Modi claims India election victory

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, May 23:

*)BJP alliance wins majority – unofficial results

India’s Narendra Modi will remain in power after unofficial results show him winning by a landslide in India’s election.

His BJP party contested this year’s polls by leading an alliance with 41 other parties.

The alliance is also on track to win a large majority of seats in parliament.

*)Syrian regime kills 23 civilians in Idlib

The Syrian regime has killed at least 23 civilians in its latest attack on Idlib.

The regime's offensive on the last rebel-held area of the country began at the end of last month.

Hundreds of people have so far been killed and close to 200,000 displaced.

*)Theresa May faces mounting pressure to resign

British Prime Minister Theresa May is under severe pressure to step down.
The calls come as the Conservative government attempts for a fourth time to get a Brexit deal passed by parliament.

May’s exit deal with the EU has been rejected by British MPs.

*)Polls open across EU

Voting begins in Europe for 751 parliamentary seats.

Over 400 million Europeans from 28 member states are eligible to vote.

Far-right parties are expected to make big gains.

And finally,

*)Prada goes fur-less

International fashion house Prada has gone fur-free.

The decision takes effect after the Spring/Summer 2020 women's collection.

Prada joins Versace, Gucci and Burberry who’ve already stopped using fur since 2017.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, May 22:

*)US suspects Assad forces using chemical weapons

The US says Syria's regime may be using chemical weapons in northwest Syria.

The State Department warns that it will respond with force if this is proven to be true.

A violent campaign by Assad forces is underway in Idlib and Hama provinces.

The onslaught violates a ceasefire that's protected millions of civilians.

*)Protests held across US against abortion bans

Protests are being held in almost all of America's 50 states against anti-abortion laws.

It comes after Alabama signed into law a near total ban on abortion, including in cases of rape and incest.

Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have proposed bans once a foetal heartbeat is detected.

All laws face legal challenges before officially coming into effect, but many other states are considering implementing them.

*)Libya on the brink of civil war – UN

The UN says Libya is on the verge of a civil war.

Since April, forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar have been fighting their way towards Tripoli, home of the internationally-recognised government.

The fighting has killed more than 500 and displaced over 75,000 since the offensive began.

The UN urges countries to stop sending arms to both sides.

*)At least 6 killed in post-election protests

At least six people were killed and 200 injured during post-election protests in Indonesia's capital.

Incumbent Joko Widodo beat Prabowo Subianto, who says there was widespread cheating.

The election board dismissed the claims, citing a lack of evidence.

Around 40,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain order.

And finally,

*)Saving the environment one cow at a time

Some 4,000 Colombian farmers are feeding their cows an innovative diet to emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Cows are being fed high protein plants, seaweed and flowers.

This ensures they don't emit methane.

Grasslands are also being substituted with woodlands to help farmers generate more milk and increase forestry areas.

Daily News Brief for Tuesday, May 21st:

*)New Zealand charges Tarrant with terrorism

Police in New Zealand have charged the man who carried out the Christchurch shootings with "engaging in a terrorist act".

Brenton Tarrant, a self-confessed white supremacist, already faces 51 murder and 40 attempted murder charges for the March massacre.

The Australian opened fire on worshippers at two mosques during Friday prayers and livestreamed his attack on social media.

*)Maduro proposes early elections

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has proposed early elections for the opposition-run National Assembly.

The opposition, headed by Juan Guaido, won a majority in a 2015 vote. The next congressional elections are scheduled for 2020.

Although the US recognises Guaido as the country’s interim leader, Maduro retains control of the army with the backing of Turkey, Russia, China and Cuba.

*)Ukraine’s political establishment gets shaken up

Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dissolved the country’s parliament shortly after taking the oath of office.

In his inauguration speech, Zelenskiy called snap parliamentary polls – a move not popular with the political establishment.

The 41-year-old former TV star also said he wants to end the war with Russia-backed separatists in the country's east.

*)Iran not ready to talk to US

Iran’s President Rouhani says while he favours talks with the US, current conditions are not acceptable for dialogue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif earlier dismissed a threat by US President Trump to end Iran as a “genocidal taunt.”

Iran has reportedly increased its production of low-enriched uranium after pulling out of some commitments to the nuclear deal.

*)Niki Lauda passes away at 70

And finally,

Three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda has died at the age of 70.

The champion died in his sleep, eight months after receiving a lung transplant.

Lauda is remembered for his remarkable recovery and return to racing after being badly burned in a crash in the 1976 German Grand Prix.

Daily News Brief for Monday, May 20th:

*)US trumpets war with Iran

US President Donald Trump has threatened an official end to Iran if the Islamic Republic chooses to fight.

