This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, July 31st.*) Dozens killed in terrorist attack in PakistanAt 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 succeedsRussia’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 LebanonSeveral 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’: PutinRussian 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 CupMorocco 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 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 <a href="http://trtworld.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trtworld.com</a>

July 31, 2023

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, July 28th.*) Russia thwarts Ukrainian ‘drone attack’ in Moscow regionRussia’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 attemptThe 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 changesThousands 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 GreeceA 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 caseFormer 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

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 <a href="http://trtworld.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trtworld.com</a>

July 28, 2023

*) Soldiers claim to have removed Niger’s president, imposed curfewSoldiers 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 himCambodian 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 cooperationNorth 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 RussiaPresident 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 deadA 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 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 <a href="http://trtworld.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trtworld.com</a>

July 27, 2023

*) Soldiers raid Ecuadorian prison to quell riotSome 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 causeTurkish 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 PhilippinesA 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 aidUkraine'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 booksThe 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.

*) 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.

July 26, 2023

*) Ukraine 'downs drones' as Russia launches attackRussia 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 overhaulIsraeli 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 wildfiresTürkiye 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 languageMali 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 CupHistory 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.

*) 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.

July 25, 2023

*) Iraq expels Swedish ambassador in response to Quran desecration in SwedenIraq'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 protestsIsraeli 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 termFrench 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 CyprusTurkish 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 mediaNearly 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.

*) 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.

July 21, 2023

*) Iraqi protesters torch Sweden's embassy in BaghdadHundreds 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 SeaA 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 $50.7BTürkiye 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 climbsHeavy 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 worldAustralian 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.

*) 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.

July 20, 2023

*) Russia ‘downs’ dozens of Ukraine drowns after grain deal endsRussian 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 dealsTürkiye 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 tensionsThe 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 continuePresident 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 peakEurope 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.

*) 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.

July 18th, 2023

*) Türkiye 'more hopeful than ever' over F-16 purchase from US: ErdoganTurkish 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 UkraineA Russian general claimed he was fired as a commander in southern Ukraine after telling Moscow of the dire situation at the frontlineMajor 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 historyHospital 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 peopleThe 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 SwedishKuwait 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.

*) 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.

July 13, 2023

*) Bosnia bids farewell to newly identified Srebrenica genocide victimsMarking 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: HRWGunmen 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 expertA 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 SyriaRussia 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."

*) 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."

July 12, 2023

A summary of today's impactful news stories from around the world hand-picked by our staff at TRT World.

*) Türkiye agrees to move ahead with Sweden's NATO bid: StoltenbergTürkiye 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 authorisationA 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' tiesTurkish 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 &amp; 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 &amp; forward-looking manner."*) Last week hottest on record worldwide: UNThe 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 strugglesThe 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.

*) 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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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.

July 11th, 2023

*) UN condemns Israel's Jenin raid, urges to respect international lawThe 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 practiceSweden'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 militiasDemocratic 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 contract18-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.

*) 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.

July 7, 2023

*) Fury in Israel after 'lenient' police chief is ousted by Netanyahu allyThousands 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 colonialismAzerbaijani 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 2022Children 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 MexicoA 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 TwitterMeta 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.

*) 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.

July 6, 2023

*) Gaza under fire after Israeli raid in JeninIsrael 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 linesFierce 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 TaiwanChina 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 AfghanistanAfghanistan'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 MondayMonday 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.

*) 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.

July 5, 2023

*) International office probing Ukraine war crimes beginsAn 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 JeninIsraeli 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 FranceThe 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 burningsThe 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 2023The 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.

*) 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.

July 3, 2023

*) Russia officially dropping charges against Wagner, PrigozhinRussia'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 tiesThe 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 sonTürkiye'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 universalUS 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 transferIlkay 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.

*) 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.

27 June, 2023

*) Mitsotakis back as Greece's prime minister, far-right  gains more seatsKyriakos 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 mutinyRussian 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 ragesSudan'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, SwedenTurkish 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 anniversaryNorth 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."

*) 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."

June 26, 2023

*) US says Titan submersible 'imploded', killing all five on boardA 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 ModiPresident 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 desecrationTürkiye 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 teamsQatar'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 &amp; 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 incidentsFormer 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.

*) 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 &amp; 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.

June 23, 2023

*) Anti-Muslim record, rights abuses hounds Modi as he makes US state visitIndian 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 subNetizens 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 deadAt 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 guiltyThe 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 debutA 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.

*) 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.

June 22, 2023

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, June 21.*) Underwater noises heard as crews race to find Titanic tourist subThe 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 82The 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 riotA 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 streetsBodies 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

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 <a href="http://trtworld.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trtworld.com</a>

June 21, 2023

In just a few minutes you get to hear news from around the world. Just facts, no opinions!

Great Brief Summary of News Around the World

I listen every day because I get the highlights in two minutes. And it’s informative. Some readers could slow down a bit. For example, the lady who read the news on October 8 was speed reading!

Good podcast but some readers could slow down!

Daily News Brief

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