Beirut. Long seen as a deadly adversary by the US and its allies, Soleimani was one of the most important power brokers across the region, setting Iran’s political and military agenda in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. *) Over a dozen campaign staffers warn Biden could lose votes in re-election bid About seventeen of Biden’s re-election campaign staffers have issued a warning in an anonymous letter that Biden could lose voters over his handling of Israel’s war on Gaza. They urged the US president to call for a ceasefire. The staffers said the “Biden for President” campaign has seen volunteers quit in droves, and people who have voted blue for decades feel uncertain about doing so for the first time ever, because of this conflict.

*) Hamas says it 'will never be defeated' after Israel kills Arouri Hamas chief Ismail Haniya has said his Palestinian resistance group "will never be defeated" after the assassination of its deputy leader Saleh al Arouri in Lebanon by Israel. "A movement whose leaders and founders fall as martyrs for the dignity of our people and our nation will never be defeated," Haniya said in a televised address. He also said that the assassination of al Arouri is a "terrorist act," a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and an expansion of Israel's hostility against Palestinians. *) Russia hit Ukraine with '300 missiles, 200 drones' in 72 hours Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia used 300 missiles and 200 drones in attacks over three days. He said, “this is absolutely conscious terror. In just a few days Russia has already used almost 300 missiles and more than 200 drones against Ukraine.” Zelenskyy also warned that if Ukraine fails, "Russian terror" will further spread throughout Europe. *) Sudan's RSF open to talks on immediate ceasefire with army: official Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has said it was open to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire through talks with the Sudanese army. It signed a declaration with the Taqadum civilian coalition and invited the army to do the same. It also included commitments to return millions of displaced people to their homes, create safe passages and include civilians in peace talks. *) Türkiye detains 33 people suspected of spying for Israel's Mossad Turkish authorities have detained 33 people on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities on behalf of Israel's foreign intelligence service Mossad, according to security sources. The arrests followed an investigation by the Istanbul Prosecutor Office's Terrorism and Organised Crimes Investigation Bureau, focusing on international espionage. The suspects are alleged to have been involved in activities such as reconnaissance, surveillance, assault and abduction on behalf of Mossad. *) Saudi Arabia formally joins BRICS bloc amid geo-political tensions Saudi state TV has said that the kingdom had officially joined the BRICS bloc of countries. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister had said in August the kingdom would study the details before the proposed January 1 joining date and take "the appropriate decision". The BRICS bloc is set to double with Saudi Arabia joining the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia as new members. Saudi Arabia's entry comes amid geo-political tensions between the US and China, and the expansion of China's influence within the kingdom.

*) Hamas urges ICRC action as Palestine says Israel killed prisoner Palestinian resistance group Hamas has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to document human rights violations against Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. According to the latest figures, more than 7,800 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons, including 80 women. Earlier, Palestinian prisoner affairs groups accused Israel of assassinating an incarcerated Palestinian man in an Israeli jail. This comes on the 88th day of Israel's attacks on besieged Gaza, which has killed at least 21,978 Palestinians and wounded 56,697 others. *) Hit by 155 quakes, Japan 'racing against time' to rescue victims Japan is racing against time to save people after a series of powerful earthquakes hit western regions, leaving at least 30 people dead. The Japan Meteorological Office said the country was hit with 155 earthquakes on Monday. Out of these, the largest had a magnitude of 7.5 and struck Ishikawa prefecture, according to the US Geological Survey. The scale of the damage is still emerging, with news footage showing toppled buildings, charred homes and locals without power in freezing overnight temperatures. *) Explosions in Kiev as Ukraine battles 'Russian drone attack' Explosions have been heard in Ukraine's capital as the country’s air force battled a Russian drone attack, officials say. The mayor of Kiev reported explosions about an hour after the region's military administration said unmanned aerial vehicles or drones had been detected in the city's airspace. There were also air alerts in the regions of Chernigiv, Cherkasy, Mykolayiv and Kherson. *) South Korea opposition chief 'stabbed in neck' during Busan visit South Korea's opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung has been attacked during a visit to the southern port city of Busan. Lee was stabbed in the neck with a weapon by an unidentified man while touring the site of a proposed airport, local media said. The assailant was subdued and arrested at the scene. Meanwhile, Lee had been transported to a hospital. He is reportedly conscious but his exact condition is unknown. *) Thousands march in Istanbul, chanting 'killer Israel, get out of Palestine' Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered on Istanbul's iconic Galata Bridge to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The event involved the participation of 308 non-governmental organisations in Türkiye. The demonstrators carried signs and chanted slogans in support of Palestinians under Israeli attacks in besieged Gaza. They also condemned a recent PKK terror attack that martyred 12 Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, January 1st. *) Israel to release some reservists as assault on Gaza grinds on Tel Aviv continues bombardment of cities, towns and refugee camps across besieged Gaza. The Israeli military said it will release some reservists who were called up to fight in Gaza, as the country prepares for a prolonged aggression on the tiny enclave. Now in its 87th day, Israel’s attacks have killed at least 21,822 Palestinians and wounded 56,451. *) Israel rings under barrage of rockets from Gaza Several rockets fired from Gaza have targeted Tel Aviv and southern Israel as the country rang in the New Year, according to journalists on the ground. Air-raid sirens sounded as Israeli missile defence systems intercept the rockets. People who had gathered on the streets to celebrate New Year’s Eve took shelter, while others continued to party. *) Five killed in attacks on Donetsk, Odessa: local authorities Meanwhile in Ukraine, five people were killed in attacks on the southern Odessa region and the eastern city of Donetsk, local authorities said. The Russian-affiliated head of Donetsk described the attack as “massive shelling from multiple launch rocket systems”. In Odessa, the local governor said one person died in a Russian drone attack and three others were wounded. *) Houthi rebels say US forces attacked three of their boats, killing 10 Houthi rebels have tried to board a Singapore-flagged cargo ship and attacked US Navy helicopters in the southern Red Sea. The Iranian-backed group have since renewed their calls for all countries to not participate in the US-led coalition against the group. They say American forces in the Red Sea are there to protect Israeli ships; but nothing will prevent them from supporting the Palestinian people in Gaza. And finally… *) Hundreds of protesters across world demand ceasefire in Gaza on NYE Hundreds of people in Jordan took to the streets, not to celebrate the New Year, but to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The demonstrators highlighted the urgent need for peace in the region, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the Middle East as the world enters 2024. A similar feeling echoed in Istanbul, Beirut and New York where thousands gathered to call for an immediate Gaza ceasefire. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Hamas says ending Israeli aggression on Gaza is priority The Palestinian resistance group Hamas' military wing has said that ending Israel's aggression on besieged Gaza is a priority, reiterating their rejection of any hostage exchange deal or negotiations without this condition being met. This was stated in a recorded speech by Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades, which was broadcast on Al Jazeera satellite channel. Forty-five Palestinians have been killed in attacks on several parts of the enclave early Friday and over 21,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on Gaza since October 7. *) Number of children killed in West Bank has reached unprecedented levels: UN The United Nations Children’s Fund has said that the number of children killed in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem has reached unprecedented levels. UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr noted that Israeli forces have killed 83 children in the past twelve weeks alone – more than double the number of children killed in all of 2022. Khodr added that the suffering of children in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, is part of the war on Gaza and must not fade into the background. *) Russia launches strikes across Ukrainian cities Russia has launched a wave of missile strikes across Ukrainian cities, including the capital, authorities said as they raised a nationwide air alert. The overnight attacks came days after Ukraine struck a Russian warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia. Explosions were reported in Kiev and missiles struck at least five other Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv in the northeast, Lviv in the country's west as well as Odessa in the south, the cities' mayors and police said. *) Iraq working to end US-led coalition’s presence in the country: Premier Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani has said that the government is working towards ending the US-led coalition against the presence of Daesh in the country. Following a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who was on a formal visit to Iraq, al Sudani said at a joint press conference that the leaders are working to conclude the US-led mission. Al Sudani added that the Iraqi government is in the process of “rearranging the relationship” between security advisers and forces under capable Iraqi forces. *) SpaceX launches secretive US military spacecraft on research mission SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket blasted back into space on Thursday night to ferry the US military's secretive X-37B drone to a research mission. After weeks of delays, the rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Pentagon has released little information about the space drone and its mission, only saying that the mission would entail "multiple cutting-edge experiments".

*) Russia calls for end to historic injustices endured by Palestine Russia has said the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East is a result of the longstanding failures of US foreign policy and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for de-escalation of the Middle East conflict, denouncing as "unacceptable" both acts of terror and "collective punishment". *) US proposes G7 explore ways to seize $300B in Russian assets The Financial Times has reported that the United States proposed that working groups from G7 countries explore ways to seize 300 billion dollars in frozen Russian assets. The US, backed by the UK, Japan and Canada, proposed moving forward with preparatory work so that options would be ready for G7 leaders to consider at a potential meeting around February 24. *) High-level talks between US and Mexico in effort to end migrant crisis A US delegation has met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss the unprecedented flow of irregular migration on the border between their two countries and to identify ways to address challenges to border security. Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena welcomed the US top officials ahead of their meeting with Lopez-Obrador and the Mexican Security Cabinet. Barcena noted the US government did not request changes in the country's current immigration policy or strengthening security measures. *) Gas tanker blast in Liberia kills dozens, many injured At least 40 people have died following the explosion of a gas tanker in north-central Liberia, the West African country's chief medical officer, Francis Kateh has said. The fuel truck crashed late on Tuesday in Totota, Lower Bong County, and soon after exploded, killing and injuring many who had flocked to the scene. Dozens of people are still in hospital with serious burns, and the death toll could rise. *) New York Times sues OpenAI, Microsoft over chatbot training The New York Times struck back against the threat that artificial intelligence poses to the news industry, filing a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft seeking to end the practice of using its stories to train chatbots. The Times says the companies are threatening its livelihood by effectively stealing billions of dollars worth of work by its journalists, in some cases spitting out Times' material verbatim to people who seek answers from generative AI like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

*) Israel army chief says Gaza assault will last 'many more months' Israel's army chief has warned its aggression in Gaza will last "many more months" as the military stepped up strikes, where nearly 21,000 people have already been reported killed. But Israel's leaders have repeatedly vowed to keep up their offensive until Palestinian resistance group Hamas is destroyed, and army chief Herzi Halevi signalled there would be no quick end to the war. *) EU said to be preparing $22B fund plan for Ukraine The European Union is preparing a back-up plan worth up to $22.08 billion for Ukraine, the Financial Times has reported. The debt-funded scheme would sidestep Hungary to release money for Kiev quickly, the report said. All 27 EU states except Hungary recently agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine despite the Russian attack, bypassing PM Viktor Orban's opposition by getting him to leave the room during the summit when the decision was made. Orban confirmed it was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who suggested this solution. *) 'Exodus from poverty': Migrant caravan slogs on through southern Mexico Thousands of refugees and asylum seekers have moved slowly north across the southern Mexican state of Chiapas in a caravan hoping to reach the US border, one day before top US officials planned to visit Mexico to discuss migration. Refugees and asylum seekers transit through Mexico to the US to escape violence, economic distress and negative impacts of the climate crisis, according to the United Nations. The number crossing the perilous Darien Gap straddling Colombia and Central America has topped half a million this year, double last year's record. *) Trump shares poll showing voters link potential second term with 'revenge' In a December 25 Truth Social post, Trump shared the results of a poll commissioned by DailyMail.com, in which voters were asked to provide a word they most associate with Trump's plans for a second term. The results, presented in the form of a word cloud, indicated that "revenge" was the most popular choice. In the post, Trump directed his attacks toward those who disagreed with him politically, whom he called "thugs". "MAY THEY ROT IN HELL," Trump wrote in all caps. "AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!" And finally… *) South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun of Oscar-winning film 'Parasite' is found dead Lee Sun-kyun, a popular South Korean actor best known globally for his role in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite," was found dead in a car in Seoul, authorities said. Police and emergency officers initially found Lee in what they believed was an unconscious state in the car parked on a street in northern Seoul. Emergency officers later confirmed he was dead, according to Seoul's Seongbuk police station.

*)Families of hostages boo Israel's Netanyahu during parliament address Families of hostages taken by Hamas booed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he addressed parliament, vowing to bring the captives home but saying "more time" was needed. "Now! Now!" the families chanted from the gallery when Netanyahu said Israeli forces first needed to increase military pressure on Palestinian resistance group Hamas. Netanyahu said he spoke to Israeli field commanders who said they needed "more time" to finish the mission. *) Nicaragua-bound plane carrying 300 'trafficked' Indians lands in Mumbai A plane that had been grounded in France for days over concerns its nearly 300 mostly Indian passengers were part of a human trafficking scheme has landed in Mumbai, flight tracking data showed. The Airbus A340 initially had been bound for Nicaragua when it was detained last Thursday at Vatry airport, east of Paris, where it had stopped for refuelling. It had arrived from Dubai, and there was an anonymous tip-off that it was carrying potential victims of human trafficking. Of the original 303 people on the passenger list, 276 were on the plane that took off just before 3:00 pm on Monday. Among the passengers staying behind were two people questioned by French police over suspected people trafficking, but a judicial source said police released them after establishing that the 303 passengers had boarded the plane of their own free will. *) Ukraine destroys Russian fleet ship in Crimea: air force Ukraine's air force said it had destroyed a Russian fleet ship off the Crimean peninsula suspected of carrying drones for use in Moscow's war against Kiev. "Around 2:30 am (0030 GMT) on December 26, tactical aviation of the Air Force attacked with cruise missiles the Novocherkassk large landing ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation in the area of Feodosia," it said in a post on messaging platform Telegram. Feodosia is home to a major Russian naval base on the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula. *) Indian navy to deploy guided missile destroyer ships after strike off its coast India's navy will deploy guided missile destroyer ships in the Arabian Sea after an Israel-affiliated merchant vessel was struck off the Indian coast over the weekend. The Indian navy was investigating the nature of the attack on the vessel, MV Chem Pluto, which docked in Mumbai, and initial reports pointed to a drone attack, the statement said. A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry on Monday called a US claim that Iran had attacked the ship near India "baseless". And finally… *)Archaeologists in Türkiye unearth remnants providing clues to religious beliefs of ancient Medes Archaeologists in northern Türkiye have unearthed structures and religious artefacts linked to the Medes, an ancient Iranian people, marking their first appearance in Anatolian archaeology. Excavations were unearthed in the previous years at Oluz Hoyuk in Amasya province, where pottery fragments and ceramics were identified as belonging to the Medes. This year’s findings from the region revealed altars and architectural structures which were also determined to belong to the Medes. The Medes were an ancient Iranian tribe from the Iron Age living mostly between today’s western and northern Iran.

*)Israeli 'massacre' on Christmas Eve at refugee camp kills 70 An Israeli air strike on Al Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza has killed at least 70 people, a spokesman for the health ministry in the enclave said. Ashraf Al Qudra said what was happening at the Maghazi camp was a "massacre" that was committed on a crowded residential block. He added that the death toll is likely to climb, given the large number of families residing there. *) Gunfire erupts at a Colorado mall on Christmas Eve. One man is dead and 3 people are hurt A man was fatally shot and three people were hurt as gunfire rang out at a shopping centre in Colorado on Christmas Eve, police said. A fight broke out between two groups of people on Sunday afternoon at the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs and officers received a report of gunshots and responded, the Colorado Springs Police Department said. Colorado Springs is about 114 kilometres south of Denver. *) Serbian opposition supporters try to break into Belgrade assembly Hundreds of residents of Serbia’s capital tried to break into the Belgrade City Assembly building as they gathered to protest the results of snap general and local elections that took place last weekend. The protest rally was organised by the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) coalition, which said the elections were marred by irregularities. A police officer appeared at the entrance to the assembly and warned SPN leaders and the crowd that forced entry is a “criminal offence.” *) Maersk to resume operations in Red Sea Danish shipping giant Maersk announced that it will resume operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden after a multinational security initiative deployed its forces against Houthi attacks. Yemen’s Houthi rebel group has significantly stepped up its involvement in the war in Gaza. The group has warned that it will attack all Israel-bound ships in the Red Sea, one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments, in a bid to support Palestinians. The world's largest container companies suspended their operations in the region last week. And finally… *)Australia skipper Cummins backs Khawaja on Gaza views Australia captain Pat Cummins threw his support behind star opener Usman Khawaja Monday, saying his bid to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was "not offensive". Khawaja has been denied permission by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to have a sticker showing a black dove holding an olive branch on his bat and shoes during the second Test against Pakistan. The 36-year-old was stopped from wearing shoes emblazoned with the hand-written slogans "Freedom is a human right" and "All lives are equal" during the first Test in Perth. The ICC said they flouted its rules on messages that relate to politics, religion or race.

*) Gaza death toll from Israeli attacks hits 20,057 The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza has soared to 20,057, according to the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave. The ministry added that at least 53,320 others have been injured in Israel’s attacks since October 7. “At least 390 people have been killed and 734 others have been injured in the last 48 hours in which communications were disrupted in the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement. *) UNSC to vote on new Gaza resolution The UN Security Council is expected to meet on Friday to vote on a draft resolution penned by the United Arab Emirates, which reportedly calls for "urgent steps" to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza. Intense closed-door negotiations have been carried out all week by the Council to avoid a US veto. According to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scale: "The entire population of Gaza – roughly 2.2 million people – are in crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity." The World Health Organization has said that northern Gaza has been left without a functional hospital due to a lack of fuel, staff and supplies. *) UN says up to 300,000 Sudanese fled their homes after a notorious group seized their safe haven Fighting between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group has forced up to 300,000 people to flee their homes in a province that had once been a safe haven for displaced people, according to the UN. The fighting erupted in the city of Wad Medani, the provincial capital of Jazeera province, after the Rapid Support Forces attacked the city earlier this month. The RSF said that it took over Wad Medani earlier this week, and the military said that its troops withdrew from the city, and an investigation has been opened. *) Ukraine says downed 24 of 28 Russian drones overnight Ukraine says it had downed 24 out of 28 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia overnight as two Kiev residents were reported injured by a drone attack on a residential building. Air raid sirens were heard in Kiev late Thursday and residents heard loud explosions. City hall initially said air defences were in action, calling on people to stay in shelters. Russian missiles and drones frequently target the Ukrainian capital but are usually shot down by air defence systems. And finally… *) France to close its embassy in Niger for an 'indefinite period' France will close its diplomatic mission in Niger, according to a letter sent to embassy staff and seen by The Associated Press. The news that the embassy in the capital Niamey is to close comes as France prepares to withdraw its last remaining military forces from the Sahel state this month. Relations between France and Niger have been in crisis since the coup d’etat in July against democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, and Paris’ refusal to collaborate with the military junta ruling the country.

*) Israel's unlawful executions in Gaza may amount to 'war crime' — UN The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has said it has received alarming reports, accusing the Israeli army of summarily executing at least 11 unarmed Palestinian men in the Al Remal neighbourhood of Gaza City. The incident, which unfolded in front of family members, has raised concerns “about the possible commission of a war crime" and the accusations follow earlier claims of Israeli forces deliberately targeting and killing civilians, the statement said. *) Exporters mull other ways to move goods as Houthi sway on Red Sea persists Exporters are scrambling to find alternative air, land and ocean routes as disarray ripples through freight supply chains around the world, during a wave of attacks in the Red Sea amid Israel's war on besieged Gaza. Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November 19 to show support for Palestine enduring more than two months of Israeli aggression and siege. The attacks have disrupted a key trade route linking Europe and North America with Asia via Egypt's Suez Canal. *) Russian troops said to have seized Ukraine stronghold in Donetsk Russian paratroopers have stormed a Ukrainian military stronghold northwest of Artyomovsk in Donetsk region, according to Moscow-based TASS news agency. The report said the paratroopers discovered the Ukrainian main fire weapons and control points during an aerial reconnaissance. Paratroopers reportedly suppressed and disrupted their control system before capturing the positions of the Ukrainian armed forces, after which they carried out a complete clearing of the stronghold. *) DRC extends voting after chaotic presidential, legislative elections The Democratic Republic of Congo's election authorities have said that voting would continue the following day in areas where voters could not cast ballots, after a general election marked by severe logistical problems and delays. There had long been fears that the four concurrent polls on Wednesday — to elect a president, national and regional lawmakers, as well as local councillors — would turn chaotic in the impoverished but mineral-rich central African nation. President Felix Tshisekedi, 60, is running for a second term in office, against a backdrop of years of economic growth but soaring inflation and conflict in eastern DRC where some 120 rebels groups including powerful M23 hold sway. *) Warner Brothers Discovery, Paramount Global in mega merger talks Warner Brothers Discovery shares slid more than 5 percent after reports emerged that the media and entertainment giant is exploring a merger with rival Paramount Global. Warner Brothers Discovery chief executive David Zaslav met with Paramount Global boss Bob Bakish for several hours to discuss the possibility of merging the companies, according to Axios. The talks were described as preliminary, with the outcome uncertain.

Hamas's armed wing in Lebanon claims responsibility for targeting Israel, and New York takes steps toward slavery reparations with new commission. This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, December 20th. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Israel faces Gaza ceasefire calls, US vows more arms Israel faced another round of global pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza with a new UN vote and fresh Western diplomatic efforts, although the United States vowed to continue arming its ally. The UN Security Council is set to convene today to weigh a call for a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian territory, after a previous bid was vetoed by the United States. UK Foreign Minister David Cameron was also due to meet French and Italian leaders to push for a "sustainable ceasefire" in the conflict, his office said. *) Earthquake in northwestern China kills at least 111 At least 111 people were killed in a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in northwestern China, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The quake resulted in 100 deaths in Gansu province and 11 in Qinghai province while damaging water, electricity, transportation and communications infrastructure, said the report. In Gansu, 96 people were reported to have been injured and 124 in Qinghai. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out search and rescue efforts and proper arrangements for affected people to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, said the agency. *) Volcano erupts on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula A volcano began erupting on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. "At 22:17 this evening, a volcanic eruption began north of Grindavik on the Reykjanes peninsula," said the office in a release on Monday. "The eruption is located close to Sundhnúkagígar, about four kilometres northeast of Grindavik, and it can be seen on nearby web cameras," it said. The eruption began following an earthquake that started around an hour earlier. *) 2nd military plane carrying patients from Gaza arrives in Türkiye A second military plane carrying patients from Gaza and their attendants arrived in Türkiye for medical treatment. The C-130 aircraft, belonging to Türkiye's National Defense Ministry, touched down with 26 patients, 32 accompanying individuals and medical personnel whose passage from Gaza to Egypt was facilitated. It took off from Al Arish Airport in Egypt and landed at Etimesgut Military Airport in Ankara. Upon arriving at the airport, the patients were transferred to the city centre via waiting ambulances. The aircraft was carrying 1.2 tons of medicines and medical supplies along with nine healthcare personnel. And finally… *) Istanbul Airport voted world's best Istanbul Airport has been voted the “World's Best Airport" by readers of leading US travel magazine Global Traveler. The mega air hub has also been chosen as "Europe's Best Airport," further cementing its position as a leader in global aviation, according to a statement Monday. iGA Istanbul Airport also received awards for being the "Airport with the Best Food and Beverage Area," the "Best Airport Shopping Experience" and the "Airport Offering the Best Duty-Free Shopping Experience in Europe."

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, December 18th. *) Israel kills 90 in refugee camp as its attacks continue in Gaza The Israeli army has launched deadly attacks across Gaza, hitting a refugee camp in the north, a hospital in the south and killing a teenage girl who had lost her leg in an earlier strike, according to Palestinian officials, media and eyewitnesses. Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed 90 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry spokesman told Reuters. Another missile attack on a house belonging to the Shehab family killed 24 people, Hamas Aqsa radio said. “We believe the number of dead people under the rubble is huge but there is no way to remove the rubble and recover them because of the intensity of Israeli fire,” the spokesman said by telephone. *) Voters in Chile reject draft constitution, election officials say Chilean voters have rejected a proposed new constitution drafted by a conservative-led committee, election officials said, meaning the charter imposed during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will remain in force. With 99 percent of referendum ballots counted, the “against” option prevailed with 55.75 percent of the vote, compared to 44.25 percent in favour, according to electoral service Servel just hours after voting ended around 6:00 pm on Sunday (2100 GMT). The latest version of a new proposed constitution was overseen by the far-right opposition Republican Party after voters roundly rejected a progressive draft in September 2022 that attempted to enshrine environmental protections and the right to elective abortion. *) Iraqis vote in first provincial elections for a decade Iraqis vote to choose their provincial councils, the first such election in a decade. Ballots will be held in 15 of Iraq’s provinces but not in the other three which are Kurdish and operate under a separate autonomous system. The election is seen as a key test for the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani. He rose to power just over a year ago on the back of a parliamentary coalition and has focused on developing public services and infrastructure ravaged by decades of conflict. *) Serbia President Vucic says his party won parliamentary polls Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has said his party had won a commanding victory in parliamentary elections, extending the populist outfit’s rule in the Balkan country amid accusations of foul play by the opposition. Official results were set to be announced late on Monday but the president appeared certain of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)’s performance, just hours after the polls closed on Sunday. Even though Vucic was not personally on the ballot in Sunday’s parliamentary and local elections, the contest was largely seen as a referendum on his government. And finally… *) 14th TRT International Documentary Awards held in Istanbul The 14th TRT International Documentary Awards, organised by Türkiye’s national broadcaster TRT, took place in Istanbul between December 14-17 with screenings of national and international documentaries and the participation of expert guests in the field. Throughout the four-day event, documentaries competing in various categories and special selection films were shown to audiences, contributing to enriching the documentary climate in Türkiye. “The Lens of Democracy” received the Best Film Award in the International Category, while “Flaneur” was chosen as the Best Film in the National Professional Category. Speaking at the ceremony, TRT General Manager Mehmet Zahid Sobaci said the event is the largest documentary film festival in Türkiye. He pointed out that it is impossible to think independently about the history and adventure of documentaries and documentary making in Türkiye without TRT “because TRT, since its establishment, has become the school of documentary making.” And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, December 18th. *) Israel kills 90 in refugee camp as its attacks continue in Gaza The Israeli army has launched deadly attacks across Gaza, hitting a refugee camp in the north, a hospital in the south and killing a teenage girl who had lost her leg in an earlier strike, according to Palestinian officials, media and eyewitnesses. Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed 90 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry spokesman told Reuters. Another missile attack on a house belonging to the Shehab family killed 24 people, Hamas Aqsa radio said. “We believe the number of dead people under the rubble is huge but there is no way to remove the rubble and recover them because of the intensity of Israeli fire,” the spokesman said by telephone. *) Voters in Chile reject draft constitution, election officials say Chilean voters have rejected a proposed new constitution drafted by a conservative-led committee, election officials said, meaning the charter imposed during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will remain in force. With 99 percent of referendum ballots counted, the “against” option prevailed with 55.75 percent of the vote, compared to 44.25 percent in favour, according to electoral service Servel just hours after voting ended around 6:00 pm on Sunday (2100 GMT). The latest version of a new proposed constitution was overseen by the far-right opposition Republican Party after voters roundly rejected a progressive draft in September 2022 that attempted to enshrine environmental protections and the right to elective abortion. *) Iraqis vote in first provincial elections for a decade Iraqis vote to choose their provincial councils, the first such election in a decade. Ballots will be held in 15 of Iraq’s provinces but not in the other three which are Kurdish and operate under a separate autonomous system. The election is seen as a key test for the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani. He rose to power just over a year ago on the back of a parliamentary coalition and has focused on developing public services and infrastructure ravaged by decades of conflict. *) Serbia President Vucic says his party won parliamentary polls Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has said his party had won a commanding victory in parliamentary elections, extending the populist outfit’s rule in the Balkan country amid accusations of foul play by the opposition. Official results were set to be announced late on Monday but the president appeared certain of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS)’s performance, just hours after the polls closed on Sunday. Even though Vucic was not personally on the ballot in Sunday’s parliamentary and local elections, the contest was largely seen as a referendum on his government. And finally… *) 14th TRT International Documentary Awards held in Istanbul The 14th TRT International Documentary Awards, organised by Türkiye’s national broadcaster TRT, took place in Istanbul between December 14-17 with screenings of national and international documentaries and the participation of expert guests in the field. Throughout the four-day event, documentaries competing in various categories and special selection films were shown to audiences, contributing to enriching the documentary climate in Türkiye. “The Lens of Democracy” received the Best Film Award in the International Category, while “Flaneur” was chosen as the Best Film in the National Professional Category. Speaking at the ceremony, TRT General Manager Mehmet Zahid Sobaci said the event is the largest documentary film festival in Türkiye. He pointed out that it is impossible to think independently about the history and adventure of documentaries and documentary making in Türkiye without TRT “because TRT, since its establishment, has become the school of documentary making.” And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

1) Israeli leaflets incite Gaza residents to spy on Hamas leaders The Israeli army has dropped leaflets over besieged Gaza, inciting displaced Palestinians to spy on Hamas leaders. Leaflets state that individuals offering information will be rewarded financially, with the amounts specified as follows: Yahya Sinwar at $400,000, Muhammed Sinwar at $300,000, Rafaa Salameh at $200,000, and Mohammed Deif at $100,000. 2) Türkiye condemns Israeli soldiers' provocation at a mosque in West Bank The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli has slammed Israeli soldiers for performing Jewish rituals inside a mosque in the occupied West Bank. Keceli expressed strong condemnation on social media, urging that such attacks on Muslim holy places be halted immediately. He called for the severe punishment of those responsible for such provocations. Keceli concluded his remarks with, 'The region needs more peace, not more violence.' 3) Turkish President Erdogan says Washington's withdrawal of its support for Israel would ensure a quick ceasefire President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during a phone call with President Joe Biden on Thursday night. He suggested that a swift ceasefire could be achieved if the US withdraws its unconditional support for Israel. Erdogan emphasised the historical responsibility of the US to promptly achieve a lasting ceasefire in the region. *) Russia’s Putin says there will be no peace in Ukraine until Russia achieves its goals Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the Russia-Ukraine war in a year-end news conference, declared that peace in Ukraine is contingent upon the realisation of the Kremlin's unchanged goals after nearly two years of conflict. He dismissed the idea of a second wave of reservist mobilisation, a widely unpopular proposal in Russia. Putin mentioned that approximately 617,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine, with around 244,000 called up to support professional military forces. *) Pope Francis urges global treaty on AI ethics for a safer future Pope Francis, in a six-page message released ahead of the Catholic Church's World Day of Peace on January 1, has urged global leaders to adopt a treaty regulating the ethical use of artificial intelligence. The 86-year-old pontiff acknowledged the positive impact of technological advances but cautioned against the risks posed by AI. He also emphasised concerns related to disinformation, election interference, and the blurred responsibility in decision-making, ranging from social security payments to weapon targeting.

*) Israel targets northern and southern Gaza At least 27 Palestinians have been killed early Thursday morning in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The Israeli army carried out airstrikes on wide areas in northern and southern Gaza, particularly targeting the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, the agency cited local sources as saying. The war, now in its third month, began after the October 7 attacks on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas that Israeli officials say killed 1,200 people. US President Joe Biden, whose government has provided Israel with billions of dollars of military aid, on Wednesday gave his sharpest rebuke of the war yet, saying Israel's "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza was weakening international support. *) Sudan suffering 'one of world's worst humanitarian crisis': UN Nearly 18 million people in Sudan are facing acute hunger because of the ongoing war, an official from the UN food agency says. World Food Program spokeswoman in Sudan, Leni Kinzl said close to 5 million are in emergency levels of food insecurity. Sudan has been mired by fighting between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, head of the ruling Sovereign Council, and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. At least 12,260 victims have been killed and more than 33,000 injured in the conflict, according to UN figures. *) At least 1 killed, 11 injured in Russian airstrikes on Ukraine At least one person has been killed and 11 others injured in overnight Russian airstrikes on Ukraine's southwestern Odessa and southern Kherson regions. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram that a rocket attack on the Kherson region killed one person and drone attacks on Odessa injured 11 people and damaged residential buildings. In a separate statement, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed that Russia conducted airstrikes “from the temporarily occupied Kherson region in the direction of My-ko-laiv as well as Kherson regions. It further claimed that 41 of the 42 drones launched by Russia were downed by air defence systems, most of which were shot down over the Odessa region. *) Chad votes on new constitution ahead of promised end of military rule Chadians will vote on Sunday on a new constitution, in a key step towards elections promised by the ruling junta and seen as a test of legitimacy for the Deby dynasty's more than 30-year rule. Transitional President General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, whose junta has governed since 2021, had promised to hand power to civilians and hold elections this year before postponing them to 2024. The "yes" vote is expected to win the constitutional referendum after a well-financed campaign by the ruling junta against a divided opposition, which has faced arrest, intimidation and threats for more than a year. *) EU reaches deal to reform electricity market The European Union has reached an agreement to reform the bloc's electricity market in a bid to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and stabilise consumer prices. The EU's plans are aimed at making the market less vulnerable to volatility and were seen as a response to Russia's military offensive against Ukraine, which sent energy prices spiralling for consumers and businesses last year. The deal will have to be endorsed and adopted by both the Council and the Parliament.

*) Australia votes at UNGA for Gaza truce in rare split with US Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the country had supported a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza out of concern for civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave, in a rare split with close ally the United States. After dire warnings by UN officials over a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the 193-member UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire with 153 countries including Australia voting in favour and 23 abstaining. Ten countries voted against including the US and Israel and the rest five did not vote. Israel's current war on besieged Gaza — now in its 68th day — has left at least 18,412 Palestinians dead and wounded more than 50,100 others while thousands are feared dead under debris of bombed buildings. *) Israel cannot say no in the future to a Palestinian state: Biden US President Joe Biden has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hardline government and that Israel cannot say no in the future to a Palestinian state, ramping up pressure on the Israelis. Biden’s remarks at a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign came after the US sold 14,000 tank shells to Israel without Congress review and also scuttled a UNSC vote that would have called for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. Biden claimed that Israel had “most of the world supporting it,” despite global protests since October 7 and member states at the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly overwhelmingly demanding Israel end its brutal war in Gaza. *) Nearly a fifth of Gaza’s buildings destroyed or damaged: UN Nearly 40,000 buildings or about 18 percent of all pre-conflict structures have been damaged or destroyed in Gaza since the Israeli bombardment began, a UN assessment has shown. The latest estimate, based on a November 26 image, was produced by the United Nations Satellite Centre, where analysts examine very high resolution satellite images to find damaged buildings and publish maps that can guide relief work and rebuilding plans during natural disasters and conflicts. Estimates such as this based on high-resolution satellite images might still underestimate the scale of destruction since they do not show all building damage — for example, a collapsed building with an intact roof can look undamaged. *) Polls close in Egypt as Sisi cruises toward third win Polling has closed in Egypt after a three-day election widely expected to return sitting President Abdel Fattah el Sisi to power in the Arab world’s most populous country. Government newspaper Al Ahram reported that the National Elections Authority, which is responsible for organising the poll, recorded an “unprecedented” turnout. Polling stations closed their doors at 1900 GMT, and the results will be announced on Monday. *) COP28 proposed deal calls for ‘transitioning away’ from fossil fuels A new draft agreement unveiled in talks in Dubai has toughened language by calling for “transitioning away” from fossil fuels, although it does not use the term “phase-out.” The document recognised “the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions in line with 1.5C pathways” and called upon nations to take actions. Discussions during the 14 days of talks in Dubai had revolved around how far to go and whether to make a historic call to wind down oil, gas and coal — the main culprits in the planet’s rapid heating.

*) Hamas says fighters killed 40 Israeli soldiers in last 48 hours The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has said its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, killed 40 Israeli soldiers in the past 48 hours. In a statement posted on Telegram, Hamas said its fighters managed to completely or partially destroy 44 military vehicles “on all fronts of the fighting in Gaza.” The statement reported the use of booby traps to destroy buildings, targeting an Israeli field command centre, and using mortar shells and short-range rockets against areas where soldiers gathered. Israel has not yet issued a statement regarding the announcement. *) Qatar ‘continuing’ efforts to renew Gaza ceasefire despite Israeli attacks Mediation efforts have been continuing to secure a new Gaza ceasefire despite ongoing Israeli bombardment that is “narrowing the window” for a successful outcome, Qatar’s prime minister said. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Doha Forum that Qatar is continuing to make efforts along with its partners for a ceasefire and that they are not going to give up. Qatar was a key mediator in negotiations that resulted in a seven-day truce, which saw Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian women and children, and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza. *) Guterres: UN Security Council’s authority, credibility severely undermined United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the credibility and authority of the UN Security Council suffered significant damage over the Gaza war. Speaking at the Doha Forum held in Qatar, Guterres criticised the UN Security Council’s “resounding silence” over Israel’s war in Gaza. Guterres underlined that “there is no effective protection of civilians in Gaza,” and called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the besieged territory amid ongoing Israeli bombardment. *) Zelenskyy emphasises ‘fight for freedom’ during Argentina visit President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the leaders of Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay during a trip to Buenos Aires to attend the inauguration of President Javier Milei. Zelenskyy said the support and strong united voice of Latin American countries that stand with the people of Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy is very important for Ukrainians. The Ukrainian leader praised Uruguay’s participation in the third foreign advisors meeting on the implementation of Ukraine’s formula for peace, and invited Ecuador and Paraguay to join. *) Trump cancels plan to testify in NY fraud trial Donald Trump has changed his mind about testifying in his own defence in his New York fraud case, he said, announcing that he will not take the stand as expected because he has “nothing more to say.” The 77-year-old posted the surprise statement on Truth Social on Sunday, adding that he has “already testified to everything” in the ongoing trial against him, his eldest sons Don Jr and Eric, and other Trump Organization executives. Trump was questioned last month by the prosecution, which has accused him and the other defendants of exaggerating the value of their real estate assets by billions of dollars to obtain more favourable bank loans and insurance terms.

*) UN Security Council to consider urging Gaza ceasefire The UN Security Council is set to meet under acute pressure from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and will vote on urging an immediate ceasefire in besieged Gaza. The renewed push for a ceasefire was made by Arab states after Guterres made a rare move on Wednesday to formally warn the Security Council of a global threat from Israel's Gaza war. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France or Britain. *) Palestinian Authority in collaboration with US on postwar plan for Gaza The Palestinian Authority is working with US officials on a plan to run Gaza after the war, Bloomberg News has reported, citing Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. Shtayyeh said the preferred outcome of the conflict would be for Hamas to become a junior partner under the Palestinian Liberation Organization, helping to build a new independent state that includes the occupied West Bank, besieged Gaza and East Jerusalem. "If they (Hamas) are ready to come to an agreement and accept the political platform of the PLO, then there will be room for talk…” Shtayyeh said. He also underlined that Israel's aim to fully defeat Hamas is unrealistic. *) Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to take steps towards normalisation Armenia and Azerbaijan have said they would exchange prisoners of war and work towards normalising their relations after three decades of conflict over disputed territory. The Caucasus neighbours have long fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan reclaimed after an offensive against Armenian separatists in September. The two sides agreed in a joint statement to seize "a historical chance to achieve a long-awaited peace in the region". Both countries have said a peace agreement could be signed by the end of the year. *) EU to give member states authority to halt Russian gas imports The European Union is poised to give its member states the power to halt gas imports from Russia and Belarus, according to a Financial Times report. Any member state will be able to block companies from Russia and Belarus from obtaining space in their gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals, FT cited a draft legal text proposed by Brussels. The EU member states could have the authority to "partially or, where justified, completely limit" access to infrastructure to gas operators from Russia and Belarus, in order to protect their vital security interests. *) After day of rest at climate summit, COP28 negotiators turn back to fossil fuels The United Nations climate conference begins its final week with negotiators expected to zoom in on the future of fossil fuels. Negotiators will work to finalise a key document called the Global Stocktake, which evaluates the world’s climate change progress since the 2015 Paris agreement and what needs to be done now to limit global warming. Professional negotiators will turn in a new draft to senior national officials, many at minister levels, who will have to make the political decisions.

*) Antonio Guterres invokes Article 99 of UN charter over Gaza crisis For the first time in his tenure, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN's charter over the crisis in besieged Gaza. The article states that "the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security." Guterres wrote to the president of the Security Council that the humanitarian conditions amid Israel’s war on Gaza are "fast deteriorating into a catastrophe with potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole." Israel has killed at least 16,248 Palestinians and wounded more than 43,616 others in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since October 7. *) Jewish groups plan to march to Al-Aqsa Mosque to ‘end its Islamic status’ Jewish groups have announced a plan to march to Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to “end its Islamic status” and "establish full Jewish sovereignty" in Jerusalem. Various far-right Jewish groups said the march, which was greenlit by the Israeli police, would be held Thursday evening, coinciding with the first day of Hanukkah, a Jewish festival that lasts eight days. Located in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, Al Aqsa Mosque is under the authority of the Jerusalem Islamic Endowment, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Foundations, according to the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty signed on October 26 1994. *) Turkiye's Erdogan in Athens in 'new chapter' bid Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to Athens in a keenly watched visit billed as an attempted "new chapter" between the NATO allies and historic rivals after years of tension. In meetings with Greek Prime Minister KEER-E-AKOS- MIT-SO-TAKIS and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (Sakellaropolu), Erdogan is expected to discuss trade, regional issues and the thorny issue of migration. In an interview with the Greek daily Kathimerini a day before his planned visit, Erdogan said he was seeking a "new chapter" in relations on the basis of "win-win" principles. *) EU tells China 'differences' must be addressed The leaders of China and the European Union have held the first in-person summit in over four years, focused on wide-ranging issues including disputes over trade and a deep divide on the war in Ukraine. On the agenda at the summit, the EU is calling on China to improve market access for products from its 27 member countries to address an annual trade imbalance of more than $200 billion between the two sides. The EU is also calling on China to use its influence with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. *) New lawsuit says Meta exposes children to exploitation The US state of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit accusing Facebook and Instagram of being a "breeding ground" for predators who target children. In total, more than 40 states are suing Meta, though some opted to file in local courts rather than join in the federal case. The lawsuit says children can easily evade Facebook and Instagram age constraints, exposing young people to inappropriate material.

*) Israel to keep control of Gaza’s security after war: Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the Israeli army will retain control of besieged Gaza’s security after the war. Speaking at a news conference after a meeting with his war cabinet, Netanyahu said Gaza “must be demilitarised” after the war ends. Netanyahu said the Israeli army will take care of demilitarisation, adding that no international force can be responsible for this. *) ‘If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running’: Biden US President Joe Biden has told campaign donors that he wasn’t sure he’d be running for reelection if Donald Trump wasn’t also in the race. He said democracy is “more at risk in 2024” and that the former president and his allies are out to “destroy” democratic institutions. President Biden was using a trio of fundraisers to caution against what might happen should his predecessor again claim control of the White House. *) US could become responsible for Ukraine’s defeat: Yellen US Treasury’s Janet Yellen has said that the United States would “be responsible for Ukraine’s defeat” if the US Congress fails to approve the Biden administration’s latest multi-billion-dollar funding request for the war-stricken country. Yellen told reporters on a trip to Mexico City that the funding — particularly for Ukraine’s general government budget support — was “utterly essential” and a pre-condition to keep IMF support flowing to Ukraine. Yellen said the US can hold itself responsible for Ukraine’s defeat if it doesn’t manage to get this funding to Ukraine that’s needed. *) Negotiators at COP28 mull over fossil fuel phaseout A second draft of what could be the final agreement from the COP28 UN climate summit shows negotiators are considering calling for an “orderly and just” phase-out of fossil fuels. The draft text was published by the UN climate body and shows the possible outcomes for talks at the COP28 summit in Dubai. The negotiations are part of the “global stocktake” process, in which nearly 200 nations are trying to agree on plans to curb rising global temperatures. *) Crazy that West still ‘trying to cast Israelis as victims’: Roger Waters Pink Floyd’s co-founder Roger Waters has said that he finds it “crazy that the West is still trying to cast Israelis as victims.” In an exclusive interview to TRT World, Waters said it’s hard for anybody to put themselves in Palestinians’ position, especially those living in Gaza, who are facing bombardment by F-16s day and night. He said one cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like and that the assault being cheered on by the most powerful empire in the world is disgusting beyond all belief.

*) Israeli army carries out overnight airstrikes across Gaza, causing dozens of casualties The Israeli army has carried out a series of overnight bombings across Gaza, causing dozens of casualties among the Palestinian people. The Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported an Israeli airstrike on a residential building of the Al-Yazigi family in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, which left an unspecified number of casualties, including women and children. Another Israeli airstrike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza caused several deaths and injuries. Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza on Friday after the end of a week-long humanitarian pause with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. At least 15,899 Palestinians have been killed and more than 42,000 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Hamas’ October 7 surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. *) Zelenskyy to address US senators by video as White House pushes Congress to support aid for Ukraine The Biden administration will urge Congress to approve a request of $106 billion of funding for the wars in Ukraine, Israel and other security needs during a classified briefing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the administration invited Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the senators so they "could hear directly from him precisely what's at stake." In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the US will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year. *) Niger ends EU defence, security partnerships Niger's military administration announced that it has ended two security and defence partnerships with the European Union as the country looks more towards Russia for defence cooperation. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said the state is withdrawing from the European Union Military Partnership Mission that was launched in February of this year, as well as from the 2012 EU civilian capacity-building mission established to strengthen the country’s internal security forces. The development came on the same day a Russian delegation met with Niger's military leaders in the capital Niamey, with the two countries sealing a deal to strengthen defence cooperation. *) At least 6 people have died as heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Michaung hit India's coasts Torrential rains and strong winds lashing India's southern and eastern coasts have killed at least six people, as states brace for a powerful storm expected to make landfall later in the day. The southern states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, as well as Odisha in the east, experienced heavy downpours Monday as authorities issued warnings for Tropical Cyclone Michaung, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. India's weather department said parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh could see over 200 millimetres of rain as the storm approaches. *) Activists at COP28 summit ramp up pressure on cutting fossil fuels as talks turn to clean energy Activists have a series of events and actions lined up at the United Nations climate summit, seeking to amp up pressure on conference participants to agree to phase out coal, oil and gas. Negotiations are well underway on the so-called global stocktake — a framework for new national plans set for countries to adhere to capping warming to levels set in the Paris Agreement in 2015. A draft released Tuesday will be analysed by negotiators looking at how to stick to the goal. Over 100 countries have pledged to triple their renewable capacity and double energy efficiency by the end of the decade.

*) Israeli army to 'fight hard' in southern Gaza Israel's ground invasion has expanded to every part of Gaza, according to its military, as it ordered more evacuations, vowing to hit south Gaza with “no less strength” than it hit the north. Heavy bombardment followed the evacuation orders, and Palestinians in the sealed-off territory bordering Israel and Egypt say there was no place left to go. Nearly half of Gaza's 2.3 million people fled to the south after Israel ordered civilians to leave the north in the beginning of the war on the enclave. Israel’s war on Gaza was sparked by the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 Israelis. And over 15,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli bombardment. *) Turkish Red Crescent sends over $3.4M aid to Gaza amid ongoing war The Turkish Red Crescent has dispatched over $3.4 million worth of aid to Gaza amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the head of the relief group said. Addressing an event in Istanbul, Fatma Meric Yilmaz said the Red Crescent had gathered about $17.3 million in financial donations, with the $3.4 million dispatched as immediate assistance. Additionally, the organisation has sent in-kind aid carried from Türkiye on 11 aircraft and two ships. *) US Muslims launch anti-Biden campaign ahead of 2024 presidential election Muslims in the US have launched a campaign against President Joe Biden’s bid for re-election in 2024 over his support for Israel in its war on Gaza. A group of Muslim leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania gathered over the weekend in Dearborn, Michigan to launch the campaign. The campaign aims to encourage voters to withdraw their support for Biden due to his “unwillingness to call for a cease-fire and protect innocents in Palestine and Israel," it said in a statement. American news website Axios said that Arab American and Muslim American outrage could hurt Biden’s re-election prospects in most of the 2024 swing states he won in 2020. *) 11 hikers dead after Indonesia volcano erupts, dozen still missing Eleven hikers have been found dead and another 12 are missing after a volcano erupted in Indonesia, with rescuers racing to carry injured and burned survivors down the mountain on foot. Rescuers worked through the night to find dozens of hikers stranded on Mount Marapi on the island of Sumatra after it spewed an ash tower of 3,000 metres into the sky on Sunday. Three hikers were found alive and 49 had safely descended from the crater, some with burns and fractures, according to a local rescue official. *) Bitcoin skyrockets, passes $40k amid optimism for US trading approval Bitcoin has risen past $40,000 for the first time since May last year, boosted by hopes that the United States will soon allow broader trading of the world's biggest cryptocurrency. The digital asset has skyrocketed this year, gaining nearly 150 percent, with expectations growing that US regulators will allow the creation of exchange-traded funds. These would track the price of bitcoin and allow the public to invest in the currency without directly purchasing it. Bitcoin was trading above $40,700 at around 0400 GMT Monday.

*) Israel-Hamas agree to extend truce for seventh day Israel and Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to extend the truce for a seventh day after another exchange of captives for Palestinians and humanitarian aid was delivered to besieged Gaza. Israel’s military said that a truce with Hamas will continue “in light of the mediators’ efforts to continue the process of releasing hostages, and subject to the terms of the agreement.” Israel freed 30 more Palestinian women and minors early on Thursday as Hamas released 10 Israeli captives and four Thai nationals — who had arrived in Egypt on the same day. *) Henry Kissinger, US diplomat and controversial Nobel winner, dies at 100 Henry Kissinger, a controversial Nobel Peace Prize winner and diplomatic powerhouse has died at age 100. Kissinger Associates Inc said in a statement that he died at his home in Connecticut on Wednesday. Kissinger had been active past his centenary, attending meetings in the White House, publishing a book on leadership styles, and testifying before a Senate committee about the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. *) India ‘intelligence’ official plotted to kill Sikh activist on US soil An Indian government official has directed a $100,000 plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York City, US authorities said. Last spring, US officials became aware of the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is considered a terrorist by the Indian government. The US Drug Enforcement Administration stopped the plot when the foreign government employee recruited an international narcotics trafficker to commit the murder, the DEA administrator said. *) Russia claims capture of village in Ukraine's Donetsk region Russia said its armed forces had taken control of Khromove, a small village on the outskirts of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Moscow’s troops seized Bakhmut in May after one of the bloodiest battles of its 21-month military offensive. Russia’s defence ministry announced this in a daily briefing. *) Elon Musk uses F-word for advertisers who boycotted X over ‘anti-Semitism’ Billionaire Elon Musk has used the F-word for advertisers who fled his social media platform X over alleged anti-Semitic content in a fiery interview. His remarks followed a moment of contrition in a New York Times DealBook Summit interview, as he first said, “I’m sorry” for a tweet that agreed with an “anti-Jewish” post on X on November 15. Musk has faced a torrent of criticism since he agreed with a user who claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people, saying the user who referenced the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory was speaking “the actual truth.”

*) US, Israeli spy chiefs discuss ‘next phase’ of Gaza truce deal in Doha US and Israeli intelligence chiefs have arrived in Doha to discuss the “next phase” of a deal between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, a source briefed on the visit said. The leaders of the US Central Intelligence Agency and Israel’s Mossad were scheduled to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the source said, adding that Egyptian officials were also taking part. *) More people at risk of death from disease than bombardment in Gaza: WHO More people could die from disease than from Israeli bombings in Gaza if its health system was not repaired, World Health Organization spokesperson Margaret Harris has said at a UN briefing in Geneva. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 people have been confirmed killed in Israel’s bombardment, around 40 percent of them children, with many more dead feared to be lost under rubble. “(There are) no medicines, no vaccination activities, no access to safe water and hygiene and no food. We saw a very high number of cases of diarrhoea among infants,” the UN spokesperson said. *) Israel not letting enough fuel in Gaza, curbs harming aid delivery: EU Israeli restrictions on fuel supplies to Gaza are hampering aid deliveries and humanitarian access required under a UN resolution, an EU commissioner, Janez Lenarcic, has said. “We are calling for the increase of fuel supplies to Gaza,” Lenarcic told journalists in Brussels. “The humanitarian access should be based on the needs and not on some restrictions,” the EU commissioner said. *) Hijab can be banned in public service, top European court rules The top European Union court has ruled that public authorities in member states can prohibit employees from wearing signs of religious belief, such as a Muslim head scarf. The Court of Justice of the European Union said a policy of strict neutrality that was intended to establish a neutral administrative environment may be regarded as being objectively justified by a legitimate aim. It added that another public administration would also be justified if it decided to authorise, in a general and indiscriminate manner, the wearing of visible signs of belief. *) All 41 workers trapped in tunnel rescued after 17 days: Indian officials Indian workers have been greeted with wild cheers and flower garlands as rescuers safely brought out all 41 from the collapsed Himalayan road tunnel. With beaming smiles, the rescued men were welcomed as heroes after being hauled through 57 metres of steel pipe on stretchers specially fitted with wheels, where they were greeted by state officials before embracing their families. Crowds outside the tunnel cheered, as news spread that all had made it safely out of the under-construction tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where they had been trapped since a partial collapse on November 12.

*) Hamas seeks to extend humanitarian pause in Gaza Palestinian group Hamas has announced that it is seeking to extend the four-day humanitarian pause with Israel in Gaza. The group said in a statement that it is making serious efforts to secure the release of more Palestinians even after the pause ends. A Palestinian source who preferred to remain anonymous, as the person was not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed to Anadolu Agency that Hamas informed mediators Qatar and Egypt that the resistance movements were willing to extend the current truce by two to four days. *) Israeli girl’s death brings army’s ‘Hannibal Protocol’ back into focus An Israeli eyewitness said that during Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, the army surrounded a house containing members of the Palestinian group and Israelis and later opened fire with tank rounds, killing all of them. It appeared to be the latest implementation of the ‘Hannibal Protocol’, which involves the killing of enemy-held captives to prevent Israeli civilians from being taken to Gaza as hostages. Reports in Israeli media about the high number of civilian casualties during Hamas’s cross-border assault and Israeli military helicopters shooting both Palestinian fighters and civilians at a music festival near Gaza have led to debates on whether the army applied the ‘Hannibal Protocol’. *) President Erdogan discusses Gaza with his Iranian counterpart Raisi In a recent phone conversation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have discussed unlawful Israeli attacks on Palestine’s Gaza, humanitarian aid delivery for Palestinians, and potential steps to achieve a permanent ceasefire in the region. President Erdogan emphasised the importance of taking a common stance by particularly Türkiye and Iran, and Muslim world against Israeli atrocities and brutality in Palestinian lands. The leaders expressed their commitment to working together to turn the temporary ceasefire into a permanent one and achieving permanent peace in the region. *) Ukraine calls for more air defence systems to protect grain corridor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country needs more air defence systems in order to protect the grain corridor that has been operational since Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July. “We have a positive response when these systems start to protect that region. Because both the corridor and the people there are important,” Zelenskyy said at a press briefing following the ‘Grain From Ukraine’ summit in Kiev. Ukraine has an agreement with several states for the escort of vessels by Ukrainian boats, he said, adding that the country is already receiving naval boats specifically for this purpose. And finally… *) Irish writer Paul Lynch wins Booker Prize with novel ‘Prophet Song’ Irish writer Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize for fiction with what judges called a “soul-shattering” novel about a woman’s struggle to protect her family as Ireland collapses into totalitarianism and war. “Prophet Song”, set in a dystopian fictional version of Dublin, was awarded the 50,000-pound (about $63,000) literary prize at a ceremony in London. Canadian writer Esi Edugyan, who chaired the judging panel, said the book is “a triumph of emotional storytelling, bracing and brave” in which Lynch “pulls off feats of language that are stunning to witness”.

*) Gaza truce starts after intense Israeli bombing, prisoner swap to follow A four-day truce in Israel’s war on Gaza has started with hostages to be released in exchange for prisoners. It is the first major reprieve in seven weeks of conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. After prolonged negotiations, deliberations and delay, the pause was due to begin at 7:00 am (0500 GMT), silencing guns that have raged since Hamas’s attack on Israeli towns near Gaza on October 7. The start of the truce is set to be followed by the release of the first group of 13 hostages being held in Gaza, and - an undefined number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, according to Qatari peace brokers. *) Egypt says 130,000 litres of diesel to be delivered daily to Gaza Egypt has said that 130,000 litres of diesel and four trucks of gas will be delivered daily to Gaza with a four-day truce. Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), also said in a statement that 200 trucks of aid would enter Gaza daily. *) Israeli military confirms Al Shifa Hospital chief held for questioning The Israeli military has confirmed that the director of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza had been held for questioning over allegations that the facility had been used as a command and control centre for Hamas. “In the hospital, under his management, there was extensive Hamas terrorist activity,” the Israeli ministry said in a statement, but offered no evidence. The Israeli army, which raided the hospital last week, has alleged that Hamas fighters used a tunnel complex beneath the facility in Gaza City to stage attacks. *) ECOWAS parliament seeks to lift sanctions on Niger The parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) appeals to the bloc’s heads of state to lift the sanction imposed on Niger after the July 26 military coup. It said the people of Niger desire relief from economic hardship and humanitarian challenges, triggered by a ban on trade relations - and a freezing of the country’s accounts in regional central banks. “This is an appeal to the ECOWAS Heads of State to consider the humanitarian situation and resolve the political impasse in Niger,” Nigeria’s Senate chief Ali Ndume said. *) China reports no unusual or novel pathogens in respiratory illnesses upsurge — WHO China has reported no “unusual or novel pathogens” in respiratory illnesses, spreading in the north of the country, the World Health Organization has said. The WHO said that Chinese authorities had responded, advising “that there has been no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens or unusual clinical presentations, including in Beijing and Liaoning.” It was a matter, the authorities said, of the “aforementioned general increase in respiratory illnesses due to multiple known pathogens.”

*) US won’t allow expulsion of Palestinians US President Joe Biden has told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi in a phone call that the US would not permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from besieged Gaza or the occupied West Bank, the White House said in a statement. It added that the US is also against the besiegement or redrawing of Gaza’s borders. “The President affirmed his commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state and recognised Egypt’s essential role in setting the conditions for that outcome,” the White House said. *) US warns India as it thwarts plot to kill Sikh separatist leader in America United States authorities have thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh (SEEK) separatist leader in America and issued a warning to India over concerns the right-wing government in New Delhi was involved, a senior official said. The US is treating the plot with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the Indian government “at the senior-most levels,” the White House said. US authorities raised concerns with New Delhi that the Indian government may have had knowledge of the plot, according to the official who was not authorised to comment on the sensitive matter. *) Dutch anti-Islam Geert Wilders wins most votes with landslide margin Far-right, anti-Islam Geert Wilders has won the most votes in the Dutch election with a landslide margin, according to an exit poll. This puts him in line to lead talks to form a new ruling coalition and possibly become the country’s prime minister. The exit poll published by the national broadcaster NOS said Wilders’ Party for Freedom won 35 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament. This is more than double the 17 he won at the last election. If confirmed when votes are counted, a Wilders victory would send a seismic shock through European politics. *) OpenAI staff warned board of discovery ‘that could threaten humanity’ ahead of Sam Altman’s ouster Ahead of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s ouster, several staff researchers sent the board of directors a letter warning of a powerful artificial intelligence discovery that they said could threaten humanity. This is according to two people familiar with the matter. The previously unreported letter and AI algorithm was a key development ahead of the board’s ouster of Altman, the poster child of generative AI, the two sources said. Before his triumphant return late on Tuesday, more than 700 employees had threatened to quit and join backer Microsoft in solidarity with their fired leader. And finally… *) Hollywood artists punished for supporting Palestine’s resistance to Israeli occupation Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and “Scream” star Melissa Barrera were each dropped by Hollywood companies after making pro-Palestinian comments on the Israel-Gaza war. Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the upcoming “Scream VII,” acknowledged Barrera’s exit from the horror franchise. The Mexican-born actress, who starred in “In the Heights” and the two recent “Scream” installments, had posted statements on Instagram Stories calling the war “genocide and ethnic cleansing.” “Gaza,” she wrote, “is currently being treated like a concentration camp.”

*) Hamas to release 50 captives; Israel to free 150 Palestinian women, children The Israeli cabinet has approved a plan that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says will bring a temporary ceasefire with Palestinian resistance fighters in besieged Gaza. Hamas will free 50 Israeli captives over the course of four days, during which there will be a pause in the war, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office. Israel, as part of the truce, will release 150 Palestinian women and children languishing in Israeli jails. Qatar and the US have announced that the 4-day ceasefire will begin within the next 24 hours. *) Gaza’s worsening sanitation situation signal ‘perfect storm for tragedy’: UN Fuel shortages and worsening sanitation in the besieged Gaza are shaping up to be the perfect storm for tragedy through the spread of disease, the United Nations has warned. UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, said there was a serious threat of a mass disease outbreak in the occupied Palestinian territory. “Without enough fuel, we will see the collapse of sanitation services. So we have then, on top of the mortars and the bombs, a perfect storm for the spread of disease,” the UN agency said. *) Jordan doesn’t rule out war with Israel if Palestinians are expelled en masse Jordan has said the army had beefed up its presence along its borders with Israel. It warned that any Israeli attempt to expel Palestinians across the Jordan River would represent a breach of Jordan’s peace accord with its far-right neighbour. Jordanian Prime Minister said his country would resort to “all the means in its power” to prevent Israel from implementing any transfer policy to expel Palestinians en masse from the occupied West Bank. *) Civilian death toll in Ukraine tops grim 10,000 mark: UN body More than 10,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since Russia’s offensive started in February 2022, with about half of recent deaths occurring far behind the front lines, the UN Human Rights Office said. The UN human rights mission in Ukraine, which has dozens of monitors in the country, said it expects the real toll to be “significantly higher” than the official tally since corroboration work is ongoing. This includes events in the first months after the invasion, such as the battle for control of Mariupol, where residents reported high civilian casualties. *) Sam Altman to return as OpenAI CEO OpenAI has announced its co-founder Sam Altman will return as CEO, days after the board fired him. Altman's departure caused discontent in the tech giant company, and hundreds of OpenAI staff threatened to quit in response to the dismissal. "I am looking forward to returning to OpenAI," Sam Altman said in a post on X. OpenAI on Monday named ex-Twitch boss Emmett Shear as interim CEO, while outgoing chief Sam Altman moved to backer Microsoft.

*) Hamas leader says ‘close to reaching’ Gaza truce deal with Israel Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has said his resistance movement is nearing a truce agreement with Israel, according to a statement posted on Telegram. Negotiators have been working to seal a deal to allow the release of around 240 mostly Israeli hostages seized on October 7, during the deadliest assault on Israel in its history. Israel has been relentlessly bombing Palestine’s Gaza in the wake of the Hamas attack. *) WHO official says Gaza hospital situation ‘catastrophic’ A top World Health Organization official has described the hospital situation in Gaza as “catastrophic.” The official says most facilities are no longer functioning and what remains will likely be overwhelmed by thousands of births expected in the next month. Plans by the Israeli military to push further south, the WHO official added, would worsen health conditions even further. *) Premature babies arrive in Egypt Twenty-nine premature babies have arrived in Egypt, local media said, after they were evacuated from Gaza’s largest hospital which has become a focal point of Israel’’s ground invasion. The infants were evacuated Sunday from the Al Shifa Hospital, which the World Health Organization has described as a “death zone” as Israel seeks to uncover what it claims are Hamas bases in tunnels underneath the facility. An initial 31 babies were reported evacuated from Al Shifa to another Gaza clinic and it was not immediately clear why only 29 arrived in Egypt. *) Israeli ships are ‘legitimate targets’ anywhere, warn Yemen’s Houthis Israeli ships are a “legitimate target,” Yemen’s Houthi rebels have warned after their seizure of an Israel-linked cargo vessel opened a new dimension in the Gaza war. “Israeli ships are legitimate targets for us anywhere ... and we will not hesitate to take action,” Major General Ali al Moshki, a Houthi military official, told the group’s Al Massirah TV station on Monday. The capture of the Galaxy Leader and its 25 international crew came days after the Houthis threatened to target Israeli shipping over the Israel-Palestine conflict. And finally… *) Oxfam Report: Rich elite’s carbon footprint equals two-thirds of the world The richest one percent of the global population is responsible for the same amount of carbon emissions as the world’s poorest two-thirds, or five billion people, according to an analysis published by the Oxfam International. While fighting the climate crisis is a shared challenge, not everyone is equally responsible and government policies must be tailored accordingly, Max Lawson, who co-authored the report, said. “The richer you are, the easier it is to cut both your personal and your investment emissions,” he said, adding: “You don’t need that third car or that fourth holiday, or you don’t need to be invested in the cement industry.”

*) Israel shells Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza, kills many At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli army’s shelling of Indonesian Hospital and its surroundings in northern Gaza, medical sources said. The sources added that the Israeli army was firing live bullets at anyone moving outside the hospital’s door. The assault led to the extensive destruction of the facility, the sources said, adding that the death toll is increasing. *) Colombia’s president slams Netanyahu, compares him to Herod Colombia’s president said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a “crazy man” who is “killing many people” in Gaza in the style of Herod. Herod was the king of Judea who ordered the slaughter of innocents according to the Christian New Testament. Colombian President Gustavo Petro also criticised the US for supporting Israel’s war on Palestine’s Gaza, saying, “The Israeli capital owns American banking.” *) European outcry grows over Israel’s Gaza war, sparks widespread protests People across Europe have continued to take to the streets to express solidarity with Palestine and condemn ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. Braving rainy weather, some 2,000 people gathered in Amsterdam over the weekend, carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans including, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” “Ceasefire now,” and “Stop genocide in Palestine.” A protester Cillia Ferrier maintained that what was happening in Palestine was apartheid, while another demonstrator, Bart, urged the Dutch government to stop Israel. *) Turkish Center for Combating Disinformation rejects Israeli claim that Hamas killed innocent person A claim by Israel that the Palestinian group Hamas killed an innocent person based on images depicting an execution was not accurate, Türkiye’s Center for Combating Disinformation said. The centre, which falls under Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, said on X that the images in question were taken during the public execution of a drug trafficker in Iran in the year 2014. Meanwhile, Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said the centre has, since October 7, exposed over 100 international false news regarding Israel’s attacks on Gaza and revealed the truth. *) Australia beats India to win Cricket World Cup for sixth time as Head hits 137 Australia won the cricket World Cup for a record-extending sixth time, ending India’s dominant run in its home tournament with a six-wicket victory in a low-scoring finale. A heavily pro-Indian crowd inside the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium was silenced as Australia overpowered India by chasing down the target of 241. The victory has helped Australia regain its status as the kings of one-day international cricket, adding to its 50-over world titles in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015.

*) Thousands at Al Shifa Hospital ‘fighting death’ Over 7,000 displaced people, patients, and medical staff at Al Shifa Hospital are “fighting death due to a lack of water and food” caused by the Israeli military blockade. There is “no food, water, or milk for infants at Al Shifa Hospital,” Gaza’s media office said on Telegram. It added that they “may lose a number of malnourished children at the hospital due to the power outage, leaving them without incubators.” *) Blinken urges Israel to take action against settler violence in occupied West Bank US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Israel to take “urgent” action to stop settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Blinken made the plea in a telephone call with Benny Gantz, an opposition leader who joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wartime cabinet. Blinken “stressed the urgent need for affirmative steps to de-escalate tensions in the [occupied] West Bank, including by confronting rising levels of settler extremist violence.” *) Heads of UN agencies reject unilateral proposals to create ‘safe zones’ in Gaza The leaders of a number of UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have said they will not take part in any “safe zones” in Gaza declared by Israel. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee said in a statement that they “will not participate in the establishment of any ‘safe zone’ in Gaza that is set up without the agreement of all the parties.” The committee added that under the current circumstances, any proposals to unilaterally establish “safe zones” are likely to harm civilians. *) Turkish FM urges West to uphold moral values over Gaza brutality Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has taken a tough stance on the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza. He said, “being silent on Israel’s lawlessness in Gaza is tantamount to giving the green light to other lawlessness around the world.” Fidan called on the Western world “to uphold moral values and refrain from being complicit in the blatant violation of human rights in Gaza.” *) TikTok to ban viral videos promoting bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ TikTok has said it will prohibit content that promotes Osama bin Laden’s 2002 letter detailing the former al Qaeda leader’s explanation for attacking America. The letter criticised US support for Israel and accused Americans of financing the “oppression” of Palestinians. TikTok said in a statement, “Content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism,” adding that reports that it was “trending” on the platform were inaccurate.

*) UNSC calls for 'humanitarian pauses' as Israel issues ultimatum for south Gaza residents The UN Security Council has called for "extended humanitarian pauses" in besieged Gaza, the first time it has broken its silence since the start of Israel’s brutal war on the blockaded Palestinian enclave. The resolution was prepared by Malta and adopted with 12 votes in favour. Three states abstained — the United States, Britain and Russia. The resolution "calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout besieged Gaza for a sufficient number of days" to allow aid to reach civilians in the blockaded territory.*) Israel raids Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital for second time The Israeli army has attacked Gaza's largest hospital for the second time in two days and claimed it found weapons and a Hamas command centre. Hamas government denies the claim and Human Rights Watch says it cannot independently verify if Hamas was operating from within the Al Shifa compound. According to reports from inside Al Shifa, Israeli soldiers carried out search operations and interrogated patients and doctors. Meanwhile, the United States has denied giving Israel a green light for a raid on the hospital. *) First fuel truck enters Gaza since October 7th A truck has delivered fuel to Gaza for the first time since fighting began on October 7th. It delivered around 23 thousand litres of fuel, but it's not nearly enough to bring any relief to Palestinians. Israel allowed the limited amount of fuel to enter on the condition it will be used only for UN aid trucks — not hospitals, water treatment plants or sewage pumping stations. *) Russia alleges Ukraine officials embezzled 20-36% of Western aid Meanwhile in the war in Ukraine, Russia has claimed that 20 percent and 36 percent of all financial aid provided to Kiev by the West allies has been misappropriated by Ukrainian officials. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the claim about “former senior officials of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry”, TASS news agency reported. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia is "still capable of doing evil", saying they must keep the country's defence as a top priority. *) Biden, Xi restore military ties despite 'dictator' comment US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to restore military communications at their first summit in a year. The four-hour talks between the leaders were aimed at preventing growing tensions between the world's largest economies from spiralling into conflict. However, the two remained far apart on the issue of Taiwan, with the Chinese president telling his US counterpart to stop arming the island and that reunification was "unstoppable."

*) Israeli troops storm Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital Following extensive attacks around the hospital, the Israeli army has stormed Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The head of the Al Shifa Medical Complex’s burns department, said in a press statement that Israeli tanks and bulldozers were now inside the complex. Meanwhile, the director general of Gaza hospitals, said that “not a single bullet was fired from inside the hospital during the occupation forces’ storming of the complex.” *) Yemen’s Houthis threaten to attack Israeli ships in Red Sea Yemen’s Houthi rebels have threatened to target Israeli ships in the Red Sea, as the group said they had launched another missile targeting the country over its war in Gaza. Rebel leader Abdul Malik al Houthi said the group was monitoring Israeli vessels in the commercially vital waters, even those that do not have Israeli flags. Al Houthi said his group is constantly “monitoring and searching for any Israeli ship." *) Israel’s killing of women, babies in Gaza ‘has to stop’: Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged Israel to exercise maximum restraint for the protection of civilians in Gaza, saying that “the world is witnessing the killing of women, children, babies” and that “this has to stop.” Trudeau said the human tragedy in Gaza is heart-wrenching, citing the suffering in and around Al Shifa Hospital after Israel’s recent strikes. Trudeau added that the price of justice cannot be the continued suffering of all Palestinian civilians, adding that “even wars have rules. All innocent life is equal in worth, Israeli and Palestinian.” *) Hundreds protest against Dutch government for supplying arms to Israel Hundreds of people gathered at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands to protest against the government for supplying arms to Israel. The demonstration in solidarity with Palestine later continued outside despite unfavourable weather conditions. The demonstrators also protested against politicians in the European Union and US for supporting Israel. And finally… *) Turkish academics issue global ‘Call for Responsibility’ against Israel More than 900 academics at various universities in Türkiye have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza in a declaration. The academics said that the UN, which was founded to protect international peace and security, has failed to stop actions against humanity. It was emphasised that Israel continues to violate the basic rules and principles of law and its inhumane actions in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories.

*) Palestinian victims file ICC complaint over Israel’s Gaza massacres Lawyers for the Palestinian victims of Israeli attacks on Gaza filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The victims’ representative before the ICC, Gilles Devers, and a four-person delegation that accompanied him submitted the complaint to the court’s prosecutor. Devers asserted that Israeli acts in Gaza constitute factors of the crime of genocide. He emphasised that the ICC is currently investigating war crimes in a related inquiry, stressing the imperative of including the crime of genocide in this investigation. *) Israel admits growing international pressure over its onslaught on Gaza Israel's foreign minister said international pressure on Israel would increase within two or three weeks over its onslaught on Gaza. Eli Cohen said that Israel has only two or three weeks before it loses its diplomatic battle on the international stage to stop the war on Gaza. He stressed, however, that the Israeli military invasion in Gaza will not stop until the Palestinian group Hamas is eliminated and the captives are released. *) Jewish protesters, allies block Israeli consulate in Chicago, demand ceasefire in Gaza Hundreds of Jewish peace activists and their allies converged at a major train station in downtown Chicago during rush hour. They blocked the entrance to the Israeli consulate and demanded US support for an Israel ceasefire as war rages in Gaza. Over 100 protesters were arrested for misdemeanour trespassing and escorted out of the building, according to Ben Lorber, who helped organise the protest. *) EU says int’l community failed to find solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict The international community has failed to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as shown by its continuation, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said. Josep Borrell said “his tragedy should be an occasion for everyone to understand that a solution must be sought that can only be based on the construction of two states.” Saying that he put forward a proposal which participants of the meeting agreed to support, he summed it up as follows: No to forced displacement of Palestinian people out of Gaza, no re-occupation of Gaza by Israel, and no to the dissociation of Gaza from the overall issue of Palestine. And finally… *) Gaza hospitals 'out of service' as fuel shortages claim more lives Hospitals in northern Gaza were forced out of service amid fuel shortages and intense combat, with the death toll inside the territory's largest facility rising, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Death toll inside Al Shifa hospital has risen to 27 adult intensive care patients and seven babies since the weekend as the facility suffered fuel shortages. At least 2,300 people including patients, health workers, and people fleeing fighting were inside the Al Shifa Hospital, The World Health Organisation in the Palestinian Territories said.

*) "Freedom for Palestine": Thousands march across Europe for Gaza Hundreds of thousands of protesters across Europe have taken to the streets in solidarity with the Palestinian people in response to Israel's brutal bombardment of civilians in Gaza. Protesters gathered in Germany, France, UK, Sweden and Greece, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as "Freedom for Palestine", criticising the ongoing attitude of the Israeli government in Gaza. *) Israel committing war crimes while the whole world watches: President Erdogan Israel is committing "war crimes" in front of the whole world by targeting hospitals, schools, places of worship, mosques, churches, even ambulances carrying the sick and the dead, and refugee camps, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. Asserting that the Western countries are only watching all these atrocities from the tribunes, Erdogan said that those with a conscience can't remain silent in the face of all this. Erdogan emphasised the importance of establishing a ceasefire, ending the clashes and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. *) Hamas calls for swift intervention to allow fuel for Gaza hospitals Meanwhile, Hamas has urged the UN and the international community to “immediately intervene to bring fuel into Gaza to operate hospitals.” It issued the statement in response to a claim by the Israeli army that the group had refused to receive fuel for Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Israel claimed that their army had provided Al Shifa Hospital with 300 litres of fuel but Hamas had prevented the hospital from receiving it, while Hamas described the statement as “a lie.” *) Red Cross makes urgent call for protection of civilians in Gaza The International Committee of the Red Cross issued an urgent plea for the protection of civilians in Gaza. The committee said civilians are "trapped in fighting, whether they are trying to evacuate or staying where they are." The attacks are underway in densely populated areas and around hospitals which poses a risk to the lives of the most vulnerable people, the committee added. *) Amsterdam witnesses largest climate protest ever as Dutch election nears Tens of thousands of protesters have marched through Amsterdam demanding immediate action against the climate crisis, 10 days before the country holds a general election. Local police said around 70,000 people joined the march, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and former EU climate chief Frans Timmermans, who will lead the combined Labour and Green parties at the upcoming election. Organisers said the turnout was the largest ever at a climate protest in the Netherlands.

*) Israel agrees to four-hour 'pauses' in Gaza attacks, Biden rules out truce Israel has agreed to daily four-hour pauses in northern Gaza to let civilians flee, the White House said. US President Joe Biden said there was no chance of a full ceasefire but he has been pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for longer breaks in the fighting after more than a month of war on Gaza. In addition, the US State Department said that there will be two humanitarian corridors allowing people to evacuate areas of hostilities in northern Gaza. *) Israel carries out air strikes near Gaza hospitals At least three hospitals in northern Gaza have come under attack early Friday, as Israeli air strikes continue across the enclave. The medical facilities included Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, where Israel without proof said Hamas has hidden command centres and tunnels. These attacks further stress the Palestinian enclave's precarious health system as it struggles to cope with thousands of people wounded or displaced in Israel's war on Gaza. *) Israel does not seek to occupy Gaza: Netanyahu Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country does not seek to conquer, occupy or govern Gaza after its war against Hamas. But he said a "credible force" would be needed to enter the Palestinian enclave if necessary to prevent the emergence of threats. Netanyahu said a civilian government would need to take shape in Israel-besieged Gaza but that Israel would make sure an attack like October 7 does not happen again. *) Ukraine extends martial law, general mobilisation till February Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed two bills into law, extending martial law and general mobilisation in the country for an additional three months. The bills' status were updated on the online portal of Ukraine’s parliament, which said they were returned with Zelenskyy’s signature. Martial law was first declared by Zelenskyy immediately after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war last year in February, and has been extended several times since then. *) Toxic smog ravages eastern Pakistan, forcing closure of schools, markets, parks Toxic grey smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days. The decision came on Thursday after the country's second-largest city was repeatedly ranked the world’s most polluted city. Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home. Residents said many people were coughing and having breathing problems.

*) Israel carries out air strikes near Gaza hospitals Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which houses thousands of patients and refugees, has been targeted by Israeli missiles. This is according to Palestinian news agency WAFA. The simultaneous use of illumination flares during the attacks resulted in shrapnel damage to the hospital's surroundings. Another air strike near Al Nasr Children's Hospital in the western part of the city killed three Palestinians and left dozens more wounded. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery fired rounds towards the eastern part of the city of Rafah. *) Israel's systematic bombing of housing in Gaza a 'war crime': UN expert An independent United Nations expert has said the widespread and systematic bombardment of housing and civilian infrastructure in Gaza amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity. The UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing said these moves by Israel are strictly prohibited under international law. A month of Israeli attacks on targets within Gaza have destroyed or damaged 45 percent of all housing units in the Palestinian territory. *) G7 foreign ministers call for 'humanitarian pauses' in Gaza Meanwhile, the G7 foreign ministers have issued a statement, supporting Israel's right to defend itself, while calling for humanitarian pauses in the fighting. After meeting in Tokyo, the diplomats repeated their support for Israel's self-defence and its goal of removing Hamas. But they also insisted there must be pauses in fighting to allow critical humanitarian aid into Gaza. The US and UK oppose the long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza. But US State Secretary Antony Blinken suggests a transition period may follow the end of the war. *) Russia strikes civilian ship in Ukraine's Odessa harbour In other news, Ukrainian officials have said Russia fired a missile at a civilian ship entering a port in the Black Sea region of Odessa. One harbour worker was killed and several crew members injured. Previously, civilian ships were guaranteed safe passage under the Türkiye-brokered grain deal but it collapsed in July. Since then, Ukraine and Russia have been increasing their military activities in the Black Sea. *) China says climate talks with US a success China has said that climate talks with the United States were a success. The talks between top officials aimed at strengthening cooperation between the world's two largest greenhouse gas emitters. This comes ahead of a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week, as the two powers seek to improve ties after years of frosty relations.

*) Israel agrees on 'little pauses' over Gaza strikes — Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel was open to “little pauses” in its bombardments. It was not clear whether some kind of small stoppage had been agreed to or whether the US was satisfied with the scope of the Israeli commitment. US President Joe Biden had raised the need for humanitarian pauses, but there was no agreement reached, according to the White House. Netanyahu also underlined that there would be no general ceasefire in Gaza, without the release of the hostages. *) Gaza death toll exceeds grim 10,000 mark as Israeli onslaught continues The death toll in Gaza exceeded 10,000 after one month of Israeli bombardment, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave has said, as the offensive against the Palestinians showed signs of intensifying. Hundreds of overnight strikes pushed the death toll to 10,022, mostly women and children, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Health Ministry, told a press conference on Monday afternoon. The toll included 4,104 children and 2,641 women, according to the ministry. *) Israel minister's Gaza nuclear comment was wholly unacceptable: US The United States has condemned as "wholly unacceptable" comments by an Israeli cabinet member who appeared to voice openness to the idea of Israel carrying out a nuclear strike on Gaza. "We continue to believe that it is important for all sides of this conflict to refrain from hateful rhetoric," deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told a media briefing. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday disciplined the cabinet member in question. *) 118 aid trucks enter Gaza through Rafah crossing Palestine Red Crescent Society has announced that it had received 118 aid trucks through the Rafah border crossing, bringing the total number of trucks that entered Gaza since October 21 to 569. They said the trucks contained “food, water, relief assistance, medical supplies and medications, while fuel has not been allowed to enter as of now.” *) Russia officially withdraws from European armed forces treaty Russia has formally withdrawn from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. The 1990 treaty, negotiated and concluded at the end of the Cold War and signed a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, placed limits on the deployment of military equipment to maintain military balance between NATO and the then-Warsaw Pact countries. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015.

*) Israel intensifies Gaza strikes despite ceasefire calls Israel has pounded Gaza with "significant" strikes, ignoring ceasefire calls by UN aid agencies who condemned surging civilian deaths in the month-long conflict. Reporters in Gaza say Sunday night saw one of the heaviest, if not the heaviest, Israeli bombardment since the conflict began. For a third time, communications and internet services in the Palestinian enclave have been shut down. There are also reports of heavy shelling in the vicinity of several hospitals across the North. Israel's army claims it has now split Gaza in half, taking control of the areas to the north and south of Gaza City, and effectively encircling the area that holds the headquarters of Hamas. *) Israeli army conducts raids in Nablus and occupied East Jerusalem Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem, there have been reports of overnight clashes as the Israeli military continues its raids in Palestinian majority areas. According to the Palestinian WAFA agency, the Israeli forces entered the city of Tubas, accompanied by a military bulldozer. The soldiers fired live ammunition, tear gas, and sound grenades during confrontations that left two people injured. The Israeli forces also arrested two Palestinian leaders in the town of Anata as they were giving live interviews. *) US Secretary of State Blinken to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Top US diplomat Antony Blinken has arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara, following inconclusive talks with his Arab and Israeli counterparts He is due to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the coming hours to discuss regional issues and bilateral relations. Since the conflict began, Blinken has supported the Israeli position while trying to assure regional players that Washington is focused on relieving humanitarian suffering. *) Arab world denounces Israeli minister’s remarks calling for ‘nuking Gaza' The Arab world has issued statements condemning remarks by an Israeli minister on using a "nuclear bomb" against Gaza. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said on Sunday “one of Israel’s options in the war in Gaza is to drop a nuclear bomb on the Strip,” according to The Times of Israel. In response, Egypt, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the remarks, saying it “reflects extremism and hate speech”. *) Stage set for conflict at COP28 with mixed response to outcome of key climate talks The final meeting on a climate-related loss and damages fund has ended in Abu Dhabi, with participants agreeing that the World Bank would temporarily host the fund for the next four years. The US and several countries expressed disappointment in the draft agreement, which will be sent for global leaders to sign at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai later this month. While acknowledging that an agreement on the fund is better than a stalemate, climate policy analysts say there are still numerous gaps that must be filled if the fund is to be effective.

*) Israeli troops gather around Gaza City, kill several Palestinians in occupied West Bank Israeli ground troops encircled Gaza City in their invasion of Gaza, as top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Israel. The Israeli army announced that four more Israeli soldiers had been killed in overnight fierce fighting in Gaza with Palestinian fighters. And in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medical sources said eight Palestinians were killed in separate incidents overnight. *) EU prevention of pro-Palestine rallies shows double standard The prevention of pro-Palestinian rallies in some European Union countries constitutes a "double standard," Türkiye's foreign minister has said at a meeting organised by the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. Minister Hakan Fidan was quoted as saying "Those who allow attacks on our Holy Book, the Quran, under the guise of freedom of expression are blocking those who want to protest the brutal killing of civilians in Palestine." He added that it “is an unacceptable double standard." *) Tunisia postpones vote on law criminalising relations with Israel Tunisia’s parliament postponed voting on a draft law that would criminalise the normalisation of relations with Israel. The decision was made during an evening session of the legislative assembly, according to Parliament Speaker Ibrahim Bouderbela. Parliament started discussions over the proposed law in August. *) MSF: Greece 'normalised' illegal pushbacks of asylum seekers Doctors Without Borders accused Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government, stating that Greece has "normalised" abusive pushbacks of asylum seekers within a broader European Union policy that disregards violence against vulnerable individuals in a statement. The organisation also said in a report that MSF teams have borne witness to how normalised pushbacks have become, and to the stark absence of protection for people who seek safety in Greece. *) Air pollution in India's New Delhi turns 'severe' People in New Delhi woke up to a thick layer of toxic haze, and some schools were ordered to be shut for two days as the air quality index entered the "severe" category in several parts of the Indian capital. Residents complained of irritation in the eyes and itchy throats with the air turning a dense grey as the AQI hovered around 480 in some monitoring stations in the city. *) Egypt's Bassem Youssef slams Gaza deportation plan An Egyptian heart surgeon turned comedian has criticised a leaked proposal by Israel to forcibly deport Palestinians from the besieged Gaza to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, asking why Europe, which has 44 countries, or 50 states of US "take the Israelis" to end the Middle East's protracted conflict. Bassem Youssef said the Israeli proposal of forcible transfer of some 2.3 million Palestinians of Gaza to Sinai was "the worst possible solution", in an interview with British TV host Piers Morgan.

*) Israel strikes Gaza refugee camp again as UN warns of 'war crimes' Israel has hit Gaza's largest refugee camp with renewed air strikes, prompting UN rights officials to warn that targeting densely populated residential areas "could amount to war crimes." Bombs struck the Jabalia camp for a second time in two days, pulverising buildings and, according to the Palestinian health ministry, killing dozens of people. The UN's top human rights body — citing "the high number of civilian casualties" and scale of destruction — said it had "serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes." The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that over 1,000 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the camp. *) Latin America ramps up condemnations of Israel's attack on Gaza Some of Latin America's biggest countries have condemned Israel's attacks on a densely populated refugee camp in Gaza, widening the diplomatic rift between the region and Tel Aviv. Argentina, Peru and Mexico lambasted the Israeli attacks, which the Gaza government said had killed more than a thousand people while hundreds others were wounded or unaccounted for under the debris. The criticisms come a day after Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Israel while Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors to the country. *) US top diplomat to begin new Mideast tour amidst Israel's Gaza attacks US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East with a somewhat more nuanced message than he offered in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 operation. As he did last month, Blinken is expected to stress US support to Israel. Blinken's agenda this time is more complex as the conflict intensifies and the Biden administration grapples with competing domestic and international interests and anger. *) Deadly Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine damage Kherson city centre A Russian attack on Kherson in eastern Ukraine killed one person and caused serious damage in the city's centre, the region's governor said, and a Russian drone strike killed another civilian in the frequently targeted city of Nikopol. The attack on Kherson, which Russian forces seized early in the conflict but then abandoned a year ago, also wounded two people. *) TRT Director-General Sobaci is elected as the president of the world's largest broadcast union TRT Director-General Mehmet Zahid Sobaci has been elected as the President of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) during the 60th General Assembly of the union. It is the world's largest broadcasting union with approximately 3.5 billion viewers and 246 members from 65 countries. "My election as the President of ABU is significant for Türkiye’s goal of becoming a leading country in all fields,” said Sobaci, adding that the ABU presidency is especially gratifying as it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Republic.

*) Rafah crossing to Egypt opens for the first time since war began Scores of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza started leaving the war-torn territory as the Rafah crossing to Egypt opened for the first time since the Israeli war on Gaza began on October 7, AFP correspondents reported. Convoys of desperately needed aid have passed between Egypt and Gaza but no people have been allowed to cross. Some 400 foreigners and dual nationals along with some 90 sick and wounded were expected to leave. *) One year on: Despite peace holding on, many Tigrayans struggle to find their feet One year after Ethiopia signed a peace deal with the Tigray People's Liberation Front, ending a brutal conflict that killed hundreds of thousands by some estimates, life in the northern region is slowly limping back to normal. But many Tigrayans say that they were struggling to find their feet after the November 2022 peace agreement, some losing their homes and livelihoods to the war, others grieving family members killed in the conflict. A million people remain displaced across the region, according to the International Organization for Migration, with around 234,000 in Tigray's capital Mekele. *) Bolivia severs ties with Israel as Colombia, Chile recall envoys over Gaza Bolivia has said it had broken diplomatic ties with Israel because of its attacks on Gaza, while neighbours Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors to the Middle Eastern country for consultations. The three countries called for a ceasefire, with Bolivia and Chile pushing for the passage of humanitarian aid into the zone and accusing Israel of violating international law. In response, Israel slammed Bolivia's decision to cut diplomatic ties over its war in Gaza after a deadly Hamas attack as a capitulation to "terror". Other Latin American countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, have also called for a ceasefire. *) Live blog: Ukraine reports most extensive Russian shelling this year Ukraine has said that Russia had shelled more than 100 settlements over the last 24 hours - more than in any single day so far this year. Moscow has fired millions of shells on cities, towns and villages along the frontlines since it launched its offensive last February, reducing several across the eastern part of the country to rubble. "Over the last 24 hours, the enemy shelled 118 settlements in 10 regions. This is the highest number of cities and villages that have come under attack since the start of the year," Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said in a post on social media. And finally… *) Saudi ready for summer or winter World Cup in 2034: FA chief Saudi Arabia is prepared to host the 2034 World Cup in summer or winter, its football chief said, after the oil giant became the sole bidder for the tournament. "Of course, we are ready for all possibilities," Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser al Misehal said late on Tuesday at the Asian Football Confederation awards in Doha. Saudi Arabia's successful bid, just 27 days after announcing it, comes less than a year after neighbouring Qatar held the first winter World Cup, a decision that forced a pause to league competitions in Europe.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, October 31st. *) Israel’s ‘concept paper’ suggests expulsion of Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt’s Sinai An Israeli government ministry has drafted a wartime proposal to transfer 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, drawing condemnation from Palestine and worsening tensions with Cairo. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office played down the report compiled by the Intelligence Ministry as a hypothetical exercise — a “concept paper.” But its conclusions deepened long-standing Egyptian concerns that Israel wants to make Gaza into Egypt's problem, and revive for Palestinians memories of their greatest trauma — the Nakba in 1948. *) Israeli army detonates house of Hamas deputy leader in occupied West Bank Israeli forces detonated the house of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al Arouri in the occupied West Bank, according to witnesses. Israeli forces raided the town of Arura northwest of Ramallah and searched al Arouri’s house, a witness told Anadolu Agency. Israel blames Al Arouri for attacks against Israeli targets in the occupied West Bank. *) Aid distribution centres halt work as civil order breaks down in Gaza: UN A breakdown in civil order has put four UN aid distribution centres and a storage facility out of action in Gaza as people search desperately for food and water. A UN Palestinian refugee agency official said a logistics base at the Rafah border crossing vital to aid distribution had become increasingly difficult to operate because 8,000 people were sheltering at it. “With the breakdown of civil order, every day now we’ve got hundreds of people trying to get into the warehouses to steal flour,” the official said. *) UN warns of Syria danger, ‘spillover’ from Israel’s war on Gaza The UN has warned that Syria was at its “most dangerous” point in a long time as violence surges and the “spillover” from Israel's war on Gaza starts to have an impact. Syria has “seen growing instability and violence, exacerbated by the lack of a meaningful political process,” Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, told the Security Council. Pedersen sounded “alarm that the situation is now at its most dangerous for a long time.” And finally… *) Türkiye condemns in strongest terms Israel’s attack on Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital Türkiye has condemned in strongest terms Israel’s attack on the Gaza Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the only cancer hospital in the besieged enclave. “There can be no justification for such an attack carried out despite all necessary information, including the coordinates of the institution was previously shared with the Israeli authorities,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that “the siege in Gaza, aimed at depriving the Palestinian people of their most basic rights, and these inhumane attacks, clearly violate international law.” And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Israeli tanks enter Gaza from east and north Israeli tanks have attempted to enter Gaza in an effort to cut a vital road from the north to the south in the war-torn Palestinian territory, as part of their ground invasion. Witnesses reported sightings of tanks in the Zaytun district, where Israelis aimed to sever the Salah al Din (Salah Addin) road and are firing at any vehicle attempting to use it. Israel's chief military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, stated during a regular press briefing that they are advancing gradually into Gaza and plan to escalate the offensive, based on the phases and goals of the war. But the Israeli forces encountered Palestinian fighting groups on the key road and subsequently withdrew from the area, according to a Hamas spokesman. *) Israel: Over 600 Gaza targets hit in 24 hours Israel's military has said it had struck more than 600 targets in Gaza in one day, making it one of the heaviest bombardments yet in its attacks on the Palestinian enclave. "We have hit more than 600 targets in the past 24 hours," a military spokesperson told AFP, a rise of 450 targets reported on Sunday. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, the death toll in the enclave since October 7 has reached 8,306, including 3,457 children and 2,136 women. 21,048 people also have been wounded by Israeli bombardments. *) ICC prosecutor says hindering Gaza aid could be a crime The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has warned that blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza could constitute a crime. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan told reporters in Cairo that “impeding relief supplies as provided by the Geneva Conventions may constitute a crime within the court jurisdiction.” He was speaking after a visit to Egypt’s Rafah crossing, where he said trucks full of desperately needed goods remained stuck and unable to cross into Gaza. *) 47 mosques, 3 churches damaged in Gaza since October 7 Continuous Israeli attacks on Gaza have led to the destruction of 47 mosques and damage to three churches, the local government media office said. The director of the office, Salama Maarouf, told a press conference that “Israeli raids on Gaza have caused the destruction of 47 mosques and damaged three churches and 203 schools in addition to 80 government buildings.” He said the number of medical personnel killed by Israel had reached 116 along with 18 members of rescue teams and civil defense crews and 35 journalists. *) Turkish Republic embarks on the Century of Türkiye: President Erdogan As celebrations marked the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye is experiencing “a unique pride and excitement.” President Erdogan delivered his Centenary address on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye in Istanbul on Sunday. It followed the special parade by Turkish Stars, SOLOTURK and TCG Anadolu-led 100 warships’ crossing the Istanbul Strait.

*) Some 3,000 children in Gaza killed by Israel: Palestine's UN envoy Some 3,000 children have been killed by Israel since the attacks it launched on October 7, Palestine's UN envoy has said. "I repeat, 3,000 children, innocent children, angels killed in Gaza during the last three weeks," Riyad Mansour said in an emotional address to an emergency UN General Assembly session on the Israel-Palestine conflict. "There is no time to mourn, more death is on the way," Mansour warned. Mansour said 7,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza, saying that fully 70 percent of all those killed are women and children. "Is this the war some of you are defending? These are crimes. This is barbarism. If you don’t stop it for all those who were killed, stop it for all those whose lives we can still save," he implored. Some 1,600 Palestinians still lie under the rubble, killed or injured and no one can reach them, to save them or bury them, he said. *) Almost 50 hostages killed so far from Israeli bombings on Gaza — Hamas Hamas's armed wing has said that "almost 50" Israeli hostages held by the group in Gaza have been killed by the Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory. "Qassam Brigades estimates that the number of Zionist prisoners who were killed in Gaza as a result of Zionist strikes and massacres has reached almost 50," the group said in a statement on Thursday issued on its Telegram channel. Israel launched a massive air and artillery bombardment of Gaza after Hamas carried out a brutal attack on Israel on October 7. Earlier, the Israeli army said 224 people were abducted by Hamas during the attack that left 1,400 people dead. *) Humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza amid total Israeli siege: UN The UN agency providing aid to Palestinian civilians in besieged Gaza warned it may have to shut down operations shortly if no fuel reaches the enclave, amid an increasingly desperate need for shelter, water, food and medical services. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA said it urgently needed fuel to maintain life-saving humanitarian operations in the Palestinian enclave that has been under Israeli bombardment for almost three weeks. "If fuel is not received into Gaza, UNRWA will be forced to significantly reduce and in some cases bring its humanitarian operations across Gaza to a halt. The coming 24 hours are very critical," it said. *) Global oil prices rise over $1 as Israel intensifies attacks on Palestine Oil prices rose by over $1 on Friday as reports that the US military struck Iranian targets in Syria raised concerns of a widening of the Israel-Hamas conflict that could impact supply from the key Middle East producing region. Brent crude futures for December rose $1.16, or 1.3 percent, to $89.09 a barrel by 0338 GMT. The US West Texas Intermediate contract for December climbed $1.08 , also 1.3 percent, to $84.29 a barrel. Though the strike did not directly impact supply, it increases fears that the conflict in Gaza between Israel, backed by the US, and Hamas may spread and disrupt supply from major crude producer Iran. A wider war could also impact shipments from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, and other large producers in the Gulf. *) Malaysia to warn TikTok, Meta over blocking of pro-Palestinian content Malaysia's communications regulator will issue a warning to social media firms Tiktok and Meta for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content on their platforms, its communications minister said. "If this issue is ignored, I will not hesitate to take a very firm approach and stance," Fahmi Fadzil said on Thursday in a posting on X, formerly known as Twitter. Without elaborating, Fahmi said many parties had urged the government to take firm action against social media platforms for allegedly restricting pro-Palestinian content. Representatives of Tiktok and Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

*) Israeli forces launch 'relatively large' land incursions in Gaza: army The Israeli army has carried out a "targeted raid" overnight in northern Gaza with tanks and infantry, it said in a statement, as the country prepares its forces for a ground invasion. "Overnight, the IDF conducted a targeted raid using tanks in the northern Gaza Strip, as part of preparations for the next stages of combat," the army said in a statement. "The soldiers exited the area at the end of the activity." *) Altun: Israeli strike that killed family of Al Jazeera's Gaza reporter 'alarming' Türkiye has condemned the Israeli strikes against Palestinian journalists in Gaza and their families following the killing of an Al Jazeera reporter's family members. "We are shocked by yet another incident against news professionals, where the house of an Al Jazeera reporter, Wael Al Dahdouh, was destroyed by an Israeli strike." Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said in a post on social media platform X late Wednesday. Altun expressed condolences and deepest sympathies to Dahdouh. He added, "We find it difficult to believe that this was random as Israel has been trying to stop the truth coming out from Gaza. These kinds of attacks amount to employing terror tactics against journalists to silence them." *) Serbia, Türkiye to improve ties, continue talks for Kosovo: President Vucic Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said his government will continue to work to develop relations with Türkiye and the continuation of political dialogue. “We have demonstrated the highest level of relations between the two countries in modern history,” Vucic wrote on social media on Wednesday after meeting Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler. Vucic emphasised that Guler's visit to Belgrade has extreme importance, saying: “The visit will prove an additional contribution to the very important role that Serbia and Türkiye play in maintaining peace and stability throughout the Balkans.” *) Multiple fatalities, injuries in Maine shooting, gunman still at large At least 22 people were killed and several were injured in shootings in the city of Lewiston, Maine, local officials reported, with police saying that the gunman was still at large. City Councilor Robert McCarthy told CNN that the death toll had risen to 22 in the shooting spree that took place at a bowling alley and also at least one other location, a local restaurant and bar, according to media. Local police posted a photo of the shooter on Facebook carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic style weapon inside the bowling alley. *) UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones injured, title fight at MSG vs. Stipe Miocic called off Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will no longer fight for the UFC heavyweight championship next month in New York after Jones tore a pectoral tendon off the bone during training. UFC President Dana White said Jones was injured during a training session on Monday. The heavyweight champion needs surgery and will be out at least eight months, throwing out the anticipated main event of UFC 295 on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden. White said Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall will fight for the interim heavyweight title. The light heavyweight title fight between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira was bumped to the main event.

*) UN chief says Hamas blitz 'didn't happen in a vacuum', riling Israel UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has rankled Israel at the United Nations Security Council meeting in which he stressed the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel "did not happen in a vacuum”. Opening the session on Tuesday, Guterres said there was no excuse for the operation by Hamas on Israeli settlements but also warned against "collective punishment" of the Palestinians. He then said Hamas operation "did not happen in a vacuum" as the Palestinians have been "subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation." His remarks infuriated Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. *) UNSC deepening crisis in Gaza with one-sided approach: President Erdogan The International community is failing in the face of Israel's lawless and indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Palestine's Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. In his message on the 78th anniversary of the United Nations, Erdogan thanked those working under its framework for peace and justice in the world. He said a party that is a bystander to "collective punishment" of the people in Gaza cannot offer hope to humanity, and ensure peace, stability *) Biden's Israel support angers Muslim Americans; could jeopardise 2024 votes Muslim Americans and their allies are criticising President Joe Biden's response to the Israeli war on Gaza, asking him to do more to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the blockaded enclave or risk losing their support in the 2024 election. Many Arab Americans and Muslim Americans are upset Biden has not pushed for any humanitarian ceasefire even as Palestinians are being killed by Israel's bombardment of besieged Gaza. In hotly contested Michigan, Arab Americans account for 5 percent of the vote. In other battleground states, Pennsylvania and Ohio, they are between 1.7 percent to 2 percent, said Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. Biden won Michigan with 50.6 percent of the vote in 2020, compared to 47.8 percent for Trump, and Pennsylvania with 50.01 percent to Trump's 48.84 percent, a difference of less than 81,000 votes. *) US is world's 'biggest disruptor' of peace — China The United States is the "biggest disruptor of regional peace and stability" in the world, China has said in a scathing response to a Pentagon report on China's growing military buildup. "The US has sent depleted uranium munitions and cluster bombs to Ukraine, sent its carrier battle groups to the Mediterranean and weapons and munitions to Israel, is this the so-called 'gospel' the 'human rights defender is bringing to the area?" said Wu Qian, the spokesperson for China's Defence Ministry. *) Netflix and Spielberg combine for 'binge watch' story of life on Earth "Life on Our Planet," the new natural history series from Netflix and Steven Spielberg, sets out to tell the entire, dramatic story of life on Earth in a serialised, "binge-watch" format. Streaming globally from Wednesday, the show's eight episodes transport viewers through Earth's five previous mass extinction events, each recreated with computer-generated visual effects. Aside from a series of cliffhanger finales, "Life on Our Planet" finds dramatic tension with a series of ordinary, loveable underdogs who "win" evolution against the odds — at least for a few hundred million years.

1) Israeli overnight strikes kill at least 110 Palestinians in Gaza At least 110 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks overnight across Gaza, marking the 18th day of Israel’s war on the besieged enclave. Deaths and injuries were reported in Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings in Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Israeli strikes also targeted houses next to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and apartments west of the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. The Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza was also targeted, according to Al Aqsa satellite channel. Palestinian group Hamas claims that 140 people were killed overnight. 2) Health Ministry in Gaza warns all electric generators at hospitals will soon stop working The Health Ministry in Gaza has warned that electric generators in hospitals will cease functioning within the next 48 hours due to a fuel shortage. Ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra said the mechanism followed to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza is "slow and cannot change the reality," stressing that "the healthcare system has reached the worst stage in its history." Earlier on Monday, the ministry said that 32 health centres are out of service due to targeting by Israeli warplanes and the fuel shortage. 3) Six UN refugee agency workers killed in Gaza in 24 hours Six workers with the United Nation's Palestinian refugee agency have been killed in just 24 hours in Israel-besieged Gaza, the global body has said, bringing to 35 the total of its staff killed since October 7. Humanitarian and aid workers have not been spared in more than two weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment on Gaza. In an update sent Tuesday on the situation up to Monday evening, the UN’s humanitarian agency said at least 16 health workers have been killed while on duty, along with 35 UNRWA staff since the start of hostilities. *) US weapons, staff rush to Israel as ground invasion of Gaza looms The Pentagon has sent military advisers to Israel and is speeding multiple sophisticated air defence systems ahead of an anticipated ground invasion of Palestine's Gaza. One of the officers leading the assistance is Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, who previously led special operations forces against Daesh and served in Iraq, according to a US official. *) Israeli army launches arrest campaign at dawn on Tuesday in Ramallah, West Bank The Israeli army has launched an arrest campaign at dawn in Ramallah city of the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA. Israeli forces have cracked down on the occupied West Bank after beginning air strikes on Gaza in retaliation for the October 7 attacks launched by Hamas into Israel. Over the past two weeks, according to officials and rights groups, Israel has arrested some 4,000 labourers from Gaza who were working in Israel. Separately, it has also arrested 1,070 other Palestinians in overnight army raids in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. As of Tuesday, October 24, Israeli forces have killed at least 95 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank.

*) Israel kills 400 Palestinians in one day At least 400 Palestinians have been killed in intensified Israeli attacks on besieged Gaza. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that according to medical sources, 70 percent of the death toll was women, children and elderly. Death toll of women in Israeli airstrikes has reached over 1,000 and forced displacement stands at about half a million others, according to the media office of Gaza administration. Over 4,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its bombardment on October 7.  *) 120 incubated newborns’ lives are at risk as fuel runs out in Gaza’s hospitals The UN children's agency has warned that the lives of at least 120 newborn babies on incubators in Gaza’s hospitals are at risk as fuel runs out. Health care workers have warned that a dire lack of medicine, fuel and water is about to turn Gaza into a mass graveyard after Israel sealed the territory off. Palestinian Health Ministry reported Israeli strikes have already killed more than 1,750 children in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks. *) Israel's 'unusual weapons' against Palestinians cause severe burns Gaza’s Health Ministry has said Israel has been using “unusual weapons” that cause severe burns to the bodies of victims. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qudra stated that “medical staff monitored the usage of unusual weapons that caused severe burns to the bodies of the martyrs and wounded.”  Al Qudra also warned 1,000 patients could die due to kidney failure if fuel supplies are not made available to hospitals and the healthcare sector. *) Cairo's 'Summit for Peace' ends without any breakthrough on Gaza ceasefire Muslim, Arab and Western countries came together in Egypt’s capital Cairo to find a solution for the ongoing conflict in Palestine’s Gaza. Dubbed "Summit for Peace", the meeting was meant to be a diplomatic solution for a ceasefire but ended with no breakthrough. "The disagreement was over condemning Israel, which Western states refused to do," an Arab official said. Instead, they sought a statement that placed "responsibility for the escalation on Hamas", which Arab states refused, according to an Arab diplomat. *) Turkish presidential plane arrives in Cairo with medical aid for Gaza A Turkish presidential plane carrying vital medical equipment for Palestine’s Gaza has touched down in Egypt’s capital Cairo. According to Türkiye’s Health Ministry, a group of 20 healthcare experts and doctors were also on board.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, October 20th. *) Israel targets Gaza church At least two women have been killed and many other civilians wounded in an Israeli attack on Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in besieged Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said. Palestinian Interior Ministry reported multiple casualties, calling it a "new massacre". The ministry said several displaced people had taken shelter at the church compound when Israeli warplanes targeted it. The strike left a "large number of martyrs and injured" at the compound, the ministry said. *) Israeli defence minister tells troops to prepare for ground assault in Gaza Israel’s defence minister has told ground troops to be ready to enter Gaza, though he did not say when the invasion will start. In a meeting with Israeli infantry soldiers on the Gaza border on Thursday, Yoav Gallant urged the forces to "get organised, be ready" for an order to move in. Whoever sees Gaza from afar now will see it from the inside," he said. "I promise you." Shortly after Gallant's statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video of himself with troops near the border promising victory. *) US Muslim group faces death threats over event to highlight Gaza crisis A major US Muslim civil rights group planning to highlight rampant human rights violations of Palestinians by Israel is moving its annual event out of a Virginia hotel after anonymous threats to bomb the venue. “We strongly condemn the extreme and disgusting threats against our organisation, the Marriott hotel and its staff," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad, who is Palestinian American, said in a statement. *) Turkish league matches to start with minute's silence in solidarity with Palestine The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has announced that a moment of silence for Palestine will be held before this week's league matches. The federation also said the players will appear on the field wearing black armbands. The war in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since 2007, began on October 7 when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltration into Israel by land, sea and air. The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in Gaza. And finally… *) Biden tries to rally Americans on Israel, Ukraine support US President Joe Biden has delivered a rare Oval Office speech urging Americans to back military aid for Israel and Ukraine at what he called a perilous moment for democracy around the globe, as Israel readied troops for a ground invasion of besieged Gaza. Fresh from a trip to Israel after the October 7 surprise Hamas operation on Israeli settlements, the Democratic president's primetime address on Thursday to the nation, pitched the case for a global US role to war-weary voters and isolationist Republicans. Biden sought to link the Hamas resistance group in Gaza to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces invaded Ukraine. "Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to annihilate a neighbouring democracy," he said. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Seven children among civilians killed in fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza At least seven children were among several civilians killed in an Israeli air strike on a house close to a school sheltering displaced people in southern Gaza. The official WAFA news agency reported that Israeli warplanes struck a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp besides other sites in the besieged enclave. “This is a massacre,” hospital director Dr. Yousef Al Akkad said, his voice choking with emotion. “Let the world see, these are just children.” *) US says Egypt to allow limited aid into Gaza Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi has agreed to open the Rafah crossing into besieged Gaza to allow a first batch of humanitarian aid trucks through, US President Joe Biden said. "He agreed to ... let up to 20 trucks through to begin with," Biden told reporters after calling Sisi from Air Force One while returning from a visit to Israel. Both leaders agreed to work closely on encouraging an "urgent and robust" response to a humanitarian appeal by the United Nations, the White House said. *) UN demands investigation into hospital attack in Gaza The UN has demanded an investigation into an Israeli attack on Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza that claimed hundreds of lives. When asked by Anadolu news agency whether the UN will be involved in the investigation to clarify details of the attack that killed hundreds of civilians, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it is "early days" and the UN will "have to see what is done by way of investigation." "It is essential that there could be some form of investigation into this," he added. *) Türkiye declares three days of national mourning for Gaza Türkiye has declared a three-day national mourning period in solidarity with Palestine following an Israeli air strike on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza that killed at least 500 people. "As Türkiye, we feel the great suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in our hearts," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. The Turkish legislature earlier condemned in a joint statement Israeli attacks on hospital, and emphasised that bombing medical facilities is against the laws of war. And finally… *) Anti-Zionist Jews in US urge end to Israel's war in Gaza At least a hundred protesters have occupied a building of the US Congress urging lawmakers and Joe Biden administration to push for an end to Israel's war in besieged Gaza. Dressed in black T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Jews say cease fire now" and "Not in our name," the activists on Wednesday sat clapping and singing on the floor in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office building and held up large banners that read "Ceasefire" and "Let Gaza Live". Capitol police said protests are not allowed inside the building and many demonstrators were arrested.

*) Israeli strike kills hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza An Israeli air strike on Gaza’s Al Ahli Arab Hospital compound killed at least 500 people, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza has said, with many still under the rubble. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning following the deadly attack. Israel’s military has denied its forces bombed the hospital. Around 3,000 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza since the war erupted on October 7. *) World reacts to Israel's strike on Gaza Israel’s hospital bombing in Gaza triggered condemnation and fury in the Middle East and beyond. "Israel has crossed all red lines. ... We will not leave nor allow anyone to expel us from there," Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Hitting a hospital containing women, children and innocent civilians is the latest example of Israel's attacks devoid of the most basic human values." United Nations Human rights chief Volker Turk shared a statement over the bombing: "Words fail me. Tonight, hundreds of people were killed — horrifically — in a massive strike at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, including patients, healthcare workers and families that had been seeking refuge in and around the hospital. Once again the most vulnerable. This is totally unacceptable." The World Health Organization also condemned the deadly strike in a statement, said: "The hospital was operational, with patients, health- and care-givers, and internally-displaced people sheltering there.Early reports indicate hundreds of fatalities and injuries. *) Jordan cancels summit with Biden after Israel bombs Gaza hospital Jordan has cancelled a planned summit with US President Joe Biden and leaders of Egypt and Palestine, saying "there is no use in talking now about anything except stopping the war." The decision came after Israel’s deadly hospital bombardment. The summit will be held "when the decision to stop the war and put an end to these massacres has been taken," said Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. *) UN warns Israel against 'forcible transfer' of Palestinians in Gaza The United Nations has warned Israel against the "forcible transfer of civilians" in Gaza, which could be in breach of international law. Israel has demanded that residents of north Gaza leave for the south, hoping to clear the area of civilians in preparation for a perilous urban ground assault. "We have grave fears about the toll on civilians in the coming days. Military operations show no signs of abating," UN rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing. And finally… *) Thousands of artists demand 'immediate' end to Israeli attacks on Gaza Over 2,000 artists demanded an "immediate ceasefire" and the opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow residents to leave the enclave amid increasing tension in the region. Artists for Palestine UK released a letter signed by more than 2,000 artists that include famous novelists, singers, playwrights, filmmakers as well as famed actors such as Tilda Swinton and Charles Dance. "We are witnessing a crime and a catastrophe. Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and cut off the supply of water, power, food and medicine to 2.3 million Palestinians. In the words of the UN’s undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, 'the spectre of death' is hanging over the territory," it said. The letter criticised governments that expressed support for Israel and it said there will come a time when they are held to account "for their complicity."

*) UN Security Council rejects Russia's resolution on Gaza ceasefire The UN Security Council has rejected a Russian resolution that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians. Only four countries joined Russia in voting for the resolution. Four countries voted against it, including the United States. Six countries abstained. Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, had urged support for the resolution to respond to the “unprecedented exacerbation” of the situation. The Russian draft resolution would have called for “an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire” and “strongly condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.” It never mentions Hamas. *) Türkiye proposes multi-country guarantor system for Israel-Palestine conflict Türkiye's foreign minister has put forth a proposal for a guarantor system in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasising Ankara's central role in shaping the idea. Hakan Fidan underlined the need for multiple countries, including Türkiye, to act as guarantors once both parties reach an agreement, with the responsibility to ensure its implementation. Fidan also pointed out the importance of international pressure on Israel to adopt a two-state solution, saying Türkiye shared its views on this issue with the parties. Discussions between the Turkish foreign minister and the US revealed that the Biden administration supported a two-state solution. Stressing the importance of transforming the current situation into an opportunity for peace, Fidan said the presence of guarantor countries would be pivotal in achieving a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. *) Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday: Blinken US President Joe Biden will pay a solidarity visit to Israel on Wednesday following the Hamas attacks, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also announced that Israel had agreed to work on civilian aid for Gaza. Blinken spoke after meeting for nearly eight hours at the defence ministry with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the top US diplomat's second visit since the October 7 attacks by Hamas. "The president will reaffirm United States solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security," Blinken said early Tuesday in Tel Aviv. *) Malaysia pulls out of Frankfurt book fair over organisers' pro-Israel stance Malaysia's education ministry has withdrawn from participating in this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, accusing the organisers of taking a pro-Israel stance, amid growing global divisions over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The move by Malaysia to pull out of what is considered the world's largest trade fair for books came after literary association Litprom said it would postpone an award ceremony for a novel by a Palestinian author at the event following the October 7 attack by the Hamas in Israel. It was announced that Palestinian author Adania Shibli would not be honoured with the LiBeraturpreis, a German award, at the fair, as had been originally planned. *) Black man wrongfully jailed for 16 years shot dead by police in US A Black man who spent more than 16 years imprisoned in Florida on a wrongful conviction was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting, identified the man as Leonard Allen Cure, 53. Cure had been represented in his exoneration case by the Innocence Project of Florida. The group’s executive director, Seth Miller, said he was devastated by news of the death, which he heard from Cure’s family. “I can only imagine what it’s like to know your son is innocent and watch him be sentenced to life in prison, to be exonerated and ... then be told that once he’s been freed, he’s been shot dead,” Miller said on Monday.

*) Palestinian-American boy killed in US hate crime amid Israeli siege of Gaza A landlord in the US state of Illinois stabbed a 6-year-old boy to death and seriously wounded his mother in a hate crime driven by the family's Islamic faith and the Israel-Palestine conflict. The boy was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife with a 7-inch (18-cm) serrated blade, the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The 32-year-old woman had multiple stab wounds and is expected to survive the attack. The attacker, Joseph Czuba, 71, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and two counts of a hate crime, said the sheriff’s office. *) Biden says Israeli occupation of Gaza would be 'a big mistake' US President Joe Biden has said that Israel's occupation of Gaza would be "a big mistake" but appeared okay for an inside operation against the Palestinian group Hamas. "I think it’d be a big mistake," Biden said in an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes program. "What happened in Gaza, in my view, is Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don't represent all the Palestinian people.” *) US news network MSNBC suspends Muslim anchors amid Israeli war in Gaza US news network MSNBC has suspended shows hosted by three Muslim anchors, following Hamas's attack inside Israel last week, two sources directly involved with the decision told Arab News. Sources say MSNBC anchors Mehdi Hasan, Ayman Mohieddine and Ali Velshi were 'quietly taken out of the anchor's chair'. On Saturday, Arab News reported that MSNBC chose not to air the weekly episode of 'The Mehdi Hasan Show' and scrapped the plan of having Mohieddine to anchor Joy Reid's show on Thursday and Friday. MSNBC, however, "vehemently pushed back against any notion that either Hasan or Mohieddine were being sidelined in any way," Semafor, a news website, said in its report. *) Ecuador elects business heir as country's youngest president Daniel Noboa, an inexperienced politician and an heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, won Ecuador’s presidential run-off election held amid unprecedented violence that even claimed the life of a candidate. With more than 97 percent of the votes counted, electoral officials said Noboa had 52.1 percent, compared to 47.9 percent for Luisa González, a leftist lawyer and ally of exiled former President Rafael Correa. González conceded defeat during a speech before supporters in which she also urged Noboa to fulfil his campaign promises. Noboa, 35, will lead the South American country during a period that drug trafficking-related violence has left Ecuadorians wondering when, not if, they will be victims. Their uneasiness has prompted them to continuously watch their backs and limit how often they leave home. And finally… *) Türkiye beat Latvia 4-0 to qualify for UEFA EURO 2024 Türkiye beat Latvia 4-0 on Sunday to qualify for the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship. After a goalless first half, Türkiye began the second half with the wind at their backs at Konya Metropolitan Municipality Stadium. Yunus Akgun drew first blood in the 58th minute, then Cenk Tosun made it 2-0 in the 84th minute. Kerem Akturkoglu netted the third goal for the hosts in the 88th minute, and Tosun tallied another goal in the 92nd minute. With this result, Türkiye placed first in Group D with 16 points and guaranteed to take part in EURO 2024.

*) Israel warns 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza to relocate south The United Nations has said it has been told by the Israeli military that some 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza should relocate to the blockaded enclave's south within the next 24 hours. "The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. "The United Nations strongly appeals for any such order, if confirmed, to be rescinded avoiding what could transform what is already a tragedy into a calamitous situation," he said. Dujarric said the order by the Israeli military also applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities, including schools, health centres and clinics. *) UN warns food, fresh water rapidly running out in Gaza amid Israeli siege The United Nations World Food Programme (or WFP) has warned that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in Gaza after Israel imposed a total blockade on the territory following Hamas attacks. "It's a dire situation in the Gaza that we're seeing evolve with food and water being in limited supply and quickly running out," said Brian Lander on Thursday, the deputy head of emergencies at WFP, which is based in Rome. "WFP is on the ground and is responding and we're providing food to thousands of people that have sought shelter in schools and elsewhere across the territory. But we're going to run out very soon," he told Reuters TV. Israel has announced a total siege on Gaza on Monday, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into the coastal territory and shuttering all crossing points following Hamas's weekend rampage that killed more than 1,300 people. *) Iran warns of reaction to Israeli 'crimes' as toll rises in Gaza Iran's foreign minister, whose government supports Hamas, has warned opening a "new front" against Israel would depend on Israel's actions in blockaded Gaza. "The continuation of war crimes against Palestine and Gaza will receive a response from the rest of the axis. And naturally, the Zionist entity and its supporters will be responsible for the consequences of that," Hossein Amirabdollahian said. The Iranian minister said the displacement of Palestinians and cutting water and electricity to Gaza are considered war crimes. *) Gaza death toll, evacuation numbers swell Gaza's Health Ministry has said that 1,537 Palestinians, including 500 children and 276 women, were killed and 6,612 were wounded in ongoing Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave. As of late Thursday, the number of displaced people in Gaza had risen by additional 84,444 people and reached 423,378, the UN humanitarian agency said in a statement. *) US is inflaming Middle East conflict by sending aircraft carrier: Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of inflaming the Middle East by sending an aircraft carrier group to the region, saying "compromise solutions" were needed and that he hoped common sense would prevail. Putin, speaking at an energy conference in Moscow, said on Wednesday the US move of sending an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel, which was also fiercely criticised by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, was a mistake. "I don't understand why the US is dragging aircraft carrier groups into the Mediterranean Sea. I don't really understand the point. Are they going to bomb Lebanon or what?" he said.

*) Türkiye holding negotiations over Israeli civilians in Hamas detention President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has increased Türkiye's diplomatic efforts in securing the release of Israeli civilians from besieged Gaza even as Hamas freed a woman and her two children in the first release of Israelis detained by Palestinian fighters. "They are negotiating to secure the release of the hostages," an official source said, confirming a report by the private TV channel Haberturk. "We are ready to do everything in our power, including mediation and fair arbitration to end the conflict quickly," Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying. Erdogan separately criticised Israel over its disproportionate attacks on Gaza that could bring Tel Aviv into an undesirable place in the eyes of world public opinion. *) Gaza death toll climbs to 1,200, with 5000 others wounded Gaza’s Health Ministry has announced that the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks has climbed to around 1,200, with nearly 5,000 wounded. More than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in besieged Gaza, the United Nations said, as heavy Israeli bombardments continue to hit the Palestinian enclave. The number of displaced in the densely populated territory of 2.3 million people had by late Wednesday "risen by an additional 75,000 people and reached 338,934," the UN added. *) UN agency seeks $104M in urgent Gaza aid as humanitarian crisis deepens The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (or UNRWA) has said it was seeking $104 million for life-saving aid to Gaza, which has been pounded by Israeli reprisal strikes following attacks by Hamas against Israel. "The requested funds will cover the urgent immediate food, non-food, health, shelter and protection needs of up to 250,000 persons seeking safety in UNRWA shelters across the ravaged Gaza and another 250,000 Palestine refugees within the community," according to the UN. UNRWA, which was already facing financial difficulties, said it had enough funding to continue its regular services, including education, healthcare and social protection, across the region until the end of October. *) Several UN, aid group workers killed in ruthless Israeli strikes on Gaza Eleven workers with the UN Palestinian refugee agency have been killed in Israeli air strikes on besieged Gaza since Saturday, and five members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent have also been killed in the conflict, the organisations said. "We are very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since 7 October in the Gaza Strip," UNRWA said in a statement on Wednesday. It did not specify if they were Palestinian or foreign personnel but said they included five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynaecologist, one engineer, one psychological counsellor and three support staff. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said in a separate statement that five of its members - four in Gaza and one in Israel - had been killed. *) Putin in Kyrgyzstan on first trip since ICC arrest warrant Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kyrgyzstan, visiting abroad for the first time since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March. President Putin is wanted by the court over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Its ruling requires members of the ICC, which does not include Kyrgyzstan, to make the arrest if he sets foot on their territory. This year, he has travelled only to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, with his last foreign trips to Belarus and Kyrgyzstan last December — a far cry from the busy international schedule he had earlier in his rule.

*) Palestine accuses Israel of waging 'genocidal' war in besieged Gaza The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations has described Israel's bombardment of besieged Gaza, vowing to impose a complete siege on the Palestinian enclave, as "nothing less than genocidal." Israel has incessantly bombarded Gaza, killing some 900 Palestinians and razing entire districts amid possible preparations for a ground invasion. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing on Monday a "total blockade" to stop food and fuel reaching Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Gallant said Israel was battling "beastly people." "Such blatant dehumanisation and attempts to bomb a people into submission, to use starvation as a method of warfare, and to eradicate their national existence are nothing less than genocidal," Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour wrote in a letter to the UN Security Council on Tuesday. "These acts constitute war crimes," he wrote. *) President Erdogan, UN chief Guterres discuss Israel-Palestine tension Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have discussed steps to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which recently sparked into the deadliest conflict seen in years. In a phone call, Erdogan and Guterres also exchanged views on what could be done to deliver humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians to the region through Türkiye's mediation efforts, Türkiye's Communication Directorate said on Tuesday in a statement. Warning that disproportionate attacks could lead the situation into further stalemate, Erdogan told Guterres that it is very important for the parties to act with restraint and avoid impulsive steps. *) Two-state solution only path to sustainable peace in Middle East: Turkish FM Türkiye condemns attacks on civilians and attaches great importance to achieving calm in the Palestine-Israel conflict, the country's foreign minister has said. Speaking at the Economic Cooperation Organisation’s meeting in Azerbaijan’s city of Shusha on Tuesday, Hakan Fidan said: "We condemn attacks on civilians and emphasise the importance of restoring calm in the region,” underscoring the importance of avoiding geographical tensions that could lead to global insecurity and instability. The recent conflict was unprecedented, but not entirely surprising, Fidan said. He said the current tensions in the region are yet another indication that the only path to sustainable and equitable peace in the Middle East is a two-state solution. "This is an era of geopolitical changes and tensions. The geoeconomic landscape is also adapting accordingly. In a globalised world, regional dynamics and integration have become even more critical. ECO is working towards this goal," he said. *) Israel gets 'advanced' US ammo ahead of 'full' Gaza offensive The Israeli military has said "a first plane carrying American ammunition had landed in Israel after the US said it would send new supplies of air defences, munitions and other security assistance to its ally to battle Palestinian Hamas militants." The army said "the ammunition is designed to inflict significant blows," adding it is in "preparation for additional scenarios." It comes as Israel's defence minister announced that Israeli forces have taken control of the border area of besieged Gaza. "I have lifted all restrictions," said Yoav Gallant, adding, "We have taken the region under control. Now we are launching a full attack. *) Fresh 6.3-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan's Herat A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck western Afghanistan, the US Geological Survey said, hitting an area where more than 2,500 people were killed, after a similar tremor on the weekend. The quake occurred on Wednesday at a shallow depth at around 5:10 am local time [00:40 GMT], with its epicentre about 29 kilometres north of the city of Herat, the USGS said.

*) Israel announces complete siege of Gaza Israel has announced a "complete siege" of Palestine's Gaza amid intensified fighting with the Palestinian Hamas group. “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed (to Gaza), " Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said following an army's assessment session. Energy Minister Israel Katz separately ordered "to immediately cut the water supply to Gaza". Katz's order came soon after Gallant's order for a "complete siege" on Gaza, which receives about 10 percent of its annual water from Israel. *) US, Europe witness rival groups demonstrate over Gaza bombardments Thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters have held mainly peaceful gatherings in US and Europe, however, there have been a few small disturbances. In London, Paris, Athens, and several cities in the US including New York, supporters of Israel and of the Palestinians held competing rallies. *) Fanatical Jews issue death threats to Al Aqsa Mosque imam Sheikh Sabri Extremist Jewish groups have stepped up calls for the assassination of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri , imam of the Al aqsa Mosque, his lawyers said. The Defence Committee of Sheikh Ikrima Sabri , consisting of lawyers, issued a statement saying his life is under "serious threat" due to increasing "fascism" in Israeli society. The committee has called for taking the assassination and elimination threats seriously to ensure his protection and has lamented the silence of "Israeli security forces" over the provocations by fanatical Jewish groups and individuals. *) Egypt intensifies diplomatic efforts to de-escalate Hamas-Israel conflict Egypt has intensified its push for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate spiralling violence in besieged Gaza and Israel. President Abdel Fattah el Sisi spoke with UAE Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreeing to "intensify discussions and diplomatic efforts to stop military escalation", Sisi's spokesperson has said. Sisi has also spoken with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, warning of the dangerous "absence of political prospects", and with Jordan's King Abdullah II, whose country acts as custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. *) Syria faces torture allegations at international court Syria faces allegations at the UN top court that it maintains a "pervasive" system of torture that has killed tens of thousands of people. The case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) marks the first time Damascus has faced international judges over the brutal civil war that started in 2011. Victims have endured "unimaginable physical and mental pain and suffering" from "abhorrent treatment in detention, inhumane conditions of detention, and sexual and gender-based violence," the case brought by the Netherlands and Canada alleges. Damascus, on the other hand, has dismissed the case as "disinformation and lies," with a government source saying the allegations "lack the slightest degree of credibility."

*) Erdogan says freedom of Palestine along 1967 borders must not be delayed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged both Israel and Hamas to cease fighting, saying the realisation of an independent, geographically integrated Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as capital, cannot be delayed. *) Over 123,000 displaced in Gaza amid Israel, Hamas conflict — UN The United Nations says the number of displaced Gaza residents has risen to more than 123,000, due to the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas, following the group’s unprecedented attack on Israel. As of late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes in retaliation had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. *) US military aid to Israel amounts to aggression against Palestinians: Hamas Palestinian resistance group Hamas has said that the United States' plan to provide increased military aid to Israel amounts to "aggression" against Palestinians, after Washington ordered navy ships and warplanes closer to Israel. The Pentagon said it was sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, while boosting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. *) Israeli bombardment wipes out 19-member Palestinian family in Gaza An Israeli airstrike in the southern blockaded Gaza enclave wipes out 19 members of a family, including women and children. The air strike also killed five neighbours who were standing outside the jam-packed refugee camp, a jumble of buildings and alleyways. The air strike in Rafah came as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of targets in Gaza following a big, multi-front attack by Hamas fighters on Saturday. Hamas also took dozens of Israelis hostage and fired thousands of rockets toward Israeli population centres, although most were intercepted by the country's Iron Dome defence system. *) Türkiye conducts aerial operations against YPG/PKK in northern Syria Turkish forces destroyed at least six targets, consisting of shelters and bunkers used in the fight against separatist terrorists, in an air operation carried out in northern Syria, Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence has said. In its Sunday statement, the ministry said that it carried out an operation against the PKK/YPG and other terrorist elements to neutralise them and ensure border security. The statement underscored that the operation was carried out under the United Nations' self-defence article. Six targets, including an oil facility, hideouts, and shelters, were destroyed, the ministry noted.

*) Türkiye destroys terror targets in Syria Türkiye has hit the terrorist group YPG/PKK positions as part of its anti-terror operations in northern Syria, destroying dozens of targets and "neutralising" many terrorists. 30 targets, including an oil well and a storage facility, caves, bunkers, shelters and warehouses used by terrorists were destroyed, Turkish Defence Ministry said in a statement. The Turkish anti-terror operation came after PKK/YPG attacked the Interior Ministry in the Turkish capital Ankara last Sunday. *) Bangladesh gets first uranium shipment from Russia for nuclear power plant Bangladesh has received the first Russian shipment of uranium fuel for its $12.65B debut nuclear power plant, making it the 33rd country in the world to produce nuclear power. The South Asian country is building the first of two nuclear power plants in collaboration with Russian state-owned atomic company Rosatom. Ninety percent of the project is financed through a Russian loan repayable within 28 years with a 10-year grace period. *) Biden to extend US border wall with Mexico using Trump-era funds US President Joe Biden has defended his plans to extend the border wall with Mexico, saying he didn't think such barriers worked, but he was bound by laws introduced under former president Donald Trump. Biden, who is polling neck-and-neck with rival Trump ahead of a likely 2024 rematch, insisted on Thursday his predecessor had tied his hands on the wall-building. "They have to use the money for what it was appropriated for. I can’t stop that," he told reporters in the Oval Office. The US president also stressed that the border wall is ineffective. *) Drone attack on Syrian military ceremony kills 80, wounds 240 An attack on a Syrian crowded military graduation ceremony has killed 80 and wounded 240 others. Civilians, including children, and military personnel were among the dead. Syria's regime said in an earlier statement that drones laden with explosives targeted the ceremony. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. *) Eastern Canada breaks autumn heat records Eastern Canada has shattered heat records this week with temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius, worrying experts and everyday people struggling to cope with extreme weather made worse by the climate crisis. In the last three days, heat records were broken in Quebec and adjacent provinces. On Wednesday, the mercury reached 29.3 degrees Celsius in Montreal, surpassing the record of 26.7 degrees set in 2005.

*) Many dead, over 100 missing in India flash floods due to glacial lake burst At least 14 people have been killed and 102 others missing in northeast India after heavy rain caused a glacial lake to burst its banks. The disaster affected the lives of 22,000 people and is the latest in a series of deadly weather events in South Asia's mountains. A cloudburst dropped a huge amount of rain over a short period on the Lhonak glacial lake, triggering flash floods and washing away eleven bridges. *) Azerbaijan president refuses to attend EU-brokered meet over snub to Türkiye Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev has decided against attending an EU-brokered meeting in Spain after France and Germany opposed his request for Turkish representation at the talks. It would have been his first face-to-face talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan since Baku took back full control of Karabakh. Aliyev wanted ally Türkiye to be represented at the meeting, but when France and Germany objected, he said "an anti-Azerbaijani atmosphere" had developed. *) Millions off work as Typhoon Koinu brings 'record' winds, rains to Taiwan Typhoon Koinu has unleashed record winds in southern Taiwan, with gusts of over 340 kilometres per hour. Nearly 200 people have been injured. Koinu made landfall as a category four typhoon, but is expected to weaken as it heads towards China. The severe weather has forced the shutdown of thousands of workplaces and schools across the region. *) 'Stop killing our children': Palestine, Israel women rally against violence Hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli women have rallied in occupied Jerusalem and the Dead Sea in the occupied West Bank. They called for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, chanting "we want peace” and holding placards that read "Stop killing our children". Persistent violence linked to Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands has escalated since last year. At least 243 Palestinians and 32 Israelis have been killed this year. *) Africa, Europe and South America to host FIFA 2030 World Cup games Morocco, Portugal and Spain will be joint hosts for the 2030 World Cup but games will also be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. FIFA said in a statement that the matches in South America were part of the celebration to mark 100 years since the first World Cup in Uruguay. The announcement puts an end to competition between two major bids, one led by Spain and Portugal and the other from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.

*) US House ousts Kevin McCarthy as speaker in historic vote A rare and dramatic scenario played out in the US congress when senior Republican Kevin McCarthy was ousted as US House speaker by his own party members. This came after Democrats announced that they would not bail him out of a move by Trump loyalists to remove McCarthy from the powerful post. McCarthy sparked fury among some Republicans when he worked with Democrats to pass a stopgap funding measure to avert a government shutdown. The Speaker is the top Republican and second in line of succession to the US presidency. *) Azerbaijan arrests top separatists as it takes total control of Karabakh Authorities in Azerbaijan have arrested several former separatist leaders of Karabakh after reclaiming control of the Armenian-occupied region in a lightning military operation last month. This is according to a top Azerbaijani news agency. The wave of arrests comes as Azerbaijani authorities move swiftly to establish their control over the region after a military operation that put an end to the illegal Armenian occupation in the region. *) Nearly two dozen Indian soldiers missing as flash floods hit hill state The Indian army has said that 23 soldiers are missing after a powerful flash flood caused by intense rainfall tore through a valley in the north east. The army said water released upstream from the Chungthang dam meant the river was already more than 4.5 metres higher than usual. Intermittent rain and thundershowers were hampering rescue operations in the area, according to an army official. *) Bus crash near Italy's Venice city leaves nearly two dozen dead A bus carrying foreign tourists has crashed near the Italian city of Venice, killing at least 21 people and injuring 18 others. According to officials, two of the dead were children and four of the injured were in serious condition following the accident on the mainland opposite the historic old city of Venice. Firefighters said the bus caught fire after careering off a bridge straddling a railway line. *) Galatasaray stun Man United with historic 3-2 win Galatasaray have beaten Manchester United 3-2 in a UEFA Champions League match, marking a historic win for the Turkish powerhouse. Galatasaray won the five-goal thriller in the Theatre of Dreams to move to second place in the group. The Turkish team has four points. Meanwhile, Man United are at the bottom of the group after losing their second match in a row.

*) Militant attack leaves dozens of Nigerian soldiers dead Twenty-nine soldiers have been killed in western Niger in an attack by suspected militants, the Defence Ministry has said. The ministry said the soldiers were targeted using "improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles by more than a hundred terrorists". Two soldiers were seriously wounded and "several dozen terrorists" were also killed. According to the ministry, the attack took place near the country's border with Mali, during military operations aimed at "neutralising the threat posed by the Daesh" terror group. *) EU foreign ministers promise Ukraine billions of dollars EU foreign ministers have held talks with their Ukrainian counterpart in Kiev – the first time such a gathering has taken place outside of the bloc. It comes amid growing Western impatience over the war with Russia, especially after the Ukrainian counter-offensive didn't gather the pace many leaders had hoped for. Afterwards, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed over 5 billion dollars in military aid for Kiev next year. Meanwhile, Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv will build the country's first fully underground school to shield pupils from Russia's frequent bomb and missile attacks. *) UN finds no civilian violence in Azerbaijan's Karabakh as operation ends The UN mission visiting Karabakh in Azerbaijan has not received reports of violence against Armenian residents and seen destruction against civilian infrastructure. The mission was in the region to assess the situation on the ground and identify the humanitarian needs of both the people remaining and those who are on the move. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters the team surveyed the border checkpoint in Lachin and the city of Khankendi. *) Guatemalans block roads as anger grows over election interference Hundreds of Guatemalans have blocked key roads to demand the resignation of top prosecutors. The protesters accuse the prosecutors of trying to block the newly-elected president Bernardo Arevalo from taking office. One prosecutor even sent security forces to seize boxes of voting records. Arevalo is due to take office in January but observers and the international community have raised the alarm over efforts to challenge his election win. And finally… *) Trump decries New York trial over his business practices as 'scam' Former US President Donald Trump's fraud trial has gotten underway in Manhattan. Trump and his sons have been charged with inflating the value of his assets by billions of dollars to secure better loan and insurance terms. Trump is at risk of losing his business in New York and paying millions of dollars in fines but he denounced the case as a politically motivated "scam".