The latest tweet comes after Trump had downplayed a potential military conflict, saying he hoped there would not be a war.

Iran describes the US moves that include tightened economic sanctions and a military build up in the region as "psychological warfare" and a "political game."

*)India wraps up mammoth election

Exit polls in India suggest that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party is heading for a second term in power.

Over the course of six weeks, around 65 percent of India's 900 million-strong electorate turned out to vote.

Vote counting will begin on Thursday and results are expected on May 23.

*)Google suspends some business with Huawei

Google has suspended some of its businesses with Chinese technology giant Huawei.

Now, new Huawei phones will not be able to access Google’s popular apps such as Chrome, Maps and YouTube.

This is the latest blow since the Trump administration accused it of spying and placed it on a trade blacklist.

*)Game of Thrones reaches its end

HBO's long-running series "Game of Thrones" has wrapped up after eight seasons.

The last episode of the medieval fantasy based on the novels of George R R Martin concluded the storyline of more than a dozen characters and intertwining plots.

The final season drew 43 million viewers on average for each episode in the United States alone, HBO says.

*)Galatasaray are champions again

And finally,

Galatasaray have been crowned the champions of Turkish football for the second year in a row.

The defending champions beat Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 in a match to decide who would take the Super Lig title.

Basaksehir made a better start to the game and scored in the 20th minute, but Galatasaray came back twice in the second half to secure its 22nd Super Lig title.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, May 17:

*)US ends preferential trade agreement with Turkey

US has withdrawn Turkey as a preferential trade partner.

The US says Turkey's economy is now sound enough to end its participation in a system aimed at promoting economic development.

The system allowed some Turkish products to enter the US free of tariffs.

But the US has announced a reduction in tariffs on Turkish steel imports.

*)Trump proposes new residency laws

Staying with the US, Donald Trump unveiled his proposal to overhaul the US immigration system.

It sees a merit-based system that favours high-skilled workers and those with degrees and job offers instead of relatives of those already in the country.

Efforts to overhaul the US immigration system have gone nowhere for three decades amid deep partisan divisions.

*)Air strike kills at least 17 policemen in Afghanistan

An air strike in Afghanistan killed at least 17 policemen ... by mistake.

Afghan police were locked in a battle with the Taliban in southern Helmand province.

It wasn't immediately clear who carried out the air strike, Afghan or US forces.

A Taliban statement claims US forces were behind it.

*)Police bust cybercrime network

Authorities in six countries dismantled an international cybercrime network.

At least a dozen people were charged with malicious software attacks which enabled them to take control of infected computers and siphon funds from victims' bank accounts.

More than 40,000 computers were infected and around $100 million was stolen.

And finally,

*)Jagger back with swagger!

The Jagger is back!

The Rolling Stones are hitting the road again this summer with their North American tour.

The tour was postponed after frontman Mick Jagger underwent heart valve replacement surgery.

The legendary foursome of Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood will resume their tour in Chicago on June 21.

May 16, 2019 - Daily News Brief by TRT World

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, May 15:

*)US, Iran say not seeking war as tensions spike

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said his country is not seeking war with Iran, despite a Pentagon dispatch of bombers to the region.

Pompeo made his comments at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Sochi.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, insisted the showdown between Tehran and Washington is only a test of resolve.

*)Sudanese agree to three year transition period

Sudan’s military rulers and protest leaders agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint transitional council, cabinet and parliament.

Negotiations will continue on the exact composition of the council.

*)DHKP-C suspects arrested for attempt to target Turkish parliament

Turkish police arrested a man and woman who attempted to enter parliament and take a staff member hostage.

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said the two DHKP-C members “targeted the Turkish people's will” and “will pay the price”.

Turkey, the US and the EU have designated the far-left DHKP-C as a terror group.

*)Venezuela's court opens cases against opposition lawmakers

Venezuela's top court opened a criminal investigation against seven opposition lawmakers following a failed attempt to spark a military uprising against President Maduro.

The lawmakers are suspected of "betraying the homeland" and "instigating an insurrection," the pro-government Supreme Court said.

The action comes a week after opposition leader Juan Guaido urged soldiers to oust Maduro.

And finally,

*)Facebook restricts Live feature after New Zealand shooting

Facebook is tightening live streaming rules ahead of a meeting of world leaders on curbing online violence after the Christchurch massacre.

The company is introducing a "one-strike" policy for Facebook Live.

The policy will temporarily restrict access for people who faced disciplinary action for breaking Facebook's most serious rules anywhere on its site.