TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, April 25:

*)North Korea’s Kim says he's looking to boost ties with Russia

North Korea's Kim Jong-un is meeting Vladimir Putin, in Vladivostok in Russia's far east. It's their first meeting.

Historically, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a.k.a 'the North', was always a bit of a sideline event in big power games between the West, China and the Soviet Union.

Whether today's meeting will improve relations between Moscow and Pyongyang remain to be seen.

*)More than 60 dead in South Africa after heavy rains

Heavy rains in South Africa have left at least 60 people dead.

Flooding and mudslides have been the main killer.

Hundreds of others have been displaced, mainly in the port city of Durban.

*)Australia, New Zealand mark ANZAC Day

ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

April 25 is the date these armies attempted to invade the Ottoman Empire in 1915 during World War One in what is Turkey today.

They were driven back at great cost to both sides.

Ceremonies are held in both countries, and in Turkey at Canakkale or Gallipoli as it's known in English.

And finally,

*)Sri Lanka grapples with the fallout from attacks

If one motive for terror is to divide communities, Sri Lanka is only beginning to grapple with Sunday's suicide attacks.

Daesh claimed responsibility. It's unclear though whether they actually played a role, or what it was.

The terror group's method has always been to foment hatred through violence.

Sri Lanka is predominantly Sinhalese and Buddhist, but it's a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-faith country that has dealt successfully with violence in the past.

Can it do so again?

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, April 24:

*)Sri Lanka death toll continues to climb

The death toll from the Easter Sunday's suicide attacks in Sri Lanka has now risen above 350.

Authorities say a local militant group carried out the coordinated bombings. Experts and officials believe they had outside help.

Political in-fighting in Sri Lanka appears to have caused an intelligence failure. Warnings of an imminent attack were ignored.

*)N Korea's Kim arrives in Russia for a summit with Putin

North Korea's Kim Jong-un is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin today.

The meeting is in Vladivostok in Russia's far east. It will be Kim's first meeting with Putin.

The Kremlin says their agenda will include the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula.

*)Saudi executes 37 for ‘terrorist crimes’

Saudi Arabia has executed 37 people for what it's calling "terrorist crimes."

All of them were beheaded. Thirty-four are thought to be Shia. The body of one was pinned to a pole for public display.

Amnesty International condemned the slaughter.

Separately, a US-based analyst said it was the "largest mass execution of Shias" in the kingdom's history.

The US, Afghan forces kill more civilians in 2019 than militants do

In the first three months of this year, more Afghan civilians were killed by the US and pro-government forces, than died at the hands of the Taliban, Daesh and other militant groups.

That's according to the UN. It said the government and its allies killed 305 civilians, while terrorists, militants and insurgents killed 227.

It's the first time this has happened since the UN began keeping count in 2009.

And finally,

*)Japan apologises for forced sterilisations

Japan's government has apologised to people it forcibly sterilised under its eugenics law.

About 25,000 people were sterilised between 1948 and 1996 when the law was in effect.

Now the government has apologised to them and is offering compensation.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

The bombers in Sri Lanka appear to have had outside help, and India continues its general election.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, April 23rd.

*) Death toll in Sri Lanka blasts rises to 310

Funerals are continuing in Sri Lanka following Sunday's terror attacks across the country.

Today has been declared a day of national mourning.

More than 300 people were killed when suicide bombers blew up three churches and three hotels on Easter Sunday. Hundreds more were wounded.

Police have arrested 40 suspects. A Syrian national is among them. Officials say the bombers appear to have had outside help.

*) Top Myanmar court rejects appeal by journalists

Myanmar's top court has rejected the final appeal of two jailed Reuters journalists who were investigating crimes against humanity in Rakhine state.

They were imprisoned for seven years for violating the official secrets' act. The veteran reporters say they were set up by police.

They were investigating the murder of ten villagers by the military in Rakhine state.

The UN says the military's crackdown on Myanmar's muslim minority is textbook ethnic cleasing and tantamout to genocide.

*) US to end waivers for Iranian oil importers

The US says all importers of Iranian oil will have to stop or face sanctions.

The US is attempting to block all exports of Iranian oil.

Some countries, including Turkey, were granted import waivers. That will now end.

Iran says it will work with partner countries to find a solution.

*) Another earthquake strikes in the Philippines

A second earthquake hit the south of the Philippines this morning.

The 6.1 magnitude quake came as rescue workers are still searching for signs of life after yesterday's tremblor.

At least 11 people died in Tuesday's 6.1 magnitude quake.

*) India holds third phase of its general election

And finally,

Millions more people head to the polls in India, including Prime Minister Nahendra Modi, as the country votes in phase three of its general election.

Nearly 16 hundred candidates are contesting the polls in 15 states today.

About 900 million people will vote in the seven-stage election and world's biggest democratic exercise which ends on May 19.

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Hundreds killed in Sri Lanka blasts, and Ukraine elects a comedian as its president.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, April 22nd.

Hundreds killed in Sri Lanka blasts

Sri Lanka is in mourning after hundreds of people were killed in attacks on Easter Sunday.

The apparently coordinated assault was the worst violence in the country since the civil war ended ten years ago.

Police have made more than a dozen arrests, but so far no group has claimed responsibility.

Ukranian comedian wins presidential poll

Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy has won a landslide victory in Ukraine's presidential election.

Zelenskiy has no political experience. He won more than 70% of the vote according to preliminary results.

The incumbent, Petro Poroshenko, has conceded defeat.

Sudanese protesters suspend talks with military

Tensions are simmering in Sudan after talks broke down between protesters and the country's military rulers.
They say they're suspending talks with the military council after it failed to transfer power to a civilian government.