*) No one pursuing hostility towards Türkiye emerges victorious: Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised those who are trying to give democracy lessons to Türkiye, noting they turn a blind eye to hate crimes against Turks and Muslims, especially amid rising Islamophobia. In a speech at the Turkish Parliament on Sunday, Erdogan underscored Türkiye's critical role from Karabakh to Libya and Syria to Somalia, insisting, "No country, no society, no institution that pursues a hostile policy towards Türkiye emerges victorious in the end." In the meantime, Turkish warplanes carried out airstrikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq, in accordance with the UN's right to self-defence, the Turkish Defence Ministry has announced. Erdogan's comments and the anti-terror operation came after two terrorists attacked the Turkish Interior Ministry, in the nation's capital, Ankara, hours before his speech in parliament. *) Children among several dead, injured in Mexico church roof collapse The roof of a church collapsed in northern Mexico, during a Mass, killing at least nine people and injuring around 50, authorities said. Search teams probed in the wreckage late into the night, looking for survivors and other victims. The number of young victims — police officers said three of the dead were children — may have been due to the fact that baptisms were to take place at the church. The diocese later posted a list of about 50 people who had been hospitalised, as a result of the accident. Approximately 30 parishioners were believed to have been trapped in the rubble l, when the roof caved in, officials said. *) Serbia tried to annex northern Kosovo in recent attack: Pristina Kosovo said it has evidence Serbia was trying to annex its northern region and that recent attackers had been preparing for this for a long time at military bases. ''This terrorist organisation had only one purpose: the annexation of the north of the Republic of Kosovo,” the Interior Minister said on Sunday. According to the minister, the Serbian President, Defence Minister and Army Chief of Staff were directly engaged in the attempt. *) UN to vote on sending peacekeepers to Haiti The United Nations Security Council is set to vote to approve the deployment of foreign police to Haiti and to authorise the use of force to help the Caribbean nation combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. A US-drafted resolution would also expand a UN arms embargo that currently applies only to designated individuals to include all gangs, which China wanted. Haitian officials have said guns used by gangs are believed to be mostly imported from the United States. Haiti asked nearly a year ago for international help. *) Japanese start-up develops high-tech robot inspired by 'Gundam' Tokyo-based start-up Tsubame Industries has developed a 4.5-metre-tall, four-wheeled robot that looks like "Mobile Suit Gundam" from the wildly popular Japanese animation series, and it can be yours for $3 million. Called ARCHAX, after a avian dinosaur, the robot has cockpit monitors that receive images from cameras hooked up to the exterior, so the pilot can manoeuvre the arms and hands with joysticks from inside its torso. The 3.5-tonne robot, to be unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show later this month, has two modes: the upright "robot mode" and a "vehicle mode" in which it can travel up to 10 km per hour.

*) Pakistan likens Palestine to Kashmir, says won't normalise ties with Israel Pakistan will not follow other nations who are normalising relations with Israel, the South Asian country's interim foreign minister has said. "We do not follow others, we look at our national interests," said Jalil Abbas Jilani. Explaining his country’s position on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, Jilani said Islamabad's stance on the Israel or Palestine issue is "very clear" and "it will remain in the future as well." *) Kiev will secure EU from Russian nuclear blackmail — Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that his country will do everything to liberate the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and to secure Europe from Russian radiation blackmail. "We will do everything to implement the first point of our Peace Formula – nuclear and radiation security," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. He also added that they are preparing to yield more results for their international efforts to strengthen the country. *) Blinken meets Jaishankar amid Canada-India row over Sikh leader's murder US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with India's foreign minister amid a simmering row between New Delhi and Ottawa over allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada. Neither man spoke about the controversy that has disrupted Canada-India relations in very brief comments to reporters. "We have consistently engaged with the Indian government on this question and have urged them to cooperate," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. But a US statement after Blinken met his Indian counterpart made no mention of Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder or of Canada as a whole. *) Number of US-bound refugees crossing dangerous Darien Gap tops 400,000 The number of US-bound refugees and migrants who have crossed through the notorious jungle stretch between Panama and Colombia has soared this year to more than 400,000. Panama's Public Security Ministry said on Thursday it has tallied 402,030 people passing through as of Wednesday. That figure is 62 percent more than the number of migrants who crossed the Darien Gap in all of 2022. Panama said as many as 4,000 people are crossing from Colombia each day. *) Meta puts artificial intelligence in smart glasses Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg has said the tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses as it seeks to gain lost ground in the AI race. “Smart glasses are going to eventually allow us to bring all of this together into a stylish form factor that we can wear," Zuckerberg said. Smart glasses are one of the many ways that tech companies have tried to move beyond the smartphone as a user-friendly device, but so far with little success. The second-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses made in a partnership with EssilorLuxottica will have a starting price of $299 when they hit the market on October 17.

*) PKK terror threat to Syria 'never been more alarming', warns Türkiye Türkiye's ambassador to the United Nations, has warned the threat posed by the PKK terrorist group to Syria, is of greater concern, than ever before. "The continued presence of terrorist organisations in Syria poses a vital threat to this country and its neighbours, primarily Türkiye, as well as to the wider region," Sedat Onal said at a UN Security Council session on Syria. Onal emphasised Türkiye will take measures against direct and imminent threats, posed to its national security, by terrorist organisations operating in Syria. *) Rich nations yet to deliver on 2022 Pakistan flood aid promise — UN A year after deadly floods inundated a third of Pakistan, the broken promises to rebuild the country presents "a litmus test for climate justice," the head of the United Nations has said. "Billions were pledged" by rich nations in the aftermath of the disaster, said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, "but the vast majority was in loans. And Pakistan is still waiting for much of the funding." "Delays are undermining people's efforts to rebuild their lives," the UN chief said, adding the Asian nation was "a double victim - of climate chaos and of our outdated and unjust global financial system." *) Russia accuses US of circumventing Israel-Palestine peace deal Russia has accused the United States of promoting Israel's normalisation of relations with Arab nations. Russia also accuses the US of circumventing the Arab Peace Initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia in 2002, which calls for a settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict, before any diplomatic recognition of Israel. The statement also implicitly criticised Saudi Arabia — without naming it — for moving toward establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, while taking "aggressive illegal actions", including an "unprecedented" expansion of settlements in the territory. *) Republicans tussle over immigration, China, Trump at second primary debate Seven Republican hopefuls clashed over immigration, China and the economy, at the party's second 2024 presidential primary, but saved some of their most strident remarks to slam frontrunner Donald Trump for spurning the showdown. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Trump, who was speaking to a crowd of autoworkers in Detroit, instead of joining the debate, should have been on the stage with his primary rivals. *) TRT World documentary 'Off the Grid' wins Emmy Award TRT World's documentary "Off The Grid," featuring the episode "Ukraine Wartime Diaries," has won the 44th International Emmy Award in the "News and Current Affairs" category. Winners of the News categories of the 44th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards were announced by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences [NATAS] at the Palladium Times Square in New York City. TRT World, representing Türkiye in the finals, was up against competitors from the UK, Brazil, and Israel.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 27th. *) Iraq wedding fire leaves 113 dead, more than 150 injured At least 113 people have been killed and more than 150 wounded when fire broke out at a wedding celebration in the district of Hamdaniya in Iraq’s Nineveh province. The fire ripped through a large events hall after fireworks were lit during the celebration, local civil defence said. Najim al Jubouri, the provincial governor of Nineveh, cautioned there were no final casualty figures yet from the blaze, suggesting the death toll still may rise. *) Türkiye wants opening of Zangezur corridor ‘as soon as possible’: Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed the importance of opening the Zangezur Corridor land route in southern Caucasus. “Hopefully, we will realise the Zangezur Corridor as soon as possible and make our road and rail communication with friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan uninterrupted through Nakhchivan,” Erdogan said. The remark came a day after his visit to Azerbaijan’s autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, where he met his counterpart Aliyev to discuss particularly the recent situation in Karabakh. *) Mexico disperses thousands of migrants; Costa Rica to declare emergency Mexico seeking to deal with an unfolding migrant crisis has dispersed thousands of people on its southern border. Migrants on the other side of the country defied new enforcement measures and continued to arrive at northern cities by cargo train. Large numbers of migrants have been crossing into the United States from Mexico in recent weeks. More migrants have also been seen traversing the Americas, and Costa Rica’s president ordered a state of emergency over the sharp rise of people passing through the small Central American nation. *) UN warns of ‘harmful consequences’ over France’s headscarf ban for athletes No one has a say in what women should wear, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) spokesperson has said, focusing on France’s recent ban on headscarves for athletes in next year’s Olympic games. “In general, the Human Rights Office says that no one should impose on a woman what she needs to wear or not wear,” Marta Hurtado told a UN press briefing in Geneva. She warned that discriminatory practices against a group can have “harmful consequences.” And finally… *) Hollywood screenwriters end strike after pay deal with studios American television and movie writers have agreed to end a strike that lasted nearly five months and paralysed Hollywood after reaching a pay deal with production studios. The 11,500 members have until October 9 to cast their votes on the proposed contract. The Writers Guild of America said the estimated value of the deal was $233 million per year. Thousands of film and television writers began striking in early May over demands including better pay for writers and protection from artificial intelligence. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) South Korea holds rare military parade amid North's nuclear threat South Korea kicked off its first large-scale military parade in a decade, showcasing weapons ranging from ballistic missiles to attack helicopters. The parade marks the country's Armed Forces Day, normally a muted event relative to the massive events the North has staged under leader Kim Jong-un. In a speech, President Yoon Suk Yeol warned the North against using nuclear weapons and pledged to ramp up support for the military and the defence industry. *) Ukraine says Russia's Black Sea Fleet commander killed Ukraine's special forces have killed Moscow's top admiral in Crimea along with 33 other officers in a missile attack last week. Admiral Viktor Sokolov allegedly died in the attack on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the port of Sevastopol. Sokolov was the commander of the Black Sea Fleet and one of Russia's most senior navy officers, had been killed. The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond when asked to confirm or deny the allegations. *) Ratifying Sweden's NATO accession bid not 'urgent': Hungary's Orban Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told parliament that ratifying Sweden's NATO bid was not "urgent". Hungary has still not voted to approve the Nordic country's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Orban accused the Nordic country of having challenged his country's "democratic nature". *) China sentences Muslim Uighur scholar to life in prison: rights group China has sentenced a well-respected Uighur Muslim academic to life in prison on charges of "endangering state security", a US-based rights group has said. In a statement, the Dui Hua Foundation said Rahile Dawut, 57, lost her appeal against her original conviction in December 2018. Rights advocates have accused China of launching a mass internment campaign targeting Uighurs, along with abuses such as forced sterilisation and cultural repression. And finally… *) Striking Hollywood writers reach 'tentative' deal with studios Striking writers have reached an "exceptional" deal with Hollywood studios that could see them return to work. The Writers Guild of America told members no one is to return to work until specifically authorised to but picketing has been suspended following the deal. Thousands of film and television writers began striking in early May over demands including better pay for writers and protection from artificial intelligence.

*) Azerbaijan launches anti-terror ops in Karabakh Azerbaijan has launched "local anti-terrorist activities" in Karabakh to restore constitutional order by disarming and forcing the withdrawal of Armenian military formations after six Azerbaijani citizens were killed in separate mine blasts in the breakaway region. Baku blamed Armenian separatists for the death of the four Azerbaijani police officers and two civilians. The ex-Soviet neighbours have been locked in a decades-long dispute over the mountainous region, going to war twice in the 1990s and in 2020. *) Erdogan: Security Council no longer guarantor of international security Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the UN Security Council no longer works to ensure global security but instead is an arena for its five permanent member states to engage in strategic confrontations. “We must build a global governance architecture that is capable of representing all origins, beliefs and cultures in the world,” he added. The effectiveness of the Security Council has been questioned in the face of recent crises, especially after Russia launched an offensive against Ukraine nearly 19 months ago. *) Canada Sikh, Muslim groups demand India cooperate with Nijjar murder probe World Sikh and other organisations have called for action after recent allegations over India’s complicity in the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Nijjar, a Sikh leader in the western Canadian province of British Columbia, was shot dead on June 18 in front of a Sikh temple in Surrey. Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged India to take the allegations seriously, a concern that Washington later echoed. *) Muslim leaders bash West at UNGA over Quran desecrations Muslim leaders addressing the United Nations have berated the West over burnings of the Quran, denouncing the acts protected as free speech as discriminatory. Quran desecration in Sweden sparked debate on religious tolerance and freedom of expression, with calls for deeper understanding of religious sensitivities and a rebalanced relationship between free speech and religious respect. "It has reached intolerable levels. Unfortunately, populist politicians in many countries continue to play with fire by encouraging such dangerous trends," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. *) Dinosaur 'Barry' up for auction in Paris An unusually well-preserved dinosaur skeleton, a Camptosaurus known as 'Barry' that dates from the late Jurassic period some 150 million years ago, will go under the hammer in Paris next month. The dinosaur, which was first discovered in the 1990s in the US state of Wyoming, was initially restored in 2000 by palaeontologist Barry James, from whom it got its name. Italian laboratory Zoic, which acquired Barry last year, has done further restoration work on the skeleton, which is 2.10 metres (6.9 feet) tall and 5 metres (16.4 ft ) long.

*) Canada expels Indian diplomat over murder of Sikh leader Canada has expelled an Indian diplomat over his alleged link to the murder of a Sikh leader in western Canada last June, Canada's foreign minister said. India rejected the allegations of its involvement in any act of violence in Canada, noting the claims are "absurd and motivated". New Delhi also expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tir-for-tat move. India urges Canada instead to take legal action against anti-Indian elements operating from its soil. *) Only Russian, Ukrainian presidents can decide when war will end: Erdogan Only the Russian and Ukrainian presidents can determine when the war in Ukraine will come to an end, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In an interview with an American public broadcaster, President Erdogan emphasised that he could not provide a timeline for the war's conclusion. Asked about his discussions with Putin regarding the war's progress, President Erdogan noted that the conflict is expected to continue for "a long time." *) Biden, 80, confronts age issue: Seeking re-election as 'democracy is at stake' US President Joe Biden has acknowledged concerns about his age but said he was running for re-election because democracy was still at stake. “Let there be no question, Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy,” Biden said, referring to the former president's slogan, “Make America Great Again.” Opinion polls show American voters have concerns about Biden's age ahead of a likely rematch next year against Trump, whom he beat in 2020. *) Australia to spend $966M to boost maritime surveillance Australia will spend $966 million to boost maritime surveillance of its northern approaches. The country is buying more long-range drone aircraft and upgrading Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The fleet of 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft will have anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike and intelligence collection capabilities upgraded, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said. An additional Triton drone aircraft will enhance operations from Australia's northern bases, provide long-range surveillance of Australia's maritime region, the statement said. *) 95% of educational institutions destroyed in Libya flood zone: Tripoli govt 95 percent of the educational institutions in the eastern part of Libya were damaged by the tsunami-sized flash floods that killed thousands of people last week. 114 schools in 15 localities were damaged by the floods, an official in the Education Ministry, noted. However, the school year will start next week across Libya, Minister of Education Musa al Maqrif said.

*) Türkiye rejects attacks on Muslim values in name of freedom: Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed recent attacks on the Quran, saying if hostility towards Islam is not prevented, perpetrators will become more reckless. Erdogan called these actions “provocations that aim to incite people” at a dinner event organised by the Turkish American National Steering Committee in New York. He said Türkiye will not accept the justification of these attacks on the sacred values of two billion Muslims worldwide under the guise of freedom of thought. *) Four Greek aid workers killed in accident in flood-stricken Libya Four members of a Greek humanitarian aid team, sent to Libya after the devastating floods that hit Derna, have been killed in a road accident. The eastern-based government's health minister said the accident took place when a vehicle carrying the team collided with a car carrying a Libyan family. Three people in the car died and two were seriously injured, he added. This comes a week after a tsunami-sized flash flood devastated the Libyan coastal city of Derna, sweeping thousands to their deaths. The true death toll remains unknown. *) Flames engulf central Khartoum as war rages across Sudan in its 6th month An 18-storey building in the centre of Sudan's capital was engulfed in flames, and paramilitary forces attacked the army headquarters for the second day in a row, witnesses reported. Battles between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces intensified on Saturday, resulting in key buildings in central Khartoum being set alight. Since civil war erupted on April 15 between the forces, millions of people have been displaced – fleeing the relentless air strikes, artillery fire and street battles. *) Klishchiivka village near Bakhmut recaptured — Ukraine general In the latest in the Ukraine war, the general in command of Ukraine's ground forces has said that Ukrainian forces recaptured the eastern village of Klishchiivka. Russians claimed control of the village on the southern flank of Bakhmut in January. Ukraine’s interior minister also confirmed on Telegram that the village was recaptured in heavy fighting. *) UN designates Palestine's Jericho in West Bank as World Heritage Site A UN conference has voted to list prehistoric ruins near the ancient occupied West Bank city of Jericho as a World Heritage Site in Palestine. The listing refers to the Tel es-Sultan archaeological site, which contains prehistoric ruins dating back to the ninth millennium BC and is outside the ancient city. In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has renounced the decision. It said the decision is an indication of Palestinians' use of UNESCO and the politicisation of the organisation.

*) Demonstrators protest outside French Embassy in Vienna against abaya ban A group of demonstrators have gathered in front of the French Embassy in Vienna to voice opposition in a display of solidarity against a recent ban on abayas in French schools. Organised as a peaceful protest, participants wore long dresses and carried banners with slogans such as "Abaya is our right and identity", "Do not judge women by their clothing", and "My clothes, my choice." The protest aimed to express strong disagreement with the decision in France that prohibits the wearing of abayas in educational institutions. *) Sweden failed to fulfil duties under NATO bid: Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized Sweden for failing to meet its obligations under a deal with Türkiye to join NATO, especially in light of recent terrorist protests in Sweden. Besides drafting new laws to better combat terrorism, Sweden must also enforce the measures in these laws, Erdogan said. Turkish president says these are evidence of Stockholm's inability to combat terrorism effectively. *) Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, sign defence pact Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, three West African Sahel nations ruled by military juntas, have signed a security pact promising to come to the aid of each other in case of any rebellion or external aggression. "Our priority is the fight against terrorism in the three countries," Mali's Defence Minister Abdoulaye Diop told journalists. Three countries struggling to contain militant insurgents, relations with neighbours and partners strained by coups. *) Death toll from Libya floods climbs to 11,300 in Derna — UN The death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Libya's eastern city of Derna has climbed to 11,300, the United Nations said in an update. Another 10,100 people are still missing in the devastated city, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said late on Saturday. Elsewhere in eastern Libya outside Derna, the flooding took an additional 170 lives, the update said. *) TRT co-production 'Green Border' wins 7 awards at Venice Film Festival Green Border, a Türkiye's national broadcaster TRT's co-production directed by Polish master Agnieszka Holland, wins 7 awards at the 80th Venice Film Festival, including the Special Jury Prize. "Green Border" tells the compelling story of refugees on the border between Poland and Belarus. The film, supported by prestigious European funds, is a collaboration between Türkiye, Poland, France, the Czech Republic, and Belgium.

*) UN calls for $71M in urgent aid for Libya flood victims The United Nations is urgently seeking more than $71 million to assist those most in need after deadly flash floods swept Libya over the weekend. Hurricane-strength Storm Daniel slammed into Libya on September 10th, killing 11,300 people according to the Libyan Red Crescent. In a flash appeal on Thursday, the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said it expects the final body count to be much higher. *) 11 ex-cops convicted in Mexico over killing of 17 migrants near US border Eleven former police officers in Mexico have been found guilty in the murder of 17 migrants who were shot and burned near the United States border. The prosecutor's office said it had "managed to obtain a conviction" against 11 police officers charged with homicide, while another one was found guilty of abuse of office. The victims "lost their lives due to gunshot wounds and were subsequently incinerated", the prosecutor's statement read. *) Key Afghan-Pakistan border post reopens week after forces trade fire The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan has reopened to pedestrians and vehicles. This comes more than a week after it was closed following a gun-battle between frontier guards of the two neighbours. The border is a constant source of friction between the two nations, with Islamabad frequently complaining that Kabul has failed to secure its frontier. *) Zelenskyy expected to visit US as Congress debates $21B in aid In the latest in the Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected on Capitol Hill and at the White House next week. Zelenskyy's trip comes as Congress is debating providing as much as $21 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine as it fights against Russia. Biden has sought a package of $13 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine and $8 billion for humanitarian support. And finally… *) NASA to name UFO research head as panel urges more study NASA has said it is naming a new director of research into what the government calls "unidentified anomalous phenomenon" or UAP. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson made the announcement after an expert panel issued a report calling on the agency to increase its efforts to gather information on UAP – commonly called UFOs. The new director will also help NASA play a larger role in helping the Pentagon detect UFOs.

*) Flood death toll in Libya's Derna city could reach 20,000 The estimated number of deaths from devastating floods in Libya's eastern city of Derna could reach 18,000 to 20,000, Derna's mayor has said. It comes as Libya continues to reel from a massive flood that left nearly 4,000 dead and thousands more missing, wreaking havoc in the eastern city of Derna, where bodies wrapped in blankets lined the ravaged streets. The United Nations has pledged $10 million in support for survivors, including at least 30,000 people it said had been left homeless in Derna. *) Russia's Putin accepts Kim's invitation to visit North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to his country, during their talks in Russia, Pyongyang's state media reported, adding Putin accepted the invitation. Kim told Putin the meeting in Russia's Far East brought bilateral ties to a new level, and expressed his willingness to foster stable, future-oriented relations for the next 100 years. Both sides agreed to further strengthen strategic and tactical cooperation in the face of the "military threats, provocations and tyranny of imperialists," the state media said. *) European Parliament's Türkiye report based on 'disinformation' Türkiye has slammed the European Parliament's 2022 report on the country, saying it is filled with "disinformation" and its claims are disconnected from historical and legal realities. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the report is filled with unjust accusations and prejudices which is a reflection of the European Parliament's usual shallow and non-visionary approach towards Türkiye and the EU’s future. It also noted that Türkiye considers it unreasonable for the EU to bring up different approaches, instead of the accession negotiations, at this critical time, for the stability and security of the continent. *) Rights groups flag 'dire situation' for asylum-seekers in Britain Families seeking asylum in the UK face inadequate living conditions in government-provided temporary housing, affecting their mental and physical health and access to children's education, two leading human rights groups have said. Releasing a new 100-page report, based on joint research with UK groups Just Fair and Human Rights Watch, said they found the "dire" living conditions were the result of "longstanding policy failings". Many asylum-seekers said they had spent months in temporary housing, despite a government target to move families to longer-term accommodation, within 19 days, according to the report. And finally… *) US tech industry bosses endorse regulating AI at rare Washington summit The United States' biggest technology executives have loosely endorsed the idea of government regulations, for artificial intelligence, at an unusual closed-door meeting in the US Senate. But there is little consensus on what the regulations would look like, and the political path for legislation appears difficult. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said everyone in the room— including almost two dozen tech executives, advocates and skeptics — approved that the government should have a role in the oversight of artificial intelligence.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 13th. *) Death toll from devastating Libya floods tops 5,000 in Derna alone The death toll from devastating floods in Libya’s eastern city of Derna has risen to 5,300, the country’s official news agency reported. Earlier the International Committee of the Red Cross said that more than 10,000 people have been reported missing following the devastating floods. Initial reports indicate that dozens of villages and towns were submerged by the deadly floods caused by Storm Daniel that struck eastern Libya on Sunday. *) North Korea fires ballistic missiles as Putin welcomes Kim Jong-un in Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin has met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East. Their meeting underscores how the two leaders’ interests are aligning in the face of their separate, intensifying confrontations with the United States. Hours earlier, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward the sea, extending a highly provocative run in North Korean weapons testing since the start of 2022 *) Morocco’s king visits earthquake survivors, donates blood Morocco’s king has shown solidarity with his suffering nation as it counts the dead from a powerful earthquake. King Mohammed VI visited some of the injured at a hospital not far from the epicentre and rolled up a sleeve to donate his royal blood. The earthquake, with its epicentre in the Atlas Mountains, took the lives of more than 2,900 people and injured more than 2,000 others. *) Crimea’s Sevastopol under Ukrainian attack — Russian official In the latest in the Ukraine war, Ukraine has carried out a missile attack on Sevastopol in Crimea, wounding at least 24 people. The Moscow-installed governor of the port city said that the missile attack caused a fire at a “non-civilian facility”. Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in a broadly condemned move in 2014. And finally… *) What’s at stake as Republicans seek to open impeachment inquiry into Biden? US President Joe Biden is set to face an impeachment inquiry. The investigation, instigated by the Republicans, will focus on the business dealings of the president’s son Hunter Biden. The White House has dismissed allegations of wrong-doing as baseless and accused the Republicans of “extreme politics at its worst”. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, September 12th. *) Thousands reportedly dead after devastating floods in eastern Libya The confirmed death toll from floods in the eastern Libyan city of Derna has risen above 2,000, local media reported. Thousands are believed to be missing after Storm Daniel swept several areas in eastern Libya, Libyan News Agency (LANA) reported. It also reported that entire residential blocks were erased after they were swept away by the floods in Derna. *) Over 100,000 children affected by powerful Morocco earthquake as toll mounts Over 100,000 children have been affected by the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco last Friday, the UN Children’s Agency UNICEF has said. More than 300,000 people have been impacted in Marrakesh and in the High Atlas Mountains following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake, according to UN estimates. Over 2,800 people have been killed, including children, with thousands more injured, said the country’s Interior Ministry. Authorities fear that these numbers are only likely to increase. *) Kim Jong-un in Russia for talks with Putin amid US warning on arms sale North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is in Russia on a rare overseas trip ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Kim has not travelled outside the North since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But his last proper overseas trip was in 2019, which was also to Russia to meet Putin. The latest meeting has sparked warnings from Washington over a possible arms deal for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. *) US mulls providing long-range missiles to Ukraine In the latest in the Ukraine war, the Biden administration is close to approving the shipment of longer-range missiles packed with cluster bombs to Ukraine. This would give Kiev the ability to cause significant damage deeper within Russian-controlled territory, according to US officials. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his allies urged Ukrainians to keep their focus squarely on the war effort 18 months into Russia’s attacks. And finally… *) Nine small island nations take ocean protection case to UN court The UN maritime court will hear a landmark case brought by a group of small island states seeking protection from the climate crisis. The nine island states have turned to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to determine if carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by the oceans can be considered pollution. Ocean ecosystems create half the oxygen humans breathe and limit global warming by absorbing much of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. But increasing emissions can warm and acidify seawaters, harming marine life. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, September 11. *) Morocco welcomes limited international rescue teams as time runs out Rescue teams and residents have been scouring the rubble of buildings in the west of Morocco, as the death toll from Friday's earthquake continues to climb. The number of dead is now officially at 2,122 but that's expected to rise. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people have been affected by the earthquake. Three days of mourning began on Sunday, as the government announced it will begin accepting some international offers of help. *) Fresh clashes in Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camp leave many dead, injured Five people have been killed in renewed clashes between rival Palestinian groups in the Ein El Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese media. Fifty-two other people were also injured in the violence that erupted between the Fatah movement and armed groups in the camp on Sunday, the National News Agency reported. Fighting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement and other armed factions has rocked the El Hilweh refugee camp since Friday. *) Russia 'destroys' two Ukrainian drones over Belgorod region In the latest in the Ukraine war, Russia has said it destroyed two Ukrainian drones close to the border in the Belgorod region. No casualties were reported. The Ministry of Defence said the incident involved two unmanned aerial vehicles and took place early on Sunday. The Belgorod regional governor said the drones were "shot down" over the Yakovlevsky district, which lies to the north and west of the city. *) Thousands rally in Greece as anger mounts against biometric ID cards Thousands of Greeks have rallied in Athens against the impending introduction of biometric ID cards, denouncing what they see as a move towards a surveillance society. The Greek government announced last week that the procedure for obtaining new identity cards would begin on September 25, citing the country’s obligation to comply with European regulations. All members of the European Union must issue new biometric cards by 2026 in line with a 2019 treaty. And finally… *) Spanish football chief Rubiales to step down after kiss row Suspended Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has said he will resign from his post because of a scandal caused by forcibly kissing a Women's World Cup player. Rubiales said he is going to resign in an interview with television show "Piers Morgan Uncensored". He sparked a worldwide backlash after forcibly kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain's World Cup triumph in Sydney last month. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Twin attacks in Mali leave civilians, soldiers dead At least 49 civilians and 15 soldiers have been killed when militants attacked a military camp and a vessel in northeastern Mali, the interim government has said. Many more also were wounded and the death toll was provisional, according to the statement. Insurgents attacked a boat carrying civilians on flooded plains between Gao and Mopti. Assailants also attacked a military base in the Bourem Circle, an administrative subdivision of the Gao region in Mali's northeast. *) North Korea launches new 'tactical nuclear attack' submarine North Korea has built a "tactical nuclear attack submarine" as part of its effort to strengthen its naval force, according to the state news agency. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday, saying the new sub was part of a "push forward with the nuclear weaponisation of the Navy in the future." The launching of the submarine, named the Hero Kim Kun Ok, "heralded the beginning of a new chapter for bolstering up the naval force” of North Korea. *) Clashes rock Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon Clashes have broken out in a restive Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon that was rocked by deadly fighting just weeks ago, according to AFP news agency. Automatic weapon fire and rocket launchers were heard in the country’s southern city of Sidon. Ein El Hilweh is home to more than 54,000 registered refugees. *) Hong Kong hit by heaviest rainfall in 140 years Hong Kong has been flooded by the heaviest rainfall in nearly 140 years, leaving the city's streets and some subway stations underwater and forcing its schools to close. The heavy rainfall in Hong Kong started on Thursday and in the hour leading up to midnight, the city's weather observatory recorded hourly rainfall of 158.1 millimetres at its headquarters, the highest since records began in 1884. Authorities issued flash flood warnings, with emergency services conducting rescue operations in parts of the territory. It also warned of potential landslides, telling motorists to "keep away from steep slopes or retaining walls". And finally… *) Giant refugee puppet 'Little Amal' begins journey across US Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee, has begun its journey across the United States. During the trip, which started on Thursday from Boston, the puppet and its puppeteers plan to visit key places in American history to raise awareness about refugees and migration. She has become a global symbol for human rights.The name "Amal" means hope in Arabic. The puppet will visit the US Capitol and the trek will end on November 5 along the US-Mexico border, according to the WalkWithAmal organisation.

*) US announces new Ukraine aid totalling over $1B US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new aid for Ukraine, totalling more than 1 billion dollars in a visit to Kiev, in new military and civilian security assistance, also in support for Ukraine's air defences and other areas. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba [dee-MEET-ro COOL-eh-bah] told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that Washington's support was "not charity", as Ukraine presses ahead with its counteroffensive against Russia. *) Over 5M people displaced by months-long conflict in Sudan: IOM More than 5 million people have now been displaced by the months-long fighting in Sudan, as clashes between the country’s military and a rival paramilitary force, show no sign of easing. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 4 million people have been internally displaced since the conflict erupted in mid-April,- while another 1.1 million have fled to neighbouring countries. More than 750,000 have travelled to either Egypt or Chad. *) WHO: Bangladesh facing most severe dengue outbreak on record Bangladesh is experiencing its most severe dengue outbreak on record, the World Health Organization has said, partly blaming the climate crisis for contributing to the spread of such mosquito-borne diseases. WHO chief told an online press conference that more than 300 deaths from dengue were reported last month alone, saying "The outbreak is putting huge pressure on the health system." While cases were beginning to decline in the capital Dhaka, they were increasing in other parts of the country, he added. *) Biden bars oil and gas drilling in vast swath of Alaska US President Joe Biden's administration has announced it is banning new oil and gas drilling, over a vast region of Alaska that is significant for Indigenous communities, and home to iconic animal species. The decision follows a controversial move by the US government earlier in the year to greenlight a ConocoPhillips project in the same area. The new prohibition covers over 10 million acres, or 40 percent, of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, an ecologically important region for grizzly and polar bears, caribou and hundreds of thousands of migratory birds. *) 2023 summer broke global record for highest heat ever measured — WMO the World Meteorological Organization said that earth sweltered through its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured, with a record-warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures. Last month was not only the hottest August scientists ever recorded by far, with modern equipment, but it was also the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023. August was about 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial averages.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 6th. *) Top court to deliver verdict on abaya ban in French schools The highest French court will deliver its verdict in the next hours on an appeal against the government’s abaya dress ban in schools. A lawyer for the Muslim Rights Action filed an appeal with the Council of State to seek the suspension of the ban on the abaya — a loose-fitting, full-length robe worn by some Muslim students at school. The lawyer said barring students from entering schools because of the abaya is a violation of privacy and personal freedom. *) Ex-Proud Boys chief Enrique Tarrio gets 22 years in jail for Capitol riots Former Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence yet in the Capitol rampage, on January 6, 2021. Tarrio’s sentence is one among more than 1,100 Capitol riot cases. It comes as the Justice Department prepares to put former president Donald Trump on trial at the same courthouse in Washington, on charges that the then-president illegally schemed to cling on to power. *) Saudi, Iran exchange envoys as part of China-brokered deal Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Iran has arrived in Iran, and his counterpart landed in Riyadh, cementing a restoration of ties between the Gulf rivals after a seven-year rupture mended by China. Saudi Arabia’s leadership recognises the “importance of strengthening ties, increasing engagement ... and taking the [relationship] to broader horizons,” The Saudi ambassador said upon his arrival in Tehran. Also, Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia arrived in the capital Riyadh, where he was received by Foreign Ministry officials and embassy staff. *) DPRK to ‘pay a price’ if it supplies Russia weaponry: US The White House has warned that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplies Russia with weaponry for its war in Ukraine, with Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin expected to hold talks on the issue. US President Joe Biden’s national security advisor said Pyongyang and Moscow were eyeing “leader-level discussions, perhaps even in person” on Russia’s arms needs. The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was unable to confirm a summit between Putin and Kim. And finally… *) Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon falls 66% in August Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 66 percent in August versus the same month last year, the government said, calling it a sign its environmental policies are working. That followed a similar year-on-year drop of 66 percent in July — both crucial months in the Amazon, where deforestation typically surges this time of year with the onset of drier weather. Ex-president Bolsonaro, an ally of the powerful agribusiness industry blamed for driving the destruction, presided over a sharp increase in deforestation in the Amazon from 2019 to 2022. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Black Sea grain deal should be resumed by correcting deficiencies: Erdogan The Black Sea Grain Initiative should be resumed by addressing deficiencies that hampered the suspended deal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said following a highly anticipated meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The two leaders discussed current regional and global issues, as well as bilateral ties. The revival of last year's historic Black Sea grain deal that helped ease the global food crisis was a top issue. On a joint proposal for grain shipments prepared with the UN, Erdogan said Türkiye would "reach a solution that will meet expectations within a short time." *) Niger’s military govt aims for French withdrawal, deal with ECOWAS Niger's military-appointed prime minister has said he saw hopes of a deal "in the coming days" with the Economic Community of West African States, which has threatened to use force to restore civilian rule after a coup in July. He also said that "contacts" were underway over a "very swift" pullout of French forces from Niger after ties with France spiralled downwards following the military takeover. The African bloc has slapped hefty sanctions against Niger after rebel soldiers on July 26 overthrew Mohamed Bazoum, the country's democratically-elected president. *) UN ‘alarmed’ by number of injuries in Eritrean clashes in Israel The United Nations' rights chief Volker Turk has said he was "alarmed" by the high number of injuries during recent clashes in Israel involving Eritrean protesters. Trouble erupted when a demonstration against an Eritrean government event turned violent, injuring nearly 140 people, including a dozen Eritrean asylum seekers who were hit by Israeli police gunfire. According to June’s statistics, there are 17,850 Eritrean asylum seekers in Israel. *) Pakistan PM: US arms left behind in Afghanistan are in militant hands Pakistan's caretaker prime minister has said that US military equipment left behind during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan has fallen into militant hands and ultimately made its way to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. The equipment is now “emerging as a new challenge” for Islamabad as it has enhanced the fighting capabilities of the TTP, Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said. *) Australia rescues ailing Antarctic researcher in daunting mission An Australian who fell ill at a remote Antarctic base is returning home on an icebreaker, following a daunting mission to rescue him, authorities said. The man was working at the Casey research station, when he suffered from what authorities described as a developing medical condition that needed specialist assessment and care. Two helicopters were deployed from the deck and arrived at the base to rescue the man. He is expected to arrive in Australia next week.

*) Anti-UN protests in DR Congo leave 100 dead The death toll from anti-UN protests last week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 100, the head of a platform of youth organisations has said. Lucas Pecos, director of the Collective of Youth Solidarity Organizations in Congo-Kinshasa, which accused the army of committing a massacre last Wednesday, at a church in the city of Goma, in North Kivu province, said it has counted 100 bodies so far. *) Pope praises Mongolia religious freedom dating back to Genghis Khan Pope Francis has praised Mongolia's tradition of religious freedom dating back to the times of its founder, Genghis Khan, as he opened the first-ever papal visit to the Asian nation with a word of encouragement to its tiny Catholic flock. The Pope met with Mongolian President in a traditional ger, set up inside the state palace. Francis was in Mongolia to meet one of the world's newest and smallest Catholic communities — around 1,450 Mongolians are Catholic — and make a diplomatic foray into a region where the Holy See has long had troubled relations, with Russia to the north and China to the south. *) Mission accomplished, India puts moon rover to 'sleep' India switched off its moon rover, the first craft to reach the lunar south pole, after it completed its two-week assignment conducting experiments, the country's space agency said. The Pragyan rover from the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was "set into Sleep mode" but with batteries charged and receiver on, the Indian Space Research Organisation said. By landing on the moon, India joined the United States, China and the former Soviet Union. It went beyond them in reaching the rugged south pole. *) 'This time it is serious': Typhoon Haikui makes landfall in eastern Taiwan Typhoon Haikui made landfall on eastern Taiwan, unleashing torrential downpours, whipping winds and plunging thousands of households into darkness as the first major storm to directly hit the island in four years. Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, hundreds of flights cancelled and businesses closed in preparation for the storm. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said the typhoon had made landfall in coastal Taitung, a mountainous county in lesser-populated eastern Taiwan. *) Turkish 'Sultans of the Net' reign supreme in European volleyball Türkiye defeated Serbia in a thrilling five-set match to win the 2023 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship title. The Turkish women's volleyball team won the final on Sunday night with set scores of 27-25, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, and 15-13 at Brussels. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Türkiye on winning the trophy.

*) AU suspends membership as Gabon’s general to be sworn in as president General Brice Oligui Nguema will be sworn in as transitional president of Gabon on Monday, the army has said. The coup overthrew the 55-year Bongo dynasty, which had ruled the country since independence from France in 1960. The opposition has called for its candidate to be recognised as the winner of weekend elections, which were disputed by the government. The African Union has condemned the coup and suspended Gabon from its activities. *) Ecuador jail inmates take dozens hostage Prisoners at a penitentiary in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca are holding hostage 50 guards and seven police officers, Interior Minister Juan Zapata has said. The mass hostage-taking came a day after hundreds of soldiers and police officers carried out an operation to search for weapons, ammunition, and explosives in one of the country's main penitentiaries in the Andean city of Latacunga in the south. The nation's prisons office said earlier in the day that the hostage-taking was a reprisal for that operation, but authorities later said it was in protest at the transfer of inmates to other prisons. *) US cracks down on unlicensed gun sellers amid mass shootings The Biden administration is making it harder for people to sell guns without a license and background checks. The Justice Department released rules to follow the Safer Communities Act, passed by Congress in June 2022 in response to mass shootings. The rules will close loopholes that let people sell guns without a license by claiming not to make money from transactions or by saying their lack of a storefront or insignificant sales volume exempts them from dealer requirements. It also tightens the rules on collectors who buy and sell guns, and on failed gun dealers selling their inventories. *) Pope visits Mongolia as Vatican ties with China, Russia remain strained Pope Francis visits Mongolia, a Buddhist country with just 1,450 Catholics, in hopes of improving relations with China. The 86-year-old pontiff arrived in Mongolia on a chartered plane with his entourage and reporters. The first event in the capital for Francis is on Saturday, when he addresses government leaders and the diplomatic corps. Pope Francis renewed a deal with China last year on the issue of appointing bishops, and Francis has sought to broker an end to the war in Ukraine with Russia. And finally… *) New York recovers looted Marcus Aurelius statue from Türkiye A headless bronze statue believed to depict the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was seized from a museum in Cleveland by New York authorities because they consider it was stolen from Türkiye. The warrant was secured as part of an ongoing investigation into a smuggling network involving antiquities looted from Bubon in southwestern Türkiye and trafficked through Manhattan, authorities said. The museum acquired the statue in 1986 and had been a highlight of its collection of ancient Roman art. The 1.9-metre statue dates from A.D. 180 to 200 and is worth $20 million.

*)Dozens dead, many wounded in building blaze in South Africa's Johannesburg At least 58 people have been killed and more than 40 wounded following a fire at a multistorey building in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, local media and emergency workers said. Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the blaze on Thursday morning engulfed the building located in the city’s central business district. Emergency Management Services said another 43 people were injured in the blaze. Mulaudzi said a search and recovery operation was underway, and it was likely the death toll would rise. *) Gabon junta names new transitional leader Gabon coup leaders have named Republican Guard chief General Brice Oligui Nguema as transitional president in a press release. The military seized control in the wake of elections, cancelling the August 26 general elections, closing all borders until further notice and dissolving all institutions of the republic. Gabon coup will be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020 if successful, ending the Bongo family's 56-year grip on power. *) Burkina Faso endorses troop deployment to Niger Burkina Faso’s Cabinet has given the government the green light to send troops to help defend neighbouring Niger, where the military deposed President Mohamed Bazoum about a month ago. A Cabinet statement late Wednesday said the government was allowed to deploy a military contingent to Niger “in line with our country's strategic commitments.” Last week, Niger’s military administration authorised troops from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso to intercede on their side “in the event of aggression” following threats of military intervention by a West African bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) force seeking to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum. *) N Korea says simulated 'scorched earth' nuclear strikes on South Korea North Korea’s military said they fired two tactical ballistic missiles from the capital to simulate “scorched earth strikes in South Korea. The official Korean Central News Agency said that North Korea has been rehearsing an occupation of its rivals’ territory in the event of conflict. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launches “a grave provocation” that threatens international peace and violates UN Security Council resolutions which ban any ballistic launches by North Korea. And finally… *) Idalia weakens after devastating florida as category 3 hurricane Tropical Storm Idalia weakens after fierce Florida landfall as Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread devastation. The storm splintered trees, tore off roofs, and inundated roads, prompting evacuations in Florida's Big Bend region. Despite its downgrade, Idalia maintains destructive force, prompting President Biden to emphasise the climate crisis' impact. Thousands remain without power in both Florida and Georgia as utility crews rush to restore electricity.

*) President Erdogan to visit Russia 'soon', raising hopes over the grain deal Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia's coastal city of Sochi "soon", raising hopes of revival of the Black Sea grain deal. Currently, Türkiye is continuing its efforts to revive the grain deal, and says that there is no alternative to the initiative, seen as crucial to ensuring global food security. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also expected to visit Russia soon to hold face-to-face talks for resumption of the deal. *) Judge rejects Trump plea for delay, sets March 2024 trial in poll case US District Judge Tanya Chutkan has set a March 4, 2024, trial date for Donald Trump in the federal case in Washington, where the former president is charged with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump’s attorneys had requested to push back the trial by years, claiming that it is necessary to account for the huge volume of evidence they say they are reviewing and to prepare for what they contend is a novel and unprecedented prosecution. However, the judge rejected their request saying, “The public has a right to a prompt and efficient resolution of this matter”. *) Germany reports over 250 anti-Muslim crimes in first half of this year German police have recorded 258 anti-Muslim crimes in the first half of 2023, according to figures by the parliament. According to the information provided by the ministry, the cases include hate crimes, threatening letters, verbal and physical assaults, vandalism or property damage. More than a dozen mosques were attacked between January and June, and dozens of Muslims were physically assaulted or verbally harassed on the street or in public places. Seventeen people were injured in these attacks. Most of the crimes were committed in the eastern German states, the traditional stronghold of far-right parties, according to the figures. But scores of these hate crimes were also registered in the capital Berlin, and the western cities of Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich. *) Sudan army chief promises 'decisive victory', rejects talks with 'traitors' Sudan's army chief General Abdel Fattah al Burhan has quashed hopes of a negotiated settlement to the protracted conflict, terming his rival general a “traitor” and vowing to crush the paramilitary RSF. Burhan's speech came one day after the head of the RSF expressed openness to talks and a long-term ceasefire. An estimated 4,000 people have died and millions have been driven from their homes since the conflict between the army and the RSF began in April. Burhan has embarked on a tour of bases in army-controlled regions and is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, prompting some to speculate that a deal was imminent. *) From the Moon to the Sun: India announces next space mission India's space agency says it will launch a satellite to survey the Sun, just days after becoming the first nation to land a craft near the Moon's largely unexplored south pole. "The launch of Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is scheduled for September 2," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Monday on X.

*) Aleppo airport out of service after Israeli strikes on Assad regime An Israeli air strike hits the international airport in the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, damaging a runway and putting it out of service. Israel has targeted airports and seaports in the government-held parts of Syria in an apparent attempt to prevent arms shipments from Iran to armed groups backed by Tehran, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Thousands of Iran-backed fighters from around the region joined Syria’s 12-year conflict helping tip the balance in favour of regime leader Bashar al Assad's forces. *) France announces ban on Muslim overgarment 'abaya' in schools France plans to ban the abaya, a long loose-fitting overgarment worn by some Muslim women, on school grounds, the country's education minister said. Gabriel Attal has told broadcaster TF1 that the government intends to convey "clear rules" on the matter to school officials across the country. The decision is the latest in several limitations on Islamic clothing in France, where critics say the government has targeted Muslims with statements and policies in recent years. *) Zimbabwe's opposition claims victory, disputing president's re-election Zimbabwe's opposition leader Nelson Chamisa contested the official re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and claimed victory in an election which international observers said fell short of democratic standards. Mnangagwa, 80, won a second term with 52.6 percent of the ballots against 44 percent for his main challenger, Chamisa, 45, according to official results. Zimbabweans voted Wednesday and Thursday for a president and new parliament, in polling marred by delays that sparked opposition accusations of rigging and voter suppression. *) Murder charges against Pakistan’s ex-Premier Khan dismissed Murder charges against former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan were dismissed,, his lawyer said. Khan is already in jail over graft charges. He is facing nearly 150 cases ever since being removed from power last year in April. And finally… *) Climate activists target super-rich in string of protests against luxury Climate activists spray paint a superyacht, block private jets from taking off and plug holes in golf courses this summer as part of an intensifying campaign against the emissions-spewing lifestyles of the ultrawealthy. Climate activism has intensified in the past few years as the planet warms to dangerous levels, igniting more extreme heat, floods, storms and wildfires around the world. They’re now turning their attention to the wealthy, after long targeting some of the world’s most profitable companies – oil and gas conglomerates, banks and insurance firms that continue to invest in fossil fuels.

*) Trump surrenders at Fulton County Jail in Georgia election subversion case Former US President Donald Trump has turned himself in to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia to be booked on charges tied to alleged efforts to overturn the state’s results of the 2020 presidential election. He was released on a $200,000 bond nearly 20 minutes after being booked at the county Jail, where he was fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken, becoming the first US president in history to do so. Trump reappeared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, marking his first post there since January 2021, as he shared an image of his mugshot with the words: "ELECTION INTERFERENCE! NEVER SURRENDER!" The former president faces 13 criminal counts, including violations of the Georgia state RICO Act, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer and conspiracy to commit false statements. *) Bangladesh protests mark six years since Rohingya exodus Thousands of Rohingya refugees have rallied at camps in Bangladesh to demand their safe return to Myanmar on the sixth anniversary of the 2017 military crackdown. Bangladesh is home to around a million members of the stateless minority, most of whom fled the crackdown now subject to a genocide probe at the International Criminal Court. Malnutrition and violence have continued to plague the camps, which are home to armed groups and are used as staging posts for regional drug trafficking networks. Bangladesh and Myanmar are working on a pilot programme to begin returning the Rohingya to their homes, despite concerns from rights groups who say conditions are not safe for their return. *) Wagner boss Prigozhin’s plane brought down intentionally: US intelligence A preliminary US intelligence assessment has concluded that an intentional explosion caused the plane crash that killed Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. One of the US and Western officials who described the initial assessment said it determined that Prigozhin was “very likely” targeted. The explosion is widely believed to be possible vengeance for the Wagner group’s attempted mutiny in June that posed the biggest challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s 23-year rule. Russian authorities have said the cause of the crash is under investigation. *) 'Sins of the past': Guyana President demands reparations for slave trade Guyana president Irfaan Ali has lashed out at descendants of European slave traders, saying those who profited from the cruel, trans-Atlantic slave trade should offer to pay reparations to today’s generations. The leader of the South American country also proposed that those involved in the slave trade be posthumously charged for crimes against humanity. Ali spoke ahead of Friday’s planned formal apology in Guyana by the descendants of a Scottish 19th-century sugar and coffee plantation owner, saying the apology should also include issues of compensation and reparative justice. *) Pressure mounts on Olaf Scholz as German economy takes a battering Stagnant growth, high inflation and manufacturing weakness – the challenges facing the German economy will be at the top of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's agenda when political life fully resumes following the summer break. The outlook for a country long lauded as Europe's industrial powerhouse is deteriorating, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting it will be the only major advanced economy to shrink this year. Problems include weakness in the vast industrial sector and a lacklustre performance by exports, both of which have major impacts for the whole of the economy.

*) Ex-PM Thaksin jailed on return to Thailand after 15 years in exile Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was sent to jail on Tuesday shortly after he returned to the kingdom after 15 years in exile. The latest political development comes just hours before parliament votes to install his party's candidate as new prime minister. At the airport in Bangkok, the 74-year-old billionaire was greeted by hundreds of supporters waving banners and singing songs, demonstrating how he has retained an outsized influence despite his long absence. *) Russia says jet 'destroys' Ukraine reconnaissance boat in Black Sea Russia's defence ministry said that one of its Sukhoi jets had "destroyed" a Ukrainian "reconnaissance boat" in the Black Sea. The vessel reportedly sailed near a Russian gas production facility prompting a response from Moscow. Earlier, Russia claimed that its ships were targeted by a Ukrainian naval drone attack. *) BRICS summit of emerging economies to begin in South Africa Leaders of the BRICS nations are due in South Africa to discuss expanding membership amid a push to forge the bloc as a counterweight to the West. South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa will host Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, from Tuesday to Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, is skipping the meeting amid concerns that he could be arrested due to an outstanding international warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Over 40 countries said they are interested in joining BRICS, but India and Brazil have expressed some reservation, over concerns that the expansion could dilute the bloc’s global influence. *) Japan to start releasing Fukushima water on Thursday Japan is expected to release on Thursday the water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, 12 years after one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. The nuclear plant was knocked out by a massive earthquake and tsunami that killed around 18,000 people in March 2011. Japan insists the gradual release of the water is safe, but there are concerns that the more than 500 Olympic swimming pools' worth of water is contaminated. The operator of the plant said the water has been filtered to remove all radioactive substances except the chemical tritium, adding that the amount to be released are far below dangerous levels. *) ​​Kenya's young Maasai reconnect with their culture at Eunoto ceremony Hundreds of young Kenyan men have come to a village in the country’s south to join a ceremony reconnecting them with their culture and traditions. Aged between 18 and 26, the young men all descended from the same generation of Maasai warriors. For centuries, Maasai men have gone through rites of passage which have been inscribed since 2018 on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage in need of safeguarding. For many, it is a matter of survival to preserve the traditions and culture of the most famous of Kenya's 45 tribes.

*) 'Public knows who I am': Trump to skip Republican primary debates New opinion polls reveal that more than 60 percent of Republican voters prefer former President Donald Trump, while Ron DeSantis, his closest competitor, captures 16 percent of GOP voters' favour. Trump says he would skip the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his popularity and recognition among voters as a testament to his standing ahead of the 2024 election. On a different note, he faces a deadline of Friday to turn himself in voluntarily in Fulton County, Georgia, following his recent indictment on criminal charges. *) Live blog: Ukraine nears deal with insurers to cover grain ships - report Ukraine is in the process of finalising an arrangement with international insurance companies to provide coverage for grain vessels navigating to and from its Black Sea ports. The scheme is currently under active discussion, involving various government ministries, domestic banks, and global insurance entities such as Lloyd's of London, as reported by the Financial Times. *) Israel to spend $843M on tightening control over occupied East Jerusalem In an effort to enhance its control over occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli government has introduced a budget proposal aimed at transforming the area's landscape in the next five years. The government has allocated 3.2 billion Israeli shekels ($843 million) to invest in occupied East Jerusalem from 2024 to 2028, according to an official statement. The Israeli government claims the purpose of this endeavour is to tackle social disparities and stimulate economic growth. *) China cuts key interest rate to put fizz back into flagging economy China's central bank reduces a significant interest rate to combat the economic slowdown following the Covid-19 pandemic. The world's second-largest economy is grappling with reduced market activity driven by labour market uncertainties and a sluggish global economy, resulting in weakened demand for Chinese products. Despite the economic downturn causing concerns in global markets, Beijing asserts that this trend is transitory. *) Spain World Cup hero Carmona pays tribute to father who died before final Olga Carmona, Spain's Women's World Cup hero, pays homage to her father for giving her the strength "to achieve something unique" after learning of his death following the country's 1-0 triumph against England. The 23-year-old defender scored the game-winning goal in Sydney on Sunday, helping La Roja win the World Cup for the first time in their history. "We love you, Olga, you are in the history of Spanish football," the Spanish federation (RFEF) remarked.

*) Russia says shot down Ukraine drones southwest of Moscow Russia's defence ministry has said it shot down three Ukrainian drones southwest of Moscow, the latest in a surge of aerial attacks near the capital. Ukraine launched the attack at 0200 GMT (5:00 am local time) using "three unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the Kaluga region", the ministry said on Telegram. Kaluga's governor Vladislav Shapsha said there was no damage or injury to people or infrastructure. The air attack is at least the fifth this month over the Kaluga region that Russia says it has thwarted. *) Azerbaijan finds new mass grave in area liberated from Armenia Azerbaijan has discovered a new mass grave site in the city of Shusha in the Karabakh region, local media reported. According to state news agency Azertac, the remains of 17 people were uncovered in the territory of Shusha prison during excavations conducted between August 1-15 by Azerbaijan’s State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons. In June, Azertac reported the discovery of a mass grave in the Saricali village of Agdam district, where the remains of four people were found. The Karabakh region has been the site of mass killings and burials since the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s during the Armenian occupation. *) UN says Taliban's restrictions on Afghan women 'crime against humanity' The United Nations has said that the International Criminal Court should recognise gender discrimination in Afghanistan as a crime against humanity. UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has said 54 of 80 edicts issued by the Taliban explicitly target women and girls and deprive them of their rights. The international community continues to grapple with how, and if, to engage with the Taliban authorities, with restrictions on women's rights being a key obstacle. *) Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya leave 27 dead, authorities say Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya's capital have killed at least 27 people and left residents trapped in their homes unable to escape the violence, medical authorities said. The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year. Tensions flared on Monday after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by rival group Special Deterrence Force at an airport in Tripoli, reports said. And finally… *) ​​Hawaii wildfire death toll exceeds 100 The number of people known to have died in the horrific wildfire that levelled a Hawaiian town has topped 100, the state's governor said, as a makeshift morgue was expanded to deal with the tragedy. Governor Josh Green has repeatedly warned that the final count from last week's inferno in Lahaina would grow significantly. The wildfire is already the deadliest in the US in over a century.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 15th. *) Afghanistan’s Taliban government marks two years of return to power Afghanistan’s Taliban government has marked the second anniversary of their takeover of the country with celebrations and a public holiday, issuing a defiant statement commemorating their surge back to power. A statement from the authorities early Tuesday hailed a victory that was able to “pave the way for the establishment of the Islamic system in Afghanistan”. The international community continues to grapple with how, and if, to engage with the Taliban authorities, with restrictions on women’s rights being a key obstacle. *) A rights group says it can’t get access to detained officials in Niger Human rights activists in Niger say they have been unable to gain access to top political officials detained after mutinous soldiers ousted the democratically elected president nearly three weeks ago. The junta has been holding President Mohamed Bazoum, his wife and son under house arrest in their compound in the capital. Those close to Bazoum say his electricity and water have been cut off and he’s running out of food. The junta says it plans to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security. If convicted, he could face the death penalty, according to Niger’s penal code. *) Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West Bank Israeli forces have shot and killed two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, in a military raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said. “Two young men were rushed to the hospital with bullets in their chests,” the Jericho Hospital’s director said early Tuesday. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified those killed as Qusay al Walaji, 16, and Mohammed Nujoom, 25. The raid took place in the Jericho area, which has seen heavy fighting over the last 16 months. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. *) Russia strikes western Ukraine in deadly large-scale air attack Russia has launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine’s western region of Lviv and the northwestern region of Volyn, killing three people, injuring others and forcing evacuations, officials said. Ukrainian media reported that according to preliminary information, Tuesday’s attack was the largest air assault on the Lviv region, which borders NATO member Poland, since the start of Russia’s offensive. Governor of Volyn, Yuriy Poguliaiko, has said Russia’s air strikes on the city of Lutsk killed three people and left several wounded in hospital. And finally… *) ​​Georgia slaps mobster law to indict Trump, others in 2020 election plot Donald Trump and 18 others have been indicted in Georgia for scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. Prosecutors have turned to a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other top aides. The 97-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump and his co-defendants to undo his defeat in the battleground state. It also outlines a scheme to tamper with voting machines in one Georgia county and steal data. As indictments mount, Trump — the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024 — has been portraying himself as the victim of Democratic prosecutors during his campaigning and fundraising. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, August 2nd. *) Far-right populist tops Argentina’s presidential primary in shock result Far-right Javier Milei rocked Argentina’s political establishment by emerging as the biggest vote-getter in primary elections to choose presidential candidates. Milei says Argentina’s Central Bank should be abolished, thinks the climate crisis is a lie, believes the sale of human organs should be legal and wants to make it easier to own handguns. *) France opens probe into death of six Afghan migrants in Channel shipwreck French prosecutors have taken over the investigation into the death of at least six migrants whose boat sank trying to cross the Channel between France and England. Prosecutors in the channel port of Boulogne opened an investigation on Saturday, hours after the tragedy, but the investigation was switched to Paris. Most of those on board were Afghans with some Sudanese “and a few minors”, said the French coastal authority Premar. *) Niger’s military regime to ‘prosecute’ President Bazoum for ‘high treason’ Niger’s coup leaders that toppled Mohamed Bazoum said they would “prosecute” the deposed president for “high treason” and “undermining the security” of the country. Earlier on Sunday, the head of a religious delegation of mediators said that the leader of the military junta, is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to the country’s stand-off with the West African bloc ECOWAS. *)Strikes on Odessa leave 3 wounded; Zelenskyy vows justice for Kherson attack At least three people were wounded in two-waves of Russian drone and missile attacks overnight on the port city of Odessa, officials said. The Operational Command South said on Telegram that Ukraine has downed three waves of Russian missiles and drones targeting Odessa. Air defence forces repelled all the attacks, but falling debris damaged a student dormitory and a supermarket in Odessa’s city centre, leaving three workers wounded. *) Google Doodle celebrates Turkish astronomer Nuzhet Gokdogan And finally, Google Doodle has commemorated the achievements of Nuzhet Gokdogan, widely hailed as one of Türkiye’s earliest female astronomers. Gokdogan played a pivotal role in establishing the Turkish Astronomy Association, the Turkish Association of University Women, and the Turkish Mathematics Association, organisations that continue to shape the scientific landscape of Türkiye. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Russia reportedly lays siege to Ukraine's Kupiansk Russian forces have almost reached the outskirts of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, state news agency TASS reported. TASS said Ukrainian troops are abandoning their positions and just "a number of kilometres are left to pass." Ukraine denied the report, saying all Russian attacks were repelled and attempts to lay siege were unsuccessful. *) ​​Earthquake rattles eastern Türkiye, causing panic A magnitude 5.3 earthquake has struck eastern Türkiye, according to the nation's disaster management agency, AFAD. Residents in the region were seen moving to open areas to protect themselves from building destruction. Twenty-three people were injured as a result of panic, but there were no reports of death, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. *) Ivory Coast: ECOWAS approves Niger intervention ‘as soon as possible’ West African bloc ECOWAS approved military intervention in Niger "as soon as possible" to remove its military rulers following last month's coup, Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has said. Earlier Thursday, the leaders of the bloc said they would deploy a "standby force" against the military leaders who seized control of Niger, deposing Mohamed Bazoum as president. Ouattara said Ivory Coast would provide hundreds of men alongside soldiers from Nigeria and Benin, and that other countries would join them. *) Several Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu bomb explosion: local media Several Somali soldiers have been killed in a bomb explosion in the capital Mogadishu, according to local media. Local broadcaster Radio Shabelle said the incident took place when a military vehicle drove over a landmine planted on the road near Darussalam area. Quoting a witness, the broadcaster said all six Somali soldiers aboard the vehicle died. *) Hollywood strike causes Emmy Awards to be delayed The Emmy Awards, postponed due to the Hollywood strike, now have a new date that aligns them with the heart of Hollywood's awards season, marking a notable shift. Fox announced that the Emmys will air on January 15 from the Peacock Theater at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony will happen roughly four months later than originally planned.

*) Ecuador's presidential candidate shot dead after campaign rally Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has been shot dead after holding a rally in Quito. President Guillermo Lasso confirmed Villavicencio's death in a statement on social media, vowing that "this crime will not go unpunished." The 59-year-old centrist was one of eight candidates in the first round of the presidential election scheduled for August 20. *) ​​Wildfires engulf Hawaii, killing multiple people and displacing many A wildfire tore through the heart of Maui with alarming speed and ferocity, destroying dozens of homes and businesses in a historic tourist town of the US state of Hawaii. The fire killed at least six people and injured at least two dozen others, forcing panicked residents to jump into the ocean to flee the flames. It was widespread in Lahaina Town, including on Front Street, a popular shopping and dining area, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said. *) UN concerned over deplorable living conditions of Niger’s president UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the reportedly deplorable conditions that Niger’s president and his family are living under while in arbitrary detention. A UN spokesperson issued a statement following reports that Mohamed Bazoum and his family are living without electricity, water, food or medicine. Guterres once again called for his immediate, unconditional release and his reinstatement as head of state. *) Pakistan president dissolves parliament on advice of prime minister Pakistan's President Arif Alvi has dissolved the country’s parliament on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the President's Office said. Alvi signed the advice half an hour after it was sent by Sharif late on Wednesday night, paving the way for a caretaker setup that will hold general elections. The federal Cabinet automatically stood dissolved following the signing of the summary. Sharif will continue to serve as acting prime minister until the caretaker premier takes an oath. *) Biden restricts US investments in Chinese technology President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that would block and regulate high-tech US-based investments in China. The order covers advanced computer chips, microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence. Senior administration officials said that the effort stemmed from national security goals, rather than economic interests and that the categories it covered were narrow in scope.

*) UN gets authorisation to deliver aid to quake-hit northern Syria United Nations will resume aid deliveries to Syria through the Bab al Salam and Al Rai border crossings from Türkiye until November 13. The Syrian regime agreed to a second three-month extension of two border crossings opened to UN humanitarian workers after the February earthquake and was due to close on August 13. The February 6 quakes in Türkiye and Syria killed more than 55,000 people. *) ​​Russia shoots down Ukraine's drones targeting Moscow – mayor Russian forces have downed two combat drones headed for Moscow, the city's mayor said, the latest in a surge of drone attacks targeting the capital. He said one drone was downed on the southern outskirts of the city, while the second was shot down in the Minsk highway area, west of the capital. According to Russian officials, the strikes are at least the third attack on Moscow within a week, with Ukrainian drones downed on Sunday and Monday. *) Diplomacy best for Niger, force still on table: Nigeria Nigeria's president and head of the West African bloc ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, has not ruled out military intervention in Niger, but believes diplomacy is the "best way forward" to resolve the crisis, his spokesperson has said. Tinubu weighed in for the first time since the soldiers behind the coup in Niger defied the bloc's Sunday deadline to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face the possible use of force. Meanwhile, efforts by ECOWAS and the United States to parlay with Niger's new rulers have made no headway ahead of a crisis summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday. *) Jailed ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan's lawyers file legal challenge Lawyers for former Pakistan PM Imran Khan filed an appeal against his conviction for graft. Imran Khan is incarcerated in a century-old prison at the beginning of a three-year term. Unless overturned, the conviction will rule him out of contesting upcoming elections. Pakistan's election commission on Tuesday issued a statement officially disqualifying Khan for five years. And finally… *) Amazon nations agree to fight deforestation Eight South American countries have agreed to launch an alliance to fight deforestation in the Amazon, vowing at a summit in Brazil to stop the world's biggest rainforest from reaching "a point of no return." The closely watched summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) adopted on Tuesday what host country Brazil called a "new and ambitious shared agenda" to save the rainforest. The group's members signed a joint declaration in Belem, near the Amazon River, laying out a nearly 10,000-word roadmap to promote sustainable development, end deforestation and fight the organized crime that fuels it.

*) Niger junta appoints transitional prime minister Niger’s junta has appointed a transitional prime minister more than a week after the military coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum. Economist Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine has been appointed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger's presidential guard, who declared himself the head of a transitional government. The West African regional bloc ECOWAS is to hold another emergency summit on Thursday in Nigeria to address the political crisis in Niger. *) ​​US to announce $200M in new arms aid for Ukraine US President Joe Biden's administration is set to announce $200 million of new weapons aid for Ukraine as it begins to dole out $6.2 billion of funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error, according to two American officials. Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from US stocks in a matter of days or weeks in order to keep up its fight against Russia's offensive. Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue to aid Kiev, a US official said. *) Palestinian premier, members of US Congress discuss reviving political process Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has held discussions with members of the US Congress on ways to revive Washington’s role in preserving the two-state solution and recognising the Palestinian state. The meeting was held in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah with a delegation of 22 members of the Democratic party. Shtayye said Israel violates international law every day through killings, military raids and the expansion of illegal settlements. He said the continuation of the status quo will lead to a shift towards a single state with an apartheid regime. *) Greece 'relatively hopeful' for advancing relations, dialogue with Türkiye Greece is hopeful to further relations and political dialogue with Türkiye, according to the country’s foreign minister. In an interview with Egypt's Al Qahera TV, George Gerapetritis remarked that he and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have developed a channel of communication. “What we want to do is to try to promote a positive agenda with issues of common interest, such as trade, economy, civil protection, tourism, the overall development of the two countries, and then work on our relationships,” Gerapetritis said. A fresh round of talks of the Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council is expected to be held in Thessaloniki this fall. *) South American leaders' summit seeks ambitious roadmap to save Amazon Brazilian President Lula and fellow South American leaders seek an ambitious roadmap to stop deforestation at a meeting of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization in Belem. Brazilian leaders face pressure to set out bold solutions to save the damaged Amazon as they open a summit on the world's biggest rainforest. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said the summit would produce a joint declaration setting out "instructions" to implement "new targets and new tasks" to protect the rainforest.

*) Niger waits for West African bloc's response after junta rejects ultimatum Niger waits on for a response from the West African regional bloc after coup leaders in the capital city Niamey ignored a deadline to reinstate the ousted president. The Economic Community of West African States has warned that a failure to reverse the coup could lead it to authorise a military intervention. The bloc has said it will issue a statement on its next steps in response to the junta's refusal to stand down by Sunday following the July 26 power grab. *) ​​Sudanese army strikes RSF positions near presidential palace The Sudanese Armed Forces have conducted their first aerial bombardment of positions of the Rapid Support Forces in the presidential palace - controlled by the paramilitary group since April. RSF positions in the three cities known as the tripartite capital - Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri - also came under heavy artillery fire from the army. Intense clashes have been ongoing for over 100 days between the army and the RSF, particularly in strategic areas around the capital and in the western part of the country. *) Peace talks on Ukraine to continue following Jeddah meeting Talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the Ukraine conflict have concluded with participants agreeing on the importance of continuing consultations for peace efforts. More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States and European countries, excluding Russia, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Sunday. Ukraine and its allies called for international support for principles that Kiev wants to be the basis for peace, including the withdrawal of all Russian troops and the return of all Ukrainian territory. Moscow called the meeting a doomed attempt to swing the Global South behind Kiev. *) Jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's lawyers to launch legal challenge Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's lawyers attempt to launch legal challenges against his three year-sentence for graft that has ruled him out of contesting national elections. The former international cricket star was arrested at his home on Saturday and taken to jail for charges he has previously said are politically motivated. Petitions have been filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts have demanded power of attorney for Khan, which would allow lawyers to challenge his conviction. And finally… *) Saudi Arabia sends its 19th aid plane to Türkiye for quake victims Saudi Arabia has sent its 19th aid plane for victims affected by Türkiye’s February 6 earthquakes. The plane, carrying more than 27 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment, departed on Sunday from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and headed to Gaziantep Airport in southeastern Türkiye. It was sent as part of Saudi Arabia's "aid bridge" established for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, August 4th. *) Donald Trump pleads ‘not guilty’ to all charges in 2020 election probe Former US president Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump appeared before a magistrate judge in Washington’s federal courthouse two days after being indicted on four felony counts by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. The charges accuse him of trying to subvert the will of voters and undo his election loss in the days before January 6, 2021, when supporters stormed the US Capitol. *) ​​Niger to respond ‘immediately’ to any ‘aggression’ from ECOWAS Niger’s junta has said it would respond immediately to any “aggression or attempted aggression” against it by West African countries. ECOWAS has threatened the potential use of force if the junta does not restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday. The landlocked nation is the fourth member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) hit by a putsch since 2020. *) Russia ‘destroys’ Ukraine’s drones targeting Novorossiysk port Ukrainian sea drones have attacked a Russian navy base near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk , a major hub for Russian exports. The drones were destroyed by Russian warships, Russia’s defence ministry has said. The attack prompted the Novorossiysk port to temporarily halt all ship movement. Separately, Russian air defences downed 10 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and suppressed three more with electronic countermeasures. *) China to lift tariffs on Australian barley China has said it will remove extra tariffs on Australian barley, in the latest thawing of ties between the two after years of tensions. China had slapped hefty levies on key Australian exports such as barley and beef in 2020 at the height of a bitter dispute with the former conservative government. But their icy relations appear to have thawed since Australia’s centre-left government adopted a less confrontational approach to China following its election a year ago. And finally… *) Freddie Mercury’s private collection goes on display in UK From fanciful costumes and working drafts of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, hundreds of items that Freddie Mercury owned have gone on show in Britain. Sotheby’s transformed its central London gallery to resemble the Queen frontman’s former home in the UK capital for the month-long exhibition ahead of its sale. The singer-songwriter, who died in 1991, had assembled an array of “treasures” which had been left largely untouched at his one-time West London house. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, August 3rd. *) Türkiye will continue intense efforts for grain deal resumption — Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told his Russian counterpart that Türkiye will continue to carry out “intense” efforts and diplomacy for the resumption of the Black Sea grain deal. Erdogan said that the long-term suspension of the Black Sea Initiative will not benefit anyone, adding that the low-income countries in need of grain will suffer the most. *) ​​Niger junta chief rejects sanctions, refuses to ‘bow down’ to threats The leader of the coup that toppled Niger’s president has said that French citizens had no reason to quit the country, but rejected international sanctions, vowing not to bow to “threats”. Responding to the international sanctions imposed in response to the coup, General Abdourahamane Tiani said the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) “rejects these sanctions as a whole and refuses to give in to any threat, wherever it comes from”. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders have imposed trade and financial sanctions and threatened the use of force if the junta does not restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday. *) China’s call for counter-espionage concerns US The United States has raised concerns over a Chinese call to encourage its citizens to join counter-espionage work and said it has been closely monitoring the implementation of Beijing’s expanded anti-spying law. Washington’s statement comes after China’s Ministry of State Security said China should encourage its citizens to join counter-espionage work, including creating channels for individuals to report suspicious activity and rewarding them for doing so. A system that makes it “normal” for regular people to participate in counter-espionage should be established, the ministry said. *) Inter-religious clashes displace Muslims in north India A sense of dread hangs over Nuh, a small town in north India’s Haryana state, where Muslims are in the majority, as the town and nearby districts were engulfed in “communal violence”, a reference made in India for inter-religious clashes. As the police have imposed a strict curfew, some local accounts suggest that dozens of Muslim families have fled their homes, fearing both a second round of mob attack led by radical Hindu outfits and arbitrary police detentions. The violence that erupted during a religious procession by Hindus in Nuh early this week killed at least seven people. And finally… *) Hollywood studios, writers to restart talks amid strike Hollywood studios will meet with writers this week to discuss reopening talks for the first time since a strike began nearly 100 days ago. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) walkout, which kicked off May 2 over pay and the threat of artificial intelligence, has brought US film and television production to a halt. Writers have been joined on the picket lines since last month by the much larger Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) ramping up pressure on the likes of Disney and Netflix to return to negotiations. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) US indicts Donald Trump Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the run-up to the Capitol attack by his supporters. The charges include conspiracy to defraud the government and witness tampering to subvert the peaceful transfer of power. The indictment is the third criminal case brought against the former president as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024. *) Niger reopens borders with limited countries Niger's land and air borders with five neighbouring countries have been reopened, nearly a week after they were closed following a coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum. "The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad are reopened" from "today", a soldier announced on national television. The move came hours after the first French evacuation flight took off and five days before a deadline to restore constitutional order issued by a bloc of West African countries. *) Russian drone strikes Odessa port, causes fire A Russian drone strike has damaged port infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odessa region on the Black Sea coast, the regional governor has said. "As a result of the attack, fires broke out at the facilities of the port and industrial infrastructure of the region, and an elevator was damaged," Oleg Kiper said. The governor added that emergency services were on-site and there were no reports of casualties. *) Tunisia's President Saied dismisses PM Tunisian President Kais Saied has appointed Ahmed Hachani as the new prime minister, replacing Najla Bouden, who ended her duties, the Tunisian presidency has said. Hachani, who served as human resources director at Tunisia's central bank, becomes premier amid a deepening economic and social crisis in the country. The president has repeatedly blamed officials and the government for failing to address problems and poor public services, such as frequent water and electricity cuts. And finally… *) Sweden intensifies border controls Sweden has said it did not plan on making sweeping changes to "freedom of speech" laws and intended to "intensify" border controls instead. The move comes in the wake of several incidents involving desecrations of Islam's holy book, the Quran. "We stand up for the Swedish freedom of speech," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference. He added that the government will "intensify" border controls due to a worsened security situation.

*) Workers crushed to death in India At least 17 workers have been crushed to death in western India when a crane collapsed on an under-construction expressway outside the financial capital Mumbai. The crane toppled onto large concrete slabs during the night, with debris smashing down as labourers worked on the Samruddhi Expressway. India's National Disaster Response Force said 17 bodies had been recovered, and three injured people had been taken to hospital. *) Several killed, dozens missing in Beijing rainstorms At least 11 people are dead and 27 missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing, Chinese state media has reported. Storm Doksuri, a former super typhoon, has swept northwards over China since Friday, when it hit southern Fujian province after scything through the Philippines. Heavy rains began pummelling the capital and surrounding areas on Saturday, with nearly the average rainfall for the entire month of July dumped on Beijing in just 40 hours. *) Drone hits office tower in Moscow A drone hit an office tower in Moscow that was struck over the weekend, while at least one other drone was downed, the city's mayor has said. "There is no information on casualties," Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram, adding that emergency services were on the scene. On Sunday, Russia said it had downed Ukrainian drones targeting the capital in an attack that damaged two office towers in Moscow-City, a business district. *) Pakistan bombing death toll rises to 54 The death toll from a massive suicide bombing that targeted an election rally of a religious party in Pakistan has risen to 54. Daesh claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombing, which also wounded nearly 200 people. The victims were attending a rally organised by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F party, headed by influential cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman. And finally… *) Türkiye beat Qatar in FIVB Men’s Final Türkiye has defeated Qatar 3-2 in the FIVB Men’s Challenger Cup Final. The Turkish National Volleyball Team won the final in Doha and secured its place in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League. Earlier this month, The Turkish Women’s National Volleyball Team defeated powerhouse China to win the Volleyball Nations League.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, July 31st. *) Dozens killed in terrorist attack in Pakistan At least 44 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded by a suicide bombing at a political gathering in northwest Pakistan. The blast targeted the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F party as hundreds of supporters congregated in the town of Khar. The explosion took place ahead of the ruling coalition partner’s public rally in the tribal Bajuar district, near the Afghan border. *) Moscow to use nuclear weapons if Ukraine succeeds Russia’s former president has warned that if Ukraine’s counter-offensive is successful and Kiev takes control of land, then Moscow will use nuclear weapons. Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, argued that Moscow was defending its citizens and their land. The former president said enemies should “worship” the Russian Armed Forces for preventing “the global nuclear fire from flaring up”. *) Deadly clash at Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon Several people have been killed and dozens were reported wounded in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp following clashes between two groups. A member of the Fatah Movement and his four guards were killed at the Ain al Helweh camp, local media said. The state-run National News Agency gave a provisional death toll of six, with perhaps more than 30 wounded. One soldier was reportedly wounded by a piece of shrapnel. *) Türkiye gas hub an ‘electronic trading platform’: Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin has said a natural gas hub would be set up in cooperation with Türkiye as an “electronic trading platform”. The gas hub project aims to leverage Türkiye’s growing role as a transit country for Europe, ensuring energy security amid potential gas connection disruptions. Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to work on the project following talks earlier this year. And finally… *) Morocco makes history at Women’s World Cup Morocco has won a Women’s World Cup match for the first time with a stunning 1-0 victory over South Korea. Morocco, one of the lowest-ranked teams at the tournament at 72 in the world, were supposed underdogs against the 17th-ranked Koreans. The hard-earned win keeps alive Morocco’s chances of reaching the last 16 in Australia and New Zealand. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, July 28th. *) Russia thwarts Ukrainian ‘drone attack’ in Moscow region Russia’s defence ministry has said it thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack in the Moscow region overnight. There were no casualties or damage. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin had earlier announced the attack, without specifying its location. The attempted strike comes days after Ukraine claimed a drone attack in central Moscow. *) UN suspends humanitarian aid to Niger after coup attempt The United Nations has put humanitarian operations on hold in Niger after an attempted coup by members of the military. The Nigerien presidency confirmed that a coup attempt was carried out by soldiers who sealed access to the official residence of President Mohamed Bazoum. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in Niger has increased from 1.9 million people in 2017 to 4.3 million people in 2023, according to OCHA. *) Israelis reignite protests against Netanyahu’s judicial changes Thousands of Israelis have returned to the streets to protest against the hard-right government’s controversial judicial reform package. Waving Israeli flags and chanting, protesters rallied in Tel Aviv, the epicentre of the demonstrations since the package was first unveiled in January. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies pushed through the bill in chamber, which opponents say opens the way to a more authoritarian government. *) Apocalyptic wildfire blows up ammo depot, forces jets to relocate in Greece A wildfire whipped on by strong winds has triggered a series of massive explosions at an air force ammunition depot in central Greece. Local media reported that bombs and ammunition for Greek F-16 fighters were stored at the site. The large explosions shattered windows on surrounding houses, but the Greek fire service said no severe injuries were reported and villages were evacuated as a precaution. And finally… *) Trump accused of trying to delete CCTV footage in classified documents case Former president Donald Trump is facing accusations that he and his aides asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct the classified documents investigations. The allegations were made on Thursday in an updated grand jury indictment that adds new charges against Trump and another defendant to the case. A Trump spokesperson dismissed the new charges as “nothing more than a continued…attempt” by the Biden administration to influence the 2024 presidential race. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Soldiers claim to have removed Niger’s president, imposed curfew Soldiers claim to have overthrown the government of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in a statement read out on national television, a day after the leader was detained in his official residence. “We, the defence and security forces ... have decided to put an end to the regime” of President Bazoum, said Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, surrounded by nine other uniformed soldiers in the address. They said “all institutions” in the country had been suspended, borders closed and a curfew imposed “until further notice”. They urged external partners not to interfere. *) Cambodian PM Hun Sen to step down after four decades, son to succeed him Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has said he will resign after almost four decades of hardline rule. On Sunday, his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election with no strong opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote. Hun Sen has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, and the 45-year-old played a leading role in campaigning for Sunday’s vote. *) North Korea’s Kim meets Russia’s Shoigu for military cooperation North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss military issues and regional security, state media said. This comes as the country celebrated the 70th anniversary of an armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The North’s official news agency said Kim and Shoigu talked in the capital, Pyongyang, and reached a consensus on unspecified “matters of mutual concern”. During the meeting, Shoigu conveyed to Kim a “warm and good letter” signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, KCNA said. *) Ukraine’s Zelenskyy claims ‘good results’ against Russia President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian forces had achieved “very good results” on the front line, and he promised to provide details of their successes soon. Meanwhile, Russian air strikes have damaged 26 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities and five civilian vessels over the course of nine days, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said. Russia hit more port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odessa region in an overnight missile attack, killing a security guard and damaging a cargo terminal, the region’s governor said. And finally… *) Ship carrying 3,000 cars burns off Dutch coast, crew member dead A fire has blazed on a ship off the Dutch coast with nearly 3,000 vehicles on board, killing one person and injuring several others. The fire began on the 199-metre Panama-registered Fremantle Highway, which was en route from Germany to Egypt. Rescue ships sprayed water onto the burning boat to cool it down, but using too much water risked its sinking, the Dutch coastguard said. A salvage vessel hooked on to stop it drifting. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Soldiers raid Ecuadorian prison to quell riot Some 2,700 soldiers have stormed a prison in Ecuador, retaking control of the facility as the death toll from a riot that started over the weekend rose to 31 inmates. The latest battle between rival gangs at the overcrowded, violence-hobbled Guayas 1 prison in the port city of Guayaquil has also left 14 wounded, the public prosecutor's office said. Riots regularly pit prison gangs with links to drug traffickers against one another in Ecuador, a country that has recently emerged as a key player in the South American cocaine trade. *) Türkiye vows to continue backing Palestinian cause Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed continued support for the Palestinian cause during a visit by his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. Erdogan also expressed deep concern about the ongoing violence inflicted by illegal Israeli settlers. “Any acts attempting to change the historical status quo of holy places, particularly the al Aqsa Mosque,” cannot be tolerated, he said. He also said “the unity and reconciliation of the Palestinians are key elements in this process.” *) Typhoon Doksuri tears through northern Philippines A powerful storm has hit the northern Philippines, toppling trees, knocking out power and dumping heavy rain as thousands took shelter. Typhoon Doksuri was packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 175 kilometres an hour as it hovered off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, the state weather agency said. At least one person drowned in the province of Rizal in the wake of Typhoon Doksuri, the national disaster agency reported. *) Ukraine says allies pledge $244M, demining aid Ukraine's allies have committed to allocating $244 million in addition to special equipment for the country's humanitarian demining needs, First Deputy Prime Minister has said. "Our task is not only to demine the entire territory in order to save people's lives but also to speed up this process," Yulia Svyrydenko, who is also economy minister, said. "This is a question of economic recovery because the sooner we return potentially mined lands to circulation, the faster business will develop on them," she added. *) UNGA adopts resolution on violence against holy books The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution that deplores all acts of violence against holy books as a violation of international law. It comes in the wake of multiple burnings and desecrations of copies of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, in European countries, drawing international outrage. The resolution also deplores violence against religious symbols, places of worship, and religious sites as violations of international law.

*) Ukraine 'downs drones' as Russia launches attack Russia launched a nighttime drone attack on Kiev, but all incoming drones have been shot down, according to local authorities. Early information indicated no damage or casualties in the capital following the air raid that lasted for 3 hours, head of the Kiev city military administration said. The reported attack comes a day after Russia warned of "tough retaliatory measures" after a drone attack on Moscow, some 500 kilometres from Ukraine. *) Israeli parliament approves legal overhaul Israeli lawmakers have approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive plan to reshape the country’s justice system. It was the first step the parliament took in overhauling the judiciary, despite massive protests that have exposed fissures in Israeli society. Lawmakers approved a measure that prevents judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are “unreasonable.” *) Türkiye ready to help Greece fight wildfires Türkiye is ready to do whatever it can to help Greece fight back its wildfires, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. While quickly responding to fires in Türkiye, Erdogan said the country is also rushing to help out other countries in need. Türkiye sent two amphibious firefighting aircraft and a firefighting helicopter to its neighbour, according to Erdogan. *) Mali drops French as its official language Mali has dropped French as its official language under the new constitution, which passed with 96.91 percent of the vote in a June 18 referendum. French will be the working language from now on, and the 13 national languages spoken in the country will also receive official language status. Around 70 local languages are spoken in the West African country, where French had been the official language since 1960. *) First Hijabi footballer, Arab team debut in women’s World Cup History has been made at the FIFA Women's World Cup as Nouhaila Benzina, the first hijabi footballer, takes the field to represent the Moroccan National team. The occasion also marks the first time a women's team from the Middle East and North Africa has competed in the prestigious tournament. Although The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco lost to Germany by a score of 6-0, football enthusiasts from the Arab world are hopeful for their strong comeback.

*) Iraq expels Swedish ambassador in response to Quran desecration in Sweden Iraq's prime minister has ordered the expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and the withdrawal of the Iraqi charge d’affaires from Sweden as a man desecrated a copy of the Quran in Stockholm. Thursday's diplomatic blowup came hours after protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire. Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the Iraqi Shia cleric and political leader Muqtada al Sadr before a planned burning of the Islamic holy book in Stockholm by an Iraqi asylum-seeker who burned a copy of the Quran in a previous demonstration last month. *) ​​Israel's Netanyahu doubles down on judicial plan despite mass protests Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with his contentious judicial overhaul, despite unprecedented mass protests at home, growing defections by military reservists. Netanyahu’s message set the stage for stepped-up street protests in the coming days leading up to a fateful vote expected on Monday. Thousands of people marched through central Tel Aviv on Thursday night, while others continued a roughly 70-kilometre march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. *) Macron reshuffles cabinet to revive second term French President Emmanuel Macron reshuffled his government as he looks to move on from a series of crises since his re-election last year, government sources said. After weeks of speculation that he might change the prime minister, the 45-year-old head of state said on Monday that he was sticking with under-fire Elisabeth Borne. Advisers and ministers had long argued over whether the centrist should carry out a major overhaul of the cabinet to signal a fresh start, but in the end the reshuffle was limited in scope. *) Erdogan urges world to lift unfair restrictions from Northern Cyprus Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the lifting of political restrictions that have been unfairly imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Inaugurating a newly renovated and expanded Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus, Erdogan also reiterated his call on the international community to support the ideal of two equal states living side by side on Cyprus, rejecting the culture of domination, tension, and conflict on the island. "The new terminal is six times larger than the previous one, meaning it is now capable of serving 10 million passengers," he said, adding that Ercan Airport also has the largest passenger capacity of any airport on the Eastern Mediterranean island. *) Over 60% of world's population uses social media Nearly five billion people, or slightly more than 60 percent of the world's population, are active on social media, according to a recent study. That represents an increase of 3.7 percent over the past year, according to calculations by digital advisory firm Kepios in its latest quarterly report. However, Kepios noted that social media figures may exceed the actual figures due to issues like duplicate accounts.

*) Iraqi protesters torch Sweden's embassy in Baghdad Hundreds of protesters have stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad in protest against the expected desecration of the Muslim holy book Quran in Sweden. The Swedish Foreign Ministry said embassy staff are "safe" following the torching of the building. Meanwhile, Iraq's Foreign Ministry condemned the incident and ordered security forces to carry out a swift investigation to identify perpetrators. *) ​​US alleges Russia preparing to hit civilian ships in Black Sea A senior White House official has alleged that Russia is considering attacks on civilian ships carrying grain from Ukraine on the Black Sea. National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge also said, without giving evidence, that Russia would blame Ukrainian forces for the attacks. Meanwhile, Russia said one person was killed by a Ukrainian drone strike in Crimea, and Ukraine said at least nine were wounded in a Russian strike on Mykolaiv. *) Türkiye, UAE sign 13 agreements worth $50.7B Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates have signed a total of 13 deals worth $50.7 billion. This is according to a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate. The directorate said that both sides agreed to establish a High-Level Strategic Council to be chaired by the two presidents. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country will ensure that relations with the UAE are addressed regularly at the highest level through the council. Earlier, Erdogan and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan led delegation-level talks in Abu Dhabi. *) Colombia searches for more bodies as landslide death toll climbs Heavy rains have complicated the search for nine people still missing after a landslide that killed at least 20 in central Colombia. More than 400 military troops, firefighters, and other rescue workers are searching for survivors. Fifteen bodies, four of them children, had been recovered on Tuesday before the search was temporarily called off due to bad weather. The other five victims were discovered on Wednesday. *) Barbie' the film: Iconic doll has 'existential crisis' about real world Australian actress Margot Robbie has said she experienced an existential crisis at a rehearsal for the upcoming Barbie movie. Similar to Robbie's existential crisis, the Barbie movie follows the doll, who suddenly has an existential crisis. She leaves her pink plastic world to enter the real human world. Barbie debuts on Friday and is expected to rake in more than $100 million in US theaters in its first weekend.

*) Russia ‘downs’ dozens of Ukraine drowns after grain deal ends Russian air defences and countermeasure systems have downed 28 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, according to the RIA news agency. The drone attacks caused no casualties or damages, RIA cited the Russian defence ministry as saying. Meanwhile, a Russian overnight strike damaged port infrastructure facilities in Ukraine's Odessa, Kiev's military said. This comes hours after Moscow refused to extend a deal to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, sparking international outrage. *) ​​Türkiye, Saudi Arabia ink investment, defence, energy, communications deals Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have signed a series of deals encompassing investment, the defence industry, energy and communications. The agreements were signed after delegation meetings led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi city of Jeddah. The Turkish president arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of a three-day Gulf tour to strengthen ties. *) US deploys Navy destroyer, more warplanes to Middle East amid Iran tensions The US is sending a guided missile destroyer and additional warplanes to the Middle East, the Pentagon has said amid rising tensions with Iran. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin authorised the deployment of the USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 and F-16 fighter jets "to defend US interests". This is according to Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh. Singh cited a July 5 incident in which she said the Iranian navy attempted to seize two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as part of the motivation behind the decision. *) Israel's president will meet with Biden as concerns over illegal settlements, judicial overhaul continue President Joe Biden is set to host Israel's figurehead president Isaac Herzog at the White House. The meeting comes as Israel pushes ahead with plans to overhaul its judicial system and continues illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. During his visit, Herzog will become the second Israeli president, after his father, to address Congress. *) Record highs scorch the globe as Europe prepares for heatwave peak Europe braces for new high temperatures under a relentless heatwave and wildfires that have scorched swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. Health authorities have sounded alarms from North America to Europe and Asia, urging people to stay hydrated and shelter from the burning sun. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent and is bracing for the peak of the current heatwave to hit Italy's islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

*) Türkiye 'more hopeful than ever' over F-16 purchase from US: Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he is "more hopeful than ever" about the country’s F-16 purchase from the United States. Erdogan issued the statement at the end of the NATO summit in Lithuania's capital Vilnius. He said Ankara expects that to reach a positive outcome, although no timeline has been set. US President Joe Biden has already signalled his approval of the deal which needs approval from the US Congress. *)Russian general says top military brass betrayed soldiers fighting in Ukraine A Russian general claimed he was fired as a commander in southern Ukraine after telling Moscow of the dire situation at the frontline Major General Ivan Popov made the revelation in a voice message published by a Russian lawmaker. He said more and more Russian soldiers were killed by Ukrainian artillery and that the army lacked proper fighting equipment. Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far kept Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and his top general in their jobs after the June 24 mutiny by Wagner mercenaries. *)Junior doctors begin 'longest strike' in UK's NHS history Hospital doctors in England are set to stage the biggest walkout in the history of the state-funded National Health Service, prompting fears for patient safety. The unprecedented five-day stoppage will begin Thursday over pay and staffing. It is the latest in eight months of industrial action across the country’s health service, which is already reeling from a vast pandemic backlog. Nurses, ambulance staff and other medical staff have all joined picket lines in recent months, adding to pressures on patient appointments. *)UN: Conflict in Sudan displaced over 3 million people The UN has reported that the conflict in Sudan has already driven more than 3 million people from their homes. More than 2.4 million are now displaced internally, while over 700,000 have fled to other countries, the International Organization for Migration said. Egypt is hosting the largest number of those who fled, followed by Chad and South Sudan. Sudan has plunged into chaos since mid-April when armed fighting broke out between the military and its rival paramilitary group. And finally… *) Kuwait to print 100,000 Quran copies translated into Swedish Kuwait has announced that it is printing a hundred thousand copies of the Holy book, Quran, in Swedish, as part of the government’s effort to promote tolerance and the true teachings of Islam. Kuwait said the newly printed books will be distributed in Sweden. The move comes in the wake of the string of Quran desecrations in Sweden and Germany. The incidents have sparked international condemnation and outrage as well as diplomatic backlash.

*) Bosnia bids farewell to newly identified Srebrenica genocide victims Marking the 28th anniversary of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Bosnia and Herzegovina bid farewell to 30 more newly identified genocide victims at a memorial service. Every year on July 11, newly identified victims of the genocide are laid to rest at a memorial cemetery in Potocari, eastern Bosnia. The memorial centre is the focal point of remembrance for friends and relatives of the victims, mostly men and boys, murdered by Bosnian Serb militias. After this year’s funeral, the number of burials in the cemetery rose to 6,751. *) Dozens killed as ethnically targeted violence worsens in Sudan: HRW Gunmen have killed at least 40 civilians in a single day in Sudan's Darfur region as ethnically motivated bloodshed escalated in step with the war between rival military factions according to the Human Rights Watch. The human rights group said the killings include the execution of at least 28 Masalits, in the West Darfur town of Misterei. In the West Darfur city of El Geneina, several prominent figures have been killed in recent days and volunteers are struggling to bury corpses littering the streets, according to a statement by the Darfur Bar Association. *) Israel turns occupied Palestinian territories into open-air prison: UN expert A UN expert has said Israel had transformed the occupied Palestinian territories into an "open-air prison" through widespread, systematic and arbitrary detentions of Palestinians since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied territories, said that the high number of criminal convictions for Palestinians stems from "violations of international law and criminalisation of ordinary acts of life." In a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council, Albanese found that since 1967, more than 800,000 Palestinians, including children as young as 12, had been arrested and detained by Israeli forces. *) Russia vetoes UN resolution on cross-border aid delivery to northern Syria Russia has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution seeking to extend cross-border aid delivery for nine months from Türkiye through a border gate into northern Syria. Thirteen other Security Council members voted in favour of the resolution drafted by Switzerland and Brazil, while China abstained from the vote, but as Russia is a permanent Security Council member, its veto prevailed. *) Messi lands in Florida ahead of Inter Miami deal Argentinian star Lionel Messi has landed in Florida ahead of putting the final touches on his move to US Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. The World Cup winner is expected to put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year deal, reported to be worth $60 million a year, before being presented to fans at a stadium event on Sunday. Messi said in an interview with Argentinian TV show, "We are happy with the decision we made. Prepared and eager to face the new challenge and the new change."

*) Türkiye agrees to move ahead with Sweden's NATO bid: Stoltenberg Türkiye has agreed to forward to parliament Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said on the eve of a NATO summit in Vilnius. Türkiye's approval came after Stockholm agreed to establish a bilateral security mechanism with Ankara, Stoltenberg said. Sweden will also support Türkiye's EU process, visa liberalisation and efforts to update Customs Union, he added. He said NATO was establishing, for the first time, the post of Special Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. Sweden reiterated it will not support terrorist organisations YPG/PYD and FETO, a joint statement said after the meeting between Türkiye, Sweden, and the NATO chief. *) Key aid route to Syria closes as UN fails to extend authorisation A UN-brokered agreement that allows for the delivery of aid overland from Türkiye into Syria has expired after the United Nations Security Council failed to hold a vote to reauthorise it. The 15 members of the council had been trying for days to find a compromise to extend the deal, which since 2014 has allowed for food, water and medicine to be trucked to northwestern Syria. But the vote, first scheduled for Friday, was postponed to Monday - and then again to Tuesday morning, a source in the British mission to the UN, which holds the presidency of the Security Council, said. This means that as humanitarian convoys wrapped up their operations on Monday night, the future of the aid corridor was in doubt - it cannot resume operations until the United Nations reauthorises it. *) Turkish President, EU Council chief agree to 're-energise' ties Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, in Vilnius, Lithuania as he was visiting to attend a NATO leaders’ summit. Michel on Twitter said they “explored opportunities ahead to bring EU-Türkiye cooperation back to the forefront & re-energise our relations." He added that the Council has asked the high representative, Josep Borell, and the European Commission to submit a report "with a view to proceed in a strategic & forward-looking manner." *) Last week hottest on record worldwide: UN The beginning of July has been the hottest week on record for the planet, according to early findings from the United Nations' weather agency, after a series of scorching days saw global temperature records tumble. "The world just had the hottest week on record, according to preliminary data," the World Meteorological Organization said in a statement on Monday, after the climate crisis and the early stages of the El Nino weather pattern drove the warmest June on record. It's the latest in a series of records halfway through a year that has already seen a drought in Spain and fierce heat waves in China as well the United States. *) Meta's Threads hits 100 million users as Twitter struggles The Threads app launched by Instagram as a rival to Twitter has signed up more than 100 million users in less than five days, data tracking websites said on Monday, smashing the record of AI tool ChatGPT for fastest-growing consumer app. While ChatGPT took two months to hit the 100 million user mark and video-sharing app TikTok took nine months, Instagram itself took two and a half years to reach that mark after its 2010 launch. Threads went live on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries late on Wednesday, though it is not available in Europe because parent company Meta is unsure how to navigate the European Union's data privacy legislation.

*) UN condemns Israel's Jenin raid, urges to respect international law The head of the UN has strongly condemned Israeli violence and its excessive use of force in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. "Israel's air strikes and ground operations in a crowded refugee camp were the worst violence in the West Bank in many years," Antonio Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York on Thursday. Guterres demanded that Israel abide by its obligations under international law, including a duty to exercise restraint and use proportional force. *) Türkiye urges Sweden to put its anti-terror law into practice Sweden's legislative changes in line with a memorandum signed in Madrid last year should be reflected in practice, the Turkish foreign minister said. Following the fifth meeting of a permanent joint mechanism between Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden in Belgium, Hakan Fidan said "It is imperative that countries wishing to join NATO take a firm stand on the fight against terrorism." Sweden could not prevent provocations, which affects Ankara's stance, he said, referring to the recent desecration of the Quran in Stockholm. *) DRC mulls security pact with South Africa to counter militias Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi said that he was planning to sign a security agreement with South Africa. In a news conference with the South African President, in the capital Kinshasa, Tshisekedi explained that the accord could take the form of a mutual-defence pact. The Congolese president highlighted the mutual defence pact of the Southern African Development Community as a potential model. *) Zelenskyy says Ukraine's offensive 'not fast' but 'we advance' Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has said that Kiev wanted "honesty" in ties with NATO as he spoke ahead of a key summit of the Western military bloc. "We need honesty in our ties," Zelenskyy told reporters alongside Czech President Petr Pavel, speaking ahead of a key summit in Vilnius. He said it was time to demonstrate "the courage and strength of this alliance." And finally… *) Turkish wunderkind Arda Guler joins Real Madrid on 6-year contract 18-year-old Arda Guler has moved to Real Madrid from Turkish football club Fenerbahce on a six-year contract, the Spanish club confirmed. The Spanish powerhouse also said that the player would be introduced to the media on Friday at Real Madrid City, the club's training ground in Valdebebas. Fenerbahce stated on the Turkish Public Disclosure Platform that Real Madrid would pay a 21.7 million dollars transfer fee to buy Guler.

*) Fury in Israel after 'lenient' police chief is ousted by Netanyahu ally Thousands of protesters have blocked Tel Aviv's main highway and intersections across Israel in an outburst of anger following the forced resignation of the city's popular police chief. Ami Eshed announced on late Wednesday that he was leaving the Israeli police force under what he said was political pressure. Eshed has regularly clashed with the country's hardline National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has demanded that police take a tougher stance against months of anti-government protests. *) Azerbaijani leader urges Macron to apologise over French colonialism Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused France of being one of the countries which continue their neocolonial policy. Aliyev urged French President Emmanuel Macron to apologise to the countries affected by French colonialism. He also said racist and discriminative rhetoric has become common in France, including in the media. *) Children in conflict zones faced over 27,000 'grave violations' in 2022 Children experienced the highest number of "grave violations" in conflicts verified by the United Nations in 2022, the UN children’s agency has said. Omar Abdi, UNICEF’s deputy executive director, told the UN Security Council more than 27,000 grave violations, the highest number verified by the UN since its monitoring reports began in 2005. UNICEF expressed particular concern about their plight in Palestine, Somalia, Haiti, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Ukraine. *) Dozens dead as bus careens into gulch in southern Mexico A bus travelling through the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca (Woahaka) has crashed into a ravine, killing 27 people, authorities said. The accident left 13 men, 13 women and an infant boy dead, state’s Interior Minister said in a press conference. Another 21 people were injured, of whom 12 are in critical condition, the minister added. *) Meta launches Threads, its answer to Twitter Meta has officially launched Threads, its text-based Twitter rival, but its release in Europe has been delayed over regulatory concerns. "Let's do this. Welcome to Threads," wrote Meta chief executive and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in his first post on the new platform. Threads is the biggest challenger yet to Elon Musk-owned Twitter, which has seen a series of potential competitors emerge but not yet replace one of the social media's most iconic companies, despite its epic struggles.

*) Gaza under fire after Israeli raid in Jenin Israel has carried out air strikes on blockaded Gaza in what it says was a response to rockets fired from the Palestinian coastal enclave, the army said. The developments came after the Israeli military said it was withdrawing troops from Jenin city in the occupied West Bank late on Tuesday, winding down an intense two-day incursion that killed at least 13 Palestinians, wounded more than 100, drove thousands from their homes and left a wide swath of damage. *) Sudan's army tries to cut off RSF supply lines Fierce battles have broken out across Omdurman, the western part of Sudan's wider capital, as the army tried to cut off supply routes used by its paramilitary rivals to bring reinforcements into the city. The army launched air strikes and heavy artillery, and there were ground battles in several parts of Omdurman, witnesses said. The Rapid Support Forces said it had shot down a fighter jet, and residents posted footage that appeared to show pilots ejecting from a plane. *) China says it resolutely opposes US military sales to Taiwan China resolutely opposes US arms sales to Taiwan and has lodged stern representations to Washington, China's defence ministry said. Spokesperson Tan Kefei said in a statement that the US has ignored China’s core concerns, violently interfered in China's internal affairs and deliberately pushed up tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The US State Department approved earlier the potential sale of ammunition and logistics support to Taiwan in two separate deals valued at up to $440 million, the Pentagon said. *) Taliban bans women's beauty salons in Afghanistan Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have ordered beauty parlours across the country to shut within a month. Mohammad Sadeq Akif Muhajir, spokesperson for the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, would not say why the order had been given. He said the businesses had been given time to close their affairs so they could use up their stock without incurring losses. *) World records hottest day ever on Monday Monday was the world's hottest day on record, exceeding an average of 17 degrees Celsius for the first time, according to initial measurements taken by US meteorologists. The average daily air temperature on the planet's surface on July 3rd was logged at 17.01C by an organisation attached to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This measurement taken on Tuesday surpasses the previous daily record [16.92C] set on July 24 last year.

*) International office probing Ukraine war crimes begins An international office to investigate Russia over its assault on Ukraine opens in The Hague, in the first step towards a possible tribunal for Moscow's leadership. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression (ICPA) features prosecutors from Kiev, the European Union, the United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC). It will investigate and gather evidence in a move seen as an interim step before the creation of a special tribunal that could bring Kremlin officials to justice for starting the Ukraine conflict. *) Israeli strike kills, injures Palestinians in occupied West Bank's Jenin Israeli forces killed at least four Palestinians and wounded 27 others in a nighttime operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Health Ministry has said. Seven of the injured are in critical condition, the ministry said on Monday. According to reports, Israeli warplanes targeted a home in Jenin with three missiles in what the army said was an "extensive counterterrorism effort". Following the air strike, the Israeli army conducted a raid on the city with the assistance of armoured military bulldozers and imposed a blockade on the Jenin refugee camp. *) Mayor's home attacked as violent protests continue in France The home of the mayor of a Paris suburb was attacked with a burning car in a new eruption of violence in protest against the killing of a teenager. Protesters rammed a burning car into the home of Vincent Jeanbrun, the right-wing mayor of L'Hay-les-Roses outside Paris, on Sunday with the aim of setting it on fire, prosecutors said. The government of President Emmanuel Macron has been battling five nights of violent protests since 17-year-old Nahel M. was shot dead in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday by an officer during a traffic check. The killing of Nahel M, who was of Algerian origin, has revived long standing accusations of institutional racism within the French police, which rights groups say single out minorities during stops. *)Islamic body OIC calls for action to prevent Quran burnings The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for collective measures to prevent future Quran burnings, days after a copy was torched outside a Stockholm mosque. OIC urged member states to "take unified and collective measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents of desecration of copies of the" Quran. In a statement, the body's secretary general, Hissein Brahim Taha, stressed "the need to send a clear message that acts of desecrating the Quran are not mere ordinary Islamophobia incidents." *) Türkiye beats US, ranks 3rd at FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023 The Turkish Under-19 Men's National Basketball Team has beaten the United States 84-70 in the FIBA World Cup, scoring third place. In the tournament in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, Türkiye faced the US - the most successful team of the organisation with 8 championships. Türkiye won the bronze medal with this result for the second time in the history of the tournament, after first scoring third place in 2015.

*) Russia officially dropping charges against Wagner, Prigozhin Russia's FSB security services has announced that it was dropping a case against fighters of the Wagner mercenary group accused of staging an armed mutiny to topple the country's military leadership. Over the weekend, the Kremlin had also pledged not to prosecute Prigozhin and his fighters after he stopped the revolt on Saturday, even though President Vladimir Putin had branded them as traitors. Legally, the charge of mounting an armed mutiny in Russia carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison. *)Erdogan, Mitsotakis voice hope for new era in Turkish-Greek ties The Turkish president and Greek prime minister have voiced hope that the new era following recent elections in both countries is auspicious for improved bilateral ties. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a phone call on Monday after he was sworn in again as Greek premier, according to a Turkish Communications Directorate statement. During their talk, it was emphasised that the presence of strong governments, having gained the trust of their respective peoples in both countries, presents an opportunity for the future of bilateral relations. *)Türkiye lambasts Reuters over baseless allegations about Erdogan's son Türkiye's communications director has condemned Reuters for reporting baseless allegations about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son, crying foul at the news agency for spreading disinformation. Fahrettin Altun called the allegations against Bilal Erdogan baseless, saying that the news agency was not even able to independently confirm whether President Erdogan and his son Bilal were aware of or had involvement in a Swedish firm’s alleged kickback scheme. *)'Absolute necessity': US to spend $42B to make internet access universal US President Joe Biden has said that high-speed internet is no longer a luxury but an "absolute necessity," as he pledged that every household in the nation would have access by 2030 using cables made in the United States. "These investments will help all Americans," he said. "We’re not going to leave anyone behind," Biden said in a White House address . Biden announced that more than $40 billion would be distributed across the country to deliver high-speed internet in places where there's either no service, or service is too slow. And finally… *) Ilkay Gundogan leaves Manchester City to join FC Barcelona on free transfer Ilkay Gundogan has ended his trophy-laden seven-year stay with Manchester City by agreeing to join Barcelona on a free transfer. The Turkish-German midfielder's last act as a City player — and as the team's captain — was to lift the Champions League trophy, which completed a treble of major titles for the English club. Now, he is heading to Spain on a two-year contract for a new experience, even though Pep Guardiola wanted to keep the 32-year-old Gundogan — the first signing of the City manager's era from 2016.

*) Mitsotakis back as Greece's prime minister, far-right gains more seats Kyriakos Mitsotakis has embarked on his second term as Greece's prime minister with a vow to accelerate institutional and economic reforms, after voters handed him a huge election victory for the second time in five weeks. Mitsotakis' decision to reject a coalition and call for a second election paid off, as his New Democracy party consolidated its victory. Meanwhile, the return of the far-right to parliament has raised concerns, as opposition leader Tsipras said the strongest showing of Greek hard-right parties in decades was a "visible" threat to democracy. *)Russia's Shoigu makes first tv appearance after Wagner mutiny Russian state television broadcast footage of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspecting Russian troops, in his first public appearance since a failed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries. Shoigu — the target of fierce criticism by the Wagner mercenary group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin — went to a command post for Russian forces in Ukraine and held a meeting there with the leader of one of the units, according to images shown by the broadcaster. Prigozhin has repeatedly blamed Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, for his fighters' deaths. Wagner mercenaries headed back to their base on Sunday after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow Prigozhin to avoid treason charges and accept exile in neighbouring Belarus. *)Sudan's RSF seizes key police base in Khartoum as deadly battle rages Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has said it had seized the main base of a heavily armed police unit as it sought an edge in its war with the army during heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum. It later said it had captured 160 pick-up trucks, 75 armoured personnel carriers, and 27 tanks. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the footage or the RSF statements. There was no immediate comment from the army or the police. *)Turkish president, NATO chief discuss developments in Russia, Sweden Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg have discussed the latest developments in Russia and Sweden's NATO membership in a phone call, according to a statement by Türkiye's Communications Directorate. During the call on Sunday, it was pointed out that the end of tensions in Russia "prevented the occurrence of irrevocable humanitarian tragedies in the Ukrainian field," the statement said. Erdogan conveyed to Stoltenberg that Türkiye hopes recent developments in Russia will be "a new milestone in the path to a just peace in Ukraine," it added. And finally… *) DPRK holds rallies to denounce US as it marks Korean War anniversary North Korea has held mass rallies in Pyongyang where people shouted slogans vowing a "war of revenge" to destroy the United States, as it marked the 73rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. About 120,000 working people and students took part in the rallies held across the capital on Sunday, state news agency KCNA reported on Monday. Photos released by state media showed a stadium crowded with people holding placards reading "The whole US mainland is within our shooting range" and "The imperialist US is the destroyer of peace."

*) US says Titan submersible 'imploded', killing all five on board A submersible carrying five people to the Titanic imploded near the site of the shipwreck and killed everyone on board, US authorities have said, bringing a tragic end to a saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the missing vessel. US Coast Guard officials said during a news conference that they've notified the families of the crew of the Titan, which had been missing since Sunday. The sliver of hope that remained for finding the five men alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible's 96-hour supply of oxygen was expected to run out and the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found roughly 1,600 feet from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters. *) Biden defends Xi 'dictator' remark in new rebuff of China as he fetes Modi President Joe Biden has defended his harsh public comments on China, including calling President Xi Jinping a "dictator", saying his words would have no negative impact on US-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Asked about his appraisal of Xi during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Modi in the East Room, Biden said it "is just not something I'm going to change very much." The remarks, which drew a formal protest from China, opened a new rift just days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing that was meant as a step toward stabilising ties and improving communications. *)Türkiye lambastes illegal Israeli settlers for Quran desecration Türkiye has condemned the ripping up of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, by Israeli settlers who vandalised a mosque in the town of Urif in the occupied West Bank. "We condemn the attack perpetrated by a group of Jewish settlers on our holy book, the Quran, by entering a mosque in the town of Urif, located in the Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "We expect the perpetrators of this unacceptable hate crime to be brought to justice as soon as possible," said the statement. *)Qatar reportedly buys stake in Washington's NBA, NHL, WNBA teams Qatar's sovereign wealth fund is buying a roughly 5 percent stake in the parent company of the NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals and WNBA's Washington Mystics as part of a $4.05 billion deal, a person with knowledge of the sale said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the agreement between the Qatar Investment Authority and Monumental Sports & Entertainment had not been announced. It is believed to be the first time the government of Qatar is investing in US professional sports. And finally… *) Obama slams western hypocrisy over refugees, Titan incidents Former US president Barack Obama has slammed the hypocrisy of Western media concerning refugees and particularly in reference to the recent sinking of a refugee boat off southwestern Greece in which at least 82 people died and hundreds more are feared to have drowned. The fact that more attention is being paid to a submersible carrying five people that vanished off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada while on a tour of the Titanic's wreckage than the refugee boat sinking off Greece with up to 700 people on board is "rotten," he said during an appearance in the Greek capital Athens.

*) Anti-Muslim record, rights abuses hounds Modi as he makes US state visit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a trip to the US, kicking off his visit with a highly-publicised yoga session in New York and capping it off with a state dinner at the White House on Thursday night. But accusations of inciting anti-Muslim violence and other human rights abuses are hounding him. Several US Congress members said they are boycotting his address before a joint session of the US Congress. On Wednesday, Modi’s trip encountered an embarrassing hitch when he arrived 30 minutes late to a planned event with US First Lady Jill Biden. Later on Thursday, Modi and President Joe Biden are expected to announce deals that would deepen geopolitical and technology ties between the US and India. *) Western media under fire for slanted coverage of refugee tragedy and missing Titan sub Netizens are criticising what they described as “biased” media coverage and disparity in emergency response, between the deadly sinking of a fishing trawler carrying hundreds of refugees in the Mediterranean, and the missing Titan submersible, carrying five explorers including at least two billionaires. Some social media users say they are frustrated to see the nonstop media coverage of the missing tourist submersible, which is being searched in the North Atlantic by a multinational response team. In contrast, emergency response came late when scores of nameless refugees escaping wars and famine drowned off the Greek coast last week. *) Blast in China restaurant leaves dozens dead At least 31 people were killed following a gas explosion in northwestern China. The blast tore through a restaurant in Yinchuan, the capital of the traditionally Muslim Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as people gathered ahead of the Dragon Boat Festival. The explosion left many people unconscious, many needing to be carried out of the shop. Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded urgent medical care for the injured and a safety overhaul after the incident. *) Pentagon leak suspect, pleads not guilty The US airman accused of leaking top secret Pentagon documents online has pleaded not guilty to charges that could send him to prison for decades. Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old National Guard IT specialist was arrested in April for allegedly orchestrating the most damaging leak of US classified documents in a decade. He is facing six counts of retaining and transmitting national defence information. Each count carries sentences of up to 10 years in prison. His lawyer asked that he be released pending trial but the judge denied the request. Teixeira is suspected of posting the documents — some dated as recently as early March — to a private chat group on the social media platform Discord. And finally… *) Türkiye's first AI chatbot 'TurcoAI' makes debut A Turkish artificial intelligence robot developed entirely by Turkish entrepreneurs using domestic resources has been released on the market. TurcoAI is one of the first Turkish projects in the billion-dollar artificial intelligence sector. TurcoAI can comprehend emotional algorithms specific to Turkish society, use the Turkish language, and offer immersive encounters through written and visual materials. Muhammed Yildiz, the founder of TurcoAI, says his project can create and consume content in more than 40 languages. He said that TurcoAI represents a significant leap in Türkiye's technological landscape, contributing to its position as a prominent techno hub in the world.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, June 21. *) Underwater noises heard as crews race to find Titanic tourist sub The US Coast Guard has confirmed early that rescue teams looking for the missing Titanic sub detected “underwater noises” in the search area where the craft went missing two days earlier. Authorities in the US and Canada are racing against the clock to locate the vessel that was carrying people to see the Titanic wreckage site in the North Atlantic Ocean. When it went missing, the submersible had 96 hours of additional oxygen available. *) Death toll from migrant boat sinking off Greece rises to 82 The death toll from last week’s sinking of a fishing boat crammed with refugees and migrants off the coast of southwestern Greece climbed to 82, with hundreds more feared drowned. The body of a migrant was recovered in an area close to the sinking, said the state-run AMNA news agency, adding that search operations are still underway with the participation of a Greek frigate, helicopter and aircraft. A total of 104 people have been rescued, but the death toll is expected to rise as survivors said the vessel was carrying more than 600 migrants, mostly from Pakistan, Egypt and Syria. *) Dozens of inmates burn to death in Honduras jail riot A riot at a women’s prison in Honduras has killed at least 41 women, most of them burned to death, in violence linked to gang activity, authorities said. Most victims were burned, but there also were reports of inmates shot at the prison in Tamara, about 48 kilometres northwest of the Honduran capital, said Yuri Mora, the spokesperson for Honduras’ national police investigation agency. At least seven female inmates were being treated at a hospital for gunshot and knife wounds, employees there said. *) Sudan fighting uproots 2.5 million as bodies line Darfur streets Bodies have lined the streets in Sudan’s western Darfur region as the United Nations said that more than two months of fighting had forced over 2.5 million people from their homes. A three-day ceasefire due to end on Wednesday at dawn brought a brief respite to the capital Khartoum, gripped by the war that erupted on April 15 between two rival generals. The number of people uprooted from their homes by the conflict has topped 2.5 million, including about 550,000 who have fled abroad, according to the International Organization for Migration. And finally… *) North Korea calls Blinken’s China visit a ‘disgraceful begging trip’ North Korea has criticised US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s recent visit to Beijing as a “begging trip” to ease tensions in what it called a policy failure to pressure China. At one of the most significant US-China exchanges since US President Joe Biden took office, Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping met and agreed to stabilise their intense rivalry so it did not veer into conflict. Blinken said after the meeting on Monday that he urged China to encourage North Korea to stop launching missiles as Beijing holds a “unique position” to press Pyongyang to engage in dialogue. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Israeli raid kills five Palestinians, injures dozens of others in occupied West Bank Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank have killed five Palestinians in a raid that marked a rare use of Israeli airpower in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Palestinian health ministry said five people were killed and at least 91 others were wounded in the violence on Monday. The Israeli military also deployed an Apache helicopter, which fired missiles in the residential areas of Jenin. The raid was the latest in more than a year of near-daily Israeli violence that has wracked the occupied West Bank. *) China's Xi meets Blinken as US seeks to ease soaring tensions with Beijing China’s President Xi Jinping welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing as the top American diplomat wrapped up his two-day high-stakes visit to the Chinese capital. Blinken’s visit is aimed at easing soaring tensions between the world's two largest economies. Blinken is the highest-level US official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office, and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years. Following the meeting, Blinken said he agreed with China's leadership on the need to "stabilise" relations but also acknowledged that the two countries have vast disagreements. *) Türkiye military says it 'neutralised' two high-ranking PKK terrorists in northern Iraq The Turkish military has announced that it "neutralised" two high-ranking PKK members in northern Iraq. The suspects were targeted in the Operation Claw-Lock zone. The military said a large number of arms and ammunition, including rifles, rounds of bullets, a grenade launcher, night vision binoculars and a camera were seized in the operation. Ankara has been carrying out several operations in northern Iraq to root out the PKK who are suspected of hiding in those areas and plotting cross-border attacks on Türkiye. *) $1.5 billion pledged for Sudan as UN warns further 'death and destruction' Donors have pledged nearly $1.5 billion in aid for the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the neighbouring countries hosting refugees fleeing the fighting, according to UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths. A record 25 million people, more than half of Sudan's population, are in need of aid following the violence that broke out in mid-April, according to the UN. UN chief Antonio Guterres has described the scale and speed of Sudan's deadly violence as “unprecedented”. He warned that without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a centre of lawlessness and insecurity in the region. And finally… *) Türkiye beats Wales to advance in Euro qualifier Türkiye has moved to the top of Euro 2024 qualifying Group D with a 2-0 home victory against Wales despite missing a penalty and having two invalidated goals. A late header by Mehmet Umut Nayir and a superb curled effort by fellow substitute Arda Guler finally cracked Welsh resistance on Monday in Samsun to put Türkiye on top of the group with nine points from four games. Wales, who were surprisingly beaten at home by Armenia last week, are fourth with four points.

*) 'Calm' in Sudan's capital as 72-hour ceasefire takes effect A 72-hour ceasefire between Sudan's warring sides has taken effect to allow for the delivery of desperately needed aid to the country. The ceasefire came into force on Sunday morning with mediators saying the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. Witnesses in the capital Khartoum said the situation was "calm" but urged for a permanent truce after previous ceasefires were repeatedly broken. *) US, China see path to more stable ties after Blinken's 'constructive' visit The United States and China have agreed to expand dialogue to bring relations back from historic lows. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to his Chinese counterpart during a rare trip to Beijing, becoming the highest-ranking US visitor to the Chinese capital in nearly five years. The two sides announced that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang agreed to pay a return visit to Washington at a later date. The two top diplomats will also work together to expand flights between the two countries. *) Russia 'repels' Kiev's counterattacks at three points of the front line Russia's defence ministry has claimed its forces repelled a series of Ukrainian attacks across three sections of the front line. It said Ukraine was pressing most actively in the Zaporizhzhia region. Both sides are suffering high numbers of military casualties as Ukraine fights to dislodge the Kremlin’s forces from occupied areas in the early stages of its counteroffensive, British officials said. *) Sweltering heatwave kills nearly a hundred people in India At least 96 people have died in two of India's most populous states over the last several days as the country battles an intense heatwave. All the fatalities in Uttar Pradesh, totalling 54, were reported in Ballia district on Sunday. Meanwhile, in eastern Bihar, scorching heat led to 42 deaths in the past two days. Hundreds of people were admitted to district hospitals for various ailments aggravated by heat. The Ballia district experienced a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, surpassing the normal range by five degrees. *) Verstappen takes Red Bull's 100th win in Formula One, matches Senna's record World champion Max Verstappen has drawn alongside Ayrton Senna in the Formula One record books with his 41st victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old defending double champion led from lights to flag as he came home 9.570 seconds ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso for his team's 100th F1 win. It was Verstappen’s second win at the Montreal racing circuit, his sixth in eight races this year and his 41st overall.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, June 16. *) Greece criticised for watching refugee boat disaster in the Mediterranean Nine survivors of a refugee boat sinking in the Mediterranean have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling as hope faded for hundreds of other passengers still missing. Attention has now turned to Greece, who is accused of failing to act before the overcrowded ship capsized. The trawler may have carried as many as 750 passengers, including women and children. Greek authorities were criticised for not acting to rescue the refugees and migrants, even though a coast guard vessel escorted the trawler for hours and watched helplessly as it sank in minutes. Greek officials argued that the migrants and refugees repeatedly refused assistance and insisted on continuing to Italy. But legal experts said that was no excuse for Greek officials’ non-interference. *) US holding talks with Iran to lower tensions — report The United States is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could limit the Iranian nuclear programme, release some detained US citizens and unfreeze some Iranian assets abroad, according to Reuters, citing Iranian and Western officials. These steps would be cast as an “understanding” rather than an agreement requiring review by the US Congress, where many oppose negotiating with Iran. Having failed to revive a 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Washington hopes to restore some limits on Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran says it has no ambition to develop a nuclear weapon. The willingness to restart discussions illustrates the rising sense of urgency in Western capitals about Iran’s programme. *)Trees uprooted, roofs blown off by cyclone in India’s Gujarat Roofs were blown off houses and trees and electric poles uprooted in several parts of India’s western state of Gujarat as a severe cyclone Biparjoy made landfall overnight bringing heavy rain. No casualties were reported as of Friday morning. More than 180,000 people were evacuated in India and Pakistan in the last few days as authorities braced for the cyclone. *) Attacks in 2023 displace ‘nearly 1 million’ in the DRC Attacks on civilians by non-state armed groups have increased, displacing one million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo since early 2023. An estimated 6.1 million people are internally displaced, a 17 percent rise from October 2022, the International Organization for Migration said. As the conflict intensifies, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, and millions are facing acute food insecurity as well as other critical needs, the UN agency added. The agency said at least 46 people, including children, were killed in an attack earlier this month by members of the CODECO militia at a refugee site in Ituri province. And finally… *) Nusrat Jahan Choudhury is first Muslim woman to serve as US federal judge The US Senate has confirmed along party lines Nusrat Jahan Choudhury as the first Muslim woman and the first Bangladeshi American to serve as a federal judge. Senators approved Choudhury’s nomination in a 50-49 vote with one Democratic senator siding with all Republicans who voted in opposition. Choudhury will now be a US District Judge in New York. Choudhury previously served as a legal director at the A-C-L-U rights group. She graduated from Columbia University, Princeton University, and Yale Law School. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Kosovo accuses Serbia of kidnapping its border police officers Tensions are rising again between Kosovo and Serbia, after Belgrade arrested three Kosovo police officers, a move Pristina described as kidnapping. In retaliation, Kosovo has banned Serbian vehicles from crossing the border. Wednesday's flare-up between the two Balkan countries follows weeks of tensions, after rioting in northern Kosovo saw 30 NATO peacekeepers wounded in late May. Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed Serbia for the latest incident, saying the move was likely in "revenge" for the arrest of an alleged Serb paramilitary leader in Kosovo on Tuesday. *) Biden urged to press Modi over freedom of Kashmiri, other journalists The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the US government to put pressure on India to end a media crackdown and release six detained journalists, including four from India-administered Kashmir. CPJ president Jodie Ginsberg issued the statement ahead of a state visit to Washington next week by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said there had been an increasing crackdown on India's media since Modi came to power in 2014, highlighting the detention of six Indian journalists, who were covering the impact of the country’s security laws. As the world’s largest democracy, India needs to live up to that by ensuring a free and independent media, Ginsberg said. *) Paramilitary group RSF accused of killing Sudan's West Darfur governor Sudan's military has accused the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), of carrying out the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbakar in the city of El Geneina. The army said Abakar’s killing on Wednesday meant the RSF has added what it describes as "a new chapter to its record of barbaric crimes” committed against Sudanese people. An adviser in the RSF did not deny or confirm Abbakar's killing. In a television interview shortly before his death, Abbakar had called for international intervention in what he described as a "genocide" in Sudan. *) Australia veteran accused of killing Afghan civilians refuses to apologise Australia's most decorated war veteran, found by a civil court to have played a part in the murder of Afghan civilians during Afghanistan's invasion, has refused to apologise for his actions. Ben Roberts-Smith said he remained proud of his actions in Afghanistan, where he served in the Special Air Service on six tours from 2006 to 2012. Roberts-Smith has been accused of violating the rules of engagement and involvement in the murder of at least six unarmed prisoners in Afghanistan. In one incident, Roberts-Smith allegedly kicked a handcuffed Afghan civilian off a cliff and ordered two subordinates to shoot the man dead. *) German curator on a mission to return heirlooms stolen from Jews by Nazis Matthias Weniger, a curator at the Munich Museum in Germany is on a mission to return as many heirlooms as possible that were stolen by the Nazi forces from Jewish families during World War II. Many owners were murdered in the Holocaust or, if they succeeded to flee from the Nazis, ended up in far-flung corners of the globe. Despite these odds, and with a combination of thorough detective work and deep knowledge of history, Weniger has so far managed to return about 50 objects to family members and relatives of the original owners. Surviving family members say they are happy to have the heirlooms back, despite the pain triggered by the loss of their relatives.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, June 14th. *) Former US President Trump lashes out after federal indictment Former US president Donald Trump has lashed out at federal prosecutors following his indictment for allegedly mishandling top government secrets. Trump pleaded "not guilty" on Tuesday to over a dozen criminal felony charges filed before a federal court in Florida. Trump says the charges against him are a form of "election interference”, while claiming that he was cheated in the 2020 presidential election. Trump is seeking the Republican nomination in a bid to return to the White House in the 2024 presidential election. *) Over 100 wedding guests drown in Nigeria boat disaster A wedding reception in Nigeria has turned into a tragedy after more than 100 guests drowned when their ferry sank in a river in Kwara State. A Kwara State police spokesperson said 103 people had died and 100 survived. Kwara State governor's office said the victims had been returning from a wedding in Niger State to Kwara's Patigi district when the accident happened. Most of those who drowned were family members who attended the wedding and partied late into the night, police said. *) Beijing offers 'Chinese wisdom' to restore Palestine's legitimate rights China has said it is willing to help broker talks between Palestine and Israel that have deteriorated to the lowest level in recent years. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is in Beijing on a three-day state visit in which he hopes to demonstrate that there is Chinese support for Palestine’s bid for an officially recognised state. Foreign Minister Qin (Chin) Gang says China attaches great importance to the Palestinian issue and will continue to support peace talks, while offering what he calls "Chinese wisdom" to resolve the ongoing diplomatic crisis. While in China, Abbas is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Palestinian cause and other regional issues. *) Saudi Arabia announces Sudan aid conference as fighting rages Saudi Arabia is hosting an international conference on June 19 to gather aid pledges for conflict-ravaged Sudan, where the UN says more than half the population urgently needs aid. The country would jointly lead the meeting with Qatar, Egypt, Germany and the European Union, as well as UN agencies. Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mediating in the eight-week fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF. A record 25 million people are in need of aid and protection in Sudan, the UN says. As of late May, the world body only managed to raise $2.6 million to address the crisis. And finally… *) Colombia searches for dog who helped find missing kids in Amazon A six-year-old tracker dog named Wilson, who went missing following a plane crash in the Colombian Amazon, is now the subject of a rescue mission. Dozens of soldiers are scouring the jungle for the canine hero that disappeared on duty two weeks ago. As relief settled following the rescue of the children aged 13, 9, 5 and 1, Colombians are now clamouring on social media for the safe return of Wilson as well. The military vowed not to "abandon a fallen comrade" who may have found the four children, who survived the crash on May 1, long before the rescue team arrived. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, June 13th. *) Trump to face criminal charges in US national-security documents case Donald Trump is set to face criminal charges of unlawfully keeping US national-security documents and lying to officials who tried to recover them. He arrived in Florida ahead of his court appearance on Tuesday as the first former US president to face a federal indictment. In total, there are 37 federal charges relating to sensitive files he kept at his Florida home. *) Ukraine claims recapture of three more settlements in southeast Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has said that the country's forces made further advances in a counter-offensive launched last week. In a Telegram post, she said seven settlements had been liberated, including three not previously claimed in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the long-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive had started. *) Kenya mediates talks between Sudanese generals in effort to resolve crisis Kenya has taken the initiative to bring together Sudan’s warring generals to end the crisis plaguing the country, President William Ruto announced. Ruto announced that within two weeks, a humanitarian corridor will be established to streamline the distribution of aid. The move comes as the conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated, resulting in the loss of nearly a thousand lives. *) Turkish Cypriots have never been a minority: Türkiye's Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Türkiye will continue to protect the rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). During a visit to TRNC, he called on Greek Cypriots to stop what he calls their 'maximalist approach' towards a two-state solution for Cyprus. He said Türkiye will only return to the negotiating table if the republic is officially recognised. And finally… *) Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has died Italy’s Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has died, his spokesman confirmed. The billionaire media mogul was admitted to a Milan hospital on Friday for what aides said were pre-planned tests related to his leukaemia. Berlusconi had suffered ill health for years, from heart surgery in 2016 to a 2020 hospitalisation for coronavirus. Despite being re-elected to the Senate last year, he was rarely seen in public. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, June 12th. *) Shelling, fighting resume in Sudan as latest ceasefire ends Heavy artillery fire was heard in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman to the north, and fighting also erupted on Al Hawa Street, witnesses said. The latest in a series of ceasefire agreements enabled civilians trapped in Khartoum to venture outside and stock up on food and other essential supplies. But only 10 minutes after it ended on Sunday morning, the capital was rocked again by shelling and clashes, witnesses said. *) Russia, Ukraine swap nearly 200 in prisoner exchange Russia and Ukraine have swapped a total of nearly 200 prisoners, both sides announced. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s President's Office, said Ukraine is getting back 95 people, including soldiers from the Armed Forces, National Guard and border guards. Yermak said that these soldiers served in Mariupol, Chernobyl, Snake Island, near Bakhmut and Azovstal factory. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry said that 94 Russian soldiers were released after negotiations with Ukraine. *) EU offers Tunisia $1B to boost economy, curb illegal migration The European Union has offered major financial support to crisis-hit Tunisia, to boost its economy and reduce the flow of irregular migrants across the Mediterranean Sea. The bloc offers Tunisia a $968 million package plus $161 million in immediate support. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement on a joint visit with the Italian and Dutch prime ministers on Sunday. *) Turkish Cypriot president hails President Erdogan’s visit to TRNC Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has planned to make the first overseas visit of his new term to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This decision was welcomed by TRNC President Ersin Tatar, who said it “demonstrates the importance and value that Türkiye attaches to the TRNC.” Highlighting the importance of Erdogan's visit on Monday, Tatar said the trip would send a message to the world that the TRNC "is a state." And finally… *) Incredible feeling': Djokovic wins record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has made history with a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title in a third French Open triumph. The 36-year-old Serb defeated Casper Ruud of Norway and snapped the tie of 22 Slams he shared with career-long rival Rafael Nadal. Victory for the third time in Paris, after 2016 and 2021, adds to his 10 Australian Open titles, seven at Wimbledon and three at the US Open. Djokovic is the first man to win all four majors at least three times. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, June 9th. *) Saudi Arabia rules out normalisation with Israel without two-state solution The Saudi foreign minister has said that normalisation of ties with Israel "is in the interest of the region" but without giving Palestinians "dignity and justice" such a move will have limited benefits. Prince Faisal bin Farhan was speaking alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riyadh. "We should continue to focus on finding a pathway towards a two-state solution," Prince Faisal bin Farhan said. Blinken for his part urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to undermine prospects for a Palestinian state. *) Zelenskyy hails 'results' in eastern Ukraine fighting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed what he described as the "results" in heavy fighting in Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. "There is very heavy fighting in Donetsk region," Zelenskyy said in his daily video message, delivered in a train after visiting areas affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka power dam. Zelenskyy referred to other areas where fighting is going on, but said he would provide no details. *) Hafize Gaye Erkan is Türkiye central bank's new governor Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has chosen seasoned banker Hafize Gaye Erkan to succeed Shahap Kavcioglu as the governor of Türkiye's Central Bank. Forty-one-year-old Erkan earned a doctorate in operations research and financial engineering at Princeton University. She also completed two training programmes on management sciences at Harvard Business School and leadership at Stanford University. Erkan has held a number of top posts at major banks and companies including US-based First Republic Bank and Marsh McLennan, Goldman Sachs, and Tiffany & Co. *) US Senate confirms highest-ranking Muslim in govt despite GOP blockade The US Senate has confirmed Dilawar Syed as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration, ending more than two years of delays after a blockade by Republicans in the last Congress. Syed, a Pakistani-born businessman, will be the highest-ranking Muslim official in the US government. Republicans on the Small Business Committee had blocked his nomination, citing the agency's payouts to abortion providers and other reasons. And finally… *) Canada wildfire smoke cloaks eastern US with haze Smoke from Canadian wildfires again shrouded US cities in a noxious haze, delaying flights and disrupting outdoor events in what President Joe Biden called a "stark reminder" of the climate crisis. Thick skies and an acrid campfire smell hung over the capital Washington on Thursday and early Friday. This exceeded some of the most polluted cities in the world in South Asia and China, leading many residents to wear masks to protect their health. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, June 8th. *) World Bank to assess damaged Ukraine dam The World Bank says it will conduct a rapid assessment of damages and needs after the destruction of the huge Novo Kakhova hydroelectric dam in Ukraine. The region’s governor said the flooding from the dam breach extended over 600 square kilometres on the Ukrainian-held right bank of the Dnipro River. Meanwhile, Türkiye’s President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed a “comprehensive investigation” into the explosion at the dam. He said the investigation should be conducted “in a way that leaves no room for suspicion.” *) Tunisia recovers bodies of African refugees after new boat disaster The Tunisian Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of nine African refugees and migrants and rescued 29 after their boat sank off the coast of Monastir. The country, whose coastline is less than 150 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa, is a favoured spot for irregular refugees and migrants attempting the journey. In recent years, thousands have either died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean. *) Hundreds of Sudanese children rescued from an orphanage About 300 infants, toddlers and older children have been rescued from an orphanage in Sudan’s capital after being trapped there while fighting raged outside. The evacuation at the4 Al Maygoma orphanage came after 71 children died from hunger and illness in the facility since mid-April. The deaths have highlighted the heavy toll inflicted on civilians since mid-April when clashes erupted between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. *) Canada wildfires trigger air quality alerts for 100 million in US More than 100 million people in the United States are living under air quality alerts caused by Canadian wildfires. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the region "includes much of the Northeast US — extending to Chicago to the west and Atlanta to the south". The devastating fires have displaced more than 20,000 people and scorched about 3.8 million hectares of land in Canada, And finally… *) Messi chooses Inter Miami over Saudi, Spain football clubs Lionel Messi says he is planning to sign with Inter Miami. The global soccer icon is choosing the United States as his next destination over a Barcelona reunion or blockbuster deal to play in Saudi Arabia. The 35-year-old 2022 FIFA World Cup winner joined PSG in 2021, and will leave the French powerhouse when his contract expires on June 30. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Tens of thousands at flooding risk after Ukraine dam collapse About 42,000 people are at risk from flooding in Russian and Ukrainian controlled areas along the Dnipro River after a dam collapsed. Ukraine said Russia committed a deliberate war crime in blowing up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam, which powered a hydroelectric station. Meanwhile, the Kremlin blamed Ukraine, saying it was trying to distract from the launch of a major counteroffensive Moscow says is faltering. *) Blinken meets Mohammed Bin Salman in bid to restore strained Saudi-US ties Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have met to discuss bilateral relations, Saudi state news agency (SPA) says. They also discussed "aspects of cooperation in various fields and developments in regional and international situations", the agency added. Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to steady Washington's relationship with Riyadh after years of deepening disagreements. *) Khartoum islanders 'under siege' as Sudan fighting rages Battles have continued to rage in Sudan's capital of Khartoum and residents of an island in the Nile reported being "under siege". A number of broken ceasefires offered brief lulls but no respite for residents who again reported "the sound of heavy artillery fire" in the city's north. Witnesses also said there were "clashes with various types of weapons" in south Khartoum, where "the sound of explosions shook our walls". *) Erdogan: We will build 'Century of Türkiye' together Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held the first meeting of his new Cabinet in Ankara. Erdogan said Turkish democracy has become a point of reference for the world after record participation in both the May 14 and May 28 elections. He also vowed to embrace all 85 million Turkish citizens and to build the "Century of Türkiye" all together. *) 'A new tiger will roar': Saudi champions Al Ittihad sign Karim Benzema Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, the Jeddah-based club confirms. "Benzema is here. A new tiger will roar," the club wrote on Twitter. Benzema will join his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom. The announcement comes days after Real Madrid said that the 35-year-old Benzema was leaving the club after 14 seasons.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, June 6th. *) Russia 'thwarts another major attack' in Ukraine’s Donetsk Russia has said it had thwarted another major Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, inflicting heavy losses. Moscow said earlier that Kiev’s forces had begun a major offensive in the southern part of the Donetsk region over the weekend, which it had also thwarted. Ukrainian officials have not commented on if these attacks mark the start of the country’s long-anticipated counteroffensive. *) Shelling, looting in Sudan's capital as military rivals continue battle Shelling has hit western areas of Sudan's capital after rival military factions fought through the night, residents said. Residents reported intense fighting across Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri cities, and smoke was seen rising from several areas on Monday. They also said RSF troops, who have spread out in neighbourhoods across the capital, were in full control and were looting extensively. *) UN condemns killing of Palestinian toddler by Israeli army A Palestinian toddler who was shot by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank last week has died of his wounds, Israeli hospital officials have said. Mohammed al Tamimi was shot in the head last Thursday near his village of Nabi Salih while riding in a car with his father. The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process condemned the killing and urged Israeli authorities to hold those responsible accountable. *) Iran set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven-year hiatus Iran is set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia following a seven-year closure, sealing a Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal earlier this year. Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani announced the reopening in a statement on Monday. Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were attacked over the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr. And finally… *) Former VP Mike Pence formally enters 2024 US presidential race Former US Vice President Mike Pence has officially declared himself a candidate in the 2024 Republican race for the White House. Pence will launch his campaign with a video and a speech in the early nominating state of Iowa, according to sources familiar with the situation. His run pits him against Donald Trump, whom he once stood by but refused to back when the former president attempted to overturn the 2020 election results. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Russian forces 'thwart' major Ukrainian attack The Russian Defence Ministry has said its forces pushed back a “large scale” Ukrainian assault at five points in Donetsk. Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions Russia illegally annexed last fall. Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said Ukraine “did not achieve its tasks” and 250 Ukrainian personnel were killed. 16 Ukrainian tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armoured combat vehicles were also destroyed, he said. There was no comment from Ukraine. *) India: Deadly train crash caused by signal system failure The cause of a train disaster that left more than 300 people dead and hundreds more injured in India was linked to the signal system, the railway minister said. Railway officials had said a signalling error sent the Coromandel Express onto a side track where it slammed into a freight train and derailed an express train. The minister confirmed this, saying a "change that occurred during electronic interlocking” caused the accident. He said “whoever did it, and how it happened, will be found out after proper investigation”. *) Sudan battles rage as US, Saudi renew push for fresh ceasefire The United States and Saudi Arabia have made a renewed push for truce talks between Sudan's warring generals as deadly fighting has raged into its eighth week. The foreign mediators called for "the parties to agree to and effectively implement a new ceasefire, with the aim of building to a permanent cessation of hostilities", Riyadh said. A five-day extension of an earlier truce formally expired on Saturday evening, with no signs of the conflict abating and fears that the rival sides were poised for an escalation. Deadly urban battles have gripped the Sudanese capital Khartoum and Darfur region, after fighting erupted between the regular army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. *) Stoltenberg thanks Türkiye for sending reinforcements to Kosovo The chief of NATO has expressed gratitude to Türkiye for its efforts in Kosovo during a meeting in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "I thank Türkiye for sending reinforcements to northern Kosovo following the recent unrest" in the region. In Kosovo last week, at least 30 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission were injured in clashes with protesting Serbs. *) Saudi Arabia further cuts oil output by 1M bpd to boost falling prices Saudi Arabia will cut one million barrels of oil per day in July but "can be extended", the energy minister said. Saudi Arabia, the dominant producer in the OPEC+ alliance, was one of several members that agreed on a surprise cut of 1.16 million barrels per day in April. That the country felt another cut was necessary underlines the uncertain outlook for demand for fuel in the months ahead.

