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September 19th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018
The UN welcomes Turkey, Russia deal that could avert a regime assault on Syria's Idlib, and southeast Asia cleans up after Typhoon Mangkhut.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 19th.
UN welcomes Idlib deal
The UN has welcomed Turkey's deal with Russia that could avert an Assad regime offensive against Syria's Idlib.
The UN is also calling for the stakeholders in Syria's future to move the political process forward.
Turkey says the deal with Russia, if it works, should protect millions of civilians in Idlib, the last major opposition and rebel stronghold in Syria.
North and South Korea take steps towards peace
North and South Korea are still technically at war. But that could now change.
Standing alongside the North's Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said the two countries have agreed to "remove every threat in all areas of the Korean Peninsula that can cause war."
Whether the reality can match the rhetoric is now the question.
China slaps tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods
China has announced it will tax 60 billion US dollars worth of American goods in response to Trump's latest trade tariffs.
China has also filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the US moves.
The US president says he's not backing down, so expect more turbulence moving forward.
Germany ousts spymaster over far-right violence
Germany’s coalition government has sacked the country’s spy chief for his alleged sympathies with far-right politicians and their anti-immigrant attitudes.
Hans-Georg Maassen has been an outspoken critic of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open-door policy for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution.
Merkel has now asked him to move on.
Philippines typhoon death toll tops 80, expected to rise
And finally,
The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Mangkhut has climbed to at least 81. And it could go higher with dozens of people still missing.
The typhoon has now moved on to southern China, where the loss of life has been much lower.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:09:53 +0000
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September 18th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Turkey and Russia agree a plane to try to avert a regime offensive in Syria's Idlib, and a Japanese billionaire could be the world's first tourist to the moon.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, September the 18th.
Turkey and Russia agree on plan to try to avert Idlib assault
Russia and Turkey have agreed to try to avert a regime assault on Idlib.
The Turkish and Russian presidents met in Sochi on Monday.
They agreed to demilitarise a 20-kilometre strip of land between regime forces and the opposition and rebels in the northwestern Syrian province.
Iran has welcomed the agreement.
Turkey is backing some of the opposition in the war.
Russia and Iran back the Assad regime.
Despite Monday's deal, Assad says he still intends to regain control of Idlib, the last major rebel and opposition stronghold in the country.
Syrian regime downs Russian war plane
Staying with Syria, and Russia's defence ministry says regime forces accidently shot down a Russian spy plane on Monday night, killing 15 service people on board.
Russia blamed Israel for provoking the incident, and said it reserved the right to respond.
UN calls for genocide prosecution of top Myanmar generals
Myanmar now, and the UN is again calling for the country's top generals to be prosecuted for genocide over their treatment of Rohingya Muslims.
The recommendation was in the final report of a UN investigation into the reason why some 700,000 Rohingya fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh after a military crackdown that began in August last year.
The report also called on Mynmar's military to be removed from politics.
Koreas' summit gets underway in Pyongyang
South Korea's president and North Korea's leader have started a summit meeting that is hoped can bring the peninsula closer to peace.
The South's Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un are meeting in the North's capital, Pyongyang, with denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula a top priority.
Japanese billionaire could be first moon tourist
And finally,
If Elon Musk is to be believed, SpaceX will soon be sending its first tourist to the moon.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa and his guests will blast off in 2023 on the weeklong trip.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Tue, 18 Sep 2018 10:18:22 +0000
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September 17th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Monday, September 17, 2018
The Turkish and Russian presidents are to meet in Sochi with Syria on the agenda, and the world's first hydrogen-powered train enters service.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, September the 17th.
Turkish, Russian presidents to meet in Sochi
Turkey's President Erdogan is to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, in Sochi today, with the situation in Syria's Idlib on the agenda.
Turkey and Russia are backing different sides in the Syrian conflict and Turkey is trying to prevent an all-out regime assault on Idlib.
The province is the last major opposition and rebel stronghold in the country, and the UN fears a bloodbath if the assault goes ahead.
Brett Kavanaugh accused of sexual assault
Trump's pick for the US Supreme Court is facing a decades-old accusation of sexual abuse.
Christine Ford said a drunken Brett Kavanaugh tried to grope her and forcibly remove her clothes at a party in the early 1980s.
