*) New EU migrant plan abandons refugee quotas for ‘mandatory solidarity’

The European Union's executive has proposed a contentious plan to provide a better welcome for refugees fleeing the Middle East and Africa.

The plan, slammed by refugee rights groups, asks EU states to volunteer to either take in refugees or provide logistical support to countries allowing them in.

Intended for 2023, the plan also aims to ease the load on Mediterranean shore countries that see the most migrant arrivals.

*) Louisville officers shot during Breonna Taylor protests

A grand jury has decided that police officers who shot into Breonna Taylor's apartment and killed her will not be prosecuted for her death.

Hours after the grand jury's decision, authorities said two Louisville officers were shot and wounded in protests expressing anger over the killings of Black people.

The 26-year-old Black woman has since become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

*) Petrol tanker explosion in Nigeria kills killing dozens

At least 28 people have been killed after a fuel tanker crashed in Nigeria’s central state of Kogi.

The incident took place on the Lokoja-Abuja highway after a loaded petrol tanker lost control and rammed into a number of vehicles.

Occupants of the 10 vehicles involved were killed including a family that was crushed to death when the tanker fell on their car.

*) UN and Britain to co-host climate summit on December 12

The UN and Britain will co-host a global climate summit on December 12, the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement.

The announcement comes days after China said it would attempt to go carbon neutral by 2060.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for swift action, saying “the climate emergency” is here and there is “no time to waste.”

And finally...

*) 70 whales have been rescued from Australia’s worst mass beaching

Australian authorities have said that 70 pilot whales have been rescued so far from the country’s worst mass stranding.

The number of rescues had been estimated at 50 late Wednesday, but 20 more came to light on Thursday.

An estimated 470 whales were found stranded on the shore and sand bars along the remote west coast of Tasmania.

*) Turkey and Greece agree to resume eastern Mediterranean talks

Turkey and Greece have agreed to resume talks aimed at addressing their contested maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean.

A statement from Turkish President Erdogan's office said both countries were ready to restart talks after four years.

The Greek Foreign Ministry said the two NATO allies will resume “exploratory talks” at a brief meeting in Istanbul.

*) World powers clash, virus stirs anger at virtual UN meeting

World leaders have convened electronically for an unprecedented high-level UN meeting, where China and Iran clashed with the US and officials raged over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Turkish President Erdogan criticised how “countries were left on their own” at the onset of the pandemic.

He also called for the restructuring of the UN Security Council.

The UN chief urged unity in tackling the towering problems of Covid-19, the “economic calamity” it unleashed and the risk of a new Cold War between the US and China.

*) Saudi Arabia to lift ban on Umrah pilgrimage next month

After a seven-month pause due to coronavirus concerns, Saudi Arabia will allow residents to undertake the Muslim Umrah pilgrimage beginning on October 4.

The kingdom will only allow 30 percent of the revised capacity to perform the pilgrimage.

But starting November 1st, the kingdom will allow visitors from countries deemed safe to perform Umrah at 100 percent of the revised capacity.

*) Pakistani court sentences two to death over 2012 factory arson

Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Court has sentenced two former political party activists to death for starting the country’s deadliest industrial fire in 2012.

The blaze at the Baldia garment factory killed more than 260 workers.

The court ruled that the two workers from Pakistan's MQM party started the fire because the factory owners didn't give in to their extortion demands.

And finally.

*) Tesla cheaper battery and cheaper three years away

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said his company aims to achieve a new Tesla model priced at $25,000 within the next three years.

This would be a dramatic markdown from Tesla's cheapest car, the Model 3, that usually ends up costing more than $40,000.

Investors slashed $50 billion from Tesla market value as Musk's announced shied away from "a done deal."

*) Global stocks wobble amid coronavirus fear

World equity markets have suffered heavy losses as investors reacted to mounting fears of a second coronavirus wave.

Crude oil prices plunged over expectations of less demand just as more supply from Libya became available.

The banking sector has also been rocked by a media probe that revealed massive sums of dirty money had flowed for years through some of the world's largest banks.

*) US slaps new sanctions on Iran amid EU defiance

The United States has renewed what it calls "previously terminated UN sanctions" on Iran's Defence Ministry and demanded that European powers follow suit.