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 Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter that Stockholm should fulfil its commitments arising from the trilateral memorandum, and take concrete steps in the fight against terrorism. Earlier, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, during his doorstep remarks at NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Oslo called on Türkiye and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s bid. And finally… *) Heatwave and wildfires bake Canada’s east Eastern Canada continues to swelter under a record-breaking heatwave that risks inflaming wildfires ravaging the Atlantic coast and other parts of the country. More than 210 fires were burning across Canada, including 82 out of control. Officials said more than 2.7 million hectares have been scorched already this year. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told a news conference that the conditions this early in the season are unprecedented and it is deeply concerning. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Sudan’s army bombs RSF bases in Khartoum Sudanese army forces have blasted the bases of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group with artillery in Khartoum. The flare-up comes after the army pulled out of Saudi-brokered ceasefire talks, accusing their foes of failing to honour their commitments. On Wednesday, in both the north and south of the capital, key bases of commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s RSF paramilitary came under attack by troops loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al Burhan, residents said. *) US House votes to avert default, advancing Biden-McCarthy deal to Senate The US House has approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, advancing President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s deal to the Senate. The hard-fought deal pleased few, but lawmakers assessed it was better than the alternative — a devastating economic upheaval if Congress failed to act. Tensions ran high as hard-right Republicans refused the deal to raise the nation’s debt limit, while Democrats said “extremist” GOP views were risking a debt default as soon as next week. *) UN proposes ‘mutually beneficial’ system to improve grain deal The United Nations has proposed that Kiev, Moscow and Ankara start preparatory work for the transit of Russian ammonia through Ukraine, a source close to the talks said. The UN wants parallel talks to be held on widening the Black Sea deal that was agreed last July to include more Ukrainian ports and other cargoes, said the source. Russia agreed this month to a two-month extension of the deal but has said the initiative will cease unless an agreement aimed at overcoming obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports is fulfilled. *) Firefighters battle ‘unprecedented’ wildfires in Canada Firefighters have faced a gruelling uphill battle against wildfires in Canada’s Nova Scotia province, including one threatening the suburbs of Halifax. Federal help was coming to the Atlantic province, officials said, along with firefighters from the United States. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told a news conference they will take all the support they can get, adding that “these fires are unprecedented.” *) Earth in ‘danger zone’ in all ecological ways, scientists say Earth has pushed past seven out of eight scientifically established safety limits and into “the danger zone,” according to a new study. The ‘danger zone’ is not just for an overheating planet that’s losing its natural areas, but for the well-being of people living on it. The study published on Wednesday looks not just at guardrails for the planetary ecosystem, but for the first time it includes measures of “justice,” which is mostly about preventing harm for countries, ethnicities and genders.

*) Deal averting debt default passes first test in US Congress A deal to raise the US debt ceiling has passed its first major test in Congress, surviving a crucial vote amid a conservative backlash that resurrected the threat of the country’s first-ever default. Lawmakers have until Monday next week to green-light an agreement between Republicans and Democrats to allow more borrowing and ensure the country doesn't miss loan repayments. There were sighs of relief across Washington as Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden agreed on the 99-page “Fiscal Responsibility Act”. *) North Korea’s bid to launch country’s first spy satellite fails North Korea has said that its attempt to launch the country’s first spy satellite has failed. In a statement published on state media, North Korea said a rocket carrying the spy satellite crashed into waters off the Korean Peninsula’s western coast. The crash occurred after it lost thrust following the separation of its first and second stages. It said scientists were examining the cause of the failure. *) Fighting subsides in Sudan’s capital after extension of ceasefire Intense fighting has subsided in Sudan’s capital although sounds of gunfire could still be heard in some areas, residents said. The fighting decreased after warring parties — the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces group — battling for more than six weeks agreed to extend a ceasefire just before it was due to expire. Hours before the ceasefire extension was signed, residents reported intensive fighting in all three of the adjoining cities that make up Sudan’s greater capital. *) Several dead in Ukraine shelling of Luhansk village: Russia Four people have been killed and 16 injured as a result of Ukraine’s shelling of the Karpaty village in the Luhansk region, the Moscow-backed local coordination centre said. The centre said on its Telegram messaging channel the shelling hit a poultry farm. There was no immediate response from Ukraine, but Kiev almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine. And finally… *) First Saudi woman in orbit, other astronauts, splash down off Florida A private flight carrying two Saudi astronauts and other passengers has returned to Earth after a nine-day trip to the International Space Station. The capsule carrying the four parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico, just off the Florida Panhandle, 12 hours after undocking from the orbiting lab. The Saudi government picked up the tab for its two astronauts: Rayyanah Barnawi, a stem cell researcher who became the first Saudi woman in space; and fighter pilot Ali al Qarni.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, May 30th. *) Türkiye calls for calm in Kosovo as clashes injure 25 NATO soldiers At least 25 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo have been injured in clashes with protesting ethnic Serbs. In response, Türkiye has called on all parties in northern Kosovo to return to dialogue and calm. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it is following the events with concern, adding that these events harm regional security and stability. *) Sudanese generals extend truce for five days Warring sides in Sudan have agreed to extend a humanitarian ceasefire by five days. But residents told AFP news agency they could hear gunfire after dark, shortly before the ceasefire extension was announced. A day earlier, mediators from the US and Saudi Arabia had said there were "violations by both parties that significantly impeded" the truce's goals of allowing humanitarian aid for civilians. *) Russia launches massive new air assault on Kiev Russia has launched a fresh wave of attacks on Kiev in the early hours of Tuesday. Kiev city officials said its air defence systems were engaging incoming targets as air raid sirens blared in several other regions. Falling debris hit several districts of the capital, including the Podil and Pecherskyi neighbourhoods. *) Iran will welcome restoration of diplomatic ties with Egypt: Khamenei Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said he would welcome a resumption of diplomatic relations with Egypt, during a meeting with Oman’s visiting Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Khamenei said that the Omani leader had told him that Egypt would be willing to resume relations. He also called for a deepening of ties between Oman and Iran. And finally… *) Chinese Shenzhou-16 mission carries new crew to its orbiting space station China has sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station, putting a civilian scientist into space for the first time. The Shenzhou-16 crew took off atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The world’s second-largest economy has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space programme in a push to catch up with the US and Russia. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, May 29th. *) Erdogan wins Türkiye presidential run-off vote – election body Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has beaten the opposition’s combined candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, in the presidential run-off election. According to unofficial results, the Turkish incumbent won the race with 52.16 percent, while Kilicdaroglu got 47.84 percent of the votes. Erdogan's reelection was confirmed by the chairman of the country's Supreme Election Council (YSK) on Sunday evening. Currently, 99.85 percent of the ballot boxes have been opened. *) 'Century of Türkiye': Erdogan hails his victory as triumph of democracy In an address to the nation following the preliminary results of the 2023 presidential elections, Erdogan hailed his victory as a triumph of democracy. He spoke before hundreds of thousands of people who had gathered in the courtyard of the presidential complex in Ankara. Erdogan expressed gratitude to his fellow countrymen for their faith in his leadership and called for unity in pursuit of national goals and dreams. He declared that the true winners of Sunday’s run-off polls were 85 million Turkish citizens and the Turkish democracy. *) Türkiye elections: World leaders congratulate Erdogan on 'historic victory' Leaders from around the world have congratulated Erdogan on his reelection. The United Nations, NATO and European Union all said they look forward to further strengthening their collaboration with Türkiye. And from US President Joe Biden to Russian President Vladimir Putin, world leaders also said they looked forward to continuing to work together with Türkiye. Videos posted on social media also showed celebrations for Erdogan’s victory in some countries like Germany, Syria and Azerbaijan. *) Kiev repels air strikes, day after Russian bombardment Kiev has repelled another large volley of overnight air strikes, as the Ukrainian capital was still picking up the pieces from the biggest drone attack to hit it since the war began. Local air defences managed to fend off more than 40 Russian drones and cruise missiles, and there were no casualties, authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia hit a military target in Ukraine's western region of Khmelnytskiy in air strikes early on Monday. And finally… *) Heavy clashes in Sudan's capital as truce set to expire Heavy and sustained clashes could be heard in parts of Sudan's capital, residents said, hours before the expiry of a shaky ceasefire deal. Fighting continued from Sunday into Monday in the south and west of Omdurman, one of three adjoining cities that make up Sudan's greater capital. Across the River Nile in southern Khartoum residents also reported clashes late on Sunday. Both sides have said they are considering extending a deal for a week-long ceasefire brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States that was designed to allow for the distribution of aid. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Ukraine sees increased danger of Russian missile strikes Military authorities in the Ukrainian capital Kiev have reported an increased danger of Russian missile strikes and said anti-aircraft defences were working. Russia has allegedly launched hundreds of rocket attacks against targets across Ukraine since last October, seeking to destroy critical infrastructure and other targets. In recent weeks Ukraine said it has knocked out most of the missiles. *) Israel to vote on bill targeting human rights institutions A ministers’ committee on legislative affairs is set to discuss the security of human rights institutions in Israel. The bill, proposed by a right-wing Knesset member Ariel Kallner, targets human rights institutions rejecting the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. Dozens of Israeli human rights organisations active in Israel criticise the occupation policies in the Palestinian territories. *) Pakistan’s Imran Khan moves top court against military trial of civilians Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has approached the country’s top court against the trial of his supporters in military courts and deployment of armed forces in parts of the country. Khan has requested the Supreme Court to term the move unconstitutional. Calling it “undeclared martial law,” Khan petitioned that the arrests, investigations, and trials under the Army Act of 1952 “amount to negation of the Constitution, rule of law and independence of the judiciary.” *) African Union warns continent must not become 'geostrategic battleground' The African Union has warned that Africa must not become a "geostrategic battleground" for global powers, as it grapples with several threats to its own peace and security. The continent of 1.3 billion people has found itself at the centre of a tussle for influence among the major powers, which has redoubled since Russia's invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago. And just as the AU marked the anniversary of the creation of its forerunner, the Organisation of African Unity, Ukraine itself announced it wanted to boost ties with Africa. *) Musk’s Neuralink ‘cleared’ for human test of brain implants Elon Musk’s start-up Neuralink has said it has received approval from the US regulators to test its brain implants in people. Neuralink said clearance from the FDA for its first-in-human clinical study is “an important first step” for its technology, which is intended to let brains interface directly with computers. On at least four occasions since 2019, Musk has predicted that his medical device company would soon start human trials of a brain implant to treat intractable conditions such as paralysis and blindness.

*) Ron DeSantis announces 2024 White House bid in Twitter event with Musk Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has entered the 2024 presidential race, stepping into a crowded Republican primary contest. The 44-year-old Republican revealed his decision in a Federal Election Commission filing before addressing his decision in a video posted on social media. DeSantis vowed to build a wall on the border with Mexico and not restrict usage of Bitcoin. *) Pakistan’s Imran Khan softens demand for snap vote as allies quit party Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has softened his year-long demand for early election. Khan said he is forming a committee for talks with the government to end the country’s lingering political turmoil. The offer, if accepted by the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, may help ease political tensions amid the country’s stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund. Although not a member of parliament, Khan leads a broad opposition movement against the government. *) US approves $285M sale of NASAMS air defence system to Ukraine The United States has announced the approval of a $285 million sale of a NASAMS air defence system and related equipment to Ukraine as Kiev seeks to boost protection against Russian strikes. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the sale will support US foreign policy national security goals by “improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.” The sale would not require any additional US government employees or contractors to be assigned to Ukraine, the agency said. *) Türkiye rescues nearly 100 refugees and migrants pushed back by Greece Türkiye has rescued 96 irregular refugees and migrants in separate incidents in an Aegean province, the country’s Coast Guard Command said. Fifty refugees and migrants on two lifeboats off Mugla’s Datca district were saved after being pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces, the coast guard said in a statement. Separately, 46 refugees and migrants pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces were rescued off the coast of Dalaman district, it added. *) ‘Queen of rock ‘n’ roll’ Tina Turner dies aged 83 Tina Turner, the American-born singer who became one of the top recording artists of all time, has died at the age of 83. She died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, her representative said. Turner began her career in the 1950s during the early years of rock and roll and evolved into a phenomenon. Sometimes nicknamed the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Turner won six of her eight Grammy Awards in the 1980s.

*) Russia says Ukraine’s attack on Belgorod region ‘repelled’ Several drones struck Russia’s border region of Belgorod overnight, a day after an armed group infiltrated the area from Ukraine, the local governor said. Belgorod’s governor wrote on Telegram that the drones struck houses and a government building, leaving one woman dead and injuring eight others. Meanwhile, calling it a “terrorist” attack, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukraine’s attack on the Belgorod region was repelled. *) Thousands rally in Israel against budget 'looting' for ultra-Orthodox Jews Thousands of Israelis have protested the allocation of funds to ultra-Orthodox Jews in the far-right government's proposed state budget. Ahead of the budget votes beginning late Tuesday and continuing on Wednesday, the drum-beating protesters, bearing Israeli flags, marched to parliament. They accused the ruling coalition of "looting" the state's money. *) Over 450 Catholic clergy sexually abused nearly 2,000 children in Illinois More than 450 Catholic clergy in Illinois have sexually abused nearly 2,000 children since 1950, the state's attorney general has found in an investigation. The investigation revealed that the problem was far worse than the church had let on. But the Illinois State Attorney General Kwame Raoul said at a news conference on Tuesday that the statute of limitations has expired in many cases and that those abusers "will never see justice in a legal sense." *) 'Stolen': UK royals refuse to return remains of teenage Ethiopian prince Buckingham Palace has refused to return the body of a teenage Ethiopian prince who was buried at Windsor Castle 144 years ago. A descendant of Prince Alemayehu – an orphan who was adored and supported financially by Queen Victoria and died at the age of 18 – has demanded that his remains be returned to Ethiopia. However, Buckingham Palace has rejected the call once again, saying that removing the body would affect others buried in the catacombs of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. *) Hollywood urged to depict safer gun use as US mass killings rise A report by USC Annenberg's Norman Lear Center for Hollywood, Health and Society said Hollywood should portray safer use of guns in TV and film at a time of rampant gun violence in the US. Norman Lear Center's programme director Kate Folb said if television can embrace depicting gun safety, we will see people in America become more comfortable with securing their guns safely at home. Folb, who has spent years studying the correlation between entertainment and society, is of the view that simply showing safe gun storage onscreen can have a lasting impact.

*) Voting abroad continues in Türkiye’s runoff presidential elections Voting by Turks living abroad has continued for Türkiye’s May 28 presidential runoff elections, with over 1.4 million Turkish nationals casting ballots so far. Voting at diplomatic missions will end on May 24, while the process will continue at customs gates until 5 pm local time on May 28. Votes cast in Estonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland were sent to Türkiye. *) Third-place Ogan endorses Erdogan in Türkiye's presidential runoff vote Meanwhile in Türkiye, Sinan Ogan, who came third in last week's presidential election in Türkiye, has endorsed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the runoff vote on May 28. Calling on his supporters to back Erdogan in the runoff, he said the two had all kinds of consultations before making the decision. Erdogan will face Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and joint candidate for the Nation Alliance, in the runoff vote. *) Air strikes, combat as one-week Sudan truce officially starts Witnesses in the Sudanese capital Khartoum have reported clashes and air strikes minutes after a one-week humanitarian ceasefire took effect. The army and the rival paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces reached the agreement in Saudi Arabia over the weekend. The truce is intended to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. After more than five weeks of fighting, the conflict has killed hundreds of people, and left hundreds of thousands more displaced. *) Russia evacuates civilians from Belgorod region Kremlin forces have battled a cross-border incursion by what it calls a Ukrainian sabotage group, in Russia's Belgorod region. Kiev denies its involvement. The city's governor says a number of people had been injured in clashes with what they call 'saboteurs'. Ukraine has denied any involvement, claiming it was actually two armed Russian opposition groups that had carried out the attacks. Meanwhile, Kiev says its forces are still holding on to parts of the eastern city of Bakhmut - despite Russian mercenary Wagner group and the Kremlin saying they had seized the city. *) G20 meeting kicks off in disputed Kashmir sans China, Saudi Arabia, others A G20 tourism meeting has begun under tight security in India-administered Kashmir. The three-day meeting that began on Monday is the first significant international event in Kashmir since New Delhi stripped the Muslim-majority region of its semi-autonomy in 2019. Indian authorities hope the meeting will show that the contentious changes have brought peace and prosperity to the region. But both China and Pakistan have condemned holding the event in the disputed territory, which is split between New Delhi and Islamabad, both of whom claim it in full.

*) Battle for Bakhmut: Russia claims control but Ukraine says fight not over Although Russia claims it has won control of Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut, top Ukrainian military leaders say the battle is not over. Russia’s defence ministry said Wagner mercenaries backed by Russian troops had seized the city, after a grinding nine-month conflict in which tens of thousands of fighters have died. However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Bakhmut was not being fully occupied. *) Arab countries condemn Israeli minister’s storming of Al Aqsa complex Jordan, Qatar and Egypt have condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s storming of Al Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem. The far-right minister had forced his way into the flashpoint site early Sunday under Israeli police protection, in the second such tour since he joined the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late last year. While inside the site, Ben-Gvir claimed Israel's ownership of the complex in a video message from the mosque's courtyard. *) Israel kills three Palestinians in occupied West Bank refugee camp Israeli security forces have killed three Palestinians during a raid in the occupied West Bank early on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said. Gunfire and loud explosions rocked the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, witnesses said, adding that a house was demolished. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, said the three were among the group's fighters. *) US, Papua New Guinea to sign defence pact amid competition with China Papua New Guinea will sign a defence pact with the United States, giving US forces access to its airfields and ports. This comes as Washington vies with China's growing footprint in the Pacific region. The State Department said the new agreement would provide a framework to help improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of PNG’s defence force and increase regional stability. By signing the security deal with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also expand the US military's capacity to deploy in the region. *) Greece PM's party wins election, but not outright victory: initial results Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' party has registered a victory at the election, the first results show but fell short of an outright majority to rule alone. With just over 50 percent of the ballot counted on Sunday, his New Democracy party was credited with 40.9 percent of the votes. His party had a 20-point lead ahead of his nearest rival, Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party, which garnered 20.1 percent. Now, Mitsotakis will either enter into tough negotiations with his rivals to seek a coalition or he could opt to head to a new election, likely in early July.

*) Palestinians protesting 'Flag March' face Israeli fire Israeli forces have fired tear gas and live bullets at Palestinians in occupied Gaza as they protested against a "flag march" in occupied Jerusalem. One Gaza resident was wounded in the protests against the annual event marking Israel's capture of Jerusalem in the 1967 war. Thousands of illegal Israeli settlers and far-right Israelis had gathered in occupied East Jerusalem, raising racist chants against Arabs and also storming Al Aqsa Mosque compound. *) Pakistan police outside Imran Khan's house Pakistani police have kept up their presence around the home of former prime minister Imran Khan as a deadline to hand over suspects allegedly sheltered inside expired. The siege and the authorities' demand for the suspects, wanted in violent protests over Khan's recent detention, have raised fears of renewed clashes. Khan had demanded a probe into the violence, but denied his supporters were behind it, instead accusing Pakistan's ruling party of trying to foment trouble between his supporters and the army. *) China unveils Central Asia development plan China's President Xi Jinping has unveiled an ambitious plan to help further modernise and develop Central Asia in an address at the China-Central Asia Summit. Xi said China stands ready to synergise development strategies with the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. He also urged the six countries to oppose external interference in their internal affairs and maintain a zero-tolerance stance against separatism and extremism. *) Scores killed in central Nigeria clashes More than 3,000 people have been displaced in central Nigeria after 85 people were killed in clashes between herders and farmers. The violence erupted on May 15th in several villages of Plateau State, an area which has struggled with ethnic and religious tensions for years. It was unclear what triggered this week's attacks in Mangu district, but tit-for-tat killings between herders and farmers often spiral into village raids by heavily armed gangs. And finally… *) Türkiye marks Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day Türkiye celebrates the 104th anniversary of the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day, a milestone marking the beginning of the country's War of Independence. 19 May 1919 was the day when Türkiye’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk arrived in the Black Sea city of Samsun to launch the war that transformed the Turkish republic. The national holiday, dedicated to the Turkish youth by Ataturk, sees youth take part in sporting and cultural activities with official ceremonies across the country.

*) Ukraine grain deal extended Russia has agreed to extend the Türkiye-brokered Black Sea grain deal, allowing Ukraine to resume grain exports halted after the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the two-month extension, saying Ankara hoped to “see the days when the war between Russia and Ukraine will end”. The deal, renewed a day before it was set to expire on May 18th, eases a global food crisis exacerbated by the conflict. *) Pakistan ex-PM's bail extended Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan has secured an extension to his protective bail until May 31st. According to Khan’s lawyer, the extension came as the prosecutor requested more time to produce details of the case against him. As for his supporters, involved in violent protests over his arrest, the information minister for Punjab province said they would be tried by military courts. *) Iran, Russia transport network agreement Iran and Russia have agreed to collaborate on the construction of the final part of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Iran’s Transport Minister signed the agreement with his Russian counterpart in Tehran, saying the 164-kilometre railway in Iran's north would be completed within three years. The commercial transport network passes from northeast Russia via Azerbaijan to Iran's southern coastline and on to India by sea, steering clear of Western sea lanes. Russia and Iran are both under international sanctions that restrict trade. *) 843,000 internally displaced in Sudan conflict The International Organization for Migration has announced that more than 843,000 people have been internally displaced since the start of the conflict in Sudan. In a statement, the organisation warned that 1.8 million more are expected to be internally displaced if the war persists. Nearly 259,000 people have escaped from Sudan to nearby countries since clashes began mid-April amid a power struggle between Sudan’s army and paramilitary force. *) Next five years will see hottest period ever The World Meteorological Organization has warned that the years from 2023 to 2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded. There is a 98 percent chance that “at least one of the next five years, and the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record,” according to the UN weather agency. As greenhouse gases and El Nino combine to send temperatures soaring, the World will soon exceed the 1.5C threshold from Paris climate accords on a temporary basis.

*) Turkish women in parliament Women's representation in the Turkish parliament has risen to the highest level in history after Sunday’s parliamentary elections. According to the unofficial results, 121 women secured seats in the 600-member parliament. The female representation rate, which was 17.1 percent in the previous elections, rose to 20.1 percent this year. *) Chinese fishing vessel capsizes A Chinese fishing vessel has capsized in the central Indian Ocean with its crew of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian and five Filipino sailors missing. State media reported that so far, none of the missing 39 persons had been found as President Xi Jinping ordered a search and rescue operation. Search and rescue teams from Australia and several other countries had also arrived on the scene. *) Biden scraps visits to focus on debt talks United States President Joe Biden has scrapped planned visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea to instead focus on talks on the nation's debt limit. After the G7 summit in Japan, Biden will join the final negotiations with congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action to avert a default. Biden’s decision came after the secretary of treasure warned of "catastrophic" consequences if the US ran out of cash to pay its bills, defaulting on debts as early as June 1st. *) East Libya-based parliament replaces PM Libya's eastern-based parliament has voted to replace Fathi Bashagha as prime minister, assigning his finance minister Osama Hamad to take over his duties. The parliament spokesperson said the move came after Bashagha failed to take office in Tripoli where the incumbent Abdulhamid Dbeibah has refused to cede power. *) Germany jails five over art heist A German court has sentenced five gang members to up to six years in prison for snatching priceless 18th-century jewels from a Dresden museum in November 2019. The court handed down sentences ranging from just under to just over six years for armed robbery, aggravated arson and grievous bodily harm. In what has been dubbed the biggest art heist in modern history, the thieves stole 21 pieces decorated with 4,300 jewels from the Green Vault museum in under five minutes. They made off with a haul worth more than 123 million dollars. Some of the loot was recovered in exchange for four of the defendants confessing in court.

*) Türkiye 2023 election goes to runoff Türkiye's 2023 presidential election has gone to a runoff after no candidate was able to clear the required 50 percent of the vote in the first round on May 14th. The country’s incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.51 percent of the vote, while his main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu secured 44.88 percent. The run-off will be between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu on May 28. *) Fresh Russian air attacks on Kiev Explosions have rocked Ukraine’s Kiev as air defence systems repelled Russian air attacks on the capital and other places in the country. Ukraine downed an entire barrage of Russian drones and missiles, including six advanced Kinzhal missiles. The developments show Ukraine has bolstered its air defences after a winter of systemic strikes on key infrastructure. *) Tunisia sentences Saied's opponent A Tunisian court has sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, one of the main opponents of President Kais Saied, to a year in prison following his arrest last month. Ennahdha party leader Ghannouchi had appeared in court on terror-related charges at the end of February after being accused of calling police officers "tyrants". Human Rights Watch had called his arrest a move "to neutralise the country's largest political party". *) Teen kills multiple people in New Mexico An 18-year-old gunman has shot three people to death and wounded six others in a US town before he was fatally shot by police outside a church. Local police said they responded "to find a chaotic scene where a male subject was actively firing upon individuals" in a residential area. Two officers, who were struck in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, were among those wounded in the shooting in northwest New Mexico. Three civilians were killed. *) 31 Abrams tanks The US Defence Department announced that 31 M1 Abrams training tanks have been sent to Germany a few weeks ahead of a US-led training program for Ukrainian forces. Expected to last several months, the training program is aimed at preparing Ukrainian tech crews to operate and maintain the tanks, which will be used to defend Ukraine against Russia.

*) Israeli strikes on Gaza enter fourth day Israel's air strikes on Gaza have entered the fourth day with at least 30 Palestinians killed. Officials in Gaza said several civilians, including children, women, and elderly were killed in the air strikes, while Islamic Jihad confirmed it has lost five military leaders. Meanwhile, Israeli police reported that rocket fire from the Gaza Strip killed one person in a central Israeli city and injured at least two others. Three others sustained shrapnel injuries elsewhere in Israel. *) Pakistan orders release of Imran Khan Pakistan's Supreme Court has declared the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan "invalid" after his detention sparked violent protests across the country. In response to a petition by Khan’s political party challenging the arrest, the Supreme Court said the process would be backtracked. Khan was arrested on Tuesday on corruption charges and remanded in custody in a culmination of months of political crisis. *) US Republicans pass bill restricting asylum United States House Republicans have passed a bill to enhance the US-Mexico border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers. Passed by a six vote difference, the legislation is a hard-line counter to President Joe Biden's policies and has virtually no chance of becoming law. Biden has already promised he would veto the bill, which includes aggressive measures decried by Democrats as “cruel” and “anti-immigrant". *) Mpox no longer a global health emergency The World Health Organization has announced that mpox no longer constitutes a global health emergency, almost a year after the disease began spreading globally. WHO’s decision was prompted by falling case numbers worldwide, but the disease remains a threat, particularly in areas of Africa where it has long been present. The declaration came just a week after the UN agency also said that Covid-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. *) Maiden's Tower reopens to visitors Istanbul's iconic Maiden's Tower has reopened its doors to visitors with a special light and laser show after a two-year restoration. Perched on a small island approximately 200 metres from the Uskudar coast, the Maiden's Tower offers a unique 360-degree view of Istanbul. The landmark, with its rich history and numerous legends that add to its fame, will continue to serve as a memorial museum for visitors from near and far.

*) Israel-Palestine fighting in Gaza intensifies Israel continues with its air attacks on Gaza, killing at least 23 Palestinians, including 10 civilians and the head of Islamic Jihad movement’s rocket-launching force. Palestinian armed groups have also launched volleys of rockets towards Israel. The United Nations condemned Israel, saying the country must abide by international humanitarian law, including the proportional use of force, and take all feasible precautions to spare civilians. *) Black Sea grain deal meeting begins in Istanbul The two-day talks for an extension of the Türkiye brokered Black Sea grain deal between Russia and Ukraine began in Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said. Deputy defence ministers of the three countries met with UN officials to extend the deal from last July, which resumed grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports. So far, 30 million tons of grain have been transported to those in need under the deal, which is set to expire on May 18th. *) Pakistan deploys army to quell violence Pakistan's government has brought out the military in areas roiled by deadly violence following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the unrest by Khan's supporters "damaged sensitive public and private property," forcing him to deploy the military in the capital Islamabad, the province of Punjab and in volatile regions of the northwest. At least eight people have been killed, nearly 300 wounded, and over 1,900 detained across the country according to local media. *) Sudan's rival armies make progress in talks Talks between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Saudi Arabia have reportedly made progress, and a ceasefire agreement is expected soon. Envoys of the warring generals have been meeting in Jeddah since this weekend. During the fighting, which killed more than 750 people and wounded over 5,000, multiple ceasefires have been declared and flouted. Negotiations aim to secure an effective truce and allow access for aid workers and supplies. *) Microsoft signs deal with nuclear fusion company Nuclear fusion company Helion Energy has announced that it will provide Microsoft with electricity in about five years, in the first such deal for the power source. The nuclear fusion plant will target power generation of 50 megawatts or greater after a one-year ramp-up period. Government labs and more than 30 companies are racing to generate power from fusion, which could one day help the world slash emissions linked to climate change.

*) Dozen killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza At least twelve people have been killed and over 20 others injured in Israeli air strikes on besieged Gaza. According to Palestinian officials, three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed alongside at least nine civilians, including four children. The Israeli military said the aerial bombings were directed at the three senior commanders, who were accused for recent rocket fire toward Israel. The Palestinian group said Israel had scorned all initiatives of mediators and vowed to "avenge the leaders" killed in the latest air strikes. *) Air strikes hit Sudan as talks yield no breakthrough Air strikes have again shaken Sudan's capital while the latest truce talks in Saudi Arabia yielded no major progress. A Saudi diplomat said a permanent ceasefire wasn’t on the table as both sides considered themselves capable of winning the battle. Sudan was thrown into deadly chaos when fighting broke out on April 15 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The battles have since killed hundreds, wounded thousands and uprooted hundreds of thousands, leading to fears of security fallout beyond Sudan's borders. *) Russia marks Victory Day amid Ukraine conflict Russia has celebrated Victory Day, marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, as the nearly 15-month war in Ukraine continued to rage. Russians commemorated the Great Patriotic War, in which around 27 million citizens perished, as they mourned thousands of soldiers killed in the Ukraine conflict. Celebrations took place amid tight security following a series of drone attacks, including one on the Kremlin, that Moscow says was Kiev’s attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. *) Iran hangs two men over blasphemy charges Iran has hanged two men convicted of blasphemy as executions surge across the country following months of unrest. Convicted of desecrating the Quran and insulting the Prophet Mohammed, the two men were arrested in May 2020 and faced months of solitary confinement. Iran remains one of the world's top executioners, but carrying out executions for blasphemy remains rare, as previous cases saw the sentences reduced by authorities. *) Thousands march against violence in Serbia Thousands have rallied in the Serbian capital following back-to-back shootings that killed 17 people in less than 48 hours, including nine children at an elementary school. The "Serbia against violence" demonstration in Belgrade saw more than ten thousand demonstrators from across the country's political divide come together. The protesters called for the resignation of a number of top officials and the curtailing of violence in the media.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, May 8th. *) Russia launches large-scale strikes across Ukraine Russia has launched a large-scale wave of strikes across Ukraine, injuring at least five people in Kiev and setting ablaze a foodstuff warehouse in the Black Sea city of Odessa. The fresh attacks come as Moscow prepares for its Victory Day, which marks the anniversary of its defeat of Nazi Germany. In his campaign against Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has evoked the spirit of the Soviet defeat of Nazi forces, alleging that Kiev is in the grip of a new incarnation of Nazism. *) Car-ramming incident kills seven in US In United States’ Texas, at least seven pedestrians have been killed and several others injured when an SUV mowed down people near a homeless shelter for migrants. Some migrants were among the dead in the incident in Brownsville, a city on the border with Mexico, according to local police. It was not clear if the driver had crashed into the group intentionally or lost control of the vehicle. He was taken into custody and charged with reckless driving. *) PKK supporters attack Turkish election observers Supporters of the PKK terrorist organisation have attacked election observers in the Netherlands as voting in Türkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections took place. Part of a bigger group, PKK supporters assaulted ballot box observers of the People's Alliance as polls were closing at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. Police intervened against the attackers, who shouted slogans in favour of the PKK, and maintained security in the area until the votes were counted and sealed. *) Israel demolishes EU-funded Palestinian school Israeli army forces have demolished a European Union-funded Palestinian school in the occupied West Bank for lack of a building permit, according to a local official. The al Tahadi school, which housed over 60 students, was located in the Oslo Accords-described Area C of the occupied West Bank that is under Israeli army control. Israel widely uses the pretext of a lack of construction permits to demolish Palestinian homes, especially in Area C. The EU slammed Israel over the demolition, saying: Demolitions are illegal under international law, and children’s right to education must be respected. And finally… *) Pulitzer Prize day honours journalism's best work The Pulitzer Prizes will be awarded today to honour outstanding journalism from 2022, as well as arts categories focused on books, music and theater. The winners will be announced during a livestream beginning at 1900GMT. The public service prize winner receives a gold medal. All other winners receive 15,000 dollars. The prizes were established in the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer and first awarded in 1917. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) China will promote peace talks on Ukraine crisis — FM Qin Gang China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Beijing will persist in promoting peace talks for the Ukraine crisis. The country’s Foreign Ministry statement said China is "willing to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to make tangible contributions to the political settlement of the crisis." The statement referred to Qin's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa, India. *) Ten killed, 15 injured in Serbia shooting: state media A gunman killed at least 10 people and injured 15 near the Serbian capital Belgrade, in the second mass shooting in the Balkan nation this week. Police arrested the suspected gunman responsible for the killing, state media reported, following an hours-long manhunt throughout the night. The back-to-back mass shootings have left the country in a state of shock, with thousands flocking to makeshift memorial sites while others have queued to donate blood. *) Israeli forces kill Palestinian woman near Nablus The Israeli army killed a Palestinian woman in a northern town of the occupied West Bank for allegedly carrying out a stabbing attack. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the woman as Iman Odeh and said she was killed by "a bullet to the chest fired by the occupation soldiers in Huwara. Eyewitnesses said that an Israeli force shot the 26-year-old woman dead and prevented Palestinians from reaching her. *) Western media's anti-Türkiye and Erdogan hostility is regrettable: Altun Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun has slammed the cover of The Economist, a weekly British magazine, depicting hostility against Türkiye and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Altun regretted the anti-Türkiye and Erdogan hostility of the Western media before the May 14 elections. He said, "As our country gets rid of the shackles, we observe that the violence of Western-centred attacks increases, ignoring the principle of impartiality,” *) Coffee fair kicks off in Istanbul The fifth edition of the Istanbul Coffee Fair kicked off as coffee lovers and industry professionals flocked to the Halic Congress Center in the Turkish metropolis to taste a variety of coffees from different roasters. Fair Coordinator Reha Kadak said that they brought together important national and international brands of the industry at the fair. Kadak noted that nearly 20 thousand participants come to the fair every year.

*) Zelenskyy denies attacking Moscow, Putin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied claims of attacking Russia or trying to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was attacking neither Putin nor Moscow, but fighting on its own territory to defend its villages and cities. Zelenskyy claimed that Putin accuses him of the alleged attack and the assassination attempt because Moscow has "no victories" in Ukraine. *) UN demands security guarantees for Sudan aid The United Nations has called for security guarantees at "the highest level" to ensure desperately needed aid deliveries in conflict-torn Sudan. The UN's top humanitarian official Martin Griffiths insisted on the need for commitments that are “publicly, clearly given by militaries, to protect humanitarian systems to deliver". Griffiths arrived in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast on an urgent mission to find ways to bring relief to the millions of Sudanese affected by the conflict. *) New Turkish oil reserve to bring annual $2.9B Türkiye’s newest oil discovery in the country’s southeast has been estimated to increase the country’s overall hydrocarbon production from 100,000 barrels per day to 180,000. According to the petroleum and natural gas platform association, the estimated yearly financial contribution from the new discovery will be around 2.9 billion dollars. The recent discovery is one of many oil and gas explorations undertaken by the country since 2020. *) Floods kill more than 100 in Rwanda Torrential rains have caused flooding in western and northern Rwanda, killing at least 129 people. The death toll “continues to rise,” according to the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency. Strong rainstorms started last week, causing flooding and mudslides that swept away several houses across the country and left some roads inaccessible. *) Indigenous leaders demand King Charles apologise Indigenous leaders from a string of former British colonies have urged King Charles to apologise for centuries of racism and the "legacy of genocide" perpetrated by the crown. In a letter that could sour the build-up to this weekend's coronation, Indigenous representatives from 12 Commonwealth nations also called for financial reparations. The letter, signed by leaders from Australia as well as several Caribbean nations that were once plundered for slaves, also demanded the return of stolen cultural treasures.

*) Israel bombs Gaza after Khader Adnan's death Israeli warplanes have carried out airstrikes targeting areas in Palestine’s besieged Gaza, provoking retaliatory rocket attacks from Palestinian groups. Israel used fighter jets and drones to bomb multiple sites in northern Gaza, including sites of armed factions in Gaza City and central areas of the territory. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire after hours of fighting. The Israeli strikes came after rocket barrages were launched from Gaza following the death of Palestinian Khader Adnan in Israeli custody after an 87-day hunger strike. *) Sudanese parties agree on seven-day ceasefire Sudan's warring military factions have agreed in principle to a seven-day ceasefire from May 4th to 11th as more air strikes and shooting disrupted the latest short-term truce. The credibility of the South Sudan mediated ceasefire deal between Sudan’s army and paramilitary RSF was unclear given violations that undermined previous agreements. Now in its third week, Sudan's war has forced 100,000 people to flee over its borders, and is creating a humanitarian crisis according to UN officials. *) Türkiye discovers oil reserve with 100k barrel per day capacity Türkiye has discovered a high-quality oil reserve in the country's eastern region with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the newly-found petroleum will be extracted with 100 wells and will meet one-tenth of Türkiye’s daily use. According to Erdogan, "Türkiye will no longer depend on others for energy but rather become an energy exporter." *) Colombia govt, rebels commit to reaching truce Colombia's government and National Liberation Army rebel group have affirmed their commitment to reaching a ceasefire agreement. The two sides also agreed on the need for civil society to be involved in any negotiated peace as they met in Havana for a third round of peace talks. The peace process was launched by Colombia's first-ever leftist President Gustavo Petro — himself a former urban fighter — at the end of last year. *) PSG suspends Messi after unauthorised tour Paris Saint-Germain has suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks without pay for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia, according to French media. The Argentine superstar would not be able to play or train, and will miss the Ligue 1 match against Troyes on May 7 and one against Ajaccio on May 13. Messi had traveled to Saudi Arabia to fulfill commitments as part of a contract with the country's tourist office, and missed a PSG training session as a result.

*) Rocket fire from Gaza after Palestinian hunger striker dies Rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory after the death in custody of Palestinian Khader Adnan, who was affiliated with the Islamic Jihad group. Adnan, charged for terror offences by Tel Aviv, had been on hunger strike for 87 days following his detention by Israeli forces in February in the occupied West Bank. Adnan's lawyer accused Israel of medical negligence. Israel's military reported three rockets were launched from Gaza following Adnan’s death and Islamic Jihad warned Israel would pay a price for what they called a crime. *) More than 800,000 may flee unrest in Sudan A United Nations official has warned that over 800,000 people may flee Sudan due to fighting, which erupted on April 15 between the army and rival paramilitary group RSF. The official, Raouf Mazou, said consultations with concerned governments and partners arrived at a planning figure of 815,000 people that may flee into neighbouring countries. The estimate includes around 580,000 Sudanese, and many who had already come to Sudan as refugees. So far, he said some 73,000 people have already fled to Sudan's seven neighbours - South Sudan, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Libya. *) Turkish expatriates in Europe, Middle East begin voting Turkish expatriates in Finland, Sweden, Qatar, and Lebanon have begun voting for the presidential and parliamentary elections that will be held across Türkiye on May 14. Polling in Finland will continue until May 7 for 6,791 Turks eligible to vote, while Sweden will welcome 42,800 Turkish voters until the same date. Separately, polling has begun in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, where 10,868 Turk expatriates are eligible to vote until Sunday. A total of 8,336 Turk expatriates registered to vote in Lebanon also have seven days to cast their ballot. *) Kuwait's Parliament dissolved again Kuwait's Parliament has been dissolved by royal decree, just over a month after it was reinstated in March following a previous dissolution, state media reported. Kuwait's Crown Prince had said last month that the legislature would be dissolved, and that new parliamentary elections would be held in coming months. Sheikh Meshal, who was handed most of the duties of the ruling emir in late 2021, signed Monday's Emiri decree after it was submitted by the cabinet earlier in the day. *) Biden reaffirms US commitment to Philippines' security President Joe Biden has reiterated the United States’ commitment to the Philippines' security, noting the "deep friendship" of the two nations. The remarks came as Biden welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for White House talks after the Southeast Asian nation completed its largest war drills ever. The Philippines became an important US ally as the hegemon looks to deter China’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.

*) Türkiye neutralises Daesh leader in Syria: Erdogan Türkiye has neutralised the so-called leader of the Daesh terrorist organisation, Abu Hussein al Qurayshi, during an operation in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) had been following al Qurayshi for a long time, Erdogan said in a live interview on Turkish broadcaster TRT Turk. He added that Ankara would continue its fight against terrorist organisations without any discrimination. *) UN sends relief chief to Sudan over 'unprecedented' scale of conflict The United Nations’ top humanitarian official is heading to Sudan due to the "rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis" in the conflict-racked country. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' announcement came shortly after rival Sudanese forces announced the extension of a truce they have largely violated. More than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands have fled since fighting erupted on April 15 between the country’s army chief and commander of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. *) Santiago Pena wins Paraguay's presidential election Paraguayans have elected a president from the rightwing Colorado Party, in power for nearly eight decades. Economist and former finance minister Santiago Pena won the election with more than 42 percent of votes cast, results showed, with 90 percent of ballots counted, according to the country's election body. Challenger Efrain Alegre of the Concertacion centre-left coalition garnered 27.5 percent despite having had a narrow lead in opinion polls ahead of the vote. *) Ukrainian air defences 'shoot down' 15 Russian missiles Ukrainian air defence crews have destroyed 15 missiles launched by Russian forces, according to the military, as air raid sirens blared across the country in the early morning for more than three hours. Kiev's city officials wrote on the Telegram messaging app that all missiles directed at the capital were destroyed. The city administration said there were no recorded casualties among the civilian population and no destruction of residential facilities or infrastructure. And finally… *) Grocery app Getir in talks to take over German rival Flink Turkish delivery app Getir is in talks to take over German rival Flink in a key step toward consolidation in Europe's food delivery market, the Financial Times has reported.. There is no guarantee of an agreement being reached, however, said the paper, which cited people familiar with the matter. The talks come almost five months after Getir, the Istanbul-based online grocery start-up, closed its acquisition of Berlin-based rival Gorillas.

*) Sudan military approves truce extension but fighting flares Sudan's army chief has given initial approval to a regional bloc’s proposal to extend the shaky truce between military forces and the paramilitary RSF. In addition to extending the previously agreed three-day ceasefire for 72 hours, both parties are expected to send an envoy to neighbouring South Sudan for talks. There was no immediate response from the paramilitary force to the proposal, while fighting continued on Khartoum's outskirts, undermining the existing truce. Over 500 people have died and thousands wounded since tensions between Sudan’s army and RSF erupted into an unprecedented power struggle on April 15. *) Russia pounds positions in Bakhmut, Mykolayiv Fighting has gripped eastern Ukraine’s Bakhmut and nearby areas as Russian forces failed to advance on two villages to the northwest, according to Ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary force said Ukrainian troops were pouring in ahead of an inevitable counter-offensive. In the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolayiv, a Russian missile killed one person and wounded over a dozen others as a high-rise building and a house were hit. *) Kenya finds more bodies as starvation cult toll nears 100 The number of victims linked to a suspected starvation cult in Kenya has climbed to 98 after investigators unearthed dozens of bodies buried in Shakahola forest last week. Cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge is accused of driving his followers to death by preaching that the world would end on April 15, and starvation was the only path to God. According to rights group Haki Africa, which tipped off the police about Nthenge's activities, 50 to 60 percent of the victims were children. *) Brazil Congress launches inquiry into rampage Brazil's Congress has opened an inquiry into the January 8 congress attack by violent demonstrators who denied the electoral victory of recently inaugurated President Lula. The parties began selecting committee members, with opposition parties and government allies battling for influence. Lula's Workers Party had tried to avoid the congressional inquiry, hoping to leave investigations to law enforcement and keep lawmakers' focus on his legislative agenda. The right-wing opposition has pushed for an inquiry as a way to blame his new government for security failures in the Brazilian capital that day. *) Palestine demands apology from EU Commission chief Palestine has slammed EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for her anti-Palestinian trope to mark the 75th anniversary of the creation of Israel. Her comment that Israel "made the desert bloom" particularly drew criticism as it suggests Palestine was an empty desert before the creation of the Jewish state. Demanding an apology, the Palestinian foreign ministry said: "Such propagandist discourse dehumanizes and erases the Palestinian people,” and casts doubt on the EU's declared commitment to international law and human rights.

*) Ceasefire shaky as Sudanese, foreigners flee A US-brokered ceasefire between Sudan's generals has entered its second day but remains fragile as witnesses reported fresh air strikes. Amid the fighting, a boat with 1,687 civilians from more than 50 countries fleeing the violence has arrived in Saudi Arabia - the largest rescue effort by the Gulf kingdom to date. Fighting broke out in Sudan on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief and de facto ruler of Sudan Abdel Fattah al Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo - commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. *) US, Filipino forces show power in drills amid China tensions US and Philippine troops have conducted the final exercise of their largest-ever joint military drills in the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. The drills aim to boost Manila's military capability while serving as a US show of support for its Asian ally as China's assertiveness in the region grows stronger. The joint military exercises fall in sync with the Biden administration’s aim of reinforcing an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. *) Afghan Taliban kills Daesh 'mastermind' of Kabul airport attack The Taliban government has killed the alleged mastermind of a suicide bomb attack that left at least 183 people dead at Kabul airport during the withdrawal of US forces in 2021. That’s according to US officials. White House spokesperson John Kirby said the attacker was a key Daesh affiliate directly involved in plotting operations. The leader of the Daesh cell was killed by Taliban authorities in recent weeks, a senior US administration official told Politico on condition of anonymity. *) FBI working with US companies to collect war crime evidence in Ukraine Ukraine is working with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and American companies to collect evidence of war crimes by Russians, senior officials have said. Ukrainian authorities are collecting digital information from battlefields and Ukrainian towns ravaged by the war since Russia began its offensive last February, according to FBI special agent Alex Kobzanets. The work reflects deepening collaboration between the US and Ukraine on the cyber front, where Russia has been a common adversary for both nations. *) One in five cars sold this year will be electric - IEA Electric cars are expected to make up nearly one-fifth of the global market this year, according to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) outlook report for the electric vehicle market. Sales are expected to grow by 35 percent this year to reach 14 million, the report said, comprising 18 percent of the market - up from just 4 percent in 2020. The shift from combustion engine to electric cars will reduce global demand for oil by at least five million barrels a day, according to the IEA's projections.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, April 25th. *) UN chief proposes 'way forward' for Ukraine grain initiative United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has presented a "way forward" on extending Black Sea grain deal during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York. Guterres gave Lavrov "a letter to President Vladimir Putin, outlining a proposed way forward aimed at the improvement, extension and expansion" of the deal, a spokesperson for the Secretary General said. An agreement has been in place since last July that allows Ukrainian grain to be exported via the Black Sea after they were blocked amid the conflict with Russia. *) Poll: Gun violence, homelessness worry young Americans Concerns over the US's gun violence epidemic and the prospect of losing their homes have increasingly weighed on young Americans, according to a poll. Highlighting the instability experienced among 18-29 year-olds, about half of all young Americans - 48 percent - said they have felt unsafe in the past month, according to the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School survey. About 40 percent reported being worried they could fall victim to gun violence amid repeated grisly mass shootings in the US. Nearly three-quarters - 73 percent - said they agree homelessness can happen to anyone. *) Thousands flee Sudan conflict, arrive in neighbouring South Sudan Over 10,000 people fleeing the conflict in Sudan have arrived in neighbouring South Sudan since fighting broke out in mid-April between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The returnees and refugees have reportedly arrived in the border town of Renk in Upper Nile state and Aweil North County in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, officials have said. *) Deadly explosions rock counter-terrorism office in northwestern Pakistan Two explosions have rocked a counter-terrorism office in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 12 people and injured over 50, police said. According to the provincial police chief there was an old ammunition store in the office, and police are probing whether that caused the explosions or if it was a militant attack. And finally… *) Anzac Day: Hundreds gather in Türkiye's Gallipoli to remember WWI dead Hundreds of visitors from Australia and New Zealand have gathered at the site of the Gallipoli campaign in western Türkiye for a dawn service. Tuesday's event marked the 108th anniversary of the first landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops on the Gallipoli peninsula during a military campaign in World War I. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Countries evacuate citizens amidst raging battle in Sudan Foreign countries have rushed to evacuate their nationals from Sudan as deadly fighting raged into a second week between forces loyal to two rival generals. Evacuation flights were continuing early Monday, with hundreds of people flown out overnight on military aircraft. Foreigners also fled the capital Khartoum in a long United Nations convoy, while millions of frightened residents hunkered down inside their homes, many running low on water and food. *) Serbian president signals possible referendum for deal with Kosovo Serbia’s president signaled a possible referendum for the Ohrid Agreement for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Aleksandar Vucic's remarks came on Sunday after several opposition parties requested that a referendum be held to ask citizens whether the European Union-facilitated agreement should be used as a facilitator of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. Vucic said that if the opposition is asking for his legitimacy to be tested in a referendum, he is ready for it. *) Tens of people killed by militants in Burkina Faso Sixty people were killed in Burkina Faso by men wearing military uniforms, a prosecutor said, announcing an investigation into the latest attack in the insurgency-hit country. According to residents, survivors said more than 100 people on motorbikes and pick-up trucks raided Karma. The west African country is battling a militant insurgency that spilled over from neighbouring Mali in 2015. *) Australia unveils major millitary reform in bid to counter China threat Australia has unveiled its biggest military shakeup in decades, refocusing the armed forces on deterring would-be foes far from its shores. Sketching a future in which Australia would have substantially longer-range strike capability, Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday said the decades-old territory-focused strategy was "no longer fit for purpose". Facing a more combative China, he said Australia will shift its focus to deterring enemies before they reach its shores - at sea, in the air and online. And finally… *) Türkiye's largest warship TCG Anadolu sets off from Istanbul for Black Sea Türkiye’s largest warship TCG Anadolu has rendered a 21-gun salute in honour of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as it sailed through the Istanbul Strait on its way to the Black Sea. The vessel, which is the world’s first unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) carrier, departed the port of Sarayburnu in Istanbul and sailed past the Dolmabahce Palace on Sunday, 23 April. Built in Istanbul-based shipyard Sedef, the TCG Anadolu ship can carry helicopters, drones, land vehicles, light warcraft, and personnel.

*) Scores killed, injured in stampede during charity distribution in Yemen More than 80 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Yemen after a charity distribution event sparked one of the deadliest stampedes in a decade. That’s according to Houthi officials. The tragedy late on Wednesday came days ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. People had gathered at a school in Houthi-controlled Sanaa to receive about $10 each from a charity funded by local businessmen, witnesses said. *) New Sudan truce bid fails with vital supplies running short A new attempt at a ceasefire between Sudanese troops and paramilitary forces in Khartoum has failed, leaving people fearful about dwindling food supplies and a breakdown in medical services. The new 24-hour ceasefire was supposed to come into effect at 1600 GMT on Wednesday. However, eyewitnesses in the capital said fighting had continued. Nearly 300 people have been killed and 2,600 injured, Sudan's Health Ministry estimates. *) Türkiye’s biggest offshore gas field in Sakarya ready for operation Türkiye has completed work on its Sakarya gas field in less than three years, with natural gas set to start flowing from the offshore wells in the Black Sea later this week. Critics had raised doubts over the seriousness of the timeline announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in August, 2020, when he declared that the project would be completed in 2023. Based on the latest price, gas produced from Sakarya translates into an economic gain of $5 million per day for the country, according to Mehmet Dogan, Managing Director of the Istanbul-based GazDay Energy consultancy. *) Brazil security chief resigns after leaked video of Brasilia rampage One of Brazil's top national security officials has resigned after the disclosure of videos of him at the scene of the January 8 attacks on the capital Brasilia. General Marco Edson Goncalves Dias submitted his resignation on Wednesday after CNN Brasil broadcast images from security cameras showing him at the Planalto Palace, directing protesters as they ransacked federal buildings. The protesters were seeking to restore defeated former president Jair Bolsonaro to power, just days after he left office. *) Mudik: Millions of Indonesians travel in annual Eid al Fitr exodus Indonesia's transport ministry said that up to 123 million people will travel for the end of Ramadan holidays this year in the world’s most populous Muslim country. That’s up from 85 million estimated to have made the trip last year. On motorcycles, cars, buses, planes or by boat, millions of Indonesians are travelling to their hometowns in the annual Eid al Fitr holiday exodus that is expected to peak by Thursday. Major seaports and toll roads are packed, while airports and bus terminals are also full of travellers looking forward to reuniting with their families.

*) Gunfire punctures ‘armistice’ as death toll from Sudan fighting climbs Explosions have shaken Sudan’s capital despite claims of a ceasefire on the fourth day of fighting that has killed nearly 270 people and wounded 2,600 others. After international mediation, Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo promised to support a 24-hour “armistice” on Tuesday, which the army denied any knowledge of before later blaming the RSF for breaking it. By 1600 GMT, the time of the supposed start to the ceasefire, gunfire could still be heard throughout the capital Khartoum, according to several witnesses, and it continued into the evening. *) South Korea opens door for possible military aid to Ukraine South Korea might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if it comes under a large-scale civilian attack, President Yoon Suk-yeol has said. The South Korean president’s statement has signalled a shift in his stance against arming Ukraine for the first time. In an interview with the Reuters ahead of his state visit to the US next week, Yoon said his government has been exploring how to help defend and rebuild Ukraine, just as South Korea received international assistance during the 1950-53 Korean War. *) Mexico’s Obrador accuses US of ‘spying’ on his govt Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has accused the Pentagon of spying on his government following leaks in US media. Obrador said he would begin classifying information from the armed forces to protect national security. His comments came several days after the Washington Post reported on apparent tensions between Mexico’s Navy and the Army, citing a US military briefing that was revealed in online leaks of secret US military records. *) Hamas-Saudi relations in focus as Haniyeh visits kingdom for the first time Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh has arrived in Saudi Arabia for his first visit to the kingdom in years. Haniyeh, who touched down in the kingdom late on Monday, is accompanied by a high-profile delegation that includes former political chief Khaled Meshal, a Hamas source told Anadolu Agency. The Hamas delegation will hold talks with Saudi officials to discuss the latest Palestinian developments and Hamas-Saudi relations, the source said. *) Rebuilding Türkiye after deadly quakes top priority: Erdogan Türkiye’s president has hailed his government’s achievements with regards to post-quake rebuilding efforts, energy sector and foreign policy, while listing future goals as the country prepares for May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections. In a wide-ranging interview with TRT, Recep Tayyip Erdogan touched upon the rebuilding efforts following the deadly February 6 earthquakes and said rebuilding areas affected by the quakes is his foremost priority. The Turkish president said the government has mobilised its largest contingent in the reconstruction phase and will ensure that the needs of everyone affected will be addressed.

*) UN says nearly 200 dead, 1,800 wounded in Sudan as rival forces battle Fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed around two-hundred people and wounded one-thousand-eight-hundred, damaging hospitals and hampering aid after three days of urban warfare. A weeks-long power struggle exploded into deadly violence on Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup. Battles have taken place throughout the vast country, and there are fears of regional spillover. *) Ennahda's leader Ghannouchi arrested for interrogation in Tunisia Tunisia’s security forces have arrested the country’s largest political party Ennahda’s leader Rached Ghannouchi, taking him in for interrogation at a National Guard building in the capital Tunis. Tunisian authorities have yet to comment on the arrest. On February 21, Ghannouchi appeared before the Judicial Pole of Counter-Terrorism in Tunis to answer accusations of incitement against security forces, but he was set free after giving testimony. *) Iran invites Saudi King Salman to visit Tehran amid thaw in ties Iran formally invites Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to visit Tehran, following a reconciliation agreement reached last month between the two sides. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said President Ebrahim Raisi had “invited the Saudi King to visit Iran” adding that the Iranian president had already received an invitation to visit the kingdom. The spokesman also expressed hope that Iran and Saudi Arabia would reopen their respective diplomatic missions by May 9th, as scheduled in the China-brokered agreement. *) As a trade bridge, Istanbul can link financial markets: Turkish president With a new landmark financial centre in Istanbul, Türkiye’s president has said that the metropolis could help to form ties between financial markets in the world. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first phase of the Istanbul Finance Center, Erdogan said the centre of global finance was clearly shifting from West to East. Increasing commercial competition between Asia and Europe and the geopolitical position of Türkiye creates new opportunities for Istanbul, the president noted. *) End of an era: ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ bows out after 35 years The final curtain came down on New York’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ending Broadway’s longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, and gold and silver confetti bursting from its famous chandelier. The musical — a fixture on Broadway since opening on January 26, 1988 — has weathered recessions, war, terrorism and cultural shifts. But critics say the prolonged pandemic may have been the last straw, since it is a costly musical to sustain, with elaborate sets and costumes as well as a large cast and orchestra.

*) US naval destroyer sails through Taiwan Strait The US Navy said its guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius had sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a "freedom of navigation" operation carried out days after China staged massive war games around the island. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the self-ruled island under its control one day. Beijing launched three days of military exercises around Taiwan on April 8 in which it simulated targeted strikes and practised a blockade of the island. *) UN chief demands justice for staff deaths as fighting rages in Sudan UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned clashes in Sudan that have left dozens of civilians dead including three workers for the global body's food agency, demanding swift justice over the killings. Guterres "strongly condemns the deaths and injuries of civilians, including the death of three staff members of the World Food Programme in North Darfur, with a further two seriously injured," the UN chief's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. The top UN official also reiterated his call for an immediate halt to the fighting and "a return to dialogue," stressing he remains engaged with regional leaders and with Sudanese stakeholders "to find a way out of this crisis," he added. *) Tens of security forces members killed in Burkina Faso At least 40 people were killed and 33 others were wounded in an attack by gunmen on an army detachment in northern Burkina Faso, local authorities said. The attack by unidentified armed men targeted a detachment of soldiers and the civilian volunteers on Saturday. Burkina Faso remains plagued by insecurity, largely due to an insurgency that has spilled over from neighbouring Mali. *) Saudi Arabia to host Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh visits Saudi Arabia for the first such visit in years, according to a Palestinian source. There was no official confirmation yet from Riyadh. The delegation will hold talks with Saudi officials on a number of Palestinian and regional issues as well as bilateral relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia, the source said. *) Turkish athlete Cansu Bektas breaks 3 European junior weightlifting records Turkish weightlifter Cansu Bektas has won three European junior record-breaking gold medals at the 2023 European Weightlifting Championships. Bektas, who competed in women's 45 kg, broke three European junior records with 72 kg in the snatch, 90 kg in the clean and jerk, and 162 kg in total. European Weightlifting Championships, which has been held since 1896, is an annual event organised by the European Weightlifting Federation.

*) US air force employee in custody over classified Pentagon documents leak The FBI has arrested an employee of the US Air Force National Guard over leaks of classified documents. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the FBI arrested 21-year-old Jack Teixeira in connection with the online leaks, which the Pentagon called a "deliberate, criminal act”. Some of the most sensitive leaked details are related to Ukraine's military capabilities and shortcomings, as well as information about US allies including Israel and South Korea. *) Ukraine reports unrelenting Russian attacks on besieged Bakhmut Russia's military has pressed on with its unrelenting attacks on the war-ravaged eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut while continuing to shell the southern city of Kherson. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said heavy fighting gripped all parts of the eastern front. She said pro-Kiev forces repelled attacks in most areas. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials are pressing allies for more weapons that Kiev hopes will enable it to launch a major counter-offensive later this year. *) Brazilian President Lula slams US dollar in China tour Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has criticised the outsized role of the US dollar in the world economy during an official visit to China. Lula questioned who decided that the dollar would be the world’s currency and why countries should be tied to it for trade. He made the remarks in Shanghai during the inauguration of his political ally, Dilma Rousseff, who has been named president of the new development bank set up by BRICS nations to counter the IMF and the World Bank. Lula also had strong words for the IMF, alluding to accusations that the organisation forces harsh spending cuts on cash-strapped countries in exchange for bailout loans. *) North Korea tests new solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18 North Korea said it successfully tested for the first time a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile known as Hwasong-18, hailing it as a key breakthrough for the country's nuclear counterattack capabilities. All of Pyongyang's previously known intercontinental ballistic missiles have been liquid-fuelled. Such solid-fıuel missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch and thus harder to detect and destroy preemptively. South Korea's military had earlier said that a launch conducted by the North was likely a new type of ballistic missile. The launch briefly triggered a seek shelter order in parts of Japan. *) Trump testifies for seven hours in New York fraud lawsuit Donald Trump has testified under oath for around seven hours in a New York civil case that accuses him and three of his children of business fraud. The behind-closed-doors deposition on Thursday came a week after the former US president’s historic arraignment on criminal charges in a Manhattan courtroom in a separate case. The 76-year-old Republican is facing a slew of state, federal and congressional probes that threaten his bid to regain the presidency in next year's election.

*) Saudi Arabia, Syria discuss ways to end Damascus' diplomatic isolation Saudi Arabia and the Syrian regime’s foreign ministers have held talks "to end Damascus' diplomatic isolation", the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported. At a meeting in Saudi Arabia, both sides said they discussed "the necessary steps" to end Damascus's diplomatic isolation in the Arab world since the civil war began in 2011. On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting the Syrian regime attend an Arab League summit next month. Meanwhile, an Iranian technical delegation arrived in Riyadh for the reopening of Tehran's embassy in the Saudi capital. *) Qatar, Bahrain agree to resume diplomatic ties in Riyadh talks At another meeting in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain have decided to resume their diplomatic ties after talks between their officials in Riyadh. The two sides confirmed that this decision stems from “the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations” and enhance the Gulf Cooperation Council’s unity. The move comes over two years after an Arab boycott of Doha was lifted. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt in January 2021 ended a 3-1/2-year embargo of Qatar, however, all but Bahrain had restored travel and trade links with its neighbouring kingdom. *) Zelenskyy seeks Russia's frozen assets to rebuild Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the efforts of forces defending Bakhmut and other areas in the east as the war enters its 414th day. Addressing a meeting of international financial institutions, Zelenskyy called for faster assistance to help rebuild the country and restore normal life after the war ends. One of his appeals was to use Russia's frozen assets to compensate Ukraine for the damage Moscow inflicted on it. *) Seoul says North Korea's ballistic missile launch 'possibly solid fuel' North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, "possibly solid fuel", South Korea's military has said. South Korea's military said it had "detected one ballistic missile with a medium range or longer fired from the Pyongyang area on Thursday. The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by Pyongyang, which has fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. *) New York police re-introduce robotic canine for 'risky' tasks New York City officials have unveiled new high-tech policing devices, including a robotic dog, a GPS tracker for stolen cars and a cone-shaped security robot. Digidog, the city's first robot police dog, was leased in 2020 but the city's contract for the device was cut short after critics derided it as creepy and dystopian. But starting this summer, the remote-controlled Digidog will be deployed in risky situations like hostage standoffs.

*) Myanmar confirms deadly air strike that is feared to have killed 100 Myanmar's ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out an air strike on a village in which some 100 people were reported to have been killed. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was "horrified" by the strike that hit the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region. Initial reports put the death toll at around 50, but later tallies reported by independent media raised it to about 100. Turk said it included schoolchildren. The junta claimed that some of the dead were anti-coup fighters. *) US seeks to reassure allies after Ukraine-related documents leak Top US diplomat Antony Blinken and defence chief Lloyd Austin have spoken with their Ukrainian counterparts to reassure them after secret documents leaked online. The breach includes classified information about Ukraine's battle against Russian forces, as well as secret assessments of US allies. One document reviewed by the AFP news agency highlighted US concerns about Ukraine's capacity to keep defending against Russian strikes. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that another document expressed doubts about the success of an upcoming offensive by Kiev's forces. *) Pakistan slams India's decision to hold G20 meet in disputed Kashmir Pakistan has condemned India's decision to hold Group of 20 meetings in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir next month. Its Foreign Ministry accused India of acting in "disregard of the UN Security Council resolutions and in violation of the principles of the UN Charter and international law." India's Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the statement from Pakistan. *) Türkiye's Erdogan unveils AK Party's election manifesto Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced his governing Justice and Development Party’s manifesto ahead of the May 14 elections. Speaking in the capital Ankara, Erdogan unveiled a 23-point election manifesto, which firstly focuses on support for earthquake victims in southern Türkiye. He said 81 provinces will be transformed into disaster-resilient cities using what he called a "national risk shield model." *) NASA unveils 'Mars' habitat for year-long experiments on Earth Four small rooms, a gym and a lot of red sand – NASA has unveiled its new Mars-simulation habitat at the space agency's research base in Texas. During three planned experiments, volunteers will live in the habitat for a year at a time to test what life will be like on future missions to Mars. Four volunteers will begin the first trial this summer, during which NASA plans to monitor their physical and mental health to better understand astronauts' "resource use" on Mars.

*) North Korea leader calls for expansion of war deterrence capabilities North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for expanding the country's war deterrence capabilities to counter what it called "frantic" aggression by the United States and South Korea. Kim's call on Tuesday comes as Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests. These tests included nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea last year declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. *) Turkish, Russian, Syrian, Iranian FMs likely to meet in May in Moscow A meeting between foreign ministers of Türkiye, Russia, Iran, and Syria is likely to be held in early May in Moscow. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said this in an interview on Monday. He said the aim of these talks is to revive the political process, lasting stability and peace, fight against terrorism, and guarantee Syria's border and territorial integrity. *) Five killed, at least 6 injured in Kentucky shooting attack Five people were killed and at least six others hospitalised following a shooting targeting a bank on Monday in downtown Louisville, in the US state of Kentucky. A short while after confirming the attack, police said the shooter was dead, without giving further details. It was unclear whether the death toll of five people included the shooter. The incident triggered a massive police deployment outside the Old National Bank building. *) China completes Taiwan war games aimed at 'sealing off' island China says it has "successfully completed" three days of war games around Taiwan. The three-day show of force saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the self-ruled island. Chinese ally Russia defended the drills, with a Kremlin spokesperson saying Beijing had a "sovereign right" to respond to what Moscow called "provocative acts". Beijing's exercises were a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. *) News anchor generated with AI appears in Kuwait A Kuwaiti media outlet has unveiled a virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence with plans for it to read online bulletins. "Fedha" appeared on the Twitter account of the Kuwait News website on Saturday as an image of a woman, her light-coloured hair uncovered, wearing a black jacket and white T-shirt. The site is affiliated with the Kuwait Times, founded in 1961 as the Gulf region's first English-language daily.

*) Russian forces step up strikes on two key Ukrainian cities Russia's forces have kept up a barrage of attacks along the front concentrated in two Ukrainian cities in the eastern Donetsk region. Fighting was heaviest along the western approaches to Bakhmut, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said. Battle also raged in Avdiivka, that Russia's military has been targeting. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced Russian air strikes, saying Moscow was further isolating itself from the world. *) China holds live-fire exercises near Taiwan China has held live-fire drills to round off three days of military exercises in response to Taiwan's president's meeting with the US House speaker. Dubbed "Joint Sword", the three-day operation has included rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan, according to the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen denounced the drills, which come after she met last week with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy outside Los Angeles. *) Saudi delegation in Yemen's capital for talks with Houthis A Saudi delegation is in Yemen's capital to negotiate a potential new truce with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control the city. Houthi media showed the group's political leader, Mahdi al Mashat, shaking hands and meeting with Saudi officials including the kingdom's ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber. The Saudi officials are "in Sanaa to discuss moving forward to create peace in Yemen," said a Yemeni diplomat based in the Gulf region, information that was confirmed by a second diplomat. *) Hezbollah, Hamas leaders meet in Lebanon amid Al Aqsa raids Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has held talks with Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Beirut, Lebanon amid escalating Israeli military violence in occupied East Jerusalem. Nasrallah and Haniyeh discussed the latest Palestinian developments, “events at Al Aqsa Mosque, and the escalating resistance in the occupied West Bank and Gaza,” according to a Hezbollah statement. Violence rose across the territories after Israeli forces last week forcibly removed worshippers from inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. *) "Super Mario" movie hops to a huge North American opening Universal's "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" has racked up huge numbers in its North American opening weekend. The analysts say it could top the list for all of 2023. The animated film sold an estimated 146.4 million dollars in tickets over the Easter weekend, and 204.6 million in its first five days across North America. In second place for the weekend was Lionsgate's neo-noir "John Wick: Chapter 4," at 14.6 million dollars.

*) Israeli warplanes strike besieged Gaza, Lebanon following Al Aqsa raids The Israeli military has struck besieged Gaza and southern Lebanon. This followed a day of rocket fire from the Palestinian territory and from Lebanon in reaction to Israel's back-to-back raids into the Al Aqsa Mosque that injured Palestinian worshippers. Hamas, which governs the tiny coastal strip of Gaza, said several air strikes had been carried out in the blockaded enclave early on Friday. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes. Later, at least three explosions were heard in Lebanon's Tyre region, as Israel's military said it was carrying out strikes there. *) Iran, Saudi Arabia foreign ministers hold landmark meeting in Beijing Iran and Saudi Arabia's top diplomats have met in Beijing, the first official meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years. After years of hostility, the two countries agreed to end their diplomatic rift and re-open embassies in a major deal facilitated by China last month. In a joint statement following the recent meeting, the ministers said that their agreement to normalise ties would help bring "security and stability" to the Middle East. *) China's Xi, France's Macron call for Russia-Ukraine peace talks Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have called for Russia-Ukraine peace talks to take place "as soon as possible". The pair, who held talks in Beijing, also reaffirmed their opposition to the use of nuclear weapons during the conflict. Macron began a series of meetings with Chinese leaders on a visit with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen that could set a course for the bloc's future relations with China. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to battle in Bakhmut, the devastated eastern city which has become a symbol of Kiev's defiance. *) China sends warships and aircraft around Taiwan for second day China has sent warships and aircraft near Taiwan for a second day, Taipei said. This comes after President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which angered Beijing Three Chinese warships sailed in waters surrounding the self-ruled island, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. In addition, a fighter jet and an anti-submarine helicopter also crossed the island's air defence identification zone *) 'Horrified': Australia mayor mulls first defamation case against ChatGPT An Australian mayor may become the first person to sue the creators of ChatGPT over claims the AI-powered chatbot falsely labelled him a criminal. Before taking office, Brian Hood had helped expose bribery and other crimes at his former employer, Note Printing Australia. But when ChatGPT was asked about the scandal and Hood's role, it falsely claimed he had been jailed for corruption. People have been using ChatGPT’s artificial intelligence to streamline everything from answering mundane emails to cheating on school exams.

*) Israel troops storm Al Aqsa Mosque for second night targeting Palestinians Israeli troops have stormed Al Aqsa Mosque compound for the second time and attacked Palestinian worshippers inside Islam's third-holiest site. Witnesses said the Israeli forces raided the Al Qibli Prayer Hall after the tarawih prayers, a special prayer during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, beating up Palestinian worshippers. They also fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to force them out of the complex. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society in occupied East Jerusalem said its medical teams treated six Palestinians, two of whom were hospitalised. Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli troops arrested hundreds of people in a police incursion at the mosque. This sparked an exchange of rockets and air strikes, with fears of further escalation. *)China deploys warships near Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting in US China has sent warships through waters around Taiwan as it vowed a "resolute response" to the island's president meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Three additional warships were detected in waters separating the self-governing island from mainland China on Thursday, while an anti-submarine helicopter had also crossed its air defence identification zone. On Wednesday, the Chinese carrier, the Shandong, was also spotted around 200 nautical miles (370km) off Taiwan's east coast. Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen had held talks with McCarthy in California on Wednesday. China had repeatedly warned both sides that the meeting should not take place. *)Macron, von der Leyen to press China's Xi on Ukraine French and EU leaders will seek to make Europe's case for bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine in a Beijing meeting with Xi Jinping, a close ally of Vladimir Putin. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen will have a trilateral meeting with the Chinese president. This will follow a one-on-one meeting between Macron and Xi. Macron, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon for a three-day state visit, said he wants to "be a voice that unites Europe" over Ukraine. *) Zelenskyy gets new pledges of military support from Poland Meanwhile in Ukraine, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his troops are facing a difficult situation in the battle for Bakhmut as the war rages on. He refuted claims by Russian forces that the city had been captured, but said the military would take "corresponding" decisions to protect them if they risked being encircled by Russian forces. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy won new pledges of military and economic cooperation during a state visit to Poland. Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw has provided four fighter jets to Ukraine, with another ten expected soon. *) ​Canada agrees to $17B settlement over mistreatment of Indigenous families Canada has agreed to pay $17 billion to Indigenous children and families for discrimination in the child welfare system. The revised deal, announced on Wednesday by the Canadian government and Indigenous groups, boosted the settlement from the nearly $15 billion agreed last year. Some 300,000 children, adolescents and families are expected to receive the settlement. The deal also closed a case brought before a human rights tribunal more than 15 years ago that found the government had underfunded Indigenous children's services.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, April 5th. *) Israel strikes Gaza after troops storm Al Aqsa Mosque, attack worshipers Israeli planes have struck Gaza in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave after Israeli police raided the Al Aqsa Mosque compound overnight. Hamas Radio reported that the Israeli strikes hit several targets within Gaza city and in a refugee camp. There were no immediate reports on casualties. The air strikes come after Israeli troops stormed Islam's third holiest site in occupied East Jerusalem while Palestinians pray on the second week of Ramadan. Witnesses and Palestinian Red Crescent also reported that Israeli troops have beaten up worshipers, leaving many wounded, raising fears of wider tensions. *) France, US want to engage China to end Russia-Ukraine conflict French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden have agreed in a phone call to engage China to hasten the end of the war in Ukraine. The Elysee said the leaders both hoped China could contribute to solidarity efforts ahead of a visit by Macron to Beijing from Wednesday to Friday. The latest push to end the war comes as Ukraine’s armed forces repelled 45 Russian attacks during the past 24 hours while fighting raged in and around the city of Bakhmut. *) Taiwan leader set to meet US House Speaker despite China warning Taiwan has pushed back against threats of retaliation by China, ahead of an expected meeting between the self-ruled island's president and the US House speaker. The meeting on Wednesday comes during a stopover for President Tsai Ing-wen, after her two-country trip in Latin America. China warned US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is second in line to the US presidency, that he was "playing with fire" by meeting Tsai. *) Donald Trump slams criminal charges as 'insult to our country' Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts in a hearing in New York that began the countdown to the first ever criminal trial of an American president. Manhattan prosecutors say Trump "repeatedly and fraudulently falsified… business records to conceal criminal conduct” ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump blasted the criminal prosecution as "an insult to our country” and said "radical left" prosecutors across the country were out to get him "at any cost." And finally… *) ​​Webb telescope discovers four oldest galaxies ever observed The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered the four most distant galaxies ever observed, one of which formed just 320 million years after the Big Bang. In two new studies in the Nature Astronomy journal, astronomers revealed they have "unambiguously detected" the four galaxies. The galaxies are from what is called "the epoch of reionisation," a period when the first stars are believed to have emerged. The epoch came directly after the cosmic dark ages brought about by the Big Bang.

*) Finland to become 31st NATO member Finland's flag will be hoisted outside NATO headquarters as it becomes the newest member of the Western alliance today. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the news on Monday, the eve of a historic meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Objections from Türkiye and Hungary over legitimate security concerns held up Helsinki's bid for months but were ultimately concluded. Completing the ratification in well under a year makes Finland’s membership process the fastest in the alliance's recent history. *) Russia accuses Ukraine, Navalny 'agents' of killing blogger Tatarsky Russia has blamed Ukrainian intelligence agencies for the bombing attack that killed well-known Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky.. Tatarsky was killed on Sunday as he was leading a discussion at a cafe in the historic heart of St. Petersburg. Over 30 people were wounded by the blast. Russia’s top counterterrorism body called it a “terrorist act…planned by Ukrainian special services”. Tatarsky, whose real name was Maxim Fomin, was born in Ukraine's Donbass and was previously sentenced to prison for robbing a bank before fleeing to Russia and joining an anti-Kiev separatist movement. *) Russian drones strike Ukraine's port of Odessa Meanwhile, on the war’s 405th day, Ukrainian defence forces have destroyed 14 out of 17 Iranian-made Shahed drones Russia launched. Ukraine's military said 13 of the drones were destroyed over the Odessa region in the country's southwest. Earlier, Ukrainian authorities had reported that Russian drones struck and damaged the strategic Ukrainian port of Odessa. *) Trump flies to New York to surrender after indictment Donald Trump has left Florida for New York where he will surrender to authorities after being criminally charged. The 76-year-old Republican is the first American president ever to be criminally indicted. He will be formally charged on Tuesday over hush money paid to an adult movie actress during the 2016 election campaign. New York police were on high alert ahead of his arrival, with security cordons and Secret Service agents outside Trump Tower and the criminal court where he will appear. *) ​​Australia bans TikTok app on government-owned devices Australia has decided to ban TikTok on government devices. It joins a growing list of Western nations cracking down on the Chinese-owned app due to national security fears. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the decision followed advice from the country's intelligence agencies and would begin "as soon as practicable". Australia is the last member of the secretive Five Eyes security alliance to pursue a government TikTok ban – joining its allies the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand.

*) Oil prices jump after OPEC+ cuts daily production by more than a million barrels Oil prices have soared almost six percent in Asian trade after major producers led by Saudi Arabia announced a surprise cut of more than one million barrels per day. The move led by Saudi Arabia will be in effect from next month until the end of the year, and marks the biggest reduction in output since the OPEC plus slashed two million barrels per day in October. The reduction came on top of a Russian decision to extend a cut of 500,000 barrels per day, and in spite of US calls to increase production. The announcement is expected to fan fresh fears about inflation and put more pressure on central banks to hike interest rates further. *) Wagner group claims it captured Bakhmut; Ukraine denies report The head of pro-Russian Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has claimed that his forces have captured Ukraine’s Bakhmut, raising the Russian flag over the city’s administration building. In a message posted on Telegram, Prigozhin said that "from a legal point of view” Bakhmut has been taken. Prigozhin has previously made claims that were premature. Ukraine's army also denied the report saying it still "holds" the city. In a video address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave no indication that the city had fallen, saying fighting remained “particularly hot”. *) Finland's centre-right National Coalition Party claims election victory Finland's centre-right opposition National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo has claimed victory in the Nordic country's tightly-fought parliamentary election on Sunday. With 99 percent of votes counted, the centre-right was credited with 48 of the 200 seats in parliament, the far-right with 46 and the Social Democrats with 43. The biggest party in parliament traditionally gets the first chance to build a government, and since the 1990s that party has always claimed the prime minister's office. Prime Minister Sanna Marin who secured for Finland a NATO membership, has conceded defeat and congratulated the victorious conservatives, saying “democracy has spoken." *) Milatovic wins Montenegro presidency beating veteran leader In another election-related development, Montenegro's former minister of economic development Jakov Milatovic has won the country's presidential runoff, according to results from a leading pollster, beating long-time leader Milo Djukanovic in a landslide. The Center for Monitoring and Research said Milatovic won around 60 percent while Djukanovic won around 40 percent. Official results are not expected before Monday. Analysts said the results could change slightly as the vote count progresses but that the gap between the two is too wide for major changes. Djukanovic’s defeat on Sunday means that both he and his party will be in opposition for the first time since late 1980s’. And finally… *) The mobile phone turns 50 Today marks the 50th anniversary since the first mobile phone call was made on April 3, 1973. From brick-sized handsets popular with stockbrokers to intensely powerful computers that sit in all our pockets today, mobile phones have been forged by a half-century of innovation. Martin Cooper is the man who developed the technology and made the first call using a Motorola phone. Cooper is now 94 years old and uses the latest iPhone. However, he said that the world has become too obsessed with his invention. He confessed that he will “never, ever understand” how to use the cell phone the way his grandchildren and great-grandchildren do.

*) New York grand jury votes to indict Donald Trump A New York grand jury has voted to indict former US president Donald Trump over hush money payments made to an adult movie actress, Stormy Daniels, ahead of the 2016 election. He is the first ever US president to face a criminal charge. Within minutes of the indictment, Trump issued a statement raging against the decision, which comes as he makes a bid to return to the White House in the 2024 election. Trump is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday, his lawyer said. *) Türkiye parliament ratifies Finland's NATO membership Türkiye becomes the final NATO nation to ratify Finland's membership of the defence alliance in the wake of Russia's offensive in Ukraine. Turkish lawmakers unanimously backed the Nordic country's accession. Türkiye's ratification leaves Finland — which shares over a thousand kilometres of border with Russia — only a few steps from becoming the 31st member of the world's most powerful military bloc. Following the vote, the Finnish president thanked NATO's member states for "their trust and support." *) Malaysia court rejects Najib Razak's bid to review 1MDB graft conviction Malaysia's top court has rejected with finality ex-prime minister Najib Razak's bid to overturn a conviction for corruption. Najib, who is the son of another former prime minister, had appealed his case claiming that he did not receive a fair hearing while accusing the judge of conflict of interest. His wife Rosmah, who was also found guilty of graft last year, attended the proceedings on Friday. With the decision, the 69-year-old former leader will continue to serve his 12-year jail sentence for abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over the transfer of millions of dollars to his personal bank account. *) India temple collapse leaves 35 dead, 16 injured At least 35 people have been killed and 16 others injured after the roof of a temple collapsed in central India. The incident occurred in Madhya Pradesh state where devotees gathered at a temple to celebrate a Hindu festival. At least 75 army and rescue personnel worked through the day to remove debris, using ropes and ladders to pull out people who had fallen into the well. *) ​​TRT Afrika: Türkiye's public broadcaster launches Africa edition Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT has launched a new digital news platform, TRT Afrika, to highlight stories of and from the continent to a global audience. Under the slogan “Afrika as it is” the digital platform will be published in four languages: Swahili, English, Hausa and French. TRT Afrika hopes to provide its audience with an alternative narrative about Africa and feature global stories of significance to the continent with rich, timely and balanced information The channel went live during the second day of a summit organised by TRT and The African Union of Broadcasting in Istanbul. The three-day summit began on March 30.

*) Ukraine says Russian forces making progress in frontline Bakhmut Russian forces have had some success in the eastern frontline city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian military officials said. The mining city of Bakhmut and surrounding towns in the eastern industrial region of Donetsk have been the focal point of assault for much of the war. Neither side yet has full control with heavy losses suffered by both but Russian officials say their forces are still capturing ground in street-by-street fighting. *) Mexico detention cell officials 'did nothing' to save migrants amid blaze The deaths of 39 migrants in a fire at a Mexican detention centre are being investigated as suspected homicides, a prosecutor has said. In a video, whose authenticity was confirmed by the government, three guards were seen rushing to leave migrants in their cell as flames spread. Eight people have been identified as allegedly responsible for the failure, Security Minister Rodriguez said at a news conference. They are two federal agents and a state immigration official, as well as five members of a private security company. *) Uganda deploys 1,000 troops to DRC's troubled east Uganda has deployed 1,000 troops to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo under the regional East African Community force. The deputy spokesperson of Uganda people's defence forces said the Ugandan army will be operating from Ituri province. Burundi and Kenya have already sent their troops to DRC for the same mission. Fighting in eastern DRC has been simmering for decades as more than 120 groups fight for valuable resources — while others try to defend their communities. *) UAE president designates his eldest son as crown prince of Abu Dhabi The president of the United Arab Emirates has appointed his eldest son as crown prince of Abu Dhabi. He is now next in line to take over as the leader of the federation. The state-run WAM news agency reported Sheikh Khaled’s appointment as crown prince, without providing further details. The new crown prince has risen to prominence at the country's state security service and as chairman of the powerful Abu Dhabi Executive Office. *) ​​UN adopts landmark resolution on climate justice The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for the world body's top court to outline legal obligations related to the climate crisis. The measure asks the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to lay out nations' obligations for protecting Earth's climate and the legal consequences if they don't. The adoption marked an emotional moment for the Pacific youth who spearheaded the initiative.

*) Taiwan president heads to US, Central America amid China's threats Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is set to leave for the United States, a stop on her way to firm ties with Guatemala and Belize. Belize and Guatemala are among just 13 countries that officially recognise democratic Taiwan over China, after Honduras opened diplomatic relations with Beijing on Sunday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he will meet Tsai in the US, which China's Taiwan Affairs Office called "a provocation". In response, a senior US official said that China should not "overreact" and use a stopover as a "pretext" for aggression against the democratically ruled island of Taiwan. *) Several killed as fire breaks out at migrant centre near Mexico-US border At least 39 people have been killed and 29 others injured when a fire broke out at a facility for migrants in Mexico’s city of Ciudad Juarez. A rescuer explained that there were about 70 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, at the site. Ciudad Juarez, which neighbours El Paso city in Texas, is one of the border towns where numerous undocumented migrants seeking refuge in the United States remain stranded. *) Russia kicks off exercises with Yars missile system Russia has begun exercises with its Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system and several thousand troops. It is likely to be seen as another attempt by Moscow to show off its nuclear strength. President Vladimir Putin has aimed to make the Yars missile system part of Russia's "invincible weapons" and the mainstay of the ground-based component of its nuclear arsenal. "In total, more than 3,000 military personnel and about 300 pieces of equipment are involved in the exercises," according to a statement by the defence ministry. *) Fresh clashes erupt in France in pension protests Fresh clashes have erupted in France between protesters and police as tens of thousands took to the streets to show their anger against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform that has sparked a major domestic crisis. Tuesday's nationwide protests and strikes called by unions is the tenth since mid-January against the law, which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Police said at least 27 people were arrested in the capital by the afternoon *) ​​Gun violence in US killed 'over 10,000' so far in 2023 Gun Violence Archive have reported 130 mass shootings in three months as a fresh shooting in southern state of Tennessee claimed six more lives. According to the archive, more than 10,000 people in the US have died from gun violence as of March 28, 2023. That's an average of more than 111 deaths everyday. On Monday, Tennessee made headlines with the latest mass school shooting, where three children and three adults were killed at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, March 28th. *) Russia test fires supersonic anti-ship missile at mock target in Sea of Japan Russia's defence ministry has announced that it test-fired anti-ship missiles in the Sea of Japan. The test involved the firing of two Moskit missiles, a supersonic anti-ship cruise weapon with conventional and nuclear warhead capacity, The latest test comes just a week after two Russian strategic bomber planes flew over Japan for more than seven hours. *) North Korea's Kim orders more production of ‘weapon-grade nuclear material’ North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is calling on his country to expand production of “weapon-grade nuclear materials” and build more powerful weapons, the country’s state media reports. Kim’s latest threat, a doubling-down on an earlier promise to ramp up nuke production “exponentially,” comes ahead of a US Navy carrier strike group’s arrival in South Korea today. Kim has been briefed by officials from the country’s nuclear weapons institute, the official Korean Central News Agency reports, saying Pyongyang should prepare to use its nukes “anytime and anywhere.” *) Thousands protest as Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces a delay to the controversial judicial reform plans after reaching a deal with his cabinet. In a speech, Netanyahu says there is an “extremist minority” that is trying to divide Israel. As part of the deal to delay the bill, Netanyahu agreed to give far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir control of the National Guard, which is involved with the border patrol in Israel. *) Children, adults dead in Nashville school shooting At least three children and three adults have been killed in a shooting at a private Christian grade school in Nashville, police say. The killings come as communities around the nation are reeling from a spate of school violence, including the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, last year. Police said that the 28-year-old suspect appeared to have carefully planned the attack and was "prepared for a confrontation with law enforcement.” And finally… *) Hungarian parliament gives nod to Finland NATO accession After months of debate, Hungary’s parliament has approved a bill allowing Finland to join NATO once its application is ratified by all 30 members of the alliance. The bill on Finland’s NATO accession gets the nod with 182 in favour and six votes against. Finland and Sweden asked to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the process has been held up by Türkiye and Hungary for national security reasons.

*) Israeli president urges immediate halt to judicial overhaul Israeli President Isaac Herzog is urging PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt its bitterly contested judicial overhaul. This comes a day after Netanyahu sacked his defence minister for opposing the move, sparking mass street protests. Tens of thousands of Israelis are staging protests in several cities in a spontaneous outburst of anger against the prime minister’s plans, deepening a months-long crisis that has drawn concern from the US and other close allies. *) US Vice President Harris visits Africa with eye on countering China US Vice President Kamala Harris vows that the US will increase investment in Africa and help spur economic growth. The US vice president is embarking on a week-long tour of the continent, aimed at offering a counter to the growing influence of China. China has been investing heavily in Africa in recent decades, including in infrastructure and resource development. The Biden administration seeks to strengthen ties with Africa, in part to offer an alternative to rival powers. *) Kiev slams Putin’s nuclear plans, calls for UNSC session Ukraine is calling for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Russia’s announcement that it would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The Ukrainian foreign ministry says: “Russia once again confirms its chronic inability to be a responsible steward of nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence and prevention of war, not as a tool of threats and intimidation.” Ukraine says it expects effective actions to counteract the Kremlin’s nuclear blackmail from the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France, further demanding an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council. *) Tunisia coast guard recovers dozens of bodies after migrant vessels capsize Tunisia’s coast guard announces the recovery of the bodies of at least 29 migrants and asylum seekers from sub-Saharan African countries after three vessels capsized. The Tunisian coast guard says it has also rescued 11 irregular migrants of “various African nationalities” after their boats sank off the central eastern coast, citing three different incidents. Separately, in the last four days, five migrant boats have sunk off the coast of the southern city of Sfax, leaving 67 missing and nine dead. *) Erdogan vows to rebuild Türkiye’s quake-hit southern region The Turkish president vows to rebuild the country’s southern region in the wake of powerful earthquakes last month that claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people. President Erdogan says: “Our aim is to raise-up the earthquake zone.” Türkiye plans to construct enough buildings in a year to meet the needs of the quake victims, the Turkish president says, adding that 319,000 houses will be built in the first year and 650,000 in total.

*) Ukraine prepares counteroffensive as Russia's assault on Bakhmut flags Ukraine's top ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi has said his forces would soon begin a counter offensive after withstanding Russia's brutal winter campaign. He said Russia's Wagner mercenaries, who have been at the front line of Moscow's assault on eastern and southern Ukraine, "are losing considerable strength and are running out of steam". However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that without a faster supply of arms from Europe, the war could last years. *) North Korea tests new underwater 'nuclear attack drone' North Korea has tested a new nuclear underwater attack drone this week, according to state news agency KCNA, as a US amphibious assault ship arrived in South Korea for joint drills. The drone system designed to unleash a "radioactive tsunami" is intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval striker groups and major operational ports, KCNA said. The state news agency also confirmed the firing of cruise missiles during the weapons test and firing drill that took place from Tuesday to Thursday. *) Burundi army contingent takes over areas vacated by M23 rebels in DRC Troops from the Burundi National Defense Forces deployed under the East African Community Regional Force have taken over three villages that had been occupied by M23 rebels. The withdrawal of the rebels is in compliance with a communique of the East Africa Community Heads of State, marking a significant milestone towards restoring peace and stability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The M23 rebel group, which was formed in 2012 by disgruntled Congolese militants who wanted to be enlisted in the national army, has often attacked areas in eastern DRC. In June last year, they attacked areas in eastern DRC and occupied them until recently. *) 'Discussion under way' between Saudi Arabia, Syria over consular services Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks on resuming consular services, Saudi state media have said, more than a decade after the Gulf kingdom cut ties with Bashar al Assad's regime. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in February that a consensus was building in the Arab world that a new approach to Syria would be needed to address humanitarian crises. Damascus has seen amplified Arab engagement since two earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria on February 6. *) Biden in Canada to meet with Trudeau on issues including immigration, Haiti US President Joe Biden has arrived in Canada’s capital Ottawa for talks that will focus on a range of issues including immigration and defense co-operation. According to reports, Biden and Trudeau are expected to announce a deal that would restrict certain migrants from seeking protection in Canada as well as a new refugee admission program. Canada's contributions to the North American Air Defense Command and NATO as part of defense spending are also expected to be on the agenda.

*) Israel ratifies law limiting conditions for a possible Netanyahu ouster Israel has ratified a law limiting the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed, despite worries voiced by a government jurist that it may be meant to shield the incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu from any fallout from his corruption trials. The amended definition for the "incapacity" of national leaders is among legislative measures by the religious-nationalist coalition that have tipped Israel into crisis, with the opposition arguing that judicial independence is in peril. The coalition says the overhaul is aimed at pushing back against Supreme Court over-reach and restoring balance among branches of government. *) California may become first US state to outlaw caste discrimination California may become the first US state to outlaw caste-based discrimination, a safeguard that people of South Asian descent, especially Indians, say is necessary to protect them from discrimination in housing, education and the tech sector where they hold key roles. State Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan American elected to the state legislature, introduced the bill on Wednesday. It adds caste — a division of people related to birth or descent — as a protected category in the state's anti-discrimination laws. *)Australia's Albanese appeals referendum voters to back Aboriginal 'voice' Australia's prime minister has made a tearful appeal to voters, asking them to support the creation of an Aboriginal "voice" in lawmaking as he announced the wording of the referendum question. Anthony Albanese said on Thursday Australians had a chance to make up for centuries of injustice, formally recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island groups, and give them a voice in decision-making at a vote later this year. This is "about how our nation sees ourselves. Whether we have the confidence to embrace our history", said Albanese, painting the vote as a chance for Australians to make their country fairer. *) Biden vows to support disaster-hit Türkiye, Syria, Pakistan in Ramadan wish US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden have marked the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, wishing Muslims worldwide "Ramadan Kareem." "We will continue to stand with the people of Türkiye and Syria — who have lost many loved ones during the recent devastating earthquakes — and with the people of Pakistan, who are rebuilding their lives following last summer's floods. "To my fellow Americans observing Ramadan, and to Muslims around the world: Ramadan Kareem — we wish you a blessed and peaceful Ramadan," said Biden. *) Qatari banker, British billionaire prepare fresh bids for Man Utd takeover The battle to buy Manchester United football club has heated up as Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe prepared to raise bids for the 20-time English champions. Both parties were expected to increase their initial offers on Wednesday after the submission deadline of 2100 GMT was extended by merchant bank Raine, which is assisting with the sale of the club, following confusion over the timing, the British media reported. It is also reported that Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe had been granted extensions to submit fresh bids.

*) Putin-Xi reach deal on Russian Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China Russia and China have reached an agreement on the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which will connect Siberia to northwest China, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. "All agreements have been reached," Putin said, adding that economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing was a "priority" for Russia. The planned pipeline would deliver 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from Russia to China via Mongolia. *) Israel annuls law that banned four occupied West Bank settlements Israeli parliament has repealed legislation that ordered the evacuation of four illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. This move is one of the first by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition. The original law, passed in 2005, mandated the evacuation of four illegal Jewish settlements in the northern occupied West Bank along with Israel's disengagement from Gaza. The repeal would allow Jewish residents to return to these settlements on condition of approval by the Israeli military. *) Death toll climbs after strong earthquake jolts Pakistan, Afghanistan Death toll has climbed to 11 after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake rattled much of Pakistan and Afghanistan, sending panicked residents fleeing from homes and offices and frightening people even in remote villages. More than 100 people were brought to hospitals in the Swat valley region of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in a state of shock. The US Geological Survey said the centre of the magnitude 6.5 quake was located 40 kilometres south-southeast of Jurm in Afghanistan's mountainous Hindukush region, bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan. *) UN warns 'vampiric' water use leading to imminent global crisis Humanity's "lifeblood" - water - is increasingly at risk around the world due to "vampiric overconsumption and overdevelopment," the UN has warned in a report. The world is "blindly travelling a dangerous path" as "unsustainable water use, pollution and unchecked global warming are draining humanity's lifeblood," United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a foreword to the report, released hours ahead of the first major UN meeting on water resources in nearly half a century. Co-hosted by the governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands, the UN Water Conference will gather some 6,500 participants, including 100 ministers and a dozen heads of state and government Wednesday through Friday in New York. *) Yellen says bank situation 'stabilising,' system is 'sound' Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is trying to project calm after regional bank failures, saying the US banking system is “sound” but additional rescue arrangements “could be warranted” if any new failures at smaller institutions pose a risk to financial stability. Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California, failed on March 10 after depositors rushed to withdraw money amid anxiety over the bank’s health. It was the second-largest bank collapse in US history.

*) Japan PM to meet Zelenskyy as Putin, Xi hold second day of talks Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are set to hold a second day of talks, as the Russian president said he was open to discussing China's proposals on the fighting in Ukraine. The sit-down was to be unexpectedly mirrored in Kiev, where Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was en route to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Xi's trip to Moscow has been viewed as a major boost for his strategic partner Putin, who is subject to an International Criminal Court warrant over accusations of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. *) NYPD tightens security fearing protests over likely Trump indictment New York police have tightened security ahead of a possible historic indictment of Donald Trump over hush money paid to an actress, with the ex-president calling for mass demonstrations if he is charged. Trump supporters attended a protest in America's financial capital on Monday evening though, as a grand jury weighs an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over the 2016 payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump would become the first former or sitting president to be charged with a crime if an indictment is filed. *) Nigeria's two big parties emerge strong after deadly governorship polls Nigeria's two biggest parties won the majority of states in weekend governorship polls, official figures have shown, maintaining their political dominance following elections in which European Union observers said 21 people died from violence. Voters were choosing governors in 28 of the country's 36 states to bring to an end this year's election cycle that began with disputed presidential and legislative elections last month. *) Erdogan lauds int'l solidarity as $7B pledged for quake-hit Türkiye, Syria Türkiye will never forget the solidarity displayed by the EU, the UN and other international organisations after the February 6 earthquakes, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a virtual address for the opening session of the International Donors' Conference, organised by the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council to support victims affected by the devastating earthquakes in southern Türkiye. *) Biden signs bill to declassify US intelligence on Covid-19 origins US President Joe Biden signed a bill that requires Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to declassify information related to the origins of Covid-19, the White House has said. Biden said he shared Congress' goal of releasing as much information as possible about the origin of Covid-19. However, he said his administration would keep national security in mind when deciding what to release.

*) Russia hails China's willingness to resolve Ukraine conflict Russia's President Vladimir Putin has welcomed China's willingness to play a "constructive role" in ending the conflict in Ukraine, saying Sino-Russian relations were "at the highest point" in history. His Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping heads to Russia hoping to deliver a breakthrough on Ukraine as Beijing seeks to position itself as a peacemaker. The quality of ties between Moscow and Beijing is "higher than the political and military unions of the Cold War era", Putin said in an article written for a Chinese newspaper and published by the Kremlin on the eve of Xi's visit. *) Biden in call with Netanyahu expresses 'concern' over judicial reform plan US President Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express "concern” over his government’s planned overhaul of the country’s judicial system which has sparked widespread protests across Israel. The White House said on Sunday Biden reiterated US concerns about the measure to roll back the judiciary’s insulation from the country’s political system, in a call a senior administration official described as “candid and constructive.” There was no immediate indication that Netanyahu was shying away from the action after rejecting a compromise offered by the country’s figurehead president last week. *) North Korea's Kim supervises drills 'simulating a nuclear counterattack' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un led two days of military drills "simulating a nuclear counterattack", including the firing of a ballistic missile carrying a mock nuclear warhead, state news agency KCNA has reported. Kim expressed "satisfaction" over the weekend drills, which were held to "let relevant units get familiar with the procedures and processes for implementing their tactical nuclear attack missions", the report said on Monday. The drills were the fourth show of force from Pyongyang in a week and came as South Korea and the United States stage their own military manoeuvres - 11 days of joint drills known as Freedom Shield, their largest in five years. *) Governing party in Kazakhstan sweeps parliamentary election: exit polls Kazakhstan voted in a snap parliamentary election widely expected to cement President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's position and complete a reshuffle of the ruling elite that began after he fully assumed leadership last year. Exits polls showed the ruling Amanat party winning 53-54 percent of the vote, enough to retain a comfortable majority. Voter turnout stood at 54.2 percent, the Central Election Commission said. A stronger mandate will help Tokayev navigate through regional turmoil caused by Russia-Ukraine conflict and the subsequent damage to trade, investment and supply chains throughout the former Soviet Union. *) 'Jurassic Park' actor Sam Neill diagnosed with stage-three blood cancer Actor Sam Neill has revealed he is being treated for stage-three blood cancer, writing in a memoir that he was "possibly dying" from the illness diagnosed a year ago. The New Zealander, who burst to fame after starring as Dr Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster "Jurassic Park", said he began treatment last March. Neill, 75, makes the revelation in his book "Did I Ever Tell You This?", which is being released next week.

*) Ukraine vows to drag Russia into court Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed that those guilty of war crimes in Russia’s war against Ukraine will be brought to justice. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was carrying out legal processes and mobilising its allies to have Russia appear in the International Criminal Court, as well as in national courtrooms. Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians, though the conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions, and pulverised Ukrainian cities. *) Israelis stage 'day of resistance' against judicial reforms Tens of thousands of protesters have returned to the streets of Israel to stage another day of resistance against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms. The fresh protests in Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem and Haifa came after Netanyahu rejected a compromise plan touted by the country's President Isaac Herzog. The judicial overhaul has raised concerns for Israel’s democracy, as it would upend the country's system of checks and balances and give the prime minister too much power. *) Erdogan hails Turkic world's solidarity after quakes Hosting the extraordinary summit of leaders of the Organization of Turkic States, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the Turkic world’s solidarity after the deadly earthquakes in southern Türkiye. The Turkic world was among the first to help after the February 6 quakes, Erdogan said at the summit focusing on Disaster-Emergency Management and Humanitarian Assistance. You did not leave us alone in our most difficult moment. Our beloved nation will never forget your support, Erdogan told fellow heads of state. *) Cyclone Freddy kills hundreds in Malawia Rescuers in storm-ravaged Malawi have made a grim hunt for buried bodies after Cyclone Freddy struck the eastern African country, killing more than 300 people. Search and rescue efforts were a joint operation by the military and local inhabitants, who lacked sniffer dogs and were armed just with shovels. As the rains ceased for the first time in five days, rescuers dug up decomposing bodies from the mud and the debris of homes that had been swept away by the storm. *) Australian breaks record for world's longest surf Former surfing pro Blake Johnston has shredded the world record for the longest surfing session, catching waves for over 30 exhausting hours. The 40-year-old Australian broke down in tears at Sydney's Cronulla Beach after beating South African Josh Enslin's previous record of 30 hours 11 minutes. Johnston briefly thanked the crowd lining the beach during one of the short food and water breaks he was allowed, before paddling back out to try and push the record to 40 hours.

*) South Korea premier arrives in Japan to open 'new chapter' South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has arrived in Japan looking to open a "new chapter" in relations, just hours after North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile. Yoon's two-day trip comes after Seoul this month announced a plan to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labour without any direct involvement by Tokyo. Reports suggest the visit could herald the restart of shuttle diplomacy, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida possibly inviting Yoon to the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May, and then visiting Seoul. *) Pakistan court postpones police operation to arrest Imran Khan A Pakistani high court has ordered police to postpone an operation to arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan. A lower court in Islamabad had issued a warrant against Khan for defying orders to present himself in court over charges that he unlawfully sold state gifts given to him by foreign dignitaries when he was prime minister. The court-ordered attempt to arrest Khan, which began on Tuesday, triggered clashes between his supporters and security forces in his Lahore neighbourhood, raising fears about Pakistan’s political stability *) IAEA says tonnes of uranium missing from Libya site beyond govt control UN nuclear watchdog inspectors have found that roughly 2.5 tonnes of natural uranium have gone missing from a Libyan site that is not under government control. In a statement, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it would carry out "further activities" to determine the circumstances of the uranium's removal from the site, which it did not name, and where it is now. The IAEA statement said: "The loss of knowledge about the present location of nuclear material may present a radiological risk, as well as nuclear security concerns". *) No signs of Ukraine withdrawing from Bakhmut - Russian official According to the Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's Donetsk region, the situation for Russian forces trying to capture the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut is "difficult", because there are no signs Kiev is ready to order a withdrawal of its troops. Russia says capturing the city will allow it to launch more offensives deeper into Ukrainian territory which it says it is fighting to "liberate". The head of Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin has said his forces are in control of practically half the city and only one exit road remains available to Ukraine. *) Greek unions launch 24-hour walkout over train tragedy Greek unions have started a 24-hour walkout with demonstrations planned in major cities to voice outrage over last month's train disaster, which claimed 57 lives. The strike called by the country's leading private and public sector unions will disrupt transport and the civil service. The fatal crash occurred shortly before midnight on February 28 when a passenger train crashed head-on into a freight train in central Greece after both were mistakenly left running on the same track. The stationmaster and three other railway officials have been charged, but public anger has focused on long-running mismanagement of the network.

*) Some 1,000 Israeli figures urge Germany, UK to cancel Netanyahu visit In a letter addressed to the German and British ambassadors in Israel, some 1,000 Israeli figures have called on the European countries to cancel upcoming visits by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The group of writers, artists and intellectuals expressed their disapproval of Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul Israel's judicial system, saying he has put the country on a destructive course. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Germany’s Chancellor on Thursday in Berlin, where Israeli expats say they are organising a large protest against their visiting prime minister. *) Russian jet collides with US drone over Black Sea: US military A Russian fighter jet has dumped fuel on an American drone over the Black Sea and then collided with it, causing the drone to crash, according to the US military. US European Command said that two Russian fighters intercepted the unmanned combat aerial vehicle over international waters and one clipped its propeller. Russia's defence ministry said it ordered the immediate take off of the jets following the detection of a US drone over the Black Sea but denied causing it to crash. The US State Department says it has summoned Russia's ambassador to protest the crash. *) Facebook parent Meta to lay off 10,000 more employees Facebook parent Meta is slashing another 10,000 jobs and will not fill 5,000 open positions as the social media pioneer cuts costs. The company said it would reduce the size of its recruiting team and make further cuts in its tech groups in late April, and then its business groups in late May. In February, Meta posted lower fourth-quarter profit and revenue, hurt by a downturn in the online advertising market and competition from rivals such as TikTok. *) Price set for Türkiye's first domestically-produced electric car TOGG T10X Türkiye's first indigenous electric car maker TOGG has unveiled the prices of its first model, with online pre-orders to begin later this week. The price of the standard range model T10X will start from about $50,200 to about $55,600, while the long-range model was priced at about $64,000. Pre-orders for the TOGG T10X will be taken online between March 16 to 27 and deliveries will start in late March. *) Galatasaray to play charity match against Qarabag to help quake victims Turkish football powerhouse Galatasaray will play a charity match against Azerbaijan's Qarabag on March 26 to help earthquake victims in Türkiye. Qarabag said that Galatasaray will visit them in a friendly match in Baku, and all proceeds from the match will be donated to those impacted by the February 6 quakes that killed over 48,000 people. Galatasaray is one of the many Turkish football clubs that have banded together to help with earthquake relief efforts.

*) Russia: 60-day extension of wartime grain deal acceptable Russia's deputy foreign minister said Moscow does not object to another extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative but only for 60 days. The deal was set to complete its second term on March 18. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin added that Russia’s future stance will be determined upon the tangible progress on normalisation of the country’s agricultural exports. *) US, Britain unveil nuclear-powered submarine plan for Australia The leaders of the United States, Australia and Britain revealed details of a plan to offer Australia nuclear-powered attack submarines. Under the deal, the United States intends to sell Australia three US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s, with an option to buy two more if needed, a statement from the leaders said. *) Two dead, multiple injured after truck hits pedestrians in Canada's Quebec Two men died after a pickup truck hit pedestrians beside a road in the eastern Quebec town of Amqui. A provincial police spokesperson said that nine other people were injured, including two whose injuries are considered serious. The 38-year-old driver, a local resident, turned himself into police and was arrested under suspicion of committing a fatal hit and run, police further said. *) US private sector raises over $110M to aid Türkiye quake victims The US Chamber of Commerce has said the country's private sector raised more than $110 million for earthquake relief for Türkiye as the US-Türkiye Business Forum convened in Washington, DC. As the business people, diplomats and representatives from both Türkiye and the US gathered for the forum in the US capital, a minute of silence was held by the participants to honour the victims of the February 6 earthquakes. *) Amnesty decries rising police misuse of rubber bullets globally Amnesty International warned that police use of rubber bullets and other projectiles against protesters has become increasingly routine worldwide, leading to many eye injuries and even deaths. The group called for better global regulation of the trade and use of such policing equipment, also called for "less lethal weapons", after research in more than 30 countries over the past five years.

*) Casualties mount as Ukraine, Russia battle for Bakhmut rages Russian forces suffered more than 1,100 dead in less than a week of battles near the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the focal point of fighting in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Zelenskyy said Russian forces had also sustained 1,500 "sanitary losses" - soldiers wounded badly enough to keep them out of further action. Russia has not responded to the Ukrainian claim. However, the Russian Defence Ministry had said earlier that up to 210 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the broader Donetsk part of the frontline. *) Deal with Iran does not mean 'all issues resolved': Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has said that agreement to reestablish diplomatic relations with Iran "does not mean that all issues have been resolved". The agreement is an indication of the common desire to resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said. The minister noted that Saudi Arabia is preparing to restart relations with Iran in two months and that mutual visits can be made in the future. *) China's Xi highlights national security in congress closing speech In his first address since being handed a historic third term, China's President Xi Jinping emphasised the need to strengthen national security. Xi thanked the thousands of delegates at Beijing's Great Hall of the People for giving him a third term, vowing to "take the needs of the country as my mission, and the interests of the people as my yardstick". Xi became China's most powerful leader in generations last week when he was reappointed for another five years at the helm of the world's most populous nation, in a break with long-standing political precedent. *) US scrambles to prevent SVB collapse fallout, protects customer deposits Fourteen migrants from sub-Saharan Africa drowned off the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, after their boat sank, according to the country’s coastguard. 54 people were rescued. Tunisia has long been a springboard for Africans fleeing war and poverty to seek better lives in Europe, often on unseaworthy boats. The coastguard regularly intercepts boats carrying migrants in Tunisia’s territorial waters, part of the world's deadliest migration route. *)'Everything Everywhere All At Once' triumphs at Oscars with 7 wins Surreal sci-fi film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" dominated the Oscars, winning seven golden statuettes including best picture, Hollywood's most coveted prize. The unorthodox but beloved movie also won best director, best actress, best original screenplay, best editing, and both the best supporting actor and actress prizes on Sunday. Michelle Yeoh, who is Malaysian, became the first ever Asian woman to win best actress, for her portrayal of an exhausted Chinese laundromat owner embroiled in battle with an inter-dimensional supervillain - who happens to be her daughter.

*) Xi Jinping bags historic third term as president Xi Jinping has been handed a third term as China’s president, capping a rise that has seen him become the country's most powerful leader in generations. Nearly 3,000 members of National People's Congress voted unanimously for Xi, who had locked in another five years as head of the Communist Party and the military in October. 69-year-old Xi's coronation sets him up to become modern China's longest-serving president, and means he will rule well into his seventies — if no challenger emerges. *) Russia intentionally targeting nuclear facilities: Zelenskyy Ukraine has accused Russia of unleashing a barrage of high-precision missile and other attacks that have triggered a wave of electricity, heat, and water blackouts. Calling Russia a “terrorist state”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Europe's biggest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia was again disconnected from the power grid due to the attacks. Adding that Moscow is "deliberately" creating critical situations at nuclear facilities, Zelenskyy called for sanctions against Russian nuclear industry. *) Several dead in shooting in German city of Hamburg Several people have been killed in a shooting at a Jehovah's Witness centre in Hamburg, Germany, with the gunman believed to be among the dead. Police did not give an exact death toll, but several German media outlets said at least seven people had been killed and eight seriously injured. Police said there was no reliable information on the motive of the crime yet, while sounding the alarm for "extreme danger" in the area. Residents were urged to stay indoors. *) Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa drown off Tunisia Fourteen migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have drowned off the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, after their boat sank, according to the country’s coastguard. 54 people were rescued. Tunisia has long been a springboard for Africans fleeing war and poverty to seek better lives in Europe, often on unseaworthy boats. The coastguard regularly intercepts boats carrying migrants in Tunisia’s territorial waters, part of the world's deadliest migration route. *) Innocent Black murder convict walks free A Black man who spent more than eighteen years in prison for a murder he did not commit after being intentionally misidentified by the police has been freed from jail. New Yorker Sheldon Thomas was convicted over the 2004 fatal drive-by shooting of 14-year-old Anderson Bercy, whose real killer remains unknown. Thomas was arrested after a faulty witness identification. The witness was given the picture of another Sheldon Thomas by the United States police. An attorney said the detectives were intent on arresting Thomas and used the faulty identification as pretext. The mistake was then concealed by the police.

*) Saudi engineer walks free from Guantanamo prison after 21 years The United States has announced the release from Guantanamo military prison of a Saudi engineer seized over two decades ago as a suspect in the September 11 attacks. 48-year-old Ghassan Al Sharbi was detained in Pakistan in March 2002. The US military had weighed charges against Al Sharbi and several others but dropped them in 2008. Thirty-one detainees remain at Guantanamo, down from a peak of nearly 800. Of them, 17 are eligible for transfer. *) Soldiers say fall of Kabul was US failure with blame touching Bush to Biden Active-service members and veterans have provided firsthand testimony about the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing in detail the carnage they witnessed on the ground. The majority of witnesses argued to Congress that the fall of Kabul was an American failure with blame touching every presidential administration from George W. Bush to Joe Biden. The initial hearing was the first of what is expected to be a series of Republican-led hearings examining the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal. *) Colombia, ELN rebels to hold next phase of peace talks in Cuba Colombia's government and National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels will hold a third round of talks in Cuba aimed at ending decades of armed conflict, the two sides have said. According to a statement, the dialogue has made "substantial progress" since resuming in Mexico on February 13, following a first round in Venezuela in November. The negotiators reported late last month that the Colombian government had recognised the National Liberation Army (ELN) as a political organisation in order to advance the process. *) Damning probe finds US police in Louisville discriminate against Black residents An investigation conducted by the US Justice Department has found that American police in the Louisville city of Kentucky state routinely discriminate against Black residents. The report comes nearly two years after US Attorney General Merrick Garland launched the investigation into the department whose officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor. The investigation found a wide-ranging pattern of misconduct by police, including the use of excessive force and the conduct of illegal searches. And finally… *) Netherlands announces plans to curb tech exports after US pressure The Dutch government has announced plans for new export restrictions on technology to make computer chips, following pressure from the United States to restrict Chinese access. The Netherlands, Europe's premier maker of the machines that help manufacture microchips, has been pushed to impose curbs similar to those announced by Washington last year. The government said the aim of the export controls was to prevent military use, and to protect the Netherlands' "unique and leading position".

*) Israeli army storms occupied West Bank's Jenin city, kills six Palestinians The Israeli army has stormed the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, killing at least six Palestinians and wounding 10 others, according to Palestinian health officials. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified one of the fatalities as 26-year-old Mohammed Ghazawi. The ministry later announced five other Palestinians were shot and killed, without giving further details. At least 26 Palestinians were also wounded during the raid, the ministry said, three of them seriously. The Israeli army said two of its soldiers were lightly wounded. *) Zelenskyy says his armed forces are resolved to stay in Bakhmut Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Russian army would have an "open road" into eastern Ukraine if it captures the besieged city of Bakhmut. Zelenskyy told CNN that Ukraine understands that after Bakhmut Russians could go further to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk opening the road for them to other Ukrainian towns. Zelenskyy said that his armed forces were resolved to stay in Bakhmut. *) Over 232,000 buildings damaged or fit for demolition after Türkiye quakes More than 232 thousand buildings have been severely damaged or should be demolished immediately in southern Türkiye after the powerful earthquakes that struck the region, the country's environment minister Murat Kurum said. Authorities examined more than 1.7 million buildings composed of over 5.7 million independent sections in the quake-hit provinces. The damage assessment was completed in Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Adiyaman, Osmaniye, and Kilis provinces, Kurum added. *) Millions join protests in France over Macron’s pension reform More than a million people marched in France and strikes disrupted transport and schools during mass protests against President Emmanuel Macron's plans to push back the retirement age to 64. Union organisers put the figure of the protesters at 3.5 million. Police used tear gas in Paris and some clashes took place in the western city of Nantes, but more than 260 union-organised rallies across the country were mostly peaceful. And finally… *) UNESCO-listed Mount Nemrut statues survive Türkiye quakes Several monumental stone heads located in Mount Nemrut and other UNESCO-listed statues in southeastern Türkiye have survived despite the powerful earthquakes. Fresh footage showed the massive heads, each weighing tonnes, on the eastern face of the mountain in Adiyaman province. Irfan Cetinkaya, head of a culture and tourism association, noted that the quake caused severe damage in the region adding that the statues on Mount Nemrut were not affected by the tremors.”

*) Zelenskyy vows not to retreat from Bakhmut Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has instructed the army to bolster defences in the embattled city of Bakhmut, which has become a symbolic prize in the war with Russia. Amid Moscow’s three-sided assault to try and finish off Bakhmut’s resistance, Zelenskyy said there was no part of Ukraine that could be abandoned. The president’s top adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukrainian forces around the city have been grinding down enemy forces and reinforcing their positions. *) US' downing test missiles will be 'declaration of war': DPRK The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has warned that any move by the United States to shoot down Pyongyang’s test missiles would be a declaration of war. According to state media KCNA, Kim Yo-Jong blamed a joint military exercise between the US and South Korea for growing tensions. Kim warned that the North was ready to take quick, overwhelming action against the allies, while also hinting that they could fire more missiles into the Pacific Ocean. *) Turkish opposition announces presidency candidate Türkiye’s opposition alliance has named the chairman of the Republican People’s Party as their joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election. 74-year-old politician Kemal Kilicdaroglu will represent the six-party bloc in the election which is expected to be held on May 14th. *) Afghan universities reopen without women Afghan universities have reopened after a winter break, but only men returned to class, with a ban on women receiving higher education still in force. The university ban is one of several restrictions on women as the Taliban has effectively squeezed women out of public life since storming back to power in August 2021. The Taliban has sparked global outrage with its treatment of women and girls, and no country has so far officially recognised them as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers. *) Neymar to undergo season-ending surgery French football club Paris Saint-Germain has announced that Brazilian player Neymar will undergo a season-ending surgery on his damaged right ankle. According to the Qatari-backed club, Neymar will be operated on in the coming days at a hospital in Doha following his latest sprain during a match on February 20. He will be out for up to four months, and will miss the PSG's Champions League match at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

*) Azerbaijan: Soldiers killed after Armenian provocation Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry has reported at least two Azerbaijani soldiers were killed after Armenian forces opened fire in the disputed Karabakh region. Azerbaijani soldiers tried to stop and check Armenian vehicles suspected of carrying illegal military transports to Karabakh, when shots were fired by the Armenian forces and a clash erupted. According to the local media, three Armenian police officers have died in the clash. *) Stationmaster charged over Greece train crash A stationmaster accused of causing Greece's deadliest train disaster has been charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial. The 59-year-old stationmaster allegedly directed a passenger train and a freight train travelling in opposite directions onto the same track. At least 57 people, many of them in their teens and 20s, were killed when the trains collided late on Tuesday in central Greece. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologised for any responsibility the country’s government may bear for the tragedy. *) Rohingya camp fire renders thousands shelterless In southeastern Bangladesh, a fire has destroyed 2,000 shelters at a Rohingya refugee camp, leaving around 12,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals shelterless. The fire rapidly engulfed camp number 11 in Kutupalong, one of the world's largest refugee settlements, according to Bangladesh's refugee commissioner. At least 35 mosques and 21 learning centres for the refugees were destroyed alongside the bamboo-and-tarpaulin shelters, though there were no reports of injuries or deaths. *) More schoolgirls reportedly poisoned in Iran More Iranian schoolgirls have been reported poisoned in several provinces, sparking calls for authorities to act amid growing concern among parents. The latest spate of poisonings affected dozens of schoolgirls who were taken to local hospitals for treatment, local news agencies reported. Since late November, hundreds of cases have been reported with at least 52 schools targeted around Iran, according to an official tally published on Saturday. *) Police reach Pakistan's former PM Khan's residence to arrest him Islamabad police have entered Pakistan's former Premier Imran Khan's residence in the northeastern Lahore city to arrest him. The court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Khan in the federal capital on February 28th, in connection with the illegal purchase and sale of gifts. Khan, the country's only premier who was ousted through a no-trust vote, is facing a slew of cases against him, including terrorism, attempted murder and money laundering. Most of the cases, which Khan dubs a "sham," have been lodged after his ouster.

*) Argentina withdraws from Falkland Islands pact with UK Argentina has walked away from a cooperation pact with the United Kingdom and demanded new talks with London over the sovereignty of the disputed Falkland Islands. At the G20 summit in India on Thursday, Argentinian Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero informed UK counterpart James Cleverly that his government was abandoning the pact. Argentina believes the islands known as the Malvinas were illegally taken from it in 1833 and invaded the British colony in 1982. The United Kingdom sent troops and Argentina lost the two-month war for the South Atlantic archipelago in a conflict that claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers. *) More than 200 killed, nearly 700 wounded in Somaliland clashes More than 200 people lost their lives in over 24 days of clashes between security forces and clans in a disputed part of Somalia's breakaway Somaliland region, an official has said. The mayor of the contested town, Abdirahim Ali Ismail told a press conference on Thursday that 210 civilians were killed and 680 others wounded in the fighting. Somaliland has claimed independence from Somalia since 1991 but has never been recognised internationally. *) Gaza warns of 'environmental catastrophe' as landfill fire rages Gaza officials have called for international help to extinguish a fire that started in a landfill in a village near the fence with Israel, saying it could last for days and cause an environmental catastrophe. A large cloud of heavy smoke billowed into the sky as night fell on Thursday, and there was a strong smell of burning rubbish across Gaza City. The fire started southeast of Gaza City, near the separation fence, for reasons that have yet to be confirmed, according to the Gaza municipality *) 'Messi, we're waiting for you': Gunmen threaten football star Lionel Messi Two gunmen on motorcycles have shot at a supermarket belonging to the family of Antonella Roccuzzo, wife of Lionel Messi, in Rosario, in Argentina's Santa Fe province, local media and the city's mayor reported. A threatening hand-written message for 35-year-old Messi, Argentina's captain and seven-times World Player of the Year, was also left on the shop door on Thursday. "Messi, we are waiting for you, (Pablo) Javkin (the mayor) is also a narco (drug trafficker), he is not going to take care of you," it read. And finally… *) Over 1,500 pets have been rescued so far since the twin earthquakes hit southern Türkiye Over 1,500 pets have been rescued so far since the twin earthquakes hit southern Türkiye, a non-profit organisation has said. More than three weeks after the deadly earthquake in Türkiye, the animal rescue team from Humane Society International is still finding dogs and cats alive in abandoned apartments, damaged buildings or wandering the streets. The animal charity estimates that more than 1,500 animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, goldfish, a rooster, budgies, reptiles and more ― have been brought to receive medical care at the three main veterinary field clinics.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, March 2nd. *) UN scrambles to reunite families after Turkey-Syria quake Reuniting children with their missing families has become the UN’s top priority in the aftermath of last month's massive earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that the first challenge is figuring out if the children’s parents are alive. The Turkish minister for family affairs said more than 1,800 “unaccompanied children” have been reunited with their families since the quake. Efforts are under way to identify 83 other children and reunite them with family members. *) Israelis stage 'national disruption day' Weeks of anti-government protests in Israel have turned violent after Israeli police fired stun grenades and water cannons at demonstrators who blocked a Tel Aviv highway. Thousands of protesters across the country staged a "national disruption day," the latest in a string of mass protests against the Netanyahu-led government's judicial reforms. Protesters shouted "Where were you in Hawara?" at policemen, referring to Sunday's rampage by Jewish settlers through Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank. *) 'Global governance has failed': Indian PM Modi at G20 meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that multilateral institutions had failed to meet the world's most pressing challenges while opening the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi. Russia's offensive in Ukraine is set to dominate the meeting of the world's top diplomats. Modi pointed to financial crises, climate change, pandemic, terrorism and wars over the last few years as proof of the failure of global governance. *) Greece seeks answers over deadliest train tragedy A station master on duty during Greece's deadliest train accident is to testify in the central city of Larissa over the disaster that claimed 38 lives. The 59-year-old will appear before a prosecutor to explain how a passenger train with over 350 people on board was allowed to run on the same line as a freight train for several kilometres. The two trains collided near a tunnel outside Larissa before midnight on Tuesday. Two carriages were crushed and a third caught fire, trapping people inside. And finally… *) Fundraising campaign for quake-hit Türkiye collects nearly $45M in donations A fundraising campaign for the victims of last month’s devastating earthquakes in Türkiye has received $44.8 million from benefactors on the first day of the event. Famous sports figures such as Kylian Mbappe, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Ruud Gullit, Mikel Arteta and Arsene Wenger supported the 'shoulder-to-shoulder’ fundraising campaign, which is set to run until June 15. European Club Association (ECA) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi also donated over $2 million to Türkiye quake victims.

*) Erdogan promises 300,000 homes in quake-hit region Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to reconstruct and revive the country's quake-hit southern region. Erdogan promised that Türkiye would start the construction of 309,000 houses throughout the earthquake zone in a few months. Other parts of our country that also face the threat of devastating quakes will also be transformed. The powerful twin earthquakes on February 6th have killed over 45,000 people in Türkiye. *) Deadly train collision in central Greece In central Greece, at least 32 people have been killed and 85 injured after a passenger train collided with a cargo train. Multiple carriages were derailed and at least three burst into flames after the collision. While the fire had been put out, the cause of the accident was not confirmed. The fire brigade said rescue operations were ongoing under very difficult conditions due to the severity of the collision, which happened some 380 kilometres north of Athens. *) Russia hammers Ukraine's Bakhmut Moscow’s forces have stepped up their weeks-long drive to encircle the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut as the Russian offensive enters its 371st day. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the intensity of fighting was "only increasing" near the frontline city, which has seen months of heavy battles. *) Tinubu wins Nigeria presidential election Nigeria's ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu has won the weekend presidential election after defeating two of his closest rivals. The Independent National Electoral Commission confirmed that Tinubu passed the benchmark of 25 percent of votes in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states and capital. Tinubu, candidate for the All Progressives Congress party, won 8.8 million votes while his runner up from opposition Peoples Democratic Party secured 6.9 million votes. *) Croatia's Modric donates World Cup jersey to quake victims Croatian national football team captain Luka Modric has donated his 2022 World Cup jersey to earthquake victims in Türkiye. All the proceeds from the sale of the number 10 jersey, worn in the 2022 World Cup opener against Morocco, are to go to disaster victims. Addressing the Turkish people in a video message on Twitter, Modric said: Stay strong, we are all with you and we are praying for you.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, February 28th. *) Turkish president pledges to preserve fabric of quake-hit historical provinces Türkiye's president has promised not to allow major changes to the fabric of the country's southern provinces amid efforts to rebuild from the devastation caused by two powerful earthquakes earlier this month. Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged that his government will take the necessary steps to prepare cities for future disasters, saying that construction would not be allowed in areas near fault lines or areas prone to soil liquefaction. The president also ruled out high-rise buildings in old settlements and repeated his promise to mend the damage caused by the earthquakes within the span of a year. *) Egypt showed friendship, fraternity in 'difficult times,' says Türkiye Hailing the solidarity Egypt displayed immediately after Türkiye’s deadly earthquakes, the Turkish foreign minister has said that the two countries were "opening a new chapter in relations." Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited the southern quake-hit Adana and neighbouring Mersin provinces on Monday along with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. Cavusoglu said he and Shoukry addressed ways to further develop ties in a bilateral meeting at Adana's Sakirpasa Airport. *) Russia fights to encircle Ukraine's defenders in Bakhmut Russian forces have pressed their offensive in eastern Ukraine as they attempt to encircle the small mining city of Bakhmut - a frontline city in the Donetsk province. "The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions for fortification and defence…," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Russian President Vladimir Putin identified Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk provinces as a focus from the outset of the conflict. Moscow-backed separatists have fought in the region since 2014. *) West African bloc urges candidates to accept election results in Nigeria Election observers from the Economic Community of West African States have urged candidates in Nigeria’s February 25 elections to respect the outcome of the polls. Results from 11 states released by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday show the ruling All Progressives Party leading. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party have been calling for the cancellation of the polls, citing reported cases of violence and the late arrival of voting materials. And finally… *) Twitter cuts more staff as Musk woes multiply Reports of more layoffs at Twitter have landed as owner Elon Musk waded into a racism controversy that risked pushing advertisers further away from the struggling platform. Musk called US media "racist" after multiple newspapers announced they would stop publishing a popular comic strip whose creator called Black people a hate group. Like Musk, the creator of the long-running "Dilbert" comic strip, Scott Adams, has increasingly stoked controversy with his views on social issues. The controversy came as the New York Times reported that Twitter had laid off at least 200 employees, or 10 percent of its already decimated workforce.

*) UN human rights session opens More than 100 heads of state and ministers are set to take part in the week-long United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva. The session focuses on issues ranging from Russia's alleged war crimes in Ukraine to China's reported mistreatment of its Muslim minority. A UN report published last year found that the detention of Uighurs and other Muslims by China may constitute crimes against humanity. Beijing denies any abuses. *) Nigeria awaits first election results Nigeria has announced initial results on Sunday after a tight election for the presidency of Africa's most populous nation. The election pits former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress against former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. A surprise third-party candidate, Labour Party's Peter Obi, has challenged the APC and PDP dominance with a message of change and an appeal to younger voters. Announcing first results state by state, the Independent National Electoral Commission said APC' s Tinubu easily won southwestern Ekiti state with PDP coming second. *) Israeli premier says will not freeze building settlements in West Bank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be no change in the plan to build illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu’s remarks came following a meeting held in Jordan on Sunday, with the participation of Palestine, Israel, Jordan, the US and Egypt. According to Jordan’s foreign ministry, Israel had committed to stop discussion of any new settlement units for 4 months and to stop authorisation of any military outposts for 6 months. The Israeli premier denied such reports. *) British premier, EU chief to meet amid talks on Northern Ireland UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hold face-to-face talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the two sides seek a deal to resolve post-Brexit talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol. In a joint statement, the leaders said they will continue to work towards shared and practical solutions to the longstanding issue. Sunak on Wednesday said any deal needs to ensure sovereignty for Northern Ireland and safeguard its place in the union. *) Football fans shower field with toys for children in quake-hit Türkiye Istanbul football club Besiktas fans have thrown thousands of stuffed toys on the field in a show of solidarity with children who were affected by the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye. Sunday's Besiktas game was paused at 4 minutes 17 seconds after the kick off in memory of the earthquake which struck at 4.17 am local time on February 6, killing at least 44,374 people. The Turkish football team started the campaign, asking fans to bring stuffed toys to be donated to the affected children.

*) UN demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to demand Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. The world body called for a "just and lasting" peace as the world marks the one-year anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, China has called for peace, saying "dialogue, negotiation are the only viable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis." *) Türkiye arrests more contractors as quake toll nears 50,000 Some 171 people have been arrested in investigations into destroyed buildings in southeastern Türkiye after February 6 earthquakes. The action comes as the death toll from the disaster in Türkiye crossed the grim mark of 43,500. The twin quakes have left more than 5,800 people dead in Syria. In total, the fatalities from both countries have surpassed 49,300. *) Fresh magnitude 5.0 earthquake strikes Türkiye's Hatay Staying in Türkiye, a fresh magnitude 5.0 earthquake has hit southern Hatay province. Hatay Governor Rahmi Dogan said a few buildings, which were already damaged from the previous quakes, collapsed. There were no injuries or people trapped in the debris, according to initial reports. *) Israel okays 7,000 illegal homes, accused of 'spitting on the face of US' Israel's far-right government has granted approval for over 7,000 new homes in illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The move defies growing international opposition to construction in the occupied territory of Palestine. The announcement came just days after the UN Security Council passed a statement strongly criticising Israeli illegal settlement construction on occupied Palestinian lands. *) Russia launches rescue ship to space station after leaks Russia has launched a rescue ship for two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut whose original ride home sprang a dangerous leak while parked at the International Space Station. The new, empty Soyuz capsule should arrive at the orbiting lab on Sunday. The capsule leak in December was blamed on a micrometeorite that punctured an external radiator, draining it of coolant.

*) Türkiye starts clearing quake rubble as toll surpasses 43,000 Demolition teams have started clearing mounds of rubble from the devastating February 6 earthquakes in Türkiye. This comes as the government and aid groups continue to shelter survivors still shaken from the tremors and several strong aftershocks. As of Thursday morning, the death toll from the disaster that hit Türkiye more than two weeks ago has reached 43,556, according to Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. The quake also badly affected neighbouring Syria, leaving more than 5,800 dead. In total, the fatalities from both countries have surpassed 49,300. *) Türkiye quakes generated up to 210 million tonnes of rubble: UNDP The United Nations Development Programme has said it plans to support Türkiye in the removal of rubble and the management of the debris from the earthquake's devastation. The UN agency said that the disaster generated between 116 million and 210 million tonnes of rubble. It estimated that an area of at least 30 kilometres by 30 kilometres with debris piled three metres high would be needed to contain it all. *) Russia breached Ukraine defences near Kreminna, got pushed back Russian troops trying to break through Ukrainian defences near the eastern town of Kreminna have been pushed back, losing some of their heavy equipment. This is according to the Luhansk regional governor. In recent days, Russia, trying to secure full control of two eastern provinces forming Ukraine's Donbass industrial region, has launched repeated assaults. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said Russia would pay more attention to “strengthening” nuclear triad and keep on equipping its armed forces with advanced equipment. *) Israeli troops kill 11 Palestinians in Nablus raid Israeli forces killed 11 Palestinians and wounded scores during a military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, according to Palestine's Health Ministry and medics. The incursion also left 102 Palestinians wounded, including six in critical condition, the Health Ministry said in a statement. The Israeli military also activated sirens in the country's south amid a salvo of rockets reportedly from northern Gaza. Air defences intercepted five of the rockets, the military said, and one missile landed in an open field. *) Idris Talha Kartav, beloved Turkish celebrity in China, dies in quakes Idris Talha Kartav, a beloved Turkish celebrity in China, is confirmed to be among those who lost their lives after two major earthquakes jolted southern Türkiye. The 31-year-old was in Adiyaman when the earthquakes hit and died after the hotel he was staying in collapsed. His body was reportedly found in the rubble more than 85 hours after the disaster. Kartav, or Tang, rose to fame in China as a regular guest on a popular variety show "Informal Talks" where he would often discuss Türkiye’s culture and history.