The military ousted Omar al Bashir in a coup on April 11.

The Sudanese Professionals Association is organising the protests.

It says the new administration is just an extension of the old one.

US to end sanction waivers for Iran oil imports - reports

The US is reported to be set to announce that all importers of Iranian oil will now be subject to sanctions, unless they stop.

Washington had earlier granted waivers to eight countries to continue their purchase from Iran for a period of six months.

This latest move comes after the Trump administration put Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on its terror list earlier this month.

'Curse of La Llorona' wins box office in slow easter weekend

And finally,

"The Curse of La Llorona" brought good news and bad.

The horror film topped all comers in North American theatres, but it did so on the worst easter weekend overall in years.

However, it did end the two-week reign of "Shazam!" in the top spot at the US box office.

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, April 19:

*)Mueller report on Russian meddling released

Special counsel Robert Mueller's report has been released in the US.

It describes how Trump melted down when he learned of Mueller's appointment; how Trump thought it would end his presidency; and how the president then tried to seize control of the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

But Mueller stopped short of saying the president obstructed justice.

Without any charges, the Trump team are calling it a "total victory for the president."

*)France, Egypt and UAE accused of supporting Haftar

Libya’s Unity government has accused France, the UAE and Egypt of supporting Khalifa Haftar.

It's the first time Paris has been named directly as a supporter of eastern-based Haftar, whose forces have launched a drive against the UN-backed government in the capital Tripoli.

France denies the charge.

*)Afghanistan peace talks postponed

The first direct peace talks between the Taliban and Afghanistan's government have been put on hold.

Disagreement over the number of delegates Kabul could send scuttled the preparations.

The talks were due to start today in Doha, in the latest bid to end the fighting.

The Taliban have a political office in Qatar.

*)Mali’s prime minister resigns

Mali's prime minister and his cabinet have resigned.

It comes four weeks after the massacre of some 160 herders by an ethnic vigilante group that shocked the largely Saharan nation in northwest Africa.

Mali has been in turmoil since a rebellion by Tuaregs and allied militants took over half the country in 2012.

France intervened the following year to push them back.

And finally

*)Facebook exposes new users' email passwords,

Facebook has screwed up again. This time it stored millions of passwords of Instagram users in unencrypted form on internal servers.

It says no harm was done internally, and it's fixed the issue.

Between a third and a half of the planet's population are plugged into Facebook's core social network, Instagram and its messaging applications.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Phase two of India's massive election gets underway, and researchers revive pig brains hours after death.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, April 18th.

India votes in phase two of general election

India heads to the polls today for the second phase of voting in the country's general election.

Polling will take place in over 90 constituencies across 13 states.

The results of the seven-stage election are expected in May.

Count has Widodo ahead, Subianto claims victory

Early results from Wednesday's presidential election in Indonesia show Joko Widodo winning a second term.

But his challenger, ex-general Prabowo Subianto, has claimed victory.

The government, army and police say they will crack down on any attempt to disrupt public order as official results are tabulated.

North Korea tests a new tactical weapon

North Korea says it's tested a new tactical weapon.

State media said Kim Jong-un observed the trial.

It comes as talks with the US on ridding the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons are going nowhere.

Some analysts see it as an attempt to prod the tiger, in other words, to see if Trump's rhetoric is actually anything more than hot air.

CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu named Istanbul mayor

Turkey's electoral council has installed the CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu as mayor of Istanbul.

The CHP margin of victory was some 13,000 votes, or less than 0.2 percent of the vote.

The defeated AK Party is alleging irregularities. It has appealed to the electoral council, or YSK as it's known, to annul the result and call a new election.

Researchers revive pig brains hours after death

And finally,

New science has raised questions about the meaning of death.

Researchers in the US have revived activity in pigs' brains, four hours after they were declared dead.

The debate over the ethical and philosophical implications of the test is only just beginning.

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Indonesians go to the polls, and maybe it's time to panic about climate change.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, April 17th.

Indonesians vote in general election

Polls have closed in Indonesia in a general election with 193 million eligible voters.

For the presidency, incumbent Joko Widodo is facing off against ex-general Prabowo Subianto. It's a re-run of 2014 when Widodo defeated Prabowo.

Most voters said they will be casting their ballot based on the economy.

Red Cross aid arrives in Venezuela

A shipment of Red Cross aid has arrived in Venezuela.

The supplies are the first to enter the country since the government blocked deliveries two months ago.

Oil-rich but poverty-stricken Venezuela was further plunged into crisis when Juan Guaido named himself interim president earlier this year and called for Nicolas Maduro to step down.

Trump vetoes end to US involvement in Yemen war

US President Donald Trump has vetoed a bipartisan congressional resolution calling for an end to support for the war in Yemen.

The US is backing a Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-linked Houthi rebels.

The civil and regional proxy war has triggered a humanitarian disaster with millions facing starvation.

Turkey expects US to extend sanctions waiver on Iran oil

Turkey's Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin says Ankara expects the US to extend a waiver on Turkey importing oil from Iran.

The Trump administration ripped up a multilateral nuclear pact with Tehran and six world powers in 2015 and reimposed oil sanctions last year.

Kalin said, "People should not expect Turkey to turn its back on Iran."

Teen climate activist tells EU it's time to panic

And finally,

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg says time is running out to halt climate change.

Thunberg got a standing ovation in France when she told EU lawmakers it's "time to panic."

The Swedish teenager is fast becoming the face of environmental activism as the adults in the room continue to pretend there isn't a problem.

And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.