The US has said the action was taken because Iran failed to uphold its nuclear deal commitments and the UN Security Council failed to extend an arms embargo on Iran.

However, the United Nations has said it is not up to Washington to make that decision.

Police release footage after officers shoot 13-year-old boy

Staying in the US, where police have released footage showing a 13-year-old boy with autism was shot by officers after his mother asked for help getting him to the hospital

The videos show Salt Lake City officers chasing the boy down an alley after they arrive at his home, then yelling at him to get on the ground.

The boy collapses after a series of shots ring out, moaning, “I don’t feel good. I don’t feel good.”

He survived but suffered broken bones and pierced organs.

*) EU fails to agree on Belarus sanctions

European Union foreign ministers have failed to impose sanctions on Belarus officials suspected of election fraud.

Around 40 people linked to irregularities in the August 9 elections would be the subject of asset freezes and travel bans if the sanctions pass.

Several EU countries want Belarus President Lukashenko on the sanction list, but others prefer to gradually ramp up pressure on him by adding names.

And finally,

*) Rescuers continue bid to save stranded whales in Australia

A challenging operation has been launched in Australia to rescue hundreds of stranded whales off the island of Tasmania.

Up to 90 whales have died and another 180 more are still stranded.

About 60 people, including volunteers and local fish farm workers, are battling cold, wet conditions to save them.

*) HSBC's Hong Kong shares plummet after reported illicit activity

Global banks in Hong Kong, including HSBC and Standard Chartered, have been transferring trillions of dollars in illegal funds for nearly two decades.

Leaked reports by the US Treasury's Financial Crimes watchdog FinCen show bank staff moved funds to unknown owners registered in offshore havens.

Although HSBC denied the claims, their Hong Kong shares have dropped to their lowest since 1995, with Standard Chartered’s shares also falling.

*) Woman arrested over suspicion of sending ricin letter to Trump

A woman suspected of sending a letter with poison to the White House has been arrested and is expected to face federal charges.

The envelope containing ricin appeared to have originated in Canada and was intercepted before it reached the White House.

The unnamed suspect was taken into custody by US Customs and Border Protection officers at the New York-Canada border.

*) Democratic candidate Joe Biden calls for Justice vote delay

Joe Biden has lashed out at US President Trump for wanting to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court before presidential elections.

Biden has urged senators to delay a vote for a new Justice until after elections in November, and so far two Republican senators have agreed.

"A warrior for gender equality" in the US, Ginsburg was 87 when she died on Friday following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

*) Several killed in Mumbai building collapse

At least eight people have been killed in Mumbai in India after a three-storey residential building collapsed.

A disaster agency official said up to 25 people were believed to be trapped in the ruins since dawn on Monday.

The cause behind the collapse is still unknown but faulty building construction and unregulated urban planning are common in the region.

And finally,

*) History made at first virtual Emmy Awards ceremony

The 72nd Emmy Awards have taken place online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The awards ceremony was hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel from a virtual studio in Los Angeles and nominees dialled in from their homes.

Twenty-four-year-old "Euphoria" star Zendaya made history, becoming the youngest woman to win Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

*) Dozens killed in Afghanistan clashes despite hope for ceasefire

Fierce fighting between government forces and the Taliban has left dozens killed in Afghanistan even as the two sides continue peace talks in Qatar.

Overnight clashes erupted in three districts of Nangarhar province when Taliban fighters attacked several checkpoints of Afghan forces.

The violence occurred hours after the Afghan government delegation to the peace talks in Doha said they hoped to reach a ceasefire.

*) East Med: Direct Erdogan, Mitsotakis talks a possibility ahead of EU summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again stressed the importance of talks with Greece over the dispute in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan's remarks came after Turkish and Greek military delegations continued diplomatic talks to ease tensions at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

A Greek official has said that direct communication between the Turkish president and Greek prime minister would soon be possible.

*) India asks China to withdraw soldiers from disputed border region

India has urged China to completely disengage their forces from the border region of Ladakh.

India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh has said that China has amassed troops and weapons in Ladakh in violation of agreements reached in the 1990s.

He said that was not acceptable and that India is seeking a peaceful resolution through talks.
*) Hurricane Sally: Gulf Coast braces for second round of flooding

The southern United States is bracing for a second round of flooding in the wake of Hurricane Sally, which has left a trail of devastation in the Gulf Coast.