*) Death toll from Feb 6 Türkiye quakes tops 42,000 The death toll from February 6 powerful earthquakes has hit 42,310, a day after another tremor jolted Türkiye's southern Hatay province. A total of 7,242 aftershocks have been recorded since February 6, said the Turkish disaster management agency AFAD. The reported toll in Syria is 5,814, taking the combined death toll in both countries to over 48,000. *) Türkiye mobilises all resources, means for quake-hit provinces: Erdogan Türkiye is mobilising all of its resources and means to carry out accommodation and subsistence services for earthquake victims, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. Within one year, the country will revive the quake-hit villages and cities, and a total of 70,000 houses will be built in the villages, Erdogan said at a briefing. The new buildings will be no taller than three or four stories in addition to the ground floor, he added. *) Putin delivers nuclear warning to West over Ukraine, suspends START pact Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered a warning to the West, suspending a bilateral nuclear arms control treaty and announcing that a new strategic system had been put on combat duty. Cautioning the US that it was stoking the Ukraine war into a global conflict, Putin said Russia was suspending participation in the New START Treaty – the last major arms control treaty between Moscow and Washington. Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed his forces were maintaining their positions on the front line in eastern Ukraine despite considerable pressure from Russia. *) Church of Virgin Mary in Hatay suffers further damage in fresh quakes The Church of the Virgin Mary in Türkiye's Hatay province has suffered extensive new damage following Monday’s latest tremors. The damage to the outer walls of the church from the previous quakes was exacerbated by Monday’s quake and an intensity 5.8 aftershock, both of which were centred in Hatay province. The historic Orthodox church, used by local Turkish citizens of Armenian origin, is reportedly some 700 years old. And finally… *) Türkiye's Hatayspor sporting director Taner Savut found dead under rubble Turkish football club Atakas Hatayspor has confirmed that their sporting director Taner Savut died in the earthquakes in southern Türkiye. He was 48 years old. Hatayspor expressed "deep sadness" over the death and offered condolences to Savut's family and friends. Savut was trapped alongside Ghanaian football player Christian Atsu, who was also killed in the disaster. Their sports club reported a total of seven deaths from the February 6 quakes. Several Turkish clubs, including Fenerbahce, have offered their condolences over the death of Savut, who played for the Istanbul team from 1997 to 1999.

*) New deadly earthquakes hit Türkiye's Hatay province At least three people have been killed and 213 others wounded after another earthquake jolted Türkiye’s southern Hatay province, the country’s interior minister said. Suleyman Soylu said at a news briefing on Monday evening that search and rescue efforts are under way at three sites. Turkish disaster ma nagement agency AFAD said the magnitude 6.4 earthquake took place at around 8:04 pm local time (1704GMT) in Hatay’s Defne district. It was followed by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake three minutes later, with the epicentre in Hatay’s Samandag district. *) US to continue its 'full support' after two more quakes hit Türkiye The US will continue to offer its full support after two more earthquakes jolted Türkiye’s southernmost province of Hatay, the White House has said. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan wrote on Twitter that the US is “deeply concerned by the news of earthquakes impacting areas already devastated in Türkiye and Syria.” It came as magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes centred in Kahramanmaras struck 10 other provinces on February 6, killing at least 41,000 people in Türkiye and another 5,800 in Syria. *) Erdogan: More than 1.68M quake-affected people provided shelter Türkiye has provided shelter to over 1.68 million people who were affected by the original twin earthquakes that jolted the country's southeast, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. The construction of nearly 200,000 houses in quake-hit areas is also set to begin in March, Erdogan said during a briefing at the heavily affected Hatay province. The majority of the construction work will be focused on the Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Malatya provinces, with over 40,000 houses to be built in each province. *) Biden announces more military aid for Ukraine during Kiev visit US President Joe Biden has promised increased arms deliveries for Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kiev. Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly after arriving in the country's capital as fighting nears its one year anniversary on Thursday. He then announced an additional half-billion dollars in US assistance, including shells for howitzers, anti-tank missiles, air surveillance radars and other aid but no new advanced weaponry. *) Israeli settlement expansion threatens peace, UNSC warns The UN Security Council has unanimously denounced Israeli plans to greatly expand its construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank. The lengthy statement, read aloud in the council chambers, "expresses deep concern and dismay with Israel's announcement” of further construction and expansion of settlements. The statement further condemned all acts of violence against civilians, including those that have targeted Palestinians and Israelis, and called "on all parties to observe calm and restraint.” Last week, Israel's government moved to advance 10,000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, and retroactively legalise nine settler outposts that were previously illegal under Israeli law. The announcement drew stern international backlash.

*) Türkiye gets more aid pledges as rescue effort winds down It’s been two weeks since the February 6 earthquakes struck Türkiye and left in their aftermath massive destruction and heavy death toll. Pledges of financial aid and humanitarian support as well as expressions of solidarity continue to pour into the country and neighbouring Syria. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged a further $100 million in aid after visiting the disaster-hit region. The additional aid includes $50 million in emergency refugee and migration funds and $50 million in humanitarian assistance, Blinken said. US President Joe Biden had earlier announced $85 million for Türkiye and Syria days after the earthquake hit. The United States has also sent a search and rescue team, medical supplies and equipment. *) Over 6,000 aftershocks occurred after February 6 Türkiye quakes – AFAD The number of aftershocks following the two earthquakes has reached over 6,000, an official from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said. The number of aftershocks caused by the two earthquakes has reached 6,040. Among them, 40 had a magnitude between 5 and 6 and one at magnitude 6.6. This is according to Orhan Tatar, the general director of earthquake and risk reduction at AFAD. Tatar also warned that aftershocks “will continue for a longer period of time” and that some may have a magnitude of 5 and above. *) Russia hit by 'significant' losses in Ukraine's east – Zelenskyy Ukraine's military has been inflicting "extraordinarily significant" losses on Russian forces in the eastern Donbass region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Meanwhile, as the fighting rolls into its 362nd day, the Russian military has hit the deployment point of UAVs in western Ukraine, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. And the United States has accused China of considering arming Russia in its war against Ukraine, increasing tensions as the conflict hits its one-year mark this week. *) North Korea confirms ballistic missile test, warns of more powerful steps North Korea has confirmed that it carried out a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test. In a statement issued on Sunday, it said the ICBM test was meant to further bolster its “fatal” nuclear attack capacity against its rivals. It also threatened additional powerful steps in response to the planned military training between the United States and South Korea. *) Türkiye's historical monuments largely remain unaffected in quake zone Many invaluable artefacts in Türkiye, such as those in the renowned Zeugma Mosaic Museum, have been mainly left unscathed in two recent earthquakes. Overall, the total number of works assessed in the earthquake region was reported to be 433, with 121 seriously damaged, 66 moderately damaged, and 57 mildly. In addition, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that the ministry has introduced an emergency disaster prevention plan to help protect Türkiye’s heritage sites.

*) The United Nations appeals for $1B aid for Türkiye The United Nations has launched an appeal for 1 billion dollars to help victims in Türkiye of last week's devastating earthquakes that killed thousands of people and left millions more in desperate need of aid. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that the funds would provide humanitarian relief for three months to 5.2 million people. He said the money would "allow aid organizations to rapidly scale up vital support," including in the areas of food security, protection, education, water and shelter. *) Türkiye quakes deadliest natural disaster on alliance territory: NATO chief The NATO chief has said that last week's deadly earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye were "the deadliest natural disaster on alliance territory since the foundation of" the security alliance. In a joint press conference on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s visit is meant to show the alliance’s solidarity with Türkiye after deadly quakes. Cavusoglu said the NATO Council has also decided to send residential containers and tents that are suitable for winter conditions. *) Türkiye tightens noose around building contractors over 'earthquake crimes' Turkish authorities have detained more contractors and others allegedly responsible for poorly constructed buildings that collapsed and caused heavy mass casualties in last week’s earthquakes. Three people were detained in Türkiye’s southeastern Kahramanmaras province, which was the epicentre of two powerful earthquakes. Another five contractors were detained in Istanbul under the coordination of the Kahramanmaras Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. *) Boy among three survivors pulled alive 260 hours after Türkiye quakes Eleven days into the quake, rescuers have pulled a 12-year-old boy and two men out of the rubble. The rescues came more than 260 hours after the earthquakes that have so far left nearly 44,000 people dead in Türkiye and neighbouring Syria. The boy was rescued from the rubble of a building in the central Antakya city of Hatay province at the 260th hour following the first earthquake that hit Türkiye. Two more people were pulled alive from the rubble in the same province but such rescues have become increasingly rare. *) World wrestling body launches campaign for earthquake victims in Türkiye, Syria United World Wrestling has kicked off a campaign to raise money for the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria. "United World Wrestling has set up a donation drive to support relief efforts for those impacted by the earthquakes," the UWW said in a statement. It added that people can donate via PayPal or a bank account.

*) Türkiye medics move to avert spread of diseases amid disaster Rescue efforts have been continuing in quake-hit Adiyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaras and other Turkish provinces on day 11 following last week's twin quakes. The death toll in Türkiye stands at 35,418, making it the deadliest disaster in the country in a century. The toll in Syria has reached 5,814, bringing the total death toll from both countries to 41,232. Meanwhile, Turkish medical personnel are working to avert the spread of diseases in the evacuation centres where tens of thousands of people are seeking shelter. The World Health Organization's representative in Türkiye said WHO is working with Turkish officials to step up monitoring of waterborne diseases, seasonal influenza and Covid-19 among those displaced. *) US should prove it did not destroy Nord Stream — Russia The United States should prove it was not behind the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines that connected Russia to Europe, the Russian embassy to the US has said. This is according to the TASS news agency as fighting in Ukraine enters its 358th day. Moscow considers the destruction of Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines last September "an act of international terrorism". Russia will not allow the incident to be swept under the rug, the embassy said in a statement. *) China's Xi expresses solidarity with Iran amid Western pressure, sanctions Chinese leader Xi Jinping has expressed support for Iran during a visit by its president as Tehran continues to expand relations with Beijing to offset Western sanctions over its nuclear development. The official Chinese account of Xi’s meeting with Ebrahim Raisi gave no indication of whether they also discussed Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Raisi's three-day visit to China is scheduled until Thursday. *) New Zealand fears more fatalities after deadly Cyclone Gabrielle A cyclone that left a devastating wake of extensive flooding and landslides in New Zealand has claimed at least four lives. Police also have “grave concerns” for other residents who remain unaccounted for, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. Cyclone Gabrielle struck the country’s north on Monday and has brought more destruction to this nation of five million than any weather event in decades. And finally… *) Turkish TV channels raise billions for quake victims in marathon telecast Eight Turkish television channels have raised more than $6 billion during an aid drive for survivors of last week's devastating earthquakes. The channels TRT 1, ATV, FOX, Kanal D, Kanal 7, Show TV, Star TV and TV8 ran a live joint broadcast for the campaign called "Türkiye One Heart." The campaign managed to generate more than $6.1 billion, in other words 115.1 billion Turkish liras. More than nine million SMS text messages of donation were also sent.

*) Rising toll makes quake deadliest in Türkiye's modern history Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that more than 35,000 people have died in Türkiye as a result of last week’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake and powerful aftershocks. This new toll makes the quakes the deadliest such disaster since the founding of the republic 100 years ago. The fatalities already surpassed those recorded from the massive Erzincan earthquake in 1939 that killed around 33,000 people. Erdogan also said 105,505 were injured as a result of the February 6 quake centred around Kahramanmaras province and its aftershocks. *) Russia has held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children for 're-education' Russia has held at least 6,000 Ukrainian children in sites across the country, whose primary purpose appears to be political re-education, according to a US-backed report. As part of a "large-scale systematic network”, Yale University researchers identified at least 43 camps and other facilities where Ukrainian children have been held. The children included those with parents or with so-called clear guardianship, those Russia deemed orphans and those whose custody was unclear or uncertain due to the war. In response, Russia's embassy to the United States said Russia accepted children who were forced to flee with their families from shelling in Ukraine. *) Palestinian teen killed in Israeli military raid in occupied West Bank A Palestinian teen has been killed during an Israeli military raid in a refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said. Tuesday's death was the latest in an almost year-long surge in Israeli military raids into occupied Palestinian territory along with increasingly discriminatory policies toward Palestinians. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that during the raid local residents clashed with Israeli soldiers, who then shot at them. The Palestinian Health Ministry said that Mahmoud al Aydi, 17, died from a bullet wound to the head. *) US still in dark over flying objects as it trades balloon claims with China The White House has responded to growing speculation over the shooting down of unidentified aerial objects in its airspace. It said the targets could be anything from commercial craft to espionage devices. After mounting pressure on President Joe Biden's administration to explain the situation, officials appeared sure of only one thing: It's not aliens. The US says the first of the four objects - a sophisticated, high-altitude balloon shot down on February 4 off the coast of South Carolina - was part of an ongoing, global "fleet" of Chinese espionage balloons. China denied this, calling the huge balloon an errant weather research craft. *) Psychological disorders mount among Türkiye, Syria earthquake survivors For earthquake survivors in Türkiye and Syria, escaping the destruction isn't the end of their trauma. The road to full physical and mental recovery is often long, especially for those who've lost family members. Doctors in a Turkish field hospital in the southern city of Iskenderun have said they are treating increasing numbers of patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks. They said there are also growing concerns over emerging health issues linked to the cold weather, hygiene and sanitation, and the spread of infectious diseases.

*) Search for earthquake survivors enters final hours in Türkiye The desperate search for earthquake survivors in Türkiye and Syria continues as rescuers using sniffer dogs and thermal cameras survey the rubble for any sign of life eight days after the disaster. In Türkiye, the death toll stands at over 31,000, while the number of deaths in Syria reached over 4,500, according to the latest figures, bringing the total death toll to over 36,000. The US says Syria’s Assad regime has agreed to open an additional two new crossing points from Türkiye allowing delivery of more aid and equipment to help millions of earthquake victims. Opposition-run rescue group, however, criticised the UN decision, saying it gave the Assad regime “free political gain.” *) New Russian offensive underway in Ukraine, says NATO Ukraine’s eastern city of Bakhmut faces heavy artillery fire as the NATO chief reports that a major new Russian offensive has begun, days before the first anniversary of Moscow's operation. Ukrainian defenders, who have already held out for months, were defending new ground attacks from Russia, Ukrainian military officials said. Bakhmut is a prime target for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and its capture would give Russia a new foothold in the Donetsk region and a rare victory after months of setbacks. *) Iran's President Raisi begins visit to China Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has arrived in China for a three-day visit, flanked by a large delegation including his central bank chief and ministers for trade, the economy and oil. Raisi will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the capital Beijing, with the pair expected to sign a number of "cooperation documents", Tehran has said. Iran and China are seeking to strengthen their economic cooperation in the coming years as the two countries try to counter the United States. *) UN Security Council open debate on sea-level rise The UN Security Council is set to debate the issue on sea-level rise and its implications for international peace and security. The Maltese Council presidency said the debate aims to “address the risks in the global security architecture and invest in preventive mechanisms”. Malta warns the continued and accelerating sea-level rise could submerge low-lying coastal communities and island states resulting in territorial loss. It adds that sea-level rise can exacerbate instability by increasing tensions over resources such as food and water, among other things. And finally… *) Mexico hails 'heroic' rescue dog that died in Türkiye Mexico has paid tribute to a military rescue dog that died while searching for survivors buried under the rubble of the quake in Türkiye. Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval paid tribute to the German shepherd named Proteo after announcing his death. Proteo was one of more than a dozen rescue dogs dispatched by Mexico along with 130 military personnel following the disaster that hit Türkiye and Syria last week.

*) Grief, hope in Türkiye and Syria as disaster hits one-week mark The death toll in Türkiye and Syria has climbed to over 33,000, a week after two powerful earthquakes, centred in southeastern Türkiye, struck both countries. Hope remains that more survivors could still be found, after rescuers saved a woman from the rubble in Gaziantep 170 hours into search efforts. Late on Sunday, a young boy and a 62-year-old woman were also rescued in Hatay province. In Türkiye, the death toll has reached 29,605, while the number of deaths in Syria reached 3,574, according to the latest figures. *) UN admits aid failure for Syria as quake death toll soars The United Nations has decried the failure to ship desperately needed aid to war-torn regions of Syria, while warning the death toll from last week's earthquake is set to rise far higher. A 10-truck UN convoy carrying supplies crossed into northwest Syria via the Bab al Hawa border crossing, according to an AFP correspondent, but the agency's relief chief Martin Griffiths said on Sunday much more was needed for millions whose homes were destroyed. Supplies have been slow to arrive in Syria, where years of conflict have ravaged the healthcare system, and parts of the country remain under the control of rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al Assad, which remains under Western sanctions. *) Russia continues to shell Ukraine amid grinding push in east Russian forces continued to shell Ukrainian cities amid a grinding push to seize more land in the east of the country, but Ukrainian officials say that Moscow is having trouble launching its expected large-scale offensive there. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group earlier said that his forces are facing fierce resistance around Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region. Yevgeny Prigozhin said that it could take two years for Moscow to control the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, whose capture Moscow has stated as a key goal of the war. *) Israel set to legalise nine settlements in occupied West Bank Israel's security cabinet has announced that it would legalise nine Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank following escalating violence in occupied East Jerusalem. Netanyahu announced in a cabinet meeting on Sunday that he wanted to "strengthen settlements", which are illegal under international law. More than 475,000 Israelis reside in settlements in the occupied West Bank, where 2.8 million Palestinians live. *) New Zealand city grinds to halt as deluge from cyclone looms Auckland residents brace for a severe flood from Cyclone Gabrielle, two weeks after a record-breaking storm swamped New Zealand's largest city and killed four people. Much of Auckland ground to a halt as train services were cancelled, libraries and most schools were closed, and authorities asked people to make only essential trips. Air New Zealand cancelled all domestic flights to and from Auckland through Tuesday morning, as well as many international flights. The cyclone, which was moving south, dumped more than 220 millimeters of rain in areas north of Auckland, cutting power to about 58,000 households and forcing many roads to close.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, February 10th. *) Rescue teams race to find Türkiye, Syria quake survivors Rescuers were scouring debris nearly 100 hours after a massive earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria. The earthquakes have killed at least 21,000 people in one of the region's worst disasters of a century. In Türkiye, at least 17,674 people have been killed and 72,879 others injured by two strong earthquakes that hit the country’s southern provinces earlier this week. The quakes also killed at least 3,377 people in neighbouring Syria. *) Don't lose hope, Türkiye will overcome this disaster: President Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked his nation not to lose hope as rescuers raced to find more survivors under the rubble following this week’s earthquake. Erdogtan on Tuesday declared a three-month-long state of emergency in the 10 provinces hit by the quake. The Turkish president has tasked all of the ministers in his cabinet and Vice President Fuat Oktay to handle the situation and to establish coordination in the area. *) Türkiye teenager who drank 'urine to survive' is rescued after 94 hours Turkish rescuers have pulled out a teenager alive from the rubble of a building in southern Gaziantep province in a miracle recovery that came 94 hours after the earthquakes. The 17-year-old boy said he had to drink his own "urine to survive." Adnan Muhammet Korkut was rescued late from the debris of an apartment in Sehitkamil district of Gaziantep. *) Teary father celebrates daughter's rescue by Türkiye miners In another such development, Turkish rescuers have pulled out alive a 16-year-old girl, more than 80 hours after the disaster struck. The rescue left her overjoyed father in tears and the grieving nation cheering an agonisingly rare piece of good news after Monday's earthquakes. It took rescue workers five painstaking hours to save her life after neighbours raised the alarm. And finally… *) UN aid convoy reaches northwest Syria days after deadly earthquakes An aid convoy has reached opposition-held northwestern Syria, the first since a devastating earthquake that has killed thousands. The delivery includes blankets, mattresses, tents and "basic relief items... to cover the needs of at least 500 people," according to The International Organization for Migration. IOM head Antonio Vitorino said his organisation “is working very closely with authorities to support in any way it can” to help quick delivery of aid.

*) Erdogan: We will never allow our citizens to remain unsheltered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited southeastern Türkiye to inspect the areas devastated by the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes that hit the country earlier this week. The visit takes place the day after President Erdogan declared a three-month-long state of emergency in the 10 provinces affected by the quake. The Turkish president has tasked all of the ministers in his cabinet and Vice President Fuat Oktay to handle the situation and to establish coordination in the area. *) North Korea displays ICBMs at parade in demonstration of nuclear capability North Korea has displayed intercontinental ballistic missiles and other weapons during a nighttime military parade, calling them a demonstration of the country's "greatest" nuclear attack capability, the North's state media reported. The parade, attended by leader Kim Jong Un, took place in celebrations for the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army, the state news agency KCNA said. Earlier, satellite imagery from the US-based firm Maxar Technologies showed military vehicles and crowds in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square. *) Turkish stock exchange temporarily halts trading in wake of deadly quakes Turkish stock exchange Borsa Istanbul has announced that it suspended trading in the wake of two massive earthquakes which hit the country. Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index lost more than 19 percent from last week's close due to the selloffs triggered by the earthquakes. BIST 100 index was suspended at 4,186.01 points after it opened at 4,482.11 points. *) Biden says US 'not looking for conflict' with China President Joe Biden has said the United States is "not looking for conflict" with China despite tensions over the shooting down of what US officials say was a Chinese spy balloon. Biden's comments apparently sought to defuse tensions over the dramatic incident in which a huge Chinese balloon traversed much of the United States before being shot down by a US Air Force jet just off the east coast. Asked if the incident had caused major damage to the relationship with Beijing, Biden said "no." *) One in three schoolchildren does not have access to drinking water: UN The United Nations warned that one in three children worldwide does not have access to clean drinking water while at school, affecting their health and ability to learn. "Globally, almost one in three schools has no drinking water from an improved source," the UN cultural agency UNESCO said in a new report published. Clean drinking water and handwashing facilities are key to protecting children against the likes of Covid-19, parasites, respiratory illnesses and diarrhoea, said school health and nutrition expert Emilie Sidaner, who oversaw the report.

*) Fears grow for untold numbers buried by Türkiye earthquake Rescuers are racing against time in Türkiye and war-ravaged Syria two days after two massive 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes struck southern Türkiye, killing close to 10,000 in both countries. According to Türkiye’s disaster agency AFAD, at least 6,957 people have been killed in several of the country’s southern provinces. More than 2,500 people have been reported dead in northern Syria according to figures from the regime’s Health Ministry and the White Helmets volunteer organisation. A newborn baby was found alive and pulled from the rubble of a home in northern Syria on Tuesday. In Türkiye, several stories have also emerged of survivors pulled out from the wreckage more than two days after the disaster. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency that will last for three months in 10 provinces affected by the quake. *) Netherlands, Denmark and Germany buy 100 Leopard 1 Tanks for Ukraine The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are buying 100 Leopard-1A5 battle tanks for Ukraine, the Dutch government has said. The Dutch defense ministry said in a statement the tanks would be purchased "directly from German industry". In an interview on Dutch national broadcaster NOS, Netherlands Defense Minister Kasja Ollongen said the tanks, a slightly older model, are "definitely still useable" for fighting in Ukraine. *) US President Biden's makes annual State of the Union speech to Congress US President Joe Biden sought to rally supporters and challenge his political adversaries in his second State of the Union Address, telling Republicans to join with him as he seeks to unite the country to meet its most pressing challenges. He was quick to spar with the opposition party amid an ongoing impasse with House Republicans over raising the national debt ceiling, accusing the GOP of attempting to hold the nation hostage in order to claim wins on their priorities. Biden also said that Washington would continue to stand behind Kiev in its efforts to push Russia out of its territory. *) Investigators may name more suspects in downing of Flight MH17 International investigators probing the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine are set to present new findings, including possibly naming additional suspects. In November, a Dutch court convicted two former Russian intelligence agents and a Ukrainian separatist leader of murder for helping arrange the Russian missile system that was used to shoot the plane down, killing 298 passengers and crew. The three men, who were tried in absentia, remain at large. Russia has denied any responsibility for downing MH17. *) Nine-year-old Turkish boy donates his pocket money to earthquake victims Back in Türkiye, a 9-year-old boy who survived an earthquake last year, has donated his pocket money to help relief efforts in the wake of Monday’s devastating earthquakes. Alparslan Efe Demir and his mother visited the Duzce branch of the Turkish Red Crescent and handed over money from his piggy bank for authorities to deliver to those in need. The young boy moved the Red Crescent employees to tears with a letter he wrote for the earthquake survivors.

*) Erdogan declares seven-day national mourning in Türkiye over deadly quakes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced seven days of national mourning in Türkiye after deadly earthquakes shook several provinces, killing at least 3,381 people and injuring 20,426 others. A 7.7 earthquake hit the country's southern Kahramanmaras Province at 4:17 am local time Monday, triggering numerous aftershocks and strongly shaking several neighbouring provinces and a few countries. A second earthquake of 7.6 magnitude also struck Kahramanmaras at 1:24 pm local time. Authorities fear the death toll will keep climbing as thousands of rescuers look for survivors among tangles of metal and concrete. *) War-torn Syria grapples with aftermath of deadly quake centred in Türkiye The 7.7 magnitude earthquake centred in southern Türkiye sent residents of Damascus and Beirut rushing into the street and was felt as far away as Cairo. The impact was felt hard in northern Syria where people are already suffering under a 12-year civil war and a refugee crisis. At least 1,602 people have been killed and 4,800 others have been wounded according to the regime’s Ministry of Health and the White Helmets rescue organisation. So far, over 4,900 people are confirmed dead in Türkiye and Syria. *) Russian reinforcements pour into eastern Ukraine, says governor Russia is pouring reinforcements into eastern Ukraine ahead of a new offensive that could begin next week along a strategic front, a Ukrainian governor said. Ukraine anticipates that the major offensive could be launched for "symbolic" reasons around the February 24 anniversary of the conflict. . Ukraine is itself planning a spring offensive to recapture lost territory, but awaiting delivery of promised longer-range Western missiles and battle tanks. Some analysts say Ukraine is months away from being ready for an offensive. *) France's Macron faces third round of pension reform strikes President Emmanuel Macron and his government are bracing for a third wave of nationwide strikes and protests against plans to make the French work longer before retirement, as the bill started its bumpy passage through parliament. The government says people must work two years longer - meaning for most until the age of 64. The French spend the largest number of years in retirement among OECD countries - a deeply cherished benefit that a substantial majority are reluctant to give up, polls show. *) Plane carrying Musharraf's body lands in Pakistan Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf will be buried after a special plane transporting his body from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Karachi on Monday amid tight security. Family members were also on board when the plane landed at the airport in the city where he will be buried Tuesday. Musharraf, who remains Pakistan’s longest-serving president, died in Dubai on Sunday after a prolonged illness.

*) Major earthquakes kill hundreds across Turkiye, Syria A powerful 7.7 earthquake has struck southern Türkiye early Monday, killing at least 912 people and injuring at least 5,385 across several provinces. According to Türkiye’s disaster agency AFAD, the quake was centred in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras Province and was followed by magnitude 6.6 and 6.5 quakes that struck Gaziantep province. The quake was felt hard in Syria where at least 326 people were killed and 1,042 were injured in regime-controlled regions, according to regime media. In rebel-held regions, 147 people were killed and more than 340 were injured, rescue workers said. *) Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf’s passing leaves divided legacy Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf has passed away at a hospital in Dubai on Sunday after a protracted illness, according to the country’s military and mission in the UAE. Musharraf is remembered for overseeing rapid economic growth and attempting to usher in socially liberal values in the conservative country. But his heavy-handed use of the military to quell dissent as well as his continued backing of the United States in its fight against Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban ultimately led to his downfall. Musharraf served as President from 2001 to 2008, when he resigned following a movement led by the ruling coalition government to impeach him. *) Hong Kong’s largest national security trial gets underway The trial of 16 Hong Kong activists charged under a national security law imposed by China has begun in a case that some observers say will be a test of the city's judicial independence. The defendants are those who pleaded not guilty out of 47 arrested during a raid in January 2021. The activists were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for participating in an unofficial primary election organised by anti-Beijing activists in 2020. *) Israeli approves new illegal Jewish settlement near Gaza The Israeli government has approved the construction of a new settlement near the border with the besieged Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his ministry will officially start budgeting the planning of the settlement. Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf said the new settlement will house nearly 500 families. *) Italy sounds alarm on massive computer hacking attack Thousands of computer servers around the world have been targeted by a ransomware hacking attack, Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) said. The hacking attack on Sunday sought to exploit a software vulnerability, ACN director general Roberto Baldoni said, adding it was on a massive scale. Italy's ANSA news agency, citing the ACN, reported that servers had been compromised in other European countries such as France and Finland as well as the United States and Canada. Dozens of Italian organisations were likely to have been affected and many more had been warned to take action to avoid being locked out of their systems.

*) Putin warns West over arms deliveries to Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed a decisive response to any country threatening Russia and lashed out against Germany for promising tanks for Kiev. He was speaking at a ceremony commemorating the Red Army's victory against Nazi troops 80 years ago in Stalingrad, as the city was then known. His statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Kremlin was consolidating its forces for a fresh offensive. *) Norway withdraws permission for Quran burning after Türkiye's warning Norway has cancelled its permission to burn the Quran after Ankara warned against it. On Thursday, Türkiye summoned Norwegian Ambassador in Ankara, Erling Skjonsberg, over plans to desecrate the holy Quran in the Scandinavian country on Friday. Skjonsberg was told that Ankara "strongly condemns Norway's approach not to prevent the planned provocative act, which is clearly a hate crime. *) Sudan to move forward with Israel 'normalisation' Sudan says it has agreed to "move forward" towards normalising relations with Israel during talks with Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen in Khartoum. Thursday’s statement from Sudan’s foreign ministry came following a meeting between Cohen and his Sudanese counterpart Ali al-Sadiq. The pair discussed "ways to establish fruitful relations" between the two countries and "prospects of cooperation" in areas including security and energy. *) House Republicans vote to remove 1st Muslim woman from committee US House of Representatives Republicans have ousted Democrat Ilhan Omar from a high-profile committee over remarks widely condemned as antisemitic. "I am a Muslim, I'm an immigrant and, interestingly, I'm from Africa," the 40-year-old Minnesota progressive said in a defiant floor speech ahead of her removal from the Foreign Affairs Committee. The deeply divided House voted 218 to 211 along party lines to remove Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee with Republicans citing the 2019 remarks for which she later apologised. And finally… *) Nick Kyrgios pleads guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend Tennis star Nick Kyrgios has pleaded guilty to assaulting a former girlfriend, but avoided a conviction for what the magistrate called a "single act of stupidity". The Canberra magistrate dismissed the assault charge against the 27-year-old Australian player. Appearing in a Canberra court, the Wimbledon finalist admitted assaulting then-girlfriend Chiara Passari on January 10, 2021, by pushing her to the ground after a heated argument.

*) Erdogan vows to advance Türkiye, relays concern over anti-Muslim rhetoric Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his administration is preparing Türkiye to become a global power with massive investments in infrastructure. President Erdogan says the “Turkish Century” will see Türkiye becoming one of the most prominent countries in the world with the power and experience it has gained in the last period. Commenting on the hateful act of Quran burning in Sweden, the Turkish president says Stockholm should not expect Türkiye’s support for its NATO membership bid after the incident. *) Beirut blast investigation takes tumultuous turn as systemic cracks surface It’s been two and a half years of fighting and disappointment for the families of those who were killed in 2020’s August 4 blast in Beirut’s port. The investigation has yielded little in the way of answers or accountability. Instead, there has been a change in judges, 18 lawsuits against investigators, four suspensions, and a gunfight on the streets. *) Israel’s military says ‘currently striking’ besieged Gaza Israel says it conducted air strikes on the central areas of besieged Gaza hours after intercepting a rocket fired from Palestine's territory. So far, there hasn’t been any immediate reports of casualties on either side. Since the start of 2023, the Israel-Palestine conflict has claimed the lives of at least 35 Palestinians, whereas at least six Israelis have reportedly been killed. *) Zelenskyy says eastern Ukraine situation getting tougher Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the situation on the front lines in eastern Ukraine is becoming tougher as Russian forces step up its offensive. Russia is gaining momentum on the battlefield, announcing advances north and south of the city of Bakhmut, its main target for months. Zelenskyy says the Russians are trying to make gains that they could show on the first anniversary of the conflict on February 24. And finally… *) Australia to replace Queen Elizabeth's image from banknotes Australia’s central bank announces it will erase the late British monarch from its banknotes. The late Queen Elizabeth the second’s image on the $5 note will be replaced with a design honouring Indigenous culture. The $5 bill is Australia's only bank note to feature the monarch.

*) US to lose neutrality if OKs Greece's F35s, rejects Türkiye's F16s: Kalin The US will lose its "neutrality" in NATO if the Congress approves the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece and opposes Türkiye's F-16 purchase. This is what Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has said. Kalin also said Türkiye will not accept any preconditions, such as ratification of Sweden and Finland's NATO bid, for the F-16 programme. Ankara has maintained the jets would strengthen not only Türkiye, but also NATO. *) Netanyahu says Israel is considering weapons aid to Ukraine Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is considering military aid to Ukraine and even willing to serve as a mediator, after the US called for Tel Aviv’s more active role. For now, Netanyahu made no firm commitments to Ukraine. Israel has preserved a relationship with Russia, which controls the skies in neighbouring Syria and has turned a blind eye to Tel Aviv's strikes on targets of Iran. *) US-India alliance look to challenge China The US has formally launched a partnership with India that President Joe Biden hopes will help the two countries compete against China. The White House is looking to engage with New Delhi for cooperation in areas of military equipment, semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The US and India have emerged as natural allies to counter China’s rising influence, not only in the region but also globally. *) The case of fake medicines in Africa's Sahel region Up to 50 percent of medicines in West Africa are substandard or fake, the UN has warned in a report on the illicit trade in medical products. The global body said it can lead to antimicrobial resistance or toxic contaminants while undermining trust in healthcare systems. Across sub-Saharan Africa, up to $44.7 million per year is spent on treating people who have used counterfeit or substandard malaria treatments. And finally… *) Palestinians protest Israeli plans to demolish Bedouin homes Dozens of Palestinians and foreign activists are staging a sit-in to protest Israeli plans to demolish the Khan al Ahmar Bedouin community in occupied East Jerusalem. A representative of the Khan al Ahmar residents tells Anadolu Agency their protest is aimed at confronting Israeli plans to forcibly displace the residents of the community. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government had a Wednesday deadline to present its demolition plan to the Supreme Court.

*) Finland would not allow burning of Quran: police As per local media, police in Finland have said the public burning copies of Islam's holy book, the Quran, would not be allowed in the country. The National Police Board said burning a copy of the Quran would likely violate religious peace, which is a punishable offence in Finland. The public burning or other desecration of a book held sacred by a religious community would be met with police intervention, the police further said. *) Scores killed, dozens injured in Pakistan mosque suicide attack A suicide bomber struck a crowded mosque inside a police compound in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 80 people and wounding dozens others. Overnight, at least nine more bodies were recovered as rescuers sifted through the rubble of the mosque's collapsed wall and roof. Many of the injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital after a bomber detonated his suicide vest as worshipers, including many policemen, were praying inside the mosque. *) Biden says 'no' to US sending F-16 jets to Ukraine US President Joe Biden said he will not be sending F-16 fighter jets to help Ukraine against Russia. "No," he said when asked by reporters at the White House if he was in favour of sending the jets, which Ukraine's leaders have said are at the top of their latest weapons wish list. Biden said he will be visiting Poland, the key hub in the nearly year-long, massive Western effort to support Ukraine against Russian attack. *) Top NATO negotiator says Sweden's share of PKK terror funding larger than Finland's Sweden has a larger share of PKK terror group financing as compared to Finland, Stockholm's chief NATO negotiator said. Speaking to the state-owned radio, Oscar Stenstrom said: "Unlike Finland, we have a larger share of funding for the PKK from Sweden." Both countries are bidding to join the NATO alliance, but are faced with opposition from Türkiye due to their ties and tolerance toward the PKK terrorist organisation and its offshoots. And finally… *) Israeli-Palestinian rising violence a test for US as Blinken visits region An alarming spike in Israeli military violence, and response from the Palestinian side, is testing the Biden administration. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sets off to Israel and the occupied West Bank this week. Blinken’s high-wire diplomatic act begins after he completes a brief visit to Egypt that has been almost entirely overshadowed by the security situation in Israel and the occupied West Bank. US officials say the main theme of Blinken’s conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will be “de-escalation.”

*) Deadly Russian shelling hit Ukraine's Kherson, Kharkiv cities Russian shelling of Ukraine's southern city of Kherson has left at least three people dead, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy said in his evening address that the Russian army has been shelling Kherson “all day" and that "there are reports of six wounded and three dead." Meanwhile, in eastern Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, the governor of the regional military administration said a Russian strike hit "a four-storey residential building". He said an elderly woman died from the attack and the building was partially destroyed. *) Dozens killed as militant launches attack in eastern DRC A wave of attacks on villages in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo attributed to Daesh-affiliated ADF militants have killed at least 15 people. This is according to a local official who said there were seven fatalities in Manyala and "at least eight" in Ofay following “simultaneous attacks”. He said the final toll might be higher. Sunday's killings come a week after a similar attack left at least 23 people dead. *) Israeli-Palestinian cauldron tests US as Blinken visits An alarming spike in Israeli-Palestinian tensions is testing the Biden administration as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sets out to visit Israel and the occupied West Bank. Blinken’s trip begins on Monday after he completes a brief visit to Egypt. US officials say the main theme of Blinken’s conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will be “de-escalation.” Yet Blinken will arrive in Israel just a day after Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet announced a series of punitive measures against Palestinians following deadly raids in the occupied West Bank. *) Low turnout hobbles Tunisia’s second round of parliamentary polls Provisional figures showed the turnout in the second round of Tunisia's parliamentary election on Sunday was 11.3 percent. This is according to the head of the electoral commission who announced the figure at a news conference. A turnout of 11.2 percent had been registered in the first round of the election in December. A total of 262 candidates are competing for 131 seats from Tunisia's 161-member legislature, which was largely stripped of its powers following a series of measures by President Kais Saied in 2021. And finally… *) Djokovic wins 10th Australian Open title, ties Nadal’s 22nd grand slam title Novak Djokovic has resumed his reign over Melbourne Park by winning a record-extending 10th Australian Open title. Djokovic swept to victory at Rod Laver Arena to reclaim the world number one ranking on Sunday. In a rematch of the 2021 French Open decider, he again denied Greece's trailblazer Stefanos Tsitsipas a maiden major title. Djokovic's triumph was the ultimate redemption a year after his deportation from Australia on the eve of the Grand Slam due to his lack of Covid-19 vaccination. With the win, he also ties Rafael Nadal’s 22 grand slam titles.

*) Blinken to visit Mideast as Palestine mourns killings by Israel Top American diplomat Antony Blinken will travel to Egypt, Israel and Palestine this weekend, the State Department has announced, as the US expressed alarm about escalating violence after Israel's single deadliest operation in the occupied West Bank in 20 years. Blinken's visit to Israel has been planned for weeks, but the Israeli raid on a West Bank refugee camp earlier on Thursday — that killed nine people, including a 61-year-old woman — will likely dominate his talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah. The Israeli military also fatally shot a 22-year-old Palestinian later in the day. *) Peru army, police to unblock roads controlled by protesters The Peruvian government has said that police and soldiers would soon move to dismantle roadblocks on the nation's highways erected by protesters who have demanded for weeks the resignation of President Dina Boluarte. The move announced by the defence and interior ministries on Thursday comes as shortages of basic goods including food and fuel have escalated in the South American country, with freight deliveries to the south compromised. *) Biden calls Republicans' economic plans dangerous for US economy US President Joe Biden has said he will veto any Republican legislation that threatens to sow "chaos" in the country's economy. "I will not let it happen. Not on my watch. I will veto everything," he said in a speech laying out his economic vision at a Virginia pipe fitters union hall. Biden said congressional Republicans' push to block expansion of the nation's borrowing limit, threatening a US debt default, would spark "chaos" and "pain" for the world's number one economy. *) Ukraine calls for banning Djokovic's father for flanking pro-Russia fans Ukraine's ambassador to Australia has urged tennis officials to ban Novak Djokovic's father from the Australian Open after he was filmed posing with fans brandishing Russian flags. Myroshnychenko also called on Djokovic, who is preparing to face Tommy Paul in the semi-finals of the tournament, to personally apologise and to clarify his stance on the Russian invasion. And finally… *) New excavation unearths tombs and sarcophagus in Egypt Egypt has unveiled dozens of new archaeological discoveries, including two ancient tombs at a Pharaonic necropolis just outside of the capital Cairo. The artefacts, unearthed during a year-long excavation, were found beneath an ancient stone enclosure near the Saqqara pyramids, the excavation team said. One of the uncovered tombs belonged to a priest from the fifth dynasty known as Khnumdjedef, while the other belonged to an official named Meri, who held the title of “the keeper of the secrets,” the team said.

*) Ukraine seeks long-range missiles as fighting rages in Bakhmut Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he wanted the West to send long-range missiles and jets to his war-torn country to help repel Russian troops. "I've spoken with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today," Zelenskyy said after the United States and Germany announced they would send heavy tanks to Ukraine. "We must also open deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important — we must expand our cooperation in artillery," Zelenskyy said, also adding that Ukraine needed jets. "This is a dream. And this is a task." *) Thousands join 'Invasion Day' protests on Australia Day holiday Thousands of Australians have marked the country's national holiday with rallies in support of the nation's Indigenous people, many of whom describe the anniversary of the day a British fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour as "Invasion Day". In Sydney, the capital of New South Wales — Australia's most populous state — social media showed a large crowd gathered at an "Invasion Day" rally on Thursday in the central business district, where some people carried Aboriginal flags and an Indigenous smoking ceremony took place. *) More potential unmarked graves discovered at Canada school An investigative team has found 66 more potential unmarked graves at a former residential school in British Columbia, the Williams Lake First Nation [WLFN] said at a press conference. The announcement of the discovery on Wednesday brings the number to 159 found at the former St Joseph's Mission Residential School — 93 were uncovered in May 2021. Run by the Catholic Oblates order, thousands of Indigenous children were forced to attend the Mission operated between 1886 and 1981 *) India's Gautam Adani accused of pulling 'largest con in corporate history' Asia's richest man Gautam Adani has seen his net worth drop by nearly $11 billion after a US investment firm accused him of "brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud". Adani, 60, is the world's third-richest person, with an estimated fortune of around $120 billion and interests ranging from Australian coal mines to India's busiest ports. But the magnate lost billions after allegations by short-selling firm Hindenburg Research that caused shares in its companies to plunge as investors rushed to sell shares in his group of companies. And finally… *) Bollywood star 'King Khan' returns to big screen amid Hindu far-right ire Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has returned to the silver screen for the first time in four years with a big-budget action movie that has sparked ire from Hindu far-right groups. "Pathaan", which hit cinemas on Wednesday, a day ahead of India's Republic Day celebrations, also features Bollywood heartthrob Deepika Padukone and action hero John Abraham — as well as songs and special effects galore. The success of "Pathaan", where Khan plays a spy fighting a militant outfit, is crucial for the Indian film industry that has seen a spate of high-profile flops since the Covid-19 pandemic began, as Netflix and Amazon have provided varied and much cheaper content at home.

*) US possible tank deliveries to Ukraine disturbs Russia The Biden administration could approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to fortify Kiev's firepower against Russia, according to US officials. Moscow called the possible approval of the tanks a "blatant provocation" against Russia. "If the United States decides to supply tanks, then justifying such a step with arguments about 'defensive weapons' will definitely not work", Russia's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said. *) New Zealand has new prime minister Chris Hipkins has been sworn in as New Zealand's 41st prime minister, following the unexpected resignation of Jacinda Ardern last week. Hipkins has promised a back-to-basics approach focusing on the economy and what he described as the "pandemic of inflation”. He will have less than nine months before contesting a tough general election, with opinion polls indicating his Labour Party is trailing its conservative opposition. *) Bulgaria announces snap general elections Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has said he would set April 2 as the date for the country's parliamentary election, a fifth within two years. The president will dissolve the parliament after polls in last October failed to produce a working government. Bulgaria has been governed by caretaker governments, appointed by Radev for much of the past two years in the absence of a stable elected coalition. *) NASA, Pentagon to develop nuclear-powered rocket for Mars NASA is partnering with the Pentagon's research agency, DARPA, to develop a nuclear-powered rocket engine in preparation for sending astronauts to Mars. "With the help of this new technology, astronauts could journey to and from deep space faster than ever — a major capability to prepare for crewed missions to Mars," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said. NASA conducted its last nuclear thermal rocket engine tests more than 50 years ago, but the program was abandoned due to budget cuts and Cold War tensions. And finally… *) Türkiye suspends talks with Sweden, Finland over NATO accession Türkiye has postponed a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland over their NATO bid scheduled for February, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The decision was made after Sweden allowed Denmark’s far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) Party's anti-Muslim leader Rasmus Paludan to burn a copy of Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. The sources did not specify when the meeting would take place.

*) Constant Russian shelling and attacks in Ukraine Russian forces have been shelling and attacking Ukrainian positions on the front lines of the conflict around the clock according to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his nightly video message, Zelenskyy said the battle for the Donbass region and for the south goes on. He added that Ukraine is aware of how Russia is massing its forces and knows how to respond. *) Seven dead in new California shooting At least seven people have been killed in a mass shooting at two locations in the coastal northern California city of Half Moon Bay. The suspect was arrested after he drove to a police parking lot apparently to hand himself in. He is cooperating with investigators, according to the county sheriff. The shootings came after a gunman opened fire and killed 11 people at a dance club in Los Angeles over the weekend. *) UN seeking to reverse ban on women workers in Afghanistan The UN humanitarian chief has arrived in Afghanistan in a bid to reverse the Taliban administration’s ban on Afghan women and girls going to schools and working for humanitarian organisations. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths was joined by two major international aid organisations and the UN children’s agency, UNICEF. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said last month’s ban on Afghan women working for NGOs is sowing fears that the already dire humanitarian situation will get even worse. *) Without respect for Islam, Sweden gets no NATO boost: Türkiye Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Sweden should not expect any good news from Türkiye on its NATO bid “if it does not show respect to Islam.” The remarks came after Rasmus Paludan, the leader of Denmark’s far-right Stram Kurs Party burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm. The anti-Muslim act was done under police protection and with permission from the Swedish government. *) Dutch leader of far-right group desecrates copy of Quran The Dutch leader of a far-right group known as Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West has desecrated the Quran in the Netherlands. In a video posted on social media, anti-Muslim provocateur Edwin Wagensveld tore apart a copy of Islam's holy book, then set it on fire. Wagensveld, who claimed he had permission from the city of The Hague for the destruction of the Quran, was arrested twice before for his anti-Muslim activities.

*) Suspect in California mass shooting found dead The suspect of a mass shooting in California, which left 10 people dead during the Lunar New Year, has died apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Los Angeles Sherrif said the gunman, named as 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, committed suicide when police approached a wanted van. Investigations are ongoing as homicide detectives are working on determining the motive behind the attack. *) Netanyahu removes top minister over Supreme Court ruling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has removed a top minister from office following a Supreme Court ruling. Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas, was appointed health and interior minister last month. But the Supreme Court ruled that Netanyahu must remove Deri from his position due to a tax evasion conviction last year. *) Hundreds protest outside Swedish Consulate in Istanbul over Quran burning The Quran-burning incident in Sweden has ignited a second day of protests in Türkiye, reflecting a growing global condemnation against anti-Muslim hatred. Some 250 people gathered outside the Swedish Consulate in Istanbul, holding flags and banners that said: We condemn Sweden’s state-supported Islamophobia. On Saturday, the Swedish government allowed Rasmus Paludan, a convicted racist, to burn a copy of Islam’s holy book outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. *) Canada to pay more than $2B to Indigenous survivors of abuse Canada will pay hundreds of Indigenous communities 2.1 billion dollars in compensation for nearly a century of abuse suffered by thousands of children in residential schools. The compensation will be used to revitalise Indigenous education, culture, and language and support the survivors, many of whom were physically and sexually abused. The settlement with the Canadian government was the result of a class-action lawsuit brought by 324 Indigenous communities. *) Ronaldo scores for Al Nassr in the first game after Saudi Arabia move Cristiano Ronaldo has made a winning start to life in the Saudi Pro League as he led Al Nassr to a 1-0 victory over Ettifaq in his first match after Saudi Arabia move. The 37-year-old moved to the team for deals totalling more than 400 million dollars, becoming the best paid football player in history.

*) Zelenskyy expects powerful Western military support President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is waiting for a "decision from one European capital that will activate the prepared chains of cooperation on tanks." Zelenskyy thanked Estonia for the large package of military assistance and Sweden for its package which included howitzers and ammunition. Zelenskyy also thanked Denmark for the NLAW, Archers and APCs. *) Palestine tells Biden adviser to rein in Israel 'before it's too late' Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas meets US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, appealing to the Biden administration to stop the Israeli government from pressing ahead with escalatory measures against the Palestinians. Abbas urged the United States to intervene before it is too late to stop the unilateral measures by the new Israeli coalition's policies. *) Türkiye expects US to extradite FETO terrorists: Cavusoglu Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says that he hopes Washington will extradite members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization based in the US. Speaking with members of the Turkish-American community and Ahiska Turks in Houston, Texas, Cavusoglu stressed that FETO members are "intensely" present in the city. Cavusoglu said that FETO's educational institutions were shut down in many countries and their members were handed over to Türkiye. *) At least 145 people feared dead in DRC boat tragedy At least 145 passengers are missing and feared dead after a motorised boat overloaded with goods and animals sank at night on a river in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo. About 55 people survived the disaster, officials said. The boat was travelling to the neighbouring Republic of Congo when it capsized in the Lulonga River. And finally… *) Kashmir, Chad, Venezuela activists win Martin Ennals Award Campaigners from disputed Kashmir region, Chad and Venezuela win the Martin Ennals Award, one of the world's most prestigious human rights prizes. Khurram Parvez, a prominent rights activist in restive India-administered Kashmir, Delphine Djiraibe, one of Chad's first women lawyers and Feliciano Reyna, a rights activist in Venezuela bagged the award, the jury announced. The award ceremony, managed by Martin Ennals Foundation, will take place in Geneva on February 16, the organisers said.

*) Türkiye tells US to delink F-16 jet sale from Nordic NATO bids Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that the United States must approve a 20 billion dollar sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye. Cavusoglu said after a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the important thing on the sale of F-16 jets is whether the Biden administration will be determined. The Turkish minister said the Biden administration should not waste the deal because of objection by some senators and should also convey to Congress that NATO bids by Finland and Sweden are not linked with F-16 sale. *) Huge US weapons package for Ukraine The US is finalising a massive package of military aid for Ukraine that US officials say is likely to total as much as 2.6 billion dollars. It's expected to include for the first time nearly 100 Stryker combat vehicles and at least 50 Bradley armoured vehicles to allow Ukrainian forces to move more quickly and securely on the front lines in the war with Russia. The officials said the numbers could change as the Biden administration goes through final deliberations on the package. *) New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern to quit as PM next month New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern plans to stand down no later than early February and will not seek reelection, Ardern has said in a televised statement. Fighting back tears, she said the general election will take place on October 14 and her last day as prime minister will be on February 7. Ardern faced a tough election campaign this year. *) France braces for nationwide strike against Macron's pension reform Trains will grind to a halt in France, classrooms will be shut, and businesses will be disrupted as workers walk off their jobs in an attempt to derail a planned pension reform. The nationwide day of strikes and protests is a major test for President Emmanuel Macron, but also for the unions. Opinion polls show French voters overwhelmingly reject a reform that the government says is vital to ensure the pension system does not go bust. And finally… *) Spanish great-grandmother tipped as 'world's oldest person' at 115 A Spanish great-grandmother who was born in the United States has likely become the world's oldest living person at 115, a Guinness World Records consultant said. Maria Branyas Morera is believed to have assumed the title following the death of French nun Lucile Randon aged 118, senior consultant for gerontology Robert D. Young said. Guinness World Records must still make the official decision after carrying out document checks and interviewing Branyas Morera's family.

*) Ukraine welcomes Dutch Patriot help as fighting rages in east The training of Ukrainian officers to operate the Patriot advanced long-range air defence system will last 10 weeks, Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. The United States, Germany and the Netherlands have pledged to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine to repel a barrage of Russian missile and drone attacks. Reznikov said that the training is an obligation undertaken by the US. *) Pentagon extols alliance with Türkiye ahead of possible F-16 deal Ahead of a possible F-16 deal, the Pentagon said that Türkiye has an important partnership with the US on the global stage and Washington views Ankara as "an important ally". Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder said "the United States and Türkiye share an alliance and they're an important partner, not only in the region but around the world." *) England nurses launch fresh strikes over pay Nurses in England have begun two days of strikes over pay, as officials warned of disruption for thousands of patients in the UK's state-run health service. Strikes beginning from Wednesday come after nurses held an unprecedented strike last month, joining a wave of industrial action by public sector workers. The main nursing union accuses the government of failing to negotiate seriously on improving their pay deal for the current year. *) DRC's Tshisekedi accuses M23 rebels of faking agreed pullback The M23 rebel group has not fully withdrawn from areas it seized in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Felix Tshisekedi said, accusing the militia of faking an agreed pullback of its forces. He said that despite international pressure, they pretended to move but they have not, adding that they are redeploying elsewhere, and staying in the towns that they have captured. *) Türkiye's Sengun breaks Shaq's NBA centre record Türkiye's Alperen Sengun has made NBA history by becoming the youngest centre to record at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game for the Houston Rockets against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tuesday's game ended 140-132 in favour of the Lakers, with the 20-year-old Sengun scoring a career-high 33 points on 14 of 17 shooting, adding 15 rebounds and six assists. Sengun broke the three-decade record of Shaquille O’Neal, who scored 30 points at the age of 21 during the 1992-93 season.

*) UN: Russian attack in Dnipro possible war crime UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Saturday’s Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s Dnipro, which left at least 40 dead, as a possible war crime. According to his spokesperson, Guterres said the strike was another example of a suspected violation of the laws of war. The strike marked one of the deadliest attacks in Ukraine since the start of the Russian offensive last February. *) German defence minister resigns Germany’s Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht has announced her resignation just days ahead of a crucial meeting of defence ministers from Ukraine's allies. After taking office as defence chief in December 2021, Lambrecht came under months of heavy criticism over Berlin's stuttering response to the war in Ukraine. Her resignation came as Berlin was once again under intense pressure to provide battle tanks to Kiev. *) Somalia recaptures key port from Al Shabab Somalia's armed forces have reportedly captured a strategic coastal town that the Al Shabab terror group had held for more than a decade. The defence minister said that the capture of the port town of Harardhere as well as the nearby town of Galcad means Al Shabaab is overpowered and gone. He added that the remaining towns were expected to be liberated from the terror group soon. *) 1% rich swallows two-thirds of global wealth The world’s richest one percent have reaped over two-thirds of the 42 trillion dollars in new wealth created since 2020, according to an Oxfam report. The amount is nearly twice as much money as the bottom 99 percent of the world’s population, it said in its report titled ‘Survival of the Richest’. It added that for the first time in 25 years, extreme wealth and extreme poverty have expanded together. And finally… *) Nadal wins first round at Australian Open Tennis star Rafael Nadal has won the battle of the southpaws against Jack Draper in Round 1 of the Australian Open men's singles. The reigning men's singles champion Nadal is a 22-time Grand Slam singles title winner. The 36-year-old Spanish legend bagged the Australian Open twice, in 2009 and 2022.

*) Death toll rises in Russian missile strike The death toll from Saturday’s Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has risen to at least 35, the governor said. Two children were among the dead, and the fate of another 35 residents of the building is unknown with rescue efforts continuing. 39 people have been rescued from the rubble, and 75 people, including 14 children, were injured in the attack. *) Dozens dead after passenger plane crashes in Nepal At least 68 people have been killed after a plane with 72 on board crashed into a gorge while landing at a newly-opened airport in Nepal. The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft was carrying 68 passengers, including 15 foreign nationals, and four crew members, according to Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority. While reports of the death toll varied, the aviation authority said 68 people had died in the crash, marking Nepal’s deadliest airplane accident in thirty years. *) There is "no room" in New York for migrants: mayor In an unprecedented move, the mayor of New York has travelled to the Mexican border city of El Paso and declared that there is no room in the city for migrants. The move by Eric Adams, a Democrat, came after he said the migrant influx into New York could cost America's most populous city as much as 2 billion dollars. In recent months, busloads of migrants seeking sanctuary in the US have been sent to New York and other Democrat-run cities by Republican states like Florida and Texas. *) Death toll from bomb blast in DR Congo rises At least 17 people have been killed in a suspected terrorist bomb attack during Sunday services in a church in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A government spokesperson said the attack was visibly perpetrated by terrorists from the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan group aligned with the Daesh terrorist group. The statement said 17 people had died, while 20 sustained severe injuries and were admitted to health centers. And finally… *) Barca beat Madrid, win Spanish Super Cup Barcelona have convincingly beaten Real Madrid 3-1 in Saudi Arabia to win the Spanish Super Cup. Barcelona were dominant in every aspect of the game and took advantage of three mistakes by Real Madrid to score. Barcelona star Gavi, who won the Golden Boy award in 2022, was the game's outstanding performer.

*) Ukraine says its forces hold out against Russia in Soledar Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Soledar are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Two Ukrainian units in Soledar, which Zelenskyy said "are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on the enemy.” The mercenary group Wagner, run by an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, claims to have taken Soledar after intense fighting that it said had left the town strewn with Ukrainian dead. *) Black man Keenan Anderson 'Tased to death' by US police Keenan Anderson, cousin of a Black Lives Matter [BLM] co-founder has died in the hospital, hours after police in Los Angeles repeatedly restrained and tasered him with a stun gun. Anderson went into cardiac arrest four hours later and died at a hospital in Santa Monica. Los Angeles Police Department released body-cam footage of the incident on January 3rd, showing Anderson pleading for help while police officers are seen restraining him and tasering him multiple times. According to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, Anderson attempted to flee after a car crash and police used force to restrain him. *) Senior Türkiye official condemns Sweden over provocative PKK/YPG event Türkiye urges Sweden to cut its support to terrorists and their sympathisers in the Nordic country immediately, after loyalists of the PKK/YPG terror group organised a provocative event in capital Stockholm. Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun accused Stockholm of going back on its past promises to Ankara. Altun said, “We are not interested in words but rather in action. We anticipate the commitments made in the Madrid trilateral memorandum to be fulfilled." *) Israeli troops kill three Palestinians in occupied West Bank raids Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in two separate incidents in the occupied West Bank, Palestine's Health Ministry said, as Israeli troops reported opening fire on fleeing suspects and "being pelted with rocks" during raids. The ministry said that Habib Kamil and Abdul-hadi Nazal were killed by Israeli live bullets in the town of Qabatiya near the West Bank city of Jenin. The Israeli military said that during a raid to arrest a suspect in Qabatiya, "the wanted suspect and an additional suspect fled the scene." And finally… *) Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, dies aged 54 Singer Lisa Marie Presley, the only daughter of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," Elvis Presley, died at the age of 54, her mother said. Lisa Marie Presley suffered cardiac arrest in her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas, according to entertainment website TMZ. She attended the Golden Globes awards show in Beverly Hills earlier this week, where actor Austin Butler won the best actor award for portraying her father in the film "Elvis."

*) Brazil swears in Sonia Guajajara as Indigenous Peoples Minister Influential indigenous rights activist and lawmaker Sonia Guajajara, has been sworn in to lead Brazil's Ministry of Indigenous Peoples. Guajajara was sworn in on Wednesday at the Planalto Palace in capital Brasilia in presence of President Lula da Silva, lawmakers and representatives from Brazil's Black and Indigenous movements. She also called for "effective Indigenous citizenship" that she said cannot take place without the demarcation of territories, environmental and territorial protections, continued access to free quality public education and vast coverage to comprehensive health care. *) Fate of Ukraine's Soledar uncertain as Wagner claims control Russia names a new commander for its offensive on Ukraine while mercenary Wagner Group says its capture of salt mining town Soledar in eastern Ukraine was complete, as fighting enters its 322nd day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that fighting was still raging in a key eastern frontline city that the Russian mercenary group earlier said it controlled. And in his daily address, Zelenskyy insisted the front was "holding". *) Greece's case against migrant rescue volunteers 'farcical': rights groups A group of 24 volunteers who participated in migrant rescue operations on an eastern Greek island have gone on trial in a smuggling-related case that has been widely criticised by human rights groups. Greek police said that the volunteers had collected information about refugee flows and provided assistance to organised trafficking groups. Human Rights Watch, however, said that the charges are based on a police report, which contains “blatant factual errors”. The case was initially set to go ahead in 2021 but was postponed over procedural issues. *) Palestinian dead from injuries by Israeli army fire in occupied West Bank A Palestinian has died of injuries sustained after being wounded by Israeli army bullets in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. 21-year-old Ahmad Abu Junaid was wounded during an operation by the Israeli army in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, where troops had surrounded a house, witnesses say. In a related development, the NGO Palestinian Prisoners Society said "the Israeli army arrested 15 Palestinians from several provinces in the West Bank." And finally… *) Nearly 160 organisations urge Biden to shut infamous Guantanamo prison More than 150 organisations have sent a letter to US President Joe Biden urging him to "prioritise closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba." The letter was signed by 159 organisations from the US and other countries who called themselves a "diverse group of non-governmental organisations" working on issues including international human rights, immigrants' rights, racial justice and combating anti-Muslim discrimination. The detention camp has held roughly 780 detainees since it was opened, most of them without charge or trial, with many said to have gone through unspeakable horrors.

*) Tigray rebel forces start turning over heavy weapons to Ethiopia military Tigray rebel forces, who fought a two-year war against Ethiopia's federal government, have begun handing over heavy weaponry to the national army as part of an African Union-led peace process. Handover in the town of Agulae was overseen by a monitoring team comprising members of the two sides and a regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. At the ceremony, a Tigray rebel forces' representative said the start of the disarmament would play a major role in restoring peace. *) Ukraine's Soledar town falls to Wagner group — Russian media The head of Russia's mercenary group Wagner said his forces had taken control of the eastern Ukrainian mining town of Soledar but that fighting continued, Russian news agencies reported. Ukraine had said earlier that its forces were still holding out despite a Russian onslaught. The Wagner head said in a statement that its units took control of the entire territory of Soledar and that a cauldron has been formed in the centre of the city. *) Azerbaijan demands France apologise over 'slander' during war with Armenia Azerbaijan has demanded an apology from France over "slander" during the 2020 Karabakh war with Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev said, "During the conflict, France openly accused us, slandered us. I demanded an apology from them. They slandered us without even any evidence," Underlining that while there could be several reasons for France's anti-Azerbaijan stance, Aliyev said that France wanted Karabakh to remain at the centre of an unresolved and "frozen" conflict. *) Türkiye to host Russian, Ukrainian rights commissioners Russian and Ukrainian commissioners for human rights will hold a meeting in Türkiye on January 12-14, a Russian official said. Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia's commissioner for human rights, told reporters in Moscow that she will visit Türkiye for a forum. She said scores of experts from many nations will attend the forum, adding that they are planning to meet the Ukrainian side. *) Steven Spielberg wins big as Golden Globes make comeback Steven Spielberg claimed top honors including best drama at the Golden Globes on Tuesday for his deeply personal film "The Fabelmans," as Hollywood's A-list stars flocked to the first major awards show of the year despite a series of scandals swirling around its organizers. Spielberg, who also took home the award for best director, thanked his family including his late mother, who he said would be "up there kvelling about this right now." "The Fabelmans" covers the troubled marriage of Spielberg's parents, anti-Semitic bullying, and the director's early efforts making zero-budget movies with his teenage friends.

*) Mass arrests continue as Brazil leaders condemn ‘terrorist acts’ Brazilian security forces have cleared protest camps and arrested 1,500 people as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned "acts of terrorism" after a mob stormed government buildings. About 3,000 supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro had set up tents, which were used as a base for protesters who ran riot inside the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court for around four hours on Sunday. Lula, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, met with the leaders of both houses of Congress and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and joined them in condemning what many called the South American country's version of the US Capitol riots in Washington two years ago. *) Iranian President Raisi’s first official visit to Türkiye being 'finalised' Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi is slated to visit Türkiye as well as Syria, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding that the plans are being finalised. Addressing a weekly press conference in Tehran, Nasser Kanaani said the plans for Raisi’s first visit to Türkiye since taking the office two years ago are currently “being finalised.” It comes after Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin was quoted as saying last week that the Iranian president will visit Ankara “in the next few weeks.” *) Russia launches criminal probes against prominent Kremlin critics Russian authorities announced parallel criminal probes against a famous actor critical of the war in Ukraine and a philanthropist who supports the Russian opposition. Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement that its chief Alexander Bastrykin ordered the launch of a criminal case against Russian film and theatre actor Artur Smolyaninov. According to the statement, Smolyaninov "made a series of statements directed against Russia in an interview to a Western media outlet." *) UK's first-ever rocket mission ends in failure An attempt to launch the first rocket into orbit from UK soil has ended in failure, with scientists reporting an "anomaly" as it neared its goal. A Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 carrying the 70-foot rocket took off from a spaceport in Cornwall, southwest England, on Monday. The rocket then detached from the aircraft and ignited as planned at a height of 35,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland after around two hours. *) French federation boss apologises for 'clumsy' Zidane comments French football boss Noel Le Graet has apologised for what he dubbed his "clumsy remarks" about Zinedine Zidane's potential interest in coaching the France national team. Le Graet had quipped dismissively in an interview on French radio that he "wouldn't even have taken his call on the phone" when asked whether Zidane had rung him to express an interest in taking over as coach from Didier Deschamps. That drew criticism from France and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, who called Le Graet's comments "disrespectful".

*) Brazil’s Lula vows to punish those responsible for riots in capital Brazilian authorities have begun investigating the attack on democratic institutions in the capital city in a failed attempt by former president Jair Bolsonaro's supporters to overthrow President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s week-old government. Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters have stormed into Congress, trashed the Supreme Court and climbed the ramp to the presidential palace. The incident, aimed at overthrowing current President Lula, recalled the US Capitol riots on January 6th 2021 by supporters of then-president Donald Trump. Lula decreed federal intervention of public security in the capital and promised exemplary punishment for the leaders of the assault that was aimed at provoking a military coup. *) Israel's Ben-Gvir orders removal of Palestinian flags Israel's new far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed police to remove Palestinian flags from public spaces. Ben-Gvir, who heads an ultranationalist party in Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, said that waving the Palestinian flag is an act in support of "terrorism". Israeli law doesn’t outlaw Palestinian flags but police and soldiers have the right to remove them in cases where they deem there is a threat to public order. *) China conducts military exercises near Taiwan China's military has carried out large-scale combat strike drills near Taiwan, sending warplanes and navy vessels toward the self-ruled island it claims sovereignty over. Taiwan's defence ministry reported that in 24 hours, China's military flew 57 warplanes and four ships toward Taiwan in a move that severely disrupted peace and stability. Twenty-eight of those planes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary that both sides had previously stood by. The Chinese military said their “primary target was to practice land strikes and sea assaults. *) Nearly 200 Rohingya refugees arrive in Indonesia A wooden boat carrying nearly 200 Rohingya refugees, a majority of them women and children, has landed on Indonesia's western coast. The passengers, who were 69 men, 75 women and 40 children, are generally healthy, but there is one pregnant woman and four sick people, said the local police chief. Thousands of the Rohingya, heavily persecuted in Myanmar, risk their lives each year on dangerous sea journeys in an attempt to escape to Malaysia or Indonesia. Four vessels carrying Rohingya refugees have already landed in Indonesia in November and December last year, carrying a total of more than 400 passengers. *) Novak Djokovic wins Adelaide title Tennis star Novak Djokovic has won the Adelaide International by beating unseeded rival Sebastian Korda despite being troubled by a hamstring injury after the semifinal. The victory saw the Serbian player snatch his second Adelaide title 16 years after his first win in 2007 at the age of 19. The champion of the women’s tournament was Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who captured her 11th WTA Tour title with a win over Linda Noskova in the Adelaide International 1 final.

*) Ukraine dismisses Putin's ceasefire as 'hypocrisy' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was seeking a truce to use as a cover to stop Ukrainian advances in the eastern Donbass region. Zelenskyy added that the Russians want to stop “the advances of our boys in Donbass” and bring in more men and equipment. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter that Russia "must leave the occupied territories - only then will it have a 'temporary truce'," *) Türkiye, US jointly freeze assets of Daesh affiliates Türkiye and the United States decided to jointly freeze the assets of Daesh terrorist organisation affiliates, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. The ministry said in a statement, “Türkiye and the US decided to take a joint action on freezing the assets of 5 individuals and 2 legal persons who have been identified to finance the Daesh terrorist organization.” The statement said Ankara would "continue to take effective steps on countering terrorism financing and cooperate with its international partners on the issue." *) Israel gets UNSC flak after firebrand minister storms Al Aqsa compound Palestine and many Muslim and non-Muslim supporters have sharply disagreed with Israel at an emergency UN Security Council meeting over the visit of a firebrand Israeli Cabinet minister to Al Aqsa compound. The council members voiced concern and stressed the need to maintain a status quo at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour pushed for the Security Council to take action — a move that was unlikely given the United States traditionally shields Israel. *) Prince Harry reveals he killed 25 people in Afghanistan as Apache pilot Britain's Prince Harry revealed in an upcoming book of his memoirs that he killed 25 people as an Apache helicopter pilot during a tour in Afghanistan. Prince Harry's claim in the book, titled Spare, which will be available at bookstores in the UK next week, came as the book's Spanish version was accidentally put on sale in Spain. The Duke of Sussex, who stepped down from his royal duties, flew during the invasion of Afghanistan and his missions resulted in "the taking of human lives." And finally… *) Mexico nabs drug lord Ovidio 'The Mouse' ahead of Biden tour Mexican security forces captured the son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, scoring a high-profile win in the fight against powerful cartels. Ovidio Guzman, nicknamed "El Raton" [The Mouse], was caught in the northwestern city of Culiacan and flown to Mexico City on a military plane. The Defence Minister said the arrest was the result of six months of intelligence work tracking down the 32-year-old, who has allegedly helped to run his father's operations.

*) UNSC to discuss troublemaker Israel minister's visit to Al Aqsa Mosque The UN Security Council will meet to discuss the controversial visit to occupied East Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound by a far-right Israeli minister. The 15-member council will convene at 3:00 pm at the United Nations headquarters in New York following a request by the United Arab Emirates and China. There have been fears the visit by Israel's new national security minister, firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, could raise tensions in Palestinian territories. *) Ukraine seeks heavy weapons as US predicts intense fight in east Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for promising light AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles, saying it showed the need for other allies to provide heavier weapons. Zelenskyy said, "This is something that sends a clear signal to all our partners. There is no rational reason why Ukraine has not yet been supplied with Western tanks." Western allies moved toward supplying armoured battle vehicles to Ukraine but not the heavier tanks it has requested to fight Russia. *) Colombia suspends truce with ELN armed group The Colombian government said it was suspending a ceasefire it had announced with the National Liberation Army armed group, which denied agreeing to any such truce. The reversal dampened hopes for an imminent end to decades of violence that have continued to plague the South American country. Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared earlier that a temporary truce had been agreed upon with the country's five largest armed groups from January 1 to June 30. *) US: Family of 8, including children, found shot dead in Utah home Eight people, including five children, were found dead from gunshot wounds in a southern Utah home, US authorities said. They were found when police did a welfare check at the residence, according to a news release from city officials in Enoch. It doesn't provide any information about what happened or the motive. And finally… *) Pakistan's Senate nominates Türkiye's Erdogan for Nobel Peace Prize Pakistani lawmakers have nominated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Nobel Peace Prize for his "efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis." The Senate said it has officially registered the nomination in favour of the Turkish leader. Ankara has yet to issue a statement regarding the nomination.

*) Calls for UNSC meeting over Al Aqsa Mosque The United Arab Emirates and China have called for a UN Security Council meeting after Israel’s national security minister entered the Al Aqsa complex in occupied East Jerusalem. Itamar Ben-Gvir’s move drew fierce condemnation across the world as the move was seen as a provocation that could exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Sitting on a site sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, Al Aqsa is a symbol of Palestinian resistance and a primary flashpoint in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Calm is upheld in the site by a sensitive status quo agreement that is regularly bypassed by Israelis visiting the mosque and praying there despite not being allowed to. *) Germany delays emissions goals Short-term measures to ensure energy security following Russia's Ukraine offensive have left Germany behind schedule in its bid to become carbon-neutral by 2045. Data from a climate think tank showed that Germany's carbon dioxide emissions held steady in 2022 as higher use of oil and coal nullified the reductions in emissions through energy savings. Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions were around 761 million tonnes last year, missing a target of 756 million tonnes, despite the country’s renewable energy boom. *) McCarthy's bid for House speaker to continue Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become the US House speaker has continued despite losing in multiple rounds of voting that threw the new GOP majority into chaos. He won no more than 203 votes in three rounds of voting, losing as many as 20 Republicans from his slim 222-seat majority. But McCarthy said Trump wanted him to stay in the race and told him to bring an end to the House Republican chaos and pull the party together. *) Rail workers continue to strike in UK UK rail workers with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will continue to strike in an ongoing dispute over pay. After a break on Thursday, another 48-hour strike will be staged on Friday and Saturday. The demonstrations have crippled rail services and resulted in travel chaos in the UK, which is in the grip of its worst run of worker unrest since the 1980s. As surging inflation follows more than 10 years of stagnant wage growth, many workers who have been unable to make ends meet were prompted to strike. And finally… *) Marvel's Hawkeye posts first selfie after accident Actor Jeremy Renner, who played Hawkeye in Marvel's "Avengers", has posted a selfie from his hospital bed after he suffered a traumatic injury while ploughing snow on New Year's Day. Alongside the selfie on Instagram, showing the actor looking bruised with oxygen tubes in his nose, Renner thanked his fans for their well wishes. The actor had "suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopaedic injuries" in the accident according to his publicist.

*) Israeli security minister visits Al Aqsa Mosque, draws Palestinian flak Israel's far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the compound that houses the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, a flashpoint holy site sacred to both Jews and Muslims, Israeli media reported. Israel's opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid had warned that such a visit by Ben-Gvir would spark violence. Palestine's Foreign Ministry condemned the visit, calling it an "unprecedented provocation." Earlier Palestinian group Hamas, for its part, said it would hold Israel responsible for any consequences of Ben-Gvir’s visit. *) Türkiye's exports hit all-time high of $254.2B in 2022: Erdogan Türkiye's exports hit an all-time high of $254.2 billion in 2022, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced, citing preliminary data. Despite global challenges, the figure increased by 12.9 percent from a year earlier, Erdogan told a news conference in Istanbul. "Our goal is to ensure that Türkiye takes its place among the top 10 exporting countries in the world," he said. *) Sweden’s largest wolf cull in modern times ‘disastrous’ for species Sweden has launched the biggest wolf slaughter in modern times as nature agencies warned that it could severely harm the population. The government has given permission to hunters to kill 75 out of the 460 wolves currently roaming the country in an attempt to reduce their numbers. But wildlife organisations argue that Sweden’s wolf population is relatively low compared to Italy, for instance, where there are more than 3,000. *) Russia plans protracted drone campaign to 'exhaust' Ukraine Russia is planning a protracted campaign of attacks with drones to "exhaust" Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says. In a video address, Zelenskyy say they have information that Russia is planning a protracted attack using Iranian Shahed drones. He said Moscow wants to exhaust people of Ukraine, its anti-aircraft defences and energy. Ukraine, he says, has to "act and do everything so that the terrorists' fail in their aim.” And finally… *) Bills safety Hamlin in critical condition after collapsing, game postponed Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was in critical condition after being given CPR and taken from the field in an ambulance National Football League game against Cincinnati. The 24-year-old briefly got to his feet after making a tackle on the Bengals' Tee Higgins but then fell on his back. The game was halted as medical staff quickly attended to him while players from both teams took a knee. The NFL later announced the game had been postponed.

*) Lula sworn in as Brazil's president amid tight security Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been inaugurated for a third term as Brazil's president, in a ceremony snubbed by outgoing leader Jair Bolsonaro. Da Silva vowed to "rebuild the country, with the people," promising to fight to improve life for poor Brazilians, work toward racial and gender equality, and achieve zero deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, in an inaugural speech on Sunday. In a sign of the scars that remain from Lula's brutal election showdown with ex-army captain Bolsonaro in October, who left the country prior to the inauguration, security was exceptionally tight at the pomp-filled ceremony in Brasilia. *) Gun attack on Mexican jail leaves 14 dead Gunmen have attacked a prison in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, leaving 14 people dead and allowing 24 inmates to escape, official say. An unknown number of gunmen aboard armoured vehicles took part in the attack on Sunday, and the dead included 10 prison guards and security agents, it said in a statement. *) Colombia, Venezuela open key bridge as diplomatic ties reestablished Colombia and Venezuela have opened a key bridge linking the countries that had been closed for almost seven years amid political tensions, launching an era of improved relations under Colombia’s new leftist president. Delegations led by Colombian trade minister German Umana and the governor of Venezuela's Tachira state, Freddy Bernal, met in the middle of the “Tienditas” bridge linking Tachira and Colombia’s Norte de Santander state for the opening ceremony. *) Evacuation warnings after California storm Evacuation warnings were in place in rural Northern California on New Year's Day after a powerful storm brought drenching rain or heavy snowfall to much of the state, breaching levees, snarling traffic and closing major highways. Major flooding occurred in agricultural areas about 20 miles (32 kilometres) south of Sacramento, where rivers swelled beyond their banks and inundated dozens of cars along State Route 99. Emergency crews rescued motorists on New Year's Eve into Sunday morning and the highway remained closed. And finally… *) Final farewell for Pele, Brazil's football 'King' Brazilians bid a final farewell this week to football giant Pele, starting Monday with a 24-hour public wake at the stadium of his long-time team, Santos. The oceanside home of the team nicknamed "Peixe" -- "fish" in Portuguese -- is expecting a huge influx of fans looking to honour the "King" of football, who died aged 82 on Thursday after a long battle with cancer. After that, a procession will be held through the streets of Santos, a port city about 75 kilometers from the state capital Sao Paulo.

*) Brazil football legend Pele dies at age 82 Brazilian football icon Pele, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, has died at the age of 82. Pele's daughter, Kely Nascimento, announced the football star's passing in an Instagram post. It triggered a wave of tributes from the sports world and beyond. He had received regular medical treatment since a tumour was removed from his colon in September last year. According to doctors, Pele's cancer advanced in recent weeks and he required care related to renal and cardiac dysfunction. *) Netanyahu returns as prime minister of hard-line Israeli government Benjamin Netanyahu has been sworn in as Israel's prime minister. He returns to his old position under the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in the country's history. Netanyahu took the oath of office moments after parliament passed a vote of confidence in his new government. This marks his sixth term in office, continuing his more than decade-long dominance over Israeli politics. *) Kosovo reopens major border crossing with Serbia as standoff eases Kosovo has reopened its biggest border crossing with Serbia hours after Serb protesters in the north promised to remove roadblocks. Barricades were dismantled on the Serbian side of the Merdare border point and Kosovo announced the opening of the crossing. This comes a day after the European Union and the US urged both parties to ease a simmering crisis. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic previously announced the removal of the barricades during his meeting with Kosovo Serb representatives near the border. *) Death toll climbs as blizzard-battered US areas dig out The death toll from a fierce winter storm that gripped much of the United States over Christmas has risen to at least 61, officials said. Erie County officials said two more deaths had been reported in the western New York region that bore the brunt of the historic storm, bringing the total to 39. Erie County includes the snow-battered city of Buffalo, where most of the deaths occurred. And finally… *) US agency projects global population at 7.9 billion on New Year’s Day The world population is projected to be 7.9 billion people on New Year's Day 2023, the US Census Bureau has said. With 73.7 million people added since New Year's Day 2022, the new count marks a 0.9 percent increase in the world population over the past year. During January 2023, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected worldwide every second, the Census Bureau said.

*) Thousands of flights cancelled as US digs out from deadly superstorm Thousands of travellers are still stranded at airports across the US due to flight cancellations and delays caused by the deadly winter storm. Around 28-hundred flights were cancelled on Wednesday while almost half that number were delayed. Most of those cancellations were from Southwest Airlines. The number of deaths attributed to the storm, dubbed the “blizzard of the century”, has risen to at least 56. *) Live blog: Ukraine sees 'difficult year ahead' as Russia rejects peace plan Moscow says that no “peace plan” can exist for Ukraine if it does not accept its annexation of Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south. Ukraine has been pushing a 10-point peace plan that envisages Russia fully respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity and pulling out all its troops. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address that he saw “a difficult year ahead”. *) Global alarm grows as Covid infections surge in China The United States has become the latest country to impose restrictions on visitors from China, requiring negative Covid tests for all travellers from the mainland. The decision was a response to Beijing’s decision to end mandatory quarantine on arrival, prompting many Chinese citizens to make plans to travel abroad. Hospitals across China have been overwhelmed by an explosion of Covid cases following Beijing's decision to lift strict rules that had largely kept the virus at bay but tanked its economy and sparked widespread protests. *) Turkish, Russian, Syrian defence ministers discuss Syria crisis in Moscow Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has met the Syrian regime’s defence minister in Moscow for the first time in more than a decade, in a meeting mediated by Russia’s Defence Ministry. They discussed the war in Syria, the refugee crisis and efforts to fight all terrorist groups in the country. The Turkish Defence Ministry said the meeting, the first in a series of high-level negotiations, was constructive, and further talks for the stability and security of Syria and the wider region would continue. And finally… *) Twitter outages hit thousands of users worldwide Twitter users around the world have reported errors accessing it for several hours in one of the biggest outages since Elon Musk bought the platform. Twitter has been riven by chaos since the multi-billionaire completed his 44 billion-dollar acquisition in October and quickly moved to cut costs. Thousands of employees -- including engineers -- have since been fired or quit, raising concerns about Twitter's ability to quickly fix outages and technical problems.

*) US blizzard death toll rises to 50 The number of deaths attributed to the winter storm in the United States has risen to at least 50. With another fatality in western New York's Erie County, the epicentre of the crisis, the mayor of the county's biggest city warned that police expect the number to rise. The storm, dubbed the “blizzard of the century”, forced the cancellation of almost 20 thousand US flights in recent days, including nearly 4,700 on Tuesday. *) Russia to ban oil exports to countries with price cap Russia has banned oil sales to countries and companies that comply with a price cap agreed upon by Western countries in response to its offensive in Ukraine. Moscow said the ban may be lifted, however, in individual cases on the basis of a special decision from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The price cap agreed by the EU, G7 and Australia seeks to restrict Russia's revenue while making sure Moscow keeps supplying the global market. *) Ethnic fighting kills 56 in South Sudan Ethnic clashes have killed 56 people during four days of fighting in South Sudan's eastern Jonglei state. A government official said that armed youth from the Nuer community began attacking the Murle community on December 24, and the fighting is still ongoing. Abraham Kelan said 51 of those killed were Nuer attackers, with only five Murle defenders killed. *) Israeli envoy assumes duties in Türkiye Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has received the credentials of Israel's new ambassador to Türkiye, marking the first appointment in Ankara by Tel Aviv since 2018. Irit Lillian, whose appointment was announced in September, had served as Tel Aviv's charge d'affaires in Ankara for the past two years. In August, Türkiye and Israel agreed to restore diplomatic ties and reappoint ambassadors and consuls general after a four-year hiatus. *) Djokovic arrives in Australia Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia nearly a year after he was deported from the country for not being vaccinated against Covid-19. Djokovic landed in Adelaide where he is due to play in the Adelaide International, ahead of his bid for a 10th men's singles title at next month's Australian Open, In November, Australia granted Djokovic a visa to travel to the Grand Slam event, saying it revoked the decision to cancel his visa after considering all relevant factors.

*) Fighting continues for control of Donbass region - Zelenskyy Fighting for control of the Donbass region in Ukraine continues, according to the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In an address to the nation, he said the “situation in Donbass is difficult” and that Bakhmut, Kreminna and other areas now require “maximum strength and concentration.” Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave Ukraine an ultimatum to fulfil Moscow’s proposals or its army would decide the issue. The proposals include surrendering territory Russia controls. *) Serbian army ordered for combat readiness: defence minister Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia continue to escalate. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has ordered combat readiness for the armed forces and security services at the highest level. This is according to Defense Minister Milos Vucevic, who said the aim is to protect the territorial integrity of Serbia. Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic said Vucic also ordered security forces within the ministry to be at full combat readiness. *) Türkiye’s gas reserves in Black Sea now totalled $1T: Erdogan Türkiye’s president has announced the discovery of an additional 58 billion cubic metres of natural gas in the Black Sea. Following a Cabinet meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye’s natural gas reserve in the Black Sea has now risen to 710 billion cubic metres – a market value of one trillion dollars. Erdogan said the newly discovered Caycuma-1 field will be connected to the Sakarya field and from there to the national grid. Last month, he said Türkiye is on track for the Sakarya gas field to go online in 2023. *) Dozens dead in major US winter storm Emergency crews in New York have been scrambling to rescue marooned residents from what authorities called the “blizzard of the century”. A relentless storm left at least 47 people dead across nine states and is causing US Christmas travel chaos. With more snow in the forecast and most of New York’s Buffalo city impassable, officials are warning residents to bunker down and stay in place. *) Heba Saadia: First Palestinian referee at FIFA Women’s World Cup World football authority FIFA has chosen, for the first time, a female Palestinian referee to officiate at the upcoming Women’s World Cup matches. The official Palestinian News & Information Agency reported that Heba Saadia will make the calls at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The ninth Women’s World Cup is the first to be co-organised by two nations and the first to include 32 countries.

*) China deploys tens of warplanes, ships toward Taiwan in weekend war drills China’s military has sent 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the self-ruled island. That’s according to Taiwan’s defence ministry which said the move came after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a US annual defence spending bill. China’s military has often used large military exercises as a demonstration of force in response to US government actions in support of Taiwan. *) Ukrainian drone downed in Russian air base, deaths reported Russian air defence troops have downed a Ukrainian drone as it approached an air base in southern Russia. As a result of the fall of the wreckage of the drone, three Russian technical servicemen who were at the airfield were killed, according to TASS news agency. It was the second attack on the Engels base this month. Engels, in the southern Saratov region, lies more than 600 kilometres from Ukraine. *) Savage US blizzard leaves more than 30 dead, cuts power A brutal winter storm has brought Christmas Day danger and misery to millions of Americans. A crisis situation unfolded in Buffalo, in western New York, where a blizzard left the city marooned, with emergency services unable to reach the worst-hit areas. Thirty-two weather-related deaths have been confirmed across nine states, including at least 13 in Buffalo, with officials warning the number is sure to rise. *) Erdogan: Black Sea grain deal result of Türkiye's mediation Türkiye’s mediator role between Russia and Ukraine has helped achieve the Black Sea grain deal, the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. He said while the West “only made provocations" in the war, Türkiye assumed a mediator role and began to operate the Black Sea grain corridor. At an event in Türkiye's eastern Erzurum province, he also said that Türkiye will produce flour from Russian grain for free and send it in collaboration with Russia and the UN to African countries in need. *) 'Avatar' sequel rules North American box office for second week "Avatar: The Way of Water" has sailed to the top of the box office in its second weekend. Studios estimate it will bring in a strong $56 million in North America. James Cameron's digital extravaganza for 20th Century Studios has made $253.7 million domestically in its first 10 days of release. This is compared to $212.7 million in the same stretch for 2009's first “Avatar,” which would go on to become the highest-grossing film of all time.

*) US January 6 committee unveils report, says Trump engaged in ‘conspiracy’ The US House committee probing the January 6th Capitol Hill riots has released its final report after an 18-month investigation into the insurrection two years ago. The report asserts that former President Donald Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol. The panel voted unanimously to adopt the report and refer Trump to the Department of Justice. *) Mali armed groups withdraw from 2015 peace deal A coalition of armed groups in Mali have pulled out of long-running peace talks based on a major 2015 agreement that restored peace after the groups sought to break away from the country. The armed groups said the decision was due to a lack of political will on the part of the country’s military government. The coalition said in a statement that it would only come back to the table if talks were held in a neutral country under international mediation. *) Afghan women protest in Kabul against Taliban's university ban A small group of Afghan women have staged a defiant protest in Kabul against a Taliban order banning them from universities. Around two dozen women could be seen raising their hands and chanting slogans as they marched through the streets. The ban announced earlier this week is the latest restriction on human rights in Afghanistan ordered by the Taliban since their return to power in August last year. *) England reports almost a hundred deaths due to scarlet fever England has reported nearly a hundred deaths, including those of 21 children, from scarlet fever and invasive strep A infections. The British government said last week that it was enacting protocols to ease shortages of penicillin medicines used to treat strep A infections. The National Health Service has been under intense pressure this winter, with thousands of ambulance workers in England and Wales walking out over pay on Wednesday, a day after nurses went on strike. *) Black Italian rugby player blasts racism after rotten banana Christmas gift A Black Italian rugby player has accused his teammates of racism after they gave him a rotten banana as a Christmas gift. Cherif Traore said he would no longer stay silent about the racism he has suffered on the club team, and said he was speaking up to ensure such incidents didn’t happen again. There have been numerous incidents of Black athletes in Italy suffering racist abuse, including in football and volleyball teams.

*) Live blog: US sending Patriots to Ukraine under $1.85B military aid package US President Joe Biden has committed $1.85 billion in military aid to Ukraine including, for the first time, the Patriot missile defence system. The news came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington for his first known trip out of his country since Russia started its assault in February. The Patriot would be the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine to help repel Russian aerial attacks. *) Israel's Netanyahu says he formed new coalition government Israel's Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he has formed a new coalition, setting the stage for him to return to power as the head of the country's most right wing government ever. Netanyahu intends to give cabinet positions to hardline figures, including extremist politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a long record of violent anti-Arab rhetoric and behaviour. The announcement comes after weeks of difficult negotiations with his political partners. *) Desperate migrants throng US-Mexico border amid asylum limbo The US Supreme Court has temporarily blocked an order that would lift pandemic-era restrictions on asylum seekers. The policy, called Title 42, was due to expire on December 21st, and allows authorities to send migrants of certain nationalities to Mexico without a chance to seek asylum. Immigration advocates have said the restrictions go against international obligations to people fleeing persecution, and that the pretext is outdated as coronavirus treatments improve. *) Chicken tikka masala inventor dies at 77 A chef from Scotland, who claims to have invented the curry dish chicken tikka masala, has died at the age of 77. Ahmed Aslam Ali invented the dish in the 1970s by improvising a sauce made from a tin of tomato soup at his restaurant Shish Mahal after a customer complaint. The dish went on to become the most popular dish in British restaurants.

*) Zelenskyy to visit US in first trip abroad since conflict began Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Washington for a meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden and an address to Congress. This will be his first trip abroad since Russia started its offensive in February. The trip comes on the same day Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet his top military officials to assess the results so far of the war on Ukraine and set goals for next year. *) UN eases weapons embargo on DRC, extends peacekeeping force The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution that eases a weapons embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo. The resolution removes a stipulation that previously required countries to inform the 15-member council of arms sales or military assistance to the DRC government. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya hailed the move as "a battle won, an injustice repaired". *) Deadly earthquake jolts northern California At least two people have died after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, triggering rockslides and cutting power to tens of thousands. According to the US Geological Survey, the relatively shallow 6.4-magnitude quake hit overnight, 40 kilometres southwest of the port city of Eureka, in Humboldt County. County emergency officials said there was significant damage in the Eel River Valley community. *) Musk says will step down as Twitter CEO once successor found Elon Musk has said that he would resign as Twitter CEO once he finds a replacement. The announcement comes in an apparent response to a poll he launched, which suggested users wanted him to step down. Musk has fully owned Twitter since October 27 and has repeatedly courted controversy as CEO. He has sacked half of its staff, readmitted far-right figures to the platform and tried to charge for previously free services. *) Messi's photo with World Cup trophy most-liked Instagram post in history Lionel Messi's 2022 FIFA World Cup victory photo has received the most likes of any image posted on Instagram. Messi's post titled "CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!," got over 61 million likes on the social media platform since it was posted on Sunday. In the photo, Messi raises the World Cup trophy and celebrates Argentina's victory over the 2018 champions, France.

*) UN chief Guterres believes Russia-Ukraine conflict will go on UN chief Antonio Guterres has said he is not optimistic about the possibility of the war in Ukraine ending anytime soon. Guterres told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York that he does not see “effective peace talks” happening in the immediate future. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country’s armed forces continue to have control of Bakhmut despite Russian attacks. *) US January 6 committee recommends criminal charges against Trump The congressional committee that investigated last year's attack on the US Capitol has recommended criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. The House panel unanimously urged the Justice Department to pursue Trump for inciting an insurrection, conspiring to defraud the US government and more. In response, Trump accused the lawmakers of recommending "fake charges" against him to prevent him from running for the White House again. *) UN reports highest fatalities in years in Palestine UN’s Middle East envoy has said more than 150 Palestinians and over 20 Israelis were killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year. This is the highest number of fatalities in years, according to Tor Wennesland who called for an end to the violence at a UN Security Council meeting. He also urged Israel to cease advancement of all settlement activities as well as the demolition of Palestinian-owned properties. *) Türkiye saves over 180 irregular migrants after illegal Greek pushbacks The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued a total of 181 irregular migrants, including many who were illegally pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greece. In the first incident, teams were dispatched off the coast of Ayvacik after the coast guard learned that there were irregular migrants in an inflatable boat. They saved 39 people. In the second incident in the same region, 54 migrants were rescued. In addition, in Türkiye’s Aegean province of Mugla, 88 irregular migrants were rescued after being pushed back by Greek forces. And finally… *) Huge crowds welcome Argentina team after World Cup victory Thousands of fans lined up to welcome back the Argentina football team that won one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time. Members of the team, led by captain Lionel Messi, were all smiles as they descended from the plane in Ezeiza shortly before 3 am. The players were welcomed by rock band La Mosca singing “Muchachos,” a song that was written by a fan and became a popular unofficial anthem in Qatar.

*) Nine drones 'shot down' in Kiev's airspace Ukraine says it has shot down nine Iranian-made Shahed drones in capital Kiev's airspace. Kiev’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app that air alert continued in the capital city. Ukraine has been subjected to frequent and deadly aerial attacks in the 10 months since Russia's launched its offensive in February. *) Erdogan warns Greece against provocations in Aegean Sea Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Greece against provocations in the Aegean Sea, saying: “Don’t mess with us. We have no quarrel with you in the Aegean.” At an event in the southeastern Mardin province, Erdogan said Greece “did some crazy things” in the Aegean sea and Turkiye also did “what was necessary,” His remarks came after Greek planes tried to interfere in a NATO training mission conducted in international airspace over the Aegean Sea. *) Thousands protest in Paris against immigration bill Thousands of people took to the streets of the French capital Paris on the occasion of International Migrants Day to protest against a new immigration draft law. After gathering at the Porte de la Chapelle metro station, they started walking towards the city centre. The demonstrators held banners saying "racists, fascists, get off our streets". Calling for more solidarity with irregular migrants, they expressed their opposition to the immigration bill promoted by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. *) North Korea conducts 'final-stage test' for building spy satellite North Korea has carried out an "important final-stage test" for the development of a spy satellite, which it will complete by April next year, the state media reported. Monday’s report comes a day after Seoul's military said it had detected launches by Pyongyang of two medium-range ballistic missiles. Analysts say developing such a satellite would provide North Korea with cover for testing banned intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), as they share much of the same technology. *) Messi is here: Argentina win World Cup 2022 against France Argentina have won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in a heated match against France that went to a penalty shootout after it finished 3-3 in extra time. The match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, but Argentina defeated France 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out at the Lusail Stadium to win the World Cup for the third time. As the tournament's 22nd edition hosted by Qatar drew to a close, a tweet from FIFA read: "The greatest FIFAWorldCup ever."

*) Peru court orders 18-month detention for ousted president Castillo A Peruvian court has ordered ousted president Pedro Castillo to remain in custody for 18 months, approving a request from authorities for time to build their case against him. The court ruled days after Congress stripped Castillo of the privilege that keeps Peru's presidents from facing criminal charges. The decision came a day after the government declared a state of emergency as it struggles to calm violent protests. *) Russia bombed Kherson 'more than 16 times' in a day — Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russian forces have bombarded the city of Kherson with more than 16 strikes in a day. In his daily address on social media, he said there had also been "brutal Russian attacks" in the Donbass and the Kharkiv regions of the war-torn country. Ukrainian officials on Thursday said that Russian shelling killed two people including a Red Cross worker and completely cut power in Kherson. *) EU leaders grant Bosnia bloc candidate status; Türkiye welcomes decision European Union leaders have agreed to make Bosnia and Herzegovina a formal candidate to join the bloc of 27 nations. It will be joining other EU candidates which are: Türkiye, Albania, Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine. The move was hailed by Ankara which hoped that the decision would contribute to the peace and stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. *) Dozens feared buried in Malaysia landslide At least 16 people have died and 17 are missing and feared buried in a landslide that struck a campsite in Malaysia. Officials said the landslide in Selangor state, on the outskirts of capital, Kuala Lumpur, occurred near a farmhouse that provides camping facilities. Initial information indicated that some 100 people may have been at the campsite when the incident occurred. And finally… *) Elon Musk says Twitter suspended accounts of journalists for 'doxxing' Twitter has suspended the accounts of more than a half-dozen journalists who had been writing about the company and its new owner Elon Musk. Some of the journalists had been tweeting about Twitter shutting down an account that tracked flights of the billionaire's private jet. Twitter did not say why the reporters' accounts were suspended on Thursday.

*) Peru declares state of emergency amid deadly protests Peru’s new government has declared a 30-day national emergency amid violent protests following the ouster of President Pedro Castillo. Defence Minister Luis Otarola Penaranda announced the declaration on Wednesday, which he said "means the suspension of the rights of assembly and freedom of movement." Peru's new president, Dina Boluarte, pleaded for calm as demonstrations continue against her and the Congress that ousted her predecessor. *) Türkiye continues to engage with Russia, Ukraine to end conflict: Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara continues to hold talks with both Russia and Ukraine to end the ongoing war. He hoped that Ankara's diplomatic efforts for achieving a ceasefire and lasting peace in the region will bear fruit. Erdogan was speaking during the first summit between the leaders of Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on Wednesday. He said the trio needs to start working on transporting Turkmen natural gas to Western markets. *) US planning to give smart-bomb kits to Ukraine — report The United States is planning to send electronic equipment to Ukraine that converts unguided aerial munitions into smart bombs, according to The Washington Post. "The kits incorporate global positioning devices for precision and can be bolted onto a variety of weapons, the Post reported. The Pentagon calls it a Joint Direct Attack Munition or JDAM. It comes as Russia warned US Patriot missile defence systems would be a legitimate target in Ukraine if Washington authorises them to be delivered to support Kiev in fighting. *) Developing nations seek more money at key UN biodiversity talks Dozens of countries led by Brazil have demanded financial subsidies of at least 100 billion dollars a year until 2030 to protect ecosystems. UN spokesperson David Ainsworth said that biodiversity talks in Montreal deteriorated when negotiators started discussing the global biodiversity fund proposal. Financial flows from the Global North to South for biodiversity are currently estimated at around 10 billion dollars annually. And finally… *) France end Morocco's World Cup journey with 2-0 win in semi-final France have set up a World Cup final against Argentina after beating Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals. Theo Hernandez scored early in just five minutes to hook in the first goal Morocco conceded to an opposition player in the tournament. In the 79th minute, a dribble by Kylian Mbappe set up Kolo Muani to tuck in the decisive goal less than a minute after coming on the field. Despite the victory, the game still proved a close-fought match as Morocco overcame injury blows and showed no deference to France's reputation.

*) Two admin buildings damaged in drones attack on Kiev Kiev administration has said that two of its buildings in Ukraine's capital have been damaged in a drone attack. The city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said that air-defence systems shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones and that there were explosions in the city's central Shevchenkivskyi district. He said there was still no information about potential injuries or fatalities. *) Latin America leaders ask Peru to protect ousted leader Castillo The presidents of Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia and Mexico have signed a joint statement calling for the rights and health of Peru's ousted President Pedro Castillo to be guaranteed. The statement also called for the "popular will" of the Peruvian people to be respected amid the volatile political situation in the country. Street protests broke out after Castillo was removed from office by Congress following his attempt to dissolve parliament before impeachment proceedings against him *) US scientists announce fusion milestone raising hopes for clean power US researchers have announced a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough in the quest for a source of unlimited, clean power and an end to reliance on fossil fuels. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory used the world's largest laser to create, for the first time, a fusion reaction that generated more energy than it took to produce. US Department of Energy described the achievement as a "major scientific breakthrough" that will lead to "advancements in national defence and the future of clean power." *) Floods kill at least 120 in DRC capital Kinshasa At least 120 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa after heavy rains unleashed floods and caused landslides. Entire neighbourhoods were flooded with muddy water, and houses and roads were ripped apart by sinkholes on Tuesday. One of these roads was the N1 highway that connects Kinshasa to the chief seaport of Matadi. The prime minister's office said the N1 could be closed for 3-4 days. *) 'Formidable opponents': Giant-slayers Morocco to face France at World Cup Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who beat Croatia 3-0, will face either defending champions France or surprise package Morocco at the World Cup finals. The game on Wednesday will have added spice given France was Morocco's colonial power and more than a million Moroccans live in the country. Victory for defending champions France would leave them just one win away from becoming the first team in 60 years to successfully defend the trophy.

*) Cavusoglu: Türkiye won't allow terror groups to take shelter in Syria, Iraq Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Ankara will not allow the PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist organisation to take shelter in Syria and Iraq. Cavusoglu told parliament on Monday that if the Syrian regime acts “realistically,” Türkiye is ready to work together on the fight against terrorism, the political process and the return of Syrians. Türkiye follows the same policy in Iraq, Cavusoglu said, adding that Ankara offers both Iraq's central and regional governments cooperation in fighting terrorism. Last month, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword in northern areas of Iraq and Syria. *) US sends first shipment of power gear to aid Ukraine The United States has shipped the first part of its power equipment aid to Ukraine, according to US officials. The first tranche was power equipment worth about $13 million. Two more planeloads of equipment will leave from the US this week. Russia has been carrying out widespread attacks on Ukraine's electricity transmission and heating infrastructure since October. Kiev and its allies say it is a deliberate campaign to harm civilians. *) Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried arrested in the Bahamas Authorities in the Bahamas have arrested Samuel Bankman-Fried, the founder of a now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange, at the request of the US government. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said the FTX founder was arrested based on a sealed indictment filed by his office. US authorities expect to unseal the indictment on Tuesday morning, and more will be said at that time. *) Thousands of UK rail workers go on strike again Thousands of rail workers have launched a strike across the UK as part of a wave of industrial action planned for the festive period. The strikes were called by Britain's largest rail union RMT. They will be held over two 48-hour periods this week. They will see picket lines at major stations and cancelled or disrupted journeys. The latest round of rail strikes comes as the UK is experiencing a wave of industrial action on a scale not seen since the 1980s, fuelled by energy and food price hikes. *) 'Avatar,' 'Top Gun' and 'Elvis' to compete for top prize at Golden Globes "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Elvis" have been nominated for best drama film at the upcoming Golden Globe awards. "The Banshees of Inisherin," a nominee for best comedy or musical film, led all movies with eight nominations from members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Globe-nominated actors included Austin Butler for his portrayal of rock music legend Elvis Presley, Daniel Craig for "Glass Onion" and Colin Farrell for "Banshees."

*) Ukraine strike hits Wagner group headquarters – official Ukrainian forces have attacked a hotel where members of Russia's private Wagner military group were based, killing many of them. Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, said forces launched a strike on a hotel in the town of Kadiivka. Photos posted on Telegram channels showed a building largely reduced to rubble. *) Bangladesh's opposition lawmakers quit parliament, demand fresh vote Seven lawmakers of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party have submitted their resignations to the parliament speaker. They are demanding fresh elections under a neutral government and dissolution of the existing parliament. This comes as tens of thousands of Bangladeshis gathered in the capital Dhaka to support the main opposition party in its protests against the government. *) Several killed in firing by Afghan forces on Pakistan border Heavy shelling by Afghan forces have killed at least six civilians across the border in Pakistan and wounded another 17. The Pakistan army said its troops retaliated at the Chaman border crossing, without giving details of any losses on the other side. It termed the incident an "uncalled for aggression" but an Afghan official in Kandahar said it was accidental and the situation had returned to normal. The latest violence follows a series of deadly incidents and attacks that have skyrocketed tensions with Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. *) Suspected Lockerbie bomber in US custody: Scotland A Libyan man accused of making the bomb that blew up a flight over Scotland’s Lockerbie in 1988 has been captured, according to Scottish prosecutors. Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said that Abu Agila Mohammad Masud was now in custody. The United States had announced charges against Masud two years ago. The bomb on board Pan Am flight 103 en route to New York from London on December 21, 1988 killed all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. And finally… *) Morocco top Portugal to become first ever African World Cup semi-finalists Morocco have become the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals by beating Portugal 1-0. They will play against reigning champions France who defeated England 2-1 in the last quarter-final match in Qatar. Meanwhile, Croatia beat Brazil in a 4-2 shootout win, setting up their semi-final match with Argentina who won against the Netherlands in a penalty shootout.

*) China, Saudi Arabia sign strategic deals as Xi heralds 'new era' Saudi Arabia and China have showcased deepening ties with a series of strategic deals during a visit by President Xi Jinping. King Salman signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" with Xi, who received a lavish welcome in a country forging new global partnerships beyond the West. News reports estimated that the deals between the two countries are worth as much as $30 billion. *) Moscow frees US basketball star Griner in swap with Russian arms dealer Russia has freed US female basketball star Brittney Griner in a high-level prisoner exchange, with the US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The prisoner swap achieved a top goal for US President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia. Biden said Griner will need time to recover from the "trauma" of imprisonment in Russia. *) Bangladesh's BNP says top opposition leaders taken by police The two top leaders of Bangladesh's main opposition party have been taken from their homes by police a day before a planned rally was to call for the prime minister's resignation. Protests sparked by power cuts and fuel price hikes have erupted across the country in recent months, demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina step down. Police action comes two days after security forces in the capital Dhaka fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a crowd of thousands of Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters. *) World's longest-serving president begins sixth term in Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea's long-serving President Teodoro Obiang has been sworn-in for his sixth seven-year term. Obiang said, "As long as I am president and with our resources, the people's desires and needs for well-being will be fully realised." He marked the beginning of his next seven-year term in a ceremony in the capital Malabo which began after a military parade attended by top officials and a host of foreign African leaders. And finally… *) 6th TRT World Forum 2022 kicks off in Istanbul The 6th TRT World Forum 2022 has kicked off in Istanbul to "tackle the most pressing issues in tomorrow's world". Under the theme of Mapping the Future: Uncertainties, Realities and Opportunities, the annual event gathers academics, journalists, intellectuals, politicians, and members of civil society from around the world. Renowned experts are also attending a total of 10 public sessions.

*) Boluarte becomes Peru's first ever female president after Castillo's ouster Peruvian politician Dina Boluarte has been sworn in as interim president, hours after Pedro Castillo was removed in an impeachment trial and arrested. Boluarte, elevated from vice president, becomes Peru's first ever female president, following Castillo's attempt to dissolve the legislature by decree to avoid the impeachment vote. Boluarte said she was taking office "in accordance with the Constitution of Peru.” *) Putin warns of prolonged Russian military operation against Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that his country's military could be fighting against Ukraine for a long time. Putin said, "As for the long process of seeing results of the special military operation, of course, this is a lengthy process." Moscow had expected the fighting to last just days before Ukraine's surrender. *) China's Xi starts landmark visit to Saudi Arabia Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a visit, which China hailed as its biggest-ever diplomatic initiative in the Arab world. The meeting between the global economic powerhouse and Gulf energy giant comes as Saudi ties with Washington are strained by US criticism on some issues, including Riyadh's support for oil output curbs. Xi's trip includes direct talks with Saudi Arabia, a wider meeting with the six-nation Gulf Arab alliance and a summit with Arab leaders. *) Afghan Taliban carries out first public execution since takeover The Taliban administration has publicly executed a man accused of murder in Afghanistan’s western Farah province. This is the first officially confirmed public execution since the group took over the country last year. The man was accused of stabbing another man to death in 2017. The execution was carried out by the father of the victim, who shot the man three times, according to a statement by a Taliban spokesperson. And finally… *) Oldest DNA reveals life in Greenland two million years ago Scientists in Greenland have announced the discovery of DNA dating back two million years in sediment from the Ice Age, opening a new chapter in paleogenetics. Co-author of the study Mikkel Winther Pedersen, said the research is breaking the barrier of “what we thought we could reach in terms of genetic studies.” He said: “It was long thought that one million years was the boundary of DNA survival, but now we are twice as old as that.”

*) Xi set to arrive in Riyadh to meet Saudi and Arab leaders Chinese President Xi Jinping is embarking on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia where he will hold meetings with regional leaders likely focused on energy. The overseas trip is only Xi's third since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020. It is also his first to Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude oil exporter, since 2016. *) US says it has not 'enabled' Ukraine strikes inside Russia The United States says it hadn't "enabled" Ukraine to carry out strikes inside Russia. This comes after a spate of drone attacks on military-linked facilities deep within Russian territory. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters the US has “neither encouraged nor enabled the Ukrainians to strike inside of Russia." Kiev did not directly claim responsibility but neither did it criticise the action, which killed three people, according to reports from Russia. *) China announces nationwide loosening of Covid-19 restrictions China has announced a nationwide loosening of Covid-19 restrictions following protests against the hardline strategy that grew into calls for greater political freedoms. Under the new guidelines announced by the National Health Commission, the frequency and scope of PCR testing will be reduced. Lockdowns will also be scaled down and people with non-severe Covid cases can isolate at home instead of centralised government facilities. *) Honduras suspends rights in two largest cities to fight gangs Honduran police have moved en masse into poor urban areas to tackle criminal gangs after a decree by the president to temporarily suspend certain rights. The 30-day lifting of constitutional guarantees allows police to make arrests without warrants in 89 districts of the capital and 73 districts of San Pedro Sula, the industrial capital. President Xiomara Castro, a leftist, declared last week the lifting of the constitutional rights due to what she called a "national emergency" over gang violence. *) Morocco dump Spain out of World Cup after thrilling penalty shootout win Morocco have dumped Spain out of the World Cup in a last-16 penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes. Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive spot-kick after Spain squandered all three of their attempts. Morocco has been the biggest surprise of the tournament and is the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to the last eight. With the historic victory, the Moroccan team, also known as the Atlas Lions, earns a quarter-final clash berth with Portugal, who defeated Switzerland 6-1.

*) Sudan's generals, civilian factions sign initial deal to end crisis Sudan's military and civilian leaders have signed an initial deal aimed at ending a deep crisis that has gripped the northeast African country since a coup a year ago. In a first phase, the framework agreement lays the groundwork for establishing a transitional civilian authority, said the civilian group the Forces for Freedom and Change. A final deal tackling issues including transitional justice and reforms to the military should be completed "within weeks," it said. *) Kiev hits Russian air bases, Kremlin confirms A drone has attacked an airfield in Russia's Kursk region bordering Ukraine, according to the local governor. This comes a day after Moscow blamed Ukraine for drone strikes at two other Russian airfields. Governor Roman Starovoyt said there were no casualties. He did not specify where the drone originated. *) Several dead as blast targets vehicle in northern Afghanistan A roadside bomb has killed seven petroleum company employees aboard a bus in northern Afghanistan. A provincial police spokesman in Mazar-i-Sharif said the bomb was placed in a cart by the roadside and it was detonated as the bus arrived. Although the Taliban claim to have improved security across the nation since coming to power last year, there have been scores of bomb blasts and attacks – many claimed by the local chapter of Daesh. *) Oil prices rise after price cap on Russian crude, OPEC+ meeting Oil prices have edged higher after a G7 price cap on Russian seaborne oil came into force on top of a European Union embargo on imports of Russian crude by sea. The Group of Seven price cap comes as the West tries to limit Moscow's ability to finance its war in Ukraine. But Russia has said it will not abide by the measure even if it has to cut production. *) Brazil beats South Korea 4-1 at World Cup Brazil has defeated South Korea 4-1 and will face Croatia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. Brazil hit top gear with Neymar back in the line-up to brush aside South Korea 4-1 and ease into the quarter-finals of the World Cup where they will face Croatia. Neymar had been sidelined for two matches with a sprained ankle. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring inside seven minutes before Neymar added another from the penalty spot to move to 76 goals for his country, leaving him just one away from equalling Pele's all-time record tally.

*) West African leaders agree to create regional force West African leaders have agreed to create a regional force to intervene against terrorism and in the event of coups. The president of the Economic Community of West African States, Omar Alieu Touray, said the leaders of the group decided to act to take control of the security in the region. Several countries in the region are suffering from the spread of militancy and terrorism, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and southwards to the Gulf of Guinea. *) Blinken vows to oppose Israel settlements, annexation in occupied West Bank US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has promised to counter Israeli settlements and annexation in the occupied West Bank just days before Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power. Netanyahu has sealed a coalition deal with extreme-right movements including Religious Zionism, which is set for a post in charge of settlements in the West Bank. Speaking to J Street, a pro-Israel US advocacy group, Blinken said President Joe Biden's administration will continue to unequivocally oppose any acts that undermine the prospects of a two-state solution. *) China reports more Covid deaths as some restrictions eased China has reported two additional deaths from Covid-19 as some cities moved cautiously to ease pandemic restrictions following increasingly vocal public frustrations. The National Health Commission said that one death was reported each in the provinces of Shandong and Sichuan. Authorities fear that lifting Covid restrictions entirely could lead to millions of deaths in the country, but an outpouring of public anger appears to have prompted authorities to lift some of the more heavy restrictions. *) Flash flood in South Africa kills more than a dozen at religious gathering In South Africa, at least 14 people have died and others are still missing after a flash flood swept away members of a church congregation along the Jukskei River in Johannesburg. Officials said a group of 33 worshippers was conducting religious rituals along the river on Saturday. Rescue workers said that a precise figure for the number still missing could not be given. *) England reaches World Cup quarterfinals with 3-0 win over Senegal England captain Harry Kane has scored his first goal of this year’s World Cup, helping his team beat Senegal 3-0 and setting up a match against France in the quarter-finals. Kane scored for the 52nd time for his country to move within one of Wayne Rooney’s England record. He also overtook Gary Lineker as his country’s leading scorer in major tournaments with 11 goals. Jordan Henderson and Bukayo Saka also scored at Al Bayt Stadium while Jude Bellingham played a key role in the opening two goals.

*) Up to 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed so far As many as 13,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since Russia's incursion into the country in February, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says. Mykhailo Podolyak told a local media outlet that the number of casualties range from 10,000 to 13,000 dead. President Zelenskyy would make the official data public when the right moment comes, he added. *) DRC accuses M23 rebels of civilian massacre The Democratic Republic of Congo's military has accused M23 rebels of killing 50 civilians and breaching a five-day-old truce in the country's restive east. General Sylvain Ekenge said the M23 group was carrying out massacres, the most recent of which is that of 50 Congolese civilians, heinously murdered this week in Kishishe - a village some 70 kilometres north of the eastern city of Goma. The rebel group issued a statement denying the alleged massacre of civilians. *) Türkiye will not allow existence of any terror group in region: NSC Türkiye will not allow the existence and activities of any terrorist group in its region, the country’s National Security Council has said. “The existence and activity of any terrorist group will not be allowed in our region, and every necessary step will be taken decisively for this," the country's security body has said in a statement after over three-hour meeting, which was chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara. To ensure the defence and security of the Turkish nation and its borders, the only target in the operations, which are being carried out along its southern borders in line with the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, are terrorist organisations, it added. *) Peru's Congress approves motion to begin President Castillo's impeachment Peru's Congress has approved a motion to start impeachment proceedings against President Pedro Castillo. The move promoted by opposition lawmakers marks the third formal attempt to oust the leftist leader since he took office last year. And finally… *) Germany is out of World Cup Four-time champions Germany have sensationally crashed out of the FIFA World Cup despite a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in their last Group E match. It is the first time in their World Cup history that Germany has failed to win any of their first two group matches. Meanwhile, Japan and Spain have qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament.

*) School bombing in Afghanistan kills 15 At least 15 people have been killed in a bombing at a religious school in the north of Afghanistan. Most of the victims were students. At least 20 people were also wounded in the explosion, which happened in the city of Aybak during prayer time. No group has claimed responsibility so far. Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August last year, there have been multiple attacks targeting civilians across the country. Most were claimed by the local chapter of Daesh terror group. *) Ukraine calls for longer-range weapons as NATO meeting draws to a close A two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers has ended with a promise the alliance will increase support for eastern European partners who are not yet full NATO members. Ukraine again called for longer-range weapons, but there are still concerns it may use them to hit Russian territory, which could draw NATO members directly into the conflict. Fierce fighting continues in the eastern Donetsk region while Ukraine reports Russian shelling in southern areas of the country. *) EU threatens to ban Twitter The European Union has threatened to ban Twitter in its territory, unless the company's owner Elon Musk abides by its laws on content moderation. The EU could be setting the scene for a regulatory battle over the future of the social network. *) Daesh leader killed in Syria Washington says the leader of the Daesh terrorist organisation was killed in a raid in the Syrian province of Daraa in October. In a statement, the US central command says: “we are pleased to see the removal of Daesh's top leaders in such quick succession.” And finally… *) Messi fights on Virtuoso striker Messi is set to grace the World Cup stage at least once more, as Argentina secured a place in the knockout stage of the World Cup. The South American side will face Australia in the last-16 while Poland will take on reigning champions France.

*) Deadly blast in western Pakistan A bomb blast targeting a police patrol has killed at least three people and wounded more than 20 people in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, according to a police official. The blast targeted a police patrol that wounded 21 people, including 15 police officers, the official said, adding police were on duty to guard a polio vaccination team. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, also known as Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the blast. *) Zelenskyy says Russia 'planning something in the south' Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that the situation at the front line remains difficult, with Russian forces attempting to advance in the Donbass region and Kharkiv. In a video address, Zelenskyy said despite extremely large losses, the occupiers are still trying to advance on the Donetsk region, gain a foothold in Luhansk region and move into Kharkiv region, They are planning something in the south, he added. Meanwhile, ​​NATO allies have promised more arms for Kiev and equipment to help restore Ukrainian power and heat knocked out by Russian strikes. *) UNGA to discuss Israel-Palestine conflict The UN General Assembly will hold talks on the Israel-Palestine conflict that it's warned is reaching boiling point. On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed five Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Two brothers in their twenties were killed during an Israeli air raid in Ramallah. The Palestinian Authority called it an 'execution in cold blood'. A third man was shot in the head near the flashpoint city of Hebron, and a fourth was killed by Israeli forces who say he tried to drive over a soldier. *) US militia leader found guilty of Capitol Hill riot In the United States, the founder of the Oath Keepers right-wing militia has been found guilty of plotting to stop Joe Biden taking office. After a two month trial, a jury in Washington has found Stewart Rhodes and another member, Kelly Meggs, guilty of the rare charge of seditious conspiracy for their role in last year's riot at the US Capitol. Three others were acquitted of that charge, but all five have been found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding. And finally… *) US beat Iran in World Cup Christian Pulisic scored as the United States advanced to the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over Iran in a politically charged rematch of their famous meeting a quarter-century ago. Back in the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the US opened with draws against Wales and England and needed a victory to move on to the round of 16. Iran finished third in the group with three points and has failed to advance in all six of its World Cup appearances.

*) China’s police increase security Police in China have increased security across the country to prevent further protests. Days of demonstrations in multiple cities have shown the level of anger being felt by many at Beijing's zero-Covid policy. After almost three years of harsh lockdowns and mass daily testing, some people are openly calling for the resignation of President XI Jinping. *) US to announce emergency aid for Ukraine The United States is set to announce what it's calling a substantial amount of emergency aid for Ukraine to help rebuild the country's energy infrastructure. NATO officials and foreign ministers are meeting to address the humanitarian fallout of the conflict, especially to help Ukrainians get through winter. In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects new attacks this week. *) Türkiye committed to root out PKK Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara is committed to destroying the PKK terrorist group, and doesn't need permission from anyone to secure its borders and protect its people. During his speech after the cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said the critics of Türkiye's anti-terror operations should look at themselves first. He said Ankara will ensure its security at any cost. The Turkish army is preparing for a ground offensive in northern Syria to clear YPG/PKK terrorists from the border. *) Great Barrier Reef risks 'in danger' World Heritage listing UN experts have recommended that Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of "in danger" World Heritage sites They warned the fading wonder has been "significantly impacted" by the climate crisis. A UNESCO-tasked report said warming seas and agricultural pollution had put the reef at risk and that its resilience had been "substantially compromised". The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's premier tourist drawcards and putting it on the in-danger list could substantially tarnish its allure for international visitors. *) Portugal, Brazil join France in World Cup knockouts Five-time champions Brazil and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal have joined France in the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds in Qatar. Bruno Fernandes scored twice to give Portugal a 2-0 victory over Uruguay and send them into the knockout stages of the World Cup alongside France and Brazil. Brazil defeated Switzerland 1-0.

*) China’s lockdown protests enter third day China is facing unprecedented civil disobedience over its strict zero-Covid restrictions. Police have arrested several demonstrators in Shanghai on the third day of growing protests. And in the capital Beijing, hundreds have rallied against lockdowns. They began on Friday in the northwestern Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, where ten people died in a fire. Protesters have blamed the incident on a coronavirus lockdown. On Monday, the number of daily cases had risen to more than 40,000 as the government announced the easing of some restrictions. *) Civilians flee Kherson as it comes under heavy bombardment Residents are fleeing the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson as it comes under heavy Russian shelling. At least 32 civilians have been killed since Ukraine retook the city from Russia two weeks ago. Since then, residents have struggled with no water, heating and electricity as Russian troops destroyed thermal and power plants before they left. *) Operation Claw-Lock targets northern Iraq and Syria Ankara's Operation Claw-Lock and Claw-Sword continue to target PKK/YPG terrorist positions in northern Iraq and Syria. The Turkish military has killed 13 PKK terrorists over the last two days during its cross-border operation in northern Iraq, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar says. So far, the Operation Claw-Sword has targeted the terror group with air and artillery strikes in northern Iraq, Syria, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also spoken about the possibility of a new ground operation. *) Ischia landslide in Italy blamed on illegal construction People on the Italian island of Ischia are blaming illegal construction for the deaths of seven people in a massive landslide. At least five others are still missing. Two families, including children, are believed to be among them. The government has declared a state of emergency. *) Iran coach demands FIFA expert’s resignation In the latest World Cup controversy, Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has called on former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann to resign from a FIFA experts panel. This comes after Klinsmann’s comments following Iran's 2-0 win against Wales. He said Iran’s players use dirty tactics because it’s in their “culture."

*) Russian strikes cause emergency outages in Ukraine Ukraine races to repair energy infrastructure after Russian attacks cut power to millions of people across the country. In the capital Kiev, 60 percent of residents were still without power on Friday amid temperatures well below freezing, according to the city’s mayor. Meanwhile, the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson came under its heaviest Russian bombardment since Ukrainian forces recaptured it two weeks ago. At least four people have been killed and many more injured in the latest strikes. *) Protesters in Goma reject east Congo ceasefire agreement Hundreds of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern city of Goma are protesting against a ceasefire agreement between African leaders to stop attacks by M23 rebels in the region. Protesters say the agreement does not tackle Rwanda’s alleged backing of the group. M23 rebels, who were not present at the talks, said the agreement did not affect them. An East African regional force will now be deployed to monitor the ceasefire. Around 280,000 people have been displaced since fighting began between the rebels and the Congolese army earlier this year. *) UN council votes to investigate human rights abuses in Iran The UN Human Rights Council has voted to investigate human rights abuses in Iran during countrywide anti-government protests. The motion passed with 25 in favour, six against and 16 abstentions. An estimated 300 people have been killed and 14,000 arrested since protests began 10 weeks ago. Tehran has called the decision disgraceful and motivated by some western countries. *) Shamima Begum challenges citizenship revocation Today is the last day in the appeal hearing of Shamima Begum, a British schoolgirl who travelled to Syria to join Daesh in 2015. Begum, who was fifteen at the time, is challenging the removal of her citizenship on grounds of national security. Her lawyers say she was a likely “child victim of trafficking.” And finally… *) Brazil beats Serbia and latest from the World Cup Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 (two nil) in their opening game in the World Cup. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo makes history as he becomes the first player to score in five FIFA World Cups as Portugal beat Ghana 3-2.

*) Anwar Ibrahim is Malaysia's new prime minister After days of political impasse, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been appointed as Malaysia’s new prime minister. King Al Sultan Abdullah confirmed his appointment on Thursday, five days after parliamentary election left no party with a clear majority to form a government. Anwar is set to be sworn in at 9∂ GMT. *) Ceasefire in eastern DRC to begin Friday African leaders gathered in Angola’s capital Luanda have called for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Democratic Republic of Congo to start on Friday evening. The agreement aims to end the conflict between the Congolese army and M23 rebels in the east of the country. The conflict has raised tensions between the DRC and neighbouring Rwanda. The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the armed group, which Rwanda denies. More than 5.5 million people have been displaced in the DRC, one of the world’s most neglected humanitarian crises. *) President Erdogan on operation against Syria-based terrorists President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Türkiye could soon launch a land operation against terror groups in neighbouring Syria to protect its citizens and territory. Speaking to AK Party members, the Turkish president said that the fight against terrorism will go to wherever there’s a threat against Turkiye. His comments come three days after the start of Operation Claw-Sword, which so far has seen multiple air strikes against the PKK/YPG terror group in northern Syria and Iraq. *) Kosovo and Serbia finally settle car licence plate dispute Kosovo and Serbia have now reached a deal to end a two-year dispute over car licence plates. The dispute could have triggered one of the worst regional crises in years. The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who helped with the negotiations, says both countries have agreed to avoid further escalation and concentrate on normalising relations. Thousands of ethnic Serbs living in northern Kosovo had refused to switch from Serbian license plates to Kosovar ones - even though Serbia required the same for Kosovars living there. And finally… *) China's daily Covid infections highest since pandemic began China has recorded more than 31,000 Covid-19 cases, its highest number since the pandemic began. This comes despite the government’s zero-tolerance approach, including strict lockdowns and travel restrictions which have sparked sporadic protests. On Wednesday, workers at the world’s largest iPhone factory in central China, Foxconn, were seen protesting against the restrictions. Clashes with police continued into the night.

*) Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes northwestern Türkiye A magnitude 5.9 earthquake has struck Türkiye's northwestern Duzce province, with tremors felt in Istanbul, Ankara and other regions, officials say. The earthquake, which struck at 01:08 GMT was centred about 14 kilometres northwest of Duzce, in the Golyaka district, Türkiye's disaster management agency, AFAD said. The agency said that 35 people were injured, one of them critically, and reported 70 aftershocks in the region. *) Civilians killed in YPG/PKK terror attack in northern Syria At least five civilians, including a child, have been killed in northwestern Syria in a rocket strike by the YPG/PKK terrorist group, according to reports and witnesses. At least eight others were wounded in Tuesday's attack in the Azaz district. YPG/PKK terrorists fired the projectile from the Tal Rifaat area which has been under their occupation for more than six years. *) One dead, more than a dozen injured in two explosions in West Jerusalem Two separate explosions in West Jerusalem have left 14 people injured and killed one, according to an Israeli police statement and Israel's Army Radio. The first explosion took place around 05:05 GMT near a bus station at the Givat Shaul Junction in West Jerusalem, along a highway leading out of the city that is usually packed with commuters. The second explosion was heard at 05:35 GMT near the Ramot Junction, also in the vicinity of a bus station. 14 civilians were injured at the scenes, the police statement said. Israel's Army Radio reported that one person had died of injuries sustained in one of the blasts. *) Indonesia quake survivors appeal for supplies as rescuers search debris Survivors of an Indonesian earthquake that killed at least 268 people have appealed for food and water as rescuers picked through devastated villages. The calls for help came as authorities warned that debris from landslides caused by the strong quake near the town of Cianjur in West Java needed to be cleared. This comes ahead of heavy rains forecast in the coming weeks, threatening a second disaster. *) FIFA 2022: Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in stunning World Cup upset Unheralded Saudi Arabia has notched one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with a 2-1 win over Lionel Messi's Argentina. On his fifth and final quest for the only major trophy to elude him on Tuesday, Messi scored a 10th minute penalty in a dominant first half display. But Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament after Ghana, charged at Argentina's defence in the second half. The result broke Argentina's amazing 36-match undefeated run and stopped them from matching the previous international record of 37 games unbeaten, held by Italy.

*) Hunt for buried survivors after deadly quake hits Indonesia Rescuers continued their search for survivors after a powerful earthquake hit Indonesia’s main island of Java. At least 162 people have died in Monday’s magnitude 5.6 quake, which also injured thousands. The death toll is expected to rise as many remain trapped in collapsed buildings. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said the government would hand out compensation to victims and their families. *) Türkiye neutralises 184 PKK/YPG terrorists: Defence ministry Türkiye could launch a ground operation to eliminate the terrorist threat posed by the PKK and YPG, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. The statement came a day after Ankara launched an aerial operation called Claw-Sword in northern Iraq and Syria where so far, dozens of targets have been destroyed and 184 terrorists neutralised, according to the defence ministry. Three people, including a student and teacher, were also killed inside Türkiye after the terrorist group fired mortars into the southeastern city of Gaziantep. *) Malaysia’s king expected to pick next prime minister In Malaysia, King Al-Sultan Abdullah is now expected to pick the next prime minister, after Saturday’s election produced a hung parliament. Political parties missed a Tuesday deadline to put together alliances for a majority and present their choice for PM. The uncertainty prolongs economic and political instability in the Southeast Asian nation, which has had three prime ministers in as many years. *) Mali bans French-backed NGOs' activities — govt Mali's military government has announced a ban on the activities of NGOs, including humanitarian organisations, funded or supported by France. Mali’s interim prime minister said it was in response to France's decision to stop development aid for Mali, the latest move in a worsening row between the countries. France announced the decision last week, three months after finalising its pull-out of forces from the country. *) World Cup: England off to a flyer after routing Iran 6-2 England saw a flying start to their World Cup campaign in Qatar as it won its first game against Iran 6-2. The blistering score came after the Iranian players chose not to sing the national anthem before the match, in apparent support for Mahsa Amini demonstrations that have rocked their country for the past two months. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said the unrest in Iran had put his players under enormous strain.

*) Türkiye begins anti-terror raids in Iraq, Syria after Istanbul bombing Türkiye has launched air strikes on PKK/YPG targets in northern Iraq and Syria that came after last week's terrorist attack in Istanbul. The defence ministry confirmed that 89 targets had been destroyed and that "many terrorists" were "neutralised” as “Operation Claw-Sword” was launched early on Sunday morning. Meanwhile at least eight Turkish security officials were injured near the Syrian border as PKK/YPG terrorists fired rockets into Türkiye. *) 'Not enough': World leaders react to historic UN climate deal The UN climate conference has closed with what some have described as a “breakthrough” agreement to provide "loss and damage" funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. The developing world has been calling for such a fund for thirty years, and it's been one of the most important issues at COP27. While many nations are celebrating its achievement, others are unhappy with the overall agreement, which they say lacks a greater commitment to curb the use of fossil fuels. *) Russia shelling remains 'extremely high' — Ukraine The UN's nuclear watchdog has condemned another attack on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. At least a dozen blasts were reported near a nuclear waste storage facility, as well as a building that houses fresh spent nuclear fuel. Moscow and Kiev both blame each other for the shelling. There has been no leak of radiation detected at the facility yet. *) Serbia's Vucic to meet Kosovo PM Kurti over licence plates dispute The Serbian president has said he will meet Kosovo’s Prime Minister in Brussels on Monday to discuss a licence plate row that risks becoming one of the worst regional crises in years. The dispute is over a tit-for-tat measure in Kosovo that requires Kosovan Serbs with licence plates issued by Serbia to replace them with plates issued by Kosovo by April next year. The main source of tension is Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, which Serbia does not recognise and continues to see the country as part of its territory, *) Ecuador defeats Qatar 2-0 in World Cup 2022 opener After four years of waiting, the football World Cup has finally kicked off in Qatar. Ecuador won the opening game of the tournament defeating hosts Qatar 2-0 in the Al Bayt Stadium. Over the next month, 32 teams from around the world will battle it out in the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.

*) Russian missiles hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure Russian missiles continue to pound critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine's President Volodmyr Zelenskyy says 10 million people are without power, following Russian missile strikes targeting its energy facilities. Most of the power outages are in the capital Kiev, the port of Odessa and the western city of Vinnytsia. Officials have confirmed damage to critical infrastructure in Odessa and Dnipro, and at least four deaths in Zaporizhzhia *) Ukraine grain deal extended by another four months The Ankara-brokered Black Sea Grain deal will continue for at least another four months, easing concerns over global food shortages. The agreement, allowing Ukrainian agricultural exports from its southern ports, was due to expire on Saturday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who brokered the original deal alongside the UN, played a key role in the extension. *) Deadly fire in Gaza kills several people At least 21 people have died in a fire at a refugee camp in Gaza. The fire broke out in a three-storey house in the crowded Jabalia camp in northern Gaza. While the cause remains unknown, officials say gasoline was stored in the building. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has declared a day of mourning on Friday. *) US House Speaker to step down Nancy Pelosi - the Speaker of the US House of Representatives - has announced she is stepping down after nearly two decades. However, she will remain as a lawmaker in the chamber. She was the first woman to hold the office. Her decision comes after the Republicans won a slim majority in the House following the midterm elections. They will take control of the chamber in January. And finally… *) Hundreds more resign from Twitter Hundreds of Twitter employees have resigned after an ultimatum from its new owner, Elon Musk. The billionaire has fired nearly half of the company's 75-hundred workforce since he bought the company. Twitter's offices are now temporarily closed until Monday. Musk sent out a form with a Thursday deadline to his remaining employees asking if they want to be part of what he calls an “extremely hardcore” culture reset of the social media platform.

*) Zelenskyy insists Poland missile attack wasn't by Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists a missile that killed two people in Poland did not come from Ukrainian armed forces. Zelenskyy says a full-access investigation involving his officials should clarify what happened in Poland. He maintains a missile that crossed over into Poland did not come from Ukrainian armed forces. Earlier, Poland's President Andrej Duda said the missile strike appears to have been an accident, not an intentional attack. His comments were also echoed by the head of NATO. *) Republicans take control of lower chamber of Congress In the US, Republican lawmakers have taken control of the lower chamber of Congress, after winning the required 218 seats in the House of Representatives. Democrats have lost key races in New York, Florida and other states with slim margins. Now, Republicans will be able to block Biden's legislative decisions since all bills must pass both the House and the Senate to become law. Meanwhile, President Biden congratulated Republicans for winning the majority in the House. *) DPRK fires another ballistic missile South Korea's military says Pyongyang has test-fired another ballistic missile off its east coast. North Korea has threatened to launch more military responses after the US, South Korea and Japan announced strengthened security ties this week. Pyongyang warned that an accord on the North would leave tensions on the Korean Peninsula more unpredictable. *) World leaders express resolve to limit temperature rise to 1.5C Leaders at the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Bali have agreed to pursue efforts to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degree Celsius. They also agreed to speed up efforts to "phase down" the unabated use of coal. A declaration issued after the end of the summit urged delegates at COP27 to "urgently scale up" efforts on the issue of mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis. *) Football players get protection from online abuse during World Cup FIFA and the global football players union have launched a moderation service to protect World Cup players from abuse on social media during the tournament. FIFA said that the more than 830 players in Qatar could access a "dedicated monitoring, reporting and moderation service" that aims to filter hate speech targeted at them.

*) Blaming Russia for Poland missile attack will escalate tensions: Erdogan Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voices the need to respect Russia's statement on reports of a suspected missile attack on Poland, saying pointing fingers at Russia would further escalate tensions. Erdogan’s remarks came after NATO member Poland said that a Russian-made missile landed on its territory, about six kilometres from Ukraine’s border, and killed two people. The Turkish president said an investigation into the issue is essential. Russia denies carrying out the attack and US President Joe Biden also said it was "unlikely" that the missile was fired from Russia. *) Donald Trump launches 2024 White House bid Former US president Donald Trump announces that he's running for the White House again in 2024. The 76-year-old says he “will ensure” incumbent President Joe Biden does not get “four more years” in office. Trump was defeated by Biden in the 2020 presidential election, but initially refused to concede. *) First ICRC aid convoy arrives in Ethiopia's Tigray after peace deal The International Committee of the Red Cross says a medical aid convoy arrived in the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region. Two trucks of medicines, emergency and first aid kits arrived in the war-ravaged region following a peace deal between the government and the Tigrayan rebels earlier this month. The region of six million people has been suffering from a severe lack of food and medicine, as well as limited access to basic services. *) UK has a new tool to track people facing deportation The UK will soon bring into operation a GPS-enabled fingerprint scanner to verify the exact location and identity of people subject to deportation orders, a report published by New Scientist has said. GPS-enabled ankle tags have already been in use in the UK since at least August 2021, but these new devices take it a notch higher. Rights campaigners say such a measure is a form of unnecessary biometric surveillance and could add to people’s mental health problems. And finally… *) 'Loud music' could put around one billion youth at risk of hearing loss Around one billion young people worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss from listening to headphones or attending loud music venues. The World Health Organization-led study called on young people to be more careful about their listening habits and urged governments and manufacturers to do more to protect future hearing. More than 430 million people — over five percent of the world's population — currently have disabling hearing loss, according to the WHO, which estimates the number will rise to 700 million by 2050.