Ford is now a clinical psychology professor. Her accusation has rocked the nomination process, with some Republican Senators now appearing uncomfortable in backing Kavanaugh.
Typhoon Mangkhut kills dozens in SE Asia
Typhoon Mangkhut is battering southern China after killing dozens in the Philippines.
The super typhoon slid by Hong Kong and Macau before slamming into Guangdong province.
Chinese state media have reported four deaths so far, and said over 2 million people were evacuated ahead of the storm.
Flooding from Florence is now the big danger
Hurricane Florence is still hammering the southeastern United States.
Flooding is the big danger now, with heavy rain and swollen rivers creating havoc for millions of people in several states.
So far at least 17 people are confirmed dead, but officials fear that number could rise.
Hydrogen fuel cell train enters service
And finally,
The world's first hydrogen-powered passenger train is going into service in Germany.
It's made by France's Alstom. The company is using hydrogen fuel cells, so it's probably fair to call it a battery-powered train.
It's climate and environment-friendly too. So, finally some good news for a suffering planet.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Monday, September 17, 2018
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 10:41:21 +0000
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September 14th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Turkey’s foreign minister calls on the US to assess who its real allies are in Syria, and VW says it's finally over for the iconic Beetle.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, September the 14th.
Turkey says the US should reconsider its alliances in Syria
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says "It’s time for Washington to assess who its real allies in the region are."
The foreign minister was writing in the New York Times.
Cavusoglu warned that the US-backed YPG has struck an alliance with Syria's Bashar al Assad and is sending fighters to back the regime.
Assad and his allies are reported to be planning to attack Idlib, the last opposition and rebel stronghold in Syria.
Gas explosions rock communities near Boston
Dozens of gas pipelines have exploded in communities near the US city of Boston.
At least one person was killed with several others injured.
The natural gas pipeline blasts destroyed some homes and set others on fire.
The cause is not yet known.
Catholic Church sex abuse scandal spreads
The child sex abuse scandal rocking the Catholic Church is spreading.
A leaked German study says over 3,000 children have been abused by priests and clerics since the end of World War Two.
And that follows major revelations of abuse in the US, Chile, Australia and Ireland.
Pope Francis has called a worldwide Bishops' meeting next year to address the crisis.
Philippines waits for super typhoon to hit
In the Philippines, people are seeking shelter ahead of a super typhoon, expected to hit on Saturday.
Mangkhut, which is a Thai word for a kind of tropical fruit, is packing winds of 250 kilometres per hour.
There are about five million people in its path.
VW to stop making iconic Beetle next summer
And finally,
Volkswagen has decided to finally squash its iconic Beetle.
Next year's production run of the third-generation bug will be the last.
Somehow the Beetle survived its origins in Germany in 1934 as a Nazi idea for a family car.
Since then, it's gone on to become one of the most loved cars of all time.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Friday, September 14, 2018
Fri, 14 Sep 2018 10:42:55 +0000
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September 13th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Twenty-five years on, the Oslo Accords are in tatters, and Turkey orders that property and vehicle deals be done in lira.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, September 13th.
Khan Al Ahmar demolition
Israel has torn down structures built by Palestinians protesting the planned demolition of a Bedouin village, Khan Al Ahmar, in the occupied West Bank.
The Bedouin village has not yet been destroyed, but residents fear it's the beginning of the end.
Israel says it will tear their homes down and relocate some 200 people living there.
25 years on the Oslo Accords are in tatters
It was 25 years ago today that Palestinian and Israeli leaders promised peace and a better future for their peoples.
Today the two-state solution in the Oslo Accords is in tatters.
And moves by the current US administration, such as Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, have been especially damaging to the prospects for a lasting peace.
Further proof of
Syria’s use of chemical weapons
UN war crimes investigators say they have further proof the Syrian regime used chemical weapons three times in Ghouta and Idlib this year.
The report comes as the Assad regime is reported to be preparing an assault to take back Idlib from the opposition and rebels.
Suu Kyi says her government "could have done better" on Rohingya
Myanmar's de facto civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, admits her government could have handled the Rohingya crisis better.
It's something of an understatement, given that the UN is recommending Myanmar's top generals be prosecuted for genocide.
Some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to neighbouring Bangladesh after the military targeted the persecuted minority in a brutal crackdown beginning last year.
