Erdogan stresses Ukraine diplomacy, warns against nuclear plant fighting

*) Erdogan heads to Ukraine for trilateral summit with Zelenskyy, Guterres

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has embarked on a visit to the Ukrainian city of Lviv where he will meet his Ukrainian counterpart and the UN chief.

Erdogan will hold a bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Potocki Palace and discuss aspects of Türkiye-Ukraine relations at the strategic partnership level.

The bilateral talks will be followed by a trilateral summit with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss steps for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

*) US says it doesn't support Taiwan's independence

The US remains committed to the "One China" policy and is not supporting Taiwan's formal independence, Washington's top diplomat said.

China has been carrying out military drills around Taiwan this month to show its anger at a visit to Taipei by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Kritenbrink said China used the trip as an excuse to increase pressure on Taiwan.

*) NATO calls for ‘urgent’ inspection of Ukraine nuclear plant

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that the UN's atomic watchdog must be allowed to inspect the Russian-held nuclear power plant in Ukraine as soon as possible.

Russia's seizure of the plant "poses a serious threat to the safety and the security of this facility (and) raises the risks of a nuclear accident or incident," he said.

"It is urgent to allow the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency and to ensure the withdrawal of all Russian forces," he added.

*) Bus crash in Morocco's Casablanca

A bus crash east of Morocco's economic capital Casablanca has left 23 people dead and another 36 injured, marking one of the deadliest accidents in recent years.

The bus overturned on a bend of a motorway in central-western province, local authorities said. An investigation has been opened into the accident.

The bus was travelling between Casablanca and the rural region of Ait Attab, near the town of Beni Mellal at the foot of the High Atlas mountains.

And finally…

*) Elon Musk: Tweet about buying Manchester United was a 'joke'

Elon Musk has tweeted that he is "not buying any sports teams", clarifying that a viral post about him purchasing Manchester United was a joke.

Embroiled in a lawsuit over his bid to buy Twitter, Musk was subsequently asked on the platform if he was serious about owning Manchester United.

Despite calling it a joke, the tweet could land him in trouble with US regulators.

*) Biden inks landmark climate crisis, health care bill into law

US President Joe Biden has signed into law the most significant climate legislation in US history.

The Inflation Reduction Act is a 750 billion dollar package aiming to reduce carbon emissions and extend health insurance subsidies. It also imposes new taxes on large corporations.

Not a single Republican in the Senate or the House backed the bill targeting four billion tons of emissions.

*) Donetsk separatist chief seeks North Korea's cooperation

Donetsk separaist head Denis Pishilin has written a letter to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un.

It states that the east Asian country and the Russian-backed separatist region of Ukraine will develop "equally beneficial bilateral cooperation," according to North Korean state media.

In July, North Korea recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region, as independent states.

*) ​​Zimbabwe measles outbreak kills scores of children

A measles outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 157 children, with more than 2,000 infections reported across the country.

Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government was going to step up vaccinations.

The government has also invoked special legislation allowing it to draw money from the National Disaster Fund to deal with the emergency.

*) UN ship with grain for Africa leaves Ukraine: ministry

A UN-chartered vessel carrying 23 thousand tonnes of wheat departed from Ukraine for Africa on Tuesday following a deal to relieve a global food crisis.

The MV Brave Commander left the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi and will sail to Djibouti "for delivery to Ethiopia", the infrastructure ministry said on Telegram.

It is the first ship chartered by the UN World Food Programme to leave Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February.

*) US police rush to zoo after monkey dials 911

A 911 call has forced Californian police to rush to a zoo only to find it had been placed by a mischievous monkey.

Dispatchers sent officers to investigate a possible emergency after receiving a call on Saturday night that had disconnected. Finding no humans in trouble, the officers began to investigate the source of the call.

They soon realised that it was likely Route the Capuchin monkey, who had picked up the zoo’s cell phone in the golf cart used to travel around the grounds.

*) Violent protests erupt in Kenya after deputy president Ruto wins election

Violent protests have erupted in Kenya after deputy president William Ruto was declared the winner of the presidential election.

The result has caused uproar among the rival candidate Raila Odinga’s supporters, who allege mismanagement and irregularities in the process.

Four of seven members of the electoral commission have refused to endorse the result, describing it as "opaque".

*) China sanctions seven Taiwanese 'independence diehard' officials

Beijing has sanctioned seven Taiwanese officials over their support for the island's independence.

A Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson said that those sanctioned would not be able to visit China, Hong Kong and Macau. Firms and investors related to them will also not be allowed to profit in China.

China has also conducted more military exercises in response to a US Congressional visit to Taipei earlier this month.

*) 'Catastrophe' at Zaporizhzhia threatens whole of Europe

In Ukraine, recently taken satellite images show scorch marks in fields surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

It follows reports of renewed shelling near the facility.

Moscow and Kiev have been blaming each other for the attacks, with Ukraine warning of a possible Chernobyl-like disaster.

A "catastrophe" at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine would threaten the whole of Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned.

*) UN envoy makes first visit to Myanmar

A senior UN official is travelling to Myanmar on a rare visit that comes amid domestic political turmoil and fraying ties between the country and its Southeast Asian neighbours.