*) G20 leaders 'must end war' between Russia, Ukraine — Indonesia Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is also the host of this year's G20 summit, has called for peace and asked member countries to not allow another Cold War between major powers. He made the remarks during the opening speech of the event that brought together leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies. The ongoing food, energy and climate crises are expected to be top of the agenda, but it's Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine that's expected to dominate the two-day summit. *) France, UK sign new deal to block migrant Channel crossings The UK and France have signed a deal to try to stop migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. The agreement will see the UK pay an extra nine million dollars per year for increased surveillance of French beaches and British officers will also be stationed in French control rooms to improve coordination. Rights groups have long criticised Britain and France for their policies on migrants and asylum seekers. *) Turkish army chief discusses Istanbul terror attack with US counterpart The Turkish chief of general staff Yasar Guler has raised Sunday's terrorist attack at Istanbul's iconic Istiklal Avenue in a phone call with his US counterpart Mark Milley. In a statement, the US Joint Staff spokesman said the two army chiefs reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral military relationship between the US and Türkiye. Sunday's deadly explosion killed 6 people and injured dozens. Turkish authorities say it was carried out by the YPG/PYD/PKK terrorist organisation. Washington’s continued support for affiliates of the PKK in the name of fighting Daesh in Syria has long been a sore point between the two NATO allies. *) Israel calls US probe into journalist killing a 'mistake' Israel has said it would not cooperate with a US investigation into the shooting and death of a Palestinian-American journalist, Shereen Abu Akleh. Politico reported that the FBI was probing the May 11 killing of the veteran Al Jazeera reporter who was shot in the head during an Israeli military raid. Israel had earlier conceded in September that one of its soldiers had likely shot the reporter but its military refused to prosecute the soldier who may have fired the fatal shot. *) Humanity hits the eight billion mark The world's population is set to hit 8 billion today, according to UN estimates. Fertility rates vary widely across regions and countries. European countries have some of the lowest fertility rates, while African countries have some of the highest. While some worry that eight billion humans is too many for the planet, most experts say the bigger problem is the overconsumption of resources by the wealthiest people.

*) Prime suspect in Istanbul bomb attack detained: Turkish authorities Turkish authorities have detained dozens of suspects, including the prime suspect in the bomb attack that killed 6 people and injured 81 on Istanbul's iconic Istiklal Avenue. The prime suspect, who is believed to have planted the explosive device, was identified as 23-year-old Syrian national Ahlam Albashir. The suspect said that she had entered Türkiye illegally from Syria after taking orders from the PKK/YPG terrorist organisation, officials said. *) Ethiopian government, Tigray rebels sign deal on ceasefire implementation The Ethiopian government and Tigrayan rebels have signed an agreement in Nairobi that lays out a road map for peace. Saturday’s deal means an end to the bloody two-year conflict between Ethiopia’s federal army and rebels in the Tigray region, could be in sight. Both sides said they will allow aid deliveries to the Tigray region, where millions of people desperately need food and medicines. *) Live blog: Intense fighting continues in Donetsk region — Ukraine Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says fighting in the eastern Donetsk region has intensified in recent days. The clashes end the relative calm that had briefly followed Moscow’s annexation of Doneskt and three other regions in September. Russia has sought to control the wider Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, which contains the country’s industrial hub. *) Slovenia elects first female president Pirc Musar in run-off Liberal rights advocate Natasa Pirc Musar [NATASA PIRS MUSAHR] has won a run-off to become Slovenia's first female head of state. Pirc Musar will be the first woman to serve as president since Slovenia became independent amid the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. A prominent lawyer, Pirc Musar had represented former US first lady Melania Trump in copyright and other cases in her native Slovenia. *) England beat Pakistan to win T20 World Cup final by 5 wickets England beat Pakistan by five wickets to win the Twenty20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Ben Stokes and Sam Curran starred with the bat and bowl respectively as England edged Pakistan in the final of the cricket tournament. Enlgand have become the sport's first dual white-ball champions, holding both the 50- and 20-over titles.

*) Ukraine liberates dozens of towns Ukraine says dozens more towns and villages have been liberated in the south of the country. It comes as Ukrainian forces continue their advance towards the strategically vital city of Kherson. Russians have announced they're withdrawing from the city but there's considerable scepticism about that. *) Leaders of Turkic nations meet in Uzbekistan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is among leaders from the Organization of Turkic States attending the OTS summit in Samarkand. The theme of the summit will be “New Era for Turkish Civilization: Towards Common Development and Prosperity.” At the summit important decisions will be taken that will form the first five-year implementation guide of the vision document, which constitutes the 20-year roadmap of the organisation. Addressing the summit, Erdogan said the bloc has accepted the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an observer state. *) Biden to meet Xi US President Biden will meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of next week's G20 summit in Indonesia. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two since Biden took office, though they have talked via video conference. Relations between the two largest economies have grown worse. That's as tensions rise over Taiwan and China's growing political and military presence around the world. *) Russian hackers behind medical record theft: Australian police Russian hackers are behind a cyberattack on a major Australian healthcare company that breached the data of 9.7 million people, including the country's prime minister, police say. The hackers started leaking the data earlier this week after Medibank -- the country's largest health insurer -- refused to pay a 9.7 million dollars ransom. Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw blames the attack on Russia-based "cyber criminals". And finally… *) Paul Allen's art collection fetches record $1.5B at auction Five dozen works from Paul Cezanne, Vincent van Gogh and other revered artists fetch $1.5 billion at an auction. The auction is part of the vast collection of paintings and sculpture amassed by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The total represented the highest amount ever collected at a single art auction, according to the auction house, Christie's in New York. Proceeds will be donated to philanthropic causes in accordance with the wishes of Allen, who died in 2018.

*) Republicans closer to secure House majority The Republicans are nudging closer to winning enough seats to gain a majority in the US House of Representatives, but control of the Senate is still up for grabs. The outcome will affect President Joe Biden's ability to push his agenda through a highly partisan Congress. The Senate race in Georgia will go into a run-off next month. According to the latest numbers, the Democrats and the Republicans both have 48 seats. The parties need to gain 51 seats to control the Senate. *) Russia orders troops to pull out of Kherson Russia's military has ordered its troops to pull out of the Ukrainian city of Kherson. It is a significant setback for the Kremlin as Kherson was the only regional capital to fall to Russia after the offensive began in February. Military officials reportedly admit they can no longer supply troops defending the city and say they'll build defensive positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. *) ICC briefs UNSC on Libya The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has updated the UN Security Council on the discovery and verification of mass graves in Libya. Karim Khan has met families of suspected victims at the site of mass graves during his visit. He believes crimes against humanity have been committed in Libya. International teams have so far discovered more than 270 bodies in mass graves around the town of Tarhuna, a former stronghold for warlord Khalifa Haftar. *) Hackers demand $10 mn for stolen Australian health records Hackers are demanding 10 million dollars to stop leaking highly sensitive records stolen from a major Australian healthcare company, as they uploaded yet more intimate details about customers. Medibank, Australia's largest private health insurer, confirmed this week that hackers had accessed the information of 9.7 million current and former clients, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The hackers on Thursday uploaded a second batch of files to a dark web forum, with more sensitive details about hundreds of Medibank customers. And finally… *) Cryptocurrency markets suffer heavy losses Cryptocurrency markets suffer heavy losses, with bitcoin pinned near a two-year low as investors fretted about the fallout from the implosion of crypto exchange FTX. Larger rival Binance walked away from a bailout deal after due diligence. FTX head Sam Bankman-Fried says he is "exploring all the options", but fading hopes for rescue left FTX teetering.

*) Results pour in from US midterm elections It's a crucial day for US President Joe Biden and his Democratic party, as results begin to come in for the 2022 midterm elections. Republicans have taken a sizable lead in the race to control the US House of Representatives, with incomplete results showing a significant lead over Democrats. In all, Republicans have won 158 seats in the chamber, compared to 98 for Democrats. While the margins are likely to change as results are tabulated, a forecast from the New York Times puts chances of Republican control of the House at 74 percent. *) Over $1T needed for climate action More than one trillion dollars a year is needed for climate action. That's according to a report released to coincide with talks on climate financing at the COP 27 conference in Egypt. Political leaders from industrialised countries are coming under increasing pressure to fund the transition of the developing world to renewable energy. *) Deadly quake strikes Nepal, rattles New Delhi An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 strikes Nepal, killing at least six people, destroying multiple houses in the western district of Doti and shaking the Indian capital New Delhi. Five other people are seriously injured as eight houses collapsed early on Wednesday, officials says. Local media showed visuals of mud and brick houses destroyed by the quake and rescuers digging through the rubble to look for survivors. *) Fresh Ebola outbreak in Uganda Schools across Uganda will close after 23 Ebola cases were confirmed among pupils - including eight children who died. The education minister says preschools, primary schools and secondary schools will shut from November 25th, two weeks before the end of term. On Saturday, the government extended a three-week lockdown in several districts which have been at the centre of the Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization says Uganda had registered more than 150 confirmed and probable cases, including 64 deaths. And finally… *) US basketball star being moved to Russian penal colony Russia is moving detained US basketball star Brittney Griner to a penal colony, her lawyers say, drawing a sharp rebuke from the White House. Griner, convicted for possession of a small quantity of cannabis oil, was transferred out of a detention center on November 4 and "is now on her way to a penal colony," her legal team said in a statement.

*) UN to build $3B global early warning system The United Nations unveils a five-year plan to build a global early warning system for deadly and costly extreme weather events amplified by climate crisis. The price tag – a relatively modest $3.1 billion, or less than 50 cents per person – is a small price to pay for proven methods that can save thousands, if not millions, of lives, UN chief Antonio Guterres says at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. World leaders are in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh for the 13-day talks on climate crisis. *) US voters head to polls for mid-term elections Voters across the US will head to the polls later on Tuesday, for crucial mid-term elections. President Joe Biden's Democratic Party currently controls both the Senate and the House of Representatives. But the Republicans are optimistic about winning both chambers of Congress. Meanwhile, Biden’s approval rating slipped to 39 percent just ahead of the elections. *) US, Russia communication channels are open The US National Security Adviser has confirmed that communication channels between Washington and Moscow, have remained open throughout its attack on Ukraine. Jake Sullivan said it was "in the interests" of the US to maintain contact with the Kremlin. The announcement comes as Ukraine warned that Russia is preparing new attacks on the country's infrastructure, particularly energy. *) Ethiopia, Tigray rebels set up hotline The Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have established a telephone hotline to maintain last week's ceasefire. Both sides on Monday met in Kenya for a new round of talks mediated by the African Union. The truce marks a diplomatic breakthrough. raising hopes for humanitarian aid to the Tigray region. The war has killed thousands, displaced millions, and has left thousands more facing famine. *) Garcia beats Sabalenka in straight sets Caroline Garcia took a tight first set and went on to a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka to win the championship of the WTA Finals. The sixth-ranked Garcia became the second Frenchwoman on Monday night to win the season-ending event after Amelie Mauresmo in 2005. Garcia matched Sabalenka's power from the start in her fourth victory of the season.

*) United Nations Climate Change Conference kicks off Leaders and delegates from 190 countries are in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt for the UN's Climate Summit. During the 12-day meeting, they hope to get new commitments for reducing global heating and helping underdeveloped countries adapt to clean energy. As the summit gets under way, UN chief Antonio Guterres said the collective commitments of G20 governments are coming far too little and far too late. *) Tanzania plane crash kills 19 people At least 19 people have been killed after a passenger plane crashed in Tanzania. The aircraft operated by the Tanzanian company Precision Air was flying from the capital Dar es Salam when it plunged into Lake Victoria while trying to land at the lakeside town of Bukoba. The airline says 43 people were on board and that 24 survived. The accident has been blamed on bad weather, with passengers talking about turbulence just before the crash. *) Russia preparing new attacks: Ukraine Ukraine says Russia is preparing new attacks on the country's infrastructure, particularly energy, which Moscow has been concentrating on for the past month. Almost 40 percent of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has already been destroyed, and Kiev's mayor is now warning residents they may have no access to electricity, water or heating this winter. The very coldest months are of course still to come, and Mayor Vitali Klitschko says people should be prepared to leave if there is a total blackout. *) Charity vessel refuses to leave Italian port A charity ship is refusing to leave the Italian port of Catania until all its passengers are allowed to disembark. Humanity 1 has been picking up migrants and refugees from the Mediterranean, but has spent two weeks seeking permission to dock. Italian officials allowed only 357 of 572 irregular migrants on board, according to local media. And finally… *) Sabalenka stuns Swiatek to reach WTA Finals Aryna Sabalenka stuns world number one Iga Swiatek 6-2 2-6 6-1 to set up a WTA Finals championship showdown with Caroline Garcia after the Frenchwoman cruised past Maria Sakkari in Fort Worth, Texas. Swiatek had not dropped a set at the season-ending tournament but was subdued by the powerful forehand of the Belarusian, who sealed the massive upset with one of her 12 aces before pumping her fist in triumph.

*) Pakistan’s ex-PM Khan recovers in hospital after assassination attempt Pakistani former prime minister Imran Khan was recovering in hospital after an assassination attempt that left him with a gunshot wound to the leg. His doctor Faisal Sultan said Khan "was stable and he was doing fine" at Shaukat Khanum hospital in the eastern city of Lahore. The attack on his convoy killed one man and wounded at least 10 others. Khan’s party said it would hold country-wide protests on Friday as tensions remained high in the South Asian nation. *) Millions without power after Russian strikes — Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Russia's campaign against Ukraine's energy network has left around 4.5 million people without power. The two sides' forces continued to battle without significant change on the ground on the eastern and southern Ukraine fronts, with preparations building for a fight over the southern hub of Kherson. Shipments of Ukraine grain to global markets meanwhile resumed after Moscow returned to the Turkiye-brokered grain export deal. *) NATO chief hails Türkiye's support to Ukraine, role in fight against terror NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has hailed Türkiye's support to Ukraine, Ankara support during the conflict has reduced "some of the effects of brutal war." After his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul, he said Türkiye as a highly valued NATO ally is making important contributions to the alliance’s shared security. Cavusoglu for his part said the Black Sea grain export deal needs to be renewed in 20 days and affirmed Türkiye's continued efforts to ensure that the deal remains uninterrupted. *) Millions of people on the verge of hunger in South Sudan Almost eight million people in South Sudan, or two thirds of the population in the deeply-troubled country, are at risk of hunger. United Nations has warned in a report that around 7.76 million people are likely to face acute food insecurity during the April-July 2023 lean season. It said 1.4 million children will be malnourished in the east African country during that period. And finally… *) Swiatek downs Garcia at WTA Finals World number one Iga Swiatek beats Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2 to clinch a semi-final spot at the WTA Finals. France's Garcia can still advance with a victory on Saturday against Daria Kasatkina, who eliminated Coco Gauff from semi-final contention with over fourth-ranked American. Swiatek, who hasn't dropped a set in two round-robin matches, said she's feeling no pressure as she caps a year that has so far featured eight titles.

*) Japan orders residents to shelter as North Korea missiles soar again North Korea has continued its barrage of weapons tests by firing at least three missiles including a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBM. The missile launch forced the Japanese government to issue evacuation alerts and temporarily halt trains. Thursday's launches came a day after Pyongyang fired more than 20 missiles, the most it has fired in a single day ever. *) World hails Ethiopia's truce deal with Tigray rebels Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels have agreed to cease hostilities. World leaders hailed the ceasefire, which is a surprise diplomatic breakthrough after nearly two years of conflict. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands facing famine. *) Türkiye's Erdogan: Grain deal will prioritise African countries in need The Türkiye-brokered grain deal will prioritise African countries in need as agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin, says Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The US and the United Nations thanked Türkiye over the resumption of the deal. Erdogan announced Russia’s return to the deal on Wednesday. On Saturday, Russia had announced that it would suspend its participation in the deal over what it alleged was a Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea fleet. *) Elon Musk intends to cut half of Twitter jobs – report Elon Musk plans to cut about 3,700 jobs at Twitter or half of the company's workforce in a bid to cut costs. According to Bloomberg News, Twitter's new owner will inform the staff affected by his decision. Bloomberg also reported that Musk intends to reverse Twitter’s work from anywhere policy and will require employees to work from the office. And finally… *) Lawsuit dropped over Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Country singer Andy Stone dropped his lawsuit against Mariah Carey for copyright infringement over her hit song “All I Want for Christmas is You”. The popstar was sued by Stone in June, claiming he co-wrote a song with the same title five years earlier. Mariah Carey's mega-hit song is one of the best known Christmas single of all time.

*) Exit polls show Netanyahu's bloc ahead in Israel elections Exit polls in Israel have indicated that ex-PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies may have won enough seats to return to power after three and a half years of political gridlock. Palestinians said the possible outcome reflects "growing extremism and racism in Israeli society." The polls on Tuesday are preliminary, however, and final results could change as votes are tallied in the coming hours. *) Sirens blare in South Korea after North fires about 12 missiles Air raid sirens have sounded in South Korea after the North fired about a dozen missiles in its direction, at least one of them landing near the rivals' tense sea border. Wednesday's launches came hours after North Korea threatened to use nuclear weapons to get the US and South Korea to what it said "pay the most horrible price in history. North Korea’s threat came as it has intensified its fiery rhetoric targeting the ongoing large-scale military drills between its rivals. *) Türkiye believes Black Sea grain deal will endure Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar says he believes the Black Sea grain deal that Russia suspended over the weekend would continue. Akar’s statement comes after his two phone calls in as many days with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. He said there is progress in this direction. *) Brazil top court: Bolsonaro concedes election defeat by allowing transition Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro has recognised the result of the presidential election he lost to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by authorising the start of government transition. A Supreme Court spokesperson on Tuesday said that Bolsonaro was heading to the tribunal to meet justices. Earlier, Bolsonaro didn’t concede defeat during his first speech after the election results, but he said he will continue to follow the rules of the nation's constitution. And finally… *) Elon Musk: Twitter will charge $8 a month for blue tick New Twitter head Elon Musk says the site will charge 8 dollars per month to verify users' accounts. He argued the plan would upend what he called the platform's "current lords & peasants system" and that it will create a new revenue stream for the company. Tuesday's announcement comes days after the world's wealthiest man took sole control of the social media giant in a contentious 44 billion dollars deal.

*) Türkiye urges Russia to reconsider grain deal suspension Türkiye's National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has urged Russia to rethink its decision to suspend the Black Sea grain deal. The grain shipment initiative is a purely humanitarian activity that should be separated from conflict conditions, Akar has told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu over the phone. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Türkiye will continue its efforts to find a solution to the global food crisis despite Russia suspending its participation in the deal. *) Israelis go to polls as political crisis grinds on For the fifth time since 2019, Israelis have been voting in national elections amid a political deadlock that has paralysed the country for the past three and a half years. Polls have predicted a similar result: stalemate. But a powerful new player is threatening to shake things up. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a leading far-right politician, has surged in opinion polls recently and will be seeking a harder line against the Palestinians if he helps propel former leader Benjamin Netanyahu to victory. *) Joint Sochi deal reaffirms compliance to normalisation and regional peace The presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the prime minister of Armenia have reaffirmed their commitment to normalisation of Baku-Yerevan ties, and to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. After trilateral talks in Russia's Sochi, all parties agreed on the importance of creating a positive dialogue atmosphere between Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to a joint statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin underlined that parties could not agree on everything concerning Karabakh, adding that Moscow will do everything for a final settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. *) North Korea warns of ‘powerful’ response to US, allies drills North Korea has criticised the US for expanding joint military exercises with South Korea and warned of “more powerful follow-up measures” in response. The development comes as the US and South Korea conduct drills involving more than 200 warplanes as they step up their defence posture in the face of North Korea’s increased weapons testing. North Korea has ramped up its weapons demonstrations to a record pace this year, launching more than 40 ballistic missiles. *) Elon Musk says he will be Twitter CEO Billionaire Elon Musk has said in a filing that he will be the chief executive officer of Twitter, the social media company he recently acquired for $44 billion. Elon Musk, who also runs Tesla Inc and SpaceX, fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and other top company officials last week. Musk previously changed his Twitter bio to "Chief Twit" in a sign alluding to this move.

*) Lula defeats Bolsonaro in tight Brazil election Leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won Brazil's divisive election, defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a narrow vote. With more than 99 percent of the votes tallied in run-off vote, da Silva had 50.9 percent and Bolsonaro 49.1 percent. Brazil’s Supreme Electoral Court said the country’s presidential election was “mathematically defined” with former president Lula da Silva taking more votes than incumbent Bolsonaro. *) Türkiye, Ukraine, UN ‘agree to move 16 vessels’ in grain deal The United Nations, Türkiye and Ukraine agreed on a movement plan for 16 vessels that are in Turkish waters, a day after Russia suspended its participation in the Istanbul grain deal. The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, where Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and UN personnel are working, said the three delegations agreed for inspections to be provided on Monday to 40 outbound vessels. *) Death toll rises as officials recover bodies in India bridge collapse At least 141 people were killed after a century-old cable suspension bridge collapsed into a river in the western Indian state of Gujarat, sending hundreds plunging in the water. Authorities said the bridge over the Machchu river in the state’s Morbi district collapsed because it could not handle the weight of the large crowd, as the Hindu festival season drew hundreds of people to the recently opened tourist attraction. The bridge had been closed for renovation for almost six months and was reopened just four days ago. *) World leaders express sadness for Seoul World leaders expressed sadness and condolences after at least 153 people were killed in a crowd surge in Seoul, South Korea. The tragedy occurred in Seoul’s Itaewon district during Halloween festivities when a huge crowd surged into a narrow downhill alley last Saturday. At least 22 foreign nationals from 13 countries were among those killed. *) Twitter to revise how it verifies users: Musk Twitter will revise its user verification process, Elon Musk said in a tweet, days after he took over one of the world's most influential social media platforms. Musk said in a tweet, "Whole verification process is being revamped right now." Twitter is considering charging for the coveted blue check mark verifying the identity of its account holder, technology newsletter Platformer reported.

*) Elon Musk takes over Twitter, sacks top executives Tesla CEO Elon Musk has taken over Twitter and immediately sacked its top executives. Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal was among the executives terminated by Musk, who formally completed the 44-billion-dollar buyout deal on Friday. Musk had a court-imposed Friday deadline to complete the Twitter deal he had inked in April. *) IAEA to conduct 'independent' probe into Ukraine dirty bomb allegations The UN's nuclear watchdog will this week carry out an "independent verification" of Russian allegations concerning the production of so-called dirty bombs at two sites in Ukraine. Russia has accused Ukraine of preparing to use such a weapon against Moscow's troops, but Kiev suspects Russia might itself use a dirty bomb in a "false flag" attack. International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said, "IAEA inspectors will conduct independent verification at these locations". *) Parliament approves Sudani's government in Iraq Iraqi lawmakers have approved a new government , a key step forward after bitter infighting between multiple factions and deadly violence following contested elections. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's 21-member cabinet is expected to face myriad challenges. The oil-rich but war-ravaged country is plagued by endemic corruption, rampant unemployment and decaying infrastructure. *) North Korea fires two ballistic missiles: South's military North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles, according to the South's military. The launch comes as South Korea and the US conclude 12 days of joint military drills. Such drills infuriate Pyongyang, which sees them as rehearsals for invasion. It has repeatedly justified its missile launches as necessary "countermeasures" to what it deems US aggression. And finally… *) Prince Harry's memoir title 'Spare' is set to come out in January Prince Harry's memoir, which drew anticipation worldwide since first announced last year, is coming out on January 10. The book will be called “Spare” and is being billed by Penguin Random House, as an account told with “raw, unflinching honesty" and filled with ”insight and revelation”. The memoir's title is an apparent reference to Prince Harry's being a royal “spare,” not the first in line to succession as William, Prince of Wales, is next in line.

*) Over a dozen dead as gunmen attack shrine in Iran's Shiraz Gunmen opened fire at a major Shia holy site in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens. The official website of the judiciary said two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after Wednesday's attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque. The state TV reported that the attack also injured 40 people. *) Australia to train Ukraine troops in UK for 'protracted' fight Australia says it will deploy 70 soldiers to Britain to help train Ukrainian troops there and ship 30 more armoured vehicles to bolster Kiev's fight against Russia. Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia is mindful that Ukraine needs to be supported over the longer term to put it in a position where it can resolve this conflict on its own terms. The latest package takes Australia's support for Ukraine to about $425 million since the conflict began in February. *) Türkiye, Libya sign accords to boost military cooperation Türkiye and Libya have inked two important agreements in the field of military. National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Tuesday met with Prime Minister of Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and Defense Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah in Istanbul. The two officials signed an agreement on enhancing the efficiency of the Libyan Air Force and the training of Libyan pilots. *) Xi: China, US must find ways to get along President Xi Jinping has said China and the United States must "find ways to get along" to safeguard world peace and development, state media reported. "The world today is neither peaceful nor tranquil," Xi wrote in a congratulatory letter to the National Committee on US-China Relations. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, in a meeting with his top military advisers, said that Washington "does not seek conflict" with China and that Xi knows this. And finally… *) IEA sees global emissions peaking in 2025 The International Energy Agency believes that global emissions will peak in 2025. It says surging energy prices due to the Russian attack on Ukraine have propelled investment in renewables. The agency said that the global energy crisis is causing profound and long-lasting changes that have the potential to hasten the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy system.

*) Russia and Ukraine gird for 'heaviest of battles' in Kherson A senior Ukrainian official predicted "the heaviest of battles" to come for the partially Russian-occupied strategic southern province of Kherson. The adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Russians are replenishing and strengthening their grouping in Kherson. He said this means that nobody is preparing to withdraw their forces. On the contrary, the heaviest of battles is going to take place for Kherson, he added. *) Powerful earthquake injures dozens in northern Philippines A strong earthquake has rocked a large swathe of the northern Philippines, injuring at least 26 people. Officials said the 6.4 magnitude quake also forced the closure of an international airport and the evacuation of patients in a hospital. The US Tsunami Warning System said no warning or advisory was issued. *) Pakistan's Khan announces 'long march' on Islamabad to press for snap polls Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has announced that he would begin a protest march from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital Islamabad on Friday to call for early elections. Smaller protests by Khan's supporters took place last week after Pakistan's election body found Khan guilty of unlawfully selling gifts from foreign dignitaries, removing him from his parliamentary seat. Since being removed from office by a no-confidence vote in the legislature in April, Khan has held protests across the country calling for snap elections *) Ethiopia, Tigray rebels begin long-awaited peace talks in South Africa Peace talks between an Ethiopian government delegation and Tigrayan rebel forces have started in South Africa to end the two-year-old conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region. Spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, told reporters that the talks, which began in Pretoria, have been convened to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the devastating conflict. The talks started on Tuesday and will end on Sunday. And finally… *) 'World's dirtiest man' dies in Iran aged 94 An Iranian man nicknamed the "dirtiest man in the world" for not taking a shower for decades has died at the age of 94. According to the state media, Amou Haji, who did not wash for more than half a century and was single, died in the village of Dejgah in the southern province of Fars. Haji had avoided showering over fears of "getting sick", the agency quoted a local official as saying.

*) Rishi Sunak vows 'stability and unity' as UK's next prime minister, Britain's incoming prime minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to bring "stability and unity" at a time of economic crisis after he was named the Conservative party's new leader. He told reporters, the United Kingdom is a great country but there is no doubt “we face a profound economic challenge," Sunak said the country now needs stability and unity, and he will make it his utmost priority to bring his party and his country together. *) IAEA prepares to study Russia's 'dirty bomb' claims in Ukraine The UN nuclear watchdog says it is preparing to send inspectors in the coming days to two Ukrainian sites at Kiev's request. The move is an apparent reaction to Russian claims that Ukraine could deploy a so-called dirty bomb, which Ukraine denies. The International Atomic Energy Agency's announcement follows claims by a senior Russian officer that two institutes in Ukraine linked to the nuclear industry were engaged in preparations to produce such a bomb. *) Israel kills, wounds many Palestinians during raid Five Palestinians were killed and 22 others injured in a raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. Palestine’s Health Ministry said the Israeli fire killed three people in Nablus and wounded 19 others. It also reported that another Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in Ramallah, and later, one more killed in Nablus. *) Nine dead, million seek shelter as cyclone hits Bangladesh At least nine people have died after a cyclone slammed into Bangladesh, forcing the evacuation of around a million people from their homes. Cyclone Sitrang made landfall in southern Bangladesh late Monday but authorities managed to get about a million people to safety before the monster weather system hit. Cyclones are a regular menace but scientists say the climate crisis is likely making them more intense and frequent. *) King cobra escape shuts down Swedish zoo A Swedish zoo has been partially shut down after a king cobra staged an impressive escape from its enclosure, with staff still searching for the venomous vagrant. The snake escaped through a lamp fixture in a terrarium and was believed to be somewhere in an inner ceiling. The cobra had only been brought to the zoo a few days earlier.

*) Live blog: Ukraine, US reject Russia's 'false' dirty bomb allegations Top US and Ukrainian diplomats have rejected Russia's claims of preparing to use a "dirty bomb" by Ukrainian authorities on its own territory. Separately US Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement underlining Washington's continued support to Ukraine. Britain and France also dismissed Russian claims that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb and warned Moscow against using any pretext for escalating the conflict. *) Ex-UK leader Boris Johnson announces dropping out of PM contest Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he will not run to lead the Conservative Party, ending intense speculation about his comeback. Johnson said although he believed he was well-placed to deliver another Conservative victory in the 2024 general election, he was standing aside in the interests of party unity. Johnson was ousted in July amid ethics scandals. He was widely expected to run to replace Liz Truss, who quit last week. *) North, South Korea trade fire over violation of maritime border The rival Koreas have exchanged warning shots along their disputed western sea boundary amid heightened tensions over North Korea’s recent barrage of weapons tests. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that its navy fired warning shots to repel a North Korean merchant ship that it says violated the Northern Limit Line. North Korea’s military said it has responded by firing 10 rounds of artillery shells as a warning to South Korea. It accused a South Korean navy ship of intruding into North Korean waters. *) Erdogan: Western human rights defenders ignore PKK terror victims Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed the failure of Western human rights defenders to do anything to help families whose children were kidnapped by the PKK terrorist group. Since September 3, 2019, families whose children were allegedly abducted or forcibly recruited by the PKK have camped outside offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Türkiye’s southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The Turkish government says the party has links with the terror group, and is currently facing a closure case in the nation’s highest court. *) Verstappen beats Hamilton, becomes US Grand Prix champion Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen, who recently secured the 2022 Formula 1 title in Japan, has won the US Grand Prix. Verstappen beat Mercedes’ driver Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas and also helped Red Bull win the constructors' title this year. Hamilton came in second as the gap between him and Verstappen was five seconds.

*) PM Truss resigns as UK political turmoil deepens amid new election demand British Prime Minister Liz Truss has dramatically announced her resignation just six weeks after taking office. Truss bowed to the inevitable after her right-wing platform of tax cuts disintegrated and many MPs among the ruling Conservatives revolted. Speaking in Downing Street, Truss said she would stay on as prime minister until a successor is chosen to serve as Tory leader. *) Israeli troops kill Palestinian youth, wound three in West Bank Israeli troops have killed a Palestinian youth and wounded three others in the occupied West Bank, Palestine's Health Ministry said. The ministry said the 19-year-old suffered a mortal wound in the neck, while three others were wounded by live gunshots to their limbs. The violence happened as Israeli forces staged an arrest raid in Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank that has been a flash point in recent fighting. *) Bloodbath as Chad forces kill scores in protests Security forces in Chad opened fire on anti-government demonstrators in the country's two largest cities killing at least 60 people and wounding some 300, government spokesperson said. Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo said the government was still compiling casualties from what he described as an armed insurrection. Authorities imposed a curfew after the violence, which came amid demonstrations in the central African nation against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby's extension of his power. *) Türkiye's Erdogan, Azerbaijan's Aliyev inaugurate Zangilan airport Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev jointly inaugurated a new airport in an area liberated from the Armenian occupation. Erdogan is the first foreign leader to land at the Zangilan International Airport, Azerbaijan’s second airport in territories reclaimed from Armenia during the 2020 Karabakh War. In October 2021, Erdogan joined Aliyev in the official opening of the Fuzuli International Airport. And finally… *) Yusuf Islam electrifies fans in his first Türkiye concert British musician Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, performed before a cheering audience in Istanbul. The concert was part of the Beyoglu Cultural Road Festival organised by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, at the Ataturk Cultural Center. The artist, who left his mark on the 1960s and 1970s with his albums and chose to become a Muslim in 1977, met with music lovers.

*) Putin declares martial law in four annexed regions of Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to impose martial law in the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, recently annexed from Ukraine. Putin said residents of these territories "clearly expressed their will when voted in favour of joining Russia." He added that Kiev refuses to accept the results of the referendums in the annexed regions and carries out acts of sabotage on Russia's territory. *) Ukraine accuses Iran of breaching UN ban on drone transfers Ukraine has accused Iran of violating a UN Security Council ban on the transfer of drones capable of flying 300 kilometres. Kiev has invited UN experts to visit the country to inspect Iranian-origin drones allegedly being used by Russia against targets. Ukraine's UN Ambassador tweeted that the issue of Iranian drones used against civilians will be raised at an open council meeting in Ukraine on Friday. *) UK's interior minister resigns after breaching government rules Britain's interior minister has resigned, saying she had to go after she breached government rules. Suella Braverman, however, said she had concerns over the direction of Prime Minister Liz Truss's government. She is the second senior minister to leave the government in less than a week, heaping more pressure on Truss as she fights to stay in power just over six weeks after she entered Downing Street. *) Malaysia to go to polls on Nov. 19 Malaysia will hold a general election on November 19 in a contest that the ruling party hopes would strengthen its hold on power. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved parliament on October 10th and called for snap polls, saying an election would end years of political instability. The polls come earlier than the September 2023 deadline and during the annual monsoon season that has already triggered floods across Malaysia and is expected to affect voter turnout. And finally… *) First Native American woman in space awed by Mother Earth The first Native American woman in space says she is overwhelmed by the beauty and delicacy of Mother Earth. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann said from the International Space Station that she’s received lots of prayers and blessings from her family and tribal community. Mann, 45, a Marine colonel and test pilot who was born in California, , said she is channeling “positive energy” as her five-month mission gets underway.

*) Lafarge pleads guilty to supporting Daesh, agrees to pay $778M fine French cement maker Lafarge has pleaded guilty to a US charge that it made payments to groups designated as terrorists by the United States, including Daesh. The admission in Brooklyn federal court marked the first time a company has pleaded guilty in the US to charges of providing material support to a terrorist organisation. Lafarge acknowledged that it paid nearly 12.8 million dollars to middlemen to keep its Syrian cement factory running in 2013 and 2014. *) Biden to release 15 mln barrels from US oil reserves: official US President Joe Biden will announce Wednesday that he's putting the final 15 million barrels on the market from a record release of US strategic oil reserves. The new tranche of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be completing the 180 million barrel release authorised in the spring. The US decision to release oil from its reserves came in response to price hikes linked to Russia's offensive in Ukraine, a senior US official said. *) Germany's cybersecurity chief sacked over links with Russian intelligence The head of Germany's national cybersecurity agency has been dismissed following reports of possible ties to Russian intelligence. The Interior Ministry said that the head of the BSI agency was dismissed following the allegations, which "damaged the necessary confidence of the public in the neutrality and impartiality" of his management. *) Pakistan backs Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ output cut riles US Pakistan has thrown its weight behind longtime ally Saudi Arabia amid an ongoing rift over global oil production cuts and the US threatening Riyadh with consequences. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that in context of the OPEC Plus decision, Islamabad expresses solidarity with the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s statement comes amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US, which had strongly opposed the proposed oil production cuts by the kingdom-led oil cartel. And finally… *) Netflix subscriber numbers re-ignite after chilly start to year Netflix says it has gained more than 2 million subscribers in the recent quarter, calming investor fears that the streaming giant was losing paying customers. The company said it ended the third quarter with slightly more than 223 million subscribers worldwide, after seeing subscriber ranks ebb during the first half of the year. Netflix shares shot up more than 14 percent in after hours trading to $275 on the earnings news.

*) US warns of sanctions over Iran drone ties after Kiev strikes The United States has warned it would take action against companies and nations working with Iran's drone programme after Russia used the imports for deadly kamikaze strikes in Kiev. State Department spokesperson said, "Anyone doing business with Iran that could have any link to UAVs or ballistic missile developments or the flow of arms from Iran to Russia should be very careful and do their due diligence.” He added that the US will not hesitate to use sanctions or take actions against perpetrators. *) Türkiye criticises Greece's 'shameless' mistreatment of refugees Türkiye has lashed out at Greece for falsely accusing Ankara of mistreating refugees, calling Athens "shameless.” Turkish Foriegn Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Greece is known for its record on violations of international law, therefore, it is natural for Greece to attempt to slander Türkiye as its own crimes multiply. Cavusoglu was addressing a news conference after a meeting in Istanbul of foreign ministers of the Council of Turkic States. *) UK's Truss apologises for economic mistakes, will 'stick around' Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss has apologised for what she called "mistakes" in her programme that caused investor confidence to evaporate and her poll ratings to plunge. Truss told the BBC she accepts responsibility and that she is sorry for the mistakes that have been made. She added that she wanted to act to help people with their energy bills to deal with the issue of high taxes, but her administration “went too far and too fast.” *) Australia walks back recognition of West Jerusalem as Israeli capital — FM Australia has reversed the previous government's recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It said the issue should be resolved as part of peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security. *) Benzema, Putellas win 2022 Ballon d’Or awards Karim Benzema has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time after a brilliant season with Real Madrid capped by the Champions League and Spanish league titles. Spanish player Alexia Putellas won the women’s trophy for the second straight year following another standout season with Barcelona. Benzema had his best season ever at Madrid, being the top scorer in both leagues. He scored 44 times for Madrid, including 15 in Europe’s top competition.

*) Ukrainian presidency says Kiev attacked by 'kamikaze drones' Ukraine says its capital Kiev has been attacked by "kamikaze drones" after several explosions were heard in the central Shevchenko district of the capital. Ukrainian president's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said the Russians think it will help them, but it shows their desperation. The explosions come exactly a week after Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital. *) Rebels in Ethiopia's Tigray announces they will abide ceasefire Insurgents in Ethiopia's rebel-held Tigray region have announced that they would respect a ceasefire as fighting intensified in the country's war-torn north. International concern is growing around the fate of Shire, a city of 100,000 people in northwest Tigray, where Ethiopian and Eritrean troops have launched a joint offensive. The UN chief joined the United States and other Western powers in voicing alarm over the worsening violence and called for a peaceful settlement to the conflict. *) UK parliamentarians readying to force Liz Truss to resign — report British lawmakers will try to oust Prime Minister Liz Truss this week despite Downing Street's warning that it could trigger a general election, according to local media. More than 100 members of parliament belonging to the governing Conservative Party are ready to submit letters of no confidence in Truss to the head of the Conservative Party's committee. Britain has lost three prime ministers since it voted to leave the European Union in 2016. *) Floods in Nigeria claim over 600 lives — government More than 600 people are now known to have perished in the worst floods in a decade in Nigeria. Nigeria's ministry of humanitarian affairs said that the disaster has also forced more than 1.3 million from their homes. The flooding also completely destroyed more than 82,000 houses and nearly 110,000 hectares of farmland. *) Mbappe rules out reports suggesting 'asked to leave' PSG Kylian Mbappe has insisted that he "never asked to leave" Paris Saint-Germain despite widespread reports that he would seek a move away from the club as soon as possible. The 23-year-old France superstar was speaking in the wake of PSG's 1-0 win over Marseille, in which he set up Neymar for the only goal as his side moved three points clear at the top of Ligue 1. Mbappe said, "I am very happy. I have never asked to leave in January," insisting that he was not "implicated directly or indirectly" in the rumours about his future.

*) Palestine's Fatah, Hamas sign 'historic' reconciliation deal in Algeria Palestinian factions have signed an agreement in Algiers aimed at resolving 15 years of discord by holding elections within a year after months of talks mediated by Algeria. The deal aims to end a rift between President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas that has split Palestinian governance in besieged Gaza from the occupied West Bank. It also stipulates elections for the Palestinian National Council, a parliament for Palestinians including the millions-strong diaspora. *) Lebanon endorses maritime border deal with Israel Lebanon has approved a US-brokered maritime border deal with Israel, unlocking significant offshore gas production for the eastern Mediterranean neighbours. Announcing the approval of the deal, Lebanese President Michel Aoun described it as a "historic achievement". He said Lebanon was able to recover a disputed area of 860 square kilometres under the agreement. *) Iraq gets new president, PM after months of political gridlock Iraq now has a new president and prime minister after a year of political gridlock and violence in the war-scarred nation. Abdul Latif Rashid, 78, replaces Barham Saleh as head of state after the two-round vote in parliament on Thursday, winning more than 160 votes against 99 for Saleh. After the vote, Iraq's newly elected president named Mohammed Shia al Sudani as prime minister-designate. *) Residents in 'annexed' Kherson begin fleeing to Russia Evacuees from Ukraine's southern Kherson region are expected to begin arriving in Russia after a Moscow-installed official suggested residents should leave for safety. The development is seen as a sign of Moscow's weakening hold on territory it claims to have annexed. The first civilians fleeing from Kherson were due to arrive in Russia's Rostov region on Friday, according to the TASS news agency. And finally… *) More than 600,000 tickets sold for T20 World Cup More than 600,000 tickets have been sold for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia. The global showpiece starts on Sunday at the preliminary stage, before the big guns join in from October 22. Seven Australian cities are hosting the tournament.

*) UN condemns Russia's 'illegal annexation' of Ukraine territories The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn what it called Russia's "attempted illegal annexation" of four Ukrainian regions.. It demanded that Moscow immediately reverse its actions. The vote in the 193-member world body was 143-5 with 35 abstentions, the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia. *) Saudi Arabia rejects framing OPEC+ oil cut decision as political Saudi Arabia has rejected as "not based on facts" statements criticising the kingdom after an OPEC+ decision to cut its oil production target despite US objections. The OPEC+ decision was adopted through consensus, took into account the balance of supply and demand and was aimed at curbing market volatility, the Saudi foreign ministry said. US President Joe Biden pledged earlier that "there will be consequences" for US relations with Saudi Arabia after oil production’s cut. *) Türkiye's aim is to stop bloodshed in Russia-Ukraine conflict: President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Türkiye's aim is to stop bloodshed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as soon as possible despite hurdles. Speaking at the sixth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, Erdogan said "Our goal is to continue the momentum gained despite the difficulties on the ground.” He added that Türkiye's intensive efforts with the UN and the two parties to the conflict to curb the negative effects of the war have gained the appreciation of the entire world. *) North Korea's Kim warns 'enemies' after cruise missile tests North Korea has test-fired a pair of strategic long-range cruise missiles in the latest of a flurry of drills to highlight its tactical nuclear capability. The country’s leader Kim Jong-un expressed "great satisfaction" as he oversaw the test firing of these missiles that travelled 2,000 kilometres over the sea. Kim said the country should continue to expand the operational sphere of the nuclear strategic armed forces to resolutely deter any war crisis at any time. And finally… *) Football ace Salah sets Champions League record with fastest hat-trick Mohamed Salah has come off the bench to score the fastest-ever hat-trick in Champions League history as Liverpool routed Rangers 7-1 at Ibrox. The Egyptian came on in the second half with his team-leading 3-1 and proceeded to fire a stunning treble in just six minutes and 12 seconds to set a new benchmark in the competition. Bafetimbi Gomis previously held the record from 2011 when he took eight minutes to complete his hat-trick.

*) G7 leaders vow to hold Putin accountable for Ukraine missile strikes World powers have said that they would hold Russian leader Vladimir Putin responsible for recent widespread aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities including Kiev. The G7 condemned the attacks in the strongest possible terms, saing indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilian populations constitute a war crime. The G7 leaders also criticised Russia's "irresponsible nuclear rhetoric". *) Turkish president heads to Kazakhstan for talks, regional summit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has departed for the Kazakh capital Astana to meet with his counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and to participate in a regional summit. Erdogan and Tokayev will hold one-on-one talks and attend inter-delegation meetings to discuss bilateral relations and international issues after an official welcoming ceremony. Erdogan is expected to meet participating leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sideline of the summit *) Biden warns of 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia over OPEC+ oil cuts US President Joe Biden has promised what he called “consequences” for Saudi Arabia after a Riyadh-led coalition of oil-producing nations sided with Russia to cut output in a bid to boost prices. The 13-nation OPEC cartel and its 10 allies angered the White House last week with its decision to cut production by two million barrels a day, raising fears that oil prices could soar. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that the OPEC+ decision was purely economic and was taken unanimously. *) Gambia police probe links child deaths to India-made syrups Gambian police say the deaths of 69 children from acute kidney injury are linked to four cough syrups made in India and imported into the West African country. World Health Organization investigators had already found "unacceptable" levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic, in four products made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited. India on Wednesday halted production of these syrups at the factory. *) Disney pushes back several Marvel movie release dates Walt Disney has announced that it will be pushing back the release dates for numerous upcoming Marvel films including, "Blade," "Fantastic Four" and "Avengers: Secret Wars." Following "Blade" director Bassam Tariq's departure from the project in September, Marvel has decided to temporarily shut down production of the film to search for a new director. Delay of Blade’s premiere has impacted the rest of the studios' production scheduling.

*) UN fears Russian strikes to provoke more displacements The United Nations refugee chief has warned more people will be forced to flee their homes in Ukraine after Russian missiles rained down on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said the bombing of civilians, of houses and of non-military infrastructure in an indiscriminate manner, means the war is becoming harder and more difficult for civilians. Grandi said he feared that the latest events will provoke more displacements. *) Iran enhances its ability on uranium enrichment — IAEA Iran is rapidly expanding its ability to enrich uranium with advanced centrifuges at its underground plant at Natanz, a confidential UN nuclear watchdog report has shown. While indirect talks between Iran and the US on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have stalled, Tehran has brought onstream an ever larger number of advanced centrifuges to produce enriched uranium. These machines are far more efficient than the first-generation IR-1, the only centrifuge that the deal lets Iran use to grow its stock of enriched uranium. *) Palestinians accuse Israelis of burning Quran as settlers storm Al Aqsa A Palestinian official has accused Israeli settlers of burning copies of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. Nidal Al Jabari, the director of Waqf Department in Hebron, said burnt copies of the Quran were found near the Qaytoun mosque in Hebron's Old City. He suggested that the copies were burnt during celebrations of a Jewish holiday in recent days, calling for an investigation into the incident. *) Hurricane Ian death toll climbs above 100 in Florida alone The death toll from Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States, has soared above 100 in Florida alone. Homes, restaurants and businesses were ripped apart when Ian roared ashore as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on September 26. The Florida Medical Examiners Commission confirmed that the number of storm-related fatalities rose to 102 statewide. *) Over 200 stranded pilot whales die on Pacific Ocean's remote Pitt Island New Zealand's conservation office has said that all 240 pilot whales stranded on the remote Pitt Island have died. Marine technical advisor at the Department of Conservation, said a technical team had assessed the situation and euthanised the surviving whales. He said the conservation department does not try to refloat whales in the area due to the risk of shark attack to both humans and whales.

*) Explosions rock central Kiev in apparent missile strikes Multiple explosions rocked Kiev following months of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital. Kiev’s mayor reported apparent Russian missile strikes in Shevchenko district, a large area in the centre of Kiev which includes the historical old town and government offices. President Zelenskyy said that people had been killed and injured following multiple strikes on cities across Ukraine, including the bombardment of the capital. *) Palestinians close to reaching deal with Egypt on Gaza’s gas field The Palestine Investment Fund is close to reaching a technical deal with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company to extract gas from the Marine gas field off the shore of Gaza. A Palestinian source said that both sides will sign the deal at the end of 2022 under which they will agree on the distribution of shares and mechanism to sell the gas. The source didn't give any details about Israel's position on the deal but said operating the field will be in agreement with all relevant actors. *) Algeria, France seek to deepen ties after tensions ease The French and Algerian prime ministers have declared a wish to "deepen" their ties as Paris seeks to repair relations with the former colony and major gas exporter. The Algerian Prime Minister personally welcomed the French Premier’s delegation before a top-level meeting mainly addressing economic cooperation. French and Algerian ministers present signed around a dozen texts including "declarations of intent" on employment, industrial cooperation and tourism. *) Heavy rains continue to flood Thailand Heavy seasonal rains have once again pounded much of Thailand, causing widespread flooding, particularly in the northeast and central regions. Rains hit a northeastern province, where almost 20,000 people have been moved into 85 temporary shelters as floodwaters overwhelm more than 1,000 villages. More than 200,000 households across 54 provinces have been affected by floods over 10 days until Saturday. And finally… *) Türkiye wins its first ever Amputee Football World Cup Türkiye has won the 2022 Amputee Football World Cup, beating reigning champions Angola 4-1 in the final in Istanbul. The hosts put in a dominant second-half display to lift their maiden World Cup title, after the first period ended 1-1. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in attendance to watch the country's team play in the final game and handed the trophy to the winners himself.

*) Biden: Nuclear 'Armageddon' risk highest since '62 crisis US President Joe Biden has said the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, warning that Russia may use its atomic arsenal. He said the threat is real because Vladimir Putin's military is underperforming in Ukraine, warning that even a tactical strike in a limited area could quickly spiral out of control. Meanwhile, the White House has said repeatedly that it has seen no indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons. *) Gunman murders at least 37 in Thai nursery attack Thailand is mourning the death of nearly two dozen children and others killed in a nursery, in one of its worst mass shootings. A former police officer armed with a gun and a knife killed at least 37 people, including 23 children, in a northeastern province on Thursday. Following the attack in the daycare centre, the gunman went home and killed his wife and child before taking his own life. He was sacked from the police force in June for drug use. *) Türkiye expects EU to call on Greece for bilateral dialogue, says president Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Türkiye expects the European Union to call on Greece for dialogue on a bilateral basis instead of supporting illegal initiatives. Erdogan was speaking in Czech Republic's Prague, where he took part in the first meeting of the European Political Community on Thursday. Erdogan said he held "productive" talks at the summit, in which Türkiye shared its views, contributions and assessments on the challenges Europe is facing. *) South Korea, US stage drills with aircraft carrier after N Korean missile launches South Korea and the United States have begun maritime exercises with a US aircraft carrier. The drills will take place in waters off South Korea's east coast on October 7-8. The joint drills come after North Korea launched a pair of ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday, and later flew warplanes near the border with the South. Defence officials from Japan, South Korea and the US discussed the latest developments in a call on Friday, condemning the North Korean launches amid heightened tensions. And finally… *) French author Annie Ernaux wins Nobel Literature Prize French author Annie Ernaux, known for her simple novels drawing on personal experience, has been awarded the Nobel Literature Prize. She was honoured "for the courage…with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory", the jury said on Thursday. The 82-year-old said in Paris the award created a responsibility to "continue the fight against injustice".

*) Putin says situation to 'stabilise', Ukraine presses counterattack Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he expects the situation to "stabilise" in Ukrainian regions annexed by the Kremlin, after Moscow suffered military setbacks. He has also ordered his government to seize control over Europe's largest nuclear power plant in the Russia-controlled region of Zaporizhzhia. Kiev has claimed victories over Russian troops in the eastern region of Luhansk, while the Kremlin has vowed to recapture territory lost in a lightning Ukrainian counteroffensive. *) North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, blames US drills 'escalation' North Korea has again fired two ballistic missiles, claiming its recent blitz of tests were necessary countermeasures against joint drills by the United States and South Korea. North Korea has accused the US of "escalating military tensions on the Korean peninsula" and threatening regional stability. South Korea, Japan and the US have ramped up joint military drills in recent weeks, including large-scale naval manoeuvres and anti-submarine exercises. *) WHO probes India syrups after dozens of children die in Gambia The World Health Organisation has issued an alert over four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India. The UN health agency has said the four syrups in question "have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children" in The Gambia. It has also cautioned that contaminated medications may have been distributed outside of the West African country, warning that global exposure was "possible". *) Three 'click chemistry' pioneers win Nobel Prize The Nobel Chemistry Prize has been awarded to a trio of chemists from the US and Denmark who laid the foundation for a more functional form of chemistry. Americans Carolyn Bertozzi and Barry Sharpless, together with Denmark's Morten Meldal, have been honoured "for the development of click chemistry...," the jury has said. Click chemistry "is an elegant and efficient chemical reaction that is now in widespread use," the jury said. Among many other uses, it is utilised in the development of pharmaceuticals. *) Grandmaster Hans Niemann defends reputation after cheating claims American international grandmaster Hans Niemann has said he "won't back down," after chess platform chess.com reported he has "probably cheated more than 100 times" in online games. After a victory in the US Chess Championship on Wednesday, Niemann said the game he had just won "spoke for itself and showed the chess player that I am". Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen last week accused 19-year-old Niemann of cheating in a major controversy.

*) US boosts arms aid as Ukraine expands battle gains The United States has announced more weapons for Ukraine's army, which claims sweeping gains along two major battlefronts this week. The US will ship four more Himars precision rocket launchers, 32 artillery pieces, 75,000 artillery rounds and 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his forces have retaken "dozens" of villages in the east and south. The Russian military, too, concedes that it has incurred losses. *) Musk offers to close Twitter buyout deal at original price Elon Musk has offered to push through with his buyout of Twitter at the original agreed price, as a trial over his efforts to withdraw from the deal looms. The world's richest man has said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that he sent Twitter a letter vowing to honour the contract. The latest twist in the long-running saga comes ahead of the high-stakes court battle launched by Twitter in an attempt to hold the Tesla chief to the deal he signed in April. *) Lebanon sends US its remarks on Israel maritime border dispute Lebanon has sent Washington remarks to a US proposal on resolving a long-running maritime border dispute with Israel over gas-rich waters of the countries' Mediterranean coasts. A draft agreement floated by the US aims to settle competing claims over offshore gas fields and was delivered to Lebanese and Israeli officials at the weekend. Washington's offer has not been made public, but it has raised prospects for a deal that could help Lebanon explore potential gas wealth that the debt-ridden country desperately needs. *) French-US-Austrian trio win physics Nobel for quantum mechanics work A trio of physicists have won the Nobel Prize for discoveries in the field of quantum mechanics that have paved the way for quantum computers, networks and secure encrypted communication. Alain Aspect of France, John Clauser of the United States and Austria's Anton Zeilinger have been honoured for "groundbreaking experiments using entangled quantum states", the committee has said. Their results "have cleared the way for new technology based upon quantum information", it has added. And finally… *) Pitt 'choked' one child, hit another in Jolie plane fight: Court papers Brad Pitt allegedly hit one of his children in the face and choked another during a fight with Angelina Jolie on a private plane, according to court papers filed in the United States by his ex-wife. In the papers widely quoted in US media, Jolie alleges Pitt also grabbed her by the head as the couple flew with the children from California to France in September 2016. The former couple, once one of Hollywood's highest profile pairings, have been embroiled in a lengthy dispute over their marriage, custody of their six children and shared assets.

*) North Korea fires ballistic missile over Japan North Korea has fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, prompting Tokyo to activate the country's missile alert system and order people to take shelter. South Korea's military said it detected the launch of the missile, which flew around 4,500 kilometres at an altitude of about 970 kilometres and a speed of around Mach 17. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the launch was "an act of violence following recent repeated launches of ballistic missiles" by the North. *) Ukraine forces break through Russian defences in south, advance in east Ukrainian forces have broken through Russian defences in the south of the country while expanding their offensive in the east, seizing back more territory in areas annexed by Russia. Making their biggest breakthrough in the south, Ukrainian forces recaptured several villages in an advance along the strategic Dnipro River on Monday. The southern breakthrough mirrors recent Ukrainian advances in the east even as Russia has tried to raise the stakes by annexing land and ordering mobilisation. *) Iran supreme leader blames US, Israel for Mahsa Amini protests Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the United States and Israel of fomenting the wave of nationwide protests after the death of Mahsa Amini. Public anger has flared since authorities announced on September 16 the death of Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian who had been held for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an improper way. In his first public comments on Amini's death, the 83-year-old Khamenei said some people have resorted to vandalism and stressed that the police must stand up to them. *) Deadly Al Shabab attacks target Somalia's Hiran region Over a dozen people have been killed after two explosions targeted local government headquarters in the capital of Somalia’s Hiran region. The Al Shabab terror group has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack that killed government officials, civilians and security personnel. Earlier on Monday, Somalia’s government announced that it and international partners had killed a top Al Shabab leader over the weekend. *) Apple: Will Smith's 'Emancipation' to release this year Apple will release Will Smith's next big project, “Emancipation,” this December, after holding it in limbo following Smith's slap of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March. After the slapgate controversy, the fate of “Emancipation” — a $120-million runaway slave thriller — had been uncertain. But Apple TV+ said on Monday that it will debut “Emancipation” on December 2 in theatres and begin streaming it on December 9.

*) Ukraine says key eastern town 'cleared' of Russian troops Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Lyman, a key town located in one of four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia, has been "cleared" of Moscow's troops. The recapture of Lyman marks the first Ukrainian military victory in a territory the Kremlin has claimed as its own and vowed to defend by all possible means. Ukraine's army said it had entered Lyman, a strategic railway hub in the eastern Donetsk region, on Saturday, prompting Moscow to announce the "withdrawal" of its troops. *) Brazil braces for runoff as Bolsonaro beats expectations Brazil's presidential election is headed for a runoff on October 30, with incumbent Jair Bolsonaro finishing a closer-than-expected second to front-runner Lula da Silva. Lula, the veteran leftist seeking a presidential comeback, had 48.4 percent of the vote to 43.2 percent for Bolsonaro. Over 99 percent of polling station results were in. It was an unexpectedly strong result for Bolsonaro — and for Brazil's far-right, which also had surprise good showings in a series of key Congressional and governors' races. *) Indonesia orders stadium disaster 'perpetrators' punished Indonesia's government has called on the country's police to identify and punish whoever was responsible for a stampede that left 125 people dead in a football stadium. The tragedy on Saturday night in the city of Malang also saw 323 people injured after officers fired tear gas in a packed stadium to quell a pitch invasion, triggering the stampede. Seventeen children were among the victims of what has turned out to be one of the deadliest disasters in the history of football. *) Yemen ceasefire ends without extension as UN envoy urges calm A six-month truce in Yemen's war has expired without being extended, United Nations' special envoy Hans Grundberg has said. He said efforts to extend the ceasefire for a further six months had not been successful. Grundberg urged calm and added that negotiations are continuing. The ceasefire, enacted for two months in April and renewed twice, has brought a sharp drop in fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-supported pro-government coalition. And finally… *) 'Excited' Kyrgios focused on Japan Open on eve of court case Maverick tennis player Nick Kyrgios has said it is "not difficult at all" to focus on this week's Japan Open, despite his court hearing at home in Australia for alleged common assault. The world number 20 is due to have his case heard at a court in Canberra, on the same day he is scheduled to play in Tokyo. The temperamental Kyrgios, at his first tournament since losing in the quarter-finals of the US Open last month, said he was "super excited" to be back in action in Tokyo.

*) Putin to annex four Ukraine territories with 'major speech' as West fumes Russia is set to formally annex four occupied regions of Ukraine at a ceremony that the Kremlin says will feature a major speech by President Vladimir Putin. In a presidential decree, Putin has already recognised the independence of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. He made a similar move in connection with Donetsk and Luhansk in February. Kiev and its Western allies have denounced the annexation, describing the Moscow-backed separatist votes that preceded it as a sham and an attempt at unlawful land grab. *) Suicide attack at tutoring centre in Afghan capital kills 19 A suicide attack at a learning centre in the Afghan capital has killed at least 19 people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. The incident happened in a neighbourhood of western Kabul that is a predominantly Shia Muslim area home to the minority Hazara community. Students were preparing for an exam when a suicide bomber struck at the educational centre, police said, adding that over 20 people have suffered injuries. *) Hurricane Ian veers toward Carolinas after pummeling Florida A resurgent Hurricane Ian has barrelled north toward a second landfall in South Carolina, a day after carving a path of destruction across central Florida. Ian, which had weakened to a tropical storm, regained Category 1 hurricane strength while churning toward South Carolina above the Atlantic Ocean. Ian first came ashore in Florida on Wednesday as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the US mainland. President Joe Biden has said that preliminary reports suggested a "substantial" loss of life. *) Iran ups pressure on celebrities, media over Mahsa Amini protests Iran has stepped up pressure on celebrities and journalists over the recent wave of protests, which has been backed by filmmakers, athletes, musicians and actors. Iran’s warnings came after almost two weeks of demonstrations across Iran and a deadly crackdown that rights groups say has been marked by violence by security forces. Public anger has flared since authorities announced the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been held for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an improper way. And finally… *) FIFA World Cup: Fans won't need Covid jabs but negative tests required Coronavirus vaccinations will not be mandatory for the million-plus fans going to Qatar for the football World Cup that starts on November 20. But all visitors aged over six will have to produce negative Covid-19 tests before taking flights to Qatar. Players and match officials may be forced into a secure "bio-bubble" if Covid-19 cases take off again. The tournament will be the first major global sporting event with fans since the eruption of the Covid pandemic in December 2019.

*) Kremlin proxies in Ukraine plead to Putin for annexation Kremlin-backed officials in Ukraine have appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to annex regions under their control, after the territories held votes that Kiev and its allies denounce as a "sham". Ukraine has called on the EU to hit Russia with more sanctions and NATO to send more weapons to the frontline, with the Moscow-backed separatist votes significantly raising the stakes. Russia is looking to annex Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine's south, and Donetsk and Luhansk in the east. The areas represent around 15% of Ukraine’s territory. *) US does not act fairly when it comes to NATO allies: Turkish president Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the US for its tilted stance amid tensions between Türkiye and Greece, calling out Washington for its unequal treatment of NATO allies. In a TV interview, he also said that according to drone footage, there are armoured vehicles stationed on Greek islands that are supposed to be demilitarised — a move he described as "unacceptable." Ankara has warned the US and Greece over the military deployments and sent a letter to the UN, Erdogan said, reminding the US that it “cannot find another ally like Türkiye”. *) Iran launches deadly attacks on Kurdish region of northern Iraq Iran's Revolutionary Guard has launched deadly attacks on the Kurdish region of northern Iraq targeting armed rebel groups, Iranian state media have reported. Iran’s attacks targeted Koysancak (Koy-san-jak), also known as Koya — east of Iraq’s Erbil — killing at least nine people and wounding 32 others, according to Kurdish regional authorities. The strikes come at a time when Iran is rocked by protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who was detained by the Iranian morality police. *) Hurricane Ian pounds Florida as a monster storm Hurricane Ian has plunged much of coastal southwest Florida into darkness, with the monster storm bringing massive storm surges, wind and flooding. Authorities said the eye of the "extremely dangerous" hurricane made landfall just after 1900 GMT. Footage showed floodwaters surging into beachfront homes, submerging roads and sweeping away vehicles. More than two million people are without electricity in Florida. The US Border Patrol said 20 migrants were missing after their boat sank. *) Coolio, rapper behind hit 'Gangsta's Paradise,' dies at 59 Coolio, the US rapper best known for the chart-topping 1995 song "Gangsta's Paradise," has died, his manager has said. He was 59 years old. The Grammy-winning musician died in Los Angeles. No cause of death was immediately provided. He was found unresponsive in the bathroom of a friend's house on Wednesday. Born on August 1, 1963 in Pennsylvania, the artist spent most of his life in Compton, California, attending community college and working jobs including airport security before finding success in rap.

*) Russia paves way to annex parts of Ukraine after 'sham' referendums Kremlin-supported authorities in four Ukrainian regions under Russian control have claimed victory in annexation votes, drawing global outrage. Ukraine and its allies have denounced the so-called referendums as a "sham". Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the votes mean Kiev will not negotiate with Moscow. Moscow hopes to annex Luhansk and Donetsk in the east and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, regions that make up about 15 percent of Ukraine. *) Leaders blame Russia-Europe pipeline leaks on sabotage Sabotage is the likely cause of leaks in two Baltic Sea gas pipelines between Russia and Europe, European leaders have said, while the Kremlin too has maintained that "no option can be ruled out". Seismologists have reported explosions around the Nord Stream pipelines. Two "massive releases of energy" were recorded by the Swedish National Seismic Network shortly before the gas leaks. The Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines have been at the centre of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation against Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. *) Erdogan hits out at Western countries protecting terrorists Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised European countries that protect terrorist organisations, including the PKK and FETO. The murderers who shed blood are embraced in almost every country in Europe, particularly in the Lavrion camp in Greece, Erdogan told a meeting in Ankara on Tuesday. Erdogan said he expects all countries, especially Türkiye’s neighbours, to take necessary measures against terror groups. *) Hurricane Ian leaves Cuba without power, takes aim at Florida Powerful Hurricane Ian has left a trail of destruction and caused widespread blackout in Cuba, while Florida residents are bracing for a direct hit from the storm. Ian hit Cuba's western regions for more than five hours, before moving out over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm damaged Cuba's power network and plunged the island into darkness, leaving it "without electrical service," state electricity company Union Electrica said on Twitter. And finally… *) Alzheimer's drug succeeds in 'slowing' cognitive decline An experimental Alzheimer's drug has significantly slowed the cognitive and functional decline in a large trial of patients in the early stages of the disease. The injected drug slowed the progress of the brain-wasting disease by 27 percent compared to a placebo, meeting the study's main goal after a trial among 1,800 patients. It offers an apparent win for the drug manufacturers and potentially for patients and their families desperate for an effective treatment.

*) Kremlin admits call-up 'errors' but no decision to close border The Kremlin has admitted errors during the mobilisation of reservists for the military action in Ukraine and said no decision has been taken to close Russia's borders. It has also admitted that there have been cases when the mobilisation decree was violated, but added that the instances of non-compliance were decreasing. President Vladimir Putin last week announced the call-up of thousands of reservists for the conflict in Ukraine, sparking protests and a rush among Russian men for the borders. *) Greek military buildup: Türkiye won't fail to defend itself, Erdogan vows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed Greece over its latest provocations, saying his country will not fail to defend its rights and interests. Erdogan's remarks came after Turkish army drones recorded Greek deployment of armoured vehicles on two Aegean islands — which is in violation of international law. Türkiye has summoned the Greek ambassador and called for an end to violations on the Aegean islands and restoring their non-military status, according to the Foreign Ministry. *) Russia school shooting kills 15, including children At least 15 people, including 11 children, have been killed after a man opened fire at his former school in central Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the "inhuman terrorist attack" in the city of Izhevsk (E-zeevsk), the Kremlin said. According to investigators, the attacker — who killed himself — "was wearing a black top with Nazi symbols and a balaclava" when his body was discovered. *) Japan holds controversial state funeral for assassinated Shinzo Abe Japan has held a controversial state funeral for assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe, with thousands of mourners, including dignitaries, attending the ceremony in Tokyo. Gatherers offered flowers and prayers in honour of Abe, even as the decision to hold a state funeral has sparked protests due to his policies panned by critics and the costs of the ceremony. Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister known for cultivating international alliances and his "Abenomics" economic strategy. And finally… *) NASA strikes asteroid in key test of planetary defence A NASA spaceship has struck an asteroid seven million miles away in order to deflect its orbit, succeeding in a historic test of preventing a celestial object from devastating life on Earth. The director of NASA's planetary science division hailed a new era after its Double Asteroid Redirection Test impactor hit its target, a 530-foot space rock, at 2314 GMT on Monday. To be sure, the asteroid posed no threat to Earth, but NASA has deemed the experiment important to carry out before an actual need is discovered.

*) Giorgia Meloni's far-right triumphs in Italy vote Giorgia Meloni looks set to become Italy's first woman prime minister at the head of its most right-wing government since World War Two. Near-final results show the rightist bloc should have a solid majority in both houses of parliament. Meloni has said she is ready to govern for "all Italians". Her success in the general elections represents a seismic change in Italy — a founding member of the European Union — and for the EU, just weeks after the far-right outperformed in elections in Sweden. *) US warns Russia of 'catastrophic' consequences of nuclear strike The United States has warned Russia privately of "catastrophic" consequences if it uses nuclear weapons as part of the Ukraine conflict, according to top US officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in an interview, has confirmed reports that the US has sent private warnings to Russia to steer clear of nuclear war. Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security advisor, has said in a separate interview that the US has warned Russia at "very high levels" against using nuclear arms. *) Iranians protest for 10th night, defying judiciary warning Iranians defied a warning from the judiciary and took to the streets for a 10th consecutive night on Sunday to protest the death of a young woman in the custody of morality police. Public anger has flared since authorities announced the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been held for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an improper way. At least 41 people have died since the unrest began, mostly protesters but including members of Iran's security forces, according to an official toll. Other sources say the real figure is higher. *) Five rescuers killed in Philippine typhoon Five rescuers have been killed in the Philippines after being sent to a flooded community during a powerful typhoon, authorities have said. The strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year has swept across the main island of Luzon, toppling trees and flooding low-lying communities. The Philippines is regularly ravaged by storms, with scientists warning they are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of the climate crisis. *) Rihanna to headline Super Bowl halftime show Superstar Rihanna will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February, the main event sponsor Apple Music has announced. The move marks a long-awaited return to performing for the Barbadian-born 34-year-old singer, who had previously turned down the gig in protest. For the past few years, the singer behind the hits "Diamonds" and "Umbrella" has put music aside, at least publicly, to focus on her various businesses.

*) Five-day annexation polls open in Ukraine's Russian-held territories Russia-held regions of Ukraine have begun voting on whether to become part of Russia, in referendums that Kiev and the West slam as an unlawful land grab. The five-day votes in four regions controlled entirely or in part by Russian troops will end on September 27. The ballot covers around 15 percent of Ukraine's territory. The regions where the voting is being held are the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions — which are self-proclaimed republics controlled by Moscow-backed separatists — and Kherson and Zaporizhia (zah-POH-reeja) provinces in the south. *) Lapid calls for 'two-state solution' to end Israel-Palestine conflict Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid has called for a two-state solution to end the decades-long Palestine issue. An agreement with Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for the future of our children, Lapid said at the UN General Assembly. While Lapid was short on details, lawmakers in Israel's parliament are divided on whether they want to pursue a two-state solution with Palestine. *) Death toll from Iran protests climbs as internet restricted The US has placed Iran's morality police on its sanctions blacklist following the death in custody of a 22-year-old arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab headscarf improperly. The move came as violent protests erupted across Iran following Mahsa Amini’s death last week. According to an official count, at least 17 people have died in the unrest. With no sign of the protests easing, Iran has blocked access to Instagram and WhatsApp and imposed drastic restrictions on internet access. *) US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as warning to North A US aircraft carrier has arrived in South Korea for the first time in about four years. It is set to join other military vessels in a show of force intended to send a message to North Korea. The USS Ronald Reagan and ships from its accompanying strike group docked at a naval base in the southern port city of Busan ahead of joint drills with South Korean forces. Its arrival marks the most significant deployment yet under a new push to have more US "strategic assets" operate in the area to deter North Korea. *) Djokovic has no regrets about missing Slams due to unvaccinated status Tennis star Novak Djokovic, who missed two of this year's four Grand Slams due to not being vaccinated against the coronavirus, has said he has no regrets about his decision. The 35-year-old Serb, who has won 21 Grand Slam titles, has not played since winning Wimbledon in July as he missed out on the US Open. Djokovic is now awaiting word on whether he will be allowed in the Australian Open in January. He was deported from the country and received a three-year travel ban earlier this year due to his vaccination status.

*) Pressure on Putin as reservists called up for Ukraine campaign President Vladimir Putin's decision to send reservists to Ukraine has triggered protests and arrests at home, while Western leaders have lashed out at the Russian leader at the United Nations. Addressing the General Assembly, US President Joe Biden has accused Putin of "shamelessly" violating the UN Charter with an offensive aimed at "extinguishing Ukraine's right to exist as a state." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded that the world punish Russia in a dramatic video address to the session. *) Erdogan: Russia, Ukraine swap 200 POWs under Türkiye's mediation Ukraine and Russia have exchanged more than 200 prisoners as a result of Türkiye's mediation and diplomatic efforts, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. Erdogan has told reporters in New York City that the prisoner exchange was an "important step" towards ending the conflict between the two countries. A Ukrainian official said 215 soldiers had come home, including fighters who led a months-long defence of Azovstal steelworks in Ukraine's port city of Mariupol. *) Biden vows solidarity with Iran women as protests spread President Ebrahim Raisi has accused the West of hypocrisy in its criticism of Iran, where eight people were reported dead in growing protests over the death of a young woman arrested by morality police. Public anger has flared since authorities announced the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been held for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an improper way. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has vowed solidarity with Iranian women, and France's Emmanuel Macron has said that he asked Raisi to show "respect for women's rights." *) Trump, children sued for 'incredible' fraud in New York Donald Trump and family members have been accused of lying to tax collectors, lenders and insurers for years in a scheme that routinely misstated the value of his properties. The former president provided fraudulent statements of his net worth and false asset valuations, according to a suit filed by New York's attorney general. The sweeping investigation is one of many criminal, civil and congressional probes into Trump, who is eyeing another run for the White House in 2024. *) Rising obesity projected to hamper developing economies: Study Rising obesity levels are set to cost the world economy 3.3 percent of GDP by 2060, slowing development in lower-income countries, according to a study. The peer-reviewed paper provides the first country-by-country estimate of the economic impacts of obesity, a major driver of other non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart conditions. Globally, nearly two in three adults are now living with overweight and obesity, according to the authors, who also say projections suggest that it will change to three in four adults by 2060.

*) Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch, dies at 96 Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history and an icon instantly recognisable to billions of people around the world, has died. She was 96. Buckingham Palace announced her death in a short statement, triggering 10 days of national mourning and an outpouring of tributes to her long life and reign. Britain's King Charles III will address a nation in mourning on Friday. *) Türkiye nabs senior Daesh member in blow to terror group One of the most senior executives of the Daesh terrorist group has been captured by Turkish security forces, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. The president said that the police and Turkish intelligence carried out an important operation against Daesh and captured Bashar Hattab Ghazal al Sumaidai, code-named Abu Zeyd and Master Zeyd. Erdogan told reporters, "After Baghdadi and Qardash, he is one of the most important leaders of Daesh". *) Russia, US pull no punches over arms support for Ukraine at UN Russia's UN ambassador has called for a meeting to discuss threats to peace caused by foreign governments supplying arms and military goods to Ukraine. The ambassador said that the Russian army consistently is destroying not only the old weaponry of Soviet models, but also the modern NATO weapons". US deputy ambassador called Moscow's role "as the sole aggressor in what is an unnecessary and brutal war, for which the world is paying a collective price." *) EU countries mull emergency solution to soaring energy bills European Union countries' energy ministers will meet to search for solutions from a long list of possible measures to shield citizens from sky-high energy prices. The basis for the talks is a set of proposals made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Among the proposals are a price cap on Russian gas, a windfall levy on non-gas power plants and emergency credit lines for power firms. And finally… *) US changes names of places with derogatory term for Native women The US government has joined a ski resort and others that have quit using a racist term for a Native American woman by renaming hundreds of peaks, lakes, streams and other geographical features on federal lands in the West and elsewhere. The Interior Secretary created a panel that will take suggestions from the public on changing other places named with derogatory terms.

*) Moscow denies forcibly relocating Ukrainians Russia's UN envoy has denied accusations of Moscow relocating Ukrainians to Moscow-controlled areas or Russia at a UN Security Council meeting. Defining the accusations as a "new milestone in a disinformation campaign," Russia's UN envoy said the US and allies were creating confusion with the terminology of “so-called filtration”. ​He said: “We don't really understand what is being talked about here because the return filtration doesn't have a clear definition in international humanitarian law." *) South Korea proposes talks with North on 'separated families' South Korea has proposed a meeting with North Korea to resume reunions of families separated by war. South Korea’s Unification Minister said the two countries should confront the painful parts of reality and solve the matter before the term ‘separated families’ disappears. It's unclear if North Korea would accept the offer as it has already rejected the new South Korean government's offer to provide massive aid in return for denuclearisation. *) Last suspect in Canada knife rampage dies The last suspect in a stabbing spree that killed 10 and wounded 18 in western Canada has died following his capture, marking the end of a hunt that stretched into a fourth day. One official said Myles Sanderson died from self-inflicted injuries after police forced the stolen car he was driving off a highway. The other suspect was found dead on Monday near the scene of Sunday’s attacks. *) Memphis city shooter captured US police have apprehended 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly, who they say was responsible for multiple shootings in Memphis, including one that Kelly live streamed on Facebook. The gunman was nabbed after hours of chase, authorities said. "It's unknown how many shootings this man is connected to at this time, but there have been at least three shootings reported today by Memphis Police," Fox news reported. *) Muslim characters invisibile in top TV shows Muslim actors are virtually in the shadows on major TV shows, according to a new study that looked at 200 top-rated TV series in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. The study by the University of Southern California examined shows that aired between 2018 and 2019, and found that the ratio of non-Muslim characters to Muslim ones was 90 to one. "Muslims make up 25 percent of the world's population yet were only 1.1 percent of characters in popular television series," said the lead author of the survey.

*) China clears roads to earthquake epicentre, death toll rises to 74 The death toll from Monday’s 6.6 magnitude earthquake in China’s Sichuan province has risen to 74, with 26 people still missing as of Tuesday night. State media reported that the government has reopened roads leading to the epicentre of the quake and that traffic has resumed. The strongest earthquake to hit the province since 2017 also injured 259 people. It destroyed numerous buildings and caused severe damage to utility infrastructures. *) UN begs for aid as famine looms in drought-hit Somalia The United Nations says more than 700 children have died in Somalia this year because of hunger and malnutrition. The organisation has begged the international community not to forget the east African country, and pled for more aid as drought puts 200 thousand people on the brink of famine. The UN warned of a famine affecting several parts of the country in the coming months. *) ​​UK’s new PM Liz Truss vows to ‘ride out the storm’ and rebuild country New British Prime Minister Liz Truss has promised that her country would see sunnier days ahead despite the current economic gloom. In her first speech as premier after taking over from Boris Johnson, the-47-year old former foreign secretary said she would take action this week to secure the UK's future energy supply. Truss officially became Britain's new prime minister on Tuesday, at an audience with head of state Queen Elizabeth II after the resignation of Johnson. *) Rains damage Mohenjo Daro, Pakistan's 4,500-year-old archaeological site A famous archaeological site dating back 4 thousand 500 years is threatened by Pakistan’s devastating floods. The ruins of Mohenjo Daro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in southern Sindh province, are considered among the best preserved urban settlements in South Asia. The unprecedented floods have killed over 1,300 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. And finally… *) Justin Bieber suspends tour dates to prioritise health Pop singer Justin Bieber said he would take a break from his rescheduled Justice World Tour due to mental and physical health issues. Earlier this year, Bieber was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome that caused him partial facial paralysis. The 28-year-old megastar had recently gone back on the road after pushing back his tour in June.

*) Liz Truss vows to deliver 'bold plan' after winning vote to become UK PM UK Foreign Minister Liz Truss has won a Conservative Party contest to become the new prime minister of the country. Truss on Monday vowed to press ahead with promised tax cuts and action to tackle a deepening energy and cost of living crisis. Truss takes over as the country faces a crunch on household finances, industrial unrest, a recession and war in Europe, where Britain has been backing Ukraine. *) Rescuers scour for survivors as powerful quake kills dozens in China At least 65 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked China's southwestern Sichuan province. The quake cut communication lines and triggered landslides. According to the Chinese state broadcaster, some power stations were also forced to shut down. Some 21 million people in Sichuan's capital Chengdu were earlier ordered to stay home because of a Covid-19 outbreak. *) ​​Pakistan's Manchar Lake breached to drain water threatening nearby towns Engineers have breached Pakistan's biggest freshwater lake to drain water threatening nearby towns, as heavy rain poured misery on millions. Nearly a third of Pakistan is under water following months of record monsoon rains that have killed over 1,300 people and washed away homes, businesses, roads and bridges. Officials say the repair bill will top $10 billion for a country already in the grip of economic turmoil, with hundreds of thousands homeless as winter approaches. *) IED blast kills, wounds dozens of civilians in Burkina Faso An IED blast has killed at least 35 civilians and wounded 37 others in northern Burkina Faso. The interim military government said that the deaths occured when a vehicle in a convoy hit an improvised explosive device. Violence has spiked in the country’s north, where militants have escalated attacks on villages, police and military outposts since 2015. And finally… *) Nadal out as Tiafoe crushes second seed in major US Open upset Rafael Nadal fell to his earliest US Open loss in six years when he was knocked out by Frances Tiafoe. Four-time US Open champion Nadal, bidding for a 23rd Grand Slam title, lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the last-16 to 26th-ranked Tiafoe. The American's free-swinging performance conjured up 18 aces and 49 winners past a sluggish Nadal.

*) Ukraine retakes 'certain heights' from Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that his forces have marked progress in a counteroffensive against Russia that began last week. He thanked his forces for retaking two settlements in the south, a third in the eastern Donetsk region, as well as additional territory – what he called “certain heights” – in the Lysychansk-Siversk region, also in the east. He did not say precisely where the territories were and provided no timeline except to say that he had received "good reports" at a meeting on Sunday from his military commanders. *) Chile resoundingly rejects new progressive constitution Chileans have resoundingly rejected a new constitution to replace a charter imposed by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet 41 years ago. The 61.9 percent rejection vote, compared to the 38.1 percent for approval dealt a stinging setback to President Gabriel Boric, who argued the document would have ushered in a progressive era. Despite initially backing change, many voters say the wording of the document would have moved the nation too far to the left. *) ​​Flood-hit Pakistan breaches lake to avert overflow Pakistani authorities have deliberately breached the country's largest freshwater lake in the southeastern Sindh province. The operation at Manchar Lake has displaced up to 100 thousand people, but officials say it was necessary to prevent heavily-populated towns from flooding. Pakistan has been hit with record rainfall this monsoon season. Nearly 1,300 people have been killed, including scores of children. *) Canada mass stabbings kill, wound many A series of stabbings in two communities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan has left at least 10 people dead and 15 wounded. Police are looking for two suspects. The police said that Sunday’s stabbings took place in multiple locations on the James Smith Cree Nation and in the village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon. Police have issued photos of the men considered armed and dangerous, urging residents to move with caution and to not approach the 'suspicious persons'. And finally… *) Ukrainian firefighters rescue kitten from burning building Ukrainian firefighters in the city of Kharkiv have helped a small, furry survivor over the weekend. The rescuers, wearing full firefighting gear, battled raging flames and smoke to pull a gray-and-white kitten from among the rubble of a hotel-restaurant complex, which was hit by a rocket. Video showed the firefighters petting and cuddling the feline as they carried it to safety.

*) UN experts to stay at Ukraine nuclear plant to 'continue with assessment’ UN inspectors will be "staying" at a Russian-held nuclear plant in southern Ukraine — at least till the weekend. The Chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency described their first visit to the facility as productive. Today we were able, in these few hours, to gather a lot of information," IAEA director general Rafael Grossi told reporters outside the plant after the inspection. *) Hundreds of flights cancelled in Germany as Lufthansa pilots go on strike Pilots at Lufthansa have gone on strike, forcing the German airline to cancel hundreds of flights and leave holidaymakers stranded. Friday's walk out has led to the cancellation of nearly 800 flights, affecting around 130,000 passengers. The strike began at midnight local time and is set to continue for 24 hours, according to a statement by the pilots' union. *) Iran sends 'constructive' response to US offers on nuclear deal Iran has sent a "constructive" response to US proposals aimed at reviving Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said "The text that was sent (by Iran) has a constructive approach aimed at finalising the negotiations." The report said Iran's response was sent to EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, who has been coordinating the negotiations. *) Sri Lanka's deposed president Rajapaksa 'to return home' from Thailand Sri Lanka's deposed former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to end his self-imposed exile in Thailand and return home, a top defence official has said. "He has been living in a Thai hotel as a virtual prisoner and was keen to return," the defence official, adding that the ex-leader is expected to return early on Saturday. The 73-year-old fled the island under military guard in July after a huge crowd stormed his official residence, following months of public protests over an unprecedented economic crisis. *) NASA readies for Moon rocket launch attempt The stars appear to have aligned for NASA's Moon rocket to finally blast off, with weather forecasts favourable and technical issues resolved. Lift off is scheduled for 1817 GMT from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the potential for up to a two-hour delay if necessary. The chance for favourable weather conditions within that window sat at 60 percent Thursday evening.

*) IMF in preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka for $2.9 bln loan Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a loan of about $2.9 billion. "The objectives of Sri Lanka's new Fund-supported programme are to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability," an IMF statement said. Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in recent memory with acute shortages of essentials like fuel, medicines and food because of serious foreign currency shortages. *) Food crisis looms as vegetable prices spike in flood-hit Pakistan Vegetable and fruit prices have soared in markets across Pakistan as devastating rains ruined crops and disrupted supplies. In the eastern city of Lahore, close to the border with India and far from the worst floods in Sindh province, prices of some vegetables have tripled. The Pakistani government sets prices for some fresh produce, although traders often ignore the guidelines. *) G7 to discuss Russian oil price cap as Ukraine fight grinds on Finance ministers from the Group of Seven club of wealthy nations will discuss the United States’ proposed price cap on Russian oil. The White House said putting a cap on Russian oil will result in not only a drop in the country’s oil revenue, but also global energy prices. Despite Russia's oil exports hitting their lowest levels since last August, its export revenue in June increased 40 percent above last year's average. *) Cholera outbreak kills dozens in Democratic Republic of Congo An outbreak of cholera has reportedly killed 48 people in the central province of Sankuru in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to a report published on a privately run local news website, health officials detected 401 cases of cholera between August 15 and 21. The highest number of cases and fatalities were reported in the Lusambo health zone, with 308 cases and 24 deaths. And finally… *) 'White Noise' starring Adam Driver opens 79th Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival has opened with a screening of the Netflix film "White Noise". An adaptation of a Don DeLillo novel, the film stars Adam Driver of "Girls" and "Star Wars" fame. Netflix will also premiere the highly anticipated "Blonde", a dark retelling of Marilyn Monroe's tragic life, in the second week of the 10-day festival.

*) Russia halts gas supplies in new jitters for Europe Russian energy giant Gazprom has cut off its gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for maintenance work, further raising tensions on an already taut electricity market. The three-day works at a compressor station are "necessary", Gazprom has said, adding that they had to be carried out after "every 1,000 hours of operation". But Germany's Federal Network Agency chief called it a "technically incomprehensible" decision, warning that it was likely just a pretext by Moscow to wield energy supplies as a threat. *) Ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev dies aged 91 Mikhail Gorbachev has died at the age of 91 after a long illness. He was the last leader of the Soviet Union who waged a losing battle to salvage a crumbling empire but produced extraordinary reforms that led to the end of the Cold War. UN chief Antonio Guterres said Gorbachev was "a one-of-a-kind statesman who changed the course of history. He did more than any other individual to bring about the peaceful end of the Cold War". *) Taliban celebrates 1st anniversary of US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan The Taliban has declared Wednesday a national holiday to celebrate the first anniversary of the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of troops at midnight on August 31 began last year and ended America's longest war – a military invasion that began in the wake of 9/11 attacks in America. Some 66,000 Afghan troops and 48,000 civilians were killed in the conflict. But it was the deaths of more than 2,400 US servicemen that became too much for the American public to bear. *) Taiwan vows to 'counter-attack' if Chinese forces enter its territory Taiwan has said it would exercise its right to self-defence and "counter-attack" if Chinese armed forces entered its territory. Taiwanese defence officials said that China's "high intensity" military patrols near Taiwan continued. They warned that Beijing's intention of making the Taiwan Strait separating the two sides its "inner sea" would become the main source of instability in the region. And finally… *) Nadal downs wildcard Hijikata in US Open first round Second seed Rafael Na o dal has overcome an early scare to down 21-year-old Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-3 in his first appearance at the US Open after winning in 2019. Playing in only his second match after pulling out of Wimbledon with an abdominal injury, the Spaniard speculated whether he was ready to take on New York. Nadal seemed to confirm those fears as he struggled on the return in the first set.

*) IAEA mission to visit Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant this week The head of the International atomic energy agency says a team of inspectors will visit the besieged Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine later this week. Reports of shelling around the facility have fuelled fears of a radiation disaster. Both Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for the recent shelling near the plant. Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, was captured by Russian troops in March, and has been a major hotspot in the six-month conflict. *) Pakistan flood deaths cross 1,000 in 'climate catastrophe' More than one thousand people, including 300 children, have been killed in catastrophic flooding across Pakistan. The South Asian nation is struggling to cope with historic monsoon rains, which have swept away buildings and submerged cities. At least 33 million people in Pakistan have been affected by the devastating floods. The government has asked the international community for help. *) ​​Venezuela, Colombia reestablish diplomatic relations after three years Venezuela and Colombia have restored full diplomatic relations after a three-year break as a new leftist government in Bogota takes shape. Colombia's new leftist President, Gustavo Petro, and Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro announced on August 11 that they planned to restore diplomatic relations that were severed in 2019. That rupture was the culmination of years of tension between the two countries. *) More than a dozen people dead in eastern DRC violence Violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has left more than a dozen people dead in three days, military and local sources said. Sunday's statement included two soldiers, who were among those killed since Friday. Over 120 militias roam the country's volatile east, which sees frequent attacks on civilians. *) Taylor Swift wins top MTV video award Taylor Swift has won the top honour at MTV's annual Video Music Awards with the 10-minute version of her 2012 breakup song "All Too Well." The singer thanked fans from the stage at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Sunday as she accepted the honour. She also made a surprise announcement of a new album coming in October.

*) US warns Moscow not to divert power from Ukraine nuclear plant The United States has warned Russia against diverting energy from Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which Kiev says was cut off from its grid. Ukraine’s state energy operator said the nuclear plant held by Moscow's troops was disconnected from the national power supply. Kiev said the electricity produced at the plant belongs to Ukraine, and any attempt to redirect the plant to occupied areas is unacceptable. *) Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden to meet over Nordic NATO bid Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden are set to hold their first meeting on a permanent joint mechanism between the three countries over the Nordic countries’ NATO bids. The permanent joint mechanism was established for the implementation of a memorandum signed by the three countries at the NATO summit in Madrid. With the memorandum, Finland and Sweden extended full support to Türkiye against threats to its national security. To that effect, Helsinki and Stockholm will not provide support to the terrorist organisations, namely YPG/PYD, and FETO. *) Algeria, France agree to open new page in relations Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron agree to opening a new page in bilateral relations following a meeting in Algiers. Tebboune said he discussed many issues with Macron on bilateral cooperation and ways to develop relations in a "constructive" way, hoping for "encouraging results." Macron said the two countries’ complex and painful common history had prevented them from looking to the future. *) Pakistan declares national emergency as floods leave at least 1,000 dead Pakistan has declared a national emergency amid historic monsoon rains and flooding which has affected more than 30 million people over the last few weeks. Sherry Rehman, the country's climate change minister, called the situation a "climate-induced humanitarian disaster of epic proportions". The military was ordered to send troops to assist the civil administration with relief and rescue operations. *) Satellite plan set to end cell phone 'dead zones' SpaceX satellites are set to connect directly to T-Mobile cell phones to provide service access even in the most remote places beyond the reach of cell towers. The new service will work on existing cell phones from next year, and will utilise SpaceX's network of thousands of Starlink satellites in Earth's orbit. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said: "The important thing about this is that it means there's no dead zones anywhere in the world for your cell phone".

*) Taiwan unveils record defence budget Taiwan has proposed a record 19 billion dollars in defence spending for next year. This comes weeks after China conducted large-scale military exercises around the island. China sees Taiwan as its sovereign territory. The proposed defence budget is an increase of almost 14 percent compared to last year. The double-digit increase includes an additional three and a half billion dollars in spending for new fighter jets. *) Türkiye: Grain deal could restart Russia-Ukraine negotiations Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that the landmark Türkiye-brokered grain deal could work as a platform to restart negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Kalin said Türkiye believes that the trust built between the two sides could in fact work as a platform to restart the negotiations. Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal last month to resume grain exports from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports. *) Ethiopia's government, rebels trade blame over renewed clashes in Tigray Ethiopia’s government and rebels in the restive Tigray region have traded blame after fighting erupted, ending a months-long truce and severely denting hopes of lasting peace. The government accused Tigray rebels of carrying out attacks on Ethiopian forces near Kobo district and effectively breaking the cease-fire. However, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said Ethiopian forces have launched a “large-scale offensive” on rebel positions. *) Drought hits half of China in the worst heatwave on record Half of China is now experiencing drought as the country goes through its hottest summer on record. A chart from the National Climate Centre shows swathes of southern China, including the Tibetan Plateau, experiencing "severe" to "extraordinary" drought. Scientists say the extreme weather phenomena are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. *) Pakistan to send troops for FIFA World Cup security in Qatar Pakistan is set to provide its troops for the security of the FIFA World Cup scheduled to be held in November in Qatar. The Pakistani government approved the agreement between Pakistan and Qatar to provide troops for the mega event. The development came ahead of Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s visit to Qatar, during which the two countries reaffirmed their resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

*) Ukraine braces for stepped-up Russian attacks around Independence Day Ukraine has banned public events celebrating the country's 31st Independence Day fearing renewed Russian attacks. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned Moscow that there would be consequences if Russia escalated its attacks to coincide with the anniversary. Meanwhile, the leader promised to restore his country's control over the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 *) Somalia's Mohamud pledges 'all-out war' against Al Shabab Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has pledged "an all-out war" to eliminate the Al Shabab terror group. He said without elaborating that weakening the group was a priority for the government and that preparations for the implementation of the plan were ongoing. This was his first statement to the nation since Al Shabab staged a 30-hour hotel siege in capital Mogadishu, which left at least 21 people dead. *) US claims targeting Iran-linked groups in Syria strikes The US military has confirmed carrying out air strikes in Syria's Deir Ezzor, apparently targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps. The strikes on Tuesday came even as the United States aimed to respond to a draft agreement proposed by the European Union that would bring back the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Washington said that such strikes were aimed at protecting US forces from attack by Iran-backed groups. *) ​​China sees 'severe threat’ to harvest amid hottest summer on record Chinese authorities warn that autumn harvest is under "severe threat" from high temperatures and drought. They have urged action to protect crops in the face of the country's hottest summer on record. The world's second-largest economy has been hit by record temperatures, flash floods and droughts this summer. And finally… *) Texas drought peels back river to expose giant dinosaur tracks Drought in the US state of Texas has dried up a river flowing through Dinosaur Valley State Park, exposing tracks from giant reptiles that lived some 113 million years ago. Photos posted on Facebook show three-toed footprints leading down a dry tree-lined riverbed in the southern state. The accompanying caption states it is "one of the longest dinosaur trackways in the world."

*) Over 300 classified documents recovered from Trump's Florida home – NYT The US government has recovered more than 300 classified documents from former president Donald Trump's Florida estate. The documents include materials from the CIA, the National Security Agency and the FBI, the New York Times has reported. On Monday, Trump's legal team requested that a federal judge appoint a third-party attorney to review evidence the FBI gathered from his Mar-a-Lago home two weeks ago. *) US rejects Ukraine's demand to impose blanket ban on Russians The United States has rejected Ukraine's demand for a blanket visa ban on Russians. Washington said it would not want to close off pathways to refuge for Russia's dissidents and others who are vulnerable to human rights abuses. A State department spokesperson said that it is important to draw a line between the actions of the Russian government and its policies in Ukraine, and the people of Russia. *) Pakistan's flash floods kill hundreds in last two months Flash floods caused by abnormally heavy monsoon rains have killed 777 people across Pakistan over the last two months. Rescuers backed by troops continue to race against time to evacuate thousands of marooned people. Since June 14, rain and flooding have affected 1.8 million people, and over three hundred thousand of them were still living in relief camps across the country. *) ​​Desperate to exit $44B Twitter deal, Musk subpoenas Dorsey for records Elon Musk has served former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey with a subpoena in a hunt for material to help him get out of buying the giant social media platform for 44 billion dollars as agreed. Records made public on Monday show Dorsey was served with a legal order to give Musk any communications or documents related to the takeover deal signed in April. Tesla boss Musk, the world's wealthiest man, has accused Twitter of fraud, alleging the company misled him about key aspects of its business. And finally… *) 'House of Dragon' premiere draws nearly 10 million viewers The premiere of “House of the Dragon” drew nearly 10 million viewers on Sunday on television and the HBO Max streaming service. It is the largest audience for any new original series in the history of the network, HBO reported. Anticipation for the series, set 200 years before HBO's "Game of Thrones," fanned conversation on social media, where "House of Dragon" remained a top trending topic on Twitter for 14 hours.

*) US-Afghan talks on release of frozen assets to continue US President Joe Biden's administration will press ahead with talks on releasing billions of dollars in Afghanistan's foreign-held assets. This is despite the late Al Qaeda leader's presence in Kabul, and Washington's frustration with the pace, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, Reuters news agency has reported. The decision to pursue the initiative to help stabilise Afghanistan's collapsed economy underscores growing concern over a humanitarian crisis as the United Nations warns that nearly half the country's 40 million people face "acute hunger" as winter approaches. *) Russia's Ukraine soldiers trial to undermine talks Russia might take the provocative step of putting Ukrainian soldiers on trial as Kiev marks 31 years of independence on Wednesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned. Zelenskyy warned: "If this despicable court takes place, if our people are brought into these settings in violation of all agreements, all international rules, there will be abuse." Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24 will also mark six months since Russia attacked the former Soviet republic, in a devastating war that has cost thousands of lives. *) Police file terrorism charges against Pakistan's Imran Khan In Pakistan, police have filed terrorism charges against former prime minister Imran Khan, escalating political tensions in the country. Pakistan's media watchdog has banned the live telecast of Khan's speeches, after he was accused of threatening top police officials and a female judge during a rally in Islamabad. Following that rally, Islamabad police registered a criminal complaint against Khan under the country's anti-terrorism act. *) ​​US, S Korea begin biggest military drills since 2018 amid N Korea backlash The United States and South Korea have begun their biggest combined military drills since 2018 – a move likely to enrage North Korea, which has been ramping up its nuclear threats. The two countries have long carried out joint exercises, which they insist are purely defensive but North Korea sees them as a rehearsal for invasion. The annual joint military drills mark the resumption of large-scale training sessions after they were scaled back due to Covid-19 and a bout of failed diplomacy with Pyongyang. *) Computer-animated movie 'Dragon Ball' slays at box office in North America Computer-animated martial arts film "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero," the 21st in the Japanese franchise, has seized control of the North American box office. With an impressive $20.1 million in ticket sales, it was hailed as the best global opening ever for an anime movie by distributor Crunchyroll. The film outshined the $11.6 million take of another new release, Universal's "Beast".

*) Erdogan stresses Ukraine diplomacy, warns against nuclear plant fighting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed possible ways of ending the Ukraine conflict in a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and United Nations chief Antonio Guterres. Erdogan said the fighting between Russia and Ukraine will eventually end at the negotiating table, adding that Zelenskyy and Guterres had a similar view. Erdogan added that Türkiye, which has taken the lead in mediating between Kiev and Moscow, will discuss the outcome of the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. *) UK spy head says Russia is losing 'information war' in Ukraine Jeremy Fleming, head of Britain's intelligence service, wrote in an op-ed in The Economist that Russia has failed to gain ground in cyberspace against Ukraine. Fleming said Russia had deployed WhisperGate malware to destroy and deface Ukrainian government systems, adding that online disinformation is a major part of Russia's strategy. Fleming wrote that "Putin comprehensively lost the information war in Ukraine and in the West,” but warned that Russian disinformation could be effective in the rest of the world. *) North Korea says won't give up nukes for South's aid plan The sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, has said the country will never deal with a South Korean proposal to boost the North's economy in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons. State media reported her as saying "the plan to barter 'economic cooperation' for the North’s honour, nukes, is the great dream, hope and plan of South Korea.” "No one barters its destiny for corn cake." *) UN, EU condemn Israel's closure on Palestinian NGOs Israel's closure of Palestinian nonprofit organisations has caused diplomatic backlash, drawing criticism from the UN, EU, and the US. The UN said "Israeli authorities have not given any compelling evidence to UN agencies nor NGO partners working in occupied Palestinian territories to support these designations." The Office of the European Union Representative to Palestine said the allegations were "unproven", and the US State Department spokesman said Washington is "concerned" about the closures. And finally… *) Qatar sends 1,300 buses onto streets in World Cup transport test Qatar's World Cup organisers have sent 1,300 buses onto the streets of capital Doha in a test mimmicking the schedule for the busiest days of the tournament when about 300,000 fans occupy the city. Amid sweltering summer heat, hundreds of air-conditioned but mainly empty buses went out to stadiums, metro stations and pickup points. Chief operating officer of Qatar's bus and taxi services said the move was "the most complex transport operation ever mounted for a major sporting event."

*) Erdogan heads to Ukraine for trilateral summit with Zelenskyy, Guterres Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has embarked on a visit to the Ukrainian city of Lviv where he will meet his Ukrainian counterpart and the UN chief. Erdogan will hold a bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Potocki Palace and discuss aspects of Türkiye-Ukraine relations at the strategic partnership level. The bilateral talks will be followed by a trilateral summit with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss steps for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. *) US says it doesn't support Taiwan's independence The US remains committed to the "One China" policy and is not supporting Taiwan's formal independence, Washington's top diplomat said. China has been carrying out military drills around Taiwan this month to show its anger at a visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Kritenbrink said China used the trip as an excuse to increase pressure on Taiwan. *) NATO calls for ‘urgent’ inspection of Ukraine nuclear plant NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that the UN's atomic watchdog must be allowed to inspect the Russian-held nuclear power plant in Ukraine as soon as possible. Russia's seizure of the plant "poses a serious threat to the safety and the security of this facility (and) raises the risks of a nuclear accident or incident," he said. "It is urgent to allow the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency and to ensure the withdrawal of all Russian forces," he added. *) Bus crash in Morocco's Casablanca A bus crash east of Morocco's economic capital Casablanca has left 23 people dead and another 36 injured, marking one of the deadliest accidents in recent years. The bus overturned on a bend of a motorway in central-western province, local authorities said. An investigation has been opened into the accident. The bus was travelling between Casablanca and the rural region of Ait Attab, near the town of Beni Mellal at the foot of the High Atlas mountains. And finally… *) Elon Musk: Tweet about buying Manchester United was a 'joke' Elon Musk has tweeted that he is "not buying any sports teams", clarifying that a viral post about him purchasing Manchester United was a joke. Embroiled in a lawsuit over his bid to buy Twitter, Musk was subsequently asked on the platform if he was serious about owning Manchester United. Despite calling it a joke, the tweet could land him in trouble with US regulators.

*) Biden inks landmark climate crisis, health care bill into law US President Joe Biden has signed into law the most significant climate legislation in US history. The Inflation Reduction Act is a 750 billion dollar package aiming to reduce carbon emissions and extend health insurance subsidies. It also imposes new taxes on large corporations. Not a single Republican in the Senate or the House backed the bill targeting four billion tons of emissions. *) Donetsk separatist chief seeks North Korea's cooperation Donetsk separaist head Denis Pishilin has written a letter to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. It states that the east Asian country and the Russian-backed separatist region of Ukraine will develop "equally beneficial bilateral cooperation," according to North Korean state media. In July, North Korea recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region, as independent states. *) ​​Zimbabwe measles outbreak kills scores of children A measles outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 157 children, with more than 2,000 infections reported across the country. Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government was going to step up vaccinations. The government has also invoked special legislation allowing it to draw money from the National Disaster Fund to deal with the emergency. *) UN ship with grain for Africa leaves Ukraine: ministry A UN-chartered vessel carrying 23 thousand tonnes of wheat departed from Ukraine for Africa on Tuesday following a deal to relieve a global food crisis. The MV Brave Commander left the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi and will sail to Djibouti "for delivery to Ethiopia", the infrastructure ministry said on Telegram. It is the first ship chartered by the UN World Food Programme to leave Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February. *) US police rush to zoo after monkey dials 911 A 911 call has forced Californian police to rush to a zoo only to find it had been placed by a mischievous monkey. Dispatchers sent officers to investigate a possible emergency after receiving a call on Saturday night that had disconnected. Finding no humans in trouble, the officers began to investigate the source of the call. They soon realised that it was likely Route the Capuchin monkey, who had picked up the zoo’s cell phone in the golf cart used to travel around the grounds.

*) Violent protests erupt in Kenya after deputy president Ruto wins election Violent protests have erupted in Kenya after deputy president William Ruto was declared the winner of the presidential election. The result has caused uproar among the rival candidate Raila Odinga’s supporters, who allege mismanagement and irregularities in the process. Four of seven members of the electoral commission have refused to endorse the result, describing it as "opaque". *) China sanctions seven Taiwanese 'independence diehard' officials Beijing has sanctioned seven Taiwanese officials over their support for the island's independence. A Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson said that those sanctioned would not be able to visit China, Hong Kong and Macau. Firms and investors related to them will also not be allowed to profit in China. China has also conducted more military exercises in response to a US Congressional visit to Taipei earlier this month. *) 'Catastrophe' at Zaporizhzhia threatens whole of Europe In Ukraine, recently taken satellite images show scorch marks in fields surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. It follows reports of renewed shelling near the facility. Moscow and Kiev have been blaming each other for the attacks, with Ukraine warning of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster. A "catastrophe" at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine would threaten the whole of Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned. *) UN envoy makes first visit to Myanmar A senior UN official is travelling to Myanmar on a rare visit that comes amid domestic political turmoil and fraying ties between the country and its Southeast Asian neighbours. The UN special envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer arrived in the country for the first time since she was appointed to the post last October. The trip followed the UN Security Council’s latest call for an immediate end to all forms of violence and unimpeded humanitarian access in the strife-torn country. And finally… *) Space mission shows Earth's water may be from asteroids: study Water may have been brought to Earth by asteroids from the outer edges of the solar system. This is according to scientists analysing rare samples collected from the asteroid Ryugu in 2020 by a six-year Japanese space mission called Hayabusa-2. In a new paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists said the samples could give clues to the mystery of how oceans appeared on Earth billions of years ago.

*) Afghan Taliban mark first year in power The Taliban have marked the first anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan with a national holiday. Exactly a year ago, the group captured Kabul after their nationwide lightning offensive against government forces ended 20 years of US-led military intervention. A chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces continued until August 31, with tens of thousands of people rushing to Kabul's airport hoping to be evacuated on any flight out of Afghanistan. *) Russia, North Korea to 'expand' relations: Putin to Kim Jong-un Russian President Vladimir Putin has told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that the two countries will "expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts". In a letter to Kim for North Korea's liberation day, Putin said that closer ties would be in both countries' interests and would help strengthen the security of the Korean peninsula, according to Pyongyang's state media. Kim also sent a letter to Putin saying Russian-North Korean friendship had been forged in World War II with victory over Japan, which had occupied the Korean peninsula. *) Zelenskyy defends fighting as all eyes are on Zaporizhzhia plant Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended fighting against Russian and Moscow-backed forces, including those positioned at Europe’s largest nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia. His statement comes as Ukrainian forces reported heavy Russian shelling and attempts to advance on several towns in the eastern region of Donetsk. The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces also reported Russian shelling of more than a dozen towns on the southern front – particularly in Kherson, mainly controlled by Russian forces. *) Five dead and 15 wounded after gunfire erupts in Ecuador’s port city Gunfire and a subsequent explosion have left at least five people dead, 15 wounded with several others missing in the Ecuadoran port city of Guayaquil. Government officials blamed the attack on organised crime. Eight houses and two cars were destroyed in the blast in Guayaquil, the country's second-largest city, according to the Secretariat for Risk Management. And finally… *) ‘Bullet Train’ tops for second week as ticket sales slow down to a trickle The Brad Pitt action film “Bullet Train” has led all movies in ticket sales for a second straight weekend, according to studio estimates. Meanwhile, a quiet spell in theaters and incredible staying power has allowed “Top Gun: Maverick” to rocket back into third place in its 12th week of release. After launching the previous weekend with about $30 million at the box office, “Bullet Train” pulled in $13.4 million in its second go-around.

*) US attorney general says 'personally approved' Trump home search US Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he "personally approved" the dramatic raid on former American President Donald Trump's Florida estate. In a highly unusual move, he also requested the warrant justifying the search be made public — though he did not reveal the reason for the search. The Washington Post has reported that federal agents were looking for documents relating to nuclear weapons. It was not clear if such documents were recovered. *) IAEA chief warns of 'grave hour' at Ukraine nuclear plant The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has told the Security Council that the agency must be allowed to inspect Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia (zah-POH-reeja) nuclear plant. Rafael Grossi told an emergency meeting via video feed that fighting between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers near the site sparked a "grave" crisis. The clashes at and around Zaporizhzhia have led to urgent international calls for an end to fighting around the plant, the largest of its kind in Europe. *) Hostage drama at Beirut bank ends after armed man turns himself in A hostage standoff in which a gunman demanded a Beirut bank let him withdraw his trapped savings so that he could pay his father's medical bills ended seven hours later. After hours of negotiations on Thursday, 42-year-old food-delivery driver Bassam al Sheikh Hussein accepted an offer from the bank to receive part of his savings. He did not actually receive any of the money, according to his lawyer. His wife told reporters after his arrest that her husband “did what he had to do". *) Sri Lankan ex-president Rajapaksa arrives in Bangkok after fleeing protests Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has arrived in Bangkok after his visa ran out following a month-long stint in Singapore. The Thai foreign ministry said it received a request from Colombo for the 73-year-old deposed leader to visit and an assurance that he would not seek political asylum. Earlier, Rajapaksa flew into Singapore from the Maldives on July 14 after fleeing a deepening economic crisis and widespread protests in Sri Lanka. And finally… *) Switzerland's mountain pass set to lose all ice within weeks The thick layer of ice that has covered a Swiss mountain pass for centuries will melt away completely within a few weeks, a ski resort has warned. While the ice measured around 50-feet thick in 2012, the ground underneath "will have completely resurfaced by the end of September", the Glacier 3000 ski resort said in a statement. Following a dry winter, the summer heat waves hitting Europe have been catastrophic for the Alpine glaciers, which have been melting at an accelerated rate.

*) Trump invokes Fifth Amendment to evade questions over alleged fraud Former US president Donald Trump has invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as he testified under oath in a NY civil investigation into his business dealings. The Fifth Amendment protects people from being compelled to become witnesses against themselves in a criminal case. Attorney General Letitia James said her office uncovered evidence that Trump's company misled lenders and tax authorities about the value of prized assets like golf courses and skyscrapers. Trump Organization even exaggerated the size of Trump's Manhattan penthouse, saying it was nearly three times its actual size — a difference in the value of about $200 million, James' office says. *) Sierra Leone imposes nationwide curfew after violent protests At least two police officers and a civilian have been killed after a protest descended into clashes between security forces and demonstrators who were demanding the president's resignation. "Two police officers, a male and female, were mobbed to death by protesters at the east end of Freetown," police spokesperson Brima Kamara said on Wednesday. In addition, Reuters reported that a civilian was also killed in the violence. A hospital worker in Freetown said that dozens more had been wounded. *) Ukraine shelling causes ammonia leak in Donetsk – separatists Pro-Russian separatists have accused Ukraine of shelling in the occupied eastern city of Donetsk, killing one person and triggering a leak of ammonia, Interfax news agency reported. The emergency ministry in the Russian-backed so-called Donetsk People's Republic said a shell had hit an ammonia line late at night. It sparked a fire that at one point covered 603 square metres. Pictures from the scene showed flames lighting the sky above one part of the city as well as firefighters donning masks. One picture appeared to show a corpse on the ground. *) Iraq's Sadr gives one-week deadline to judiciary to dissolve parliament Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr has called on the country's judiciary to dissolve parliament by the end of next week. The judiciary "must dissolve parliament by the end of next week... if not, the revolutionaries will take another stance," Sadr said in a statement on his Twitter account. The Iraqi Shia leader has helped inflame tensions in Iraq over the last two weeks by commanding thousands of followers to storm and occupy parliament. And finally… *) African football body launches new Super League to boost local clubs The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched a new lucrative $100 million Super League aimed at injecting financial muscle to the cash-strapped clubs on the continent. Twenty-four clubs, yet to be decided, will take part in the first edition, which has the backing of world governing body FIFA. It will take place between August 2023 and May 2024. CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who announced the new competition, did not say if it would replace CAF's existing Champions League and the second-tier Confederation Cup.

*) Republicans dub FBI raid on Trump house 'weaponised politicisation' Top Republican leaders have thrown their support behind former US president Donald Trump after an FBI raid on his Florida residence sparked a political firestorm. Trump's former vice president Mike Pence expressed "deep concern" and said the raid smacked of "partisanship" by the Justice Department. Kevin McCarthy, who is seeking to become the next House of Representatives speaker, accused the Justice Department of "weaponised politicisation." The FBI search marked a significant escalation of the federal investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House as he was leaving office. *) US police arrest 'prime suspect' in New Mexico Muslim murders New Mexico police have arrested a "prime suspect" believed to be involved in two of the four murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque. Authorities charged 51-year-old Muhammad Syed in the killings of two Muslim men and he is suspected of slaying two others. Police tracked down a vehicle of interest in their investigation of the murders, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina wrote on Twitter. Medina said "the driver was detained and is our primary suspect for the murders.” *) Large explosions rock Russian air base in occupied Crimea Powerful explosions have rocked a Russian air base in the occupied Crimea, killing one person and wounding several others, authorities said. Russia's Defence Ministry said munitions blew up at the Saki base, and it emphasised that the installation had not been shelled. But Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities as the conflict entered its 167th day. *) Deadly IEDs target soldiers in northern Burkina Faso At least 15 soldiers have been killed in northern Burkina Faso when a transport vehicle drove over a hidden explosive device. The first explosion killed several troops before a second explosion killed those who rushed to their aid. The incident occurred on a rural road in the Bam province of the country's Central-North region, where soldiers and civilians are routinely targeted by insurgents, the army said. And finally… *) Serena Williams announces retirement from tennis after US Open Tennis great Serena Williams has said that she is planning to retire from the sport following the US Open which begins later this month. Williams wrote in a Vogue article that she "never liked the word retirement." She said that she is "evolving away from tennis" to focus on having another child and her business interests. Williams won her last Grand Slam in 2017 and has been chasing an elusive 24th crown that will draw her level with Margaret Court who holds the record for the most majors.

*) FBI 'raids' former US president Trump's house Former US president Donald Trump says his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida has been "raided" by FBI agents in what he has called an act of "prosecutorial misconduct". The FBI did not comment on whether the search was happening or what it might be for. Trump did not give any indication of why federal agents were at his home. Multiple US media outlets cited sources as saying that agents were conducting a court-authorised search related to the potential mishandling of classified documents sent to Mar-a-Lago. *) Kenya begins voting in close presidential election Kenyans have lined up to vote in a high-stakes election as two political heavyweights battle it out in a fiercely contested race for the presidency. The East African powerhouse is praying for a peaceful transition of power after almost a decade under President Uhuru Kenyatta, but concerns about vote-rigging linger. Deputy president and erstwhile heir apparent William Ruto is pitted against Raila Odinga, a veteran opposition leader now backed by his longtime rival Kenyatta. *) Taiwanese minister: China using war games to prepare for invasion Taiwan's foreign minister has said China is using the military drills it launched in protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit as a game-plan to prepare for an invasion. Joseph Wu, speaking at a press conference in Taipei, offered no time-table for a possible invasion of Taiwan, a self-ruled island which is claimed by China as its own. A Pentagon official had said on Monday that Washington was sticking to its assessment that China would not try to invade Taiwan for the next two years. *) Two more ships carrying over 70,000 tonnes of grain leave Ukraine Türkiye's National Defence Ministry has said two more ships carrying over 70,000 tonnes of grain have left Ukraine. A Liberian-flagged ship carrying 64,720 tonnes of corn to South Korea set sail on Tuesday under a historic Türkiye-brokered deal to unblock Ukrainian grain exports. A Turkish-flagged ship, carrying 5,300 tonnes of bulk sunflower meal to Istanbul, too left Ukraine, where shipments had been stuck for months due to Russia's military offensive. And finally… *) Grease star and Grammy-winning singer Olivia Newton-John dies at 73 After a 30-year battle with breast cancer, Grammy-winning superstar Olivia Newton-John has died at age 73. Newton-John won countless hearts when she starred as Sandy in the blockbuster film version of “Grease” alongside John Travolta. She reigned on pop, country, adult contemporary and dance charts with hits such as “Physical” and “You’re the One That I Want”. Her sales topped 100 million records.

*) Ceasefire takes effect between Israel, Palestinian group An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has taken effect late on Sunday. The ceasefire agreement came after three days of Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The attacks left at least 44 Palestinians, including 15 children dead and over 360 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Egyptian state news agency MENA reported that Egypt was exerting efforts to release Palestinian prisoners Khalil Awawdeh and Bassam al Saadi. *) Senate Democrats pass $740B 'Inflation Reduction Act' package in US The US Senate has passed a sweeping $430 billion bill intended to fight climate change, lower drug prices and raise some corporate taxes. Amid Republican efforts to derail the package, the Senate approved the legislation known as the Inflation Reduction Act by a 51-50 party line vote. Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking ballot. That is a major victory for President Joe Biden that Democrats hope will aid their chances of keeping control of Congress in this year's elections. *) Gustavo Petro sworn in as Colombia’s first leftist president Gustavo Petro has taken the oath of office as Colombia's first-ever leftist president. He was sworn in before a crowd of hundreds of thousands of people in Bogota. Petro takes over from the deeply unpopular Ivan Duque for a four-year term during which he will enjoy support from a left-leaning majority in Congress. *) Any attack on a nuclear plant in Ukraine 'suicidal' — UN Any attack on a nuclear plant is "suicidal", United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned. His statement comes after fresh reports suggested shelling hit a huge atomic power complex in southern Ukraine. The fighting on Friday at the plant has prompted the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency to warn of "the very real risk of a nuclear disaster". Guterres said "any attack to a nuclear plant is a suicidal thing,” adding that he hopes the “attacks will end." And finally… *) UK museum agrees to return looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria A London museum has agreed to return a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in the late 19th century from what is now Nigeria. The decision comes after Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments formally asked for the artefacts to be returned earlier this year. Since then, cultural institutions throughout Britain have come under pressure to repatriate artefacts acquired during the colonial era.

*) China announces sanctions Pelosi over Taiwan visit: Foreign ministry China has announced unspecified sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her visit earlier this week to Taiwan. China is holding huge military drills involving live firing on the waters and in the airspace near Taiwan, which Beijing considers as its own territory, to protest the visit. Taiwan says Beijing's fighter jets and ships have crossed the median line that runs down the Taiwan Strait, calling China "the evil neighbour next door". *) Three more ships carrying grain leave Ukrainian ports under landmark deal Three more ships carrying grain and food items have set out from Ukrainian ports under a recent landmark deal, according to Türkiye’s National Defence Ministry. The first of them, a Panama-flagged ship, departed for Ireland with 33,000 tonnes of grain on Friday. The second, a Malta-flagged sip, left with 13,000 tonnes of grain for the UK. The third Türkiye-flagged ship was sailing to the Karasu port in northwestern Türkiye with 12,000 tonnes of grain. All of them will be monitored by the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul. *) Erdogan set to visit Russia for talks with Putin on Syria, Ukraine Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is visiting Russia's coastal city of Sochi to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. They will evaluate bilateral ties, mainly focusing on economy, trade and energy on Friday. They are also expected to discuss Syria and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It will be their second in-person meeting in 17 days, after their talks in Tehran. In the Iran capital, they also took part in a trilateral gathering with their Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi. *) Deadly nightclub fire in Thailand leaves multiple casualties At least 13 people have been killed and 35 injured when a fire broke out at a nightclub in an eastern province of Thailand. The cause of the fire is unknown and all victims so far have been identified as Thai nationals, police said on Friday. The fire at the Mountain B nightclub, about 180 kilometres southeast of the capital Bangkok, started at about 0100 local time, police said. And finally… *) Parts of Australia's Great Barrier Reef show record coral cover in 36 years Two-thirds of Australia's Great Barrier Reef has shown the largest amount of coral cover in 36 years, the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences (AIMS) has reported. However, the reef remains vulnerable to increasingly frequent mass bleaching. The recovery in the central and northern stretches of the UNESCO world heritage-listed reef contrasted with the southern region, where there was a loss of coral cover due to crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.

*) China begins military drills as Taiwan faces Pelosi visit fallout China's largest-ever military exercises encircling Taiwan have kicked off, in a show of force after a controversial visit to the island state by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Taiwan's military said its forces were closely monitoring the Chinese drills and was prepared for conflict, but would not seek it. The exercises, which began on Thursday, will be the biggest aimed at Taiwan since 1995, when China fired missiles in a large-scale exercise after a visit by the Taiwanese president to the US. *) First Ukrainian grain ship leaves Istanbul for Lebanon The first grain-laden ship to leave Ukraine since the conflict with Russia erupted has passed an inspection in Istanbul and set sail for Libya. The inspection by a team from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul was carried out on Wednesday and lasted over an hour. The ship, carrying over 26,500 tonnes of corn, left Ukraine’s Odessa on Monday under a landmark deal brokered by Türkiye to resume grain shipments from blockaded Ukrainian ports. *) Iran, US, EU envoys return to Vienna for revival of nuclear talks Iran, the United States and the European Union have said they will send representatives to Vienna amid what appears to be a last-ditch effort at reviving the Iran nuclear talks. The EU official who chairs the talks, Enrique Mora, wrote on Twitter that the negotiations would focus on the most recent draft on restoring the 2015 nuclear agreement. It wasn't immediately clear from Wednesday's announcement if other parties to the landmark accord would attend the surprise summit. *) Iraq's Sadr vows to continue parliament sit-in until demands met Iraqi cleric Muqtada al Sadr has told his supporters to continue their sit-in occupation of the Baghdad Parliament until his demands are met. The demands include early elections and unspecified constitutional changes. Thousands of followers of the Shia leader stormed the empty parliament building last weekend, staging a sit-in that is ongoing. The move is a response to attempts by Sadr's Shia Muslim rivals to form a government with prime ministerial candidates that Sadr disapproves of. And finally… *) Myanmar announces birth of rare white elephant A rare white elephant has been born in western Myanmar, state media has said. Born last month in western Rakhine state, the baby weighs about 80 kilograms and stands roughly 70 centimetres tall. Historically, white elephants were considered extremely auspicious in Southeast Asian culture, and the region's ancient rulers acquired as many as they could to boost their fortunes.

*) Pelosi stresses 'commitment to Taiwan' amid spiralling China tensions US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says her delegation's visit to Taipei is a show of support for the island, with the trip sparking a furious response from Beijing. The United States wants Taiwan to always have freedom with security and will not back away from that, Nancy Pelosi has said. China has announced multiple drills and issued a series of harsh statements after Pelosi landed in Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing considers as its own. *) West could trigger nuclear war over Ukraine: Russia Moscow says the conflict in Ukraine does not warrant Russia's use of nuclear weapons. At a nuclear nonproliferation conference, Russian diplomat Alexander Trofimov has rejected speculations that Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Trofimov has said Moscow would only use nuclear weapons in response to weapons of mass destruction or a conventional weapons attack that threatened Russia’s existence. *) UN: Truce in Yemen renewed for two months Yemen's warring sides have agreed to renew a two-month truce hours before it was due to expire, the United Nations envoy says. The move “includes a commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible," Hans Grundberg, special envoy for Yemen, has said. US and Oman officials have also been engaging with parties to back Grundberg's proposal. *) ​​US warns of Al Qaeda retaliation against Americans after Zawahiri killing The United States has warned Americans travelling abroad that they face an increased risk of violence after the killing of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri in a US drone strike. The US State Department urged US citizens to "maintain a high level of vigilance and practise good situational awareness when travelling abroad". Zawahiri’s killing in Kabul over the weekend dealt the biggest blow to Al Qaeda since the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011. *) European Jew buys Hitler’s watch in an auction amidst protests A Maryland auction house has sold a wristwatch that once belonged to Adolf Hitler for $1.1 million to an anonymous bidder, who is believed to be a European Jew. Alexander Historical Auctions estimated the value of the watch between $2 and $4 million, describing it as a “World War II relic of historic proportions.” It features the initials “AH” and a swastika. Jewish leaders and others have objected to the sale this week. But the auction house's president has defended the auction and said the buyer is a European Jew.

*) US kills top Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri President Joe Biden has announced that Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri has been killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan. The president said in an evening address from the White House that US intelligence officials tracked Zawahiri to a home in downtown Kabul where he had been hiding out with his family. Zawahiri and the better-known Osama bin Laden had together plotted the 9/11 attacks. Biden said his death delivered justice and hopefully “one more measure of closure” to families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. *) Russia uses Ukraine's nuclear plant as 'shield' – US The US has said Russia is using Ukraine's biggest nuclear power plant as a "nuclear shield" by stationing troops there, preventing Ukrainian forces from returning fire and risking a terrible nuclear accident. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that "of course the Ukrainians cannot fire back lest there be a terrible accident involving the nuclear plant". He spoke after nuclear non-proliferation talks at the UN in New York on Monday. The US also announced a new tranche of weapons for Ukraine's forces fighting Russia, including ammunition for rocket launchers and artillery guns. *) ​​UN chief warns of 'nuclear annihilation' UN head Antonio Guterres has warned that a misunderstanding could spark nuclear destruction. The statement came after the United States, Britain and France urged Russia to stop "its dangerous nuclear rhetoric and behaviour". Guterres warned that the world faced "a nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War". *) US Pelosi's 'provocative' Taiwan visit to undermine ties – China US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan will undermine relations between China and the US, China's UN ambassador has said. Pelosi is set to visit Taiwan today, three sources said after the US said it would not be intimidated by Chinese warnings to “never sit idly by" if she made it there. Zhang Jun told a news conference on Monday that "such a visit is apparently very much dangerous, very much provocative". *) California: Largest blaze of the year claims lives as thousands evacuate California's largest wildfire this year has claimed two lives after exploding in size over the weekend and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Firefighters in the state's north battled to gain control of the McKinney Fire on Monday. Whipped up by strong winds and lightning storms, the fire ripped through the state's dry terrain on Sunday.

*) First shipment of Ukraine grain leaves Odessa under Türkiye-brokered deal As part of a recent deal brokered by Türkiye, the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain has departed from the port of Odessa to Lebanon. Loaded with corn, the Sierra Leone-flagged dry cargo ship Razoni left Odessa on Monday morning, Türkiye’s Defence Ministry said in a statement. The ship is carrying over 26,000 tonnes of corn, the Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Centre said. An earlier statement by the Turkish Defence Ministry said other convoys would follow "along the (maritime) corridors as the "procedures are completed". *) NATO-led KFOR ready to intervene amid Kosovo-Serbia tensions NATO's forces in Kosovo are prepared to intervene if stability is endangered in the north of Kosovo, KFOR has said in a press release. The commander of KFOR is in contact with all of his main interlocutors, as well as Serbian and Kosovar senior defence officials, to calm the tensions, the statement said. Tensions between Pristina and Belgrade are running high as air raid sirens were heard for more than three hours in the small border town of Mitrovica. *) ​​UN chief urges de-escalation amid tensions over Iraqi PM nomination UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Iraqi parties to de-escalate the situation and avoid violence amid tension over the nomination of a new prime minister. In a statement on Saturday, Guterres’ spokesperson said the UN chief is "following with concern" the ongoing protests in Iraq that left many people injured. The spokesperson urged Iraqi parties and actors "to rise above their differences and form, through peaceful and inclusive dialogue, an effective national government". *) Moscow strikes Ukraine's south, drone hits Russian Crimean fleet Ukraine said the "brutal" shelling by Moscow so far of the southern city Mykolaiv killed a grain tycoon. Meanwhile, Russia claimed an attack from a drone wounded six personnel at the headquarters of its Black Sea fleet. Russian bombardment of the eastern town of Bakhmut was intense after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for civilians to leave the frontline Donetsk region. And finally… *) Myanmar extends state of emergency for six months Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing has received the approval of the national defence and security council to extend his rule under a state of emergency for a further six months. The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Monday that the period of the declared state of emergency will be extended for another six months. Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup, with conflict spreading across the Southeast Asian country after the army crushed mostly peaceful protests in cities.

*) Xi warns Biden not to 'play with fire' amid tensions over Taiwan US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to schedule their first in-person summit as leaders. The decision came during a phone call, where Xi warned the United States not to "play with fire" in Taiwan. In response, Biden reassured Xi that the US policy, known as "strategic ambiguity", was unchanged — essentially favouring the status quo in Taiwan. Tensions are escalating over the self-ruled island that China considers its own, and there are fears that Xi could ultimately order an invasion to impose Beijing's rule. *) ​​UK: Russia puts Wagner fighters on frontline duty in eastern Ukraine Russia has tasked Wagner Group mercenaries to hold sections of the frontline in Ukraine in a sign it is running short of combat infantry, Britain's Ministry of Defence has said. The ministry said in an intelligence update that Russia is relying more on the forces from its private military company for frontline duties rather than their usual work in special operations. However, the ministry said the mercenaries are unlikely to make up for the loss of regular infantry units or alter the trajectory of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. *) Venezuela, Colombia agree to reestablish diplomatic relations Venezuela and Colombia will reestablish diplomatic relations at an ambassadorial level when leftist President-elect Gustavo Petro takes office in Bogota in August. Venezuela's minister of foreign relations, Carlos Faria, hosted Colombia's Foreign Minister-elect Alvaro Leyva in San Cristobal on Thursday. Leyva read out a statement saying that both men had "expressed their desire to progress…towards the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations." Relations between the two countries were broken in 2019 after Colombian President Ivan Duque refused to recognise the reelection of his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro. *) Two foreign climbers ascending Pakistan's peaks announced dead An Australian and a Canadian mountain climber died last week in northern Pakistan while attempting to scale K2, the world’s second-highest mountain. Pakistan’s The Dawn newspaper reported earlier this week that the two climbers had been spotted between Camp 1 and Camp 2 on K2 after they both went missing on July 19 in separate incidents. K2, on the Chinese-Pakistani border in the Karakorum Range, has one of the deadliest records, with most climbers dying on the descent, where the slightest mistake can trigger an avalanche and become fatal. *) UN resolution recognises right to clean, healthy environment The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution recognising the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The 193-member world body voted 161-0 on the resolution on Thursday, a move that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called “historic.” The resolution calls on all nations, international organisations and businesses to scale up efforts to ensure a healthy environment for all people.

*) Türkiye inaugurates Joint Coordination Centre for Ukraine grain exports Türkiye has opened a joint coordination centre for Ukrainian grain exports under an Ankara-brokered deal aimed at resuming shipments halted in the aftermath of Russia's attacks on Ukraine. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar unveiled the centre in front of reporters at a ceremony held at the National Defence University in Istanbul on Wednesday. The grain deal and the coordination centre will make "significant contributions" to overcoming the food crisis impacting the entire world, he said. *) ​​Russia 'redeploys' troops to south Ukraine, faces Kherson counter-attack Russian forces are conducting a "massive redeployment" of troops to three southern regions, according to a Ukrainian official. The Russian redeployment to the south appears to be a switch to strategic defence from offence, the official said, as Kiev's forces look to recapture Kherson. Meanwhile, Russian-backed forces said they captured the Vuhlehirsk power plant intact, in what was Moscow's first significant gain in more than three weeks. *) Kim Jong-un threatens to use nukes amid tensions with US, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media has said. Experts say North Korea will likely intensify its threats against the US and South Korea as the allies prepare to expand summertime military exercises. But while Kim has increasingly threatened his rivals with nuclear weapons, it’s unlikely that he would use them first against the superior militaries of the US and its allies, observers say. *) Attacks kill dozens of civilians, soldiers in Mali At least 66 people have been killed in attacks in Mali, according to security sources. A report on the fighting showed 54 dead, including six soldiers, and 25 soldiers wounded in south-central Mali. There were also reports of 12 fatalities in the Nara region near the Mauritanian border. The report said a coordinated response was orchestrated against the attackers, who were routed. The assessment of the attack is still ongoing, according to military authorities. *) Facebook parent Meta’s earnings drop, misses expectations Facebook parent company Meta has reported that its quarterly revenue dropped year-over-year for the first time ever, as its profit plunged by more than a third. Meta said revenue in the recently ended quarter ebbed a percent to $28.8 billion when compared to the same period a year ago, missing market expectations. The news reflects a troubled landscape for the social media powerhouse, which is battling the rising phenomenon of TikTok and a turbulent global economy.

*) EU members strike deal to reduce gas use as Russia pummels Ukraine targets European Union member states have reached agreement on how to cut their consumption of gas by 15 percent and reduce their dependence on Russian supplies. The breakthrough came hours after Ukraine accused Russian forces of launching multiple missile strikes at targets on the Black Sea coast near the southern port city of Odessa. Luxembourg's energy minister tweeted that Hungary was the only member state in the 27-member bloc to vote against the plan. *) ​​Powerful earthquake strikes northern Philippines, felt in capital A 7.1-magnitude earthquake has hit the northern Philippines, authorities said, killing at least four people and injuring more than 60 others. The shallow yet powerful quake struck the mountainous and lightly populated province of Abra on the main island of Luzon early on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has ordered the immediate dispatch of rescue teams to the affected areas, said the press secretary. *) Biden, Xi to meet amid new tensions over Taiwan Presidents Joe Biden and SHE Jinping are set to speak on Thursday amid new tensions between Washington and Beijing over China's claims on Taiwan. The planned talks between the two leaders — the fifth in a series of regular check-ins — have been in the works for weeks. But the possibility of a visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has added fresh strain to the complicated relationship. Beijing is warning that it will take “forceful measures” should Pelosi visit the self-ruled island of Taiwan that China claims as part of its territory. *) ‘We may just have to do it again’: Trump hints at rerun for White House Donald Trump has returned to Washington for the first time since leaving the White House with a fiery speech hinting that he may run for president again in 2024. Trump repeated claims that he won the 2020 election, and denounced the House committee investigation into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The 76-year-old stopped short of declaring his candidacy, but laid out what he believed should be the priorities for the "next Republican president." And finally… *) Russia to quit International Space Station, pursue own orbital station Russia has announced that it will be leaving the International Space Station "after 2024", amid tensions with the West. The move came on Tuesday as ties unravelled between the Kremlin and the West over Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine and several rounds of devastating sanctions against Russia. Space experts said the departure from the station would seriously affect the country's space sector and deal a major blow to the programme of manned flights.

*) Erdogan: Participants of Ukraine grain deal must respect pact Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the signatories of an Ankara-brokered deal aimed at unblocking Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea to respect the pact. Erdogan said he expected everyone to act in accordance with their responsibilities. His remark came after a Russian attack on the port of Odessa sparked fresh concerns. Last week, Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed the landmark agreement. In his interview to Türkiye's public broadcaster TRT, Erdogan said failure on the deal would work against all. *) Pope apologises for 'evil' against Canada's Indigenous people Pope Francis has apologised for the "evil" inflicted on the Indigenous peoples of Canada on a visit focused on addressing decades of abuse at Catholic-run residential schools. The 85-year-old pontiff said he also begs forgiveness for "cultural destruction" and the "physical, verbal, psychological and spiritual abuse" of children over decades. The plea was made before a crowd of Indigenous peoples in western Alberta province. *) Saied's supporters celebrate as Tunisians back constitution Tunisian President Kais Saied's supporters are celebrating the almost certain victory of the "yes" vote in a referendum on a new constitution that strengthens the powers of the head of state. The referendum saw about 27.5 percent of 9.3 million registered voters cast ballots. An overwhelming 92-93 percent of those who voted supported the new constitution. The vote was held a year to the day after Saied sacked the government and froze parliament in what rivals call a coup. *) Satellite operators Eutelsat, OneWeb agree to merge French and British satellite operators Eutelsat and OneWeb have announced plans to merge and create a "global champion" in broadband internet, rivalling US giants such as Elon Musk's Starlink. Eutelsat will combine its 36-strong fleet of geostationary Earth orbit satellites with OneWeb's constellation of 648 low Earth orbit satellites to create what they called a powerful player. Satellite broadband promises to bring coverage to the most remote areas of the planet by doing away with the need for antennas and other infrastructure. *) US to plant 1B trees amid climate crisis challenges The Biden administration has said it will plant more than one billion trees across millions of acres of burned and dead woodlands in the US West. The move comes at a time when officials are struggling to counter the increasing toll on the nation's forests from wildfires, insects and other manifestations of the climate crisis. The US Agriculture Department said it will have to quadruple the number of tree seedlings produced by nurseries to get through the backlog and meet future needs.

*) Ukraine vows to take Kherson back by Sept as fighting enters sixth month A Ukrainian official has said the country's southern region of Kherson, which fell to Russian troops early in their February offensive, will be recaptured by September. The Ukrainian army, emboldened by deliveries of Western-supplied long-range artillery, has been clawing back territory in the Kherson region in recent weeks. Meanwhile, there was no let-up in fighting as the conflict entered its sixth month, with the Ukrainian military reporting Russian shelling in the north, south and east. *) Tunisia votes on new constitution bolstering president's grip on power Tunisians are voting in a referendum on a new constitution that critics of President Kais Saied fear will hurt the democracy that emerged from a 2011 revolution by handing him nearly total power. Monday's vote is being held on the first anniversary of Saied's ousting of an elected parliament, when he established emergency rule and began governing by fiat. It is not clear when the results will be announced after polls close at 2100 GMT, but analysts expect a 'yes' vote with low turnout. *) Myanmar junta executes pro-democracy activists Myanmar has carried out its first executions in nearly 50 years, hanging a former lawmaker, a democracy activist and two men accused of violence after the country's takeover by the military last year. The announcement sparked widespread condemnation and heightened fears that more death sentences will be carried out. The four were executed for leading "brutal and inhumane terror acts", the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported, without saying when or how the men were killed. *) Pope arrives in Canada for 'penitential pilgrimage' over Indigenous abuse Pope Francis will visit a former residential school in Canada, where he is expected to make a historic personal apology to Indigenous survivors of abuse committed over decades at the Catholic-run institutions. The 85-year-old pontiff arrived on Sunday in Edmonton for a six-day visit, which has long been awaited by the First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities. The trip is primarily to apologise to survivors for the Church's role in the scandal that a national truth and reconciliation commission has called "cultural genocide". *) Muhammad Ali's 'Rumble in the Jungle' belt fetches $6.1M at auction Muhammad Ali's championship belt from his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight title fight has been sold at an auction for $6.18 million. The winner of the heated competition for the belt was Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, according to Heritage Auctions in Dallas. In a tweet, Irsay confirmed he acquired the belt for his collection of rock music, American history and pop culture memorabilia that is currently touring the country.