Turkey mandates lira to be used in property and vehicle deals
And finally,
Turkey's President Erdogan has ordered that the lira be used for property deals and leasing vehicles.
The lira has lost 40 percent of its value against the dollar this year.
The latest move is part of Ankara's strategy to stabilise the currency in the face of a concerted US attack on Turkey's economy.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... For more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Thu, 13 Sep 2018 09:26:53 +0000
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September 12th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Daily News Brief
The UN is warning of a potential disaster in Syria's Idlib, and Turkey's First Lady is honoured for her humanitarian work.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, September 12th.
UN warns of a potential disaster in Idlib
The UN Secretary General says a regime military offensive in Idlib would “unleash a humanitarian nightmare” and result in a “bloodbath” for the three million people living there.
Antonio Guterres also called on Turkey, Russia and Iran to continue their work to bring security to Syria through the Astana peace process.
His words contrasted with those of US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, who said the Astana process had failed.
Brazil's Lula pulls out of presidential race after court ban
Brazil's former head of state, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has pulled out of next month's presidential election.
He's currently in jail, and serving 12 years for corruption.
However, he's also the country's most popular politician and was leading in the presidential opinion polls.
But, the country's top electoral court ruled against his bid to take part.
Lula's running mate, Fernando Haddad, will now head the party ticket.
Putin calls for WWII peace treaty with Japan
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called for a peace treaty with Japan, without preconditions, to formally end World War Two. And Putin wants to sign it this year.
The apparently unscripted remarks came at a Q & A with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at an economic forum in Russia.
Abe's cabinet secretary later said Tokyo still wants Moscow to return islands ceded to the Soviet Union at the end of the war, before any peace treaty can be signed.
US eastern seaboard battens down ahead of Hurricane Florence
More than one-and-a-half-million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as Hurricane Florence heads towards the US east coast.
The Category 4 storm is expected to make landfall in North and South Carolina in the next few days, with winds up to 220 kilometres an hour.
People not leaving are boarding up their houses and stocking up on food.
Turkish First Lady honoured for her humanitarian work
And finally,
The Global Donors Forum has honoured Turkey's First Lady Emine Erdogan with its Humanitarian Service Recognition Award.
It's for her efforts for the needy, and in particular for her work with the Rohingya people.
Turkish Airlines and the Turkish Red Crescent were also honoured at the awards in London for their contributions to humanitarian aid distribution around the globe.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... for more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Wed, 12 Sep 2018 10:26:03 +0000
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September 11th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Turkey calls on the world to prevent a catastrophe in Syria's Idlib, and Robert Redford bids goodbye to acting.
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, September 11th.
Erdogan’s warning to the world
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is calling on the world to prevent an assault on Syria's Idlib by the Assad regime and its allies.
"We cannot leave the Syrian people to the mercy of Bashar Assad," Erdogan wrote in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal.
The appeal comes as the regime is reported to be ramping up for an attack.
UN says thousands have already fled Idlib
Staying with Syria, and in Idlib, fears are mounting as Russia and the regime step up air strikes after a stakeholder meeting in Tehran on Friday failed to agree a ceasefire.
The UN says some 30,000 people have already fled their homes ahead of the expected assault.
The UN also says if it happens, the world could face its worst humanitarian disaster of the 21st century.
US closes PLO's Washington office
The US is closing the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington.
The US says it's shuttering the PLO office over Palestinian attempts to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court, or ICC.
The US is also threatening sanctions against the court and its officers if it tries to investigate alleged war crimes by US forces and contractors in Afghanistan.
17th anniversary of the Al Qaeda assault on the US
Still in the US, and today marks 17 years since Al Qaeda attacked the United States, targeting New York City and Washington with four passenger planes it hijacked and turned into missiles.
Almost 3,000 people were killed in the assault that prompted a War on Terror.
Today, that war is visible in the actions of groups like Daesh, Al Shabab and the remnants of Al Qaeda, still fighting in Syria where they are part of the rebellion against Bashar al Assad.
Robert Redford bows out
And finally,
American actor Robert Redford is bidding farewell to a 50-year career.
He's at the Toronto Film Festival, where he said his latest film, 'The Old Man & the Gun', will be his last.
A "wonderful film to go out on," is how the 82-year-old announced the end to an illustrious career.
And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World... for more, head to TRTWORLD.com
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:27:28 +0000
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