Officials say Orange Beach in Alabama will remain closed for 10 days as the area sustained significant damage and extensive power outages.

The hurricane is believed to have caused at least one death in Alabama.


And finally,
*) Former model Amy Dorris accuses Trump of sexual assault

A former model has accused US President Donald Trump of sexually assaulting and groping her at the US Open tennis tournament in 1997.

Amy Dorris told Britain's The Guardian that Trump sexually assaulted her in his VIP suite at the US Open tennis tournament in New York.

Trump, who has earlier faced more than a dozen allegations of sexual misconduct, denied the claims via his lawyers.

*) Over 30 million people have been infected with Covid-19

Coronavirus has now infected more than 30 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometer tracker.

The United States has the highest number of Covid-19 infections, followed by India, Brazil and Russia.

More than 945,000 people have died from the virus so far, while over 21 million have recovered from the disease.

*) Libyan Prime Minister announces plan to resign next month

The head of Libya’s internationally recognised government Fayez al Sarraj has announced his intention to resign by next month.

Sarraj says he wants to hand over power to a new administration in October amid talks on ending the country’s conflict.

His resignation could add to political uncertainty in Tripoli or even infighting among the rivals in the coalition.
*) Hurricane Sally drenches US Gulf coast, trapping hundreds

Hurricane Sally has slammed into the US Gulf coast, bringing catastrophic flooding to areas in Florida and Alabama.

One person has been killed and one other is missing after Sally made landfall as a Category Two storm overnight.

Extensive damage has been recorded as wind speeds hit 165 kilometres per hour.
*) West African leaders give Mali’s military junta an ultimatum

The Economic Community of West African States has demanded the appointment of a civilian president without delay or negotiations in Mali.

During a meeting on Tuesday, West African leaders told Mali's junta they have one week to appoint a leader or an embargo will be imposed on the country.

The embargo by neighbouring states will begin at midnight September 23, according to Colonel Major Ismael Wague.
And finally,
*) Highly anticipated Sony PlayStation 5 gets launch date

Sony has said its next-generation PlayStation 5 console will launch in November, squaring off against Microsoft rival Xbox.

The new PlayStation 5 gaming system will be priced at roughly $500, but will also have a cheaper option that does not include a disk drive, priced at $400.

The pricing announcement sets the stage for a year-end showdown between Xbox and PlayStation as players continue to flock to gaming consoles.

*) Palestinians slam UAE, Bahrain deals with Israel

The Palestinians have slammed deals between Israel and two Gulf Arab states, calling them a "treacherous stab in the back".

The Palestinian reaction followed a signing ceremony at the White House in Washington that formalised Israel's ties with the UAE and Bahrain.

The Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestine Liberation Front and Fatah all condemned the deals as agreements of "dependency, protection, and obedience with the occupation state".

*) Greece ready for eastern Mediterranean talks with Turkey

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis says he's ready to enter exploratory talks with Ankara “immediately” over the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey and Greece have been at loggerheads over maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean which are potentially rich in natural gas.

The latest standoff began after Turkey deployed the Oruc Reis research vessel and warships to Mediterranean waters on August 10.

*) Japan elects Suga as new PM after Abe resigns

Japan’s parliament has elected Yoshihide Suga as the country’s new prime minister.

Suga was elected head of the ruling Liberal Democrat Party following the resignation of Shinzo Abe and his cabinet.

Abe announced last month that he was stepping down due to health problems.

*) Hurricane Sally threatens Gulf Coast

Hurricane Sally is moving toward the US Gulf Coast, possibly bringing with it "extreme, life-threatening" flash floods.

Sally has strengthened to a Category 2 storm and threatens massive flooding in Alabama and Mississippi.

Authorities in the coastal Alabama city of Gulf Shores warned of life-threatening conditions and ordered a curfew.

And finally,

*) Turkey's flying car completes its first test flight

Turkey's first domestically produced flying car Cezeri [jezerie] has successfully completed its first test flight.

The car is named after Ismail al Jazari, a renowned 12th-century Muslim engineer and polymath.

It's expected to take an estimated 10 to 15 years for the car to hit the roads.