*) Ukraine grain exports deal set to be signed in Türkiye An agreement to restart grain shipments from Ukraine is set to be signed in Istanbul — a move that could ease a global food crisis that has sent wheat and other grain prices soaring. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN chief Antonio Guterres will attend the ceremony, where officials from Russia and Ukraine will be present. Ankara and the UN have been working on a plan to export grain stuck in Ukraine’s Black Sea ports due to the conflict between Kiev and Moscow. *) Sri Lanka gets new PM as security forces clear key protest site Senior Sri Lankan lawmaker Dinesh Gunawardena has been sworn in as the crisis-hit country’s new prime minister. Seen as an ally of the Rajapaksa family, his appointment came hours after security forces cleared a protest site occupied by demonstrators angry at the Rajapaksas over a dire economic crisis. The 73-year-old Gunawardena is a school classmate of new President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected by lawmakers and sworn into office earlier this week. *) Israel's Supreme Court rules 'disloyal' citizens can be stripped of status Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that the state can revoke the citizenship of people who are involved in actions such as terrorism, espionage or treason. Thursday's ruling came after separate appeals in the cases of two Palestinian citizens of Israel. The court denied the removal of their citizenship, but said the practice itself was constitutional. It said the interior minister would have to grant permanent residency in such cases. Palestinian rights activists fear the law could be used "against Palestinian citizens of Israel". *) US Capitol riot probe slams Trump inaction, urges accountability A House panel probing the assault on the US Capitol laid out a searing indictment of Donald Trump's refusal to halt or condemn the violence and insisted he should be held accountable. Committee chairperson Bennie Thompson, speaking at the televised finale of a series of public hearings, said Trump "recklessly blazed a path of lawlessness and corruption" as he sought to overturn the results of the 2020 US election. Trump was “the only person in the world who could call off the mob” that stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, but he refused to do so for several hours, Thompson said. *) Conservationists: Tiger numbers rising, monarch butterflies near extinction There are 40 percent more tigers in the wild than previously thought, but they remain an endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The jump in numbers is due to improved monitoring, with a maximum of 5,578 tigers on the prowl, IUCN says. Habitat protection projects showed that "recovery is possible". The reassessment came as the IUCN updated its Red List of Threatened Species.The monarch butterfly is now classified as an endangered species due to climate crisis and habitat destruction.

*) Russia announces expanded Ukraine goals as toll mounts amid fierce battles Ukrainian armed forces say they have killed over one hundred Russian soldiers in the south and east in 24 hours as fierce battles rage in the country. This comes after Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that his country’s military "tasks" in Ukraine now go beyond the eastern Donbass region. Lavrov said Moscow's objectives will expand further if the West keeps supplying Kiev with advanced weapons. *) Italy's Draghi resigns after government implodes Italian Premier Mario Draghi has resigned after key coalition allies boycotted a confidence vote, signalling a renewed period of uncertainty for Italy. President Sergio Mattarella asked Draghi to remain in office in a caretaker capacity, the head of state's office said. The statement did not say whether Mattarella would dissolve parliament or call early elections. Draghi’s government imploded on Thursday after members of his uneasy coalition of right, left and populists rebuffed his appeal to band back together to finish the legislature’s natural term. *) Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lanka president amid crisis Sri Lanka’s six-time prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been sworn in as the new president of the country. He was elected by lawmakers in parliament on Wednesday after weeks of political turmoil and protests triggered by a dire economic crisis. Wickremesinghe has vowed to take tough action against anyone resorting to violent protests. *) ​​Race to become UK PM down to final two Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss as the two finalists in a party election to replace outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Wednesday's result came just after Johnson, who has plunged his party into turmoil, ended his final appearance in Parliament as prime minister. Sunak and Truss came first and second respectively in a secret vote by Conservative lawmakers. Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt came in third and was eliminated. And finally… *) World's oldest male giant panda dies at age 35 in Hong Kong The oldest-ever male giant panda in captivity has died at a Hong Kong theme park at age 35 – the equivalent of 105 years in human age. Ocean Park mourned An An as a family member who built bonds with locals and tourists. Within an hour of the park announcing his death, hundreds of tributes appeared under the social media post. An An had high blood pressure, a common condition among geriatric pandas. He stopped eating solid food and was significantly less active in recent days.

*) Leaders of Türkiye, Russia, Iran vow to oppose terrorist presence in Syria Leaders of Türkiye, Russia and Iran have condemned the increased presence and activities of terrorist groups and their affiliates in various parts of Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Iran's Ebrahim Raisi met in Tehran on Tuesday for the seventh summit in the Astana format. During the talks, they "rejected all attempts to create new realities on the ground...including illegitimate self-rule initiatives" in the war-torn country. *) Six-time PM Wickremesinghe wins Sri Lanka presidency Six-time prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been elected president of crisis-hit Sri Lanka by the country's parliament. The 73-year-old takes charge of a bankrupt nation that is in bailout talks with the IMF, with its 22 million people enduring severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine. Wickremesinghe’s election risks reigniting political turmoil as he is the backed by the party of ex-leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled abroad after his palace was stormed by protesters. *) ​​UK hits hottest temperature on record as Western Europe sizzles Soaring temperatures continue across much of Western Europe, with Britain recording its highest-ever temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, deadly wildfires in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece have forced thousands of people to leave their homes. Experts blame climate change for the latest heat wave and warn the extreme weather will only worsen in years to come. *) US alleges Russia 'laying groundwork' to annex eastern Ukraine regions The United States has accused Russia of moving ahead with plans to annex additional Ukrainian territory. John Kirby, the chief National Security Council spokesperson, said the Russians are preparing to install proxy officials, establish the rouble as the default currency and force residents to apply for citizenship. Kirby said the areas targeted for annexation include Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and all of Donetsk and Luhansk. There was no immediate reaction from Moscow. And finally… *) Netflix subscriber numbers drop for second straight quarter Netflix has reported losing subscribers for the second quarter in a row as the streaming giant battles fierce competition. But it has assured investors of better days ahead. The loss of 970,000 paying customers in the most recent quarter was not as large as expected. The company said in its earnings report that it expected to gain a million paid subscribers in the current quarter. Analysts noted that the results, even if not as poor as feared, were still troubling.

*) Sri Lankan opposition withdraws from presidential race last-minute Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has withdrawn from the country's presidential election in favour of a ruling party dissident. Premadasa announced the move on Twitter minutes before nominations formally opened. He said "for the greater good” of the country, his party will support Dullas Alahapperuma, a senior ruling party lawmaker, to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa who resigned last week. Alahapperuma is up against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who took over as acting president - and leftist leader Anura Dissanayake. *) Ukraine sacks more officials amid intense Russia shelling As Russia has kept up its relentless shelling across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expanded the shakeup of his security services. Zelenskyy has suspended 28 more officials, a day after he dismissed two senior officials over allegations that their agencies harboured "collaborators and traitors." In his new video address, Zelenskyy said a "personnel audit" of the Security Service of Ukraine was under way. *) ​​Erdogan meets Raisi in Tehran to discuss bilateral, regional issues Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi for talks in Tehran. Bilateral and regional matters are the top issues on the agenda. Erdogan and Raisi will co-chair the 7th Meeting of the Türkiye-Iran High Level Cooperation Council. All aspects of bilateral ties and potential steps to enhance bilateral cooperation will be discussed. Erdogan and Raisi will later meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for discussions on developments in Syria and the fight against the terrorist organizations. *) New Ecuador prison brawl leaves multiple inmates dead Thirteen inmates have been killed and two others wounded in yet another violent fight in a notorious Ecuadorian prison, law enforcement officials said. The incident took place at the same Bellavista prison in the town of Santo Domingo de los Colorados – about 80 kilometres from Quito, where 44 inmates were killed in a bloody brawl in May. Prison officials, aided by the military and the police, were able to regain control of the facility, the South American country's prison authority said. *) Europe broils as heatwave shatters temperature records A heatwave broiling Europe has spilled northward to Britain and fuelled wildfires in Spain and France, where thousands of residents have been evacuated. Two people were killed in the blazes in Spain that its prime minister linked to global heating. He said "climate change kills". That toll comes on top of the hundreds of heat-related deaths reported in the Iberian peninsula. High temperatures have gripped the continent in recent days and triggered wildfires from Portugal to the Balkans.

*) Sri Lanka's interim president declares emergency Sri Lanka's acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency as his administration seeks to quell social unrest and tackle the country’s economic crisis. Ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled overseas to escape an uprising against his government, has said he took "all possible steps" to avert the economic crisis. Sri Lanka’s parliament is meeting on Tuesday to accept nominations for the post of president. A vote to decide the country's leader is set to take place on Wednesday. *) Ukraine's Zelenskyy sacks top officials as Russia warns of 'doomsday' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the head of the country's security service and its prosecutor general, citing criminal proceedings into treason and collaboration by people within their departments. He said over 650 cases of suspected treason and aiding and abetting Russia by Ukrainian security officials are currently being investigated. Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, responded to Ukrainian officials' statements that Kiev may strike the bridge linking Moscow-annexed Crimea and Russia. Medvedev warned that it would trigger devastating consequences for Ukraine. *) ​​US probe cites 'systemic failures' in Texas school massacre A US probe of the Texas school shooting that left 21 dead has blamed "systemic failures" and poor leadership for contributing to the death toll. The report investigated why it took more than an hour for police to confront and kill the 18-year-old gunman at Robb Elementary School on May 24. Meanwhile, the latest gun violence at a US mall in Indiana state has left four people dead, including the gunman. The attacker opened fire with a rifle in a food court, and an armed civilian shot him, US police said. *) Ex-PM Khan's party scores landslide win in key Pakistan state by-election Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has called again for an early national election after his party seized control of the state assembly in Punjab province. The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 15 out of 20 provincial assembly seats, consolidating its lead for the post of the chief minister of Punjab, local media reports. Khan tweeted early on Monday after the Punjab votes were tallied that “the only way forward from here is to hold free and transparent elections.” *) Wildfires rage across southwest Europe amid scorching weather Wildfires across southwest Europe have shown no signs of abating, as parts of the continent readied for new temperature records early next week. Firefighters in France, Portugal, Spain and Greece continued to battle forest blazes on Sunday. Thousands of hectares of land have been ravaged, several personnel have been killed and thousands of people have been forced to decamp since the start of the week.

*) Ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe shot, suspect detained Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot during a campaign speech in western Japan. The 67-year-old was shot from behind as he was giving a political speech in Nara prefecture in western Japan, local media said. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. *) Ukraine crisis extends to G20 summit as Russia meets rivals in Indonesia Indonesia has called for all parties to find a way to end the war in Ukraine on day 2 of the G20 summit in Bali. It is the first face-to-face meeting in four months between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and some of the Kremlin's biggest critics. US and European officials warn these talks will not be 'business as usual.' *) Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat for climax of biggest Covid-era Hajj After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of worshippers have gathered to offer prayers of repentance on the sacred hill of Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia. It is an intense day of worship considered to be the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage at Islam's holiest site in Mecca. Saudi Arabia has eased travel restrictions allowing one million fully vaccinated worshippers from both inside and outside the country to attend. *) Ex-officer gets 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd's rights Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of the murder of George Floyd, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison on US federal charges. Chauvin pleaded guilty in December 2021 to violating the civil rights of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, during his May 2020 arrest. Chauvin, who is white, was captured in a video that went viral, kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes until he passed out and died. Floyd’s murder sparked massive protests in the US and around the world against racism and police brutality. *) Bob Dylan's unique 2021 disk sells for $1.77 million at auction The only copy of a disk of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind" that the singer-songwriter recorded in 2021 has been sold for $1.77 million at an auction. The disk, in the new Ionic Original audio format, was Dylan's first studio recording of the folk classic since 1962. Dylan reportedly wrote the song in just 10 minutes in a Greenwich Village cafe in New York City in 1962.

*) UK PM Johnson resigns as Conservative party leader after turmoil UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as the leader of the Conservative party after the latest ethics scandal around his leadership led some 50 senior lawmakers to quit the government. Johnson said outside 10 Downing Street he will resign as “it is clearly the will of the Conservative party that there should be a new leader. His resignation will trigger an internal election to pick a new leader of the Conservative Party, who will also be the next prime minister. *) Ukraine 'repels' some Russian advances in Donbass In eastern Ukraine, Russia continues to bombard the city of Slovyansk, forcing hundreds of civilians to flee. The Ukrainian military has claimed it has repelled enemy units from advancing towards the city, as well as Russian attacks on a town and village north of Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv near the Russian border. Russian forces are advancing in the Donetsk region, after it took over neighbouring Luhansk. *) Austrian parliament unanimously adopts Srebrenica genocide resolution Austria's parliament has unanimously adopted a resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica. The resolution honours more than 8,000 Muslim Bosniaks who were killed by units of the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska and a paramilitary unit in the town on July 11, 1995. It also declared July 11 a day of mourning and condemned public denial of the mass killings *) Iran 'detains' UK diplomat, other foreigners for alleged spying Iran's Revolutionary Guard has detained several foreigners, including Britain's second most senior envoy in Tehran, for allegedly engaging in espionage and taking soil samples from prohibited military zones. State media reported that the foreigners had been arrested, but did not elaborate on when this happened. The UK Foreign Office denied that its diplomat was among those arrested. The accusations follow escalating tensions over a rise in the number of arrests made on foreigners in Tehran and the rapid advancement of its nuclear plans. And finally… *) Netflix confirms 'Stranger Things' spinoff series and stage play Netflix has confirmed that its popular show "Stranger Things" is getting a spin-off series and a new stage play set within its supernatural world. The sci-fi horror following a group of teenagers in a fictional US town as they battle monsters from another dimension is one of Netflix's flagship and most-watched shows, The announcement comes as Netflix continues to face pressure, having lost subscribers earlier this year after years of uninterrupted growth.

*) Evacuation calls as Russians advance in Ukraine's Donbass Ukraine has called on civilians to urgently evacuate the Sloviansk city in the Donetsk region as Russian troops press towards it in their campaign to secure the Donbass region. The governor of the Donetsk region said at least two people have been killed and seven others wounded in an attack on a marketplace in Sloviansk. He told Ukrainian media that his "main advice is evacuate!" Sloviansk has been subjected to "massive" Russian bombardment following Russia’s seizure of the Luhansk region. *) Senior UK cabinet ministers resign, plunging govt into chaos Two of the United Kingdoms’ most senior ministers have resigned in a move that could spell the end of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s leadership after months of scandals. Rishi Sunak resigned as finance minister and Sajid Javid as health secretary. Both said they could no longer tolerate the culture of scandal that has stalked Johnson for months. The resignations followed the allegations that the UK PM failed to come clean about a lawmaker who was appointed to a senior position despite claims of sexual misconduct. *) Palestinian killed during Israeli raid in West Bank A Palestinian man has been killed by Israeli forces during a raid in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20-year-old Rafiq Riyad Ghannem was shot dead near the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Israel says it conducts military raids due to security risks, but rights groups argue that they have been deployed as a tool to suppress Palestinian resistance. At least 70 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire since the beginning of this year. *) South Korea warns of stern retaliation in case of provocation from North South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered the military to "promptly and sternly" retaliate in case of any North Korean provocation. Yoon called for strong capabilities to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes after presiding over his first meeting with top military commanders. North Korea has this year been conducting missile tests at an unprecedented pace and is believed to be preparing for its seventh nuclear test. *) Muslim pilgrims begin largest Hajj since Covid pandemic The largest Hajj pilgrimage since the pandemic took over the world has kicked off, with hundreds of thousands of worshippers expected to circle Islam's holiest site in Saudi Arabia's Mecca. This year's Hajj will commence, with 1 million fully vaccinated Muslims expected to participate. It is a major break from two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic. The pilgrimage consists of a series of religious rites that are completed over five days in Islam's holiest city and its surroundings in western Saudi Arabia.

*) Putin declares victory in eastern Ukraine region of Luhansk Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared victory in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. Putin said that the military units “that took part in active hostilities and achieved victory” in Luhansk, “should rest, increase their combat capabilities.” The declaration came as Russian forces tried to press their offensive deeper into eastern Ukraine after Kiev confirmed that its forces had withdrawn from Lysychansk. *) Ukraine reconstruction estimated to cost $750B Allies of Ukraine meeting in Switzerland have been set to adopt a declaration spelling out the principles and priorities of rebuilding the war-shattered country. Kiev said the recovery "is already estimated at $750 billion", insisting that seized Russian assets should be used to pay for the recovery. It also proposed that allied countries "adopt" specific regions of Ukraine, and lead the recovery there to render it more efficient. *) July 4 mass shooting Police have arrested a suspect after a mass shooting left six dead at a US Independence Day parade in a wealthy Chicago suburb. Emergency officials said around two dozen people, including children, were treated for gunshot injuries, with some in critical condition. In another July 4 shooting, two police officers were wounded when they came under fire during a fireworks display in Philadelphia. The shootings are part of a wave of gun violence plaguing the US, where approximately 40,000 deaths a year are caused by firearms. *) Italy declares state of emergency in drought-hit regions Italy has declared a state of emergency in five northern regions over a worsening drought that has plagued the region in recent weeks. The government said the state of emergency will last until December 31, announcing a 38 million dollar fund to help those affected. Italy is facing an unusually early heatwave and a lack of rainfall, and has been hit by its worst drought in 70 years. *) Joey Chestnut wins July 4 hot dog contest Joey Chestnut has wolfed down 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win again the annual July 4 competitive eating contest. Chestnut has now won 15 times, though the recent 63 hot dogs fell way short of the record he set in 2020 when he downed 76 hotdogs in just 10 minutes. For that, Chestnut apologised to the crowd and said he would do better next year.

*) Russia claims Luhansk, Ukraine vows return Russia has gained full control over Ukraine's Luhansk region after capturing the last major city, Lysychansk, following weeks of fierce fighting with Kiev’s forces. The Ukrainian army said its soldiers had retreated from the strategic eastern city in order to preserve the lives of Ukrainian defenders. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to restore control over the area. Ukrainian authorities said Russia would shift the main focus of its offensive to trying to seize all of the Donetsk region. *) Ukraine recovery meet to open in Switzerland Leaders from dozens of countries, international organisations and the private sector have gathered in Switzerland to hash out a plan to rebuild conflict-hit Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned that the work ahead in the areas that have been liberated alone was "colossal". He added that over 2,000 villages and towns in the east and south of Ukraine still had to be freed. The two-day conference had been planned well before Russia launched its full-scale offensive on February 24, originally slated to discuss reforms in Ukraine. *) Copenhagen mall shooting A gunman has opened fire in a Copenhagen shopping mall, killing three people and wounding several others. The suspected gunman, a 22-year-old Danish man, is in custody. Danish police believe the shooting was not terror-related. They said the gunman acted alone and appears to have selected his victims at random. *) Evacuations in Australia’s Sydney Australia has ordered thousands of people in Sydney to evacuate as overflowing rivers have swamped swathes of land. Australian authorities said about 32,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings in New South Wales. On the third day of torrential rains on the east coast, rescuers said they had saved about 20 people in the past 12 hours, many trapped in cars on flood-swept roads. And finally… *) Biggest hajj pilgrimage since pandemic Muslims from across the world have packed the streets of Mecca as Islam's holiest city prepares to host the biggest Hajj pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic. One million people, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year's Hajj after two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic. Authorities say at least 650,000 overseas pilgrims have arrived so far to converge on the holy city to retrace the Prophet Muhammad's last pilgrimage.

*) Missile strikes leaves many dead in Ukraine's Odessa Seventeen people have been killed in missile strikes on an apartment building and recreation centre in southern Ukraine's Odessa region, authorities said. Fourteen were killed and 30 wounded in the strike on a nine-storey apartment block, the emergency services said on Telegram. Odessa military administration spokesperson said the missiles were fired by aircraft that flew in from the Black Sea. Greece says Türkiye has 'reasonable concerns' on terrorism Türkiye has legitimate concerns about terrorism, the Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, telling media at the NATO summit that Ankara "paid a heavy price". He said Türkiye has some reasonable concerns when it comes to the issue of terrorism perpetrated by organisations like PKK or YPG. “Türkiye has paid a heavy price for such terrorist acts," Mitsotakis told a press conference at the summit in Madrid. *) China's Xi swears in new Hong Kong chief on its handover anniversary Chinese President Xi Jinping has officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong's new leader John Lee as the city marked the 25th anniversary of its return from Britain to China. Xi said Hong Kong's "true democracy" started after the city's handover to China from colonial Britain 25 years ago. He said after reuniting with the motherland, Hong Kong's people became the masters of their own city. *) Anti-coup protests turn deadly in Sudan as thousands take to streets Four Sudanese demonstrators have been killed with thousands of anti-coup protesters taking to the streets demanding an end to the military rule. Protesters urged the reversal of the October military coup by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan that prompted foreign governments to slash aid, deepening an economic crisis. Security forces were reported to have fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrations. And finally… *) N. Korea suggests balloons flown from South brought Covid-19 North Korea has suggested its Covid-19 outbreak began in people who had contact with balloons flown from South Korea. Activists for years have flown balloons across the border to distribute hundreds of thousands of propaganda leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un South Korea’s Unification Ministry said there was no chance South Korean balloons might have spread the virus to North Korea.

*) Finland, Sweden get official invite to join NATO after Türkiye's consent NATO has officially invited Finland and Sweden to become members of the alliance. The announcement came as part of the Madrid summit declaration following the meeting of NATO heads of state and government. NATO welcomed the conclusion of the trilateral memorandum between Türkiye, Finland, and Sweden. Israel lawmakers dissolve parliament, set election for November 1 Israel’s parliament has voted to dissolve itself and send the country to the polls in November for the fifth time in less than four years. Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister and architect of the outgoing coalition government, will become the country’s caretaker prime minister just after midnight on Friday. He will be the 14th person to hold that office, taking over from Naftali Bennett, Israel's shortest serving prime minister. New elections will be held on November 1. *) Amnesty accuses Russia of bombing Mariupol theatre A theatre sheltering civilians destroyed in March in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was likely hit by a Russian air strike in a "war crime," says Amnesty International report. Oksana Pokalchuk, head of Amnesty's Ukraine branch said "We were speaking about an alleged war crime. Now we can clearly say it was one, committed by the Russian armed forces," She dismissed the Russian claims that the theatre was hit in a false-flag attack by the city's Ukrainian defenders. *) US govt 'supports' F-16 fighter jet sales to Türkiye The Biden administration has thrown its support behind the potential sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye. Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary for Defense for International Security Affairs at Pentagon, told media that strong Turkish defence capabilities would reinforce NATO's defences. Wallander said that the US supports Türkiye's modernisation of its fighter fleet because that is a contribution to NATO security and therefore American security. And finally… *) First ever 'Africa Fashion' exhibition opens in UK UK's most extensive exhibition of African fashion is set to open in London, showcasing designers past and present, as well as the continent's diverse heritage and cultures. "Africa Fashion", at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is the country's first exhibition dedicated to the medium. The exhibition includes objects, sketches, photos and film from across the continent, starting from the African liberation years to up-and-coming contemporary designers.

*) Türkiye's memorandum with Sweden, Finland Turkiye has lifted its objection to the NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland, after a breakthrough in talks in Madrid. Ankara had previously blocked the two countries from joining the military alliance over concerns about arms exports and terrorism. In a memorandum, Finland and Sweden agreed to fully co-operate with Türkiye in the fight against terror groups, including the PKK, its offshoots and the FETO. Sweden and Finland also agreed not to impose embargoes on the Turkish defence industry. *) Ukraine's Zelenskyy calls for Russia's expulsion from UN Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Russia's expulsion from the United Nations. Zelenskyy urged the UN to establish an international tribunal to investigate "the actions of Russian occupiers on Ukrainian soil" and to hold the country accountable. "We need to act urgently to do everything to make Russia stop the killing spree," Zelenskyy said. *) US, allies creating 'Asian NATO' – NK media North Korea has said that joint drills by the United States, South Korea and Japan are part of a dangerous prelude to the creation of an "Asian version of NATO". Pyongyang accused the US of having a "sinister aim" toward North Korea. It also accused Washington of fomenting a new Cold War. *) Inmates die in Colombia prison fire At least 52 inmates have been killed and 26 more injured after a fire broke out during a prison riot in southwestern Colombia. The tragedy occurred when rioting inmates set a fire, attempting to prevent police from entering their enclosure at the prison in the city of Tulua. Authorities had initially said they were investigating whether the incident occurred as part of an escape attempt, but later said it was a riot. And finally… *) Hamilton, F1 condemn Nelson Piquet Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Formula One have condemned former world champion Nelson Piquet's racially offensive term against the British driver. Piquet reportedly uttered the Portuguese version of the N-word against Hamilton. Hamilton said that these archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in the sport. Formula One backed Hamilton, stressing that discriminatory and racist type of language "has no part in society".

*) Russian missile strike hits crowded shopping mall in Ukraine A Russian missile strike on a crowded mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has killed at least 16 people. 59 others were wounded in the strike, the head of Ukraine’s emergency services said. Russia's Defence Ministry said it fired missiles against a weapons depot, with the subsequent explosion of ammunition triggering a fire in a nearby shopping mall. The Group of Seven leaders had condemned the attack as a “war crime", saying Russian President Putin and those responsible would be held to account. *) G7 vows to stand with Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes’ G7 leaders have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes" in the face of the Russian onslaught. In a statement from the G7 summit in Germany, the group said they would continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine. They also urged Moscow to allow grain shipments to leave Ukraine. *) Dozens found dead in trailer in US state of Texas At least 46 migrants have been found dead inside a tractor-trailer in the US state of Texas. The cause of death was indicated as suffocation. The incident appears to be one of the most deadly recent incidents of human smuggling along the US-Mexico border. A local fire department official said 16 people, including 12 adults and four children, were transported to the hospital. Police said three people were detained. *) Toxic gas explosion at Jordan’s Aqaba port A toxic gas explosion has killed at least 10 people and injured more than 250 in Jordan's Aqaba port. A container of 30 tonnes of toxic gas plunged from a crane on a moored vessel as an iron rope that was carrying it broke, resulting in the escape of the poisonous substance. Officials said specialists and the civil defence were dealing with the incident. Nearby areas were evacuated and residents told to stay indoors. *) Tokyo faces worst June heatwave since 1875 Japan’s capital Tokyo has faced the worst heatwave for June in more than 150 years. The city saw three successive days of temperatures topping 35C, marking the worst streak of hot weather in June since records began in 1875. At least two people are believed to have died from heatstroke, media said, as the number of hospitalisation cases from heat stroke rose. Authorities asked residents in the Tokyo area to conserve electricity to avoid a looming power cut. #Russia #Ukraine #G7 #texas #Smuggling #migrants #Jordan #Explosion #Tokyo #heatwave

*) Ukraine urges G7 to provide more weapons The Ukrainian government has urged G7 leaders to provide more weapons to Kiev and impose further sanctions against Moscow. "G7 summit must respond with more sanctions on Russia and more heavy arms for Ukraine. Russia's sick imperialism must be defeated," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted. The call comes as Russia steps up its offensive in Ukraine and the world's seven leading economies gather in Germany to discuss the conflict-related food and energy crises. *) Russia ‘defaults’ on foreign debt Russia looks set for its first sovereign default in a century as a grace period of 30 days expired on payments of 100 million dollars in interest on two bonds. Some bondholders say they have not received overdue interest, while the Kremlin has repeatedly said there are no grounds for Russia to default. Moscow says it is unable to pay bondholders because of sanctions, accusing the West of trying to drive it into an "artificial default". *) G7 launches $600B project to counter China The United States has announced a G7 project to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative. "Together with G7 partners, we aim to mobilise $600 billion by 2027 in global infrastructure investments in poor countries,” said the White House. The plan will target countries desperately needing everything, from roads to harbours, and that have until now often relied on the Chinese. *) African Union calls for probe after migrants die The African Union has called for an immediate investigation into the deaths of dozens of migrants trying to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Melilla. The AU commission chairperson reminded “all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritise their safety". Around 2,000 migrants, many from Sudan, tried to cross the militarised border between Morocco and Spain on Friday and were met with force. Moroccan authorities said at least 23 people died in the violence. And finally… *) Lockdown for Australian bees as pest detected near port Beehives in southeast Australia have gone under lockdown as authorities race to prevent the spread of a potentially devastating parasite plague. The Varroa Mite was detected at the Port of Newcastle, prompting authorities to throw up a strict biosecurity zone to stop the spread. Keepers inside the 50-kilometre biosecurity zone will not be able to move hives, bees, honey or comb until further notice. The tiny red-brown mites attack and feed on honey bees, killing entire colonies.

*) US welcomes Türkiye's efforts in Ukraine grain The United States welcomes Türkiye's involvement in brokering an agreement to get grain out of Ukraine, John Kirby, the national security spokesman said. Kirby said that the US is working with allies and partners to get some grain out of Ukraine, exports that have been thwarted by Russia's incursion on Ukraine. *) Athens fuels up crisis with naval base expansion in Crete Island Athens is ramping up its ongoing armament programme, with plans to step up the military buildup on the island of Crete and upgrade its arsenal, according to a Greek media report. Greece will allocate about $200 million to upgrade and expand a naval base at Souda Bay, the daily Kathimerini reported. Greek Defense Minister informed the Parliamentary Committee on Defense Affairs about the additional allocation for the naval base, the report said. *) Tunisia's police arrest former PM Jebali over money laundering allegations Tunisian police arrested former prime minister Hamadi Jebali, who is also a former senior member of the Ennahda party, on suspicion of money laundering, his lawyer said. Police in the city of Sousse seized Jebali's phone and his wife's phone and took him to an unknown location, according to a statement by his family. Jebali's arrest raises opposition concerns over human rights record since President Kais Saied seized control of executive power last year. *) UK Tory party chairman resigns after twin by-election losses The chairman of Britain's ruling Conservatives quit after the party lost two parliamentary by-elections. Oliver Dowden wrote in a resignation letter to Prime Minister and Tory leader Boris Johnson that party’s supporters are distressed and disappointed by recent events, and I share their feelings. He added, "We cannot carry on with business as usual. Somebody must take responsibility and I have concluded that, it would not be right for me to remain in office." And finally… *) FIFA increases squad limit to 26 players for 2022 Qatar World Cup FIFA will allow countries to select up to 26 players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, increasing the maximum squad size by three for the tournament. FIFA stated, "The number of players to be included on the final list has been increased to at least 23 and a maximum of 26.” World football's governing body said the decision to expand squads was made "given the need to retain additional flexibility due to the unique timing" of this year's competition.

*) Casualties soar as Afghanistan reels from deadliest earthquake in decades A powerful earthquake devastated a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 1,150 people and injuring 1,600 more. The magnitude 6.1 temblor hit near the Pakistan border, but quakes of that strength can cause severe damage in areas where buildings are poorly constructed. Rescue workers continue clearing the rubble to release the injured and recover bodies. *) Ukraine crisis sounds alarm for humanity — China The conflict in Ukraine has “sounded an alarm for humanity,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping said, as China continues to assume a position of neutrality while backing its ally Russia. “Countries will surely end up in security hardships if they place blind faith in their positions of strength, expand military alliances, and seek their own safety at the expense of others," Xi said. In other comments, Xi said imposing sanctions could act as a “boomerang” and a “double-edged sword,” and that the global community would suffer from “politicising, mechanising and weaponising” global economic trends and financial flows. *) Türkiye, Saudi Arabia stress 'new era of cooperation' in boost to ties Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman declared their determination to launch a new era of cooperation in bilateral ties, including in the political, economic, military, security and cultural spheres. According to a joint declaration, the leaders emphasised the countries' determination to start a new era of comprehensive cooperation in many areas. Ankara and Riyadh decided to deepen consultation and cooperation in regional issues to strengthen stability and peace, it said. *) UN: Greece creates 'atmosphere of fear' for migrants, rights organisations Human rights defenders in Greece are “under severe pressure” while trying to protect the refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in the country, the UN human rights body said. “Geopolitical circumstances and a lack of support by the EU have led to questions being posed of Greece that many other States have not been asked concerning migration,” Commenting on the difficulties faced by the human rights defenders in Greece, UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor said that the government's current approach creates an “atmosphere of fear – particularly a fear of criminalisation.” And finally… *) Musk 'losing billions of dollars' in Berlin, Austin Tesla factories Tesla’s new car factories in Texas and Berlin are "losing billions of dollars" as they struggle to increase production because of a shortage of batteries and China port issues. Chief Executive Elon Musk said "Both Berlin and Austin factories are gigantic money furnaces right now.” adding, “It's really like a giant roaring sound, which is the sound of money on fire," Musk also said he expected Tesla would start production of its Cybertruck electric pickup trucks in mid-2023.

*) East Ukraine weathers bombardment Russian attacks have laid down a curtain of fire across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region. The governor of Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region described the situation saying “everything that can burn is on fire.” The Russian military currently controls about 95 percent of the Luhansk region, but Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely. *) East Afghanistan earthquake A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has shaken parts of densely populated Afghanistan. The country's state-run news agency reported that at least 255 people have been killed in the east. The quake struck about 44 kilometres from the city of Khost in eastern Afghanistan at a depth of 51 kilometres. *) Saudi crown prince to meet President Erdogan Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is visiting Türkiye for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to further strengthen ties between the regional powers. Erdogan has told reporters that Crown Prince bin Salman’s visit to the capital Ankara would see discussions on taking bilateral relations to a much higher level. Energy, economy, trade, defence cooperation and tourism are expected to be at the top of the agenda and new agreements are also expected to be signed. Relations between Ankara and Riyadh had seen a drop in recent years due to political tensions, but both countries are now seeking to revive ties. *) US landmark gun safety bill US Senate negotiators on gun legislation have released a landmark gun safety bill to address mass shootings. The 80-page bill will be encouraging state red flag laws, enhancing mental health services, and adding juvenile records to background checks on gun buyers. The measure does not go as far as Democrats including President Joe Biden had sought. But, if passed, it would still be the most significant action to combat gun violence to emerge from the US Congress in years. And finally… *) Conflicts push millions of children out of school The number of children forced out of school or who have seen their education disrupted in conflict-torn countries has nearly tripled in six years to 222 million. That is up from 75 million children estimated to be in the same situation in 2016, the United Nations global fund for education found in a fresh report. A full 78.2 million of the children are estimated to be completely out of school due to often protracted conflicts and emergencies. 54 percent of them are girls, while 17 percent are children with disabilities, the report found.

*) Russian journalist auctions Nobel Peace Prize Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov has auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for 103 million dollars to benefit children displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. Muratov donated all of the proceeds from the sale of the medal to UNICEF's Humanitarian Response for Ukrainian Children Displaced by War. The Nobel prize was snapped up by an as yet unidentified phone bidder according to Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale. *) Russian television broadcasting in southern Ukraine Television towers in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson have been reconfigured to broadcast Russian television as Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine enters its 118th day. The Russian armed forces said they had "reconfigured the last of the seven television towers to broadcast Russian television channels" for free. In Ukraine's southern Kherson region, the Russian army has already introduced the rouble and begun distributing Russian passports as well. *) Macron to host French opposition party leaders French President Emmanuel Macron will host political party chiefs in a bid to break the impasse created by the failure of his coalition to win a majority in parliamentary elections. In a rare encounter, Macron will host Marine Le Pen, his rival in presidential elections and leader of the far-right National Rally. He will also meet with right-wing, Socialist and Communist party chiefs, while the far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is not scheduled to do so. The meetings are the first attempts by Macron to extract himself from a situation that risks wrecking his second-term reform plans. *) PKK supporters hold demonstration in Sweden A group of supporters of the PKK terror group has held a demonstration in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, calling on Sweden to impose an arms embargo on Türkiye. Reacting to the development, Mikail Yuksel, chairman of the Party of Different Colors in Sweden, said "the Swedish government says it considers the PKK a terrorist organisation, but implements a two-faced policy." The protest came as negotiations about Finland and Sweden's NATO bids and Türkiye's security concerns continued. Türkiye objects to the membership bids, criticising Finland and Sweden for supporting the PKK terror group, which has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people across the country. *) Biggest rail strike in 30 years brings UK to standstill UK's biggest rail strike in three decades kicks off as tens of thousands of staff walk out in a dispute over pay and jobs. Picket lines appeared at dawn and will be lined by some of the more than 40,000 rail workers who are due to strike on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, bringing the network to a standstill. Unions have said the rail strikes could mark the start of a "summer of discontent", with teachers, medics, waste disposal workers and even barristers moving towards industrial action over surging prices.

*) Zelenskyy warns of Russian 'hostile activity' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is likely to intensify its offensive this week. "Obviously, this week we should expect from Russia an intensification of its hostile activities," Zelenskyy said. Ukraine applied to join the EU four days after Russian troops poured across its border in February. The European Commission recommended last Friday that Ukraine receive candidate status. Leaders of the 27-nation union will consider the question at a summit this week. *) China's oil imports from Russia soar to a record China's crude oil imports from Russia have soared 55 percent from a year earlier to a record level in May, displacing Saudi Arabia as the top supplier. Imports of Russian oil totalled nearly 8.42 million tonnes, data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed. Russia took back the top ranking after a gap of 19 months as refiners of the world's biggest crude oil importer cashed in on discounted supplies amid sanctions on Moscow. *) Macron’s alliance loses majority French President Emmanuel Macron's Together alliance has lost its majority in the French parliament, winning 245 seats in the 577-member chamber in elections. The outcome, well short of the 289 seats needed for an overall majority, severely tarnished Macron's April presidential election victory. The setback for the French president could throw the country into political paralysis unless Macron is able to negotiate alliances with other parties. *) Colombia elects Petro as new president Ex-guerrilla Gustavo Petro has been elected the first ever left-wing president of Colombia, after beating millionaire businessman Rodolfo Hernandez. With all votes counted, Petro beat Hernandez with an unexpectedly wide margin of more than 700,000 votes. Petro has pledged to fight inequality with free university education, pension reforms and high taxes on unproductive land. And finally… *) Russian journalist sells Nobel Prize for Ukrainian children Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov is set to auction off his Nobel Peace Prize medal to help children displaced by the Ukraine conflict. Muratov said the idea of the donation “is to give the children refugees a chance for a future.” As of early Monday morning, the highest bid was $550,000. The purchase price is expected to spiral upward, possibly into the millions. Muratov will donate proceeds directly to UNICEF.

*) EU to give fast-tracked opinion on Ukraine membership bid The European Commission meets on Friday to give its fast-tracked opinion on Ukraine's EU bid, a step closer to membership for the country battling Russia's forces. The meeting comes a day after French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian premier Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis visited Kiev. They met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who later promised that Ukraine was ready to put in the work to become an EU member. *) Israeli forces kill three Palestinians, injure eight others in raid At least three Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli raid in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Eight others were injured in the raid, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement. Eyewitnesses said Israel’s forces opened fire on a vehicle with four Palestinians. After the incident, Israeli soldiers targeted protesting Palestinians with live ammunition and tear gas grenades. *) Covid vaccines, food, fisheries figure in WTO's deals package The World Trade Organisation has concluded hard-won deals on fishing subsidies, food insecurity and Covid-19 vaccines in a landmark bundle of agreements. WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the trade ministers' conference had struck an "unprecedented package of deliverables" which would "make a difference". The conference also agreed on deals on e-commerce, responding to pandemics and reforming the organisation itself. *) Two dead, one wounded in another US shooting A shooting at a church during a potluck dinner has left two people dead and one wounded in the US state of Alabama. The incident took place at St Stephen's Episcopal Church in the town of Vestavia Hills and a suspect was taken in custody, the town's police department said. The US is in the midst of a gruesome chapter of its gun violence epidemic. On May 24, a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 children and two teachers. And finally… *) Azteca Stadium, Los Angeles among 2026 World Cup venues Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium and the Los Angeles Rams' multi-billion-dollar SoFi Stadium are among 16 venues to stage games at the 2026 World Cup. The tournament will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first ever World Cup shared between three nations and also the first to feature 48 teams. At a televised announcement in New York, officials confirmed 11 US cities as host venues, along with three venues in Mexico and two in Canada.

*) Biden announces $1 billion in new military aid for Ukraine US President Joe Biden has announced a new package of arms and ammunition for Kiev after speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the phone. The package of $1 billion includes howitzers, ammunition, anti-ship missile systems and additional rockets for new artillery systems that Ukraine will soon put in the field. Biden said "the US will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy" against a Russian onslaught. Zelenskyy said he was "grateful" for the new American arms package. *) Xi assures Putin of China's support for Russian 'sovereignty, security' Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of Beijing's support for Moscow on "sovereignty and security" during a phone call. Xi praised the "good momentum of development" in bilateral ties since the start of the year "in the face of global turmoil and changes", state broadcaster CCTV reported. It was the second reported call between the two leaders since Putin launched his offensive against Ukraine on February 24th. *) Police: Amazon fisherman confesses to killing missing pair A fisherman has confessed to killing a British journalist and an Indigenous expert in Brazil's remote Amazon, taking police to a site where human remains were recovered. The development closes out 10 days of suspense as teams searched for the missing pair. Authorities say that more arrests would be made soon in the case. Dom Phillips and his guide Bruno Pereira went missing June 5th in a remote part of the Amazon that is rife with crimes including illegal mining as well as drug trafficking. *) US Fed announces biggest interest rate hike since 1994 The US Federal Reserve has announced the most aggressive interest rate increase in nearly 30 years in a battle to drive down surging inflation. After the 0.75-percentage-point hike, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said it was "essential" to lower inflation and that the goal was to achieve that without derailing the economy. The Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee raised the benchmark borrowing rate to a range of 1.5-1.75 percent, up from zero at the start of the year. And finally… *) Netflix seeks recruits for real-life 'Squid Game' Netflix is looking for recruits to compete in a real-life "Squid Game". The worst fate for a contestant will be going home empty-handed — unlike in the original, ultra-violent show. With the largest cast in reality TV history, 456 real players will enter the game in pursuit of a life-changing cash prize of $4.56 million, the streaming platform said. "Squid Game: The Challenge" is looking for English-speakers from around the globe, aged at least 21 and free to travel for up to a month in early 2023.

*) Ukraine's need for more weapons major focus as defence ministers meet Defence ministers from NATO and other parts of the world will meet in Brussels on Wednesday where they are expected to discuss weapon deliveries to Ukraine. Ukraine seeks a significant increase in arms to help hold off Russian troops. Kiev says it needs 1,000 howitzers, 500 tanks and 1,000 drones, among other heavy weapons. Western countries have promised NATO-standard weapons, including advanced US rockets. But deploying them is taking time. *) UK Rwanda asylum-seeker flight cancelled after European court ruling A first flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda as part of a controversial UK policy has been cancelled due to a last-minute ruling from the European Court of Human Rights. British Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was disappointed that the legal challenge meant the plane did not take off, but vowed to pursue the heavily criticised policy. The flight cancellation is seen as an embarrassment for the government after it insisted the Kigali-bound plane would leave no matter how many people were on board. *) WHO to assess if monkeypox an international health emergency The World Health Organisation will hold a meeting to determine whether to classify the global monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. The emergency committee will meet on June 23 to discuss the designation, which is the highest alarm. The UN agency is also working to change the name of the disease. The announcement comes after more than 30 scientists wrote that there was an "urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising nomenclature for monkeypox". *) Ethiopia sets up committee for Tigray peace negotiations Ethiopia's federal government has formed a committee to negotiate with forces from the rebellious northern region of Tigray. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has confirmed the key step towards peace negotiations. The committee has 10 to 15 days to hammer out details of negotiations. The nearly two-year conflict in Ethiopia has displaced more than nine million people, plunged parts of Tigray into famine conditions and killed thousands of civilians. And finally… *) Emotional BTS tell fans they're taking a break to 'figure things out' Members of K-pop supergroup BTS have announced they are taking an indefinite break from one of the world's most popular acts to focus on solo pursuits. They have cited exhaustion and the pressures of success in an emotional video appearance. The seven members, credited with generating billions of dollars for the South Korean economy, dropped the bombshell at a group dinner. The video was posted on YouTube.

*) Fierce fighting in Ukraine's Donbass region President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the battle for the eastern Donbass will go down as one of the most brutal in European history. The region, comprising the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk, is claimed by Russian separatists. Zelenskyy said "for us, the price of this battle is very high. It is just scary," adding, "we draw the attention of our partners daily to the fact that only a sufficient number of modern artillery for Ukraine will ensure our advantage." *) Sievierodonetsk under siege Russian forces have laid siege to the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, destroying the last bridges into the industrial hub. The cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk have been targeted for weeks as the last areas in the eastern Donbass region of Luhansk still under Ukrainian control. Ukraine's forces had been pushed back from Sievierodonetsk's centre after a weeks-long Russian offensive, said regional governor Sergei Gaidai. *) Türkiye to start transferring gas from Black Sea in early 2023 Türkiye will start transferring 10 million cubic metres of natural gas daily from the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea to the national transmission system in the first quarter of 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. First gas transmission is planned to be delivered through a 150-kilometre-long subsea pipeline that Türkiye will construct to run from the field to onshore where it will be connected to the national gas grid. Türkiye sees energy as "the key to regional cooperation, and not an area of tension and conflict," Erdogan said. *) UK to send first refugees to Rwanda The British government is preparing to send a first plane carrying failed asylum seekers to Rwanda despite legal bids and protests against the controversial policy. A chartered plane was to leave one of London's airports overnight and land in Kigali on Tuesday, campaigners said on Monday, after UK judges rejected an appeal against the deportations. Claimants had argued that a decision on the policy should have waited until a full hearing on the legality of the policy next month. And finally… *) Hollywood stars seek responsible on-screen gun depictions Hollywood stars including Amy Schumer, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo have signed a letter, calling for movies and television shows to depict responsible gun ownership and to limit scenes involving children with firearms. The open letter penned in response to recent US mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, was also signed by top producers J.J. Abrams ("Lost"), Shonda Rhimes ("Bridgerton") and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy.

*) Ukrainian, Russian forces fight for 'every metre' in Sievierodonetsk Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting for "literally every metre" in Sievierodonetsk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, as fighting intensified in an eastern region where the country's top commander said the land "is covered in blood". Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk have been targeted for weeks as the last areas in the Luhansk region still under Ukrainian control. Russia's massed artillery in that region gave it a tenfold advantage, said Valeriy Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military. But, "despite everything, we continue to hold positions", he said. *) Amnesty alleges Russia killed hundreds in Kharkiv 'war crimes' Amnesty International has accused Russia of "war crimes" in Ukraine, saying attacks on Kharkiv, many using banned cluster bombs, had killed hundreds of civilians. The rights group said in a report on Ukraine's second biggest city: “The repeated bombardments of residential neighbourhoods in Kharkiv are indiscriminate, which killed and injured hundreds of civilians, and as such constitute war crimes." *) US Senators announce tentative deal on gun control A bipartisan group of US Senators has announced the outline of a deal on gun control. The plan for legislation includes support for tougher criminal background checks for gun buyers -- but only those younger than 21 -- and a crackdown on illegal gun purchases. Senators also want to see more funding for mental health care and school security. Calls for stricter gun control have grown after a recent string of mass shootings. *) Macron party neck and neck with leftists in parliamentary vote French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance appears to be slightly ahead in the first round of parliamentary elections. The Left has been gaining on him, throwing into serious doubt whether Macron will be able to secure a majority in parliament. If not, that would make it virtually impossible to drive through his reform agenda. And, voter abstention in this round was at an all-time high, nearly 53 percent. And, finally… *) Justin Bieber suffering from partial facial paralysis Justin Bieber says a rare disorder that paralysed half of the superstar performer’s face is the reason behind his tour postponement. The multi-Grammy winner is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, he said in video he posted on Friday on Instagram. The syndrome causes facial paralysis and affects nerves in the face through a shingles outbreak.

*) British, Moroccan fighters captured in Ukraine sentenced to death Pro-Moscow separatists have sentenced to death two British fighters and a Moroccan, who were captured by Russian troops while fighting for Ukraine. A court in self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic ordered the death penalty after the three were accused of acting as mercenaries, Russian news agencies reported. The three men will appeal the decision. Ukraine has dismissed the proceedings as "placing propaganda interests above the law". *) US Capitol riot probe puts Trump at heart of 'attempted coup' A House panel investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol has laid the blame firmly on Donald Trump. It said the assault was hardly spontaneous but an “attempted coup”, and a direct result of the defeated president's effort to overturn the 2020 election. Thursday's session and five subsequent hearings will focus on Trump's role in the multi-pronged effort to return him to the Oval Office by disenfranchising millions of voters. *) UN elects new council members including Japan, Switzerland UN member nations have elected five countries to join the powerful UN Security Council, which focuses on matters of international peace and security. Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland have made the cut in a secret ballot vote in the 193-member General Assembly. Their terms will start on January 1. They will join the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France — the five veto-wielding permanent members of the council. As well as five others elected last year. *) IAEA: Iran removal of monitoring cameras may scupper nuclear talks The UN atomic energy watchdog has said that Iran is removing 27 surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities, warning it could be a "fatal blow" to talks to revive a 2015 deal. Talks began last year to bring the US back into that nuclear deal, after then president Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. But dialogue has been stalled since March. An International Atomic Energy Agency resolution has recently censured Iran over lack of cooperation. Tehran has condemned the move and removed some of the surveillance cameras. And, finally… *) Grammys set to introduce new award categories The 2023 Grammy Awards will feature new honours, including for the year's best video game soundtrack and Songwriter of the Year. In a significant change, the Songwriter of the Year prize will not be open to performing or producing artists, but rather focus on working songwriters who receive little recognition. Artists will also be able to submit their work for Best Alternative Music Performance, Best Americana Performance and Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.

*) Moscow 'ready to ensure' safe passage of ships leaving Ukrainian ports Moscow is ready to ensure the safe passage of vessels from Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said amid concerns over grain stuck in Ukrainian ports. Lavrov also said Moscow would not use the situation surrounding grain shipments in and around the Black Sea to advance its military operation in Ukraine. He was addressing a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. Cavusoglu said a United Nations plan to restart Ukrainian grain exports along a sea corridor was "reasonable" and requires more talks. *) In a first, China and Russia defend North Korea vetoes at UN China and Russia have defended their vetoes of a strongly backed US resolution that would have imposed tough new sanctions on North Korea. China and Russia reiterated their opposition to more sanctions, blaming the US for tensions on the Korean peninsula while backing dialogue with North Korea. Their defence came at a debate held under new rules requiring the UN General Assembly to examine any veto wielded in the Security Council by one of its five permanent members. *) Algeria suspends 2002 friendship pact with Spain, bans imports Algeria has announced it will suspend a two-decade-old friendship treaty with Spain and ban all imports from the European country. Algeria alleged that Spain was abusing its role as an "administrating power" in Western Sahara and "contributing directly to the degradation of the situation" in the region. Spain's government said it regretted Algeria's decision and reaffirmed its commitment to the friendship treaty. *) IAEA adopts anti-Iran resolution The International Atomic Energy Agency has adopted a resolution criticising Iran for refusing to provide answers about uranium traces at three undeclared sites. The 35-member IAEA Board of Governors passed the resolution with 30 votes in favour. Russia and China voted against it, while India, Libya and Pakistan abstained. Meanwhile, Iran turned off two surveillance devices used by UN inspectors to monitor its uranium enrichment, as talks between Tehran and world powers on a nuclear deal remain stalled. And, finally… *) 'Unburnable' copy of Handmaid's Tale auctioned for $130,000 A specially commissioned, unburnable edition of Margaret Atwood's “The Handmaid's Tale" has been auctioned for $130,000, Sotheby's has announced. Proceeds will be donated to PEN America, which advocates for free expression worldwide. The 384-page book consists mainly of Cinefoil, a specially treated aluminium product, and was announced last month at PEN's annual fundraising gala.

*) Russia draws closer to capture of Ukraine's Donbass region Russia is drawing closer to its goal of fully capturing Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories. The Kremlin has claimed to have taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up the eastern Donbass region. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says that Moscow’s forces hold nearly all of Luhansk province. Russia is also believed to be occupying roughly half of Donetsk province. *) World Bank slashes 2022 global growth forecast to 2.9% The World Bank has slashed its growth estimate for the global economy to 2.9 percent, 1.2 percentage points below the January forecast. The world is expected to experience its sharpest deceleration following an initial recovery from global recession in more than 80 years, the bank has said in a report. Growth recovered to 5.7 percent in 2021 following disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Russian offensive against Ukraine has caused a severe downturn. *) Ending Israel's occupation key to halting violence: UN report UN investigators have blamed Israel's continued occupation and discrimination against Palestinians for the endless cycles of violence in the decades-long conflict. A team of investigators, appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to probe "all underlying root causes" in the conflict, has pointed the finger squarely at Israel. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called the report "a waste of money and effort" that amounted to a witch hunt. *) US stresses allied cooperation in face of North Korea threats US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has met with her counterparts from South Korea and Japan. Sherman has emphasised the US commitment to defend its allies and trilateral security cooperation. The top-level meeting comes amid apprehensions that North Korea is pressing ahead with preparations for its first nuclear test explosion in nearly five years. And, finally… *) Ice skating governing body raises minimum age to 17 Ice skaters will have to be at least 17 to take part in senior competitions after the governing body voted to raise the minimum age from 15. The decision by the International Skating Union came months after a drugs scandal at the Beijing Winter Olympics involving then 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. A hundred countries voted to support the new measure, while only 16 opposed. Jan Dijkema, the skating union's president, called the decision historic.

*) Russia sanctions dozens of US citizens Russia's Foreign Ministry has said that it is imposing sanctions on 61 US nationals. It said the move was being taken "in response to the ever-expanding US sanctions against Russian political and public figures, as well as representatives of domestic business." The list includes US officials and former and current top managers of large American companies, such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. *) UK providing Kiev with 'exactly' the right weapons Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United Kingdom has been providing weapons Kiev needs to fight Russia. Britain, in coordination with the United States, will supply Ukraine with multiple-launch rocket systems that can strike targets up to 80 kilometres away as part of a new UK military aid for Kiev. *) Johnson survives no-confidence vote Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has narrowly survived a confidence vote instigated by members of his own party. Johnson wins backing of 211 out of 359 Conservative lawmakers, more than simple majority needed to remain in power, but still sees a significant rebellion of 148 MPs. The simmering discontent with Johnson is a result of his participation in illegal parties during the coronavirus lockdown. The so-called Partygate scandal led to a daming report and Johnson becoming the first serving British Prime Minister to have broken the law. *) Iran close to making nuclear bomb The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran is "very close" to enriching nuclear material to required levels for nuclear weapons. He stressed the need to work with the country to combat its "very ambitious nuclear programme". The IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told journalists in Vienna that there is evidence that suggests Iran is continuing to develop new centrifuges. And, finally… *) Türkiye’s Cappadocia hosts 1M tourists Türkiye’s globally renowned Cappadocia region in the central Nevsehir province has attracted one million tourists in the first five months of this year. A total of 1.03 million domestic and international visitors came to explore the charming touristic hub, famed for its distinctive fairy chimneys, underground cities, cave hotels, and hot air balloon rides. While it hosted over 1.1 million visitors in the same period of 2019, the number of tourists who visited Cappadocia decreased drastically in 2020, to around 323,000, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

*) Putin warns the West Russian President Vladimir Putin warns the West against sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine. His warning came as Russian forces claimed to have destroyed Western military supplies in their first such air strikes on Ukraine's capital in more than a month. Putin said all this fuss around additional deliveries of weapons to Ukraine has only one goal, that is, to drag out the armed conflict as much as possible. *) UK to give Ukraine long-range missile systems Britain says it will mirror the United States and send long-range missile systems to Ukraine. The UK Ministry of Defence said London has coordinated closely with Washington over its gift of the multiple-launch rocket systems to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. *) Dozens dead in Nigeria attack Nigerian officials say at least 50 people are dead, and dozens of others are injured in Nigeria's southwestern Ondo State after gunmen opened fire inside a church. The attackers entered the church as the service got under way, firing live rounds on congregants before detonating explosives that were already planted inside. People who managed to escape were also shot by attackers waiting outside. Authorities have accused nomadic herdsmen of carrying out the attack as a warning to the local governor. *) Deadly fire in Bangladesh A massive fire swept through an inland container depot in southeastern Bangladesh, killing at least 49 people and injuring more than 300, local officials say. The fire broke out at a container facility early on Saturday at Sitakunda, 40 kilometres from the port city of Chittagong, triggering multiple container explosions after a huge blast at the site. The death toll could rise as some of the injured are in critical condition, according to civil service officials. And, finally… *) Zendaya's 'Euphoria' and 'Spider-Man' win at MTV awards Zendaya dominated the MTV Movie and TV Awards as her teen drama "Euphoria" and big-screen superhero blockbuster "Spider-Man: No Way Home" were voted best show and best movie respectively. Zendaya won best performance in a show for "Euphoria," HBO's often bleak and hard-hitting look at modern teen life, which also won offbeat awards for "best fight". "Spider-Man: No Way Home" - by far the biggest box office hit since the pandemic - won best movie. The film has earned almost $1.9 billion worldwide, and is the third -biggest hit for domestic theaters ever.

*) Zelenskyy: Russia forcefully took 200,000 Ukrainian children Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that 200,000 children are among the Ukrainians who have been forcefully taken to Russia. They include children from orphanages, children taken with their parents and those separated from their families, he said. In a video address, Zelenskyy called it a "criminal policy". He alleged that the purpose of the move "is not just to steal people but to make those who are deported forget about Ukraine and unable to return". *) Gunman kills four at Tulsa hospital in new US mass shooting: Police A gunman has killed at least four people at a hospital campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma, police said. It was the latest in a string of deadly assaults by gunmen in America. The suspect, who was armed with a rifle and a handgun, was killed in Wednesday’s attack at the St. Francis Health System hospital campus. The incident comes close on the heels of an 18-year-old gunman killing 21 people, including 19 young children, at an elementary school in the small Texas town of Uvalde. *) Erdogan: Türkiye, Pakistan to boost cooperation at all levels Türkiye and Pakistan are determined to increase bilateral cooperation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. He said the two sides have comprehensively discussed relations as well as regional and global issues. He was addressing a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Ankara. Türkiye and Pakistan are ready to further strengthen ties "with a strategic perspective in line with the history, friendship and potential of the two countries", Erdogan added. *) Tunisia's Saied sacks 57 judges Tunisia's president has sacked 57 judges, accusing them of corruption and protecting terrorists in a purge of the judiciary. In a televised address, President Kais Saied said on Wednesday he had "given opportunity after opportunity and warning after warning to the judiciary to purify itself". Last summer, Saied dismissed the government and seized executive power in a move his critics called a coup. And, finally… *) Depp jubilant, Heard 'heartbroken' after split defamation verdict A US jury has found both Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard liable for defamation, but sided more strongly with Depp following an intense trial. The seven-member jury in Virginia awarded the 58-year-old actor $15 million in damages after finding that a 2018 article penned by Heard was defamatory to Depp. The jury also found that Depp had made defamatory claims against the 36-year-old Heard and awarded her compensatory damages — but a much lower amount of $2 million.

*) Biden says 'we have to act' after Texas school shooting US President Joe Biden has delivered an urgent call for new restrictions on firearms after a gunman shot and killed at least 19 children at a Texas elementary school. Biden spoke Tuesday night from the White House barely an hour after returning from a five-day trip to Asia that was bracketed by mass shootings in the US. He pleaded for action to address gun violence after years of failure - and bitterly blamed firearm manufacturers and their supporters for blocking legislation in Washington. *) Zelenskyy: Situation in Donbass is very difficult Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia is using everything at its disposal in the fight for four cities in the eastern Donbass region. "The situation in the Donbass now is very difficult," Zelenskyy said in his address to the nation. "Practically the full might of the Russian army, whatever they have left, is being thrown at the offensive there,” he said. Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian army is fighting back, but "it will take time and a lot more effort by our people to overcome their advantage in the amount of equipment and weapons." *) Russian parliament okays foreign companies bill The Russian parliament has given preliminary approval to a bill that would allow the government to appoint new management of foreign companies that pulled out of Russia after its assault on Ukraine. The new law would transfer control over companies that left Russia not for economic reasons but because of "anti-Russian sentiment in Europe and the US. State news agency T-A-S-S said foreign owners would still be able to resume operations in Russia or sell their shares. *) World Bank says no new financing for Sri Lanka without policy framework The World Bank has said it is not planning to provide any new financing to cash-strapped Sri Lanka until an adequate economic policy framework has been put in place. In a statement, the multilateral development bank said it was repurposing resources from previously approved projects to help the Sri Lankan government pay for essential medicines, temporary cash transfers for vulnerable households and other support. It said recent media reports had inaccurately stated that the World Bank planned to provide Sri Lanka with a new bridge loan or other loan commitments. *) Premier League approves Chelsea takeover by Boehly group The Premier League board has announced it had approved Todd Boehly's proposed takeover of Chelsea from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich who was sanctioned by the British government. A Premier League statement said on Tuesday: "The Premier League Board has today approved the proposed takeover of Chelsea Football Club by the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Consortium."

*) Zelenskyy: Donbass completely destroyed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces have completely destroyed the eastern Donbass region. He also accused Moscow of carrying out senseless bombardments as it intensified its military offensive. Zelenskyy claimed Russia was trying to exert even more pressure in the Donbass, saying “it is hell there - and that is not an exaggeration." *) US Congress approves $40B for Ukraine US Congress has approved a 40-billion dollar aid package for Ukraine, the latest share of assistance under President Joe Biden's promise of unwavering support for Kiev. The bundle includes 6 billion dollars earmarked for Ukraine to boost its armoured vehicle inventory and air defence system. Nearly 9 billion dollars is set aside to help with Ukrainian "continuity of government," among other items, including humanitarian aid. The vote was an unusually bipartisan move for harshly divided Washington. *) NATO addressing Türkiye’s concerns over Finland, Sweden bids NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance is in close contact with Finland, Sweden, and Türkiye as they work to address Ankara’s security concerns. Stoltenberg said when an important ally as Türkiye raises security concerns, the only way to address the issue is to find a common ground on how to move forward. Türkiye has voiced objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, criticising the Nordic countries for supporting the terror group PKK and its Syrian offshoot YPG. *) Biden, South Korea’s Yoon to meet amid worries about North Korea US President Joe Biden has landed in South Korea to meet the country’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol. North Korea is expected to be at the top of the agenda, with leader Kim Jong-un abandoning a freeze on intercontinental ballistic missile testing. Pyongyang appears poised to resume testing of nuclear bombs, perhaps while Biden is in the region And, finally... *) Oscar-winning composer Vangelis passes away Vangelis, the Greek electronic composer who wrote the unforgettable Academy Award-winning score for the film “Chariots of Fire”, has died at the age of 79. According to several Greek media outlets, Vangelis died of the coronavirus in a French hospital, where he lived part-time. The maestro influenced the development of different musical genres, and is considered a pioneer of electronic sound.

*) Russia uses laser weapons, alleges Ukraine Russia has begun using the prototype of a new laser weapon in Ukraine that is capable of hitting a target 5 kilometres away. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said the prototype of a new laser weapon was tested against a drone, incinerating it within five seconds. Ukraine claimed that the Russians started to use the laser weapons systems due to a lack of missiles. *) Ukraine ‘shells’ village in west Russia, killing one civilian Russia says Ukrainian forces have shelled a border village in Russia's western region at dawn, killing at least one civilian and injuring others. Shells hit an alcohol factory in a village and several other buildings, the regional governor wrote on the messaging app Telegram. The governor said at least one civilian was killed, others were wounded and receiving medical attention. *) Türkiye demands Sweden, Finland shun support for terror groups Türkiye demands Sweden and Finland shun support for terror groups after the two Nordic countries submitted applications to join NATO. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Türkiye has legitimate security concerns that these governments have been supporting terrorist organisations. He added that Ankara understands their security concerns, but Türkiye's security concerns should also be met. Türkiye has criticised Finland and Sweden for supporting terror groups such as PKK and its Syrian offshoot YPG. *) North Korea's suspected Covid-19 cases near two million South Korea says North Korea's first confirmed Covid-19 outbreak has spreaded after April’s massive military parade in capital Pyongyang. The report came as the country’s pandemic caseload neared 2 million. North Korea acknowledged its first Covid-19 infections early in May. The country’s leader Kim Jong-un has called the outbreak a “great upheaval,” berated officials for letting the virus spread and restricted the movement of people. *) Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers in shootout to win Europa League final Eintracht Frankfurt has won the Europa League final after holding their nerve to beat Rangers 5-4 in a clinical penalty shootout. The German football team claimed their first European trophy in 42 years. Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner said they will celebrate the victory for the next few days. The win also secures Frankfurt’s first appearance in the Champions League next season.

*) Finland and Sweden submit NATO membership application Finland and Sweden have handed in their bids to join the US-led alliance NATO. The alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, "I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners.” The process usually takes eight to 12 months, but Türkiye has also voiced its objections to the nordic countries’ membership bids, criticising them for supporting terror groups. In order for a country to join NATO, unanimous approval is required, which equals the approval of all 30 existing allied countries. *) Hundreds of Ukrainians defending Azovstal plant surrender Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters have surrendered to an uncertain fate after weeks holed up in the tunnels below Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant. Russia's Defence Ministry said 265 fighters had surrendered, including 51 who were seriously wounded. Ukraine says it's working to save its fighters still trapped inside or evacuated from the southern city. However, the speaker of the lower house of Russian parliament said the Ukrainian fighters should be brought to “justice”. *) North Korea’s Kim blasts officials for failing to deal with Covid North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has lashed out at state officials for failing to combat the coronavirus as the number of known cases crossed 1.7 million. Chairing a meeting of the ruling party's Politburo, Kim said there was "immaturity in the state capacity for coping with the crisis", the official Korean Central News Agency said. He also slammed the "non-positive attitude, slackness and non-activity of state leading officials", the agency reported. *) Bashaga to run rival administration from Libya’s Sirte Libya's eastern parliament-appointed premier Fathi Bashagha has said he will base his administration in the northern city of Sirte. The move came after Bashagha attempted to forcibly enter the capital Tripoli to seat his government there, but was repulsed by the UN-backed government. The attempt triggered fierce clashes between fighters on both sides, forcing Bashagha to leave the city. Libya has had two rival administrations since March when the east-based parliament appointed Bashagha as prime minister despite UN-supported Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah. And, finally... *) Russian gymnast banned for pro-war 'Z' symbol A Russian gymnast who sported the ‘Z’ symbol on a medal podium has been banned for one year from International Gymnastics Federation events. 20-year-old artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak's singlet had the letter 'Z' prominently placed as he stood next to Ukrainian contender at a World Cup event in Doha in March. Kuliak must also return his bronze medal and prize money of $500. The 'Z' has been seen daubed on Russian tanks and vehicles in Ukraine and has come to symbolise support for the offensive.

*) Rescue mission under way at Azovstal as hundreds evacuated Ukrainian authorities said a rescue mission to extract the last defenders of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol was under way, after hundreds of soldiers were evacuated earlier. More than 260 fighters were evacuated through humanitarian corridors to areas under Russian and Moscow-backed separatists' control. Ukraine's defence ministry said a further "exchange procedure" would take place later and that all necessary rescue measures are being taken by the state. *) Erdogan: Türkiye will not greenlight NATO membership of Sweden, Finland President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Türkiye will not greenlight NATO membership for Sweden and Finland. He said the two countries have failed to take a clear stance against terrorism. In a joint news conference with his Algerian counterpart in Ankara, Erdogan said "We will not say ‘yes’” to those who impose sanctions on Türkiye. Erdogan added that Swedish and Finnish delegations should not bother coming to Ankara to convince Türkiye to approve their NATO bid. *) Libya's rival PM Bashagha leaves Tripoli after clashes Libya's rival prime minister Fathi Bashagha has left the capital Tripoli, hours after his attempt to enter the city triggered clashes. Bashagha had entered Tripoli overnight accompanied by allied militias in the hope of taking over government. But his attempt was met with opposition by forces aligned with Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who was appointed through a UN-backed process last year. *) Rashida Tlaib brings resolution in US House to recognise Palestinian Nakba US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has introduced a resolution to the US House of Representatives to recognise the Palestinian Nakba or catastrophe in Arabic. Nakba refers to the invasion of Palestinian lands by the Zionist militias on 15 May 1948, which led to the expulsion of at least 750,000 people from their homes. Tlaib added that the Palestinian people since then have been living "under oppression and violent racism and that Nakba is well-documented and continues to play out today. *) Cannes Film Festival kicks into full swing for 75th anniversary The Cannes Film Festival is gearing up for a bumper 75th anniversary edition with a selection of big Hollywood names, buzzy newcomers and previous Palme d'Or winners. The festival runs from May 17 to 28, resuming its traditional calendar following two years of pandemic disruptions. It was canceled in 2020, and last year moved to July, when it was held under strict Covid protocols.

*) Ukraine prepares for new Russian Donbass push Ukraine is preparing for a new Russian push in the eastern Donbass region, as Kiev said its army's counterattack around Kharkiv has gained momentum. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is preparing for new attempts by Russia to attack Donbass and intensifying its movement in the south of the country. Zelenskyy said, "the occupiers still do not want to admit that they are in a dead-end.” *) Sweden delegation to arrive in Türkiye to discuss NATO membership Sweden will send a delegation of diplomats to Türkiye to discuss the Scandinavian country’s decision to apply for NATO membership. Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde confirmed that the delegation will visit Ankara very soon to evaluate the ruling Social Democratic Party's decision in favour of joining NATO. On Russia's reaction to Sweden's application for NATO membership, Linde said Russia “violated our confluence area” and made disinformation campaigns against Swedish people. *) Palestinians mark Nakba Day amid tension with Israel Palestinians rallied to mark the "Nakba," or catastrophe, on Sunday with condemnation spreading over a police raid on the funeral of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Demonstrations were held in several countries on the Nakba Day when nearly 800,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homes by then Zionist Israeli paramilitaries in 1948. During rallies in occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza, protesters flew balloons bearing the names of cities occupied by Israel. Some protesters held pictures of journalist Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American, who was killed last week by Israeli troops *) Ex-Somali leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud wins presidency Somalia has handed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud the presidency for a second time following a long-overdue election in the troubled Horn of Africa nation. After a marathon poll involving 36 candidates, parliamentary officials counted over 165 votes in favour of former president Mohamud. Mohamud faces a daunting task in the country of 15 million people which is suffering drought, hunger and seemingly never-ending conflict. And, finally... *) Box Office: 'Doctor Strange 2' rules again as 'Firestarter' flames out "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is again the Number 1 movie at the North American box office. In its second weekend of release, the latest instalment in Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe has collected $61 million from over 4,500 theatres. Universal's disturbing remake of Stephen King's "Firestarter" fizzled with $3.8 million from more than 2,400 screens while landing simultaneously on Peacock.

*) Russia warns of consequences after Finland announces NATO bid The Kremlin has warned about taking retaliatory “military-technical” steps after Finland’s leaders came out in favour of applying to join NATO. Finland has been militarily neutral for decades, but it shares a 1,300 kilometre border with Russia. The Nordic country is expected to approve the plans to join the alliance next week and its neighbour Sweden could do the same within days. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said the alliance would welcome Finland and Sweden with open arms. *) Kiev in talks to evacuate 38 wounded Azovstal fighters As Ukraine continues to push back against Russia, an explosion hits the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Ukraine general staff said that Russia’s military hit the embattled port city and the plant with artillery and air strikes. Kiev earlier said it was holding "difficult" talks with Russia to secure safe passage for dozens of wounded fighters from the plant Azovstal is the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the devastated southern port city. *) Slain Al Jazeera journalist to be buried in Jerusalem The UN has said the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh may be a war crime. And, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would refer it to the International Criminal Court. The Al Jazeera correspondent has been remembered in a state ceremony in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses say she was shot in the head by Israeli forces while covering an army raid on a refugee camp in Jenin. *) North Korea confirms first Covid-19 death in explosive outbreak North Korea has reported its first Covid deaths and said 350-thousand people are infected with the virus. The country has expanded its lockdown to try to stop the virus spreading. Pyongyang says almost 200-thousand people are in quarantine after six people died in the past few days. North Korea has declared the outbreak an emergency and tighter restrictions are expected to continue to be rolled out And, finally... *) Scientists for first time grow plants in soil from the Moon Scientists for the first time have grown seeds in soil from the moon. The ground-breaking experiment has given researchers hope that it may be possible to one day grow plants directly on the Moon. However, scientists said the plants in the lunar samples grew more slowly and had stunted roots. Still, much remains to be studied on the topic and the researchers intend to leave no stone unturned.

*) EU: Russia ‘most direct threat to world order’ Russia is the "most direct threat" to the international order because of its attacks on Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. Russia "is today the most direct threat to the world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and its worrying pact with China," von der Leyen said after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. For his part, Kishida said Russia's offensive in Ukraine is not just a matter for Europe, but it shakes the core of the international order including Asia. *) Ukraine to hold first ‘war crimes’ trial of captured Russian As fighting continues in Ukraine, Kiev's top prosecutor has disclosed plans for the first "war crimes" trial of a captured Russian soldier. The 21-year-old soldier is accused of gunning down a 62-year-old civilian in February, four days into Russia’s attack on the country. While he could get up to 15 years in prison, it is not known when the trial will start. The prosecutor general’s office added it has been investigating more than 10,700 alleged "war crimes" committed by Russian forces. *) North Korea confirms first Covid outbreak, orders nationwide lockdown North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for thorough nationwide lockdowns as the country confirmed its first-ever case of Covid-19. The country has detected an outbreak of a sub-variant of the highly transmissible Omicron version of the coronavirus, state news agency said. The agency called it a "severe national emergency incident" after more than two years of keeping the pandemic at bay. *) Calls for probe into killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh grow louder The killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank has drawn global condemnation. The United States, United Nations, European Union and Türkiye separately called for a fair probe into the incident. Al Jazeera said 51-year-old Palestinian-American Abu Akleh was killed "in cold blood" and demanded Israeli forces be held accountable. But Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett suggested "armed Palestinians" were "likely" responsible for the killing. And, finally... *) Oil giant Saudi Aramco overtakes Apple as world’s most valuable company Oil giant Saudi Aramco has dethroned Apple as the world's most valuable company as surging oil prices drive up shares and tech stocks slump. The Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company was valued at 2.42 trillion dollars based on the price of its shares at close of market on Wednesday. Apple, meanwhile, has seen its share price drop over the past month and was valued at 2.37 trillion dollars when official trading ended.

*) Ukrainians make gains in east Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian troops are being pushed away from Ukraine's second city Kharkiv. In his nightly address, Zelensky said "the occupiers are gradually being pushed away" from the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian authorities in the region said four villages near Kharkiv were cleared from Russian troops. "Fierce battles" were ongoing in the region, and that the city itself was under heavy fire, they added. *) US lawmakers approve $40B military, economic aid for Ukraine US lawmakers have voted to send a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine. The defence, humanitarian and economic funding passed the House of Representatives by 368 votes to 57. It will likely pass the Senate by the end of the week or next week. All the dissenting votes came from the Republican ranks. *) Israeli troops shoot dead Al Jazeera journalist in occupied West Bank Israeli forces have shot dead an Al Jazeera reporter in the occupied West Bank. Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces while reporting on a raid in the city of Jenin, Palestinian officials said. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a second reporter, Ali Samodi, working for the Jerusalem-based Al Quds newspaper had been wounded. Israeli army confirmed that it had conducted an operation in Jenin refugee camp, saying that reporters were hit “possibly by shoots fired by Palestinian gunmen." The occupied West Bank city of Jenin has seen intensified army raids in recent weeks as violence in the region has surged. *) UN urges restraint, calls for dialogue to quell deadly Sri Lanka unrest The UN has condemned the spiralling violence in Sri Lanka, calling on authorities to prevent further unrest and pursue “meaningful dialogue.” “I am deeply troubled by the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka after supporters of the prime minister attacked peaceful protesters in Colombo” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said. Eight people, including a parliamentarian, have been killed and over 250 wounded in initially peaceful demonstrations as the country battles its worst economic crisis in history. And, finally... *) Apple pulling the plug on iPod after 20 years Apple is discontinuing the iPod more than 20 years after the device became the face of portable music. The company said in a blog post that the current generation of iPods will only be available as long as current supplies last. The trend toward streaming music services has made devices designed just for carrying digital tunes around less enticing for customers.

*) Biden signs bill reviving world war 2 plan to supply arms to Ukraine US President Joe Biden has eased the acceleration of US weapons shipments to Ukraine through a law based on a World War II measures helping US allies to defeat Nazi Germany. Biden signed the Lend-lease Act in the Oval Office, saying the US supports Ukrainians' "fight to defend their country and their democracy against Putin's brutal war". Acknowledging the billions of dollars already spent by the United States, Biden said "caving to aggression is even more costly". *) Marcos Jr wins by landslide in Philippines presidential election The son of late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos has won a landslide presidential election victory as Filipino voters dismissed warnings his rise could put their fragile democracy at risk. With more than 90 percent of an initial count concluded, Marcos Junior had secured almost 30 million votes, more than double the tally of his nearest rival, liberal candidate Leni Robredo. Rights activists and Catholic leaders and analysts had all warned Marcos Jr could rule with an even heavier fist if he wins by a large margin. *) Sri Lankan PM quits, lawmaker among several dead in violence Sri Lankan Prime Minister has resigned in the worst violence since anti-government protesters took to the streets against an unprecedented economic crisis. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down after more than 100 people were wounded when his supporters attacked protesters demanding his and the president's ouster. Sri Lanka imposed curfew deploying thousands of troops and police to enforce it after the worst violence in weeks of protests. *) Cleaning up 'imminent' Yemen oil spill will cost $20B The UN has warned that it would cost $20 billion to clean up an oil spill in the event of the "imminent" break-up of an oil tanker abandoned off Yemen. "Our recent visit to (the FSO Safer) with technical experts indicates that the vessel is imminently going to break up," the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen said. Last month, the UN said it was seeking nearly $80 million for its operation. And, finally... *) Famed painter Hockney’s The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 in Istanbul Legendary English painter David Hockney’s latest paintings created during the pandemic have arrived at Istanbul’s Sakip Sabanci Museum. They are prints of paintings created on a custom-made iPad app that a programmer had developed for the artist. A total of 116 artworks, printed on frames and filled with intricate detail now hang at Istanbul’s Sakip Sabanci Museum at Emirgan.

*) Ukraine's Zelenskyy says Russian strike at school killed about 60 Sixty civilians have died in the bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine's Lugansk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is appalled by the reported attack which hit a school where many people were apparently seeking shelter from the ongoing fighting. Guterres reiterated, in a statement, that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be spared in times of war. *) Putin to mark Soviet Union's WW2 victory over Nazi Germany President Vladimir Putin will lead anniversary celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany as Russian forces fight Ukrainians in one of the deadliest European conflicts since World War Two. Putin has in recent years used Victory Day to needle the West from a tribune in Red Square before a parade of troops, tanks, rockets and ballistic missiles. *) Philippines votes for new president in 'most consequential election' Filipinos have begun voting for a new president with the son of an ousted dictator and a champion of reforms and human rights as top contenders. Monday's election pits Vice President Leni Robredo against former senator and congressman Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of a dictator. Opinion polls put Marcos, popularly known as "Bongbong", leading his rival by over 30 percentage points, having topped every poll this year. *) Dozens killed in 'CODECO militia' raid on DRC gold mine Raiders have killed at least 35 people in an attack on a gold mine in Ituri, in Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources said. One local official of the rural Mungwalu settlement in Djugu, Ituri, said the militia carried out the attack on the artisanal mine. 29 bodies had been retrieved, while another six burnt bodies had been found buried at the site. And, finally... *) Türkiye inaugurates renovated Armenian church in Diyarbakir Türkiye has officially reopened a 16th-century Armenian church that had been damaged by terrorists before restoration by the Turkish government. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said everyone “shares the excitement” of the renovated Armenian Church in Diyarbakir which will reopen for worship. The historic church in Diyarbakir's Sur district was damaged by PKK terrorist attacks in 2015.

*) UK: Russia aims to take #Mariupol before V-Day The UK believes Russia wants to take the port city of Mariupol and its vast steel mill before it marks Victory Day on Monday. “The renewed effort by Russia to secure Azovstal and complete the capture of Mariupol is likely linked to the upcoming 9 May Victory Day commemorations”, the British Defence Ministry said in a daily intelligence briefing. Whilst Ukrainian resistance continues in Azovstal, Russian losses will continue to build and frustrate their operational plans in southern Donbass, it added. *) Almost 500 civilians evacuated from Mariupol: Ukraine Staying with Ukraine, Kiev has said almost 500 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol and its besieged Azovstal steel plant since a UN-led rescue operation began. "We have managed to evacuate almost 500 civilians," Andriy Yermak (An-dree Year-mak), who heads Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, said. The United Nations had said that a new convoy would evacuate civilians from the "bleak hell" of the factory, which has become the last pocket of resistance in the southern port city. *) UK PM Johnson loses control of traditional strongholds in local elections British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has lost control of traditional strongholds in London and suffered losses elsewhere in local elections. Early results showed that Johnson's party was ousted in Wandsworth - a low-tax Conservative stronghold since 1978. The Tories also said they had lost control of the borough of Barnet, which has been held by the party in all but two elections since 1964. "This is a warning shot from Conservative voters," said Daniel Thomas, the Tory leader of Barnet council. *) Researchers find animal virus in deceased man's implanted pig heart US researchers trying to learn what killed the first person to receive a heart transplant from a pig have discovered the organ harboured an animal virus. University of Maryland doctors said they found an unwelcome surprise, viral DNA inside the pig heart. They did not find signs that this bug was causing an active infection. But a major worry about animal-to-human transplants is the risk that it could introduce new kinds of infections to people. 57-year-old David Bennett died in March, two months after the groundbreaking experimental transplant. And, finally... *) Asian Games postponed as China battles Covid The Asian Games due to take place in China in September have been postponed indefinitely as Beijing battles a resurgence of Covid cases. "The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that the 19th Asian Games will be postponed," said a statement on the official Games website. No reason was given for the delay, but China is racing to extinguish its largest outbreak of Covid-19 since the early days of the pandemic. #RussiaVDay #UKElection #OrganTransplant #PigHeart #AsianGames

*) Russia announces 3-day #ceasefire for civilian evacuations in Ukraine's Mariupol Russia announces a three-day cease-fire for evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of #Mariupol. In a statement, Russia’s defence ministry said an evacuation corridor would be opened in the #Azovstal area "based on humanitarian principles". The humanitarian corridor will be opened for the evacuation of civilians, including workers, women and children, from the Azovstal plant site on May 5-7, from 0500 GMT to 1500 GMT, the ministry said. *) UN: More than 300 evacuated from Mariupol Over 300 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol and other areas in southern Ukraine as part of a joint UN-Red Cross operation, the United Nations said. The evacuations came as Ukrainian forces inside Mariupol's Azovstal steel works said they were fighting "difficult bloody battles" against Russian troops. Mariupol is one of the most battered cities in #Ukraine. A group of Ukrainian forces are still holding out at the plant with hundreds of civilians trapped inside. *) UK votes in local elections with historic N Ireland result predicted Polls have opened across the UK in local and regional elections that could prove historic in Northern Ireland and heap further pressure on embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The contest in Belfast could see a pro-Irish nationalist party win for the first time in the troubled history of the British province. On the other side, poor results could reignite simmering discontent within Johnson’s ruling Conservatives about his leadership after a string of recent scandals. *) Colombia extradites 'world's most wanted' drug trafficker to US #Colombia has extradited the world's most wanted drug trafficker, Dairo Antonio Usuga David, to the United States, where he faces indictments in three federal courts Colombian President Ivan Duque said that Usuga David is "comparable only to Pablo Escobar", referring to the late former head of the Medellin drug cartel. The former rural warlord had stayed on the run for more than a decade by corrupting state officials and aligning himself with combattants on the left and right. Usuga David and his drug cartel are accused of illegally bringing over 73 tonnes of cocaine into the US between 2003 and 2012. And, finally... *) Real Madrid beat Man City, to face Liverpool in Champions League final Real Madrid have fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semi-final. City led 1-0 on the night when Riyad Mahrez scored after 73 minutes, but Real substitute Rodrygo equalised in the last minute of normal time. Five minutes into extra time Karim Benzema converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him and Real held the shell-shocked English side at bay to reach the final. Real, the record 13-times European champions, will play Liverpool on May 28 in Paris. #RealMadrid

*) Russia strikes Kiev during UN chief’s visit Russian forces have pressed their offensive in south and east Ukraine after bombarding capital Kiev during a visit by the United Nations' Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. At least three people were wounded in strikes in the western part of Kiev, the first in the capital in nearly two weeks. The strikes came after Guterres toured Bucha and other suburbs where Moscow is alleged to have committed mass atrocities. *) UNSC ‘failed to do everything in its power to end war’: Guterres Staying with Ukraine, UN chief Guterres admitted while visiting Kiev that the Security Council has failed to go far enough in its efforts to "prevent and end" Russian onslaught in Ukraine. "Let me be very clear: the Security Council failed to do everything in its power to prevent and end this war,” Guterres said at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “This is the source of great disappointment, frustration and anger," he added. *) Erdogan visits Saudi Arabia to start new era in ties Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with top Saudi leadership in his first visit to the kingdom in five years following the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. King Salman received Erdogan in the city of Jeddah and both leaders held a closed-door meeting at Al Salam Royal Palace. Erdogan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "I believe we will take our relations to a level beyond what they were previously; my visit will open the doors of a new era with our friend, brother Saudi Arabia," Erdogan said. *) South Asia wilts in heat as India rubbish mountain burns Millions have sweltered in a dangerous early summer heatwave across India and Pakistan that has led to power and water shortages. Several states imposed power cuts on factories as air conditioning and fan consumption skyrocketed with temperatures crossing 45 Celsius in parts of the region. In Pakistan, temperatures are expected to be up to eight degrees higher than usual. Scientists say the climate crisis is making heatwaves harsher and more frequent across South Asia. And, finally... *) Scientists discover fossil of largest raptor dinosaur in southern Argentina A team of Argentine palaeontologists digging in Patagonia has discovered the remains of the largest dinosaur belonging to the raptor family ever recorded. The dinosaur, a new species named Maip macrothorax, was between nine and 10-metres-long, while other "megaraptors" were no longer than nine metres. The carnivorous dinosaur is thought to have inhabited what is now the southern tip of Argentina 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.

*) Putin warns West of lightning retaliation Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if any other country intervenes in Moscow's operations in Ukraine, Russia will launch a quick-fire military response. Putin said: "If anyone sets out to intervene … and creates unacceptable threats for us that are strategic in nature, they should know that our response... will be lightning-fast". "We have all the tools for this, that no one else can boast of having. We won't boast about it: we'll use them if needed," he added. *) Germany biggest buyer of Russian energy An independent research group has found that Germany is the biggest buyer of Russian energy in the first two months of Moscow’s assault on Ukraine. The study published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air calculates that Russia earned 66.5 billion dollars from fossil fuel exports since the offensive began. Of the 66.5 billion, the researchers reckon that 9.6 billion dollars came from Germany. Berlin says it can't comment on estimates and declines to provide any figures of its own. *) Muslims across world observe Islam’s holy night of Laylat al Qadr Muslims around the world have observed Laylat al Qadr or the "Night of Power". It is on this night that Muslims believe Allah sent the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad and revealed the first verses of the holy Quran. The exact day of the night is not officially known but Muslims are told to search for Laylat al Qadr during the last odd nights of Ramadan. It is widely believed to be the 27th night of Ramadan. *) Palestinians subjected to ‘racial segregation’ in E Jerusalem Israel's housing policies in occupied East Jerusalem amount to "racial segregation and discrimination" against the Palestinian people and a violation of their human rights, a group of UN experts has said. "The discriminatory zoning and planning regime in occupied East Jerusalem clearly amounts to segregation based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin," the experts said in a statement. "Racially segregated settlements have had significant and lasting consequences on the standards of living of the Palestinian people," they noted. And, finally... *) Fossils of giant ancient marine reptiles discovered in Alps The fossils of three giant marine reptiles, called ichthyosaurs (ik·thee·uh·saw·s), have been discovered high up in the Swiss Alps and include the largest ever tooth found for the species. The prehistoric giants weighed up to 80 metric tonnes and grew to 20 metres before they died out 200 million years ago, making them among the largest animals to have ever lived. The specimens in question were discovered in the late 20th century, at an altitude of 2,800 metres. During their lifetimes the three swam in waters around the supercontinent Pangea (pan·jee·uh), but due to plate tectonics and the folding of the Alps, the fossils kept rising.

*) UN chief and Russia’s Putin agree on Ukraine evacuation UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle on arranging evacuations from a besieged steel plant in the battered city of Mariupol. The announcement came from UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric after the two met one-on-one for the first time since the Ukraine conflict began. Dujarric said further discussions will take place between the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Russian defence ministry. The last Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol are hunkered down after months of Russian siege and bombardment at the Azovstal steel complex. *) Britain says Ukraine controls majority of its airspace The UK's defence ministry has said that Ukraine retains control over the majority of its airspace, adding that Russia has failed to effectively destroy the country's air force or suppress its air defences. "Russia has very limited air access to the north and west of Ukraine, limiting offensive actions to deep strikes with stand-off weapons," the ministry said on Twitter. "Russian air activity is primarily focused on southern and eastern Ukraine, providing support to Russian ground forces," it added in a regular bulletin. *) Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to 5 years for corruption A court in military-ruled Myanmar has convicted the country’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption and sentenced her to five years in prison. Suu Kyi, who was ousted by an army takeover last year, had denied the allegation that she had accepted a bribe of $600,000 in cash and gold bars. Suu Kyi still faces a raft of other criminal charges and could be jailed for more than 100 years if convicted on all counts. *) Israeli forces kill Palestinian in West Bank clashes Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian man and wounded three others in the occupied West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. The dead man was identified as 21-year-old Ahmad Massad, from the village of Burqin in the northern occupied West Bank. He was shot in the head by Israeli forces during arrest raids, officials told the agency. And, finally... *) Gold prices dip as dollar rises to pandemic high Gold prices have fallen as the dollar consolidated at its highest level in more than two years and pressured demand for greenback-priced bullion. Spot gold was down 0.4 percent at $1,897 per ounce as the dollar stood at 102.39 against a basket of rival currencies. The dollar stands at its highest level since the early days of the pandemic and is heading for its best month since 2015.

*) Ukraine fires at Russian village - Russian official Russia says several buildings have been damaged in the Golovchino village in Russia's Belgorod province which came under fire from Ukraine. Hours earlier, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov [Veeyacheslav Gladkov] said at least two people were hurt in an attack on another village, Zhuravlyovka. He did not specify whether the two attacks were cases of artillery or mortar shelling or missile strikes. *) Erdogan, Guterres reaffirm goal to end conflict in Ukraine Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have reaffirmed their "common objective" of ending hostilities in Ukraine in a meeting in Ankara. The two leaders "stressed the urgent need for effective access through humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians and deliver much needed assistance". Guterres also expressed his support for Türkiye's "on-going diplomatic efforts in relation to the war in Ukraine." The UN chief and Erdogan "agreed to stay in contact to follow up on ongoing initiatives." *) Kim vows to 'strengthen' North Korea's nuclear weapons North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to strengthen the country's nuclear weapons programme during a speech at a high-profile military parade in Pyongyang. Kim said his country would continue to take steps to strengthen and develop the nation's nuclear capabilities at the fastest pace. Pyongyang has carried out more than a dozen weapons tests this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017. *) UN: World to be hit harder by disasters A disaster-weary globe will be hit harder in the coming years by even more catastrophes colliding in an interconnected world, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction warned in a report. If current trends continue, the world will go from around 400 disasters per year in 2015 to an onslaught of about 560 catastrophes a year by 2030, according to the report. Report authors added that disasters are hitting poorer countries harder than richer ones, with recovery costs taking a bigger chunk out of the economy in nations that can’t afford it. *) Elon Musk buys Twitter Tesla CEO Elon Musk has bought Twitter for 44 billion dollars, shifting control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the world's richest person. Musk pledged to protect free speech on the platform in a statement following the acquisition. However, experts and rights groups say there is a risk to human rights and personal safety as Musk seeks to privatise the platform and now has access to an immense amount of data.

*) Incumbent Macron wins French election, defeating rival Le Pen President Emmanuel Macron has comfortably defeated far-right rival Marine Le Pen in French presidential election, according to exit polls. His supporters erupted with joy as the results appeared on a giant screen at the Champ de Mars park by the Eiffel tower. Leaders in Berlin, Brussels, London and beyond welcomed his defeat of the nationalist, eurosceptic Le Pen. *) US announces new military aid, diplomatic support for Ukraine The United States has announced new military assistance for Ukraine and a renewed diplomatic push in the war-ravaged nation. The announcement came after the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin completed his secretive trip to Kiev. He told Ukraine’s president and his advisers that the US would provide more than 300 million dollars in foreign military financing. *) Tribal clashes in Sudan's restive Darfur kill nearly 170 Clashes between rival groups in Sudan's Darfur have killed at least 168 people, an aid group said, in the latest bout of deadly violence to hit the restive region. The fighting erupted in the Krink region of West Darfur. The violence broke out when armed tribesmen attacked villages of the non-Arab Massalit minority in retaliation for the killing of two tribesmen. *) Erdogan: Turks and Armenians should build a future together Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a letter to the head of the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul in which he stressed that Turks and Armenians should build their future together. His message addressed the Turkish-Armenian community gathered at the Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate to honour the Ottoman Armenians who died in the "harsh conditions" of World War I. Erdogan reiterated that the final years of the Ottoman Empire, which coincided with World War I, were a "very painful period" for millions of Ottoman citizens. And, finally... *) Box Office: 'The Bad Guys' topples 'Fantastic Beasts 3' with $24 million debut Universal's kid-friendly caper "The Bad Guys" pulled off a heist for the ages, capturing the number one spot at the domestic box office. The animated comedy has collected 24 million dollars from 4,009 North American theatres in its debut, enough to take the crown from "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore." "The Bad Guys" carries a $70 million price tag, so although the Dreamworks Animation film has topped the box office, it may have to claw its way to profitability in its theatrical run.

*) Ukraine: Russia planning sham referendum in occupied regions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of planning to "falsify" an independence referendum in the partly occupied southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In a video message, Zelenskyy urged residents of these areas not to provide any personal information, such as their passport numbers, to Russian forces. Zelenskyy has also said the devastated port city of Mariupol "continues to resist" despite Russian claims to have captured it. *) Korean leaders exchange friendly letters despite rising tensions North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has thanked the South's outgoing president Moon Jae-in for his efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. In a letter, Kim has said his "historic" summits with Moon gave the people "hope for the future", according to Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency. Moon told Kim that together they have made a "clear step" in "changing the fate of the Korean peninsula", Seoul's presidential Blue House has confirmed. They have agreed that ties would improve if both sides "make tireless efforts with hope", despite "the difficult situation so far". *) UK lawmakers back probe into PM Boris Johnson's alleged lies British lawmakers have ordered a parliamentary probe into Prime Minister Boris Johnson for allegedly lying about whether he flouted Covid-19 curbs by attending gatherings. The move means Parliament’s Committee of Privileges will investigate whether Johnson knowingly misled Parliament. Johnson was fined by police last week for attending his own birthday party in his office in June 2020, when people in Britain were barred from meeting up with friends and family. He has apologised, but denies knowingly breaking the rules. *) Deaths after Daesh-claimed blasts rock Afghan cities At least 16 people have been killed in bomb blasts in two Afghan cities. The attacks were claimed by the Daesh terror group. Twelve worshippers have been killed in a blast at a Shia mosque in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Fifty-eight people were wounded in the incident. In a separate blast in Kunduz, at least four people have been killed and 18 others wounded. Taliban authorities have vowed to punish those responsible for the bloodshed. Daesh has claimed both the attacks. *) Phone video shows Mike Tyson hitting passenger on US plane Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has been recorded on video punching a fellow first-class passenger aboard a plane at San Francisco International Airport. The video shows Tyson leaning over the back of his seat and repeatedly striking the unidentified man. Authorities are investigating the incident. Tyson was initially friendly to the passenger and his friend, but reacted after the man "wouldn't stop provoking" him, the TMZ entertainment website has said. The 55-year-old Tyson was reported to have walked off the plane before it took off for Florida.

*) Relentless Russian attacks pound Mariupol Russian forces have tightened the noose around Ukrainian troops holed up in Mariupol’s last known stronghold. A few thousand Ukrainian troops are believed to be inside the Azvostal steel plant. Kiev says some 2,000 civilians are also trapped there. Ukraine says it is ready to hold talks without any conditions to save their lives. Kiev has ignored Moscow’s demands to surrender. A desperate attempt to evacuate civilians from the besieged city failed on Wednesday as Russian forces moved to take complete control. *) Israeli warplanes strike Gaza as tensions soar Israeli jets have struck besieged Gaza, hours after a rocket was allegedly fired from the Palestinian enclave into Israel. It is the second such incident in 48 hours and comes at a time when tensions between Israel and Palestine are running high. Warplanes targeted two sites in central and southern Gaza early on Thursday. No casualties have been reported. Israel says it has responded to a rocket attack on Israel’s southern city of Sderot. Police say the rocket caused slight damage to a house. *) Macron warns Le Pen risks 'civil war' in France French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has said during a televised debate that she stands by her controversial idea of banning the headscarf. Responding to this, President Emmanuel Macron has warned that his far-right rival risks sparking a "civil war" in the European country. Macron and Le Pen clashed bitterly over relations with Russia and the headscarf issue as they sought to sway undecided voters in Wednesday's debate. France faces a stark choice in Sunday's presidential run-off between the centrist Macron and the far-right Le Pen. *) UK court formally issues order to extradite Assange to US A UK court has issued a formal order to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face trial over the publication of secret files. The decision now rests with Interior Minister Priti Patel, although Assange may still appeal within 14 days of any decision to approve the extradition. Wednesday's ruling by a magistrate in central London brings the long-running legal saga in the UK courts closer to a conclusion. Assange, 50, is wanted in the US on 18 criminal charges, including breaking a spying law. He denies any wrongdoing. And, finally... *) Wimbledon bans Russian, Belarusian players Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 tournament in response to the Ukraine conflict. The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs Wimbledon, has said it is acting to "limit Russia's global influence through the strongest means possible". Tennis associations ATP and WTA have branded the move "unfair" and "very disappointing". Russian men's world number two Daniil Medvedev and Belarusian female world number four Aryna Sabalenka are the leading players affected by the ban.

*) Ukraine gets warplanes as Mariupol officer warns facing 'last days' The West has responded to a renewed Russian push into the Donbass region with fresh weapons for Kiev. The Pentagon says Ukraine has recently received fighter planes to bolster its air force, declining to specify the number of aircrafts and their origins. Meanwhile, a commander in the besieged Azov-stal power plant in Mariupol has said his marines are "maybe facing our last days, if not hours". Moscow has issued a fresh ultimatum for Mariupol's defenders and announced the opening of a safe corridor for Ukrainian troops who agreed to lay down their arms. *) Casualties reported after Sri Lanka police open fire at protesters Sri Lankan police have opened fire at people protesting new fuel price increases, killing one and injuring 13 others. It is the first death in police crackdowns during weeks of demonstrations over the country's worst economic crisis in decades. Fifteen police personnel have also been admitted to a hospital with minor injuries after scuffles with protesters. *) World leaders appeal for end to violence in Israel, Palestine US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israel and Palestine to "end the cycle of violence" after a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides in recent days. Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, too, has expressed deep sorrow over the recent events, during a phone call with his Israeli counterpart. Tensions have been running high since the beginning of April amid repeated Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank. And over 170 people have been injured between Friday and Sunday in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. *) Türkiye's forces ‘neutralise’ 26 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq Turkish security forces have "neutralised" 26 PKK terrorists since the launch of Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq. The anti-terror operation continues successfully as planned, Türkiye's Defence Ministry has said in a statement. The operation was launched after reports that the terrorist group was planning to initiate a large-scale attack. PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye. *) Netflix hit by subscriber loss due to inflation, conflict, competition Netflix has said inflation, the Ukraine conflict and fierce competition have contributed to a loss of subscribers for the first time in more than a decade. It has also predicted deeper losses ahead, marking a shift in fortune for the streaming company that thrived during the pandemic. The company has said it lost 200,000 subscribers in its first quarter, falling well short of its forecast of adding 2.5 million subscribers. Since it warned in January of weak subscriber growth, the company has lost nearly half of its value.

*) Zelenskyy: Russia unleashes offensive into east Ukraine Russia has launched a major offensive into eastern Ukraine after days of preparation, authorities in Kiev have said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbass and vowed to defend the eastern region. Ahead of the widely anticipated offensive, Ukrainian authorities had urged people to flee west to escape. *) US, allies to meet over Ukraine situation US President Joe Biden will convene a meeting of allies to discuss the Ukraine conflict, the White House has said. An official said the meeting was part of a "regular coordination with allies and partners in support of Ukraine". It will also cover "efforts to hold Russia accountable", the White House said. The US and its allies have heaped pressure on Moscow via sanctions, while supporting Ukraine through military and other aid. *) Israeli warplanes bomb site in besieged Gaza Israeli warplanes have struck a site in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza, local media and witnesses have said. The military wing of the Palestinian organisation Hamas said it has retaliated with surface-to-air missiles. No casualties or injuries have been reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry. Earlier, the Israeli army announced a rocket fired from Gaza was intercepted by its aerial defence system. *) UN: Yemen's Houthis agree to stop using child soldiers Yemen's Houthi rebels have agreed to rid their ranks of child soldiers, who have fought by the thousands during the country's seven years of civil war, the United Nations has said. The Houthis have signed an “action plan” to end and prevent recruiting or using children in armed conflict, killing or maiming children and attacking schools and hospitals. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the rebels committed to identifying children in their ranks and releasing them within six months. And, finally... *) Kenyans Chebet, Jepchirchir win Boston Marathon titles Kenya's Evans Chebet has won the men's crown at the 126th Boston Marathon. Reigning Olympic champion compatriot Peres Jepchirchir captured the women's title. Chebet won in two hours, six minutes and 51 seconds, beating 2019 Boston winner Lawrence Cherono by 30 seconds. Jepchirchir won in the final strides, taking her fifth victory in a row since 2019 in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 1 second.

*) Ukraine vows to fight till the end in Mariupol Ukraine has vowed to fight to the end in Mariupol after a Russian ultimatum expired for remaining forces to surrender in the Black Sea port city. Hours after Moscow's deadline passed on Sunday, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the southern city had not fallen. Mariupol has become a symbol of Ukraine's unexpectedly fierce resistance. According to Ukrainian estimates, bombardment and fighting in Mariupol have killed at least 21,000 people. An estimated 100,000 people are feared trapped without food, water, heat or electricity. *) Israel government faces new split after Al Aqsa violence Israel's governing coalition has faced a new split as the Raam party "suspended" its membership. The declaration came after violence in and around the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem wounded 170 people over the weekend. More than 20 people were wounded on Sunday, two days after over 150 people were injured at the site, sacred to both Muslims and Jews. *) New clashes over anti-Muslim rally in Sweden Three people have been wounded in Sweden as demonstrators protested plans by a far-right group to burn copies of the Quran. They appear to have been hit by ricochets after police fired warning shots on Sunday, a police statement said. They are being treated in a hospital. There have been similar clashes in recent days over plans by the anti-immigration and anti-Muslim group, Hard Line, to burn copies of the Muslim holy book in public. *) Türkiye launches operation against PKK in northern Iraq Türkiye has launched a fresh cross-border operation, using air and special forces against the PKK terror group's hideouts in northern Iraq. The military campaign, dubbed "Claw-Lock", targets the PKK terror group's hideouts in Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan areas. Turkish pilots have hit shelters, ammunition depots and the terrorist organisation’s headquarters, according to Defence Minister Hulusi Akar. And, finally... *) Chelsea sink Palace to book FA Cup final clash with Liverpool Thomas Tuchel has praised Chelsea's focus and composure as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 to earn an FA Cup final showdown with Liverpool. Tuchel's side had to work hard to break Palace's resistance at Wembley, but strikes by Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount steered them to the May 14 final. It will be Chelsea's fifth FA Cup final in the last six years as they look to make amends for losing in the showpiece against Arsenal and Leicester in 2020 and 2021.

*) Dozens of Palestinians injured after Israeli forces storm Al Aqsa Mosque Israeli troops have fired tear gas and stun grenades at worshippers inside Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said it evacuated 67 wounded people to hospitals early on Friday. The Islamic endowment that administers the site said Israeli forces entered the compound before dawn as thousands of worshippers gathered for early morning prayers. The endowment said one of the guards at the site was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet. *) Russia’s flagship naval vessel sinks Moscow has admitted that the Russian naval flagship "Moskva" has sunk in the sea off Ukraine. Kiev says it hit the ship with missiles. But Russia says there was a fire on board after ammunition exploded. It is one of the biggest ships to be lost since the end of the Second World War. *) Zelenskyy hails Ukrainians' resolve 50 days into the conflct Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed his people for their resolve since the start of Russian attacks in February and for making “the most important decision of their life, (that is) to fight.” In his nightly address, Zelenskyy told Ukrainians that they should be proud of having survived 50 days under Russian attacks when the “invaders gave us a maximum of five”. *) UN 'firmly opposed' to UK sending asylum seekers to Rwanda The United Nations says it stands firmly against Britain's deal to send asylum seekers who cross the channel thousands of miles away to Rwanda. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, voices "strong opposition and concerns" about the agreement and urged London to refrain from transferring asylum seekers and irregular migrants to Rwanda for processing. The agency said people fleeing persecution should not be traded like commodities. The British government is attempting to clamp down on the record numbers of people making the perilous channel crossing from northeastern France in small inflatable boats. And, finally... *) Elon Musk launches hostile takeover bid for Twitter Tesla chief Elon Musk launches a hostile takeover effort for Twitter, insisting the platform needs to be transformed but acknowledging his $43-billion bid may fail. The proposal faces uncertainty on multiple fronts, including possible rejection and the challenge of assembling the cash. It could have wide-reaching impacts on the social media service if consummated. Musk cited the promotion of freedom of speech on Twitter as a key reason for what he called his "best and final offer" and which the firm's board said it was reviewing.

*) Russian warship 'seriously damaged' in ammunition explosion The Russian navy's Black Sea flagship has been "seriously damaged" by an ammunition explosion, Russian state media has reported. It quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying that ammunition detonated on the Moskva missile cruiser as a result of a fire. Earlier, the governor of Odessa said that Ukrainian forces had hit the Moskva with missile strikes. Governor Maksym Marchenko wrote on Telegram that Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship. *) Teen among several Palestinians killed by Israeli troops in West Bank Israeli troops have shot and killed three Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy and a lawyer, the Palestinian Health Ministry has said. The three killings on Wednesday, all in separate incidents, were the latest in a wave of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israeli troops are carrying out a days-long military operation in the occupied West Bank following a spate of deadly attacks. *) Suspect faces terror charge over New York subway shooting A 62-year-old man accused of shooting 10 people on the New York subway has been taken into custody after a day-long manhunt. Frank James is suspected of detonating two smoke canisters on the train, before firing into the crowd. He faces a federal terrorism charge. James was stopped by officers on a Manhattan street and arrested without incident, authorities say. *) Sri Lanka seeks donations from citizens abroad, offers talks to protesters Sri Lankan authorities have urged its citizens overseas to send home money to help pay for desperately needed food and fuel. The Prime Minister's office has separately offered talks with protesters calling for the government's ouster over an unprecedented economic crisis. A foreign currency shortage is stalling imports of fuel and medicines in the island nation and bringing hours of power cuts a day. And, finally... *) Liverpool, Manchester City reach Champions League semis Liverpool have drawn 3-3 with Benfica in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals and reached the semis with a 6-4 aggregate win. Another English team, Manchester City, too, have entered the semis 1-0 on aggregate. They produced a disciplined performance to secure a 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid in the second leg. City will take on Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, while Liverpool will play against another Spanish team, Villarreal, in the semi-finals.

*) Biden accuses Putin's forces of 'genocide' in Ukraine US President Joe Biden has for the first time accused Vladimir Putin's forces of committing “genocide” in Ukraine. Biden has also said that Putin "is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be a Ukrainian". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — who has repeatedly accused Moscow of attempted "genocide" — welcomed Biden's remark. Biden had previously described Russian President Putin as a "war criminal", but stopped short of using the term "genocide". Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. *) Putin vows offensive will continue as Russian troops move east Russia has vowed to continue its offensive as the Ukraine conflict nears its seventh week. President Vladimir Putin has insisted that the campaign is going as planned despite a major withdrawal and significant losses. He has said that Moscow's military operation aims to protect people in parts of eastern Ukraine and “ensure Russia’s own security”. Thwarted in their push toward the capital, Kiev, Russian troops have focused on the eastern region of Donbass, where they are feared to be readying a massive onslaught. *) Manhunt after 10 shot in Brooklyn subway attack A massive manhunt is under way in New York for a man who shot 10 people on a packed subway train. Police say the suspect donned a gas mask before setting off two smoke bombs and opening fire on terrified commuters. Thirteen others were injured as they tried to get out of the station or suffered smoke inhalation. None of the injuries are considered life-threatening. Police say the incident in Brooklyn is not being investigated as an act of terrorism at this stage. *) UK's Johnson fined over lockdown-busting party UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered a "full apology" after being fined for breaching Covid-19 lockdown laws in the so-called "Partygate" scandal. Johnson has said in televised remarks that he has paid the fine. Johnson's office has said his fine was for attending a surprise birthday gathering in his honour on the afternoon of June 19, 2020 in the Cabinet Room at Number 10. And, finally... *) Universal Music to manage Elvis Presley song catalog Universal Music is set to add the song catalog of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", Elvis Presley, under a publishing deal with Authentic Brands Group. Universal Music Publishing Group has said it will approve and collect revenue when Elvis' songs are used in media, films or television. Financial terms of the deal have not been not disclosed. The deal comes ahead of the June release of director Baz Luhrmann's drama "Elvis", a biopic of the "Heartbreak Hotel" singer, starring Tom Hanks and Austin Butler.

*) Russia aims to take Mariupol as part of eastern Ukraine onslaught Russian troops are planning to take control of Mariupol as part of an anticipated onslaught across eastern Ukraine. But the Ukrainian army has insisted that "the defence of Mariupol continues". In an address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a fresh plea to his allies for more weapons to boost the defence of the besieged city. He said: “we are not getting as much as we need to end this war sooner.” *) UN: Ukraine children, women need more protection Top officials at the United Nations have called for a probe into violence against women and the protection of children in the Ukraine conflict. Sima Bahous, director of the UN women's agency, told a meeting of the Security Council in New York that the organisation is hearing of increasing rape and sexual violence incidients. She said the “allegations must be independently investigated to ensure justice and accountability”. It is not clear if the Security Council, on which Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member, would agree to any investigation. *) Shehbaz Sharif elected Pakistan's new prime minister Pakistan’s parliament has elected Shehbaz Sharif the country’s new prime minister after the ouster of Imran Khan. Sharif was elected with 174 votes in his favour after more than 100 lawmakers from Khan's party walked out of the National Assembly in protest. Sharif, the brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was the only contender. *) US monitoring rise in rights abuses in India US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the United States is monitoring what he described as a rise in human rights abuses in India by some officials. He made the remark in a joint press briefing with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austinand India’s foreign minister and defence ministers. It came days after US Representative Ilhan Omar questioned the alleged reluctance of the US to criticise Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on human rights. And, finally... *) Cobain's guitar in Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' video to be auctioned The guitar Kurt Cobain rocked out with in Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video is expected to sell for up to $800,000. The 1969 blue Fender is arguably one of the most famous in rock, said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions. The guitar will come to the auction block next month, Nolan said, calling it “one of Kurt Cobain's favourite guitars of all time.”

*) Macron, Le Pen head for cliffhanger French election runoff French leader Emmanuel Macron and challenger Marine Le Pen have qualified for what promises to be a tightly fought presidential election runoff on April 24. Macron beat his far-right rival by a larger than expected margin, securing 27.41 percent of the votes counted so far, compared to Le Pen’s 24.9 percent. Local polls predict a very tight runoff, with 51 percent for Macron and 49 percent for Le Pen. *) New ‘Russia offensive’ on Ukraine coming Russian forces will launch an offensive not only on the port of Mariupol, but also on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, says the head of Russia's republic of Chechnya. Meanwhile Ukraine has accused Moscow of “war crimes” after discovering a trail of more than 1,220 bodies outside Kiev in towns where the Russian army has retreated. Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said 5,600 cases have been opened into the alleged crimes committed by Russian forces since the start of attacks on February 24th. *) Tens of thousands hit Pakistani streets to protest Imran Khan's ouster Tens of thousands of protesters have rallied across Pakistan in support of Imran Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary no-trust vote as prime minister. Khan's supporters marched in cities across Pakistan, waving large party flags and vowing support. Hundreds of his supporters also held protests in the UK, Australia and the UAE. Khan's successor is to be elected and sworn in by Parliament on Monday, with Shahbaz Sharif as the leading contender. *) Several Palestinians killed, wounded as Israeli raids continue in Jenin Gun battles have rocked the occupied West Bank’s Jenin area for the second day. At least 10 Palestinians were wounded and more than 20 arrested by Israeli forces, who shot dead three others elsewhere, Palestinian officials say. The district of Jenin is home to a gunman who launched two recent deadly attacks in Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities say, demanding that his father Fathi Hazem turn himself in. *) Elon Musk no longer joining Twitter board Billionaire Elon Musk has decided not to join Twitter’s board. Musk, who disclosed a 9.2-percent stake in Twitter, was offered a board seat and his appointment was to become effective on Saturday. But the Tesla chief said “that same morning that he will no longer be joining", Twitter’s Chief Executive Parag Agrawal said in a tweet.

*) Russia suspended from UN rights council over Ukraine The United Nations has suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council. Of the 193 members of the General Assembly, 93 voted in favour of suspension, while 24 voted against and 58 abstained. Moscow has rejected its suspension as "illegal and politically motivated". The diplomatic rebuke comes after horrific images of death and destruction emerged from towns such as Bucha and Mariupol. *) European Union approves Russia coal embargo The European Union has approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closing of the bloc's ports to Russian vessels in the fifth round of sanctions. It is the first time the Europeans have targeted the Russian energy sector, on which they are heavily dependent. The embargo will come into force at the beginning of August. The package also includes a 10-billion euro ban on exports to Russia, including high-tech goods, and the freezing of several Russian banks' assets. *) Pakistan court orders no-confidence vote against Imran Khan Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that the Deputy Speaker's move to block a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan was unconstitutional. The top court has declared Khan's move to dissolve parliament and call early elections illegal. Khan will now face a no-confidence vote by lawmakers — the vote that he had tried to sidestep. The national assembly will likely convene to vote on Saturday. *) Jackson the first Black woman to serve on US Supreme Court Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed by the Senate as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court in a milestone for the United States. President Joe Biden has called it a "historic moment". The 51-year-old's appointment means white men will not be the majority on the nation's high court for the first time in 233 years. And, finally... *) Maradona's daughter claims wrong jersey is up for auction Diego Maradona's daughter claims that the jersey expected to fetch several million dollars at auction is not the one her late father wore when he scored the "Hand of God" goal against England. Dalma Maradona says the Argentina shirt due to go under the hammer this month was actually the one worn by her father during the goalless first half of the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. Auctioneers Sotheby's has refuted the claims.

*) West ramps up sanctions against Russia The United States and Britain have announced new sanctions against Russia after international outcry over human rights abuses in Ukraine. The White House has unveiled measures targeting Russia's top banks and two daughters of President Vladimir Putin. It has also banned Americans from investing in Russia. Britain has sanctioned two banks and has vowed to eliminate all Russian oil and gas imports by year-end. *) UN to vote on suspending Russia from rights council The 193-member United Nations General Assembly will vote on Thursday on a US push to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. The draft resolution expresses "grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine," particularly at reports of rights abuses by Russia. A two-thirds majority of voting members can suspend a country from the 47-member council. *) Israel: Bennett's coalition loses majority after MP quits A key member of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's Yamina party has said she will quit his coalition government. Idit Silman's announcement has left Bennett's coalition with 60 seats — the same as the opposition. "Sadly, I cannot take part in harming the Jewish identity of Israel," she has said. Former prime minister and Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed Silman's move. *) Al Qaeda leader dispels rumours of his death via video message A rare video has appeared of Al Qaeda's leader praising an Indian Muslim woman who in February defied a ban on wearing hijab. Rumours of Ayman al Zawahiri's death have persistently circulated, but the video reveals the first proof in months that he is alive. In the video released and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, the reclusive Al Qaeda chief praises Muskan Khan, who defied a ban on the wearing of the hijab in schools in India’s southwestern state of Karnataka. And, finally... *) Ed Sheeran wins court battle in 'Shape of You' copyright dispute British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has won his copyright trial at London's High Court. A judge has ruled that his hit song "Shape of You" did not lift musical phrases from another track, "Oh Why". "Shape of You," released in 2017, remains the most-streamed song ever on Spotify, with more than three billion streams.

*) Zelenskyy urges UNSC to fix accountability Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the 15-member United Nations Security Council that "accountability must be inevitable" for Russia. During an address, he accused Moscow's troops of committing what he described as "the most terrible war crimes" since World War Two. Zelenskyy questioned the value of the Security Council, which has been unable to take any action over Russia's attacks because Moscow has a veto power. Zelenskyy also showed footage of dead bodies — including children — he said were victims of Russian atrocities. Russia's ambassador rejected the claims. *) US, allies prepare new Russia sanctions The United States, in coordination with the EU and Group of 7 nations, will roll out new sanctions against Russia in response to alleged atrocities. The measures would include a ban on all new investment in Russia, according to a US official. There would be increased sanctions on financial institutions and state-owned enterprises in Russia, and sanctions on Russian government officials and their family members. *) Sri Lankan president revokes emergency amid protests Sri Lanka's president has revoked a state of emergency after huge protests demanded his resignation over the country's economic crisis. The decree said Gotabaya Rajapaksa revoked orders that had given him sweeping authority to maintain public order, including authorising detentions and seizing property. Rajapaksa had invited all parties to join a unity government after the Cabinet resigned on Sunday night. But the main opposition party rejected the proposal. *) US approves $95M sale of missile defence support to Taiwan The US has announced it has approved the sale of up to $95 million worth of training and equipment to support Taiwan's Patriot missile defence system. The Pentagon said Taiwan will use the proposed training and equipment as a "deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defence". Taiwan's foreign ministry said the deal would help protect against Beijing's "continuing military expansion and provocation". And, finally... *) Twitter to test longed-for edit button Twitter has announced it will soon start experimenting with an edit button, but only on its monthly subscription service at first. The inability to tweak tweets after firing them off has been a key complaint among users. Word that the company would start testing an edit feature came after newly named board member Elon Musk conducted a poll. In a tweet, Musk asked if people wanted an edit button. Nearly 4.4 million votes were cast, some 73 percent of them saying "yes".

*) Zelenskyy to address UNSC Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the UN Security Council for the first time at a meeting that is certain to focus on what appear to be deliberate killings allegedly by the Russian forces in the town of Bucha on the outskirts of the capital Kiev. The discovery after the withdrawal of Russian troops has sparked global outrage and vehement denials from the Russian government. The United Kingdom holds the council presidency this month and announced that the Ukrainian leader will speak at the open meeting. *) Biden calls for war crimes trial against Putin US President Joe Biden has called for war crimes trial against Russia President Vladimir Putin and said he will seek more sanctions after reported atrocities in Ukraine. “You saw what happened in Bucha,” Biden said. He added that Putin “is a war criminal”. Biden’s comments to reporters came after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Bucha. Kremlin has categorically denied the allegations. *) UN urges action to avoid climate catastrophe A panel of scientists assembled by the UN says it's now or never to limit the worst impacts of global heating. The panel says there must be drastic and immediate cuts in carbon dioxide emissions within three years. It's called for drastic cuts to fossil fuel use and meat consumption. The report also said planting and maintaining forests will help curb the crisis. The bad news is that even by following the plan, temperatures are still expected to rise by 3.2 degrees celsius this century, more than double the target set in the Paris Climate Agreement. *) Dozens still missing in Nigeria The Nigerian Railway Corporation says it still can't account for 168 people who are missing after an attack on a train that killed eight people and wounded several others last week. Suspected bandits blew up the track on the Abuja-Kaduna route in Nigeria's northwest. They then opened fire on the train. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. But kidnappings for ransom have become common in Nigeria. And, finally... *) Musk becomes largest shareholder in Twitter The world's richest man has spent almost 3 billion dollars of his fortune to become the largest shareholder in Twitter. Elon Musk himself has more than 80 million followers on the social media platform, and in response to the news of his investment, many have been asking him what his plans are. Nobody knows what Musk's plans are because in response to all the questions and congratulations, his only reply has been, 'Oh, hi, lol'.

*) Ukraine accuses Russia of ‘genocide’ Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of "genocide" as disturbing images of mass graves in Bucha emerge. On Sunday, the bodies of at least 410 civilians were recovered in the city of Bucha near the Ukrainian capital Kiev after the withdrawal of Russian forces. The UN calls for an independent investigation. However, Russia's defence ministry, in a Twitter post, says photos and video footage from Bucha are 'another hoax' and a 'staged provocation' by Kiev for western media. *) Ukraine: Over 2,600 civilians evacuated A total of 2,694 Ukrainian civilians have been evacuated from war zones to safe areas through humanitarian corridors, the country’s deputy prime minister says. Irina Vereshchuk said on Telegram that in the last 24 hours, 469 Mariupol residents traveled with their vehicles through humanitarian corridors from Mariupol and Berdyansk to Zaporizhzhia. In addition, a bus convoy carrying more than 350 people from Mariupol and Berdyansk that passed through Russian army checkpoints have reached Zaporizhia. She reported that 1,467 civilians from the towns of Lisichansk, Severodonetsk, Rubizhne and Kreminna in the Luhansk region were taken to a safe zone and 408 civilians who left Berdyansk on 10 buses reached the zone. *) Pakistan heads to polls Pakistan's President Arif Alvi has approved the dissolution of the country's National Assembly, paving the way for new general elections in the country within 90 days. The move came after the deputy speaker of the parliament blocked a no-confidence vote Sunday meant to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office. Opposition lawmakers have challenged the rejection of the vote in the Supreme Court, calling it a "blatant violation" of the constitution. *) Sri Lankan cabinet resigns All of Sri Lanka's cabinet ministers have resigned over the government's handling of a severe economic crisis. The prime minister and president, who are brothers, remain in office. The island is facing its worst financial turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. There have been days of violent protests over food and medicine shortages. And, finally... *) Jon Batiste tops Grammys Olivia Rodrigo made an impressive Grammy debut, Silk Sonic claimed two major awards and Jon Batiste had the most stunning victory of the night winning the top prize at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Batiste won five Grammys Sunday, including album of the year for “We Are”, pulling off an upset in a loaded category filled with tough competition from Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and the combined talents of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. After his win, the multi-genre performer honored the artists he beat, telling the audience that “the creative arts are subjective.”

*) Ukraine president warns Russian forces regrouping to attack south Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing "powerful strikes" in the country's south, including besieged Mariupol. In peace talks, Russia has said it will scale back attacks on the capital Kiev and the city of Chernihiv. But Ukrainian and Western officials dismiss the pledge, saying Moscow's troops are regrouping. "This is part of their tactics," Zelenskyy has said. He has warned that the situation in the country's south is "very difficult". *) Ukraine: Russian forces block buses leaving Mariupol Ukraine has accused Russian forces of blocking a convoy of 45 buses attempting to evacuate people trapped in Mariupol. Only 631 people were able to get out of the city in private cars, according to Kiev. Russian forces have also seized 14 tonnes of food and medical supplies in a dozen buses, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said. The humanitarian operation was initiated after the Russian military agreed to a limited ceasefire in the area. *) Pakistan's Imran Khan accuses US of conspiracy Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused the United States of meddling in Pakistan's politics. Washington has conspired with the Pakistani opposition to oust him, according to Khan. Washington denies the charge. State Department spokesperson Ned Price has said there is "no truth" to the allegations. Khan is fighting for his political life and faces a no-confidence motion in parliament. *) Security forces deployed in Colombo after night of violence Security forces have been deployed in Sri Lanka's capital after protesters tried to storm the president's house to protest a deepening economic crisis. Police in Colombo have said they arrested 45 people after the unrest, in which one man was critically injured. Hundreds marched on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house on Thursday night, demanding his resignation. The South Asian nation of 22 million people is facing widespread shortages of essential goods, sharp price rises and long power cuts. And, finally... *) Police were 'ready to arrest' Smith after Oscar slap Police were ready to arrest Will Smith after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars, the show's producer has said. Police said they were prepared to arrest Smith and told Rock he could press charges, Will Packer has told ABC Television. In his first public comments on the incident, Packer has added that Rock was dismissive of those options and said he was fine. Packer’s remarks echoed a Los Angeles police spokesperson who too had said Rock declined to file a report.

*) Ukraine, Russia talks resume on Friday by video Russia and Ukraine will resume their peace talks online on April 1, a senior Ukrainian official has said. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said in an online post that Kiev proposed the leaders of the two countries should meet, but Russia replied that more work needed to be done on a draft treaty. After talks in Istanbul on Tuesday, a Russian negotiator said Moscow would "radically" scale back its attacks around the capital Kiev and the northern city of Chernihiv. But doubts deepened after Kiev said on Wednesday Moscow's forces continued bombarding areas around Kiev and Chernihiv. *) Ukraine's Zelenskyy dismisses Russian claims of scaleback Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Russia's vows to de-escalate fighting. "We don't believe anyone, not a single beautiful phrase," Zelenskyy said in a video address to the nation. He added that his forces will fight for every metre of Ukraine's territory. He also said Russian troops were regrouping to strike the eastern Donbass region. Separately, Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden discussed Western efforts to support the Ukrainian military. *) Ally ditches Pakistan PM Imran Khan ahead of parliament vote Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's future looks increasingly in doubt. A main ally of Khan quit his ruling coalition on Wednesday and joined forces with the opposition seeking to oust him. The move by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement robbed Khan of his majority in parliament as he faces a looming no-confidence vote. Khan's aides said he would not back down or resign. "He will not resign. He will fight until the last ball," Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said. *) Iraq fails to elect new president as political impasse continues Iraqi lawmakers have failed for a third time to elect a new president for lack of a quorum. Only 178 out of 329 lawmakers were present in parliament on Wednesday, far short of the two-thirds quorum required for the vote. The continued failure to select a president after last year's elections reflects a deep schism between the country's political groupings. It is the task of the president to formally name a prime minister, who must be backed by an absolute majority in parliament. Iraq's federal court has given lawmakers until April 6 to choose a new president. And, finally... *) Bruce Willis steps away from acting due to illness "Die Hard" franchise star Bruce Willis will retire from his acting career after being diagnosed with aphasia. Aphasia is a condition affecting an individual's ability to speak, write and effectively communicate with others. Willis has appeared in about 100 films across his four-decade career, winning acclaim for roles in "Pulp Fiction" and "The Sixth Sense". Willis has won one Golden Globe Award and two Emmys.

*) Türkiye sees ‘most meaningful progress’ in Russia-Ukraine talks The first stage of the Istanbul talks between Kiev and Moscow has seen the "most meaningful progress since the start of negotiations", Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said. Cavusoglu said he was pleased to see increasing "rapprochement" at "every stage". Negotiators from both sides said enough progress had been made at the fresh round of talks on Tuesday. Moscow's negotiators said Russia would "radically" reduce its military activity in northern Ukraine, including near the capital Kiev. *) Ukraine official: Russia is being demilitarised Ukraine's UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya has told the UN Security Council that the “demilitarisation of Russia is well under way”. Kyslytsya said Russia has lost more than 17,000 military personnel, over 1,700 armoured vehicles and almost 600 tanks. Russia has also lost 300 artillery systems, 127 planes and 129 helicopters, almost 100 rocket launcher systems, 54 air defence systems and seven ships, he added. That is “an unprecedented blow to Moscow, where the numbers of Soviet losses in Afghanistan pale in comparison”, Kyslytsya said. *) Saudi-led coalition declares Ramadan ceasefire in Yemen The Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government against Houthi rebels has announced a ceasefire from Wednesday morning. The move is seen as an attempt at creating a fertile environment for political talks and to jumpstart peace efforts during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. But the rebels have shunned a meeting in Riyadh that is hosted by the Gulf Cooperation Council and involves the Yemeni government, as well as the US and the UN envoys to Yemen. Other unilateral ceasefires announced by the coalition over the past two years have swiftly collapsed. *) Deaths in mass shooting spree in central Israel A gunman on a motorcycle has shot dead at least five people in central Israel. The shooter was killed by police. Residents of Bnei Brak town and the neighbouring Ramat Gan town reported late on Tuesday that a man had driven around and opened fire at passers-by. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the country was "facing a wave of murderous" terrorism. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the killings of the Israelis. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. And, finally... *) Messi signs multi-million dollar deal with crypto fan token firm Socios Lionel Messi has signed an agreement worth more than $20 million to promote digital fan token company Socios.com. Messi becomes the latest global sports personality to enter the crypto world following NFL quarterback Tom Brady and NBA star LeBron James. Socios said in a news release that Argentina superstar Messi will be involved in a publicity and promotion campaign for Socios in the build-up to the football World Cup in Qatar, which starts in November. The 'ambassador' deal for Messi does not include crypto payments and is a three-year agreement, the source said.

*) Russia, Ukraine peace talks to start in Istanbul Ukrainian and Russian delegations are in Istanbul for a new round of peace talks, set to start later today. Previous rounds of negotiations in Belarus produced little progress in early days of the conflict. Ukraine says it will not give up land to Russia, but Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated he is willing to consider making Ukraine a neutral country if such a move is approved by referendum. It would end Kiev's NATO aspirations. *) Russia to restrict entry of citizens from unfriendly nations Russia says it's preparing measures to restrict entry for citizens of 'unfriendly' countries, which includes the US, EU states and the UK. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the decision is in retaliation for the actions of a number of foreign states. Lavrov says the move will target countries that have overstepped the rights of Russian citizens. Many western nations have placed unprecedented sanctions on Moscow following last month's attack on Ukraine. *) Kazakhstan ready to companies leaving Russia Kazakhstan says it is ready to welcome companies with good reputations that have left Russia because of its attack on Ukraine. Kazakh deputy foreign minister, Roman Vassilenko, says his country does not want to be stuck on the wrong side of a new Iron Curtain and encouraged companies that pulled from Russia to move their production to Kazakhstan. The Central Asian country has been trying to find a balance between its stance against the incursion and its ties with Russia. Many Western companies withdrew from Russia hoping to pressure Moscow to walk back its attack. *) No confidence motion against Pakistan’s Imran Khan submitted Pakistan's parliament has taken up a no-confidence motion by opposition lawmakers to try to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office. The house will begin a debate on the motion on Thursday and a vote is set to be held within seven days. The move comes as Pakistan faces a recurring economic crisis. Khan's government is hoping the International Monetary Fund will release the next tranche of a six-billion dollar rescue package to shore up dwindling foreign currency reserves. Khan lost his parliamentary majority with a series of defections from his party and a united opposition is calling on him to step down. And, finally... *) Will Smith apologises Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock for slapping him at Sunday night's Oscars ceremony. Smith calls his own behaviour at the awards ceremony "unacceptable and inexcusable" in an Instagram post, and wrote that he would like to publicly apologize to Rock. The film academy has started a formal review of the incident. Smith stormed onto the stage during the televised event and struck Rock in the face, after the comedian made a joke about the appearance of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

*) Zelenskyy outlines agenda of fresh talks with Russia Ukraine's priorities at the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Türkiye this week will be "sovereignty and territorial integrity," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says. "We are looking for peace, really, without delay," he says, adding there is an opportunity and a need for a face-to-face meeting in Türkiye. Ukraine is prepared to consider declaring neutrality and offering security guarantees to Russia including nuclear-free status, he said, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin must meet with him to seek an end to the fighting. *) Russia gains ground around Ukraine’s Mariupol Russia has been continuing to gain ground around the devastated city of Ukraine's Mariupol. That's according to UK military intelligence that's been monitoring the situation since the conflict began. Russian firepower has been focused on Mariupol since day one. More than half that city's population of 400-thousand has fled, but thousands are still trapped there. Fighters and residents in Mariupol have denied Russia an outright victory. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the situation a 'humanitarian catastrophe', and accused Russia of kidnapping children across Ukraine and transporting them back to Russia. *) China’s Shanghai in lockdown China has launched a new lockdown of its largest city and financial hub - Shanghai. It will carry out mass Covid-19 testing on 26 million residents. The testing drive will take nine days. The eastern parts of the city have already been locked down, with public transport also suspended. The western side will follow suit on Friday. This is the biggest Covid-related disruption ever for Shanghai. It is currently facing a record wave of infections, with more than 34-hundred asymptomatic cases on Saturday. *) Pakistan’s Imran Khan addresses huge public rally Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has addressed a huge public gathering in the capital Islamabad. The rally was held ahead of a crucial no-confidence vote against him in parliament later today. Speaking to supporters, he said the vote is part of an international conspiracy trying to topple his government. But critics of Khan's PTI party accuse it of corruption and mismanaging a growing economic crisis. And, finally... *) Will Smith wins Oscar Hollywood has just closed its 94th Academy Awards. Streaming TV drama "CODA" took home the top prize for best picture. While Jane Campion became the third woman to win best director for 'The Power of the Dog'. But in a viral moment that shocked attendees and viewers alike, Will Smith smacked the host, comedian Chris Rock, who made a joke about his wife's appearance. Smith later won the best actor-- for his role in the film 'King Richard'. The Academy Awards released a statement on Twitter saying it "does not condone violence of any form".

🇺🇸 Joe Biden visits near Ukraine border in show of solidarity 🇺🇦 Zelenskyy: Ukraine held back all main directions of Russian attacks 🇰🇵 North Korea's Kim oversees test of Hwasong-17 'monster missile' 🇾🇪 Bread prices soar in Yemen due to Ukraine conflict 🎾 Trophies won by tennis star Boris Becker auctioned to pay his debts And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) NATO leaders discuss Ukraine in Brussels NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making a “big mistake” by invading Ukraine. Stoltenberg was speaking in Brussels, where leaders have gathered to discuss overhauling the alliance’s eastern defences. Stoltenberg said the leaders of the US-led military alliance would “address the need for a reset of our deterrence and defence in the longer term”. Earlier, in an emotional speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the alliance to provide "effective and unrestricted" support to Ukraine. *) Russian army 'taking defensive positions' in Ukraine: Pentagon A senior Pentagon official has said that the Russian army has retreated more than 30 kilometres east of Kiev in the past 24 hours and is establishing defensive positions on several fronts in Ukraine. The official, who requested anonymity, told reporters that the Ukrainians have managed to push the Russians back 55 kilometres east and northeast of Kiev. He said the Russian forces were actually not trying to advance right now. *) North Korea fires 'unidentified projectile': South's military South Korea’s military has said North Korea has fired an "unidentified projectile." The Yonhap news agency reported that it was a "suspected long-range ballistic missile", citing Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. South Korea and the United States have recently warned that Pyongyang appears to be preparing to test-fire an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile at full range for the first time since 2017. *) China continues search for second black box from crashed plane Recovery crews continue to search for a second black box from a China Eastern Airlines passenger plane that plunged with 132 people on board. It was revealed that the first black box found on Wednesday was the cockpit voice recorder, a Civil Aviation Administration of China official said based on an early assessment. It is being sent to Beijing for analysis, the official added. And, finally... *) Türkiye submits bid to host UEFA EURO 2028 The Turkish Football Federation has submitted its bid to host the 2028 European Football Championship. As of Wednesday, there are now three official candidates to host the 18th edition of the tournament. The UK and the Republic of Ireland have submitted a joint bid and the Russian football federation has registered its interest in hosting the competition in either 2028 or 2032. All Russian clubs and national teams are suspended from both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice in response to Russia's war on Ukraine.

*) Kherson facing ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ Some 300,000 people stranded in the Ukrainian city of Kherson face a “humanitarian catastrophe” as they run dangerously low on supplies under a Russian blockade. Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson warned that “food and medical supplies have almost run out, yet Russia refuses to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians”. Oleg Nikolenko said “Russia’s barbaric tactics must be stopped before it is too late!” *) Russia seized relief workers in Mariupol convoy Ukrainian leaders have accused Russia of seizing 15 rescue workers and drivers from a humanitarian convoy trying to get vital supplies into the besieged port city of Mariupol. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the Russians seized 11 bus drivers and four rescue workers along with their vehicles, adding that their fate was unknown. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of blocking the aid convoy despite agreeing to the route ahead of time in his nightly video address. *) US changes tone over Iran nuclear deal US optimism that a deal to restore the 2015 agreement to limit Iran's nuclear development has soured, with Washington now warning it was headed toward "Plan B" if Tehran doesn't budge. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that an agreement is neither imminent nor is it certain. He said the onus is on Tehran to make decisions that it might consider difficult. Just a week ago Washington officials were hopeful that an agreement that aimed to halt Iran's march toward nuclear weapons capability was within reach. *) Navalny's sentence extended to nine years in jail A Russian court has found jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny guilty of additional embezzlement and contempt of court charges and extended his sentence to nine years. Having been behind bars for over a year, Navalny's defence team said he will serve his sentence for another eight years in a higher security prison. Navalny, who will also have to pay a fine of $11,500, has denied the charges against him, saying they were punishment for challenging President Vladimir Putin. And, finally... *) Top-ranked Ash Barty quits tennis Top-ranked tennis player Ash Barty has announced her shock retirement from the sport in a social media post, saying she will “step away and chase other dreams”. "Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis," 25-year-old Barty said in an emotional video. She had held the highest WTA rank for 114 consecutive weeks before her retirement.

*) Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to discuss deal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is prepared to discuss a commitment from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership in exchange for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops. Zelenskyy repeated his call for direct talks with Russian President Putin and said that unless he meets with Putin, it is impossible to understand whether Russia even wants to stop the war. The Ukrainian president also said that Kiev will be ready to discuss the status of Crimea and the eastern Donbass region after a cease-fire and steps toward providing security guarantees. *) Biden says Putin is weighing use of chemical weapons in Ukraine US President Biden has said, without evidence, that Russia’s accusations that Kiev has biological and chemical weapons are false and indicate that Putin is considering using them himself. "Now he's talking about new false flags he's setting up including, asserting that we in America have biological as well as chemical weapons in Europe, simply not true," Biden said. "They are also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine. That's a clear sign he's considering using both of those." *) No survivors found in China Eastern plane crash No survivors have been found as rescuers searched the wreckage of a China Eastern plane carrying 132 people that crashed in southern Guangxi. The Boeing 737-800 was flying at 8,840 metres when it entered a steep, fast dive around 0620GMT, according to data from FlightRadar24.com. A rescue worker speculated that passengers and their belongings had been "totally incinerated" from the intensity of the blaze. *) Rohingya praise US for recognising their genocide in Myanmar Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have welcomed the announcement by the United States that it considers the violent repression of their largely Muslim ethnic group in Myanmar a "genocide." As news of the announcement by the US spread across the sprawling camps in Bangladesh that are now home to about one million Rohingya, many residents expressed their enthusiasm. Refugees say the path to take action by the international community against the Myanmar military has opened up because of the declaration. The US made the determination based on confirmed accounts of systematic, mass atrocities on civilians by Myanmar's military. And, finally... *) Study: Most Syrian refugees in Türkiye happy, don’t feel marginalised A new study has found that most of the Syrians who fled the civil war in their country and are living in Türkiye are happy and don't want to go back home. Syrians do not feel excluded or discriminated against in Türkiye, said Murat Erdogan, director of the Ankara-based Research Centre on Asylum and Migration. Türkiye hosts around four million Syrians, the largest refugee population in the world. The report, now in its third edition, is based on face-to-face surveys and set to be released next week.

*) Ukraine says no question of surrendering city of Mariupol Kiev has rejected a Russian ultimatum to surrender the besieged southern city of Mariupol. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk dismissed the early morning deadline, saying Moscow should instead allow hundreds of thousands of trapped Mariupol residents to escape. "We can't talk about surrendering weapons," Vereshchuk said, "we have already informed the Russian side about it." The announcement followed Russia’s demand for Ukrainian forces to lay down their arms in the besieged city. *) No agreement reached to evacuate Mariupol civilians Staying in Ukraine, an agreement has been reached on creating eight humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged Ukrainian towns and cities. However, the city of Mariupol was not among them, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. Vereshchuk said efforts to reach Mariupol with humanitarian supplies continued to fail. *) US to declare Rohingya repression in Myanmar a ‘genocide’ Washington is set to declare that Myanmar’s years-long repression of the Rohingya Muslim population is a genocide. The designation does not in and of itself portend drastic new measures against Myanmar’s military-led government. But it could lead to additional international pressure on the government. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Buddhist-majority Myanmar to refugee camps in Bangladesh since August 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a clearance operation. *) Pakistan lawmakers to vote on motion to oust PM Imran Khan next week Pakistan's parliament will convene next week to take up a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. The lower house speaker's office said that the vote will take place on March 25. An alliance of opposition parties filed the motion against Khan this month, saying he had lost his parliamentary majority after over a dozen defections from his party, raising the risk of political turmoil. And, finally… *) Motor racing Leclerc wins Bahrain opener in Ferrari one-two Charles Leclerc has won Formula One's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in a Ferrari one-two finish with teammate Carlos Sainz. Mercedes's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton took a surprise third place after a nightmare for Red Bull and reigning champion Max Verstappen who failed to score. The result put Leclerc, who also set the fastest lap and was voted driver of the day by fans, in the overall lead of the drivers' standings.

*) Ukraine theatre sheltering over 1,000 civilians bombed Ukraine has claimed that Russia destroyed a theatre harbouring more than a thousand people in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, with the toll still unknown. Officials posted images that appeared to show the once gleaming whitewashed three-storey theatre hollowed out and ablaze, with bricks and scaffolding piled high. Russia's defence ministry denied it had targeted the theatre, instead claiming that the building had been mined and blown up by members of Ukraine's far-right Azov Battalion. *) Biden calls Putin a ‘war criminal’ President Joe Biden has said Russian President Vladimir Putin "is a war criminal" for attacking Ukraine. In an exchange with a reporter at the White House, Biden said, "oh I think he is a war criminal" after initially responding with a "no" to a question about whether he was ready to call Putin that. That is the first time Biden has publicly branded Putin with that phrase. The Kremlin condemned Biden's remark, saying it is "unacceptable and unforgivable". *) Four dead after powerful Japan earthquake Four people have been reported dead and more than 100 injured in Japan after a powerful overnight earthquake rattled large parts of the east coast and prompted a tsunami warning. The 7.4-magnitude quake that hit the coast of Fukushima derailed a bullet train, opened cracks in highways and threw products from shelves in shops. Later, the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted its low-risk advisory for a tsunami along the coasts of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. *) US Fed raises interest rate in battle against high inflation The Federal Reserve escalated its battle against the wave of price increases battering the US economy, raising the benchmark interest rate. The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee announced a quarter-point rate hike, the first since 2018 and since it cut the rate to zero at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Global stocks surged after the Fed announced the hike despite the risks posed by the conflict in Ukraine. *) Netflix to begin charging for shared accounts Netflix has begun testing on charging a fee to subscribers who share their accounts with people who don't live in their homes. The US-based streaming service has long taken a relaxed approach to users sharing passwords with family or friends, but recently saw stock dive on quarterly results that showed cooling subscriber growth. In the coming weeks, Netflix will begin offering subscribers in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru the option to add as many as two people to "sub-accounts" at a monthly fee of $2 to $3.

*) Ukraine sees room for compromise in talks with Russia Ukraine has said it sees possible room for compromise in talks with Russia despite Moscow's stepped up bombardment of Kiev and new assaults on the port city of Mariupol. After delegations from Ukraine and Russia met again via video, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia’s demands were becoming "more realistic". The two sides were expected to speak again. The fast-moving developments on the diplomatic front and on the ground came as Moscow's offensive neared the three-week mark. *) Ukraine says another Russian general killed in fighting Ukraine has said a fourth Russian general has been killed in fighting. Major General Oleg Mityaev died during the storming of Mariupol, said Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko, who published a photo on Telegram of what he said was the dead officer. 46-year-old Mityaev commanded the 150th motorised rifle division and had fought in Syria, Gerashchenko said. There was no confirmation of the death from Russia. *) Syrians mark uprising anniversary with message for Ukraine Thousands of protesters in Syria's opposition and rebel enclave of Idlib have marked 11 years since the start of an anti-regime uprising. Gathered on the main square in the northwestern city of Idlib, more than 5,000 people took part in one of the largest rallies the beleaguered region has seen in months. Many of the demonstrators hoped the attack launched by the Syrian regime's main backer Russia in Ukraine would rekindle interest in their cause. *) UN declares March 15 International Day to Combat Islamophobia The UN General Assembly has adopted by consensus a resolution declaring March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution, introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, recognises "with deep concern" what it said is an "overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence". It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 worshippers and wounding 40 others in the terror attack. And finally … *) Court slaps fine on Russian woman after on-air TV protest A court has fined a Russian State TV employee around 300 US dollars after she protested against her country's assault on Ukraine. On live television, Marina Ovsyannikova appeared on set, stood behind the anchor with a placard. On it was written 'no war, stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here'. It was reported that she was detained by security forces, and could face a jail sentence under new laws passed since the start of the Ukraine attack.

*) Russia pounds away at Ukraine as talks to continue Russia's forces have continued to pound away at cities across Ukraine, including the capital, in a bombardment that deepened the humanitarian crisis. Shortly before dawn, large explosions thundered across Kiev. Ukrainian emergency services said at least two people were killed after a strike on a 16-storey building in the capital. Russia also pressed its advance on multiple fronts. But, a narrow diplomatic path stays open as Kiev and Moscow plan another round of talks. *) UN chief: Russian offensive hurting poor countries The United Nations chief has warned that Russia’s offensive on Ukraine is “hitting the poorest the hardest and planting the seeds for political instability and unrest around the globe.” “Russia and Ukraine represent more than half of the world’s supply of sunflower oil and about 30 percent of the world’s wheat” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. He stressed that poor developing countries are now seeing their breadbasket “being bombed” as they face skyrocketing food, fuel and fertiliser prices. *) Indian Karnataka state’s ban on hijab in class An Indian court has upheld a ban on wearing of the hijab in classes in the southern state of Karnataka, a ruling that could set a precedent for the rest of the country. "We are of the considered opinion that wearing of hijab by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practice," Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka said in the judgement. Students who had challenged the ban in court had said wearing the hijab was a fundamental right guaranteed under India's constitution. Critics of the ban say it's another way of marginalising Muslim community that accounts for about 13 percent of Hindu-majority country. *) France shuts down another mosque A mosque in southwestern France has been shut down for a six-month period amid an ongoing drive against Muslims and their places of worship. The Al Farouk Mosque in Pessac district was closed for allegedly defending "radical Islam", the department governorate said in a statement. The statement accused mosque authorities of giving sermons calling for non-compliance with French laws and legitimising terrorist attacks. France has long been criticised by international organisations and NGOs for targeting Muslims. And finally … *) Elon Musk challenges Putin to fight over Ukraine Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a one-on-one fight to settle the fate of Ukraine. The eccentric billionaire took to Twitter to see whether the Russian leader would test his mettle in person rather than through his country's forces fighting across the border. "I hereby challenge Vladimir Putin to single combat. Stakes are Ukraine,” Musk said. "Do you accept this fight?" he added in Russian. There was no immediate reaction from the Kremlin.

*) US warns China of consequences of helping Russia The White House has warned Beijing of severe "consequences" if it helps Moscow evade sanctions as the Russian offensive in Ukraine widens. "We will not stand by and allow any country to compensate Russia for its losses from the economic sanctions," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said ahead of talks with Beijing. Russia reportedly asked China for military and economic aid for its assault on Ukraine just hours after Washington’s warnings. *) UN urges Russia to stop attacking health facilities Three UN agencies have called for an immediate end to Russian attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine, calling them “an act of unconscionable cruelty”. The UN Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization and the UN Population Fund condemned the attacks on patients and health workers in a joint statement. In 24 of the reported Russian attacks, health care facilities were damaged or destroyed, while in five cases, ambulances were hit. A total of 12 people were killed and 34 injured, according to the UN agencies' statement. *) Europe new ‘hotspot’ for arms imports Europe has seen the world's biggest rise in arms imports in the past five years, according to a study published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While arms exports declined globally by 4.6 percent in the 2017-2021 period compared with the preceding five-year period, Europe posted a 19-percent increase. Researchers expect the trend to accelerate following recent rearmament commitments amid the Russian operation in Ukraine. *) Iran condemns Saudi executions Iran has strongly condemned Saudi Arabia’s mass execution of convicted criminals, saying the move violates "basic principles of human rights and international law”. In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the mass execution of 81 men was carried out "without observing fair judicial processes”. More than half of those executed were Shia Muslims. Tehran’s condemnation came hours after Iran temporarily suspended a fifth round of tension-easing talks with Saudi Arabia brokered by Iraq, which were set to resume on Wednesday after a long pause. And finally … *) ‘The Power of the Dog’, ‘Dune’ reign at BAFTA Dark Western "The Power of the Dog" has scooped the top two honours at the British Academy Film Awards, winning best film and director for Jane Campion, beating Denis Villeneuve to top prize. Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic "Dune", on the other hand, had lead nominations with 11 nods and picked up the most prizes, winning five awards.

*) Russian forces advance on Kiev as city becomes 'fortress' Russian troops have edged closer to Kiev, as officials said the Ukrainian capital was being transformed into a "fortress". Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain holed up in Ukrainian cities under a Russian bombing campaign after talks between Moscow and Kiev's top diplomats ended without any progress. The Ukrainian military in a statement warned "the enemy is trying to eliminate the defences of the Ukrainian forces around" regions to the west and northwest of the capital "to block Kiev." *) China says Ukraine situation 'disconcerting', calls for truce China's premier has called the situation in Ukraine "grave" and "disconcerting" and offered Beijing's help in playing a "positive role" for peace while refusing to criticise Russia. Li Keqiang told reporters at an annual news conference that "we support and encourage all efforts that are conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis." "The pressing task now is to prevent tension from escalating or even getting out of control," Li said, adding it is important to support Russia and Ukraine in ceasefire talks. *) Türkiye: Comprehensive peace treaty between Russia, Ukraine on table Turkiye’s foreign minister has said signing a "comprehensive peace treaty" is on the agenda that Russia and Ukraine are discussing. "There are a lot of topics both countries are discussing, including neutrality, and the signing of a comprehensive peace treaty is also on the table,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said. He was speaking after a meeting with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Antalya. It was the first time that Moscow and Kiev met at the ministerial level since Russia attacked its neighbour two weeks ago. *) Fears of violence in Libya as pro-Bashagha militia gathers near Tripoli The UN has warned against "provocation" in Libya that could lead to clashes, citing reports of armed elements mobilising around the capital Tripoli. Video footage and pictures posted online purportedly showed convoys of militiamen loyal to Fathi Bashagha massing east of the Libyan capital. Bashagha, who was named as Libya's prime minister by the eastern Tobruk parliament, has yet to arrive in the capital but has insisted he will govern the country "by force of the law" from Tripoli. And finally … *) NASA opens sample taken from the Moon 50 years on The Apollo missions to the Moon brought a total of 2,196 rock samples to Earth. But NASA has only just started opening one of the last ones, collected 50 years ago. For all that time, some tubes were kept sealed so that they could be studied years later, with the help of the latest technical breakthroughs. Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, said NASA knew "science and technology would evolve and allow scientists to study the material in new ways to address new questions in the future".

*) Kiev accuses Moscow of genocide after children's hospital bombed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of carrying out genocide after Ukrainian officials said Russian aircraft bombed a children's hospital in besieged city of Mariupol. The attack underscored US warnings that the biggest assault on a European state since 1945 could become increasingly attritional after Russia's early failures. The White House condemned the hospital bombing as a "barbaric use of military force to go after innocent civilians". *) WHO reports 18 attacks on health facilities since war began The World Health Organisation has documented 18 attacks on health facilities, workers and ambulances since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the UN agency delivered 81 metric tons of supplies to Ukraine and is now establishing a pipeline to send further equipment. Tedros said WHO had sent enough surgical supplies to treat 150 trauma patients and other supplies for a range of health conditions to treat 45,000 people. *) Top diplomats of Russia, Ukraine reach Türkiye for trilateral talks Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba have arrived in Antalya ahead of a tripartite meeting between top diplomats of Türkiye, Russia, and Ukraine. The meeting will take place at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as part of Ankara's efforts to mediate between the warring countries. Kuleba expressed hope that his Russian counterpart Lavrov will approach talks in Türkiye on ending the two-week war in a sincere manner. *) Foreign policy neophyte Yoon wins South Korea's presidency The opposition conservative Yoon Suk-yeol has won South Korea's presidential election, propelling a political novice to the helm of Asia's fourth-largest economy. After a bitter, hard-fought election campaign, Yoon, formerly a top government prosecutor who has never held elected office, was declared winner. "This is a victory of the great South Korean people," Yoon told cheering supporters, who were chanting his name at the country's National Assembly. And finally … *) Twin lions fleeing Ukraine war arrive at Belgian refuge A Belgian animal shelter has taken in two young lions evacuated from Ukraine, who it says Russian troops had threatened to shoot when they encountered them outside Kiev. Twin males Tsar and Jamil, born in January 2021, were due to be transferred to Belgium in May after Ukrainian authorities seized them from private owners who mistreated them. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant the transfer had to happen immediately, with shelling of Kiev causing them stress and injury as they jumped against their cages.

*) Air alert declared in Ukraine capital as fighting continues An air alert has been declared in and around Ukraine’s capital Kiev, with residents urged to get to bomb shelters as quickly as possible. For days, as Moscow's forces have laid siege to Ukrainian cities, attempts to create corridors to safely evacuate civilians have stumbled amid continuing fighting. Russian forces have seen their advances stopped in certain areas, including around Kiev, the capital, by fiercer resistance than expected from the Ukrainians *) Russia to allow Ukrainian civilians to leave major cities Russia has announced its forces will stop firing from 700 GMT to provide humanitarian corridors for people to leave Kiev and four other cities. Civilian evacuations took place on Tuesday, in particular from the town of Sumy, where two convoys left during the day. Evacuations also took place outside the capital Kiev. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is travelling to Türkiye, where he will have talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, according to the TASS news agency. *) Israel’s Herzog visits Turkey Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to meet Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his two-day visit to Ankara starting Wednesday. Ankara and Tel Aviv have had ups and downs in their ties since the 1950s. But the two countries have been able to find common ground despite their differences. In a remarkable development for both states, the two presidents are likely to discuss the range of issues affecting the two states. *) Chinese-linked hackers target at least six US states: Mandiant At least six US states have been targeted by hackers linked to China who exploited vulnerabilities in tech programs. "APT41's recent activity against US state governments consists of significant new capabilities," researchers at cybersecurity company Mandiant said on Tuesday. Notorious Chinese hacking group APT41 has been targeting US states in a tenacious and adaptive campaign, according to a Mandiant report. And finally … *) Rare Steve Jobs items hit the auction block Items from the birth of Apple, home computing and video gaming are up for grabs at an auction, which will conclude on March 17. The top lot from the auction is a July 1976 check to pay $3,430 for parts for the Apple 1 computer, signed by Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. The auction includes many items relating to Jobs, including high school photos and an application he had filled out for a job at Atari, which will also come as an NFT (non-fungible token).

*) Kiev says Russian aircraft bombed central, eastern Ukraine Russian aircraft bombed cities in eastern and central Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials have said, adding the shelling also pounded suburbs of the capital Kiev. In cities near the Russian border, bombs fell on residential buildings and destroyed a power plant, a regional leader said. Bombs also hit oil depots in towns located west of Kiev. In Bucha, a Kiev suburb, the mayor reported heavy artillery fire. *) Second Russian general killed in Kharkiv fighting: Ukraine Staying in Ukraine, a Russian general has been killed in the fighting around Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said. It identified him as Major General Vitaly Gerasimov and said he had fought with Russian forces in Syria and Chechnya and had taken part in the seizure of Crimea in 2014. Russia has not commented and it was not possible to confirm the death independently. Another Russian general had been killed earlier in the fighting. *) Russia becomes world's 'most sanctioned' country amid Ukraine war Russia has become the world's most sanctioned country due to its war on Ukraine, according to data by a monitor. Moscow has been subjected to 2,778 new sanctions in just under two weeks since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine, bringing the total to 5,532, according to the global sanctions monitoring database castellum.ai. In comparison, Iran has faced 3,616 sanctions, followed by Syria and North Korea, with 2,608 and 2,077 sanctions respectively. *) Israeli police kill another Palestinian man in alleged knife-attack Israeli police have shot dead a Palestinian man in an alleged stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Old City. Palestinian sources identified him as 22-year-old Abdel Rahman Qassam from a refugee camp near Ramallah. It was the second such incident in as many days. Rights groups accuse Israel of killing Palestinians who could have been arrested. And finally … *) Solemn Paris Fashion Week draws to a close Paris Fashion Week has been over-shadowed by the war in Ukraine, with designers struggling for ways to balance declarations of solidarity with the glamour and spectacle of their shows. Some offered heartfelt tributes to the Ukrainian people alongside their women's autumn-winter collections, none more so than Balenciaga designer Demna. A refugee himself during a conflict in his native Georgia in the early 1990s, he admitted that fashion week felt like "an absurdity" against the background of the war in Ukraine. But he decided that cancelling the show, which is due to end on Tuesday, would have felt like "surrendering to the evil that has already hurt me so much for almost 30 years".

*) Russia steps up shelling in Ukraine cities Russian forces stepped up overnight shelling of Ukrainian cities in the centre, north and south of the country, presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich said. He said the areas that came under heavy shelling include the outskirts of Kiev, Chernihiv in the north, Mykolaiv in the south, and Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city. The UN says 1.5 million people have now fled in the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II. *) Ukraine war a 'moment of choice for China' – Australia China has been urged to end its tacit political and economic support for the Ukraine war. The call came from Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said "The crisis that now grips Europe heralds a moment of choice for China". Morrison pressed China to shape the actions of its Russian ally and prove that Beijing is committed to global peace and the principle of sovereignty. *) US, Venezuela discuss easing oil sanctions In their first high-level bilateral talks in years, US and Venezuelan officials have discussed the possibility of easing oil sanctions on Venezuela but made little progress. The US delegation met with President Nicolas Maduro and his vice president as part of Washington’s attempts to separate Russia from its key allies. Both sides used the meeting to present what a source described as "maximalist" demands, reflecting longtime tensions between the US and one of its biggest ideological foes. *) Leader of South Korea's ruling party attacked ahead of presidential election The leader of South Korea's ruling party has been admitted to hospital after being hit on the head by a stranger while campaigning for this week's presidential election. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democrats and their candidate Lee Jae-myung's election campaign, was struck on the head with a small hammer-like tool. Party officials said Song was in stable condition and the attacker was handed to police. The attack was yet another twist in a race overshadowed by scandals, smear tactics and gaffes. And finally … *) Oil rockets, gold tops $2,000 amid Ukraine war Equity markets plunged, while oil prices soared to a near 14-year high and safe-haven gold broke $2,000 amid investor concerns over the impact of the Ukraine war on the global economy. Trading floors were a sea of red in early exchanges with experts warning of a period of stagflation with the spike in crude likely to light a fire under already high inflation. The commodity at one point rocketed almost 18 percent to $139.13 – a level not seen since mid-2008. The panic on trading floors also sent safe havens rocketing up, with gold hitting as much as $2,000.86, its highest since mid-2020.

*) Fire at Ukraine nuclear plant 'extinguished', Kiev blames Russia The fire at Europe's largest nuclear power plant has been extinguished, Ukrainian emergency services said, after Kiev blamed Russian military shelling for the blaze. Ukraine's emergency services said it was able to put out the fire after the Russian military eventually allowed rescuers to access the site. There are no victims," the emergency services said in a statement on Facebook. *) 'Not our war': Gulf countries resist Western pressure to raise oil output Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent energy prices surging, but the oil-rich Gulf monarchies have so far resisted Western pressure to raise output, prioritising their own strategic and economic interests. The price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude topped $115, the highest since 2008, as the war and sanctions against Moscow stoked fears about global supplies. Russia is the world's second-biggest crude exporter after Saudi Arabia, which is close to Western governments but also to Moscow. *) Hundreds of gunmen killed in Nigeria At least 200 gunmen have been killed in the past three days in Nigeria's central-northern state of Niger during a security operation to clear armed gangs from the area. The Niger regional commissioner in charge of internal security, Emmanuel Umar, said that some leaders of the armed gangs, known locally as bandits, were among those killed. The operation was led by the army and volunteers from local vigilante groups and community leaders. *) UN says Canada must amend law stripping rights of Indigenous descendants UN committee on women's rights urged Canada to address discrimination in a law that has effectively stripped tens of thousands of descendants of Indigenous women of their identities and rights. UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women called on Ottawa to amend Indian Act "to provide registration to all matrilineal descendants on an equal basis." The legislation has been the primary law used to administer Canada's Indigenous peoples since 1876. *) Bill Gates's ex-wife slams him for Epstein meetings Melinda French Gates criticised her ex-husband Bill Gates for having met multiple times with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier accused of child sex crimes who committed suicide in 2019. In her first televised interview since the couple announced their divorce in May, French Gates acknowledged that she had once met Epstein, saying that afterward she "had nightmares." "I wanted to see who this man was, and I regretted it from the second I stepped in the door," she said, without clarifying when the meeting occurred.

*) Ukraine refugee exodus at 1M in one week The UN refugee agency has said one million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's military campaign less than a week ago, an exodus without precedent in this century for its speed. The tally from UNHCR amounts to more than 2 percent of Ukraine's population on the move in under a week. The World Bank counted the population at 44 million at the end of 2020. The UN agency has predicted that up to 4 million people could eventually leave Ukraine but cautioned that even that projection could be revised upward. *) Lavrov says Russia's goal is to 'demilitarise, denazify' Ukraine The goal of Moscow's special "military operation" is to demilitarise Ukraine, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, accusing Ukraine's leader of promoting "anti-Russian, Russophobe" rhetoric. Once Ukraine has been demilitarised, the Ukrainians "must decide themselves how they will live", Lavrov said in an interview with Qatar's Al Jazeera TV channel. All people living in Ukraine must have a say in this matter, he said. *) Scholz: Iran nuclear deal can't be 'postponed any longer' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that a new Iran nuclear agreement "cannot be postponed any longer", during a visit to Israel that staunchly opposes efforts to forge a deal. "What we would like to see is that an agreement is reached in Vienna," Scholz told reporters alongside Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a vocal critic of the international talks in Austria's capital. "Now is the time to make a decision," Scholz said. *) Türkiye relaxes mask mandate amid drop in cases Türkiye has relaxed its mask mandate, allowing people to ditch them in open-air spaces and in places with sufficient ventilation and where social distancing can be maintained. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said people would be required to continue wearing masks in planes, buses, theatres, cinemas, hospitals and classrooms. In another change, the use of HES codes – Türkiye’s coronavirus contact tracing system – has been lifted and the public will no longer have to show their code at the entrance to any building or event, said Koca. And finally … *) Collective of US states probes TikTok's impact on children A consortium of US states has announced an investigation into TikTok's possible harms to young users of the platform, which has boomed in popularity, especially among children. Officials across the US have launched their own probes and lawsuits against Big Tech giants as the national government has failed to pass new regulations, due in part to partisan gridlock. The consortium of eight states will look into the harms TikTok can cause to young users and what TikTok knew about those possible harms, said a statement from California attorney general Rob Bonta.

*) Russian airborne troops land in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv Russian airborne troops have landed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian army said on Wednesday, adding that there were immediate clashes. The army said that Russian troops have attacked a local hospital and there is an ongoing fight between the invaders and the Ukrainians. Earlier, the central square of Ukraine's second city was shelled by advancing Russian forces, killing at least 21 people and leaving many more injured. *) Biden: US closing airspace to Russia, going after oligarchs US President Joe Biden has said that Washington will join allies in banning Russia's aircraft from using its airspace and branded his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "dictator" during his State of the Union address. He said that in the battle between democracy and autocracy, democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security. The American president also took aim at Russian oligarchs whom he said have bilked billions of dollars off Putin's government, warning them "we're coming for your ill-begotten gains". *) Treat Türkiye like Ukraine for bloc's membership, Erdogan tells EU Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the European Union to treat his country like it does Ukraine, without waiting for it to be "hit by a war". "Show Türkiye the same sensitivity that we are witnessing towards Ukraine," Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara. Several European nations had called on EU member states to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open membership talks after Russia’s aggression. On the other hand, Türkiye has been a candidate for EU membership since 1987 but talks have floundered in recent years. *) World bank sets more than $1B in aid for Afghanistan The World Bank has announced more than 1 billion dollars in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. It said the aid will go to UN agencies and international NGOs and will "remain outside the control of the interim Taliban administration." The funds, to be delivered in the form of grants, aim "to support the delivery of essential basic services, protect vulnerable Afghans," the Washington-based institution said in a statement. And finally … *) ExxonMobil, Apple, Boeing cut ties with Moscow Apple, ExxonMobil and Boeing have announced in rapid succession steps to withdraw or freeze business in Russia. ExxonMobil will begin a phased withdrawal from the giant Sakhalin offshore oilfield that it has operated since 1995. Apple will halt all product sales and limit the use of Apple Pay and other services in the country. Boeing suspended its support for Russian airlines and its operations in Moscow.

*) Moscow, Kiev plan 'second round' of conflict talks Negotiators from Ukraine and Russia will return to their capital cities for consultations and have plans for fresh talks, both sides announced after the initial talks. "The delegations are returning to their capitals for consultations and have discussed the possibility of meeting for a second round … soon," a Ukrainian negotiator said. "We agreed to keep the negotiations going," the head of the Russian delegation added. *) Dozens of Ukraine soldiers killed, Russian military convoy grows More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kiev, a Ukrainian official said. The official later added that many Russian soldiers and some local residents were also killed during the fighting. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed a Russian military convoy north of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev that stretches for about 64 km. The Maxar photos also showed deployments of ground forces and ground attack helicopter units in southern Belarus. Meanwhile, Ukraine called for a no-fly zone for Russian aircrafts, which was rejected by the US as a step that could lead to a war between Moscow and Washington. *) Nearly half of humanity is living in danger due to climate crisis A latest report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has shown that “nearly half of humanity is living in the danger zone now". People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit by the climate crises, scientists said in the UN report. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented that the "IPCC report is an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership”. *) Burkina Faso junta chief orders three-year transition Burkina Faso's junta chief Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has signed a charter setting a three-year transition period before the country holds elections. "The duration of the transition is set at 36 months from the date of the inauguration of the president," according to the transition charter. The charter comes just over a month after Damiba led a coup to overthrow the country's elected leader Roch Marc Christian Kabore. *) Disney, Sony Pictures halt film releases in Russia Disney and Sony Pictures have suspended the release of their films in theatres in Russia after Moscow's assault on Ukraine, the companies announced separately. Upcoming titles "Turning Red" from Pixar and "Morbius" from Sony Pictures are included in the decision. The move follows the example of other major firms choosing to pull out of the country since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion into Ukraine last week.

*) Ukraine: More than 350 civilians dead 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed during Russia's military campaign, including 14 children, according to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. An additional 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been wounded. The ministry's statement did not give any information on casualties among Ukraine's armed forces. Russia says its troops are targeting only Ukrainian military facilities, adding that Ukraine's civilian population is not in danger. *) UN: Missiles hit radioactive waste site in Kiev The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has said a radioactive waste disposal site in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev was hit with missiles in an overnight strike. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said Ukrainian authorities informed his office about the strike. There are no reports of damage to the buildings or indications of a release of radioactive material, but the IAEA is expecting the results of on-site radioactive monitoring, Grossi said. *) Russian rouble drops almost 30% Russia's rouble has plunged nearly 30 percent against the dollar after world powers imposed fresh, harsher sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The rouble was indicated to be down 27 percent at 114.33 per dollar in offshore trading, according to Bloomberg News. The decline came after Western allies ratcheted up sanctions including blocking certain Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system *) N.Korea conducts test for developing reconnaissance satellite North Korea has reportedly conducted a test for developing a reconnaissance satellite system a day after a missile launch was detected from the country. The country's state news agency KCNA has confirmed the launch of a missile from an area near Pyongyang - without elaborating on what type of rocket had been used. The launch is for the test of a high definition photographing system, which “is of great significance in developing the reconnaissance satellite", the agency reported. And finally … *) Thousands ordered to leave as 'weather bomb' submerges Australian towns Thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes after heavy rains smashed Australia's east coast, with authorities warning of further life-threatening floods. The death toll rose to eight after a man was swept away trying to cross a flooded road, emergency services said. The Brisbane River in Australia's third largest city neared its expected peak early in the day, with around 15,000 homes there impacted by rising waters.

*) Attacks across Ukraine as dozens die Russian missiles have rained down on Ukrainian cities after Moscow announced a military operation. About 100,000 people have been displaced. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 137 Ukrainians, both military personnel and civilians, were killed after the first day of fighting. He called up conscripts and reservists nationwide to fight in a general mobilisation. *) US announces sanctions against Russia The United States has imposed harsh sanctions on Russia. But Washington and allies have stopped short of enacting even tougher measures. The fresh sanctions cut off Russia's two largest banks from US dollar transactions. The allies also imposed export controls on high-tech items aimed at crippling Russia's defence and aerospace sectors. Energy giant Gazprom and other major companies will not be able to raise financing in Western markets. *) IMF, World Bank chiefs warn of global impacts Leaders of the World Bank and IMF have signalled that they are ready to help Ukraine, and warned that the conflict will have repercussions for the global economy. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the fighting "adds significant economic risk for the region and the world". World Bank President David Malpass said that "the devastating developments in Ukraine will have far-reaching economic and social impacts". *) Deadly quake strikes Indonesia's Sumatra island A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has struck Indonesia's Sumatra island. Two people died and 20 were injured in West Pasaman when the quake hit the island's north at a depth of 12 kilometres. No tsunami warning was issued. There were no immediate reports of serious damage. The quake was felt as far away as Malaysia and Singapore. And finally … *) Djokovic loses world number one ranking Novak Djokovic has lost his Dubai quarter-final and his world number one ranking in one go. He suffered an upset at the hands of Czech player Jiri Vesely on Thursday. Daniil Medvedev replaced him at the top of the rankings. Medvedev became the first man since 2004 outside the "Big Four" to occupy the number one ranking.

*) Putin launches 'military operation' in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine. In a surprise address, Putin justified the move by claiming Kiev was overseeing a "genocide" in eastern Ukraine. He called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms. US President Joe Biden urged world leaders to speak out against Putin's "aggression" and vowed Russia would be held accountable. *) Explosions in Ukraine as Russia targets military infrastructure Explosions were heard in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, and several other cities on Thursday. Ukrainian border guards reported being under attack along the Russian and Belarusian frontiers. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Facebook post that Russia was attacking his country's "military infrastructure". He urged citizens not to panic and vowed victory. His foreign minister said Ukraine will defend itself and will win. *) UAE plans to buy Chinese aircraft after attacks by Yemen rebels The United Arab Emirates has said it plans to buy a dozen Chinese L15 aircraft. The move comes at a time when it is seeking to bolster its defences after a series of attacks by Yemeni rebels. Meanwhile, the United States has announced sanctions against what it said were members of an international financing network for Yemen’s Houthi rebels. *) US truckers launch convoy in pandemic protest Hundreds of truckers and their supporters have set off from southern California on a convoy to protest against pandemic restrictions. "The People's Convoy" began its journey on Wednesday and is expected to reach the Washington DC area on March 5. The organisers say they want an end to mask mandates, vaccination requirements and business shutdowns. The protest is inspired by demonstrations that crippled Canada's cities for weeks. *) Neolithic-era ritual complex found in Jordan desert Archaeologists deep in the Jordanian desert have discovered a 9,000-year-old ritualistic complex. The Stone Age shrine site was used by gazelle hunters and features carved stone figures, an altar and a miniature model of a large-scale hunting trap. The Neolithic-era ritual site was discovered inside a larger campsite last October by a joint French-Jordanian team. Similar structures of two or more stone walls have been found in deserts across Saudi Arabia, Syria, Türkiye and Kazakhstan.

*) US sanctions Russia after its recognition of breakaway regions US President Joe Biden has announced tough new sanctions on Russia. They include steps to starve Russia of financing and target financial institutions and the country's so-called elites. The move came after the sanctions announced by Britain and the European Union. But Biden left the door open to a final effort at diplomacy to avert a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel republics in Ukraine has sent tensions soaring. *) Germany halts Nord Stream 2 project German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he is suspending the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project with Russia. Scholz said he ordered a halt to the review process by the German regulator for the pipeline. The move is seen by Western partners and Kiev as a bargaining chip in the stand-off with Russia. Nord Stream 2 was set to deliver Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Berlin's allies argue that the project would give Moscow too much leverage by increasing Germany's energy dependence. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy had demanded an immediate halt to the project. *) Iran nuclear talks in Vienna about to cross finish line Talks on restoring a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme and ease sanctions are nearing conclusion. Several Iranian officials said some minor technical issues were being discussed in Vienna. While a deal is expected before the end of the week, the officials said "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed". Sources close to the negotiations also said a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States is expected soon. *) India donates wheat to Afghanistan after deal with Pakistan India has dispatched wheat to Afghanistan to help alleviate food shortages. Officials have flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2,500 metric tonnes of wheat at Attari in the northern state of Punjab. The move came after Pakistan gave permission to allow the shipments across their shared border. Indian Foreign Ministry termed it an "important milestone in India's humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people". And finally … *) Oscars will hand out eight awards ahead of broadcast The Oscars are undergoing a radical slimming down. Eight awards will be presented off-air during next month's telecast of the 94th Academy Awards. The edited highlights will be added "seamlessly into the live televised show". The Academy's latest move aims to boost interest and viewership in its flagship event. The decision will free up more time for musical performances, comedy and tributes, Academy president David Rubin has said. Television ratings for the Oscars have dramatically declined in recent years. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Russia recognises Ukraine breakaway regions as independent Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to move into Ukraine’s separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions, held by Russian-backed rebels, thus marking Moscow’s official recognition of the breakaway regions. Putin claims the troops are “on a peacekeeping mission” and that Russian citizens there are “at risk of massacre” by the western-backed government in Kiev. Following the development, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting, with the majority of members voicing support for Ukraine's sovereign integrity. *) 'Significant progress' made in Iran nuclear deal A revival of the Iran nuclear deal appears closer than it has been since Donald Trump withdrew the US from the pact in 2018. Iran's Foreign Ministry says 'significant progress' has been made during talks in Vienna, but that Tehran needs guarantees. One of those guarantees would be a promise from Western parties not to withdraw from a renewed pact or reinstate sanctions. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi is on a visit to Qatar, where he met with the Qatari emir. The leaders said they hope an agreement is close. *) Scores killed in Burkina Faso gold mine explosion About 60 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in an explosion at an informal gold mining site in southwest Burkina Faso, state television reports. The cause of the explosion in Poni province was not yet known, Poni's high commissioner Antoine Douamba told state television. Images showed a large blast site of felled trees and destroyed tin houses. Bodies could be seen on the ground covered in mats. *) Saudi-led coalition destroys 'Houthi drone' in Saudi city of Jizan Sixteen people, including foreigners, were wounded in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom destroyed a drone launched against an airport by Yemeni rebels. "A drone launched in the direction of King Abdullah Airport in Jazan was destroyed, with debris falling inside the airport," the Saudi-led coalition says. It is the second airport attack in less than two weeks blamed on or claimed by the Houthi insurgents. *) Historical “caravanserai” in southeast Türkiye turns into a museum An 800-year-old “caravanserai” belonging to the Ayyubid period in southeastern Sanliurfa province of Türkiye will be transformed into a pepper museum. Han el Barur caravanserai, whose restoration was completed in the Harran district of the city in 2018, will serve as the "Isot Museum". Named after isot, which is a special dried red pepper from southeastern Türkiye's Sanliurfa, the museum will showcase various spices from across the world, including India and China.

*) Biden, Putin agree to hold summit on Ukraine crisis France says US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed - in principle - to hold a summit on Ukraine. But Biden said the meeting would “only take place” if Russia does not invade Ukraine. The summit is planned after the meeting of G7 leaders on February 24, which will also discuss the ongoing crisis. The announcement was made as new satellite imagery shows an increase of Russian troops on its border with Ukraine. *) Iranian lawmakers lay out six condition to revive nuclear deal Iran could reach a new nuclear deal with western countries soon. Iran's parliament laid out six conditions to revive the deal. Tehran says it will reverse its nuclear steps but insists Washington must first lift sanctions on the country. But Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is sceptical about the agreement. According to him, the new deal is weaker than the previous one in 2015. *) Ethiopia begins producing power at Nile mega-dam Ethiopia starts producing electricity from a controversial dam built on the Blue Nile, even as Sudan and Egypt continue their opposition to the project. After inaugurating the dam on Sunday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will feed electricity to 60 percent of the population. He also dismissed Egyptian and Sundanese concerns that the dam will hinder the flow of the Nile's water into their countries. *) Erdogan visits African countires Turkiye has donated 100-thousand Covid-19 vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Kinshasa as part of his four-day tour of central and west Africa. He was received by his Congolese counterpart President Felix Tshi-sekedi. At least seven bilateral agreements on defence, construction and transport were signed. Erdogan also thanked his host for supporting Turkiye's fight against terrorism. On Monday, President Ergodan will visit Senegal and his trip will end in Guinea-Bissau. And finally … *) Beijing Winter Olympics closes with stunning ceremony The Beijing Winter Olympics, which saw sporting drama and milestones but was tarnished by a Russian doping scandal, has ended with a stunning closing ceremony. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach hailed the Games as an "unforgettable Olympic experience". The Games will be remembered for new stars such as Eileen Gu, but also for the doping controversy that had engulfed 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva. The next Winter Olympics will be held in Milano-Cortina in 2026. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Blinken, Lavrov to meet next week if Russia doesn't invade Ukraine US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accepted an invitation to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov next week. The State Department has said the meeting will happen "provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine". Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will host a call on Friday about the Ukraine crisis. The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, the European Union and NATO will take part. *) Police arrest Canadian trucker-led protest leaders Canadian police have begun arresting leaders of a trucker-led protest that has choked Ottawa's streets for three weeks. A video shared to Twitter showed protest leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber being taken into police detention. Busloads of police officers have arrived near Parliament Hill to break up the demonstration against Canada’s Covid-19 restrictions. Authorities have installed security barriers and restricted access to the downtown area occupied by protesters. *) US, Iran can reach nuclear deal 'within days' if Tehran 'shows seriousness' The United States has said "substantial progress" has been made during negotiations in Vienna to save the Iran nuclear deal. It believes an "understanding on mutual return to full implementation" of the 2015 deal could be reached within days if Iran is serious. The Vienna talks involve Iran, as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The United States is involved indirectly. *) Boy trapped for three days in Afghan well has died A five-year-old boy trapped for three days in an Afghan village well has died. Taliban Interior Ministry senior adviser Anas Haqqani said “with great sorrow, young Haidar is separated from us forever". On Tuesday, the child slipped to the bottom of a well being dug in Shokak, a village in Zabul province. The incident took place around two weeks after a similar attempt to rescue a boy from a Moroccan well, which also ended with the child found dead. And finally … *) Eileen Gu makes history with third medal at Beijing Winter Games Chinese superstar Eileen Gu has capped her successful Beijing Olympics by winning freeski halfpipe gold. With this, the Californian-born Gu became the first action-sports athlete to pick up three medals at the same Winter Games. Earlier, the 18-year-old claimed gold in Big Air and silver in slopestyle in Beijing.

*) US Treasury warns of global fallout if West sanctions Russia US Treasury chief Janet Yellen is warning of "some global fallout" if the West sanctions Russia. Yellen said President Joe Biden made it clear that the US intends “to impose very significant costs on Russia if they invade Ukraine". Meanwhile, the US dismissed reports that Russia was withdrawing troops from Ukraine's border. Instead, it’s accused Moscow of sending more soldiers as fears of an invasion grow. *) Death toll from Brazil mudslides rises Rescue workers are racing against time in their search for survivors after deadly flash floods hit Brazil’s Petropolis. Over 180 firefighters and 400 soldiers are scrambling through the remains of houses that were washed away. At least 94 bodies have been recovered so far, with 35 still unaccounted for. *) Canadian police warn truckers to leave A showdown may be shaping up in Ottawa’s siege between truckers protesting vaccine mandates and authorities. Police are threatening to arrest and prosecute truckers, and also seize their vehicles and cancel their licences. But big rigs remain parked outside Parliament, which is said to represent the movement's last stronghold. *) EU top court clears way to cut billions of funds to Poland, Hungary The European Union's top court has cleared the way to cut billions in funding to Poland and Hungary. The rulers in these countries are accused by the bloc of violating democratic rights. The EU has been pouring funds into former communist countries to help develop their economies since they joined in 2004. *) Largest blue diamond to be auctioned off Sotheby's says it will auction off the world’s largest blue diamond in Hong Kong in April. The auction house said it expects the 15.10 carat De Beers Cullinan Blue diamond to sell for more than $48 million. Sotheby's says the jewel is remarkable on many levels and is the largest internally flawless step cut vivid blue diamond that’s ever been graded.

Biden: Russian attack on Ukraine 'still very much a possibility' President Joe Biden says the US is yet to confirm if Russia has withdrawn some of its troops from Ukraine's border, adding that an invasion is still possible. He’s warning Moscow that the US is ready to "respond decisively" if an invasion goes ahead. His comments come after Russia said it had started withdrawing some of its forces from the Ukraine border. *) Police stations, checkpoints targeted in Somalia's Mogadishu Police in Somalia have thwarted an assault by al Shabab militants who attacked a police station and checkposts in Mogadishu. Somalia's minister for internal security said the assailants targeted the suburbs of Mogadishu early Wednesday morning. The militants were pushed back, with police saying they'll release more details on the operation later today. *) Erdogan wraps up visit to UAE Tuesday marked the final day of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the United Arab Emirates. The trip was aimed at strengthening relations between the countries. Erdogan also used the occasion to deepen economic ties, as he and the crown prince signalled an end to a years' long rift between the nations. The Turkish president also visited the Turkish pavilion Dubai Expo 2020. *) Ex-Honduras president arrested The former president of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez has been arrested on drug charges, after the US requested his extradition. Police surrounded his home for several hours to prevent his escape while they waited for an arrest warrant to be approved by the country's supreme court. The former president is accused of being involved in a drug-trafficking ring. And finally … *) Emirati singer releases song to promote Türkiye-UAE ties Renowned Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi released a Turkish song as a gift to the people of Türkiye. The song’s release coincided with the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the UAE. The artist released a four-minute video of himself performing the song on his YouTube channel.

*) Russia says there’s 'chance' of a deal with West over Ukraine Russia has held the door open to further talks on resolving its standoff with the West. It says some of its military drills are ending, signalling a possible easing of the crisis over Ukraine. Russia says US has offered to conduct dialogue on limits for missile deployments in Europe and other confidence-building measures. *) Canada invokes emergency powers to quell blockades Canada's PM Justin Trudeau invokes emergency powers to end a truckers' protest that's disrupted life in capital Ottawa. The demonstrations against vaccine mandates is entering its third week. The Emergencies Act allows authorities to declare protests illegal, and police to tow away vehicles blocking roads. *) Schools reopen In Karnataka after hijab ban protests Schools in India's Karnataka reopen following protests over female students not being allowed to wear hijabs on campus. Three schools in the state have banned the entry of hijab-wearing students in the past week. Human rights advocates say the ban violates the students' rights and freedoms. *) Türkiye, UAE sign 13 agreements to revive relations Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues his visit to the United Arab Emirates where he's signed a series of trade and bilateral agreements with the crown prince. Over the past year, the two countries have been working to improve relations. The countries have expressed their desire to leave disagreements in the past and forge a strong friendship. And finally … *) Ancient mummies of children found in Peru Six mummified children thought to have been sacrificed hundreds of years ago, have been unearthed in a tomb near Lima. The tiny skeletons, wrapped tightly in cloth, were found in a grave of possibly a political figure. Archaeologists say the children were apparently sacrificed to accompany the man to the afterlife.

*) US warns Russia troops near Ukraine border tops 130,000 Ukraine's president has urged for calm amid intensified warnings of a possible Russian invasion within days, saying he had yet to see convincing evidence of that. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also invited his US counterpart Joe Biden to Kiev after the US reported that Moscow positioned more than 130,000 of its troops closer to Ukraine's borders. Some EU airlines have cancelled flights to Kiev amid warnings of an invasion. *) Israeli troops on home demolition mission kill Palestinian teen Israeli troops have shot dead a 17-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank. Mohammed Abu Salah was shot and killed during clashes while trying to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home near the town of Jenin. Palestine’s Health Ministry said at least 10 people were wounded during clashes. *) Saudi-led coalition 'destroys' Houthi drone-control centre in Yemen The Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed a telecommunications system in Yemen's Sanaa used by Houthi rebels to control drones. Ahead of Sunday's strike, the coalition asked civilians in Yemeni ministries and government institutions in the Houthi-controlled capital to immediately evacuate. The coalition said Iran-backed Houthis used the system to launch hostile operations. *) Key US-Canada bridge reopens after police clear protesters The busiest US-Canadian border crossing reopened late Sunday after protests against Covid-19 restrictions closed it for almost a week. The crossing normally carries 25 percent of all trade between the two countries. Police in Windsor, Ontario, said that more than two dozen people had been peacefully arrested, several vehicles seized. Canadian officials meanwhile held back from a crackdown on a larger protest that paralysed downtown Ottawa. And finally … *) New York Fashion Week kicks off amid Covid Experimentation, play, and glitter: a coronavirus-impacted New York Fashion Week has begun with Fall/Winter 2022 shows by Proenza Schouler and Christian Cowan. Cowan, who has dressed Lady Gaga and rappers Cardi B and Lil Nas X, presented his collection in the observatory atop the One World Trade Center skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers. The show had the atmosphere of a nightclub, highlighting the British designer's taste for glitz and glamour.

Canada truckers' protest grows, fuels similar campaigns abroad Trucker-led protests against Covid-19 curbs in Canada have shut down another US border crossing. The key Ambassador Bridge linking Ontario and Detroit is out of service. A second crossing in Alberta is blocked. Protesters have now closed down a third border point in central Manitoba. The two-week protest has mushroomed into an international movement, from New Zealand to France and Belgium. *) Libya PM Dbeibah: Tobruk parliament trying to take Tripoli by force Libya's prime minister has said that the eastern-based parliament's selection of a new government and premier is an attempt to enter Tripoli by force. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah also said he may announce an initiative by his government to solve Libya’s political crisis. He said he is willing to withdraw from running for the presidency to make his initiative succeed. The east-based parliament, aligned to warlord Khalifa Haftar, has named former interior minister Fathi Bashaga to replace Dbeibah. The UN said it still recognises Dbeibah as Libya's prime minister. On Thursday, Dbeibah escaped unharmed from an assassination attempt when shots were fired at his car in Tripoli. *) Russia-Ukraine talks fail to produce breakthrough Nearly nine hours of talks between Ukraine and Russia have failed to produce a breakthrough on signing a joint document. Ukrainian and Russian officials met in the German capital for talks on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia said the latest round of talks with Ukraine, France and Germany fell short of any new agreement. However, both sides have agreed to keep talking. *) Quad allies meet to deepen bulwark against China Top diplomats of the United States, Australia, Japan and India have opened talks in Melbourne on strengthening their Quad alliance. The meetings are aimed at boosting cooperation across fields like information, technology and fighting Covid-19. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that even though Russia's threat to Ukraine occupies Washington right now, the longer-term challenge is China's advance. And finally … *) Apple aims to thwart secret AirTag tracking with tweaks Apple has announced updates to AirTag tracking devices to prevent them from being used to secretly track people. AirTags are designed to be affixed to things people tend to lose such as wallets and keys to track them. But there have been allegations that AirTags are used for criminal activity, such as being secretly stuck on a car to later steal it. Now, newer iPhone models will alert owners of an "unknown accessory detected" when they sense an unidentified AirTag in range.

*) Russia begins joint military drills with Belarus Russia and Belarus have launched joint military drills. This comes despite Western concerns that Moscow is plotting an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry says the exercises would centre around "suppressing and repelling external aggression.” The exercises are scheduled to continue until February 20 in Belarus. Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is in Moscow for talks with her Russian counterpart. She will urge the Kremlin not to attack Ukraine or face “massive consequences” from Western sanctions. *) Libya PM Dbeibah survives 'assassination' bid Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah has escaped unharmed from an assassination attempt. Unidentified persons shot at his car in the capital Tripoli, media reports said. The assailants managed to escape the scene. The attack comes as factional wrangling over control of the government intensifies. *) UN court orders Uganda to pay DRC $325M in war damages The UN's top court has ordered Uganda to pay the Democratic Republic of Congo $325 million in reparations over a brutal war two decades ago. Uganda must pay $225 million for damage to persons, $40 million for damage to property, and $60 million for damage to natural resources. The International Court of Justice’s ruling comes after a long battle for compensation over the conflict that left thousands dead between 1998 and 2003. *) Ford plant shuts down as Canada truck blockade hardens Truck blockades of Canada's capital and US border crossings have forced the shutdown of a Ford plant. The company has warned the protests against Covid-19 rules could have widespread implications for the North American auto industry. The blockade by people mostly in pickup trucks has affected the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. The bridge carries 25 percent of all trade between the two countries. And finally … *) Dozens of SpaceX satellites tumbling out of orbit after solar storm SpaceX’s newest fleet of satellites has been falling out of orbit after being struck by a solar storm. Up to 40 of the 49 small satellites launched last week have either reentered the atmosphere and burned up, or are on the verge of doing so. SpaceX said a geomagnetic storm last Friday made the atmosphere denser. Ground controllers tried to save the flat-panel satellites by putting them into a type of hibernation and flying them in a way to minimise drag. But the atmospheric pull was too great, and the satellites failed to awaken and climb to a higher orbit, according to the company.

*) Macron: Putin told me Russia won't further escalate Ukraine crisis Emmanuel Macron has said that Vladimir Putin told him Russia would not further escalate the Ukraine crisis. Macron's remarks on Tuesday came after the Kremlin denied reports that he and Putin struck a deal on de-escalation. The French President and the Russian President had held a more than five-hour meeting on Monday. And on Tuesday, Macron visited Kiev, where he attended a news conference after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Macron, Putin also said there won’t be any “permanent base” or “deployment” by Russia in Belarus. *) Top gas exporters to meet in Qatar amid Russia-Ukraine impasse Qatar will host the biannual summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum on February 22. Russia, Iran and Qatar are key members of the forum. The US and Australia, two other leading exporters, are not part of the group. The news comes at a time when Europe is worried about its gas supplies due to the Russia-Ukraine standoff. The US has sought Qatar's help in providing emergency supplies if pipelines to Western Europe are cut due to the crisis. *) Taliban to discuss aid, frozen assets with diplomats in Geneva A Taliban delegation is in Geneva for a week of NGO-hosted talks on humanitarian access and human rights. Afghanistan faces a complex situation due to past overlapping conflicts, Covid-19 and extreme weather, the Geneva Call foundation said on Tuesday. It added that there will be discussions on the protection of civilians, healthcare and the explosive remnants of war. The Taliban delegation will also meet with Swiss and other European officials, plus the Red Cross. *) Iran nuclear deal 'in sight' as talks resume in Vienna Talks to revive a deal with Iran on its contested nuclear programme have resumed in Vienna. Officials have signalled that an agreement could be "in sight". The negotiations were halted at the end of last month. The resumption comes after parties in recent weeks cited progress in seeking to revive the 2015 accord. Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and indirectly the United States are part of the negotiations. And finally … *) Jane Campion's 'The Power of the Dog' leads Oscar nominations Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" has led the Oscars nominations. The gothic Western released by Netflix earned 12 nominations on Tuesday, including best director and best picture. Sci-fi epic "Dune" landed in second place overall. It got 10 nominations, including best picture. Other directing slots went to Kenneth Branagh for "Belfast" and Steven Spielberg for "West Side Story" . The 94th Academy Awards gala is scheduled for March 27.

*) International efforts to ease Russia-Ukraine tensions intensify World leaders have been speeding up efforts to ease the Russia-Ukraine tensions. French President Emmanuel Macron called for de-escalation as he held talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Monday. Putin hailed France’s role in shaping European security. He added that he appreciates Macron's efforts to broker a settlement in the Ukraine crisis. *) Europe in ‘most dangerous’ moment since Cold War Europe is facing its most serious security threat since the Cold War, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned. He was speaking at a joint news conference in Washington on Monday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Borrell said they shared "a strong concern" about the situation on Ukraine's borders. He also voiced hope for a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine standoff with Russia. *) Iraq presidential vote postponed indefinitely amid political deadlock Iraq's parliament has indefinitely postponed a vote for the president after most major political blocs boycotted the session. On Monday afternoon, only a few dozen MPs were in the chamber. The vote had been set for noon. The sweeping no-show deepens a political crisis in the war-scarred country. Almost four months after a general election, it still hasn't chosen a new prime minister. It is the task of the president to formally name a prime minister from the largest bloc in parliament. *) ‘The son of us all’: Morocco bids farewell to Rayan Rayan Oram, a five-year-old Moroccan boy who spent five days trapped down a well, has been laid to rest. Hundreds arrived at a cemetery near Rayan’s village in Chefchaouen province for his funeral on Monday. "I am over 50 years old and have never seen as many people at a funeral. Rayan is the son of us all," a villager said. The boy had fallen down a dry well last Tuesday, sparking a complex rescue operation. On Saturday night. rescuers reached him as crowds cheered. But the joy turned to grief when authorities announced that the boy was dead. And finally … *) World’s glaciers 'contain less ice than thought' Mountain glaciers shrinking due to climate change have been found to be less voluminous than previously understood, according to researchers. This puts millions of people who depend on them for water supply at risk. Researchers published their findings on Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience. The new estimate also lowers the potential contribution of glaciers to sea level rise from about 33 to 26 centimetres (or 13 to 10 inches).

*) Ukraine warns against "apocalyptic predictions" Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has warned against "apocalyptic predictions" on an imminent Russian invasion. He says his country is strong and has unprecedented international support. His statement came after US officials said Russian forces could take over Kiev within 48 hours in case of a full invasion. *) DPRK using cyberattacks to fund its nuclear programme A UN report says cyberattacks on cryptocurrency exchanges funded North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. The report says hackers stole more than 50 million dollars worth of digital assets between 2020 and mid-2021. The report cites that cyberattacks remain an important revenue source for Pyongyang's nuclear programmes. *) African Union condemns wave of coups The African Union has condemed the recent wave of coups that resulted in four member states being suspended from the bloc in one year's time. The 55-member body held a two-day meeting to discuss a range of issues affecting Africa, including the pandemic and the conflict in Ethiopia. Participants also discussed Israel's highly controversial observer status to the bloc. Members states called for civilian rule to be restored in the four West African countries hit by military coups in the last 18 months. *) Tunisia judicial watchdog rejects president’s move Tunisia's Supreme Judicial Council has rejected the president's move to dissolve it, saying they will continue to carry out their duties. However, hundreds of people came out to support President Kais Saied on Sunday, following his overnight announcement to dissolve the council. He has already sacked the parliament, and the prime minister has often criticised the judiciary, accusing it of delays in ruling on corruption and terrorism cases. The head of the body has called this latest power move illegal and warns that judicial officials won't remain silent. *) Senegal wins Africa Cup Senegal has won its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title after defeating Egypt in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde The match went to penalties, after full time and extra time both ended goalless. Mo Salah's men were hoping to lift the trophy for a record eighth time, but his Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane, ended that dream. He made the spot kick that sealed the deal for the Senegalese, beating The Pharoahs 4-2 on penalties.

*) Leaders of Russia, China to meet amid tensions with West over Ukraine Chinese President Xi Jinping is set for his first face-to-face meeting with a world leader in nearly two years. Xi will host Russia's Vladimir Putin amid tensions with the West over the Ukraine crisis. The two leaders will meet in Beijing before releasing a joint statement reflecting their "common views" on security and other issues, says the Kremlin. Both sides say they coordinated their positions on Ukraine during a meeting between both countries' foreign ministers. *) Biden: Qurashi killed in northwest Syria operation US President Joe Biden has confirmed Daesh leader Abu Ibrahim Al Hashimi al Qurashi killed himself following a raid by US Special forces in Northwest Syria. Biden monitored the mission from the White House. He described al Qurashi's suicide as a "final act of desperate cowardice". The Daesh leader detonated a suicide vest, which also killed other members of his family- including his two wives and one child. Several other people are reported to have died during heavy gunfire and shelling. *) Deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi facing new charges Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is facing additional charges brought by the military. She's remained in detention since the junta forcefully removed her and other democratically elected leaders last year. The new charges are linked to bribery, while she's already been sentenced for six years on other charges. *) Hundreds of migrants protest in Mexican city of Tapachula Hundreds of migrants have been protesting in the Mexican city of Tapachula over the slow pace of visa approvals. Many have threatened to form a new caravan heading towards the US border. Mexican authorities have tried to stem the flow of Central American migrants amid pressure from Washington. But migrant numbers have been growing in Mexico because of lengthy federal procedures. And finally … *) Winter Olympics begins with opening ceremony The Winter Games in Beijing gets under way amid “closed loop” restrictions for participants and without international fans. The Chinese capital is now the only city to host both the Winter and Summer games. Covid-19 infections among personnel have spiked, but officials say the event will continue as planned.

*) Russia calls US troop deployment in Ukraine standoff 'destructive' step With Russia refusing to pull back troops from near Ukraine's borders, the US has decided to deploy 3,000 troops to bolster NATO forces. Russia says the move will increase military tensions and reduce the chances of a political decision on the Ukraine issue. Intense diplomatic efforts between the West and Russia are under way to defuse tensions. As the West looks to mount pressure on Russia, the Kremlin says it has China’s support. *) Turkiye's Erdogan visits Ukraine Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Ukraine on Thursday. Erdogan and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will discuss possibilities for deepening cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues. They are also expected to sign various agreements and memoranda of understanding.​​​​​​​ Erdogan has previously said Turkiye does not want a war between Russia and Ukraine and hopes the ongoing standoff will be resolved peacefully. Banks can transfer aid money to Afghanistan: US International banks can transfer money to Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, the US has said. Billions of dollars in Afghan central bank reserves and international aid were frozen to prevent it from falling into Taliban hands. The United Nations and aid groups have been struggling to get enough money into the country to fund operations. Aid groups can now make direct payments to healthcare workers and teachers in public hospitals and schools. *) UAE destroys 'hostile' drones in its airspace The UAE says it has destroyed three drones that penetrated its airspace over unpopulated areas. The Gulf state has faced several attacks in the past few weeks, including a missile attack during a visit by Israel's president. Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for those attacks. The US says it is sending fighter jets to assist the UAE following the missile attacks. And finally … *) Nadal says 21 Grand Slam titles 'not enough' Rafael Nadal has said he is still not satisfied with his 21 Grand Slam titles following his historic triumph at the Australian Open. His victory took him to the top of the all-time men's list, and one clear of the 20 titles won by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. "...I don't think 21 is enough to be honest. But you never know what will happen in the future," Nadal said at a press conference.

*) Putin: Russia will be dragged into war if Ukraine joins NATO US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov by phone. It is the latest attempt to de-escalate the crisis over Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he wants talks to continue. But he also said the United States and its allies are ignoring Russia's security concerns. *) Landslides kill dozens in Ecuador capital At least 22 people have been killed from a massive landslide in Ecuador. Torrential rain caused extensive flooding and mudslides in the capital Quito. More than 45 people are reported injured. Clean-up operations have begun in some streets and rescue crews are searching for survivors. *) 'Many' dead as Guinea-Bissau foils 'attack against democracy’ The president of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, has said he has survived a coup attempt. Embalo said attackers opened fire while trying to break into a government compound during a cabinet meeting. Several security personnel in the West African nation were reportedly killed fending off the gunmen. *) Lebanese ​​Land transport unions call three-day strike over inflation Land Transport Unions have announced a three-day strike across Lebanon from Tuesday. Participants are protesting surging fuel prices and demanding better working conditions. Land transport sector employees have routinely held protests in the last couple of months. And finally … *) NFL superstar Tom Brady retires from American football Tom Brady has confirmed he is retiring from American football. Brady is widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in the NFL. He is the only player to have won seven Super Bowl titles. He played mostly for the New England Patriots but his last victory was for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

*) Russia responds to US offer over Ukraine crisis Moscow has responded to Washington's proposal on Ukraine, the State Department said. The Russian response comes amid US pressure to de-escalate tension on the Ukraine border. Earlier, Russia accused the West of "whipping up tensions” during a stormy debate at the UN Security Council meeting. The US ambassador to the UN warned Moscow’s troop build-up along its southern border poses the biggest international security threat in Europe in decades. *) Protests mark anniversary of Myanmar military takeover Myanmar's junta has threatened to jail anti-coup protesters joining a "silent strike" on the anniversary of the military coup. The warnings haven't stopped a small group of protesters from gathering in Myanmar's second-biggest city, Mandalay. Businesses and shops were shut down across the country and people stayed home to avoid possible clashes. *) Biden to designate Qatar as 'major non-NATO ally' US President Joe Biden has promised Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim that he will soon designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. The special status is granted by Washington to close non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationship with the US military. Biden said the designation reflects "the importance” of the US’s relationship with Qatar after meeting Tamim in the White House. *) Mali junta tells French ambassador to leave within 72 hours The military junta in Mali has given the French ambassador 72 hours to leave the country. The move comes after French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the junta illegitimate and out of control. Mali says France’s comments were 'hostile and outrageous' and that ambassador Joel Meyer would only be allowed to return if the French government clarifies its position. *) Thousands of Haitian homes flood after heavy rain bursts river banks Thousands of homes have been flooded and some 2,500 families were displaced in Haiti after torrential rain caused rivers to burst their banks. Rescue teams have begun evacuating people in high-risk zones, the civil protection authority said. Nearly 36 hours of rain caused flooding, primarily in the north of the Caribbean country, with water filling the historic centre of the city of Cap-Haitien.

*) US lawmakers warn Russia of 'mother of all sanctions' ahead of UNSC meet The United States has worked to ramp up diplomatic and financial pressure on Russia over Ukraine, promising to put Moscow on the defensive at the UN Security Council. The American ambassador to the United Nations said the UNSC would press Russia hard in a Monday session to discuss its massing of troops near Ukraine and fears it is planning an invasion. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, said that in the event of an attack, lawmakers want Russia to face "the mother of all sanctions". *) US seeks direct talks after North Korea tests 'most powerful' missile The United States has urged North Korea to join direct talks about its nuclear and missile programmes after Pyongyang tested what it called “the most powerful missile since 2017”. A senior Biden administration official told reporters the latest test was part of an "increasingly destabilising" pattern and violated UN Security Council resolutions. The official spoke after North Korea confirmed it had tested a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, state media reported. *) UN: Over 100 former Afghan forces, officials killed since Taliban takeover The United Nations says it has received “credible allegations” that more than 100 former members of the Afghan government and officials have been killed since the Taliban took over the country. In a report obtained by The Associated Press, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “more than two-thirds” of the victims were allegedly subjected to extrajudicial killings by the Taliban or its affiliates. The killings were carried out despite the Taliban’s announcement of “general amnesties” for those affiliated with the former government and US-led coalition forces. *) PM Costa's Socialists win re-election in Portugal Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa has said his centre-left Socialist Party has secured a full parliamentary majority of 117-118 seats in snap general election. At the Socialist party's campaign headquarters, supporters stood up cheering as the projected results were published. The ballot took place on Sunday amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, with about 1.2 million people confined at home but allowed to go to polling stations to vote. *) Nadal beats Medvedev in Australian Open, makes history with record titles Rafael Nadal has won a record 21st Grand Slam men's title after beating Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final. Nadal came out on top in the physical war of attrition to move ahead of era rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the all-time list of men's major winners. It was one of the 35-year-old's greatest title victories in his 29th Grand Slam final winning his second Australian Open - 13 years after his first in 2009.

*) Biden warns Kiev of 'distinct possibility' of Russian invasion next month US President Joe Biden warned Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that there is a “distinct possibility” Russia could take military action against Ukraine in February. Biden warned that the US believed there was a high degree of likelihood that Russia could invade when the ground freezes and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kiev. Biden reiterated American and allied support, including recent deliveries of US military aid, and told Zelenskyy he was “exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine’s economy”. The recent Russian build-up of tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's borders has sparked fears of an invasion. *) N Korea confirms missile tests, Kim praises 'important' munitions factory North Korea has test-fired two different weapons systems this week, part of a record-breaking streak of launches, state media confirmed. The official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday’s launch involved long-range cruise missiles flying over the East Sea, and hitting "the target island 1,800 km away". Pyongyang has conducted six weapons tests in January, including hypersonic missiles, as it doubles down on Kim's military-boosting plans and ignores US offers of talks. *) Turkish Cypriot govt slams UNSC for extending Cyprus mission The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has blasted the UN Security Council for extending the international peacekeeping mission on the long-divided island for six more months. The Prime Ministry of the TRNC called the UN decision a "violation of the UN's own principles and rules" because the international body failed to obtain the consent of the Turkish Cypriots. Turkiye also called the UN decision "contrary" to the world body's rules. *) Military promises normalcy in Burkina Faso when 'conditions are right' Burkina Faso's new military leader Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba has claimed that the West African country will return to constitutional order "when conditions are right". Damiba also promised to retake control of areas witnessing years of uprising while speaking for the first time on national television since leading a mutiny that ousted President Roch Marc Kabore earlier this week. "When the conditions are right, according to the deadline that our people will define in all sovereignty, I commit to a return to a normal constitutional order," Damiba said. And finally … *) Qatar, Turkiye, Taliban agree on 'key issues' over Kabul airport management Qatar, Turkiye, and the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan have agreed on "several key issues" over how to manage and operate Kabul's international airport, the landlocked country's main air link to the world. The meeting in Doha came as a continuation of previous talks, the latest round of meetings which took place in Kabul last week. The sides will have a final round of negotiations next week. In late December, Turkiye and Qatar had agreed to jointly operate the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan on the basis of equal partnership.

*) US rejects Russia demand on Ukraine, offers ‘diplomatic path’ out of crisis The United States has rejected Russia's key demand to bar Ukraine from NATO, reiterating its belief that Moscow is ready to invade, but it set out a diplomatic path to address the crisis in eastern Europe. “NATO's door is open, remains open, and that is our commitment," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, adding that allied military deployments in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable. There was no immediate response from Russia but Russian officials have warned that Moscow would quickly take “retaliatory measures” if the US and its allies reject its demands. *) UN urges nations to release frozen assets, increase aid to Afghanistan The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged nations to urgently boost humanitarian aid for millions of Afghans living in “a frozen hell” and release nearly $9 billion in frozen assets. “Time is of the essence,” and liquidity must be immediately restored to the Afghan economy to pull it back from the brink of collapse, the UN chief added. He said that possible solutions are freeing up the country’s frozen currency reserves, re-engaging with its Central Bank and finding other ways to inject money, including allowing international funds. *) North Korea fires two more missiles in latest testing blitz North Korea has fired two suspected ballistic missiles, marking its sixth weapons test this month in one of the most intense spates of launches on record. The short-range ballistic missiles were reportedly fired from the Hamhung city area towards the East Sea from around 2300 GMT, flying 190 kilometres at an altitude of 20km. North Korea has not fired this many missiles in a month in decades, and some suggest this marks the most recorded missile launches by Pyongyang in a month. The barrage could be part of North Korea's regular military training, or linked to ongoing celebrations of Kim's decade in power or upcoming domestic anniversaries. *) Erdogan sees warming of Turkiye-Israel ties with Israeli President Herzog's visit Israeli President Isaac Herzog will pay an official visit to Turkiye in February in a major step towards repairing fragile relations between both countries. "The visit could pave the way for a new era in Israel-Turkiye relations," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, adding that Ankara is ready to work with Tel Aviv in all fields, including natural gas. Ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv had nosedived during ex-Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rule, who Erdogan called "unfriendly" towards Turkiye. And finally … *) Object found in the Milky Way surprises astronomers Australian researchers have discovered a strange spinning object in the Milky Way that is unlike anything astronomers have ever seen. The object, first spotted by a university student, releases a huge burst of radio energy three times each hour, pulsing every 18.18 minutes. While there are other objects in the universe that switch on and off, 18.18 minutes is a frequency that has never been observed before. Researchers are now working to understand what the object is. So far, they have been able to establish that the object is about 4,000 light-years from Earth, is incredibly bright and has an extremely strong magnetic field.

*) Ukraine tells citizens 'sleep well' as US warns Russia ally Belarus Ukraine has sought to reassure the nation that an invasion from neighbouring Russia is not imminent even as its leaders acknowledged the threat is real. Speaking in the second televised speech to the nation in as many days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukrainians not to panic. He said "we are strong enough to keep everything under control and derail any attempts at destabilisation". *) Taliban praises meeting with Western diplomats in Norway The Taliban has said three days of discussions by its delegates with Western diplomats in Norway went "very well", while the latter said they linked humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to an improvement in human rights. Acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the Taliban government will do "its best to protect Afghanistan from any sorts of problems, attract more assistance". The final day of the Taliban's first official trip to Europe since returning to power in August, the group held talks behind closed doors with several Western diplomats. *) Thousands march for aboriginal rights as Australia marks national day Thousands have rallied against the mistreatment of Indigenous people across Australia as citizenship ceremonies take place to mark the country's national day. Many protesters at rallies across cities dressed in black to mourn the day, with some carrying the Aboriginal flag and "change the date" signs. Some protests were organised online amid concerns of surging Covid-19 cases. *) Houthi rebels 'lose' Harib district to UAE-backed militia Yemen's Houthi rebels have been expelled from a key battleground district by UAE-trained Giants Brigade fighters, the militia claimed. The Iran-backed Houthis lost Harib district south of Marib, the government's last northern stronghold, which they have been fighting to seize for months. The Giants Brigade said "hundreds were killed and wounded on both sides" in battles that lasted for more than two weeks. *) 'Resurrection: Ertugrul' star dies from lung cancer Prominent Turkish actor Ayberk Pekcan, also known as Artuk Bey in the popular Turkish series 'Resurrection: Ertugrul', has passed away due to lung cancer. Pekcan had been struggling with cancer for a while. Ayberk Pekcan, who took part in movies, theatres and TV series, had been receiving treatment in Mersin, a province in the south of Turkiye.

*) NATO deploys ships, jets to eastern Europe in Ukraine crisis Tensions over the threat of Russia invading Ukraine are rising as NATO allies put forces on standby and sent ships and jets to bolster Europe's eastern defences. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is ready to respond to any security threat and is reinforcing its eastern front. Stoltenberg pointed to Denmark sending a frigate and warplanes to the Baltic states, Spain bolstering naval deployments and the Netherlands putting "ship and land-based units on standby". *) Military seizes power in Burkina Faso Mutinous soldiers have announced they are in control of Burkina Faso after taking the president hostage following a day of gunbattles in the capital. The soldiers declared on state television that the government and parliament were dissolved and the constitution suspended. Burkina Faso's military, with support from the public, has been unhappy with how the government has handled a spike in militancy in the country. *) Syria's displaced hit by brutal snowstorm Many of Syria's nearly three million internally displaced people face dire winter conditions with a brutal snowstorm hammering the region, the United Nations has warned. The UN is urging the international community to do more to protect the Syrian IDPs before it's too late. Mark Cutts, the UN deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, says the conditions are "absolutely unacceptable." *) Colombia kills top commander in 'blow' to FARC rebels The commander of a rebel splinter group in Colombia, that rejected a 2016 peace deal, has been killed in a clash with the military. President Ivan Duque announced in a statement that Euclides Espana –– also known as Jhonier –– had been "neutralised." "This is one of the greatest blows that has been dealt [to] FARC dissidents," the president said in a public statement. *) Deadly stampede hits African Cup football game in Cameroon Cameroon's progress at the African Cup of Nations was overshadowed by a stampede outside the stadium that killed at least six people and wounded 40 others. The crush happened as crowds attempted to reach Olembe Stadium in Yaounde as Cameroon beat Comoros 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals. Naseri Paul Biya, governor of the central region of Cameroon, said there could be more casualties.

*) UAE intercepts 'Houthi ballistic missiles' over Abu Dhabi The United Arab Emirates has intercepted two ballistic missiles that it said were fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting the capital Abu Dhabi, state-run news agency reported. "The remnants of the intercepted ballistic missiles fell in separate areas around Abu Dhabi," the WAM news agency reported. The Emirates "is ready to deal with any threats and takes all necessary measures to protect the state from all attacks", WAM quoted UAE Defence Ministry as saying. *) US asks diplomats' families to depart Ukraine over Russia threats The United States has ordered the families of its diplomats in the Ukrainian capital Kiev to leave the country "due to the continued threat of Russian military action". Washington also authorised the "voluntary" departure of its embassy employees and urged US citizens in the Eastern European country to "consider departing now using commercial or other privately available transportation options". The security situation around Ukraine''s borders, in Russia-occupied Crimea and in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine, are unpredictable and can deteriorate with little notice, said the statement. *) Taliban and Afghan civil society 'break the ice' in Norway A meeting between the Taliban and Afghan civil society members has served as an "icebreaker" in Norway on the eve of talks between Taliban members and Western diplomats. "It was a positive icebreaking meeting," feminist activist Jamila Afghani said. “The Taliban displayed goodwill. They listened patiently and responded to most of our concerns. Let's see what their actions will be, based on their words," Afghani said. *) Burkina Faso denies military takeover after heavy gunfire heard at bases Burkina Faso's government has denied that the army had seized control of the country after exchanges of gunfire took place at multiple army barracks, including two in the capital. "Information on social media would have people believe there was an army takeover," a government spokesperson said in a statement. "The government, while recognising the validity of shootings in some barracks, denies this information and calls on the population to remain calm" the statement said. *) ‘Spider-Man’ becomes sixth highest grossing film of all time globally After spending one weekend in second place, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has proved it still has some fight left. Sony's superhero juggernaut swung back to first place in its sixth weekend in theatres and became the sixth highest grossing film of all time. The film topped the North American charts with $14.1 million, according to studio estimates. Globally, it's now grossed nearly $1.7 billion, passing the total earnings of both “Jurassic World" and “The Lion King”.

*) ‘No minor incursion’: Biden clarifies comments on Russia, Ukraine tensions US President Joe Biden said any Russian troop movements across Ukraine’s border would constitute an invasion, and that Moscow would “pay a heavy price” for such an action. The statement was the latest US effort to clear up confusion over an earlier suggestion by the US president that a "minor incursion" could invite a lesser response. “I’ve been absolutely clear with President Putin, he has no misunderstanding. Any, any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion,” Biden said. "Let there be no doubt at all, that if Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price," the US president added. *) China, Russia block US bid to impose UN sanctions on North Koreans China and Russia blocked a US push to impose United Nations sanctions on five North Koreans in response to recent missile launches by Pyongyang. The six-month block will hold off sanctions levied against North Koreans linked to the country's ballistic missile program. The United States quickly expressed its displeasure at the block, with ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying any opposition to sanctions gives Pyongyang “a blank check". *) Internet down in Yemen after Saudi-led air strike on telecom building Yemen has lost its connection to the internet nationwide after Saudi-led air strikes targeted a site in the contested city of Hudaida, plunging the war-torn nation offline. The air strike was reportedly on the TeleYemen site in Hudaida, which has a monopoly on the country's internet, and caused several injuries and deaths. The Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels acknowledged carrying out air strikes around Hudaida's port, but did not immediately acknowledge striking a telecommunication target. *) Ghana explosion kills more than dozen, destroys 500 buildings At least 17 people have been killed and nearly 60 injured in an explosion that devastated part of a town in western Ghana after a truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle. Officials said the blast in the southwestern Apiate area between the towns of Bogoso and Bawdie levelled 500 buildings. Francis Abeiku Yankah, the coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation for Prestea Huni-Valley district, reported the complete devastation of the Apiate community. And finally … *) Turkiye to help build El Salvador its first satellite El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has said Turkiye will help the Latin American country build its first satellite while both sides signed six deals during his first visit to Turkiye. Bukele is meeting various Turkish defence and technology companies and is keen to send his country's first satellite into space with Turkish technology. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the six agreements covered defence, trade, tech, economy, education and diplomacy, while President Bukele said the agreements are "only for starters". Turkiye will also help El Salvador build a dry canal, ports and a power plant.

*) US warns of Russia's incursion into Ukraine as tensions soar US President Joe Biden has predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a move into Ukraine, but he thinks the Kremlin does not want a full-scale war with Kiev. Biden warned a full-scale invasion would trigger a massive response. He suggested that the US would limit Russia's access to the international banking system in case of a full-scale war with Ukraine, which would "be a disaster for Russia." Russians might ultimately prevail, but their losses are "going to be heavy," Biden added. *) North Korea hints at resuming nuclear, long-range missile tests North Korea has hinted it could resume nuclear and long-range weapons tests as it prepares for "a long-term confrontation" with Washington. When the US imposed fresh sanctions last week, Pyongyang said it was a "provocation" and ramped up conventional weapons tests, vowing a "stronger and certain" response to efforts to rein it in. "The hostile policy and military threat by the US have reached a danger line that cannot be overlooked anymore," a report on a meeting of the country's Politburo in state media said. *) Pentagon releases first video of Kabul air strike that killed civilians The Pentagon has released video footage of a US drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 civilians in the final hours of the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan. It marks the first public release of video footage of the August 29 strike, which the Pentagon initially defended but later called a tragic mistake. The footage shows the scene of the strike prior to, during and after a missile struck a civilian car in a courtyard on a residential street. The botched strike killed 10 civilians, including aid worker Zemari Ahmadi, his relatives and children. *) Turkiye to run 'charity train' to Afghanistan as hunger worsens Turkiye will send a "charity train" to Afghanistan carrying emergency goods, as the country faces a harsh winter with a deteriorating economy that has plunged millions into poverty. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the train, carrying 700 tonnes of food, clothing, and health and emergency goods, will be sent with the support of 10 NGOs coordinated by Turkiye's disaster agency AFAD. The move comes in contrast to Western nations, led by the United States, that have frozen billions of dollars worth of Afghan banking assets and cut off development funding. *) Aid begins to arrive in tsunami-hit Tonga as main airport opens Aircraft carrying much-needed humanitarian supplies have begun arriving in tsunami-affected Tonga, as the South Pacific island finally made contact with the rest of the world after being hit. The first flight carrying aid to Tonga was able to make it to the Pacific nation's main airport, once the runway was cleared of volcanic ash after five days. Australia and New Zealand have sent humanitarian supplies including temporary shelters, generators, hygiene kits, and communications equipment to the tsunami-hit pacific nation.

*) Russia amasses 127,000 troops in 'almost complete' build-up Russia has reportedly deployed more than 127,000 troops and "almost completed" its build-up, Ukraine has said, raising fears of an imminent invasion of the eastern European country. The assessment said the current situation in the region is "difficult" and added that it believes Moscow is "trying to split and weaken the European Union and NATO". Ukraine's assessment also said that Russia was using its ally Belarus to "expand aggression" against Kiev. *) Israel demolishes Palestinian home in Sheikh Jarrah Israeli police have destroyed the home of a Palestinian family in the sensitive occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Before dawn, Israeli officers went to the home of the Salhiya family, according to a video posted online by the police on Wednesday. Israeli police had created a barrier around the Salhiya home, blockading dozens of Palestinians on the inside before the demolition, according to local sources. *) EU condemns violence against anti-coup protesters in Sudan The European Union’s foreign policy chief has said Sudan’s military rulers have shown an unwillingness to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the country's ongoing crisis. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that repeated calls for Sudanese authorities to refrain from violence against protesters “have fallen on deaf ears”. His statement comes a day after security forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters in the capital, killing at least seven people. *) Houthi general among civilians killed in Saudi-led strikes in Yemen The Saudi-led coalition has killed nearly two dozen people in air strikes on Yemen's rebel-held capital after an attack by Houthi rebels on the United Arab Emirates sent regional tensions soaring. Coalition strikes around the city killed a total of about 20 people, said the deputy foreign minister for the Houthi administration, which holds much of northern Yemen. Among those killed in coalition air strikes was a high-ranking Houthi military official, including his wife and son. And finally … *) Arabic oud icon seeks to 'change soul' of Iraq with music Long uprooted from his native Iraq, Naseer Shamma, an icon of the Arabic oud, returned home to help rekindle the flame of Iraqi music, snuffed out by decades of conflict. "When you are in your own country, you feel very high emotions with the audience," the master string player said. "Now we're playing to help education. My new project is called 'education first'. We need to help Iraqi schools," Shamma added.

*) Sudan anti-coup rally turns deadly as security forces fire 'live bullets' Sudanese security forces have killed seven protesters among thousands rallying against last year's military coup. Three protesters "were killed by live bullets" by "militias of the putschist military council," anti-coup medics said on the Facebook page of Khartoum state's Health Ministry. The independent Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said four more demonstrators were killed "during a massacre by the coup authorities who were seeking to disperse the protests." *) China calls for end to 'Cold-War mentality' in veiled swipe at US Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that confrontation between major powers could have "catastrophic consequences" in a speech to world leaders at an all-virtual Davos forum. He presented himself as the defender of multilateralism and also gave sober warnings for the future as relations between major powers plunge. "Our world today is far from the tranquil, rhetoric that stokes hatred and prejudice abound," he said, according to an official translation of the speech which was streamed online. *) Turkiye hands over hundreds of housing units for Albania quake victims President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has handed over more than 500 housing units a Turkish agency built for earthquake victims in Albania. "We are crowning the friendship between Turkiye and Albania with the handover of these houses," Erdogan said. A total of 522 housing units, worth about $48 million, have been built for the northwestern town of Lac, which was struck by a deadly quake in November 2019. *) Winter storm halts motorists, grounds planes in US and Canada A major winter storm has blanketed a swathe of North America in snow as it sliced up the US east coast into Canada, disrupting travel and cutting power to thousands of homes. About 120,000 American customers were without power, with the largest concentration in the mid-Atlantic state of West Virginia and North and South Carolina and Georgia. Large parts of the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario remained under winter storm or blizzard warnings, according to a Canadian government website. *) Lewandowski wins FIFA best player vote ahead of Messi and Salah Robert Lewandowski was voted the best men’s player in the world, retaining the FIFA award he won last year despite being left off the ballot paper filed by runner-up Lionel Messi. The Bayern Munich forward overturned the result last month of the Ballon d’Or prize where he placed second behind Messi. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool placed third. “I am very honored to win this trophy,” Lewandowski said on a video link from Munich. The trophy was presented by club officials during the online ceremony hosted at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

*) US accuses Russia of ‘preparing sabotage’ to justify Ukraine invasion The United States accused Russia of sending saboteurs trained in explosives to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine, where government websites were knocked out in a cyber attack linked to Moscow. The allegations and incident mark a new escalation in tensions over Ukraine, just after a week of talks between the West and Russia that sought a diplomatic solution. Detailing intelligence findings, the White House said that Russia was "laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for invasion" by blaming Ukraine. *) Military flights assess damage from Pacific volcano New Zealand and Australia sent military surveillance flights to Tonga to assess the damage caused by a huge undersea volcanic eruption in the Pacific island nation. A towering ash cloud had prevented earlier flights. New Zealand hopes to send essential supplies, including much-needed drinking water, on a military transport plane. Communications with Tonga remained extremely limited. Underwater communications cables were likely severed in the eruption and repairs could take weeks. ​​​*) Lebanon slams Israeli media reports of gas deal as 'completely untrue' The Lebanese government denied media reports about an agreement to be supplied with gas from Israel. Israeli media reported the country had reached an agreement with the United States to supply Lebanon with gas. However, the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water described the Israeli media report in a statement as “totally and completely untrue." *) Sudanese doctors protest attacks by security forces in anti-coup rallies Sudanese doctors protested against violent attacks by security forces targeting medical personnel during pro-democracy rallies following last year's military coup. "During every protest they fire tear gas inside the hospital where I work," one doctor, Houda Ahmad, said at the rally in Khartoum. "They even attack us inside the intensive care unit," she added at the rally, where medical personnel carried pictures of colleagues they said had been killed. *) Prince's estate valued over $156 million after six-year legal tussle The six-year legal battle over pop superstar Prince’s estate has ended, meaning the process of distributing the artist's wealth could begin next month. The Internal Revenue Service and the estate’s administrator agreed to value Prince's estate over $156 million, a figure that the artist's heirs have also accepted. The valuation dwarfs the estate’s administrator’s earlier $82.3 million appraisal. The Internal Revenue Service in 2020 had valued the estate at $163.2 million. Prince, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2016, did not leave a will.

*) Russia considering sending troops to Latin America if tensions with West rise Russia has raised the stakes in its dispute with the West over Ukraine and NATO expansion after a top diplomat refused to rule out a military deployment to Latin America if tensions with the United States and its allies escalate. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said he could "neither confirm nor exclude" the possibility of Russia sending military assets to Cuba and Venezuela. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan dismissed the statements about a possible Russian deployment to Latin America as "bluster in the public commentary". *) US arrests far-right militia chief for role in Capitol invasion Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group, has been arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy in the attack on the US Capitol. 10 other people were also charged in connection with the attack on January 6, 2021, when members of the extremist group raided Washington to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory. These are the first charges of seditious conspiracy that the US Department of Justice has brought in connection with the attack led by supporters of former president Donald Trump. ​​​*) UN calls for release of Afghanistan funds to avoid destitution The United Nations has urged the United States and the World Bank to unfreeze Afghan funds, locked since the Taliban's return to power. "We must ... rapidly inject liquidity into the economy and avoid a meltdown that would lead to poverty, hunger and destitution for millions," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. He called on Washington to take the lead in helping the country avoid a collapse "because the major part of the world financial system works in dollars". Washington seized nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank also suspended activities in the country. *) North Korean hackers stole $400m in cryptocurrency in 2021 North Korea launched at least seven attacks on cryptocurrency platforms that extracted nearly $400 million worth of digital assets last year, blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis reported. "From 2020 to 2021, the number of North Korean-linked hacks jumped from four to seven, and the value extracted from these hacks grew by 40 percent," the report read. Pyongyang was accused of using stolen funds to support its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes to circumvent sanctions by a United Nations panel of experts. North Korea does not respond to media inquiries, but has previously released statements denying allegations of hacking. And finally … *) Queen Elizabeth strips Prince Andrew of military roles and HRH title Queen Elizabeth II's second son Prince Andrew, often called the Queen's "favourite son", has been effectively stripped of his position in royal life as he faces a US civil case for sexual assault. He will no longer use the "His Royal Highness" title, which designates senior members of the royal family, in any capacity. Andrew faces a US civil case for sexual assault brought by Virginia Giuffre who said he sexually assaulted her in 2001 when she was 17. She said she was delivered to Andrew by Jeffrey Epstein Andrew strenuously denies the allegation, claiming to have no memory of meeting Giuffre.

🇺🇸🇰🇵 US hits North Korean officials with sanctions after missile test 🇷🇺🇺🇦 NATO and Russia cite differences on Ukraine crisis as talks end inconclusively 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan's President Tokayev orders rebuilding of riot-hit Almaty 🇾🇪 War in Yemen continues to fuel hunger and economic collapse 🦠 Omicron patients have less hospitalisation and death risk And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

🇷🇺🇺🇸Russia, US take tough stands ahead of more talks on Ukraine 🇭🇰Hong Kong to pass law outlawing more 'national security' crimes 🇰🇵North Korea reportedly test fires another hypersonic missile 🇰🇿Kazakhstan's Tokayev faults mentor for creating 'layer of wealthy people' 🎾🇦🇺Djokovic clarifies movements, Australian visa saga continues And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Kazakhstan: 'Attempted coup' defeated, CSTO troops to leave 'soon’ Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said his country has defeated what he called an “attempted coup d'etat” during historic violence last week. He blamed foreign militants for the violence and promised foreign troops deployed to stabilise his country will vacate "soon". In a video conference with leaders from several ex-Soviet countries, Tokayev said "armed militants" had used the backdrop of protests to try to seize power. Last week’s protests were sparked by a fuel price hike. *) US shatters world record with 1.13 million new Covid cases The United States has reported at least 1.13 million new coronavirus infections, the highest daily total of any country in the world. The surge comes as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing in the country. Meanwhile, flight cancellations, new lockdowns, and border restrictions in other parts of the world are becoming a norm again as the pandemic continues to spread. ​​​*) Russia, US agree to further talks on Ukraine with no major breakthrough Russia has told the United States that it had no plans to invade Ukraine, as the two sides agreed to more efforts to keep tensions from turning into a full-blown confrontation. After more than seven hours of negotiations in Geneva on Monday, the Russian and US negotiators both offered to keep talking, though there was no sign of a major breakthrough. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said he had assured his US counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, that those fears were unfounded. *) North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile amid stalled talks North Korea has fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into its eastern sea, its second weapons launch in a week. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday said North Korea likely fired a single ballistic missile from an inland area to its eastern sea. He said that the South Korean and US militaries were analysing the launch. Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office and Defense Ministry also said the weapon was possibly a ballistic missile. And finally … *) Djokovic free in Australia but deportation threat still exists Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic trained at the Australian Open venue on Tuesday in search of a record 21st Grand Slam. But his dream hangs in the balance as the government pondered cancelling his visa, again. The world number one had scored a stunning courtroom victory the day before, overturning the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa on Covid-19 vaccination grounds. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) More than 160 killed in violent Kazakhstan protests At least 164 people, including a 4-year-old girl, were killed in Kazakhstan in a week of protests. The violence marked the worst unrest since the former Soviet republic gained independence 30 years ago. The office of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Sunday that order has been restored in the country, with authorities regaining control of all buildings that were taken over by the protesters. About 5,800 people were detained during the unrest. *) US building fire kills more than a dozen, including children Nineteen people, including nine children, have been killed in an apartment fire in New York City in what is being dubbed as the one of the city's worst blazes in recent memory. Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said Sunday's fire "started in a malfunctioning electric space heater" in an apartment unit spanning the second and third floors of the 19-story building. More than five dozen people were injured and 13 people were still in critical condition in the hospital. ​​​*) Thousands left homeless as blaze hits Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh In Southern Bangladesh, a fire swept through a Rohingya refugee camp, destroying tents and leaving thousands homeless. Sunday’s fire burnt about 1,200 houses, leaving more than 5,000 people homeless. There were no immediate reports of casualties in the blaze that hit Camp 16 in Cox's Bazar. *) Aid groups halt work in Ethiopia's Tigray after air strike Aid organisations have suspended their operations in an area of northwest Tigray in Ethiopia, said the UN agency for humanitarian affairs. The suspension comes a day after 56 civilians were reportedly killed in the area by an air strike over the weekend. The agency did not give further details. Much of Tigray remains cut off from the world, with limited communications for humanitarian workers who have found their work severely constrained by a months-long government blockade. And finally … *) 'Power of the Dog', 'West Side Story' win top prizes at untelevised Golden Globes "The Power of the Dog" and "West Side Story" have won top film prizes at an untelevised Golden Globes that was largely ignored by Hollywood. Jane Campion's dark Western "The Power of the Dog" became the second film directed by a woman to win the best drama prize. Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" remake claimed best comedy or musical, as well as lead and supporting actress prizes for stars Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose.

*) Peacekeepers of Russia-led military bloc begin Kazakhstan mission Russian paratroopers have been deployed to Kazakhstan for a peacekeeping operation, along with troops from four other former Soviet republics. The deployment came in response to an appeal from the president of Kazakhstan to help stabilise the country amid a wave of protests sparked by a fuel price rise. Reports of casualties continue to emerge from the oil-rich country. The media reported dozens of protesters killed while the Kazakh interior ministry said 26 "armed criminals" had been "liquidated". *) Trump's Twitter alternative TRUTH Social to be launched next month Former US president Donald Trump's new media venture plans to launch its social media app Truth Social on February 21st. TRUTH Social, the Trump Media & Technology Group alternative to Twitter, offers features to follow other people and trending topics. Its message equivalent to a tweet will be dubbed "truth". The app's launch would come 13 months after Facebook and Twitter banned Trump over his encouraging supporters to participate in the January 6th Capitol attack. ​​​*) Banned from Olympics, North Korea blames Covid and 'hostile forces' A letter from North Korea to China blamed "hostile forces" and Covid-19 risks for not being able to attend the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Pyongyang also accused the United States of trying to prevent the Games' success. But, North Korea had already been suspended from the International Olympic Committee until the end of 2022 in September for refusing to send a team to the Tokyo Summer Games. *) Almost 100,000 children lost parents to Covid in Peru Covid-19 has killed at least one parent or primary caregiver for nearly 100,000 children in Peru, its government has reported. "Unfortunately our country has almost 98,000 children who lost their father, mother or guardian during the pandemic," said Peru's Minister of Women Anahi Durand, citing figures published in the medical journal The Lancet. Peru has the world's highest coronavirus death rate, with more than 6,000 Peruvians per million having died from the disease. And finally … *) Djokovic family lashes out at his treatment in Australia Novak Djokovic's family and fans have railed against the tennis superstar's shock detention in Australia. His father Srdjan Djokovic said his son was the victim of a "political witch hunt" and "corona fascism", and should be freed. Fans also chanted "free Novak" outside Melbourne's Park Hotel which now serves as a detention centre. The vaccine-sceptic tennis ace was detained on arrival in Australia, and his visa was revoked, earlier this week due to Covid-19 restrictions.

*) Fuel protests turn deadly in Kazakhstan Dozens of protesters have been killed in Kazakhstan overnight as riots over fuel prices resumed for the fifth day. In the main city of Almaty, armoured personnel carriers and ground troops could be seen in the main square after a night of deadly clashes. A Russia-led military alliance is sending "peacekeeping forces" after President Tokayev asked for help to quell protests. The White House and United Nations urged Kazakh authorities to show "restraint" in dealing with civil unrest. *) North Korea claims second successful hypersonic missile test North Korea has successfully tested a hypersonic missile in the first major weapons test by the nuclear-armed nation this year. The North Korean state news agency reported a second test of what Pyongyang claims are hypersonic gliding missiles. The United States, Japan and Canada condemned the test which came amid stalled denuclearisation talks ​​​*) Military bases hosting US troops in Iraq and Syria come under attack Iraqi military bases hosting US troops in Iraq's western Anbar province and the capital of Baghdad have been hit by rockets. In Syria, eight rounds of indirect fire landed inside a base with members of the US-led coalition. No casualties were reported. The attacks began on Monday on the anniversary of a US air strike that killed Iran's General Qasem Soleimani. *) Novak Djokovic denied entry to Australia, has visa cancelled Australia has denied entry to Novak Djokovic and cancelled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to Covid vaccination rules. The top-ranked tennis player announced on Tuesday that he had “exemption permission” and landed in Australia the next day. But Australian border authorities didn't accept the exemption or let him in. “The rule is very clear,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a news conference, adding that Djokovic didn’t have a valid medical exemption. And finally … *) Turkiye showcases all-electric 'smart' car in Las Vegas event Turkiye's technology brand TOGG has unveiled the first Turkish ‘smart’ car, currently known as the "Transition Concept Smart Device". The electric fastback can be integrated with smart cities around the world. The all-electric vehicle was showcased at the world's largest Consumer Electronics Show, in the US city of Las Vegas.

*) Kazakhstan government resigns after violent protests over fuel price Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has accepted the government's resignation after mass protests over fuel price increase. Tokayev named Alikhan Smailov as acting prime minister. A state of emergency was declared in Almaty and the oil-producing western Mangistau province. The protests began in Mangistau province on Sunday following the lifting of price caps on liquefied petroleum gas, after which its price more than doubled. *) North Korea launches possible ballistic missile into sea North Korea has fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile into the sea, in the first such launch by Pyongyang this year. The latest launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to further boost the country's military capability last week. The development signals that Pyongyang isn’t interested in rejoining denuclearisation talks anytime soon. ​​​*) US reports record one million Covid cases in single day Nearly two years into the pandemic, the United States has become the first country to report one million coronavirus cases in a single day. President Joe Biden addressed the nation, telling the public not to be afraid. He instead urged them to be vigilant and get vaccinated Meanwhile, ​​a lockdown has been declared in the Chinese city of Yuzhou after it reported some new coronavirus cases. *) Palestinian prisoner ends 140-day hunger strike after deal with Israel A Palestinian prisoner who was on hunger strike for over 140 days to protest being imprisoned without charge has agreed to end his fast. Hisam Abu Hawash, a 40-year-old father of five, agreed to end his strike after reaching a deal with Israel to be released next month. Abu Hawash is the latest of several Palestinians to go on hunger strike to protest being held under “administrative detention,” a controversial measure Israel says is needed for security. And finally … *) Djokovic criticised for medical exemption to play at Australian Open World tennis number one Novak Djokovic has been granted exemption from getting vaccinated against Covid-19 to participate in the Australian Open. The exemption drew criticism from some including Seven-times Grand Slam doubles champion Jamie Murray. Murray said it would have been difficult for him to get a similar exemption if he were in the Serbian's place.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong activist behind Tiananmen vigil convicted 🇨🇴 Clashes between Colombia rebels kill more than two dozen 🇭🇹 Haiti PM survives weekend assassination bid 🇵🇰 Pakistan: Fencing won't stop along border with Afghanistan 💻 Apple becomes first US company to hit $3 trillion market value And that's your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

🇸🇩 Sudan’s Prime Minister, Hamdok resigns amid protests ❄️ Snow storms and pandemic ground flights cause delay in holiday's end 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 Biden reassures Ukraine's Zelenskyy over Russia’s military buildup 🇵🇸 Hunger-striking Palestinian detainee 'in critical condition' 🇭🇰 Hong Kong news outlet to halt operations amid crackdown on dissent And that's your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Biden, Putin discuss Moscow’s military build-up, NATO US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have spoken by phone. The Kremlin requested the call to ease tensions between the countries. The leaders discussed Russia's deployment of nearly 100-thousand troops near its border with Ukraine, a country Russia invaded in 2014. Moscow wants guarantees from the US that it will never allow Ukraine into NATO, a guarantee the US says it can't give. But Washington has signalled it's open to closer security coordination in the run-up to talks set for next month. *) Omicron cases skyrocket globally as New Year celebrations approach Global coronavirus infections have hit a record high over the past week, and the next 24 to 36 hours are going to be important. The number of daily new Covid-19 cases worldwide crossed one million for the first time on Thursday since the pandemic began two years ago. Experts say the highly transmissible Omicron variant is responsible for the latest surge in cases. Because of the danger of large public gatherings, Paris and London have already cancelled their usual New Year's Eve firework displays. New York is going ahead with a scaled back event in Times Square. ​​​*) Tens of thousands ordered to evacuate in Colorado amid wildfires At least 31-thousand residents in two communities in the US state of Colorado have been ordered to evacuate because of a wind-fuelled wildfire that engulfed parts of the area, burning hundreds of homes, a hotel and a shopping centre. At least half a dozen people were injured and nearly 600 homes were destroyed. Crews outside of Denver are still battling fierce flames fuelled by fierce winds. Some gusts are topping almost 180 kilometres per hour. *) Tens of thousands demand a civilian government in Sudan Tens of thousands of Sudanese protesters have defied a security lockdown to demand a transition to a full civilian government. In Khartoum, demonstrators came within a few hundred metres of the presidential palace, the headquarters of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan who seized power on October 25. Troops, police and paramilitary units used tear gas to disperse them. Pro-democracy activists have been demonstrating in the streets against the army takeover for more than two months. That's despite a crackdown that has killed at least 48 people. And finally … *) Over 3,000 cultural artifacts returned to Turkiye this year Turkiye has recovered some 3,480 of its cultural assets this year thanks to the efforts of the country's anti-smuggling authorities. These artifacts sometimes included "a piece of ceramic tile, sometimes a coin, sometimes a statue, a mosaic," said Zeynep Boz, who heads the anti-trafficking department at the country's Culture and Tourism Ministry. With an abundance of historical sites, Turkiye has countless antiquities buried underground, making the country a hotspot for excavators.

*) Biden, Putin to discuss 'range of topics' as Ukraine crisis simmers Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak by telephone amid high tensions in Ukraine, the White House has said. Both leaders will speak on Thursday as Putin stepped up his demands for security guarantees in Eastern Europe. The talks come as the US and Western allies have watched the massing of Russian forces along the border with Ukraine, growing to an estimated 100,000. *) Russia and Belarus plan to hold joint military drills Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to hold joint military drills with Belarus early next year. The decision was confirmed during a meeting between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg. The planned exercise will take place amid rising tensions between their governments and the West. ​​​*) Israel approves measures to improve ties with Palestinians Israel's defence minister has approved a raft of measures aimed at improving relations with Palestine following a rare meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Israel. Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Abbas discussed security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which administers pockets of the occupied West Bank. Gantz's office said he approved “confidence-building measures” including the transfer of tax payments to the Palestinian Authority, and residency status for thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. *) Ethiopia approves dialogue commission that won't talk to rebels for now Ethiopian lawmakers have approved a bill to establish a commission for national dialogue. However, some government officials have said specifically that the new commission will not be engaging in talks with Tigray rebels. The 11-member commission is tasked with facilitating "an inclusive dialogue and reconciliation process that would heal wounds… and help the country to solve its complex problems," the bill added. And finally … *) US jury finds Maxwell guilty of five sex abuse-related charges A US jury has found British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell guilty of five charges of sex abuse and trafficking. Maxwell could be sentenced to decades in prison for finding teenage girls for the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The jury deliberated for five days before finding Maxwell guilty on five of the six counts she faced including the sex trafficking of a minor. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Police arrests six people after raiding anti-Beijing media office Six people working at a prominent anti-Beijing media outlet have been arrested in Hong Kong after national security police raided their office. The current and former chief editors of Stand News, and four former board members were detained for conspiracy to publish seditious content. Among those apprehended are pop singer Denise Ho and former democratic legislator Margaret Ng. The arrests came a day after additional charges were levelled against jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai for the same offence. *) US averaging 267,000 infections in daily Covid case record The United States has reported its highest ever number of daily Covid-19 cases, at more than 253,000. It comes after the country decided to shorten the recommended Covid-19 isolation and quarantine period from 10 days to five, drawing criticism from some medical experts. France and England have also hit record Covid-19 numbers. France reported almost 180 thousand cases, while England had nearly 130 thousand infections on Tuesday. ​​​*) Brazil official likens flooding in over 100 cities to 'bombardment' A total of 116 cities in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia are in a state of emergency because of flooding due to heavy rains and the collapse of two dams. Official data from the state government say 34,163 people have been made homeless and almost 43,000 are displaced. There have been a total of 21 deaths and 358 people injured this month due to heavy rains in the region. *) Israel's Gantz hosts Palestine's Abbas at home in rare meeting Palestine's President Mahmud Abbas met Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz during a rare trip to Israel. Abbas discussed creating a political horizon, leading to a solution of the Mideast conflict, Palestine's officials said. Gantz told Abbas that he intended to "continue to promote actions to strengthen confidence in the economic and civilian fields," an Israeli Defence Ministry statement said. And finally … *) Reality TV star Paris Hilton launches business in the metaverse Paris Hilton has created an island in the online virtual world, dubbed Paris World. Visitors can explore digital replicas of her Beverly Hills estate and its dog mansion in a luxury sports car or Sunray yacht. Like other virtual hangouts, Paris World will collect small payments for purchasing virtual clothing or booking a ride on a jet-ski.

*) Somalia PM accuses president of 'coup' attempt as elections spat deepens A political crisis in Somalia has escalated as the president suspended the prime minister, who blasted the move as an "attempted coup" and asked armed forces to follow his orders. The exchange came a day after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed sparred with Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble over sluggish preparations for elections. Relations between the pair have long been frosty, but the latest move stokes fears over the country’s stability as it struggles to stage elections and fight an insurgency. *) India blocks foreign funds for Mother Teresa's charity on Christmas India has terminated a permit that allowed a Christian organisation, the Missionaries of Charity, to receive foreign funds. That's after hardline Hindu organisations affiliated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party accused the group of leading religious conversion programmes. The charity, which was founded by the late Mother Teresa, has more than 3,000 nuns worldwide and runs a stream of social programmes across India. *) Syria reports 2nd Israeli attack on vital port in a month Israeli missiles fired from the Mediterranean struck the Syrian port of Latakia, igniting a fire in the container terminal, state media reported. The suspected air strike caused a blaze at a container storage area, and damaged a hospital, residential buildings and shops. The strike marks the second such attack this month on the facility that handles most imports for war-torn Syria. ​​​*) Thousands of cranes die in Israel's 'deadliest wildlife disaster' A bird flu outbreak in northern Israel has killed at least 5,200 migratory cranes and forced farmers to slaughter hundreds of thousands of chickens. Authorities are trying to contain what they say is the deadliest wildlife disaster in the nation's history. Uri Naveh, a senior scientist at the Israel Parks and Nature Authority, said the situation is not yet under control. And finally … *) Chinese web users blast Musk over space station near-misses Chinese web users slammed billionaire Elon Musk after Beijing said its space station took evasive action to avoid hitting two of his SpaceX satellites. China's Tiangong space station was forced to take "preventive collision avoidance control" during two "close encounters" with SpaceX's Starlink satellites in July and October. Chinese social media users blasted Musk and his companies over the incident, with one hashtag racking up 87 million views by Tuesday morning.

*) Russia sees 'positive' US reply over security proposals, Ukraine tension Russia has said US's willingness to discuss Moscow's security proposals to curb NATO's eastward expansion was "positive" as fears mount over military escalation in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin said "the start of negotiations announced (for) January will allow us to move forward". Tensions peaked this week when Putin vowed that Russia would take "appropriate retaliatory" military steps in response to the West's "aggressive stance". *) Turkiye, Qatar sign deal to jointly operate Kabul airport Turkiye and Qatar have agreed to jointly operate Afghanistan's Kabul airport following talks between committees from both countries. A joint committee will visit the Afghan capital Kabul to discuss the deal with the interim government of the country, diplomatic sources said. Afghans and foreign nationals fled the country through the facility when the Taliban took power in August following two decades of war. *) Tunisian president warns of 'assassination plans' against some officials Tunisian President Kais Saied has warned the public that plots are being prepared against some officials in the country, including assassinations. “There is even a recording of a phone call that specifies the day of the assassinations," Saied said in a video message. His remarks came as a group, including some members of parliament, declared that they will go on hunger strike in protest against Saied's July 25 power grab. ​​​*) Iran nuclear talks to restart in Vienna next week The European Union has said talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal will resume next Monday. The EU's foreign service said the meeting would be attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and Iran. Officials have said the deal would become obsolete within weeks if Iran continued to step up its nuclear activities as it has been doing since 2019. And finally … *) Coldplay to stop recording new music in 2025 Hugely successful British band Coldplay will stop recording in 2025, but will continue touring. "Our last proper record will come out in 2025 and after that I think we will only tour," the frontman Chris Martin said in a BBC radio interview. He added that the rock band, which was formed in 1996, might continue to do "collaborative things" but that "the Coldplay catalogue, as it were, finishes then".

*) Libya’s interim prime minister resumes duties amid vote delay Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has resumed his duties amid an expected postponement of the country’s presidential elections. A Libyan parliamentary committee said that it has become impossible to hold a long-awaited presidential vote on Friday as previously scheduled. Dozens of MPs called Libyans to take the streets after a parliamentary committee postponed the vote and suggested January 24 as a new date. *) Turkiye calls for long-term Middle East peace President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with members of the Turkish Jewish Community and the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States in Ankara. During the meeting, he said “constructive steps on occupied Jerusalem could contribute to security and stability in the region”. Erdogan said “we never want to see tension or conflict in this ancient geography that hosts the sacred places of all three monotheistic religions”. ​​​ *) Ethiopian government captures rebel-held Alamata Ethiopia's government has said its soldiers had recaptured Alamata in southern Tigray from Tigrayan fighters. The government marked it as the first major advance inside the war-torn region in many months, dashing hopes for peace following a rebel retreat. The Tigray People's Liberation Front rebel group, which announced its withdrawal from the Amhara region and Afar regions, has called for a ceasefire. ​​​*) China launches crackdown on celebrity tax evasion China's tax authorities have set a 10-day deadline for entertainers and social media influencers to pay overdue taxes. Tax bureaus in several entertainment hubs across the country warned that celebrities who have underreported earnings could face severe penalties if they don't refile by year end. Government campaign aims to tighten the noose on tax evasion and celebrity excesses. And finally… *) Oscar winner Mahershala Ali moves into spotlight in 'Swan Song' Double Oscar winner Mahershala Ali has finally found the right project to make his debut as lead actor in a feature film. Ali, who won Oscars for his supporting roles in "Green Book" and "Moonlight", is starring in the new drama "Swan Song", which will stream on Apple TV+ on December 27. "Whether you're leading or supporting or in an ensemble, you're always trying to look for good material," Ali said.

*) UN: Scores of migrants drown in two shipwrecks off Libya More than 160 migrants and refugees have drowned in two separate shipwrecks off Libya over the past week. Safa Msehli, a spokesperson for the International Organisation for Migration, said, in one incident, at least 102 migrants were reported dead after their wooden boat capsized off Libya. At least eight others were rescued and returned to shore, she said. *) Sudan PM Hamdok intends to resign 'within hours' Sudan Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has told a group of national political and intellectual figures that he intends to resign in the coming hours. The group Hamdok spoke to called on him to stay in his position but he insisted he would leave, according to two sources close to the premier. Hamdok was reinstated on November 21 following a coup a month earlier that saw the military take power and end a transitional partnership with political parties. *) UN plans to pay 'nearly $6M' to Taliban for safe Afghanistan mission The United Nations has proposed to pay nearly $6 million for protection in Afghanistan to the Taliban-run Interior Ministry, whose chief is under UN and US sanctions and wanted by the FBI. The proposed funds would be paid next year mostly to subsidise the monthly wages of Taliban soldiers guarding UN facilities. It will also provide them with a monthly food allowance under an expansion of an accord with the former US-backed Afghan government, a UN document said. ​​​*) Turkiye minister reassures holders of lira assets Turkiye’s lira is moving towards a level where it will find its true balance, Turkiye's Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati said. Nebati's comments came hours after his ministry announced a new measure in which Turkiye will compensate lira depositors for foreign currency fluctuations. The lira stood at 12.25 to the US dollar at 0539 GMT, from a close of 12.4 on Tuesday when it rose 6 percent in a roller-coaster session. And finally … *) Madagascar minister 'swims for 12 hours' after sea crash A Madagascan minister was one of two survivors to have swum some 12 hours to shore after their helicopter crashed off the island's northeastern coast. Serge Gelle, the country's secretary of state for police, and a fellow policeman reached land in the seaside town of Mahambo separately, apparently, after ejecting themselves from the aircraft. A search was still ongoing for two other passengers after the crash, whose cause was not immediately clear, police and port authorities said.

​​​*) Omicron replaces Delta to become dominant Covid version in US Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the US, accounting for 73 percent of new infections last week. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in Omicron's share of infections in only one week. Omicron is responsible for an estimated 90 percent or more of new infections in the New York area, the Southeast, the industrial Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest. *) Philippines death toll from Typhoon Rai rises to at least 375 The death toll from a powerful typhoon that hit the Philippines has risen to 375, with more than 1.8 million people affected and hundreds of thousands forced to leave their homes. Officials and residents pleaded for food, water and shelter as damaged roads, flooding and severed power and communication lines hampered relief efforts. Typhoon Rai made landfall and caused heavy rains for days, resulting in severe flooding and power outages in several provinces. *) Turkiye's Erdogan: Govt measures will protect people from high costs Turkiye’s lira has pared back some of its losses after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced measures aimed at protecting the country's people from high cost of living. One of his promises is that Turkish citizens who keep their savings in lira will not pay tax on any profits those savings make. Erdogan’s announcement comes amid rising prices and soaring exchange rates as the government pursues its “new economic model”, which opposes high interest rates. *) Tigray forces announce retreat from neighbouring Ethiopian regions We move next to Ethiopia, where the Tigray People's Liberation Front says its fighters will withdraw from the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar and retreat to Tigray. The rebels say they took the decision in a bid to reach a peace deal and allow the entry of humanitarian aid but the government says the TPLF is trying to cover up its recent military defeats. The move comes after more than a year of war that has left thousands of people dead and millions displaced. *) Chris Noth dropped from 'The Equalizer' amid sex assault claims Chris Noth will no longer be part of the CBS series “The Equalizer” in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the actor. Universal Television and CBS made a joint announcement that Noth would no longer be part of filming “effective immediately”. Two women accused Noth of sexual assault in a story reported last week by The Hollywood Reporter.

*) Death toll in Philippines typhoon tops 200 We begin in the Philippines, where the death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year has surged to 208. At least 239 people were injured and 52 were missing after Typhoon Rai ravaged the southern and central regions of the archipelago. More than 300,000 people fled their homes and beachfront resorts as Rai slammed into the country on Thursday as a super typhoon. *) Gabriel Boric wins Chile's presidential election Leftist Gabriel Boric has been elected Chile's next president after a bruising campaign against a free-market firebrand. With 68 percent of the total polling stations, Boric had 55 percent of the votes compared with 45 percent for his opponent, lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast. Kast recognised defeat and called his opponent to congratulate him on his "grand triumph" as supporters of Boric gathered in downtown Santiago to celebrate. *) Hong Kong sees the lowest turnout in three decades A record low turnout has been registered in Hong Kong's legislative council election, the first since China introduced a national security law. Just over 30 percent of voters took part in the 'patriots' only election' in which China decided the eligibility of every candidate. Hong Kong officials say the candidate vetting process by Beijing was needed in order to ensure stability but critics say it has weakened democracy in the city. *) Hundreds of thousands march to Sudan presidential palace in protest against coup Hundreds of thousands of people marched to the presidential palace in Sudan's capital Khartoum in protest against the October 25 military coup but were met with tear gas and stun grenades from security forces. ​​There are reports one person was killed and more than 100 injured, but there is no official confirmation. Demonstrators said they're rejecting the agreement that allowed Abdalla Hamdok to be reinstated as prime minister. *) WTA says Peng Shuai appearance does not address its concerns The Women's Tennis Association said an appearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai did not address its concerns about her wellbeing. Peng said that she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her and that a social media post she had made early last month had been misunderstood. The WTA said it was still not convinced of Peng's wellbeing, calling for a “fair and transparent investigation” into her allegation.

*) US Congress approves China forced labour bill US senators have approved a bill barring imports from China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The bill is effective unless Chinese businesses can prove goods were produced without forced labour. The measure is the latest in a series of intensifying US penalties over China's alleged abuse of ethnic and religious minorities, especially the Muslim Uighurs. *) Dozens feared dead in blaze at clinic in Japan At least 27 people are feared dead after a fire broke out at a psychiatric clinic in Japan's Osaka city. TV footage showed dozens of firefighters working inside and outside the narrow office building after the blaze was extinguished. Local media reported that police were investigating suspected arson. *) Typhoon Rai forces tens of thousands to seek shelter in Philippines Super Typhoon Rai has made landfall in the Philippines, bringing torrential rain and extremely high winds. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, with warnings of life-threatening flooding in coastal areas. Across the entire planet, there are usually only about five such powerful storms a year. This is the second to hit the Philippines in four months. *) 'Mercenary' spy firms busted in Facebook probe Facebook owner Meta has named half a dozen private surveillance companies, mostly Israeli, for hacking or other abuses. Meta's report accused them of collectively targeting some 48,000 people in more than 100 countries across its platforms. The report said it was suspending roughly 1,500 mostly fake accounts run by seven organisations across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. And finally … *) Bruce Springsteen sells song catalogue for $500 million Bruce Springsteen has sold his music rights to Sony in an estimated $500 million deal. The sale includes the singer's recorded music catalogue as well as his body of work as a songwriter, including classic hits such as "Born in the USA". It is the latest in a string of deals that have seen older musicians including Paul Simon, Stevie Nicks and Neil Young reap the benefits of their catalogues towards the end of their careers.

​​​*) US launches commission to study Afghanistan fiasco The US Congress has voted to set up a commission to assess the failures of the 20-year war in Afghanistan following the Taliban's victory. The commission was part of a $768 billion annual defence package passed by the Senate 89-10 on Wednesday. President Joe Biden controversially pulled out US troops in August to end America's longest war and invasion. *) Iran allows IAEA to install new cameras at nuclear site Iran and the UN's nuclear watchdog have reached an agreement on replacing cameras at a nuclear complex that Iran says had been previously damaged by an Israeli attack. There have been multiple warnings from Western powers that time is running out to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, with no significant breakthrough at talks in Vienna. But the issue of cameras may be a start. *) Zelenskyy urges sanctions amid high tensions with Russia Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling on European Union leaders to impose new sanctions on Russia 'before it's too late'. Kiev says it's ready for talks with Moscow, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has not committed to any meeting. Ukraine has accused Russia of gathering thousands of soldiers near its border for a possible military offensive. *) EU: Omicron to be dominant variant by mid-January European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the EU by mid-January. The head of the EU’s executive branch, however, said that the bloc is well-prepared for the variant, with 66.6 percent of the population now fully vaccinated against Covid. One of the largest studies on Omicron shows it may lead to less severe cases, but data also reveals that it is more contagious than any other variant. And finally … *) Groundbreaking Black feminist writer Bell Hooks dies at 69 Black feminist author and intellectual Bell Hooks, whose work took on new urgency amid the racial justice protests that swept the US, has died at her home in Kentucky, aged 69. The Washington Post reported that the cause of death was end-stage renal failure, citing her family. Hooks’ work explored how race, gender, economics and politics were intertwined and made her among the most influential thinkers of her time.

*) US ready to lift 'inconsistent' JCPOA sanctions against Iran The US says it is prepared to lift sanctions against Iran that are not related to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that sought to rein in Tehran's nuclear programme. US envoy to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that if Iran approaches talks in Vienna "with urgency and good faith," the US can reach and implement an understanding on mutual return. Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to revive the battered deal started in April of this year but were paused in June. *) France vacates troops from Mali's Timbuktu city after nine years France has lowered its flag and handed over keys to a military base in Timbuktu to Mali's military. The French military said that the Malian military maintains "a strong garrison in Timbuktu," as well as nearly 2,200 UN peacekeepers who are permanently deployed there. The withdrawal comes amid heightened tensions with Mali's army-dominated government and growing local opposition to French presence in the region. *) Scores burned alive in fuel truck explosion in Haiti In Haiti, at least 60 people have died while trying to collect spilt fuel from an overturned truck. Local reports suggest the truck driver lost control as he swerved to avoid a motorbike, causing the tanker to flip over. Witnesses say people nearby were rushing to collect the leaking fuel when the tanker exploded. *) Afghans facing 'avalanche of hunger and destitution' An estimated 98 percent of Afghans are not eating enough – with seven in 10 families resorting to borrowing food, pushing them deeper into poverty. That’s according to the United Nations' World Food Programme which describes the situation in the country as “an avalanche of hunger and destitution”. Poverty and hunger have pushed civilians into taking desperate measures, including child labour, early marriage and "even the sale of children", the WFP said. And finally … *) NASA probe 'touches' Sun for first time A NASA spacecraft has officially "touched" the Sun, plunging through the unexplored solar atmosphere known as the corona. The Parker Solar Probe actually flew through the corona in April during the spacecraft's eighth close approach to the Sun. Scientists said it took a few months to get the data back and then several more months to confirm.

*) US will not discipline troops for strike that killed Afghan civilians No US troops involved in the August drone strike that killed innocent Kabul civilians and children will face disciplinary action. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved recommendations for improvements in strike operations which did not include disciplinary action, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said. A Pentagon review in November found flaws in communication and identification of the target of the bombing, which killed 10 civilians, including seven children. *) Iran accuses Western parties to 2015 nuclear deal of ‘blame game’ Iran has accused Western parties to its 2015 nuclear deal of "blame games" after European diplomats warned the accord was at risk of losing any real meaning. Iran's top negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani defended Tehran, saying it "proposed ideas early and worked constructively". On Monday, British, French and German diplomats said major powers and Iran had yet to get down to business at talks on rescuing the nuclear deal, which will very soon become "an empty shell" without progress. *) Canada apologises to victims of military sex misconduct Canadian political and military leaders have officially apologised to victims of military sexual misconduct. The apology followed the government’s 468 million dollar settlement with tens of thousands of current and ex-Armed Forces members who experienced abuse. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also facing questions over a failure to investigate criminal sexual misconduct among some of the military’s top leaders. *)Tunisia president vows to call referendum, elections next year Tunisia's President Kais Saied has prolonged the suspension of parliament and announced a constitutional referendum, almost five months after dismissing his government and granting himself sweeping powers. The referendum on political reform will take place on July 25, 2022, both Tunisia’s Republic Day and when Saied took on executive powers this summer. Saied also extended the suspension of parliament until elections in December 2022. Critics have called Saied’s measures a “coup d’etat”. And finally … *) Larry Nassar victims reach $380M settlement The victims of sexual abuse by former US gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar have reached a 380-million-dollar settlement with USA Gymnastics. A court in Indianapolis on Monday approved the agreement between USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the more than 500 victims. More than 300 victims were abused by Nassar, with the remaining victims abused by individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics in some capacity.

*) Race to find survivors as US tornadoes kill dozens Search and rescue operations continue across six US states after a string of powerful tornadoes and storms left a trail of destruction. Kentucky's governor says the storms were the worst in state history and the death toll is likely to exceed 100. From Arkansas to Illinois, around 30 fierce fierce tornadoes obliterated homes, businesses and in some cases, entire towns. *) G7 issues warning to Russia over Ukraine G7 countries are warning Russia it will face massive consequences if it launches a military invasion of Ukraine. US intelligence says Moscow could be planning a multi-front offensive involving up to 175,000 troops. The Kremlin rejected these claims, but says the possible inclusion of Ukraine in NATO threatens its borders and contravenes assurances given to Moscow when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. *) WHO: Over 500M pushed into poverty The World Health Organization says over 500 million people around the world were pushed into poverty last year during the pandemic. WHO says it's due to people having to pay their own healthcare costs as the pandemic has not only disrupted the global economy, but also health systems. WHO is urging countries to focus on revamping their healthcare systems and to make it more affordable to all. *) State of emergency declared after heavy flooding hits Brazil Brazil declared a state of emergency in almost 50 cities, after torrential rains swept through the country's north and southeast states, killing at least three people. Last week dozens of cities were cut off by floods, causing houses and bridges to collapse. Government will provide financial assistance to those who’ve lost their homes. And finally… *) Verstappen crowned F1 world champion Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is the new Formula One world champion after winning the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. The Dutchman started on pole, but title rival Lewis Hamilton took the lead after a faster start, with the Brit chasing a historic 8th title. A late safety car ensured Red Bull a free pit stop to get fresher tires and storm past Hamilton on restart in the last lap.

*) Mexico trailer accident kills dozens of migrants At least 53 migrants were killed after the truck they were hiding in hit a wall and overturned in southern Mexico. Another 58 people were hurt and rushed to nearby hospitals. According to survivors, a majority of those in the truck were from Guatemala, and were trying to reach the US. *) Biden gives Ukraine reassurances over tension with Russia US President Joe Biden has told Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington will impose severe economic sanctions against Moscow if Russia attacks Ukraine. Biden assured Zelenskyy that Washington will provide military resources in the form of training and funds, as well as full political support in the face of a potential Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Kiev's army and pro-Russian separatists, "looks like genocide". *) Pakistani Taliban refuses to extend ceasefire with government The Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan has declared an end to a month-long ceasefire agreement it had with the government. They accuse Islamabad of breaching terms including a prisoner release agreement and the formation of negotiating committees. It also said security forces had carried out raids while the ceasefire was in force. *) Nicaragua cuts ties with Taiwan Nicaragua has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognised "only one China.” The statement leaves the island nation with just 14 formal diplomatic allies, but its president says it will not dent determination to defend its freedom. Beijing has welcomed the move, with officials from both countries due to meet in China soon. And finally… *) US actor found guilty in staged racist hate crime case A Chicago jury has found actor Jussie Smollett guilty of staging a fake hate crime. Prosecutors said Smollett, who is Black and gay, lied to police when he told them that he was assaulted by two masked strangers in January 2019. The actor faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count when he is sentenced, although he could be given probation. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Three Hong Kong activists convicted over vigil A Hong Kong court has convicted media tycoon Jimmy Lai and two other activists for taking part in an unauthorised gathering last year. The candlelight vigil was held to commemorate the victims of Beijing's deadly 1989 crackdown on Tiananmen Square. The trio are part of a larger group of activists being prosecuted on charges that include collusion with foreign forces. *) Indian defence chief killed in chopper crash The remains of India's military chief Bipin Rawat and 12 others have returned to the army base in Tamil Nadu. All 13 were killed in a helicopter crash that was flying to an army services college in the southern state. One officer survived the crash and is being treated at a military hospital. *) Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine protects against Omicron Pfizer-BioNTech says its vaccine booster shot will play a vital role in protecting against Omicron. Lab testing showed a three-dose course of the vaccine neutralised the latest variant. The discovery comes as the World Health Organization says Omicron has now been reported in 57 countries around the world. *) Meta bans all military-linked Myanmar companies Facebook’s parent company Meta will ban all pages and accounts belonging to Myanmar military-backed businesses, expanding restraints on the country's armed forces. The tech giant had in February announced a ban on all entities linked to the military from advertising on its platforms. The popular and influential site has for years been criticised for its ineffective response to malicious posts, particularly against Rohingya Muslims. And finally… *) CEO apologises for firing 900 workers over Zoom The chief executive officer of Better.com has apologised after a video of him firing 900 staff via Zoom went viral. Vishal Garg came under intense criticism when the mortgage company laid off about 9 percent of its workforce through a video call. Garg said he had "blundered the execution" of communicating the layoffs. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Malaysian court upholds Najib Razak's conviction A Malaysian appeals court upheld former PM Najib Razak's guilty verdict in a case linked to a corruption scandal at state fund 1MDB. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $50 million last year. He was found guilty of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering for illegally receiving about $10 million from a former unit of the now-defunct 1MDB. *) Saudi say France arrested wrong suspect Saudi Arabia is refuting French police assertions that they caught a Saudi man suspected of being involved in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Riyadh says it's a case of mistaken identity. French officials say they are now preparing to extradite the man to Turkey. *) Australia impose diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics Australia has followed US and New Zealand by imposing a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. PM Scott Morrison says Canberra is struggling to reopen diplomatic channels with Beijing, to discuss China's suspected human rights abuses. China has condemned the move. *) Rohingya refugees sue Facebook Rohingya refugees are suing Facebook for $150 billion for not doing enough to stop hate speech against them. Lawyers filing the class-action suit say the way Facebook is designed, contributes to real-world violence against the Rohingya. UN's human rights investigators said Facebook played a significant role in fanning hate speech that fuelled the violence in 2018. And finally… *) US returns stolen artifacts to Mali The US has returned over 900 stolen artefacts to Mali. Some of the artefacts date back at least 6,000 years. Many were discovered in 2009, and had been trafficked in the US, labeled as replicas. They were later certified as genuine by anthropologists and will soon be on display in Mali's museums

*) Biden, Putin to hold video call on Russia-Ukraine tensions US and Russian presidents will hold a video conference amid reports that Moscow is planning an incursion into Ukraine. The White House says it will offer diplomatic alternatives to military conflict, but the Kremlin is warning against any interference in regional affairs. This will be the first time Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have spoken since July, and the call is set to tackle key national security concerns. *) Court to consider appeal in Israeli war crimes case A Dutch court will today rule on war crimes accusations against Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz. Dutch-Palestinian Ismail Ziada filed the civil case against Gantz and another official, after six of his relatives were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza in 2014. Last year, a lower court dismissed the case, saying Gantz had immunity in civil cases, but Ziada appealed on the grounds that immunity does give cover war crime accusations *) Turkey, Qatar to improve relations Turkey's President Erdogan is in Qatar for a two-day state visit aimed at expanding cooperation between the two countries. He'll preside over the 7th strategic cooperation meeting between Ankara and Doha along with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. The visit comes as Turkey works to improve ties with Gulf countries. *) US boycotts Beijing Olympics on diplomatic level The US says all of its diplomats will boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, over China's human rights record. New Zealand also joined the boycott saying none of its ministers will attend. Athletes, however, will attend and have the full backing of their countries. And finally… *) NYC mayor extends vaccine mandate to private sector New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a blanket Covid-19 vaccine mandate for private sector workers. In a first for the US, De Blasio cited the emergence of the Omicron variant, cold winter weather and holiday gatherings as additional challenges to tackling the pandemic. Additionally, children aged five to 11 must show proof of at least one dose of vaccine for restaurants and other activities while those aged 12 and over must prove they've had two shots.

*) Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi gets 4 year sentence Myanmar's ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint were each sentenced to four-years each on charges of incitement and violations of a law on natural disasters. The ruling is the first in a series of cases brought against the former leaders since a military coup on February 1. The coup came after the army, whose allied party lost many seats, claimed massive voting fraud, but independent election observers did not detect any major irregularities. *) Anti-Covid restriction protests turn violent in Brussels Tensions flared in Brussels as anti-lockdown protesters clashed with riot police. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators, who gathered to oppose compulsory health measures against the pandemic. Belgium also imposed the use of Covid-19 passes for people to access bars and restaurants, as the country struggles to stem the rising number of cases. *) Casualties in northern Iraq as Daesh, Peshmerga fight In northern Iraq, Daesh militants killed four Peshmerga soldiers and a civilian, and wounded six others in an attack to take over a village. The group also captured another village a day after attacking it. The two villages are in a remote territory claimed by both Iraq and the govt in Erbil. *) Thousands rally against France’s Eric Zemmour Scuffles broke out between anti-racism activists and supporters of far-right French presidential candidate Eric Zemmour at a rally in Paris. Zemmour, who's been dubbed 'France's Donald Trump', promises a "reconquest" against what he called "decades of decline". The 63-year-old evoked the historic period, when Christian forces drove Muslim rulers from the Iberian peninsula in Spain and Portugal. And finally… *) Pope calls on govts to stop using migrants as pawns Pope Francis is calling on governments to stop using migrants as pawns in international politics. The pontiff is currently on a visit to Lesvos in Greece, where he's meeting with refugees at a migrant camp on the island. The Pope is on a five-day trip across the country, aiming to highlight the struggles of refugees.

*) US reports Omicron cases in multiple states Hawaii has found a case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, officials said, becoming the fifth US state to detect the variant. This brings the total number of reported infections in the country to nine. Earlier, New York reported five such cases. Scientists have been working to understand how dangerous is the new variant, which was first detected in South Africa and has now spread to many parts of the world. *) UN urged to investigate war crimes in Yemen More than 60 activist groups, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have called on the UN to investigate possible war crimes by all sides in Yemen's conflict. They accused Saudia Arabia and the United Arab Emirates of an "aggressive lobbying campaign" to quash that Geneva-based expert panel set up four years ago. More than 100,000 people have been killed and 4 million displaced in the war marked by Saudi-led coalition air strikes as well as shelling and missiles by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. *) US, EU and allies hit Belarus with coordinated sanctions The United States, European Union, Britain and Canada have slapped simultaneous sanctions on dozens of officials, organisations and companies in Belarus. The EU, meanwhile, imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 17 more people, including senior border guard and military officials, government representatives and judges. Belarus has has been accused of encouraging migrants to illegally cross the border into the EU in revenge for previous sanctions slapped on Minsk over human rights abuses. *) Iran offers European parties new commitments to restore nuclear deal Iran has provided European powers with drafts on sanctions removal and nuclear commitments as world powers and Tehran try to reinstate the nuclear deal. The development came after three days of indirect talks between Iran and the United States on bringing both fully back into the deal. In 2018, then-US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal, calling it too soft on Iran and reimposed harsh US sanctions, spurring Tehran to breach nuclear limits in the pact. And finally… *) Crippled by Israel, Palestinian amputees launch national football team Players in besieged Gaza have used crutches and prosthetic legs to stretch and run as part of the first-ever Palestinian national team. The team hopes to qualify for the Amputee Football World Cup. The Palestinian team is in the isolated Gaza enclave, whose two million residents have been locked under a harsh Israeli blockade since Hamas took over in 2007. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) First case of Omicron found in US The United States has identified its first known Covid case caused by the Omicron variant. The infected person, who had mild and improving symptoms, returned to the United States from South Africa on November 22. He tested positive seven days later. The person is in self-quarantine and all of the patient's close contacts have tested negative, according to top US infectious disease official Dr Anthony Fauci. *) Ethiopian army recaptures several towns near capital from Tigrayan rebels Ethiopia has claimed it recaptured several towns after Tigrayan rebels took control of them last week as part of their advance towards the capital Addis Ababa. Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu said forces recaptured towns on the Shewa front, including Shewa Robit, Mezezo, Molale, Rasa and its surroundings. Meanwhile, the United Nations has announced its aid trucks have started to arrive in Tigray’s capital Mekelle after more than six weeks. Flights between Mekelle and Addis Ababa have also resumed. *) World Bank reportedly okays unfreezing $280M to aid Afghanistan The World Bank's board has endorsed transferring $280 million from a frozen trust fund to two aid agencies to help Afghanistan cope with a brewing humanitarian crisis. This is according to Reuters news agency, which cited two sources familiar with the matter. The World Bank said that the 31 donors to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund must approve the transfer before the funds could flow to the World Food Programme and UNICEF. The donors are expected to meet on Friday. *) EU to tighten asylum rules at Belarus border The European Union has proposed curtailing some rights of refugees at its borders with Belarus. Under the proposal by the EU Commission, refugees would be permitted to claim asylum only at designated locations, such as border crossings, and could be kept for up to 16 weeks at the border. ​​The new proposals are part of the latest EU attempt to deal with what it describes as a crisis manufactured by Belarus. ​​And finally… *) WTA suspends all tournaments in China over Peng concerns The Women's Tennis Association has announced the immediate suspension of all tournaments in China due to concerns about the well-being of former doubles world number one Peng Shuai. Peng's whereabouts became a matter of international concern following a nearly three-week absence after she said that a top Chinese official had sexually assaulted her. The WTA's decision was applauded by many leading figures in the tennis world but could cost the organisation hundreds of millions of dollars. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Vaccine likely to protect against severe Covid from Omicron: BioNTech CEO BioNTech's Chief Executive Ugur Sahin says his company’s Covid-19 vaccine will "likely offer strong protection" against any severe disease from the new Omicron virus variant. BioNTech's guarded confidence contrasts with a sense of alarm conveyed by the chief executive of rival vaccine maker Moderna, Stephane Bancel. Bancel had raised the prospect of a material drop in protection against the new coronavirus lineage from current vaccines. Sahin would not be drawn on whether Omicron will become as dominant as the Delta variant. "But even if, that in itself is no reason to panic," he said. *) China 'hunting' Taiwan citizens abroad through deportation Beijing has pressured foreign governments to deport hundreds of Taiwan nationals to China in what human rights activists describe as a "hunt for Taiwanese". Over 600 Taiwanese people were extradited from various countries to China between 2016 and 2019 to "undermine Taiwanese sovereignty,” a report found. Beijing has been pressuring governments to extradite hundreds of Taiwanese people, mostly accused of telecoms fraud to China, according to the rights group Safeguard Defenders. Those extradited to China faced "arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, and forced televised confessions", the group said. *) At least three people dead in Michigan high school shooting In the US state of Michigan, a student has gone on a shooting rampage at a high school north of Detroit. The 15-year-old suspect killed three students and injured eight other people, including a teacher. Police say he was in possession of a semi-automatic handgun when taken into custody. *) Castro set to become Honduras' president as rival concedes defeat Honduras’ ruling party has conceded defeat in presidential elections, giving victory to leftist opposition candidate Xiomara Castro. Nasry Asfura of the National Party said in a statement that he had personally congratulated Castro, despite only about half of the voting tallies having been counted. Castro had 53 percent support to Asfura's 34 percent, according to the National Electoral Council. And finally… *) World Aids Day: Covid-19 diverted resources from AIDS fight The Covid-19 pandemic has diverted scientific and financial resources from the fight against AIDS, according to top US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. Marking World Aid Day, Fauci told the United Nations General Assembly global efforts to achieve the UN goal of ending AIDS by 2030 have been impeded by the pandemic. Fauci said that tackling Covid-19 has also disrupted supply chains and increased the risk for people with HIV of being infected with another deadly virus. And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Barbados becomes world's newest republic Barbados has removed Britain's Queen Elizabeth as head of state, severing its last remaining colonial bonds nearly 400 years after the first English ships arrived at the Caribbean island. During the ceremony, the Royal Standard flag was lowered and the governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, was sworn in as the nation's first president. Hundreds of people lined Chamberlain Bridge in the capital, Bridgetown to watch a dazzling display of Barbadian dance and music, complete with speeches celebrating the end of colonialism. *) Pentagon orders new probe into 2019 air strike in Syria The US defence secretary orders a review of air strikes in Syria that killed at least 70 civilians. In March 2019, US jets dropped two bombs on the town of Baghuz, along the Euphrates river. Washington said they were targeting Daesh, but a New York Times investigation published earlier this month found that mostly women and children were killed. *) Biden promises no new Covid-19 curbs in wake of Omicron panic US President Joe Biden has warned Americans not to panic about the new Omicron variant, as global concern is growing over the spread of the heavily mutated strain of Covid-19. Speaking at the White House, Biden said it was inevitable that the new variant would reach the US, but he also said the country has the tools necessary to protect Americans - particularly the approved vaccines and booster shots. Biden said he was not considering any widespread lockdown, and that the country is making contingency plans with pharmaceutical companies if new vaccines are needed. *) Myanmar junta court postpones verdict in Suu Kyi incitement trial A Myanmar junta court has postponed giving a verdict in the incitement trial of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The court adjourned the verdict "until December 6," to allow testimony from an additional witness, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, according to a legal official. The Nobel laureate faces three years in prison if found guilty of incitement against the military, as well as a catalogue of other charges that could see her jailed for decades. *) Sexual harassment widespread in Australian parliament One in three people working in Australia's parliament have experienced sexual harassment, an independent inquiry into parliamentary workplace culture found. The government-backed report found that more than half of the people who responded had experienced at least one incident of sexual harassment, bullying or actual or attempted sexual assault. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the findings were "appalling" and "disturbing" and called on parliament to clean up its act.

*) US warns of ‘other options’ to add pressure on Iran as nuclear talks resume The United States has warned it is "prepared to use other options" including military force to ramp up pressure on Iran if nuclear talks collapse. The US National Security Council's coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, issued the warning over the weekend, according to CNN. McGurk said “military force to prevent” Iran “from obtaining a nuclear weapon” is “a very achievable objective” International talks on Iran's nuclear programme will restart in Vienna on Monday with analysts foreseeing major obstacles to any speedy resumption of the 2015 nuclear deal. *) Opposition candidate takes big lead in Honduras presidential election Left-wing opposition candidate Xiomara Castro has taken a commanding lead in Honduras' presidential election, preliminary results showed. With 16 percent of votes counted, former first lady Castro had taken almost 53.5 percent compared to ruling party's Nasry Asfura at 34 percent. Castro, whose husband Manuel Zelaya was deposed in a coup in 2009, is hoping to become the first female president of Honduras. *) EU border agency plane to monitor Channel migrant crossings Ministers from several European countries have agreed to deploy a plane around the clock, to tackle what they call "migrant trafficking" in the English Channel. The aircraft will monitor the area from France to the Netherlands, starting Wednesday. The ministers met in France on Sunday, after 27 people died a few days earlier trying to cross the English Channel to Britain. The British home secretary Priti Patel was disinvited from the meeting after Boris Johnson called on France to take back the people who crossed over to the UK. *) African leaders call for reverse of Omicron-linked travel bans South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on countries to reverse scientifically "unjustified" travel bans linked to the discovery of the new coronavirus variant Omicron. Dozens of nations have blacklisted the country and its neighbours since South African scientists flagged Omicron on November 25. Ramaphosa's Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera accused Western countries of "Afrophobia" for shutting their borders. *) Louis Vuitton creative director dies of cancer at 41 One of fashion's most influential designers, Virgil Abloh has died from cancer at the age of 41. Abloh was the first Black creative director for the world's biggest luxury brand Louis Vuitton. The Ghanaian-American founded his own label Off-White in 2013. He was also an important figure in the music industry, collaborating on album covers with artists like Kanye West and Jay-Z.

*) Worries grow as South Africa detects new Covid variant with many mutations Scientists have raised the alarm over a newly found Covid variant in Southern Africa with multiple mutations. Australia has launched an investigation into the new Covid variant while the United Kingdom has suspended flights from six African nations. The scientists are calling the new variant 'the worst one yet'. It could be more easily transmissible, and possibly more resistant to current vaccines. *) Solomon Islands leader blames foreign powers for fuelling crisis In the Solomon Islands, rioters have torched buildings during the third day of protests against the government. In the capital Honiara, police fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse the protesters. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has blamed the foreign powers for fueling the unrest in the country over his government's decision to switch alliances from Taiwan to China. *) Dozens reportedly killed in Siberia coal mine accident Arrests have been made in Russia, as the death toll from the Siberia coal mine accident surpassed 50 people. According to regional authorities, there was a methane explosion caused by a spark. The mine then filled with smoke with 285 people inside. Dozens have been hospitalised. One local news agency says three patients are in critical condition. *) Ethiopia asks US to stop 'shameful fake news' on war with Tigray rebels Ethiopia has accused the United States of spreading false information about security conditions in the war-hit country and warned such statements could harm ties. It said the US government should refrain from disseminating what it called "shameful fake news and defamation regarding Ethiopia". Washington once viewed Ethiopia as a vital security partner in the volatile Horn of Africa, but relations have soured over Ethiopia's year-long war against rebels. And finally… *) Protesters in Europe, Latin America seek end to violence against women Thousands have marched through Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, London, and also in Guatemala and Honduras to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This year's slogan was “Enough” as hundreds marched through central Madrid on Thursday with some banners calling to put an end to gender-based violence. Nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by someone they know, according to United Nations Women.

*) US jury finds three white men guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery A US jury has found all three white men charged in the death of black man, Ahmaud Arbery, guilty of murder. Travis McMichael, who shot Ahmaud Arbery, his father Gregory, and their neighbour William "Roddie" Bryan now face minimum sentences of life in prison. The convicts had chased Arbery in their pickup trucks and shot him dead in the southern US state of Georgia in February last year. *) Dozens of migrants and refugees loose their lives in English Channel boat disaster British and French officials have traded blame after 27 migrants and refugees died when their dinghy deflated as they made a perilous crossing of the English Channel. Wednesday's accident was the worst disaster on record involving migrants and refugees in the narrow seaway separating the two countries. Human traffickers typically overload the dinghies, leaving them barely afloat and at the mercy of waves as they try to reach British shores. *) UN seeks truce as Ethiopia's Abiy reaches frontline to fight Tigray rebels The United Nations chief has called for an "unconditional and immediate" ceasefire in Ethiopia, where government forces are battling rebels from the northern Tigray region. Antonio Guterres’ appeal came after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived at the frontline where government soldiers are fighting rebels. International alarm has mounted over the escalating year-long conflict in Ethiopia, where Tigrayan rebels are feared to march on the capital Addis Ababa. *) Germany’s centre-left-led alliance reach deal on new government A centre-left-led alliance of parties has announced a deal to form Germany's new government. The coalition will replace Angela Merkel's cabinet and put the Social Democrats (SPD) in charge for the first time in 16 years. The alliance concluded a roadmap on Wednesday on plans for Germany's next four years that will install Finance Minister Olaf Scholz as chancellor. And finally… *) World honours Maradona on first death anniversary of 'Golden Kid' The world marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Diego Maradona, regarded by some as the best player of all time. Argentine club matches will mark a minute of silence and players will arrange themselves in a "10" formation on the pitch to honour Maradona's famous jersey number. Two statues are set to be unveiled for the striker in the Italian city of Naples, where he spent part of his career.

*) UN reducing footprint in Ethiopia amid growing alarm International alarm mounted over the escalating war in Ethiopia as Tigrayan rebels claimed to be edging closer to the capital Addis Ababa and more foreign citizens were told to leave. The United Nations said it had ordered the immediate evacuation of family members of international staff. France also advised its citizens to leave "without delay", following similar advisories by the US and the UK. *) Biden taps US gas reserves as energy costs soar US President Joe Biden is going to release emergency reserves of oil to address rising inflation in the world's largest economy. The US is releasing 50 million barrels of oil in coordination with other major consumers of crude. The unprecedented move should also help lower energy prices, which are up 250 percent since January. Washington has been calling on the international oil cartel OPEC and its allies to raise production, to meet growing demand. But those appeals have been ignored. *) 'Apple suing Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group Tech giant Apple announced it is suing Israel’s NSO Group, seeking to block the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire company from breaking into Apple products. Apple said NSO Group's spyware, called Pegasus, had been used to attack a small number of Apple customers worldwide. It's the latest blow to the hacking firm, which was recently blacklisted by the US Commerce Department and is currently being sued by social media giant Facebook. *) HRW: Belarus, Poland violating human rights at border The Human Rights Watch said both Poland and Belarus have committed "serious human rights violations” against migrants on their border. HRW researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 19 people, some of whom "had been pushed back, sometimes violently, by Polish border guards". In Belarus, they said that "violence, inhuman and degrading treatment and coercion" by Belarusian border guards were "commonplace". HRW added that this treatment "may in some cases constitute torture, in violation of Belarus's international legal obligations". And finally… *) NASA launches spacecraft to slam into and 'divert' asteroid A NASA mission to deliberately smash a spacecraft into an asteroid to see if its course can be altered has blasted off from California. The SpaceX rocket carrying the experiment lifted off early on Wednesday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base, NASA TV's livestream showed. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART is a test run should humanity ever need to stop a giant space rock from wiping out life on Earth.

*) Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed vows to lead army 'from the battlefront' The Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed has announced he will lead his army from the battlefront against advancing rebel forces, in a statement on social media. His remarks come as rival Tigray forces close in on the capital Addis Ababa, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency earlier this month. Thousands of people have already been killed in the war between government forces, and fighters from the northern Tigray region. *) Several killed in bus crash in Bulgaria At least 45 people have been killed in western Bulgaria when a bus with North Macedonian plates caught fire on a highway, officials said. There were children among the victims, and seven people with burns were rushed to hospital in the capital Sofia, local news reported. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined. *) Wisconsin driver to face homicide charges for Christmas parade deaths The driver of the car that ploughed into a Christmas parade in the US state of Wisconsin will be charged with multiple counts of intentional homicide. Five people were killed and 48 injured when the suspect drove an SUV into the crowd in Waukesha. Police say he had left the scene of a domestic dispute minutes before, and that there is no evidence the incident was a terrorist attack. *) Belarusian president calls for European powers to work with Minsk Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says he does not want confrontation with Poland, but he says if the situation at the border remains the same, war will be “unavoidable.” Lukashenko has called on European leaders to work with Minsk to solve the migrant crisis. He proposed Germany take in two thousand migrants, and that the remaining five thousand be repatriated - a request Berlin has rejected. Poland and its Western allies have accused Minsk of instigating the crisis. And finally… *) Kevin Spacey ordered to pay $31M for ‘House of Cards’ losses Kevin Spacey and his production companies must pay the studio behind “House of Cards” more than $30 million because of losses brought on by his firing for sexual misconduct. A document filed in Los Angeles Superior Court requesting a judge's approval of the ruling says that arbitrators found that Spacey violated his contract's demands for professional behavior. MRC, the studio behind “House of Cards,” had to fire Spacey, halt production of the show's sixth season, rewrite it to remove Spacey's central character, and shorten it from 13 to eight episodes to meet deadlines. The 62-year-old Oscar winner's career came to an abrupt halt late in 2017 as the #MeToo movement gained momentum.

*) Several killed after SUV plows into Christmas parade in Wisconsin At least 5 people died and more than 40 others were injured in the US state of Wisconsin after a vehicle drove into a busy Christmas parade in Waukesha. US authorities confirmed the deaths in a statement. Police said the numbers could change as many people transported themselves to hospitals. A person of interest was in custody but no details have been given on a possible motive. *) European cities hit with wave of protests against renewed Covid curbs A fresh wave of protests has broken out in several European cities and in some French overseas territories over coronavirus restrictions. Police and protesters clashed in the Belgian capital Brussels, several Dutch and Austrian cities, and in the French Caribbean territory Guadeloupe. Europe is battling another wave of infections and several countries have tightened curbs despite high levels of vaccination, especially in the west of the continent. *) Protests in Sudan continue despite deal reached by military, civilian leaders A political agreement has been signed in Sudan which will see Abdalla Hamdok reinstated as prime minister following October's military coup. Top general Abdel Fattah al Burhan signed the agreement on Sunday which guarantees a return to transitional civilian rule and the release of all political prisoners. But many aren't convinced the agreement represents the demands of the Sudanese people, as anti-coup protests continue across the country. *) Chile heads towards polarising presidential runoff Chile's far-right former congressman is on track to win the first-round in the country's presidential election Early results show Jose Antonio Kast in the lead followed closely by leftist lawmaker Gabriel Boric. The pair will likely face-off in a run-off election next month. Sunday's vote will not only determine the president, but also members of congress and regional councils. The vote comes after years of tense protests, with Chileans demanding better living standards. And finally... *) Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai tells IOC she is 'safe and well' The International Olympic Committee says Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai told its president that she is safe and well, during a video call on Sunday. Peng told Thomas Bach that she was at her home in Beijing, and asked that her privacy be respected. Peng had not been seen or heard from since she accused the country's former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her — prompting global concerns over her safety.

*) India’s Modi withdraws controversial farm laws ​​After more than a year of Indian farmers displaying massive street power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repealed three highly controversial agricultural reform laws. Farmers were against the laws as they would no longer be assured of a minimum price for their crops. At the time, the government said the reforms were essential to modernise the nation but has now backed down ahead of elections in three heavily agrarian states. *) Sudan's police chief denies role in protester deaths Sudan’s police chief has defended his security forces after at least 15 people were killed by live fire at Wednesday's protests against last month’s coup. Lieutenant General Khalid Mahdi Ibrahim said security forces only used legal means to contain protests. Wednesday’s deaths brought the overall death toll since the coup to at least 39. *) Belarus clears main refugee camps at EU border Belarus has cleared the main camps where refugees were sheltering at the border with Poland. Belarus state media said late on Thursday that the refugees sheltering in the forest had been taken to a warehouse away from the Polish border. The EU has accused Belarus of deliberately creating the crisis by flying in refugees and forcing them to attempt illegal border crossings into Poland and Lithuania. Minsk denies "orchestrating" the crisis and both sides have agreed to talks. *) World Food Programme drivers released after weeklong detention in Ethiopia All of the World Food Programme drivers and UN workers arrested by the Ethiopian government in the north have been released. Ethiopia arrested 72 drivers in Afar province, on the only functional road leading into the conflict-and-famine-hit region of Tigray. The arrests follow an escalation of conflict between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and Tigray forces in early November – when the rebels threatened to besiege capital Addis Ababa. *) Deforestation of Amazon surges to highest levels since 2006 The deforested area in Brazil's Amazon has reached a 15-year high, after a 22 percent jump from the previous year. The Amazon lost 13,235 square kilometres of rainforest in the 12 months from August 2020 to July 2021, according to the National Institute for Space Research. Brazil's Amazon had not recorded a single year with more than 10,000 square kilometres of deforestation in over a decade before Jair Bolsonaro’s term started.

*) UN envoy warns Afghan Taliban unable to thwart Daesh on its own A UN envoy has warned that the Taliban has proven unable to prevent the growth of the Daesh Afghanistan affiliate. Deborah Lyons told the UN Security Council that the terrorist group has grown from being in only "a few provinces and Kabul" to now being present "in nearly all" of the country”. She said the group has dramatically increased attacks. These include 13 attacks in the second half of August, 38 in September and 48 the following month. *) Sudan forces shoot dead anti-coup protesters Sudan's security forces have shot dead at least 15 anti-coup protesters and wounded dozens more in the bloodiest day since the military's October 25 takeover. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said most of Wednesday's casualties had suffered gunshot wounds to the head, neck or torso. At least 38 people have died in unrest in Sudan since the military seized power. *) Merkel, Lukashenko agree on talks with EU on border crisis Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed that Minsk and Brussels should discuss the crisis on the EU border. The EU holds Belarus responsible for flying in and then transporting refugees to Poland's frontier, an accusation Lukashenko denies. Thousands of refugees and migrants have been stuck at the border since November 8, and want to reach Germany or other western European countries. *) Canada's British Columbia declares state of emergency Canada's province of British Columbia has declared a state of emergency after devastating floodwaters and mudslides. Officials said downpours in British Columbia this week trapped motorists in mudslides that left at least one person dead and four missing. Thousands of people have been evacuated as unprecedented rainfall over two days caused rivers to overflow banks and flood entire communities. *) Missing Chinese tennis star issues a statement but concerns deepen for her safety Chinese media has issued what they said was a #metoo retraction by a Grand Slam doubles champion who accused a top politician of sexual assault. But WTA Chair and CEO Steve Simon said that a statement attributed to Peng Shuai only raises his concerns "as to her safety and whereabouts.” In a detailed social media post earlier this month, Peng said an ex-vice premier and member of the Communist Party forced her to have sex despite her refusals. Peng went silent after her accusation was scrubbed from China's internet, with her retraction the first statement attributed to her since.

*) Poles fire tear gas, water cannon at migrants on Belarus border Polish forces have fired tear gas and water cannon at refugees at the Belarusian border, sparking accusations from Belarus that Poland was trying to escalate the crisis. Up to 4,000 refugees and migrants are camped out on the frontier between Poland and Belarus in increasingly dire conditions and freezing temperatures. The European Union accuses Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of orchestrating the crisis by luring people to the border to retaliate against the bloc's sanctions. *)Tensions stabilised at Azerbaijan, Armenia border Clashes on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border have ceased after both countries took steps to stabilise the situation. A statement from the Russian Defence Ministry said the border is currently back to normal. Azerbaijan had earlier said that the Armenian forces carried out “large-scale provocations” against the combat posts of the Azerbaijani army, injuring at least two soldiers. *) Saudi-led coalition in Yemen kills scores of Houthis The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has claimed that it killed 130 Houthi rebels in military operations in the past 24 hours. It also destroyed 16 military vehicles, the coalition said. But the Houthi rebel group maintains only 12 of its fighters were killed. *) UN Palestinian refugee agency faces 'existential threat' The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has fallen well short of its target to plug a 100 million dollar gap this year and secure long-term funding despite fresh pledges from donors. UNRWA warned it was facing an "existential" threat as it urged the international community to commit to more stable financing at a conference in Brussels on Tuesday. It said donors committed an extra $38 million for this year, leaving the agency some $60 million short. The UN agency needs to find $800 million a year going forward. And finally... *) 'Harry Potter' stars, excluding J.K. Rowling, to reunite for TV special "Harry Potter" stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are reuniting with other cast members for a special 20th anniversary TV retrospective. But "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling will not be among those making a personal appearance on the show. The special will be broadcast on January 1st on the streaming platform HBO Max.

*) Biden, Xi try to tamp down tensions at virtual meeting US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping have traded strong warnings on the future of Taiwan during a virtual meeting held to settle an increasingly volatile relationship. The leaders of the two superpowers agreed on the need to tread carefully amid mounting tensions and intense competition. Biden raised concerns about China's practices in Tibet, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region and Xi warned of Taiwan "red line", according to statements from both sides after the meeting. *) Myanmar military charges Suu Kyi with fraud over 2020 elections Myanmar's junta has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with electoral fraud in the 2020 polls that her party won in a landslide. Suu Kyi was accused of "election fraud and lawless actions," state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported. Fifteen other officials, including former president Win Myint and the chair of the election commission, face the same charge. *) Russia, Belarus signal willingness to de-escalate migrant crisis Russia and Belarus have both signalled willingness to de-escalate the refugee crisis at the border with Europe after frantic diplomacy by European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed tensions on the Poland-Belarus border had to be defused, Macron's office said. The same day, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a phone conversation about the refugee crisis and measures to prevent it from escalating. The diplomatic huddles took place after ​​the EU agreed to expand sanctions on Belarus, which Brussels accuses of causing the crisis by flying in refugees and pushing them to cross illegally into Poland. *) UN relief agency for Palestinians is on verge of collapse The UN Relief Agency for Palestinian refugees is holding a donor conference to make up a 100-million dollar shortfall. Budget cuts have pushed the agency close to collapse. The agency helps Palestinian refugees not only in the occupied territories but also in Jordan and Lebanon. And finally... *) US blasts Russia for space missile test that put ISS crew in danger The United States has criticised Russia for conducting a missile strike that blew up one of its own satellites. The strike created more than 1,500 pieces of space junk now "threatening" the seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Washington said it was not informed in advance about the test, only the fourth ever to hit a spacecraft from the ground, and will talk to allies about how to respond.

Iraq to start repatriating citizens in Belarus The Iraqi government is organising voluntary repatriations starting Thursday for its citizens stuck on the Poland-Belarus border amid a brewing standoff. Iraq estimated 571 Iraqi citizens are in eight camps on the border between Belarus and Poland where thousands of refugees are trapped in freezing conditions. Europe has accused Belarus of mounting "a hybrid attack" by flying in refugees and asylum seekers and pushing them to cross illegally into Poland. *) Kenya president holds talks in Ethiopia as conflict worsens Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has visited Ethiopia for security talks, amid global calls for a ceasefire in the Tigray region. It was Kenyatta's second visit to Addis Ababa over the escalation in the year-long war in northern Ethiopia between the armed forces and the T-P-L-F. Kenyatta's trip also preceded the 5-day visit from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. Thousands have died and more than two million people displaced in the fighting in Ethiopia since last November. *) UK counter-terror police arrest multiple suspects after Liverpool car blast British police have announced the arrests of three men after a taxi exploded in front of Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday, killing one person and wounding another. The three men, aged 29, 26 and 21, were arrested in Liverpool's Kensington district under anti-terror laws. The police said a male passenger in the car was declared dead at the scene, while the driver, also a man, was wounded and is in hospital in a stable condition. *) Biden and Xi to hold virtual meeting amid global, regional tensions US President Joe Biden and China's head of state Xi Jinping are holding a virtual meeting on Monday, amid strained relations between the two countries. It will be their first direct encounter since a tense 90-minute phone call in September. In a letter, Xi said he hoped the two leaders could work on the condition of "mutual respect," adding both nations will "only gain from co-operation, not confrontation." And finally... *) South Africa pulls support for Miss Universe candidate over Israel South Africa's government has withdrawn support for Miss South Africa after it was unable to convince local organisers to boycott next month's Miss Universe pageant, which is taking place in Israel. South Africa has long accused Israel of committing atrocities against Palestinians, likening their actions to Apartheid. Officials asked organisers of the South African pageant to reconsider taking part in the global event but failed to persuade them as pageant organisers say the beauty contest is not political. Contestants from 77 countries and territories will compete at the Miss Universe pageant in Eilat on December 12th.

*) Sudan's army chief appoints himself head of new ruling council Sudan’s military ruler Abdel Fattah al Burhan has formed a new transitional council headed by himself to lead the country following last month's military coup. The council includes representatives of rebel groups that reached a peace deal with the government last year, as well as regional Sudanese figures. Last month’s takeover ended a power-sharing deal between the military and civilians that was meant to lead to elections in late 2023. *) Ukraine to deploy thousands of guards for drills at Belarus border Kiev has said that it would deploy thousands of border guards and security personnel to its border with Belarus. The decision comes as EU blames Belarus for pushing migrants into the bloc via its Polish border in retaliation for sanctions against Lukashenko's government. Polish authorities said they stopped at least two groups of migrants from crossing the border from Belarus overnight. *) Russian air strike on Syria farm kills civilians Russian air strikes have killed five members of a family in Syria’s opposition-held region Idlib. The bombings targeted a farm in the country’s northwestern province, leaving three children dead, according to a Syrian opposition aircraft observatory. Air strikes also targeted the town of Maarrat Misrin in northern Idlib where most refugee camps are concentrated. *) US, Gulf states and Israel hold first joint naval drills A year after normalising ties with Tel-Aviv, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have held their first joint naval exercise with Israel. The US Navy, which also participated, said the five-day manoeuvres in the Red Sea began on Wednesday and are linked to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. The US said the drills are intended to "enhance inter-operability between participating forces". And finally... *) Niantic kicks off Lightship to build AR App Gaming company Niantic is releasing a platform for building what it calls “real-world metaverse” apps, stitching together the digital and the real world. Called Lightship, the platform will allow mobile apps to identify whether a user’s camera is pointed at the sky or water. It will also map the surfaces and depth of an environment in real-time, or place a virtual object behind a physical one.

*) EU accuses Belarus of 'trafficking' migrants toward border The European Union has accused Belarus of state-sponsored human "trafficking” by luring desperate migrants to the Polish border – the edge of the EU. Polish authorities estimate up to 4,000 migrants have gathered along its border with Belarus, where many are now stuck in makeshift camps in freezing weather. One EU leader said the bloc was considering the idea of funding the construction of a wall on its eastern border, an idea that will face many humanitarian obstacles. *) Taliban to enforce Islamic law in Afghanistan The Taliban has announced the establishment of a military tribunal to enforce Islamic law in Afghanistan. The group’s spokesperson said the tribunal has been formed following the command of Taliban supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The military tribunal will have the authority to interpret Islamic rulings, issue decrees relevant to Islamic civil laws and jurisprudence in high-level cases. *) China's leader Xi warns against 'Cold War' in Indo-Pacific China's President Xi Jinping has warned against returning to Cold War-era tensions in the Indo-Pacific. His remarks come amid growing tensions with Washington over Taiwan and after the US, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region. Current tensions have been partially offset by a surprise deal between Beijing and Washington on climate. Xi is expected to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders, including President Biden, on Saturday. *) COP26: Countries launch plan for green shipping corridors A 19-member coalition, including the UK and US, has agreed on creating zero-emission shipping trade routes between ports. The "Clydebank Declaration" was launched at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow and aims to establish at least six green corridors by 2025. The corridors will require developing supplies of zero-emission fuels, the infrastructure required for decarbonisation and regulatory frameworks. And finally... *) Finland to let workers see colleagues’ salaries to close gender pay gap Finland is planning a new law allowing workers to check what their colleagues are earning if they suspect a wage gap between men and women. The bill has been criticised by workers' unions, which want more transparency, as well as big companies, which say it would create conflict in the workplace. But the centre-left five-party coalition of Prime Minister Sanna Marin is pushing ahead to pass the bill before elections in April 2023.

*) Tensions rise in migrant standoff at Poland-Belarus border Poland has reinforced its border with more riot police as Belarus encourages refugees and migrants to try to enter the EU from its eastern frontier. The European Union has accused Belarus of trying to destabilise the bloc by encouraging migrants to enter illegally to retaliate against EU sanctions. The bloc said it is close to imposing more sanctions on Belarus. Poland reported many migrants attempted to cross overnight as thousands of people remain trapped in freezing conditions at the border. *) UN working to secure release of staff detained in Addis Ababa At least 16 United Nations staff members have been detained in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. The organisation says it is working with the government to secure their freedom. The latest detentions follow the release of six other staff members, as tensions between the government and the UN have been high since the start of the war between the state and Tigrayan forces last year. *) Afghan FM to meet Pakistani officials in first visit since Taliban takeover Amir Khan Muttaqi, the interim Afghan foreign minister, will visit Pakistan for the first time since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan. A senior-level delegation led by Muttaqi is travelling to Pakistan on Wednesday, a spokesperson of Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry said. The Afghan Taliban government recently helped facilitate a ceasefire between the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the TTP, the Pakistani Taliban. *) Top UAE diplomat visits Syria for the first time in over a decade The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates has met with Syria’s widely shunned regime leader Bashar al Assad in Damascus. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan's visit is the first by a UAE foreign minister since Syria's war began a decade ago. It comes as some Arab states improve relations with the Assad regime. During the meeting, the foreign minister "underlined UAE's keenness on ensuring the security, stability and unity of Syria," according to Emirati state media. And finally… *) 'Squid Game' director predicts second season of megahit series The director of "Squid Game," the dystopian South Korean series on Netflix, expressed confidence that the wildly popular show will return for a second season. Writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk said in an interview that they are in the brainstorming stages for season two, with the basic storyline already in his head. Actor Lee Jung-Jae, Hwang and others involved in the show, one of Netflix's biggest hits ever, attended a special Hollywood screening on Monday to celebrate its success.

*) Poland blocks 'mass attempt' by migrants to breach border with Belarus Poland has blocked a bid by hundreds of migrants to enter the country from Belarus, warning of an "armed" escalation. The European Union says President Lukashenko has encouraged the migrant flow in retaliation for existing EU sanctions imposed over Belarus's human rights record. Both Poland and Lithuania have deployed more troops towards their borders with Belarus which claims it has not manufactured the crisis. *) Poverty soars in blockaed Gaza The poverty rate in blockaded Gaza has risen to 59 percent from 43 percent five years ago due to "very high unemployment and deteriorating social conditions". A World Bank report said unemployment in Gaza stood at 45 percent. Gaza was hit hard during 11-days of devastating conflict with Israel in May, adding to existing economic woes caused by the years-long blockade and Covid-19 restrictions, the report said. *) US envoy returns to Ethiopia in bid to resolve ongoing conflict The US Envoy for Horn of Africa is back in Ethiopia for talks on the escalating conflict between Tigrayan forces and the government. Jeffrey Feltman is meeting with his African Union counterpart Olusegun Obasanjo who warned there is little time to reverse the crisis in northern Ethiopia. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed since fighting in northern Ethiopia started a year ago, and more than two million have been displaced. *) Six of Donald Trump's allies hit with subpoenas over insurrection Six allies of former US president Donald Trump have been subpoenaed as part of an ongoing probe into the January 6 Capitol Hill riot. A US House committee is investigating whether there was an effort by the Trump campaign to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election win. Campaign manager Bill Stepien, adviser Jason Miller and security adviser Michael Flynn are all being looked into. And finally… *) SpaceX returns ISS astronauts to Earth after 200-day flight A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts back to Earth after a busy six months on the International Space Station landed off the coast of Florida. Slowed by the Earth's atmosphere, as well as four huge parachutes, the Dragon capsule was able to withstand the dizzying descent thanks to its heat shield. The crew consisting of two Americans, a Frenchman and one Japanese astronaut conducted hundreds of experiments and helped upgrade the space station's solar panels.

*) US reopens borders to vaccinated visitors after 20 months The United States has reopened its land and air borders to foreign visitors fully vaccinated against Covid-19, ending 20 months of restrictions on travel. US borders were closed by the Trump administration after March 2020 to travellers from large parts of the world in response to the pandemic. Lifting the travel ban will affect more than 30 countries, but entry into the US will not be unregulated. US authorities will closely monitor travellers' vaccination status and still require many of them to present negative Covid-19 tests. *) Polls close in Nicaragua with Daniel Ortega on track for fourth term Nicaraguans have voted in presidential elections denounced by US President Joe Biden as a "sham.” Polling stations closed after 11 hours of voting under the watchful eye of 30,000 police and soldiers. International observers were not allowed. With seven would-be presidential challengers detained since June, long-term leader Daniel Ortega is assured a fourth five-year term. *) Azerbaijan celebrates first anniversary of Karabakh victory People in Azerbaijan are celebrating the first anniversary of "Victory Day" after last year's war with Armenia. On November 8, 2020, Azerbaijani forces recaptured the historic city of Shusha in Karabakh from Armenian militias, bringing an end to fighting with ​​Armenian forces. Azerbaijan has started rebuilding the region but a permanent peace deal still seems a long way off, following 30 years of conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives. *) China's Communist Party starts four-day meeting The top leaders of China's ruling Communist Party have started a pivotal meeting expected to further firm President Xi Jinping's grip on power. Some 400 members of the party's powerful Central Committee gathered in Beijing for the four-day plenary. State news agency Xinhua said Xi opened the meeting with a draft resolution that will set the stage for his expected third term in office. And finally… *) Elon Musk to use Twitter poll to sell 10% of his company's stock People on Twitter have voted in favour of Tesla CEO Elon Musk selling about 10 percent of his stock in the company. The multi-billionaire had asked his nearly 63 million followers on Twitter to help him decide the future of his Tesla holdings. Musk says he will accept the result. Ten percent of the Tesla owner's stock is valued at about 21 billion dollars. Tesla's shares fell about 9 percent in early trading on Monday as investors prepared for Musk's sale.

*) Several nations pledge to end overseas fossil fuel finance The United States, Canada and 18 other countries have committed at the COP26 climate summit to stop public financing for fossil fuel projects abroad. That would cover coal, oil and gas projects that are "unabated" – meaning that they burn fossil fuels without using technology to capture CO2 emissions. The commitment starts by the end of next year, funnelling their spending into clean energy instead, but does not include major Asian countries responsible for the bulk of such financing abroad. *) Sudan military orders detained ministers released amid global pressure Sudan's top general has ordered the release of four ministers who were detained amid a coup last week. Moez Hadra, a defence lawyer for the deposed officials, said they have yet to be freed. Top generals and former civilian leaders are in tense negotiations seeking a solution to the crisis sparked by the military takeover. *) Clashes leave hundreds dead in and around Yemen's Marib At least 200 fighters have been killed and hundreds wounded in clashes between Yemen's government forces and Houthi rebels over the last two days. Security officials from both sides have said that the clashes are taking place in and around the strategic central province of Marib. Most of the casualties belonged to the Houthis, who have recently taken most of Marib's 14 districts as they advance towards the capital of the province. *) UK becomes first country to authorise anti-Covid pill Britain has granted conditional authorisation to the only pill shown to successfully treat Covid-19 so far, becoming the first country to approve the treatment from Merck. The pill was licensed for adults who have tested positive for Covid-19 and have at least one risk factor for developing severe disease, such as obesity or heart disease. Patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 would take four pills of the drug, called molnupiravir, twice a day for five days. And finally… *) ABBA return with new album after 40-year hiatus Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Swedish pop sensation ABBA has made a comeback with their new album "Voyage", nearly 40 years after they split up. Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid have not released any music since they split in 1982, a year after their last album "The Visitors". "Voyage" went live at midnight on Thursday in various time zones, to the delight of longtime fans worldwide.

*) Rebels say Ethiopia capital could fall within weeks Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa could fall within "months if not weeks", an Oromo group allied with Tigrayan rebels has told AFP. The Tigray People's Liberation Front has claimed significant gains in recent days. Ethiopia’s prime minister urged civilians to rise up and “bury”the Tigray forces in a post that Facebook has removed over incitement of violence. As fighting between rebels and Abiy Ahmed's government drags on, a joint UN-Ethiopia report reveals possible "crimes against humanity" by all sides. *) Pentagon finds no misconduct in Afghanistan drone strike A Pentagon review has concluded that the drone strike that killed Afghan children a few days before the US quit Afghanistan was not caused by misconduct or negligence. It did not recommend any disciplinary action. The review found breakdowns in communication and in the process of identifying the target of the bombing. It concluded the mistaken strike happened despite prudent measures to prevent civilian deaths. *) Global CO2 emissions for 2021 near record levels: report Global CO2 emissions, caused mainly by burning fossil fuels, are expected to be just shy of the record set in 2019. China's carbon pollution now accounts for nearly a third of global emissions, the Global Carbon Project reported. The report comes as the COP26 summit grapples for ways to beat back the threat of catastrophic warming. Emissions from gas and highly polluting coal will grow more in 2021 than they fell in 2020 during the pandemic-driven economic slowdown, the report said. *) International Criminal Court to probe abuses in Venezuela The International Criminal Court is opening a formal investigation into allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings committed by Venezuelan security forces. It’s the first time a country in Latin America is facing scrutiny for possible crimes against humanity from the court. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said he was aware of Venezuela's political “fault lines” and “geopolitical divisions" but that his job was to uphold law, not settle scores. And finally… *) South African author Damon Galgut wins Booker Prize South African author Damon Galgut has won the Booker Prize for "The Promise", a novel about a white family's failed commitment to give their Black maid her own home. It was Galgut's third nomination for the $68,175 English language literary award. Galgut, wrote his first novel at the age of 17 and has been nominated for the Booker Prize twice before.

*) Ethiopia declares nationwide state of emergency Ethiopia has declared a nationwide state of emergency after rebel forces from the region of Tigray gained some territory and considering marching on Addis Ababa. "The state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities," state-affiliated media reported, refe rring to the Tigray People's Liberation Front. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres voiced concern on Tuesday about the state of emergency, reiterating his call for an end to hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access. *) COP26: Some 100 nations pledge to slash methane emissions Nearly 100 countries have joined a US and EU pledge to cut emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, by 30 percent this decade. It is the most significant climate commitment so far at the COP26. The initiative can have a powerful short-term impact on global heating and followed an agreement to end deforestation by 2030. *) Palestinian families reject offer by Jewish settlers Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah in the occupied East Jerusalem have rejected a deal to delay their eviction by illegal Jewish settlers. The offer made by Israel's Supreme Court earlier this month would have blocked any eviction and demolition order for at least the next 15 years. But it would have forced the Palestinian families to acknowledge the Jewish settlers' ownership of the properties. The families’ plight ignited protests and clashes earlier this year that eventually led to the 11-day Israeli siege on blockaded Gaza. *) ​​CDC recommends pediatric Covid-19 vaccine for children The US Centers for Disease Control has approved a low-dose Covid vaccine by Pfizer for children between the ages of five and 11. The FDA has authorised a 10-microgram paediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The original shot given to those age 12 and older contains 30 micrograms. In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild, self-limiting, and similar to those seen in adults, the US CDC said. And finally… *) Grammy-winning trumpeter performs in Istanbul A performance by Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti has taken Istanbul back to a pre-pandemic era of big concerts and live music. Botti's return to stage in Istanbul was part of a series of celebrations marking the opening of the Ataturk Culture Centre. Botti was accompanied by a top ensemble which included Leonardo Amuedo on guitar, Chad Lefkowitz Brown on sax and Sy Smith, Veronica Swift and Jonathan Johnson on vocals.

*) Over 100 global leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030 More than 100 global leaders have pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the end of the decade. The agreement at the COP26 climate talks was underpinned by $19 billion in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests. The Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use will cover forests totalling more than 33 million square kilometres. *) China, Russia revive push to lift UN sanctions on North Korea China and Russia are pushing the UN Security Council to ease sanctions on North Korea. Both countries want to revive a 2019 attempt to remove a ban on Pyongyang's exports of statues, seafood and textiles and expand it to lift a refined petroleum imports cap. North Korea has been subject to UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. *) Six dead, 100 feared missing in Nigeria after collapse of high-rise At least six people have been killed and 100 believed to be missing in Nigeria after a residential high-rise under construction in Lagos collapsed. The luxury building collapsed on Monday, trapping workers under a pile of concrete rubble, witnesses said. Around 100 people were reportedly at work when the building came crashing down. *) ​​France delays trade sanctions on the UK for a day France has postponed planned trade sanctions on Britain for a day so both sides could work on new proposals to defuse their dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights. France said it would restrict cross-Channel trade starting from Monday night, threatening to turn bickering over fish into a wider dispute between two of Europe's biggest economies. But President Emmanuel Macron said the plan was on hold pending the outcome of renewed talks, after meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Glasgow earlier on Monday. And finally… *) Iraq's Babylon arts festival back after almost two-decade hiatus Showcasing traditional dance, music and arts, Iraq's Babylon International Festival has attracted thousands of fans for the first time in two war-scarred decades. The festival, staged in what was the capital of the ancient Mesopotamian state of Babylonia, has drawn artists from dozens of countries as well as homegrown talent. The last edition of the festival was held in 2002, the year before the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

*) G20 nations back key climate goal as eyes turn to Glasgow G20 leaders have failed to commit to a 2050 deadline for halting net carbon emissions. Climate activists slammed the G20's "lack of ambition" as make-or-break UN climate talks opened in Glasgow. The statement issued by the G20 big economies on Sunday called for "meaningful action" to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But it contained few concrete actions and did not refer to a specific 2050 date to achieve net zero carbon emissions that scientists say is vital. *) Japan’s ruling party wins clear majority in Sunday's election In Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has won a clear majority in Sunday's election, claiming 261 seats in the lower house. The vote was seen as a major test for PM Fumio Kishida, who called the elections just 10 days after assuming office. A former banker, Kishida has vowed to address wealth inequality and pushed for increased military spending. *) Sudan's military ruler sacks country's public prosecutor Sudan's army chief and coup leader Abdel Fattah al Burhan has fired the public prosecutor, according to state media. That's as hundreds of thousands of people have been rallying nationwide, demanding a return to democratic rule. The death toll from the anti-military demonstrations now stands at 12. The UN's envoy to Sudan has held talks with deposed prime minister Abdalla Hamdok to discuss mediation options. *) ​​Erdogan: Biden 'showed positive attitude' regarding F-16 jets Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his US counterpart Joe Biden showed a "positive attitude" on the issue of modernising Turkey’s F-16 fighter jets. Erdogan made the statement after meeting with Biden in Rome on Sunday. In the meeting, Biden reaffirmed Turkey's importance as a NATO ally as well as its defence partnership with the US, the White House said in a statement. And finally… *) 'Dune' leads North America box office despite drop in ticket sales Ticket sales of "Dune" lost 62 percent from its debut weekend but the sci-fi thriller still held its lead in the North American box office in its second weekend. The movie has an estimated take of $15.5 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday. "Dune" follows a family in the distant future fighting for survival on a desert planet plagued by monstrous sandworms.

*) New street clashes rock Sudan's capital as UN slams coup Sudanese security forces have clashed with protesters furious over a military coup that has derailed Sudan's transition to democracy. At least 11 people have been killed, after a fourth consecutive day of street violence in Khartoum, medics say. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council and US President Joe Biden called for a restoration of the civilian-led government toppled by the army. *) Biden announces $1.75 trillion social spending plan US President Joe Biden has announced a revised $1.75 trillion social spending plan that he is confident Democrats will support, ending weeks of wrangling. Biden’s Build Back Better Act will be spent on education, childcare, clean energy and other social services but paid family leave and free two-year college were dropped. The president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had pushed for a vote on the scaled back version of the bill, but progressives say they're not there yet. *) France detains British trawler, fines boats amid deepening fishing row French authorities have fined two British fishing vessels and detained one of them as a dispute over fishing licenses between the countries deepens. The French Sea Ministry said the trawler did not have a fishing licence but Britain's environment minister refuted it, arguing the European Union had granted one. It comes after France announced it would bar British fishing boats from some French ports from next week if no deal is reached with the UK over fishing licenses. *) ​​Houthi missile attack kills over a dozen people in Yemen's Marib At least 12 people have been killed and 20 others wounded in a missile attack carried out by Houthi rebels in Yemen's Marib province. Yemen’s Information Minister Muammar al Iryani said that Iranian-made ballistic missiles targeted a civilian settlement in Marib, destroying four homes and a mosque. The attack came as the Saudi-led coalition announced that it killed 95 Houthi rebels in an operation near Marib. And finally… *) Facebook rebrands itself 'Meta' to emphasize ‘metaverse’ vision Facebook is rebranding itself as Meta in an effort to encompass its virtual-reality vision for the future, what it’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls the “metaverse.” Zuckerberg aims for the metaverse to be a new ecosystem where people will be able to interact, work and create products and content. Skeptics say the move could seek to divert attention away from the Facebook Papers, a leaked document trove that shows how the company failed to respond to warnings regarding the harms of its social network.

*) Security tightens grip in coup-hit Sudan as global pressure bites Sudan’s security forces have made sweeping arrests of critics and protesters as they seek to stamp out opposition to this week's military coup. Security personnel were seen firing tear gas and rubber bullets at dozens of protesters in Khartoum. The international community has ramped up punitive measures. The World Bank blocked aid and the African Union suspended Sudan over Monday's power grab by the army. *) Israel advances plans for over 3,000 settler homes in occupied West Bank Israel has advanced plans to build more than 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank. That’s according to a military spokesperson who made the comments a day after the US forcefully criticised such construction. Israel gave the final green light to build 1,800 settler homes in the occupied West Bank and initial approval for another 1,344. *) Several Pakistani police killed by gunfire at rally of banned group Three Pakistani police officers have been killed and 70 people wounded during a rally of the banned group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. Officials said that eight of those wounded were in critical condition and paramilitary troops in Punjab province had been called on to help manage the situation for the next 60 days. The clash broke out at a rally of the banned TLP on a highway just outside the eastern city of Lahore, a Punjab police spokesman said. *) Taiwan president confirms US troops training soldiers on island A small number of US forces are training Taiwan's soldiers to increase the island’s defence capability. President Tsai Ing-wen's comments to CNN confirm the presence of US troops on the self-governing island that China considers its own. Tensions between Taiwan and China have escalated in recent weeks as Beijing raises military and political pressure. *) Gun not thoroughly checked before Alec Baldwin fired fatal shot Investigators in the US say a .45-caliber Colt revolver used on the set of the film "Rust" was not thoroughly checked before being given to actor Alec Baldwin. Last week, Baldwin fired a live lead bullet in an accidental shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal in New Mexico. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said there was a complacent attitude toward safety on the set before the shooting.

*) Brazil Senate report backs criminal charges against Bolsonaro A Senate committee has recommended Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro face a series of criminal charges over his government's Covid-19 response. The committee suggested prosecutors put Bolsonaro on trial for charges ranging from inciting crime, to misuse of public funds and crimes against humanity. Brazil has the world's second-highest death toll from the virus. *) Protests grow larger in Sudan Demonstrations against the military takeover of Sudan have brought much of the capital Khartoum to a halt with protesters calling for a return to civilian rule. The ousted prime minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife are back at home, after being detained at the military chief's residence on Monday. Soldiers detained Hamdok, his ministers and members of Sudan's ruling council, who have been heading a transition to civilian rule after the 2019 overthrow of leader Omar al Bashir. *) Turkish parliament approves cross border operations in northern Iraq, Syria Turkey’s parliament has approved a motion that will extend Ankara's authority to launch cross-border military operations in northern Iraq and Syria for two more years. The ruling allows Turkey to deploy troops and expand its missions in Iraq and Syria. Turkey has long decried the threat from terrorists east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, pledging military action to prevent the formation of a "terrorist corridor". *) Colombia says 42,600 hectares deforested in Amazon in first half of 2021 Some 42,600 hectares of rainforest were destroyed in Colombia's Amazon across three of the Andean country's provinces in the first half of 2021. That’s according to the government who says the figure represents a 34 percent decrease in deforestation across the provinces of Caqueta, Meta and Guaviare. Deforestation in Colombia rose 8 percent to 171,685 hectares in 2020, driven mainly by cattle ranching and agricultural expansion. And finally… *) Pakistan sink New Zealand in World Cup 'grudge match' Pakistan has beat New Zealand by five wickets in Sharjah to secure a second straight victory in the cricket T20 World Cup tournament. The win came over a month after New Zealand's shock abandonment of their Pakistan tour due to an unspecified "security alert". New Zealand in September ended its tour minutes before the start of the first one-day international in Rawalpindi.

*) Several killed during violent military coup in Sudan Several people were killed during a violent military coup in Sudan while demanding the release of civilian leaders, including the prime minister. Hundreds were also injured as soldiers opened fire on citizens who took to the streets to try and stop the takeover. Sudan's top general declared a state of emergency and also dissolved the government. A move that sparked swift local outrage and international condemnation. *) ASEAN summit gets under way without Myanmar A summit of Southeast Asian leaders got underway without a Myanmar representative, after its junta leader was excluded for failure to follow a regional peace deal. Neither ASEAN’s chair Brunei, nor the bloc's secretary-general made a mention of the no-show in opening remarks at the virtual meeting. The ASEAN summit on October 15 excluded the junta chief who ousted a civilian government in February this year. *) Joint statement by 10 Western countries avert crisis with Turkey A diplomatic crisis has been averted after the US and nine other Western countries, including France and Germany, backed down from their joint statement a week ago, demanding the release of a Turkish prisoner. Turkey’s President Erdogan cautiously welcomed the move when the US Embassy in Ankara said "it maintains compliance with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention.” Erdogan warned that those who do not respect Turkey’s sensitivities and its independence, cannot live in the country. *) Over a dozen worshippers shot dead in Nigeria mosque At least 18 worshippers have been killed by gunmen who attacked a mosque in northern Nigeria during early morning prayers. The attackers, believed to be ethnic Fulani nomadic herders, were able to escape. Nigerian police said the attack was linked to a conflict between villagers and Fulani herders. And finally… *) Japan's Princess gives up her royal title Japanese Princess Mako has given up her royal title by marrying her university sweetheart. The couple wed in a low-key ceremony in Tokyo, following years of controversy over their relationship. The couple are expected to move to the US in the coming weeks to start their new life.

*) Sudan's military arrests civilian government members Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok has been placed under house arrest by the military. According to the information ministry, several members of the civilian government have also been arrested. The coup attempt comes days after protests in support of civilian rule replacing a council that took over Sudan after the ouster of Omar al Bashir in 2019. *) Colombia's most-wanted drug trafficker to be extradited to US After more than a decade on the run, Colombia's most-wanted drug trafficker, Dairo Antonio Usuga, has been caught by authorities. The deadly drug lord, also known as "Otoniel", evaded capture by bribing officials and making allies on competing sides. While Otoniel's capture is a win for the world's top cocaine exporting country, the kingpin's absence may fuel more violence through power plays. *) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband goes on a hunger strike The husband of detained British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has gone on a hunger strike to demand her release. Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held in Iran since 2016 on spying charges. She recently lost an appeal to her sentence and faces a return to prison. British authorities say they are "doing all they can" to help Nazanin get home. Richard Ratcliffe claims his wife has been imprisoned as leverage for the 550 million dollar debt the UK owes Iran. *) Children are going to die' in Afghanistan, UN agency warns Millions of Afghans, including children, risk death by starvation unless urgent action is taken. World Food Programme's Executive Director David Beasley says 22.8 million Afghans face acute food insecurity and "marching to starvation" compared to 14 million just two months ago. Beasley called for Afghanistan’s oversea's assets, frozen after the Taliban takeover in August, to be freed for humanitarian efforts. And finally… *) Vigil for cinematographer accidentally killed on set A vigil has been held for the late cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, who was accidentally shot dead on a film set of "Rust'' last week. US actor Alec Baldwin shot and killed Hutchins with a prop gun which he was told was not loaded. The prop gun also wounded the film’s director Joel Souza. An investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed.

*) Pakistan to keep the border open with Afghanistan to support bilateral trade Pakistan will keep its border with Afghanistan open for longer hours to support bilateral trade and the new Taliban-led administration. The country's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made the announcement after his visit to Kabul where he met several Taliban leaders. Qureshi said Pakistan will provide humanitarian aid worth at least $280 million to Afghanistan. *) Russia reports record 1,064 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours. President Vladimir Putin this week approved a nationwide workplace shutdown in the first week of November, and the capital Moscow will reimpose a partial lockdown from October. *) Turkey could expel 10 Western envoys over remarks on Osman Kavala case Ankara is likely to expel ambassadors from the United States, Germany and eight other Western countries. This group of ambassadors recently made a joint statement and called for the release of jailed Turkish businessman Osman Kavala, which did not go down well with Ankara. The 10 envoys were summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. *) Late monsoon floods kill more than 150 in India and Nepal More than 180 people have died in flooding across India and Nepal as heavy late monsoon rains triggered flash floods, destroyed crops and infrastructure and left thousands stranded. The north Indian state of Uttarakhand has been especially badly hit, with 88 confirmed deaths, officials say, while at least 99 have died in neighbouring Nepal. Police in Nepal said rescuers were looking for at least 40 people who have been reported as missing, sparking fears that the death toll could rise. *) US Households Trump ally Bannon in contempt, seeks prosecution US lawmakers have voted 229 to 202 to hold ex-president Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress. Bannon is accused of refusing to cooperate with a probe into the deadly January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The House referral will now move to the Justice Department, which will consider an investigation and charges. *) Actor Alec Baldwin fires prop gun killing woman on film set Actor Alec Baldwin has fired a prop gun on a movie set in New Mexico, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. The incident occurred on the set of the independent feature film "Rust'', the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office said in a statement. An investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed yet.

*) Drone attack targets US military base in Syria A drone attack has targeted a US military base near Syria's border with Iraq, US officials and a war monitor said. A US official confirmed the attack on Al Tanf military base in Syria's southwestern Rif Dimashq governorate where US forces are deployed. There were no casualties among American forces, the official told Anadolu Agency. *) Russia, China, Iran agree to work with Taliban for 'regional stability' Russia and Central Asia power brokers have agreed to work with the Taliban to promote security in the region. They called on Afghanistan's new leaders to implement "moderate" policies and Moscow said official recognition would only come when the Taliban meets expectations on human rights and inclusive governance. Russia hosted the Taliban for talks in Moscow, seeking to assert its influence in the region and push for action against Daesh fighters in Afghanistan. *) Turkey signs energy, defence deals with Nigeria Turkey and Nigeria have signed multiple bilateral agreements, extending from energy to defence. Nigeria's President Buhari and Turkey's President Erdogan announced the signing of seven deals after a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in the capital Abuja. The two sides signed agreements on defence, energy, mining and hydrocarbon as well as youth and foreign affairs cooperation. *) Ethiopia govt claims strikes hit 'weapons site' in Tigray region At least 9 people have been badly wounded in air strikes that hit Ethiopia's Tigray region. Ethiopia's government said it targeted facilities to make and repair weapons, which a spokesman for the rival Tigray forces denied. Ethiopian authorities said air force jets conducted air strikes on a Tigray rebel military training centre 80 kilometres outside Tigrayan capital Mekele. And finally… *) Trump to launch new social media network 'TRUTH Social' Former US president Donald Trump has announced plans to launch his own social network platform called "TRUTH Social". The platform is expected to beta launch for "invited guests" next month. The platform will be owned by Trump Media & Technology Group, which also intends to launch a video-on-demand service that will feature "non-woke" entertainment programming.

*) Brazil's president accused of homicide in Covid response probe The senator leading a probe into Brazil's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has recommended that President Jair Bolsonaro be charged with homicide over government errors that led to the deaths of thousands. Bolsonaro has dismissed the probe as politically motivated. The document accuses Bolsonaro of turning down early offers to purchase vaccines, delaying Brazil's inoculation drive and costing an estimated 95,000 lives. *) US says Taliban won't get access to Afghan central bank reserves The Taliban will not be allowed to access Afghanistan's central bank reserves, which are largely held in the US. US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Senate it was "essential to maintain sanctions against the Taliban" but at the same time find ways for humanitarian assistance to get to the Afghan people. The Taliban has called for the US to allow access to more than $9 billion of Afghan central bank reserves as the government struggles to contain a deepening economic crisis. *) At least 46 dead after heavy rains, landslides in northern India At least 46 people have died and several are missing after floods triggered by heavy rains hit northern India. Uttarakhand state has seen incessant rains for the past three days, flooding roads, destroying bridges and causing landslides. India's Met Department says rains are likely to recede in Uttarakhand on Wednesday but warns of heavy downpours in the northeast and south. *) Turkey criticises EU report on its membership process Turkey has criticised a European Commission report on Ankara's EU membership process, saying it once again reflects double standards towards the country. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the report overlooked the EU's responsibilities towards Turkey at a time when Ankara has revived high-level dialogue with the bloc. Turkey also rejected the inclusion of "inconsistent and biased" Greek and Greek Cypriot arguments in the report. The EU report said Ankara's bid to join the bloc had "come to a standstill". And finally… *) Facebook plans to change its name Social media giant Facebook Inc is planning to rebrand the company with a new name that focuses on the metaverse. The name change will be announced next week, The Verge reported, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Facebook did not immediately respond to the report.

🇺🇸 Trial for Ahmaud Arbery's murder case set to begin in the US 🇮🇳 Flash floods in southern India kill at least 25 people 🇹🇷 Turkey's president begins his four-day tour of three African countries 🕋 Muslim worshippers are back to shoulder-to-shoulder prayers in Mecca And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World. For more, head to trtworld.com

*) Deadly clashes erupt during Lebanon protest Gunfire has killed at least six people and wounded 30 at a Beirut rally organised by Shia Hezbollah and Amal movements. That’s according to Lebanon's interior minister who said the "exchange started with sniper fire, with the first casualty shot to the head". Demonstrators were calling for the removal of a popular judge, who's leading the investigation into last year's port explosion that killed more than 200 people. *) Turkey reiterates importance of inclusive government in Afghanistan Turkey has reiterated the importance of government inclusiveness for Afghanistan's unity, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. This comes following a meeting in Ankara with a high-level delegation from Afghanistan's acting Taliban government. Ankara encouraged other countries to engage with the Taliban who ousted Afghanistan's government in August, saying "engaging was not the same as recognising". *) WHO: Only one in 7 Covid-19 cases in Africa being detected Only one in seven Covid-19 infections in Africa are detected, meaning an estimated 59 million people may be infected in the continent, the World Health Organization says. “With limited testing, we’re still flying blind in far too many communities in Africa,” said Matshidiso Moeti, regional director for the WHO. The UN plans to increase rapid diagnostic testing in eight African countries with the goal of testing 7 million people in the next year. *) At least 46 people killed in Taiwan building fire At least 46 people were killed and dozens more injured in a massive fire in a 13-storey building in southern Taiwan. Officials say the "extremely fierce" blaze was hard to control and destroyed several floors. An investigation is under way and officials set up an independent commission to investigate the conditions at the run-down building which was home to many poor, older and disabled people. And finally… *) Adele makes music comeback with new single British vocal powerhouse Adele made her highly-anticipated music comeback, releasing her first new record since her 2015 Grammy award-winning album "25". The 33-year-old, known for her ballads about break-ups and regrets, teased new single "Easy On Me" last week with a short video clip. The song is the first to be released from her upcoming fourth album "30", out in November.

*) Israel and UAE ministers meet in US We begin in the US where Secretary of State Antony Blinken held three-way talks with his Israeli and the United Arab Emirates counterparts. The trio discussed the progress made since the signing of last year's Abraham Accords and relations with Iran. Blinken says Iran's responses to US willingness to return to nuclear talks have not been “encouraging” despite "time running short" for Tehran. *) Turkish intelligence thwarts attempt to abduct Iranian soldier Turkey's National Intelligence Organization and police have busted an Iranian espionage network in eastern Turkey. An Iranian and a Turk were detained on charges of spying ​​and are accused of plotting to kidnap and forcibly repatriate a former Iranian military official. The eight-member network that included two Iranian agents were caught in a joint operation on September 24, security sources said. *) Five killed in Norway bow-and-arrow attack In Norway, at least five people were killed in a bow-and-arrow attack in the town of Kongsberg. The Kongsberg police chief said there was "a confrontation" between officers and the assailant, a 37-year-old Danish suspect, but he did not elaborate. The motive for the attack is not yet known but police say they haven't ruled out terrorism. *) Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel begin hunger strike At least 250 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel have begun a hunger strike to protest their relocation to isolation, officials said. The hunger strike, led by the Islamic Jihad group, comes amid heightened tensions in Israeli detention facilities following the escape of six prisoners from a high-security prison. All six were recaptured within a couple of weeks, but the escape embarrassed Israeli authorities and was hailed as a stroke of defiance by Palestinians. And finally… *) Star Trek's Shatner becomes world's oldest space traveler Beam me up Bezos! 90-year-old actor William Shatner has officially become the oldest person ever to fly to space on a rocket. ​​The launch took place in Texas aboard Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' 'Blue Origin' ship and saw Shatner and three others cross briefly over the official boundary of space. "It was unbelievable," said Shatner, known to Star Trek fans as the daring Captain James Tiberius Kirk, a role he first played more than half a century ago.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, October 8th. *) Taliban warn against isolating Afghanistan The Taliban has warned against isolating Afghanistan, saying that similar policies failed in the past and “no one” wants that to repeat. The Taliban’s UN nominee said the group is ready to engage with the international community and resolve issues through talks. The UN has warned of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe” as the country requires urgent funding to meet basic needs after the Taliban takeover. *) Greece ratifies controversial defence deal with France Greek lawmakers have ratified a defence deal with France that includes a "mutual assistance clause" in case of an armed attack against either. The five-year agreement was announced in Paris last week by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron. The pact seems to overlook the idea of collective defence which is a principal tenet of NATO, of which both Greece and France are members. *) US official says special forces quietly training Taiwanese troops US special operations forces have been quietly training Taiwanese troops for months, risking the ire of China. A contingent of around 20 special operations and conventional forces has been conducting training for less than a year, a Pentagon official, who declined to be identified, said. The official largely confirmed a Wall Street Journal report which said the training has been going on for at least a year, amid China's rising verbal threats against the US ally. *) Israel judge's approval of 'quiet' Jewish prayer at Al Aqsa stirs outrage An Israeli judge's conclusion this week that "quiet" Jewish prayer should be allowed at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque compound has stirred outrage. The Waqf Islamic Affairs Council called the ruling by Jerusalem Magistrates' Court judge Bilhha Yahalom an illegitimate "provocation”. Even Israeli police have appealed the decision, which came in response to a petition by rabbi Aryeh Lippo, who last month was slapped with a two-week ban from the plaza after praying there. And finally… *) Tanzanian-born novelist Gurnah wins Nobel Literature Prize Tanzanian-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah has won the Nobel Literature Prize for his portrayal of the effects of colonialism and the trauma of the refugee experience. Gurnah, who grew up on the island of Zanzibar but arrived in England as a refugee in the 1960s to escape the revolution, is the fifth African to win the coveted prize. "I am absolutely overwhelmed and proud. It was completely unexpected," Gurnah said.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, October 7th: *) UN warns that Afghanistan's economy is on the verge of collapse Afghanistan’s health system is failing and the economy is on the brink of collapse, the country’s director for the World Food Progamme has warned. Mary-Ellen McGroarty said donor pledges and commitments “must urgently be turned into reality” before it is too late. Nearly half the population, more than 18 million people, require aid assistance to survive, while conflict and insecurity have displaced more than 3.5 million, with nearly 700,000 uprooted this year alone, UN figures say. In mid-August, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in parallel with a US troop withdrawal from the country. *) Earthquake in southern Pakistan kills more than a dozen people A magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Pakistan’s southern Balochistan province, killing at least 20 people and wounding 200 others, officials say, warning death toll could rise. The worst-affected area has been the remote mountainous city of Harnai, where a lack of paved roads and electricity has hampered the rescue effort. Pakistan straddles the boundary where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making the country susceptible to earthquakes. *) Probe finds refugees face illegal pushback at Greece, Croatia borders Migrants and refugees are suffering sometimes violent illegal pushback carried out by special police units at the EU's borders, especially Greece and Croatia, says Germany's Der Spiegel. Videos of 11 pushbacks described by Der Spiegel allegedly show men beating refugees before bringing them back across the border into Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Asylum-seekers' testimony is piling up in Greece, Romania, and Croatia, gathered by aid groups, lawyers, and journalists," the paper added. *) Armed bandits kill more than a dozen in northwest Nigeria Armed men have killed at least 18 people and set ablaze cars and shops in Nigeria's Zamfara state, two residents have said. The attack comes as the government imposed a telecoms blackout as part of a security operation against groups of kidnappers. Northwest Nigeria has been engulfed in crisis since late 2020 when groups of armed men began a spate of mass abductions from schools and other violent attacks on villages. And finally… *) Daniel Craig gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star next to former James Bond Roger Moore Daniel Craig finally has got a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, days before his last movie as James Bond opens in the United States. The actor's pink and terrazzo star has been placed next to that of the late Roger Moore, who played Bond in seven movies from 1973 to 1985. "It's an absolute honour to be walked all over in Hollywood," said Craig.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, October 6th: *) British PM's envoy meets Taliban in Afghanistan British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's special envoy met Taliban leaders in Afghanistan to discuss the humanitarian crisis and battling terrorism. Simon Gass, Johnson's high representative for Afghanistan, met Taliban leaders including Amir Khan Muttaqi and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Foreign Office said. The Taliban have been courting foreign powers to help restart cash flows to the country, where civil servants and healthcare workers have not been paid for months. *) 330,000 children victims of church sex abuse in France Victims of abuse within France’s Catholic Church welcomed a historic turning point after a new report estimated that 330,000 children were sexually abused over the past 70 years. The figure includes abuses committed by some 3,000 priests and an unknown number of other people involved in the church according to the report. The study’s authors estimate 80 percent of the church’s victims were boys, while the broader study of sexual abuse found that 75 percent of the overall victims were girls. *) Whistleblower urges regulation to tackle Facebook 'crisis' A Facebook whistleblower told US lawmakers that the social media giant fuels division, harms children and urgently needs to be regulated. Frances Haugen, testifying to the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, accused the company of failing to make changes to Instagram after internal research showed apparent harm to some teens. Haugen’s accusations were buttressed by tens of thousands of pages of internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job. *) Third tanker carrying Iranian fuel to Lebanon reaches Syria A third tanker carrying Iranian fuel for distribution in Lebanon has reached the Syrian port city of Baniyas, TankerTrackers.com reported on Twitter. The Iran-aligned Hezbollah movement says the imports should ease a crippling energy crisis in Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said last month the Iranian fuel shipments constitute a breach of Lebanon's sovereignty. And finally… *) Ancient Indonesian woman reshapes views on spread of early humans Genetic traces in the body of a young woman who died 7,000 years ago indicate that mixing between early humans in Indonesia and those from faraway Siberia took place much earlier than previously thought. Theories about early human migration in Asia could be transformed by the research published in the scientific journal Nature in August, after analysis of the DNA of the woman who was given a ritual burial in an Indonesian cave. Scientists have until recently thought North Asian people such as the Denisovans only arrived in Southeast Asia about 3,500 years ago.

*) US resumes Afghan refugee flights after measles shots Afghan refugees will soon be arriving again in the US after a massive campaign to vaccinate them against measles. The measles outbreak, detected in 24 people, caused a three-week pause in evacuations. Authorities have administered the vaccination to about 49,000 evacuees staying temporarily on American military bases and also others at transit points. *) French clergy molested '216,000 victims' in 70 years A report on sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergymen in France is set to say there have been an estimated 216,000 victims since 1950, a survivor who contributed to the dossier has said ahead of its publication. An independent commission spent more than 2-1/2 years investigating sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in the country over the past seven decades. In the run-up to the release of its findings, Commission head Jean-Marc Sauve said about 3,000 paedophile priests and clerics abused minors over the period. *) Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp back online after massive outage Facebook and its Instagram and WhatsApp services have returned online after a massive and lengthy outage that added to the social network's woes. Facebook cited faulty configuration changes on its routers as the root cause of the nearly six-hour outage. Security experts said the disruption could be the result of an internal mistake, though sabotage by an insider would be theoretically possible. *) 'Pandora Papers' bring renewed calls for tax haven scrutiny Calls grow for an end to the financial secrecy that has allowed many of the world’s richest and most powerful people to hide their wealth from tax collectors. The outcry came after a report revealed the way that world leaders, billionaires and others have used shell companies and offshore accounts to keep trillions of dollars out of government treasuries over the past quarter-century. The investigation, dubbed the Pandora Papers, was published on Sunday and involved 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries. And finally… *) Global heating kills 14% of world's corals in decade Global heating and also dynamite fishing and pollution have wiped out 14 percent of the world's coral reefs from 2009 to 2018, according to the largest ever survey of coral health. The hardest hit were corals in South Asia and the Pacific, around the Arabian Peninsula, and off the coast of Australia, the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network reported. The value of goods and services from coral reefs is about $2.7 trillion per year, including $36 billion in tourism, the report said.

*) Blast targets memorial service at Kabul mosque We begin in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul where a fatal attack rocked the city’s second-largest mosque during a funeral. At least five people lost their lives at the Eid Gah Mosque where a memorial service was being held for the mother of a Taliban spokesman. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban government blames Daesh. *) North and South restore inter-Korea hotline Seoul’s Unification Ministry said that officials from North and South Korea have exchanged messages over a cross-border communication channel. The hotline was restored on Monday after Pyongyang severed it in early August in protest against Seoul’s joint military drill with the US. Cross-border communication is expected to improve relations between the two rivals, despite the end of conflict in the early 1950’s. *) ‘Pandora Papers’ expose hidden assets of politicians, govts, celebs The largest international collaboration of journalists has produced a report called “The Pandora Papers”, based on an immense collection of leaked offshore data. Some of the leaked documents have revealed the secret wealth of politicians and billionaires around the world. Around 35 world leaders are named in the documents, including more than 300 public officials like judges, mayors, and generals in more than 90 countries. *) Inquiry finds thousands of peadophiles operates in French churhes A new research by the Catholic church in France has revealed more than 3,000 pedophiles have been operating in French churches since 1950. The commission investigating the scandal is set to officially release its report in the next few days, after taking around two years to finalise. The report attempted to quantify the number of offenders and victims, and also looked into institutional and cultural issues within the church which allowed pedophiles to work in the system. And finally… *) Banksy’s famous balloon girl piece goes on auction A version of British graffiti artist Banksy’s famous “Girl and Balloon” artwork by Christie’s, as the highlight of the London auction house’s upcoming sale. The two-part or diptych canvas depicts a small child letting go of a heart-shaped red balloon and was painted by the elusive wall dauber in 2005. It is expected to fetch up to 4.7 million dollars when it goes on sale on October 15.

*) US Democrats block Republican bid to cut benefits for Afghan refugees The US Senate has narrowly defeated Republican-backed legislation that would have curtailed assistance for thousands of Afghans evacuated last month. The voting underscores the deep divide over how the country should deal with a flood of Afghans desperate for new homes after the US withdrawal from their homeland. President Joe Biden’s withdrawal order has ended the longest war in US history which led to Kabul's fall to the Taliban and an outflow of refugees to several countries. *) Israel's foreign minister opens embassy on landmark visit to Bahrain Israel's top diplomat Yair Lapid has begun a landmark visit to Bahrain where he opened the Israeli embassy one year after the US-brokered normalisation of ties. Lapid met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in what Israeli media said was the first public meeting of a Gulf monarch with an Israeli official. The UAE, Bahrain and Morocco became the first Arab states in decades to normalise relations with Israel last year, following negotiations spearheaded by former US president Trump. *) North Korea fires newly developed anti-aircraft missile in latest test North Korea says it has successfully fired a new anti-aircraft missile, the latest in a flurry of weapons tests by the nuclear-armed nation. The new test comes even as Pyongyang pushes to reopen dormant communication channels with South Korea in a small reconciliation step. Pyongyang is under multiple international sanctions over its weapons programmes, which have made rapid progress under Kim Jong-un. *) Ethiopia expels seven senior UN staff for 'meddling' Ethiopia says it would expel seven senior UN officials for what it called "meddling in the internal affairs of the country.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he was "shocked" by the decision and expressed full confidence in his staff in Ethiopia. Ethiopia's northernmost Tigray region has been mired in conflict since November, when Abiy sent troops to topple the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front. And finally… *) A collection of artwork by Muhammad Ali heads to auction A rare collection of sketches and paintings by American boxer Muhammad Ali is going up for auction in New York next week. The 24-piece collection reflects Ali's interest in religion and social justice, but there are also some that picture him in the ring. The former world heavyweight champion died in 2016 at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

*) Republicans attack Biden over Afghan pullout Republican lawmakers tried to pick apart President Joe Biden's defense of his withdrawal from Afghanistan during a second day of Congressional hearings with Pentagon leaders. Republicans have accused him of lying about military commanders' recommendations to keep 2,500 troops in the country and playing down warnings of the risks of a Taliban victory. They said Biden exaggerated America's ability to prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a safe haven for militant groups like al Qaeda. *) More than 100 dead in Ecuador's latest prison violence Clashes between rival gangs in an Ecuador prison have killed at least 116 inmates and injured nearly 80 others. Violence occurred during the night at the Guayaquil prison complex. Wednesday’s violence was the latest in a series of bloody prison clashes that have claimed the lives of nearly 200 inmates in the country so far this year. *) Israeli settlers attack Palestinian village, wound toddler Dozens of Israeli settlers have attacked a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, leaving several people wounded, including a Palestinian toddler. Video of Tuesday's attack released by an Israeli rights group showed several settlers hurling stones at a cluster of homes and vehicles. Israeli troops stood among the settlers but did not appear to be taking any action to stop them as Israeli police described it as a “friction incident.” *) N. Korea's Kim condemns US dialogue offer as 'facade' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has condemned a US offer of dialogue as a "facade" and accused the Biden administration of continuing a hostile policy against his country. Talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been effectively at a standstill since the collapse of the HA NOY summit between Kim and then-president Donald Trump over sanctions relief. Under Biden, the US has repeatedly offered to meet North Korean representatives while saying it will pursue denuclearisation. And finally… *) Judge suspends Britney Spears' father from conservatorship Singer Britney Spears has been freed from her father and she could be freed entirely from court control within weeks. Jamie Spears was suspended with immediate effect and replaced with a temporary conservator "in the best interests" of the singer, said Judge Brenda Penny, calling the present arrangement "untenable." Spears' father has controlled her life for the past 13 years, under a legal arrangement the 39-year-old US singer has slammed as "abusive."

*) Top generals say they advised keeping troops in Afghanistan Top US generals have said that they recommended keeping several thousand troops in Afghanistan, contradicting President Joe Biden. In August, Biden said in an interview with ABC News that no military leader advised him to leave a small troop presence in Afghanistan. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said the withdrawal was a "strategic defeat" that left the Taliban back in power. *) North Korea says it test-fired new hypersonic missile North Korea has successfully tested a new hypersonic gliding missile, the state media reported on Wednesday. The missile was fired towards the sea off its east coast as Pyongyang called on the US and South Korea to scrap their "double standards" on weapons programmes to restart diplomatic talks. The KCNA said the development of the weapon system increases North Korea's defence capabilities, describing the hypersonic missile as a "strategic weapon". *) WHO chief sorry for sex abuse by Ebola workers in DR Congo WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has apologised after a damning report on allegations of rape and sexual abuse by workers sent to fight Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The report centred on accusations against local and international personnel deployed in the country to fight an Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020. Tedros said two senior staff members have already been placed on administrative leave. *) Kishida to become Japan's next PM after party vote Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida has won a race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He defeated popular vaccine chief Taro Kono in an unusually close race to succeed Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Suga had decided to step down after just a year in office. And finally… *) Royals join cast of new Bond film for glitzy London premiere Britain's royals joined Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux and the cast of "No Time to Die" on the red carpet for the new Bond film's world premiere. The film, the 25th in the long-running series and Craig's last outing as 007, was initially due to be released in April 2020. But the release of the movie was delayed multiple times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

*) North Korea 'fires suspected ballistic missile' into the sea North Korea has fired at least one projectile into the Sea of Japan. That's according to officials in South Korea and Tokyo, who suspect the unidentified projectile may have been a ballistic missile. The launch comes less than two weeks after North Korea tested a new railway-borne missile system. North Korea has defended the move saying no one can deny it the right to self defence and weapons testing. Pyongyang is also calling on the US to give up what it calls a "hostile policy" towards North Korea. Washington has condemned the test. *) SPD seeks alliance with Greens, Liberals for three-way coalition Germany's Social Democratic Party fought hard to win Sunday's elections, but it will be just as tough forging a coalition. The party's leader, Olaf Scholz, has the best shot of becoming the new chancellor, and he's got big shoes to fill. Angela Merkel was one of the world's highest-profile political leaders during her 16 years in office. And she'll stay in the top job until a deal is done. The negotiations will be a complicated process. *) Botched Nigeria air strike kills many fishermen – report At least 20 fishermen have been killed accidently after Nigeria's military targeted a militant camp in the country's northeast, according to two security sources and locals. A Nigerian fighter jet early on Sunday bombarded Kwatar Daban Masara in Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the sources said on Monday. The area is a bastion for the Daesh-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The reports of casualties came less than two weeks after officials said another airstrike on a village killed nine civilians in Nigeria's northeast. *) Israel 'won't allow' nukes to Iran; Tehran says Israel has hundreds of them Israel's Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, has addressed the UN General Assembly Monday, saying Iran has progressed too far in its nuclear program. Bennett accused Tehran of seeking to dominate the Middle East under a 'nuclear umbrella'. "Iran-phobia runs rampant at the UN," Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi posted on Twitter. Israel "is in no position to discuss our peaceful program when it has hundreds of nuclear warheads," he said, referring to Israel's widely believed status as the Middle East's sole nuclear-armed state. And finally… *)Disgraced singer R. Kelly convicted in sex trafficking trial A federal jury in New York has convicted American R&B artist, R Kelly, of racketeering and sex trafficking. The charges against him also include sexual exploitation of a child, bribery and kidnapping. The verdict comes 13 years after Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges at an Illinois state trial. The musician will be sentenced on May 4th, and is said to be facing decades behind bars.

*) Social Democrats beat Merkel bloc in German vote Germany's centre-left Social Democrats have narrowly won the general election, beating Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives. Election officials said early Monday that a count of all 299 constituencies showed the Social Democrats won 25.9 percent of the vote with the Union bloc carrying 24.1 percent. The environmentalist Greens came third with 14.8 percent followed by pro-business Free Democrats with 11.5 percent, making both parties potential kingmakers. *) Israeli troops kill 5 Palestinians in occupied West Bank raids Israeli troops conducted a series of raids in the occupied West Bank, killing five Palestinians. The night raids were carried out in five different regions on Sunday, including the village of Beyt Anan near Ramallah and in towns of Jenin, local media reported. Israel claimed that the wave of arrests targeted a Hamas cell that Israeli security forces had been following for several days. *) Taliban asks airlines to resume international flights to Afghanistan The Taliban in Afghanistan has appealed for international flights to be resumed, promising full cooperation with airlines. The statement comes as the interim regime continues efforts to gain international acceptance. The Taliban officials said the suspension has left many Afghans stranded abroad and is also preventing people from travelling. *) Mass protest as Tunisia political crisis escalates Hundreds of people took to the streets of Tunisia's capital to protest President Kais Saied's recent decrees bolstering the already near-total power he granted himself two months ago. This includes the continuing suspension of Parliament’s powers as well as ending lawmakers' immunity from prosecution. In July, Saied assumed executive authority in a move widely seen as a coup. And finally… *) 'Moulin Rouge!' wins big as Tony Awards return to Broadway Broadway has finally honoured its best and brightest at the Tonys, with jukebox musical "Moulin Rouge!" bagging 10 trophies. "Moulin Rouge!" won for best musical, best actor and best actor in a featured role, as well as a host of technical honours. The last Tony Awards ceremony was held in 2019. The virus forced Broadway theatres to abruptly close on March 12, 2020, knocking out all shows.

*) Day 3 of UNGA: Leaders highlight disparity in Covid vaccine availability The Covid-19 vaccine distribution inequity has come into sharper focus as many leaders of African countries spoke at the UN General Assembly. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa urged member states to support a temporary trade waiver to allow more countries to produce Covid-19 vaccines. Other African leaders said it was "appalling" that while rich countries debate booster shot doses, many poor countries have only been able to vaccine 1 or 2 percent of their populations. Namibia’s President Hage Geingob called the situation a "vaccine apartheid.” *) Blinken sees unity on Taliban after meeting with Pakistan, China US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he believes the world was united on pressing the Taliban after speaking with Pakistan, China and Russia. Blinken met with his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi Thursday, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. He also held talks with ministers of the four other veto-wielding Security Council members, including China and Russia. *) Erdogan: US not 'acting honestly' with Turkey, ties at low point Turkey's President Erdogan says the trajectory of ties with the US do not bode well and that Washington needs to "sort out" issues over Ankara's purchase of S-400 defence systems. Relations between the two NATO allies struck a low point earlier this year when Washington sanctioned Turkey's defence industry. According to broadcaster Haberturk, Erdogan said the two countries should work together as friends but he and US President Joe Biden had "not gotten off to a good start". *) Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont arrested in Italy Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has been arrested in Italy. Puidgemont was accused of sedition after he helped organise a 2017 independence referendum, which Spanish courts ruled illegal. He has since been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, where he holds a seat in the European parliament. But the EU body voted to strip him of his immunity back in March. *) Emporio Armani celebrates 40 years Giorgio Armani has celebrated 40 years of his Emporio Armani line with a retrospective show at his Silos museum during Milan Fashion Week. The preview for next spring and summer featured both menswear and womenswear, opening with denim suits in dark tones for her and in patchwork for him. The brand also presented a new collection for youthful colourful dressers.

*) Taliban’s new UN envoy urges quick world recognition of Afghan rulers The Taliban’s newly appointed envoy to the United Nations has urged quick world recognition of Afghanistan’s new rulers. Earlier, the Taliban wrote to the UN requesting its new UN representative, Suhail Shaheen, be allowed to address the General Assembly currently underway in New York. Meanwhile, attackers have struck Taliban vehicles in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least two fighters and three civilians in the latest violence since the group's takeover of the country in mid-August. *) Ukraine president aide targeted in 'assassination attempt' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that an assassination attempt was made against him after his aide's car came under heavy gunfire. The aide, Serhiy Shefir, survived unscathed but police said his driver had been wounded after more than 10 bullets hit the car near a village, just outside the capital Kiev. In a recorded message from New York, where Zelenskyy joined the UN Assembly, he called the shooting a show of "weakness." *) US donating 'historic' extra 500 million Covidvaccines US President Joe Biden has promised to donate a "historic" extra 500 million vaccines to countries struggling to overcome the pandemic. The pledge at a Covid-19summit of world leaders, held virtually from the White House, brings the total US commitment of donated vaccines to 1.1 billion — more than the rest of the world combined. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has approved booster shots of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus. *) WHO blames air pollution for 7 million premature deaths a year The World Health Organisation has strengthened its air quality guidelines, saying air pollution was now one of the biggest environmental threats to human health. It said that air pollution causes seven million premature deaths a year, ranking its burden of disease on par with smoking and unhealthy eating. The WHO's new guidelines recommend air quality levels for six pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. *) Somalia screens first film in three decades Somalia is due to host its first screening of a movie in three decades under heavy security. The National Theatre of Somalia's history reflects the tumultuous journey of the conflict-ravaged country, having been targeted by suicide bombers and used as a base by warlords. The stage was set for the evening screening of two short films by Somali director Ibrahim CM, "Hoos" and "Date from Hell". It had never before screened a Somali film.

*) Joe Biden promises 'relentless diplomacy,' not Cold War US President Joe Biden in his address to the UN General Assembly has pledged American cooperation through what he called a decisive decade for the planet. Biden promised to increase climate financing for developing countries. He also said his administration is moving away from the 'America First' foreign policy, and to an era where military might not be chosen over diplomacy. *) Erdogan emphasises establishing a fair world order Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech to the UN General Assembly, focused on security issues, the refugee situation and the climate crisis. Erdogan also spoke about the coronavirus pandemic, saying the response over vaccines for poorer countries was a disgrace. He suggested a shift in the current international hierarchy would help address many challenges. *) UN agencies say expulsions may violate international law The United Nations says the way US authorities have been handling Haitians at the Texas-Mexico border may violate international law, and constitutes forced returns. Hundreds of Haitians have been deported to Haiti since Sunday, and thousands more have been detained. They were among around 12,000 asylum-seekers camped out under a bridge that connects the US and Mexico. There's been bipartisan criticism of the Biden administration, after images on social media showed border guards on horseback using reins as whips. *) Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes Melbourne A magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck southeastern Australia. People ran into the streets of Melbourne, the second largest city, after the tremor shook buildings there. Video posted to social media shows buildings that were damaged. Melbourne's Seismology Centre says the earthquake lasted about 20 seconds. And finally... *) Juventus investigates fans who racially abused AC Milan’s Mike Maignan AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan blasted those who racially abused him before his team's 1-1 draw with Juventus at the weekend. Juventus confirmed that they had launched an investigation into the abuse, caught on a video which spread quickly on social media. It showed an off-camera fan launching a stream of racist insults at the France international while he warmed up ahead of Sunday's match at Allianz Stadium.

*) Trudeau's Liberals win polls Canada's ruling Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to form the next government, according to state media projections. Trudeau's Liberals are projected to win most seats but it's still unclear if they will have a majority in parliament. Polls show the Liberals leading in over 150 electoral districts with only a small fraction of votes counted. The party needs to win 170 seats to hold a majority. *) President Erdogan vows to increase trade volume with US President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he hopes trade between Turkey and the US will increase five-fold. It's currently at around 20-billion-dollars a year. Erdogan was speaking on Monday at the 11th Turkey Investment Conference in New York. Earlier, he met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the newly-opened Turkevi Center. *) Biden meets Guterres ahead of his first UN speech as president President Joe Biden met with the UN chief, ahead of his first speech at the General Assembly. Biden has emphasised the importance of a strong partnership with the UN, saying no country can solve global problems alone. And while there's been a lot of focus on the US's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden is expected to use his speech to try to move onto issues where he has more control. *) Rwandan court finds 'Hotel Rwanda' hero guilty on terror charges A Rwandan court has sentenced 'Hotel Rwanda film Hero' to 25 years in prison. Judges found Paul Rusesabagina guilty on terror related charges. Rusesabagina has been accused of 13 charges, nine of them terrorism-related including funding a rebel group. Last year, Rusesabagina admitted he had formed an armed group but denied any involvement in its subsequent actions. And finally... *) Volcano destroys homes, roads, businesses on Spanish island At least 100 homes on a Spanish island have been destroyed by lava, flowing from a volcano. The lava is currently on route to the sea. Authorities say more than 5,000 people have been evacuated from La Palma island so far. No fatalities have been reported, but there are fears a cloud of toxic gas could form above the region once the lava reaches the sea. Officials warn the volcano could remain active for the next few days.

*) US says Kabul drone strike killed 10 civilians, including children A US drone strike in Kabul last month killed as many as 10 civilians, including seven children, the US military has admitted, apologising for what it called a “tragic mistake”. The Pentagon had said the August 29 strike targeted a Daesh suicide bomber who posed an imminent threat to US-led troops at Kabul airport. Emal Ahmadi, a survivor whose 10 family members were killed in the strike, has demanded those responsible be punished, saying Washington's apology was not enough. *) French and UK defence ministers' meeting cancelled amid sub row France has pulled out from a defence meeting with the UK as the rift deepens over a new security deal between the kingdom, US and Australia. The two-day talks have been postponed from this week to a later date – that's according to a former British Ambassador. France is frustrated over Australia signing the so-called Aukus deal with the US and UK, which will get Canberra nuclear-powered submarines. This resulted in Australia cancelling a major weapons contract with Paris. *) Early results show Putin party wins majority in the vote President Vladimir Putin's party is on track to win a strong majority in a three-day parliamentary election, following a harsh crackdown on the opposition. Most opposition politicians were barred from running as they were linked to jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny. Allies of Navalny planned to use an app to help voters find candidates to defeat United Russia but the app was removed by Apple and Google on election day. *) Lebanon’s parliament is to vote on Mikati government The Lebanese Parliament is voting on the Mikati government and will be discussing its draft programme and plans. New Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government was formed on September 10th after a year of political deadlock that exacerbated a crippling economic crisis. Mikati's government is already facing challenges, with Lebanon's Hezbollah unilaterally importing Iranian fuel at risk of international sanctions. And finally... *) 'The Crown' wins Emmy for best drama series The Crown has won the best drama series at the Emmys, while Apple TV+'s “Ted Lasso” took best comedy series honours. “The Crown” stars Olivia Colman and Josh O'Connor also won top drama acting honours, with Jason Sudeikis, star of “Ted Lasso" a winner on the comedy side. This year's show was far from last year's Pandemmys that were shot from home, with guests in masks and plenty of hugs and kisses going around – but after presenting vaccine certificates.

*) HRW reports 'war crimes’ attacks on Eritrean refugees in Tigray Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia's Tigray have suffered abuses ranging from executions to rape in what amount to "clear war crimes", Human Rights Watch says. The rights watchdog says the Tigrayans distrusted them as they were the same nationality as occupying Eritrean soldiers, who in turn doubted the refugees' loyalty. HRW said it had received credible reports that Eritrean troops killed 31 people in Hitsats, one of the two camps in Tigray where abuses were documented. *) Google, Apple remove Navalny app from stores as Russian elections begin Google and Apple have removed jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny's tactical voting app from their stores, after Russia accused the tech giants of interference. Russians are voting to elect a new parliament in a three-day vote starting on Friday. The ruling United Russia party is expected to win despite a rating slump after the biggest crackdown on the Kremlin's critics in years. Allies of Navalny, President Putin's fiercest opponent, planned to use the app to help voters find and support candidates to deal a blow to United Russia. *) US defends nuclear sub deal with Australia The US has defended its decision to share nuclear-powered submarine technology with Australia, rejecting criticism from both China and France. China claims the new alliance, referred to as Aukus, damages regional stability, and jeopardises efforts to halt nuclear weapon proliferation. But White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the agreement is not aimed at China, although the US has mounting concerns about Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. *) Austria hears first lawsuit over virus outbreak in ski resort The first civil lawsuit begins in a court in Vienna over a notorious outbreak of Covid-19 at the ski resort of Ischgl in March 2020, where thousands of people from 45 countries became infected. The case is the first of 15 lawsuits filed by plaintiffs from Austria and Germany, accusing authorities of not responding quickly enough to Covid-19 outbreaks in Austrian resorts. It is being brought on behalf of the family of a 72-year-old who died after contracting the virus in Ischgl. *) New Van Gogh drawing discovered, set to go on display A Vincent van Gogh drawing that has been hidden in a private collection for more than a century has gone on display for the first time at an Amsterdam museum. The work titled "Study for 'Worn Out" depicts an old man sitting in a chair and was sketched by Van Gogh in November 1882 when he was just starting his career. The owners of the drawing, a Dutch family which bought it in around 1910, asked the Van Gogh museum to authenticate it and experts confirmed that it was indeed a "new work" by Van Gogh.

*) Taliban denies reports of leadership row over make-up of govt In Afghanistan, there have been reports of a row between Taliban leaders over the make-up of the new government. Senior Taliban officials have told British media that two rival parties allegedly fought at the presidential palace, but the Taliban has officially denied this. The group seized control of Afghanistan last month, and their new interim cabinet is made up of senior Taliban figures. *) US, UK and Australia announce national security initiative Leaders of the UK, Australia and the US have announced a trilateral security partnership that will allow for greater sharing of defence capabilities. As part of the landmark security pact - dubbed AUKUS - Washington has agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. While the leaders made no direct mention of China, the initiative is seen as a strategic move at countering a more assertive Beijing. US President Joe Biden says AUKUS will strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific. *) Turkish, Azerbaijani air forces hold joint military exercise Turkey and Azerbaijan have held joint military exercises in the Turkish city of Konya, as Ankara says it will continue to support its allies. Eight combat aircraft, air defence systems and a large number of military personnel took part in the event called 'TURAZ Hawk 2021'. National defense ministers of both countries have joined the military drill. Turkey supported Azerbaijan in its war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh last year. Azerbaijan liberated several cities and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation. The Turkish defense minister has said Turkey will continue to support its allies. *) Both North and South Korea test-fire ballistic missiles Tensions continue to escalate in the Korean peninsula as both North and South Korea test-fires ballistic missiles on Wednesday. The US and the United Nations condemned Pyongyang's missile launch, saying that it threatens regional stability. North Korean state news agency KCNA said the missiles were testing a new "railway missile system" and flew 800 kilometers before hitting a target at sea. And finally... *) Elon Musk's SpaceX venture launches Inspiration4 spaceflight In a world first, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying only inexperienced civilians has launched into Earth's orbit. After just over five months of training, the civilians blasted into space aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule. The four Americans making the historic journey will be in Earth's orbit for three days at an altitude of 575 kilometres, further than any human has travelled since 2009.

*) Afghanistan facing humanitarian crisis month into Taliban rule It has been a month since the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan, seizing the capital Kabul with barely a fight. Since the Taliban took over, it has announced an all-male interim cabinet and restarted operations at Kabul airport. But the month has also been marked by a crippling cash crisis, an erosion of women's rights and reports of the Taliban pursuing revenge killings. The UN has urged the international community to provide a “lifeline” of much-needed aid to Afghans, who also face famine, drought and poverty. *) North Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles into eastern waters North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast just two days after claiming to have tested a new missile. Japan said the missiles landed outside its economic zone in the waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula and did not cause damage. Wednesday's launches came as China’s foreign minister was in Seoul to discuss nuclear negotiations with the North, making Pyongyang's provocation in front of its biggest ally highly unusual. *) Palestinian prison escapee accuses Israel of torture upon recapture A Palestinian man who was recaptured after his escape from a high-security prison is being tortured by Israeli authorities, a lawyer has said. Mohammed al Arida has severe wounds, shows signs of sleep deprivation and has not received any treatment, a lawyer affiliated with the Palestinian Prisoner Society said. The Society will be talking to the four men recaptured after escaping on September 6. *) Californians vote to keep Democratic governor California's Democratic governor has defeated a recall aimed at kicking him out of office, spurred by mask mandates and Covid lockdowns. Had Gavin Newsom lost the confidence vote, he would have most certainly been replaced by a Republican in a deeply Democratic US state. The California recall, which turned on Newsom’s approach to the pandemic, mirrors America’s deep political and social divide over Covid. And finally... *) Pet influencers on the rise in Singapore You may have seen them for years on your Insta feed, they have more followers than you but you can't help but stop and "aww" over them. Pet influencers are real and have taken off in Singapore where strict Covid lockdowns further fueled their rise. Sasha and Piper of the "Lomodoggies" Instagram account are one such influencer pair who earn thousands of dollars by posing with products. Tapping into the pet influencer boom are their humans and also agencies who say business is thriving, because, who doesn't love a cute cat on their feed?

*)US to assess its ties with Pakistan over Afghanistan's future The US will be looking at its ties with Pakistan to formulate the role Islamabad can play in Afghanistan's future, State Secretary Antony Blinken has said. At a Congress hearing on Afghanistan, Blinken said some of Pakistan's interests – such as harbouring Taliban members – conflict with the US even as it cooperated on counterterrorism. Blinken told lawmakers the Biden administration will be reassessing its relationship with Pakistan. *) Israeli PM Bennett meets President Sisi in Egypt Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi in the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh. This is the first official trip by an Israeli head of government to Egypt in a decade. The two discussed bilateral relations and efforts to revive the peace process. Bennett described the meeting as "very good.” *) Biden visits a burning western US ahead of California election stop US President Joe Biden is on a two-day visit across three Western states to survey the damage caused by wildfires. He's calling for protection of the environment and mitigation of the damage caused by natural disasters. Biden's trip aims to highlight his multitrillion-dollar legislation focused on renewing failing infrastructure, so the US is better able to cope with the changing climate. *) South Korean antitrust agency fines Google $177M South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined Alphabet Inc's Google 207 billion won (wahn), or 176.6 million dollars. The regulator says Google abused its dominant market position to restrict competition in the mobile operating system market. The Korea Fair Trade Commission investigated Google for allegedly preventing local smartphone makers from customising its Android OS. The fine is the latest antitrust setback for Google in South Korea. And finally... *) Global Witness report says record number of activists killed A record number of environmental and land rights activists were murdered last year, according to a report by the campaign group Global Witness. At least 227 activists were killed around the world – the highest number recorded for a second consecutive year. The report called the victims "environmental defenders" killed for protecting natural resources. Since the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed in 2015, the organisation says on average four activists have been killed each week.

*)Qatari FM meets Taliban leadership Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani has met Taliban-appointed Afghan Prime Minister, Muhammad Hasan Akhund. The Qatari delegation also met former president Hamid Karzai, as well as politician Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul. Al Thani discussed concerted efforts to combat terrorist organizations that threaten Afghanistan's stability. Qatar has been mediating talks between the Taliban, the US and the now-ousted Afghan government for years. *) Iran allows IAEA to service nuclear monitoring cameras Iran says it will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct nuclear monitoring through cameras. IAEA's head Rafael Grossi met with officials in Tehran on Sunday. Grossi says some of the most imminent issues have been addressed, and there's an understanding of cooperation with the new administration. *) North Korea test-fires long-range cruise missile North Korea has carried out successful long-range cruise missile tests over the weekend, according to local state media. The missiles reportedly flew 1,500 kilometres before hitting their targets and falling into the country's waters. The tests come amid a lengthy standoff between North Korea and the United States over denuclearisation. The US has reacted to the tests, saying they pose threats to region and beyond. *) Thousands demand impeachment of President Bolsonaro Brazilians rallied on Sunday in major cities demanding the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro. He's come under increased pressure in recent months over his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economy. Protests have intensified ahead of next year's presidential elections, with a recent poll indicating Bolsonaro will likely lose to former president Lula da Silva. And finally... *) Spears announces engagement with long-term boyfriend Britney Spears is getting married to her boyfriend of five years, Sam Asghari. The engagement comes days after her father Jamie Spears filed to end his control over the pop star's personal and financial life after 13 years. Spears told a judge in June she wanted to marry Asghari and have a baby with him. Legally, Spears can get married, but her conservatorship must approve it as with other major life decisions.

*)UN: Afghanistan on brink of “universal poverty” The UN Security Council says the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is getting worse in the country's rural regions. The body met amid reports of rights abuse in the country since the Taliban took control. Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai says it will take more than statements to ensure the Taliban respects the rights of women and girls. *) US marks 20 years since 9/11 attacks Saturday will mark 20 years since two planes flew into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City, killing nearly 3,000 people. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon, causing a partial collapse of the building. The 9/11 attacks led to a drastic change in American foreign policy. The US retaliation included bringing about regime change in Afghanistan and Iraq. But critics say the US approach has increased global instability. *) US Biden and China's Xi hold first call in seven months US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have spoken for the first time in nearly seven months. Chinese media described the call as “candid” while the White House says the pair spoke about managing competition and avoiding conflict. Relations between Washington and Beijing have been at their lowest point in decades. *) Turkey administers more than 100M Covid-19 vaccine doses The number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Turkey has now passed 100 million. Turkey started its inoculation programme in January and it has been using the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and the Chinese company Sinovac. The health minister says this is a milestone in the country's fight against the virus. And finally... *) Raducanu to face Fernandez in all-teen US Open final British 18-year-old Emma Raducanu has become the first qualifier to ever reach a Grand Slam final by defeating Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari 6-1, 6-4 at the US Open on Thursday. Raducanu, ranked 150th, became the youngest Grand Slam finalist since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won at Wimbledon in 2004. She advanced to Saturday's US Open final at Arthur Ashe Stadium against 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez.

*) Morocco’s ruling party suffers crushing defeat in elections Morocco's ruling Justice and Development Party has suffered great losses in the parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results. The PJD went from holding 125 seats to 12 in Parliament. The vote has seen the rise of the main liberal and centre-right parties. The PJD has been in power since 2011 following pro-democracy protests. *) Taliban forbid protests and, possibly, women sports The new Taliban government is seeking to end protests in Afghanistan after days of heavy-handed assaults on protesters as well as journalists covering the demonstrations. The minister has issued an order to end all protests unless demonstrators get prior permission, including approval of slogans and banners. It’s unlikely the women who have been leading rallies demanding their rights from the hardline rulers will be allowed to protest under the rules. Women will also be prohibited from playing sports, Australian media quoted the Taliban cultural commission as saying on Wednesday. *) Afghan national flag carrier to resume international flights next week Afghanistan's national flag carrier is preparing to resume international flights next week, its new president has said. Rahmatullah Gulzad praised Qatari and Turkish technical experts for their assistance in getting Kabul airport operational in the shortest possible time. The teams are still working on Kabul airport, he said, adding they will stay for another month to ensure that it meets international standards. *) Libyan warlord Haftar hires American lobbyists to woo Biden Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar has hired veteran American political insiders to lobby on his behalf with the Biden administration and Congress. Haftar has paid a $40,000 retainer to former special counsel to president Bill Clinton, Lanny Davis and ex-Republican House lawmaker Robert Livingston. A Foreign Agents Registration Act filing dated September 3 shows Haftar will pay some $960,000 over the course of six months. And finally... *) Confederate leader Robert Lee's statue removed in Virginia The statue of the confederate general Robert E Lee has been taken down in the US state of Virginia. The pro-slavery leader's monument was removed after a year-long battle. The figure had been towering over Richmond since 1890. Memorials of confederate leaders had been increasingly targeted in the country's protests against racism.

*) Lafarge accused of paying off Daesh France's highest court has ruled that cement giant Lafarge must be investigated again for complicity in crimes against humanity. The company is accused of making payments to Daesh at the height of Syria's civil war, to keep their factories running. It's facing several indictments, including financing terrorism and endangering life. *) Taliban announce new government The Taliban has announced a caretaker government and declared the country an Islamic Emirate. The cabinet is led by Taliban co-founder Mohammad Hassan Akhund, while the Interior Ministry went to Siraj Haqqani, a man on the FBI's most wanted list. There's no evidence of any of the inclusiveness pledged by the Taliban after their takeover of the country. *) Guinea opposition leader hails military coup Guinea's main opposition leader has welcomed Sunday's ousting of president Alpha Conde by the army. He says the military made a historic act that completes the fight started by pro-democracy groups. Meanwhile, the deposed president remains in military detention. *) Boeing in more trouble over 737 MAX A US judge has ruled that Boeing's board of directors must face a lawsuit from shareholders over two fatal 737 MAX crashes. The FAA lifted a flight ban on the 737 MAX in November after a 20-month review. Boeing was charged by the Justice Department with 737 MAX fraud conspiracy, and agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement to defer prosecution. And finally... *) Prisoners in Rome treated with Gelato Prisoners in Rome were treated to tasty ice-creams during one of Italy's hottest summers on record. The gelato was courtesy of Pope Francis, who sent 15,000 of the flavorful milky treats. The pontiff's office also set up medical and bathing facilities for the homeless near the Vatican.

*) US officials look to Qatar for help with Taliban US Secretaries of State and defence are in Qatar to seek support for the ongoing efforts to evacuate Americans and at-risk allies left behind in Afghanistan. Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin have met with Qatar's leaders to discuss a number of issues, including how to enhance security within Afghanistan. Qatar has become the main mediator between Western countries and the Taliban since the group's takeover. *) Taliban in full control of Afghanistan Meanwhile, the Taliban says it has defeated the last pocket of resistance by taking control of Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley. This means they've taken over the entire country just three weeks after capturing the capital, Kabul. National Resistance Front leader Ahmad Massoud offered the Taliban a negotiated settlement to end the violence. *) Israel carries out airstrikes on Gaza Israel's Defence Force says it carried out several airstrikes in Gaza on Monday night. Fighter jets hit locations in Khan Yunus. The Palestinian health authority has not reported any immediate casualties or injuries. *) UN warns of severe hunger in northern Ethiopia The UN's World Food Programme is warning of severe hunger in northern Ethiopia. It says a blockade on aid is bringing millions to the brink of famine. The UN is unable to get aid into many areas because of checkpoints and the blowing up of crucial access bridges. And finally... *) Nasa's rover collects samples from Mars NASA's Perseverance Rover has successfully completed collecting its first samples from Mars. The samples are from the Martian Rock, a core from Jezero Crater. The rocks are the first to be scientifically identified and sent back to earth from another planet.

*) Taliban says it takes Panjshir, last holdout Afghan province Taliban says it has taken control of Panjshir province north of Kabul, the last holdout of anti-Taliban forces in the country. "With this victory, our country is completely taken out of the quagmire of war," chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid declared in a press conference. But the anti-Taliban force has vowed to carry on fighting, saying its retreat was a battle tactic. The Panjshir Valley is famed for being the site of resistance to Soviet forces in the 1980s and the Taliban in the late 1990s. *) Shaky calm in Guinea after Conde's apparent ouster Uneasy calm has returned to the streets of Guinea's capital Conakry, as its citizens await the announcement of a new government after the apparent overthrow of President Alpha Conde by an elite army unit which drew global condemnation. The special forces summoned Conde's ministers and heads of government institutions to a meeting, warning that failure to attend would be considered a "rebellion". The takeover in the West African nation that holds the world's largest bauxite reserves, an ore used to produce aluminium, sent prices of the metal skyrocketing to a 10-year high over fears of further supply disruption in the downstream market. There was no indication of such disruption yet. *) Ida's death count rises while 600,000 still lack power Hurricane Ida's death toll continues to rise, with many in the US northeast holding out hope for people missing in the floodwaters. Nearly 600,000 customers in Louisiana still lack power a week after the storm made landfall. Ida slammed into Louisiana on August 29 as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 240 kmph. *) Several Palestinians escape from high-security Israeli jail Six Palestinian resistance fighters have broken out of a high-security Israeli prison in what Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called a grave incident. Israeli police and the military have started a search after the escape from Gilboa prison in northern Israel. Five of the escapees belong to Islamic Jihad movement and one is a former commander of an armed group affiliated with the mainstream Fatah party. Officials said the escapees appeared to have opened an hole from their cell toilet floor to access passages formed by the prison's construction. *) 'Shang-Chi' smashes box office records with $71.4M debut Disney's new "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" has scored an unexpectedly strong $71.4 million opening, industry observer Exhibitor Relations reported. The film enjoys the second biggest opening of this pandemic year, behind Marvel's "Black Widow," which had an $80 million opening.

*) Taliban close to forming new government in Afghanistan Taliban is expected to announce a new government in Afghanistan. The announcement of a new administration could be made after Friday afternoon prayers, Taliban sources say. It's been almost three weeks since the group took control of the country, and many essential services and government institutions are still not functioning. The country faces an economic crisis as Qatar and Turkey try to restart operations at Kabul airport. *) State of emergency declared in New York and New Jersey The northeast US has been hit by flash floods and a rising death toll, after record breaking rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. At least 45 people are now known to have died in the northeastern United States after heavy rain caused by the remnants of the hurricane led to flash flooding. The storm was the 5th worst in US history and President Joe Biden says the event's ferocity shows the climate crisis has arrived. *) Japan PM Suga won't seek re-election after year in office Japanese Prime Minister Yoshide Suga says he will not run for re-election in September, stepping down from leading the ruling LDP. Suga has been in office for a year - taking over from Shinzo Abe, who resigned due to health issues. Suga's support ratings have dropped as the nation struggles with rising Covid-19 infections. National elections are due in Japan in October. *) S.Korea says it is developing more powerful missiles to deter N.Korea South Korea is reportedly in the final stages of developing a ballistic missile that can carry a warhead of up to 3 tonnes. This comes as the country unveiled budget proposals aimed at bolstering its defences against North Korea. The missile would be the latest in a tit-for-tat conventional missile race between the two Koreas that is set to accelerate after Seoul and Washington agreed to scrap all bilateral restrictions on missile development. And finally... *) ABBA back after 40 years with new album And yes here they go again - the return of ABBA - after 40 years of one of the most successful pop groups of all time. ABBA are finally set to unveil a new 10-song album and a virtual stage show. Abba Voyage will be released in November, before a 'revolutionary' set of concerts where they will be represented by holograms in a show. The quartet - who split up in 1982 - said they ended up back in the recording studio while working on the stage show.

*) Chaotic US withdrawal likely to 'collapse' Afghanistan's economy The US credit rating agency Fitch says the economy of Afghanistan is on the edge of collapse two weeks after the Taliban captured Kabul. Afghanistan has about 10 billion dollars in funds but the group is unlikely to get access to them. Thousands in Kabul were queuing outside banks to withdraw cash, which led the Taliban to impose weekly limits on withdrawals. Food prices have gone up by 50 percent while fuel prices increased by 75 percent. *) Syrian regime, Russian forces agree to ceasefire in Daraa A Russian-brokered ceasefire has come into force in Daraa province in southwestern Syria. Regime forces have been attempting to retake control of the opposition-held area. Daraa is part of a de-escalation zone, but armed groups and regime forces are accusing each other of thwarting ceasefire efforts. *) Kashmiri resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani dies at 92 Kashmiri pro-freedom icon Syed Ali Geelani has been buried in a tightly controlled pre-dawn ceremony. This comes as Indian authorities imposed a harsh lockdown across the troubled Himalayan region. The uncompromising campaigner against Indian rule in Kashmir died late on Wednesday at the age of 92 following a long illness. Geelani, the most outspoken critic of India who spent some 15 years in jail or under house arrest, had wanted to be buried at the Martyrs Cemetery in Srinagar. But Indian authorities rejected that request. *) Afghanistan's first cricket match greenlit since Taliban takeover The Taliban has approved Afghanistan's first cricket Test since its takeover, raising hopes that international matches will continue as usual under their rule. During its first stint in power, the Taliban banned most forms of entertainment - including many sports. The Test match, to be played in Hobart from November 27-December 1, was scheduled for last year but was put off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions. And finally... *) Cristiano scores 111th goal to break FIFA's men record Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the record for the most goals scored in international men's football. The 36-year-old scored two late headers against the Republic of Ireland in a world cup qualifying match. Ronaldo breaks the record formerly held by Ali Daei of Iran, who scored 109 goals. Ronaldo is already the top scorer in club football's top tournament, the Champions League.

*) Britain in talks with Taliban over safe passage of remaining nationals *) China's 'national security' data law comes into effect *) Deaths rise as southern US tallies Hurricane Ida damage *) Israel increases besieged Gaza's water quota, fishing zone *) Venice opens film festival with caution

Last US troops depart Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war, and Jon Stewart heads back to TV in September with a deep dive show *) US military finishes withdrawal from Afghanistan The US has completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war and leaving behind a socially fractured and economically depressed country that's now under the control of the Taliban. The withdrawal of American troops closes a chapter in military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, and unfulfilled promises. The completion of withdrawal comes as Washington faces criticism after a US drone strike killed ten civilians, including children, in Kabul. Taliban, which staged a lightning-swift takeover this month, on Tuesday were celebrating the withdrawal of the last US troops with gunfire. *) Syria regime shelling kills civilian in Daraa after talks collapse Syrian regime forces have shelled opposition-held parts of a volatile southern city of Daraa, killing at least one person. The attack on the flashpoint city comes as rebels killed four regime soldiers after Russia-backed talks to end the presence of opposition fighters in the area collapsed. Daraa became known as the cradle of the uprising against Syria's Bashar al Assad that erupted in 2011. *) Ida inflicts ‘catastrophic’ destruction on Louisiana Rescuers comb through the catastrophic damage Hurricane Ida did to Louisiana. The fierce storm has killed at least two people, stranded others in rising floodwaters and sheared the roofs off homes. Ida knocked out power for all of New Orleans, with more than a million properties across Louisiana without power. *) At least six Palestinians injured in live fire near Gaza border At least six Palestinians have been injured by the Israeli military which used live fire and gas bombs to push protesters away from the Gaza border fence. Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated along the border, calling for an end to the 14-year Israeli-led blockade of the small coastal enclave. Some protesters burned tyres and hurled rocks at Israeli soldiers. And finally... *) Jon Stewart returns to TV in September with deep dive show Six years after he quit "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart is returning to television with a show that takes an in-depth look at current affairs. Apple says "The Problem With Jon Stewart" will launch on its Apple TV+ streaming platform on September 30. Stewart passed the mike to Trevor Noah in 2015 and has since made only infrequent public appearances.

Multiple rockets hit near Kabul airport as US and its allies rush evacuations, and Cristiano Ronaldo breaks Man City hearts. *) Rockets fired at Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport US anti-missile defences have intercepted as many as five rockets fired at Kabul's airport with no casualties reported. The US is rushing to end its longest war and evacuate remaining citizens and at-risk Afghans before Tuesday's deadline. The mission became more dangerous after a Daesh-K suicide attack on Thursday killed 170 Afghans and 13 US troops at the airport. On Sunday, the US said its second drone strike in a week blew up “multiple suicide bombers” from Daesh-K. An Afghan official said three children were killed in the strike. *) Ida downs New Orleans power on deadly path through Louisiana Hurricane Ida has knocked out power to all of New Orleans and inundated coastal Louisiana communities on a deadly path through the Gulf Coast. Forecasters warned of flash floods and life-threatening storm surge as Ida continued its rampage Monday through Louisiana and Mississippi. Ida has already been blamed for at least one death in Louisiana. *) Scores killed in Houthi strikes on Yemen base, spokesman says At least 30 soldiers have been killed and 60 wounded on Sunday in air strikes on a Saudi-led coalition military base in southwest Yemen. The Houthis carried out several attacks using armed drones and ballistic missiles on al Anad military base, a southern forces spokesperson said. Saudi Arabia became involved in Yemen's war in 2015 to quash a Houthi uprising. The ensuing conflict caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis. *) Palestinian president, Israeli defence minister hold rare talks Israel's defence minister has held talks with the Palestinian president in Ramallah, the first high-level meeting between the two sides in years. Sunday's meeting between Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas signalled a possible shift after limited communication between the Palestinian Authority and Israeli leaders in recent years. Gantz's office said he told Abbas that Israel will take new measures to strengthen Palestine’s economy. A Palestinian official said the leaders discussed possible steps, including demands for a halt in Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank. *)City fans disappointed as Ronaldo returns to Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be back at Manchester United, breaking hearts at Man City after rumours fuelled hopes that the Portuguese star would pick them. United agreed to a deal with Juventus on Friday to bring Ronaldo back to the club where he spent six seasons, winning eight major trophies plus his first Ballon d'Or. News of Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford has sent the United support into a frenzy of excitement.

*) US, allies ask people to leave Kabul airport area over Daesh threat More than 80 people have been killed in the twin explosions outside Kabul airport, officials at Afghanistan's Emergency Hospital have said. The death toll can rise as many of the wounded were taken to other hospitals in the city. Over 40 of the victims were Afghan civilians and at least 13 were US troops. Daesh's Khorasan affiliate has claimed responsibility for the attacks. US-led coalition forces in Kabul are bracing for more such attacks while winding up their evacuation mission. *) US flag flies at half-mast to honour Kabul attacks victims The American flag has been lowered at half-mast in the US Capitol to honour the victims of the Kabul airport attacks. Flags on all state buildings will be flown at half-mast Friday in memory of the service members and civilians killed. US President Joe Biden vowed to carry on evacuating people fleeing Afghanistan. He also vowed to hunt down those responsible for the attack and make them pay. *) Turkey's president Kabul blasts highlight Daesh danger Speaking ahead of a trip to Bosnia, Turkey's President Erdogan has said that Daesh’s attack on Kabul airport shows how dangerous the terror group is in the region and world. The Kabul airport blasts and Daesh involvement shows how crucial the security of Afghanistan is to the world, Erdogan said at a press conference. Erdogan said Turkey's priority remains to evacuate our citizens willing to return after Thursday’s bombings killed at least 72 Afghans and 13 US troops. *) Protests erupt amidst vote on new cabinet Tensions flared in Lima ahead of Peru’s vote of confidence for the new Cabinet of leftist President Pedro Castillo. Although confirmed a winner by 44-thousand votes, this week's Congress vote is a huge test for his presidency. Before the vote, Prime Minister Guido Bellido reinforced the government's plans to lift Peru from the nation's most grave, political, social, environmental and health crises in decades. * ) Tom Cruise shows off latest daredevil 'Mission: Impossible' stunt Tom Cruise has presented what he called his most dangerous stunt ever in a clip from his upcoming "Mission: Impossible 7" movie. Cruise, known for doing his own stunts, takes a motorbike ride down a ramp and off a giant cliff in Norway and lets go in mid-air before his parachute is released. "Mission: Impossible 7," in which Cruise returns as spy Ethan Hunt, is due for release in May 2022 after a coronavirus-disrupted shoot in Italy, Norway and the UK of more than a year.

US and allies urge people to leave Kabul airport area over imminent Daesh threat, and man who appeared on Nirvana's "Nevermind" cover as a baby sues for “sexual exploitation” *) US, allies ask people to leave Kabul airport area over Daesh threat The US, UK and Australia have urged their citizens to stay away from Kabul's international airport, citing a terrorist threat. Thousands of Afghans and foreigners are hoping to get evacuated before the August 31 deadline. Despite fresh warnings, thousands of people desperate to flee the Taliban-controlled country have gathered at the gates of Kabul airport. *) Sydney hospitals erect emergency tents as cases hit record Australia's daily Covid-19 cases have topped 1,000 for the first time since the global pandemic began. This comes as two major hospitals in Sydney set up emergency outdoor tents to help deal with a rise in patients. Sydney is struggling to stamp out a surge driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant despite two months under lockdown. *) Boko Haram attack kills over a dozen soldiers in southern Niger In Niger, at least 16 soldiers have been killed and nine wounded in an attack by Boko Haram militants. Officials said hundreds of militants overran a military post in a region bordering Nigeria, where Boko Haram and Daesh are active. The overnight attack comes only two months after some 6,000 people returned to Baroua having fled violence in 2015. *) Israel targets protesters along Gaza security fence At least 20 Palestinians in blockaded Gaza have been wounded after the Israeli army opened fire on them, medical sources and witnesses say. The Palestinians were protesting near Gaza's border security fence against years of Israel's siege, demanding reconstruction after the 11-day conflict in May. However, the protests were more muted than a weekend demonstration that left dozens wounded. And finally ... * ) Man featured on Nirvana cover as baby sues for 'sexual exploitation' A man who was featured as a naked infant on the cover of Nirvana's "Nevermind" album is suing the band for sexual exploitation. Spencer Elden was photographed by his father's friend in 1991 when he was four months old, naked in a pool reaching for a dollar bill on a fish hook. The lawsuit claimed neither Elden nor his guardians "signed a release authorising the use" of the photograph, which it described as "commercial child pornography". "Nevermind" featuring songs such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" went on to sell 30 million copies.

*) Biden sticks to August 31 Afghan withdrawal deadline President Joe Biden says the US is on pace to complete all its evacuations from Afghanistan by the end of the month. Biden emphasises that reaching that goal remains dependent on cooperation from the new Taliban rulers. He says staying in Afghanistan past the deadline would raise the “terror” threat against Americans and allied forces. *) Algeria breaks off diplomatic ties with neighbouring Morocco Algeria says it has snapped diplomatic ties with Morocco after accusing its neighbour of spying and supporting a separatist movement, a charge Morocco denies. Relations between the two nations have deteriorated since last year when the issue of Western Sahara sovereignty flared up after years of comparative quiet. Morocco regards the disputed territory as its own, while Algeria backs the independence movement there. *) UN says millions one step away from famine in Yemen The United Nations has warned that millions of people in Yemen are just a step away from famine. Around five million in the country are facing imminent starvation and the crisis has been aggravated by Houthi rebels who have blocked the delivery of supplies. The UN's Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that roughly two-thirds of the country's population relies on humanitarian aid. *) Four years after mass expulsion from Myanmar, plight of Rohingya continues It's been four years since Myanmar's military launched a deadly crackdown on the Rohingya minority living in Rakhine state. Hundreds of thousands of people fled to neighbouring Bangladesh following the brutal campaign of violence. The UN describes the Rohingya as one of the world's most persecuted minority groups, which has faced decades of discrimination and human rights abuses. And finally ... * ) Legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts dies at 80 Charlie Watts, the drummer of the legendary rock'n'roll band the Rolling Stones has died at the age of 80. Publicist Bernard Doherty said Watts passed away peacefully in a London hospital surrounded by his family. He joined the Stones early in 1963 and ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the group's longest lasting and most essential member.

*) NATO diplomat says Kabul evacuation continuing on war footing Evacuations at Kabul airport are taking place on a "war footing", NATO says as foreign forces try to meet an August 31 deadline to leave Afghanistan. Taliban officials have been briefed about the evacuation and logistics at the airport, a NATO official said. The official stated better crowd management was still required even though the situation outside Kabul airport was relatively calmer. *) Tunisia's president extends suspension of parliament Tunisia's President Kais Saied has extended the suspension of parliament until further notice, a month after granting himself greater powers in what activists have called a "purge". Saied also extended the suspension of parliamentary immunity, justifying his intervention as necessary to save Tunisia from collapse. The Tunisian president has not yet appointed a new prime minister or announced a roadmap demanded by allies and key players. *) Harris rebukes China in major speech on Indo-Pacific US Vice President Kamala Harris has accused Beijing of continuing to "coerce" and "intimidate" in the South China Sea during her trip to Singapore. She also pledged Washington would pursue a free and open Indo Pacific. The area has growing importance to the Biden administration, which has made countering China’s influence globally a centrepiece of its foreign policy. *) California firefighters battle a dozen large wildfires More than 13,500 firefighters are working to contain a dozen large California wildfires that have forced thousands of people to flee to safety. After an extensive review of fire damage, Governor Gavin Newsom requested a presidential major disaster declaration for eight counties. The Caldor Fire, just 9 percent contained, has become the nation's number one priority for firefighting resources. And finally ... * ) Tokyo Paralympics to open as Japan battles virus surge Tokyo's Paralympic Games will open as Japan battles a surge in Covid-19 cases. The Games will officially be declared open on Tuesday evening by Japan's Emperor Naruhito but virus rules mean most of the stadium will be empty. As a “sign of solidarity," Afghanistan's flag will be displayed at the opening ceremony even though the country's athletes were not able to get to Tokyo.

*) US evacuates 11,000 out Kabul airport over weekend US President Joe Biden has once again defended his administration's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Washington says it evacuated 11,000 vulnerable people out of Kabul airport this weekend – bringing the total number of US evacuations to 28,000. Biden said there is a “long way to go” before everyone is evacuated with the US unable to ascertain an accurate headcount of its citizens there. *) More countries clamping down on Afghan refugees influx Meanwhile, more and more nations are concerned about an influx of Afghan refugees after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. On Sunday, Australia denied visas to 100 contractors guarding their Kabul embassy and Austria said it won't be taking in any more refugees. Russian President Vladimir Putin said militants may leave Afghanistan by pretending to be refugees and then appear in his country. Turkey has pressed on the EU to help fleeing Afghans as President Erdogan stressed his country cannot handle additional “migration burden.” *) Cuba records one of highest Covid rates in western hemisphere After recording one of the world's lowest Covid-19 rates last year, Cuba now has one of the western hemisphere's highest. The island nation reported around 12-thousand cases in 2020 – that total has increased by 50 times so far this year. Hospitals are struggling to respond to the rise in Delta variant cases because of a lack of medical supplies. *) At least 22 dead in flooding in US state of Tennessee Devastating floods in the US state of Tennessee have left at least 22 people dead and dozens missing, officials said in what they warned was a preliminary toll. Tennessee was hit on Saturday by historic storms and flooding, dumping 38 centimetres or more of rain. Rural roads, state highways and bridges were washed away as power outages affected thousands of people. And finally ... * ) Bitcoin jumps above $50,000 for first time since May Bitcoin broke back above $50,000 on Monday for the first time in three months as investors piled back into the cryptocurrency on bargain-buying. The unit climbed around two percent to $50,249.15, its highest since mid-May. This came after it began tumbling on a range of issues including China's crackdown on cryptocurrencies and Elon Musk's concerns on the environmental impact of mining.

*) Over 18,000 people evacuated since Sunday from Kabul airport More than 18,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul airport since the Taliban took over the Afghan capital, a Nato official said, declining to be identified. At the airport, military evacuation flights continued but access remained difficult for many, with the US struggling to pick up the pace of American and Afghan evacuations. On Thursday, Taliban insurgents fired into the air to try to control the crowds gathered at the airport’s blast walls. *) Brazil's Bolsonaro blocking critics on social media Human Rights Watch has accused Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro of violating the right to free speech by blocking critics on social media. The group reported that at least 176 journalists, lawmakers, influencers, ordinary citizens and others deemed critical of the president have had their access to his accounts blocked, mostly on Twitter. Bolsonaro, who has built his political brand largely around his fiery social media screeds, has around seven million followers on Twitter. *) Two killed, five injured in Mogadishu suicide bombing At least two people have been killed and five wounded after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device inside a cafe in Somalia's capital. The suicide bomber targeted a tea shop near a crowded junction in northern Mogadishu which was reportedly frequented by members of the Somali security forces as well as civilians. The Al Qaeda-linked group Al Shabab claimed the attack through their news agency, according to the US monitoring group SITE. *) Grace weakens to tropical storm after lashing Mexican Caribbean Hurricane Grace grounded flights and forced tourists to spend the night in shelters on part of Mexico's Caribbean coastline before weakening to a tropical storm. Grace made landfall before dawn as a Category One hurricane on the Yucatan Peninsula near the town of Tulum, famed for its Mayan temples. The governor of southeastern Quintana Roo state said hundreds were evacuated and the storm passed the Riviera Maya coastline. And finally ... * ) Singapore opens its first ice cream museum America's Museum of Ice Cream has launched its first international outlet in Singapore, providing some sweet distraction from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Museum of Ice Cream said it planned to expand to more locations soon, the next opening in Austin, Texas. Its flagship New York museum is wildly popular with social media influencers and frequently attracts celebrities.

*) Three dead after anti-Taliban protests in Jalalabad Three people have been killed and more than a dozen injured after Taliban members opened fire during a protest against the group in Jalalabad. Meanwhile, former president Ashraf Ghani said he hopes to return home, after fleeing to the UAE but Washington said he is "no longer a figure in Afghanistan." US President Joe Biden said it was impossible to leave Afghanistan without chaos and that some soldiers may stay in Afghanistan past August thirty-first to evacuate Americans. *) Haiti quake death toll rises to 2,189 The death toll from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti has risen to 2,189 with 600,000 people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, local civil protection authorities said. Flooding and heavy rains over the past days interrupted efforts to search for survivors and help those left homeless or without food and water. International aid workers said hospitals in the areas worst hit by the quake are mostly incapacitated and that there is a dire need for medical equipment. *) Turkish President meets with UAE National Security Adviser Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks in Ankara with UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. They discussed bilateral and regional developments and UAE investments in Turkey, Turkey’s Communications Directorate said. Turkey and UAE have been at loggerheads over regional issues, supporting opposite sides in the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean. *) Greek firefighters battle growing forest blaze near Athens Greek firefighters battled a wildfire raging through one of the last remaining pine forests near Athens, warning that homes could be at risk. More than 500 wildfires have broken out in recent weeks across the country, ravaging swathes of forest and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Like other countries across the Mediterranean region including Turkey and Tunisia, Greece has seen some of its highest temperatures in decades this summer. And finally ... * ) Rights groups urge Apple to scrap plans to inspect iMessages More than 90 policy and rights groups around the world are urging Apple to abandon plans to inspect iMessages. The tech company says it intends to scan children’s messages for nudity and the phones of adults for images of child sex abuse with its upcoming iOS 15 update. Signatories are concerned that the capabilities will be used to censor protected speech and threaten privacy and security.

*) Taliban allowing 'safe passage' from Kabul in US airlift The White House said the Taliban had promised that civilians could travel safely to the Kabul airport as the US military stepped up its airlift for Americans and Afghans. A White House official said some 3,200 people have been evacuated by the US military so far. Washington wants to complete the exodus before its August 31 withdrawal deadline. *) Tropical storm halts Haiti quake recovery efforts Haitian officials raised the death toll from a deadly weekend earthquake to 1,941 and the number of injured to 9,900. Tropical Storm Grace has forced a temporary halt to rescue efforts, lashing the country with 38 centimeters of rain. Officials said the magnitude 7.2 earthquake destroyed more than 7,000 homes and damaged nearly 5,000, leaving about 30,000 families homeless. *) Iran ups uranium enrichment to 60 Iran has established a process to accelerate production of highly enriched uranium. International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Grossi informed IAEA member states that Tehran was boosting capacity to enrich uranium up to 60 percent at its Natanz enrichment plant. The move takes Iran closer to the 90 percent purity level needed for use in a nuclear weapon. *) Investigators say Bolivia security forces committed 'massacres' An independent group has accused Bolivia's security forces of carrying out "massacres" during social unrest around the disputed 2019 elections. Clashes between rival supporters and opponents killed at least 37 people after Evo Morales won an unconstitutional fourth term as president in an election. The report by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts also highlights political polarisation surrounding Morales’ changing of the constitution and racism against his Indigenous followers. And finally ... * ) Nuclear scientists hail US fusion breakthrough Nuclear scientists using lasers have generated a huge amount of energy from fusion, possibly offering hope for the development of a new clean energy source. Nuclear fusion is considered by some scientists to be a potential energy of the future because it produces little waste and no greenhouse gases. It differs from fission, a technique currently used in nuclear power plants, where the bonds of heavy atomic nuclei are broken to release energy.

*) Biden defends US pullout from Afghanistan President Joe Biden has deflected blame for the Taliban's stunning military takeover after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. He said US troops could not defend a nation whose leaders "gave up and fled," as did President Ashraf Ghani. Kabul airport saw scenes of heartbreak on Monday as thousands of Afghans tried to flee Taliban rule, with at least seven people dying in the chaos. *) UN chief urges world to open doors to Afghan refugees The UN has asked the international community to let Afghan refugees in and not deport those who are taking the risk to get away from the country. It is expected that in the coming months a wave of refugees will move towards Europe and the US. Some countries are now calling for allowing in refugees but France has expressed concerns, vowing to work on preventing an influx of irregular Afghan immigrants to the EU. *) Haiti quake revives anger over aid response in past disasters Saturday's earthquake has revived anger in Haiti over international aid response to a devastating quake that hit the country 11 years ago. Haitians took to social media to urge donors to send money directly to local charities, criticising what they saw as misuse of funds after the 2010 quake and a major hurricane in 2016. Saturday's quake in the poorest country in the Americas killed at least 1,419 people and injured thousands more. *) Zambia's new president vows 'better democracy’ after landslide win Zambian president-elect Hakainde Hichilema has slammed the country's outgoing "brutal regime" while promising a "better democracy" in his debut address to the nation. He pledged to foster rule of law and respect for human rights, liberties and freedoms. Hichilema won more than 2.8 million votes against incumbent Edgar Lungu's 1.8 million in Thursday's election. And finally ... * ) Japan's Kaji, the "godfather of Sudoku," dies at 69 Maki Kaji, a puzzle enthusiast and publisher who was known as the "Godfather of Sudoku" has died at 69. The cause of death was bile duct cancer. Sudoku became popular outside Japan around two decades ago after overseas newspapers began printing it. A world championship has been held annually since 2006.

*) Taliban in control of Afghanistan The Taliban has taken over Afghanistan's capital Kabul and now controls almost all of the country after President Ashraf Ghani conceded the group had won the 20-year war. The astonishingly quick collapse of the government, with the Taliban taking over the presidential palace on Sunday night, triggered fear and panic in the capital. Thousands of civilians desperate to flee the country flooded Kabul airport, where at least five people were reported killed in gunfire amid the chaos. *) Powerful earthquake kills over 1,200 people in Haiti The death toll in Haiti from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake has climbed past twelve hundred, as crews desperately dig through collapsed buildings for survivors. Neighbouring countries sent rescue teams, food, and medicine to Haiti where hospitals are overwhelmed by quake victims. Officials said some 13,600 buildings were destroyed and over 13,700 damaged, trapping hundreds of people under rubble and leaving more than 5,700 injured. *) Japan calls for massive evacuation amid heavy rains Now to Japan, where almost two million people have been urged to evacuate their homes after torrential rain triggered floods across the country. At least three people are presumed dead as heavy rains continue to flood streets and residences in the southern part of Japan. Southwestern Japan has been swamped with rain since last week and the weather agency says the downpour is likely to continue in the coming days. *) Zambia opposition leader wins presidential election Business tycoon and opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema is the winner of the hotly contested presidential election in Zambia. Official results showed Hichilema captured a landslide of more than 2.8 million votes against around 1.8 million for President Edgar Lungu. Lungu, who has been in office for six years, tried to retain his mandate despite growing resentment about rising living costs and a crackdown on dissent. And finally ... *) ‘Suicidal reproducer’ mammal survives Australia fire A rare, shrew-like Australian marsupial, whose males die en masse from stress after a ‘frenetic’ mating season, has survived devastating wildfires that scorched their habitat. That’s according to scientists who feared for the future of a key population of silver-headed marsupials that were only formally identified eight years ago. The animal lives a precarious life, dying before age one from the effects of an intense two-week mating season. Females rarely survive a third breeding season.

*) Taliban captures more key cities Taliban militants are taking over major provincial capitals in Afghanistan at lightning pace. By Friday morning, the insurgents were in control of 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals, which it captured in a week. US intelligence reports say capital Kabul will fall within 90 days and that a Taliban takeover of the entire country is all but certain. *) Dangerous heatwave to hit Europe Spain and Portugal are now bracing for a dangerous heatwave, after Italy reported Europe's highest temperatures. Authorities warn temperatures could pass 44 degrees Celsius in some areas. The North Africa-born heatwave has already caused deadly wildfires in Southern Europe, Greece, Turkey and Algeria. *) Dixie Fire wreaks havoc in California The Dixie Fire in California is quickly becoming one of the most destructive in the state's history. Since mid-July, Dixie has destroyed around 1,000 buildings, and burned over 160,000 hectares. Over 6,000 firefighters are battling the blaze and have successfully managed to contain 30 percent. Meteorologists predict the wildfires will continue to burn into the winter season. *) More soldiers deployed to enforce curbs in Sydney More soldiers will begin patrolling the streets in Australia's Sydney from next week to help ensure compliance of lockdown rules. More than 500 soldiers are already helping Sydney police enforce curbs at hotels and airports. New South Wales state reported 390 new locally acquired cases of Delta variant, most in Sydney, which has been under lockdown for nearly seven-weeks. And finally ... *) Britney Spears gets control of her estate Britney Spears' father has agreed to step down as conservator of her $60 million estate. The 39-year-old pop star has been seeking to remove her father's control over her affairs. A judge had deemed Spears unfit to care for herself, after her public mental breakdown in 2008.

*) Taliban deny targeting civilians Taliban militant group denies it targeted and killed civilians during its offensive against Afghan troops. The statement comes as the insurgents make rapid advances, and are now in control of 10 of the country's 34 provincial capitals. The UN is warning of a humanitarian crisis, as tens of thousands flee their homes from conflict. *) Dixie Fire rages across California The largest wildfire in California's history has been raging across the US state for 27 days. The Dixie Fire has already destroyed hundreds of residential and commercial structures. Authorities say only 27 percent of the blaze is contained, with more than 5,000 firefighters working to extinguish it. *) Protests against controversial media bill in Poland Polish lawmakers in the lower house of parliament voted in favour of a highly controversial media ownership bill. The legislation, which is expected to be defeated in the senate, means the country's largest remaining independent TV stations could lose their licenses. Several protests were held against the vote, saying it's an attempt to silence critical broadcasters. *) US moves a step closer to extraditing Assange The US has won the right to challenge psychiatric evidence in the extradition case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Dozens of Assange supporters rallied outside the High Court in London. The psychiatrist failed to add into evidence that Assange had fathered two children during the seven years he was holed up inside the Ecuadorian Embassy. And finally ... *) Chelsea beat Villareal in UEFA Super Cup Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa made two crucial saves in a penalty shootout to emerge the hero in his team's victory over Villareal in the UEFA Super Cup. Extra time ended 1-1 at Belfast's Windsor Park before the match moved to a deciding penalty shootout, which Chelsea won 6-5. Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel made the masterstroke tactical change by bringing Kepa on for the shootout, and adding yet another trophy to the Blues' collection.

*) Scores killed by wildfires in Algeria At least 42 people have been killed by wildfires in Algeria. The government has paid tribute to 25 soldiers who died after saving scores of people. There have been blazes in at least 19 different locations across the country since Monday. *) Biden: Afghan troops need to fight for their nation US President Joe Biden says his country is committed to fully withdrawing from Afghanistan, and Afghan troops need to fight for their nation. Biden's statement comes as Taliban militants seized a seventh provincial capital within a week. A senior EU official told the media that the insurgents now control 65% of the country. *) Lithuania to build anti-migrant fence on border Lithuania's parliament voted in favour of building a metal fence on a border it shares with Belarus to stop non-EU migrants from entering. The country says more than 4,000 migrants have entered illegally from Belarus this year. Lithuania says the migrants fly into Belarus and are then allowed to cross the border into Lithuania illegally. Belarus denies being involved. *) NY Governor Cuomo resigns New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned over a series of sexual harassment allegations. His deputy, Kathy Hochul will take over, to become the first woman to lead the state in its 233-year history. Cuomo says his resignation will take effect in 14 days. And finally ... *) Covid pushes Emmy Awards outdoors This year's Emmy Awards will be held outdoors on the Event Deck at LA LIVE, because of a surge in Delta cases. Only a limited number of guests will be allowed to the ceremony, and will have to provide proof of vaccination. The event will take place on September 19 with Cedric the Entertainer as host.

*) Taliban continues with offensive despite calls for peace Taliban militants are escalating a nationwide offensive in Afghanistan after rejecting international calls for a ceasefire. The insurgents have already seized six provincial capitals since Friday. Civilian casualties are rising with the UN saying dozens of children have been killed in the last 72 hours. *) Bombshell climate report says humanity has failed the Earth A major UN report on climate change has set off warning bells that humans are changing the climate in unprecedented ways, and some of the damage is irreversible. The report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says heatwaves, torrential rains and droughts will happen more frequently. The report is being described as a code red for humanity, who need to stop using fossil fuels and focus on taking care of Earth. *) Greek PM apologises for govt’s failure in responding to wildfires The prime minister of Greece has publicly apologised for the government's failure in tackling wildfires that are burning across the country for an eighth day. The country is now counting the high cost after homes, farms and livelihoods were destroyed. More than 500 fires are burning across mainland Greece and some of its outlying islands, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villages and thousands of people. *) Prince Andrew sued for sexually abusing a woman three times Britain's Prince Andrew has been sued for sexually abusing a woman three times, 20 years ago. Virginia Giuffre who was 18 at the time, claims she was trafficked for sex by Jeffrey Epstein. She's filed a civil complaint in New York accusing Prince Andrew of abusing her at the London home of Epstein's longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. And finally ... *) Jury selection in R.Kelly trial begins Jury selection for R.Kelly's trial began in a federal New York court. The disgraced R&B singer faces a host of charges including racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery and forced labor, spanning from 1994 to 2018, across several states. All jurors will remain anonymous and be escorted to and from court by US marshals.

*) Wildfires continue burning in Europe Thousands of wildfires are raging across southern Europe, as heatwaves and droughts continue to fuel the blazes. Firefighters are now racing to contain them before they devastate more land and communities. Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Russia and countries in the Balkans are all badly affected. *) Rwandan troops help retake Mozambican city from Daesh-linked group Daesh-affiliated gunmen have been beaten by Rwandan forces and booted out of a town in Mozambique. Mocimboa da Praia in gas-rich Cabo Delgado province, was the de facto headquarters of the militant group. Since it began, the insurgency in the African country has left at least 3,000 dead and over 800,000 displaced. *) Myanmar’s health system buckling under Covid wave Hospitals are on the brink of collapse in Myanmar as a devastating third wave hits the country. There's a large shortage of medical supplies and beds. Human rights groups say the junta is putting more stress on the crippled healthcare system by directing resources to military-run hospitals. *) Team USA finish Olympics with most medals The Tokyo Olympics Games are over and Team USA came out as top finishers with 113 medals. Going into the final day, second-place China had the lead with 88 medals, but US wins in women's volleyball, basketball and cycling catapulted them to the top. Hosts Japan finished third with 58 medals. And finally ... *) PSG ready to welcome Lionel Messi to their club Football superstar Lionel Messi is expected to arrive in Paris later today to finalise his move to PSG. ESPN reports the 34-year-old will sign a two-year deal with an option for a third. Messi on Sunday said goodbye to FC Barcelona, his club of over 21 years, in an emotional press conference.