The UN special envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer arrived in the country for the first time since she was appointed to the post last October.

The trip followed the UN Security Council’s latest call for an immediate end to all forms of violence and unimpeded humanitarian access in the strife-torn country.

And finally…

*) Space mission shows Earth's water may be from asteroids: study

Water may have been brought to Earth by asteroids from the outer edges of the solar system.

This is according to scientists analysing rare samples collected from the asteroid Ryugu in 2020 by a six-year Japanese space mission called Hayabusa-2.

In a new paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists said the samples could give clues to the mystery of how oceans appeared on Earth billions of years ago.

*) Afghan Taliban mark first year in power

The Taliban have marked the first anniversary of their return to power in Afghanistan with a national holiday.

Exactly a year ago, the group captured Kabul after their nationwide lightning offensive against government forces ended 20 years of US-led military intervention.

A chaotic withdrawal of foreign forces continued until August 31, with tens of thousands of people rushing to Kabul's airport hoping to be evacuated on any flight out of Afghanistan.

*) Russia, North Korea to 'expand' relations: Putin to Kim Jong-un

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that the two countries will "expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts".

In a letter to Kim for North Korea's liberation day, Putin said that closer ties would be in both countries' interests and would help strengthen the security of the Korean peninsula, according to Pyongyang's state media.

Kim also sent a letter to Putin saying Russian-North Korean friendship had been forged in World War II with victory over Japan, which had occupied the Korean peninsula.

*) Zelenskyy defends fighting as all eyes are on Zaporizhzhia plant

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended fighting against Russian and Moscow-backed forces, including those positioned at Europe’s largest nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia.

His statement comes as Ukrainian forces reported heavy Russian shelling and attempts to advance on several towns in the eastern region of Donetsk.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces also reported Russian shelling of more than a dozen towns on the southern front – particularly in Kherson, mainly controlled by Russian forces.

*) Five dead and 15 wounded after gunfire erupts in Ecuador’s port city

Gunfire and a subsequent explosion have left at least five people dead, 15 wounded with several others missing in the Ecuadoran port city of Guayaquil.

Government officials blamed the attack on organised crime.

Eight houses and two cars were destroyed in the blast in Guayaquil, the country's second-largest city, according to the Secretariat for Risk Management.

And finally…

*) ‘Bullet Train’ tops for second week as ticket sales slow down to a trickle

The Brad Pitt action film “Bullet Train” has led all movies in ticket sales for a second straight weekend, according to studio estimates.

Meanwhile, a quiet spell in theaters and incredible staying power has allowed “Top Gun: Maverick” to rocket back into third place in its 12th week of release.

After launching the previous weekend with about $30 million at the box office, “Bullet Train” pulled in $13.4 million in its second go-around.

*) US attorney general says 'personally approved' Trump home search

US Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he "personally approved" the dramatic raid on former American President Donald Trump's Florida estate.

In a highly unusual move, he also requested the warrant justifying the search be made public — though he did not reveal the reason for the search.

The Washington Post has reported that federal agents were looking for documents relating to nuclear weapons. It was not clear if such documents were recovered.

*) IAEA chief warns of 'grave hour' at Ukraine nuclear plant

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has told the Security Council that the agency must be allowed to inspect Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia (zah-POH-reeja) nuclear plant.

Rafael Grossi told an emergency meeting via video feed that fighting between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers near the site sparked a "grave" crisis.

The clashes at and around Zaporizhzhia have led to urgent international calls for an end to fighting around the plant, the largest of its kind in Europe.

*) Hostage drama at Beirut bank ends after armed man turns himself in

A hostage standoff in which a gunman demanded a Beirut bank let him withdraw his trapped savings so that he could pay his father's medical bills ended seven hours later.

After hours of negotiations on Thursday, 42-year-old food-delivery driver Bassam al Sheikh Hussein accepted an offer from the bank to receive part of his savings.

He did not actually receive any of the money, according to his lawyer. His wife told reporters after his arrest that her husband “did what he had to do".

*) Sri Lankan ex-president Rajapaksa arrives in Bangkok after fleeing protests

Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has arrived in Bangkok after his visa ran out following a month-long stint in Singapore.

The Thai foreign ministry said it received a request from Colombo for the 73-year-old deposed leader to visit and an assurance that he would not seek political asylum.

Earlier, Rajapaksa flew into Singapore from the Maldives on July 14 after fleeing a deepening economic crisis and widespread protests in Sri Lanka.

And finally…

*) Switzerland's mountain pass set to lose all ice within weeks

The thick layer of ice that has covered a Swiss mountain pass for centuries will melt away completely within a few weeks, a ski resort has warned.

While the ice measured around 50-feet thick in 2012, the ground underneath "will have completely resurfaced by the end of September", the Glacier 3000 ski resort said in a statement.

Following a dry winter, the summer heat waves hitting Europe have been catastrophic for the Alpine glaciers, which have been melting at an accelerated rate.

*) Trump invokes Fifth Amendment to evade questions over alleged fraud

Former US president Donald Trump has invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as he testified under oath in a NY civil investigation into his business dealings.

The Fifth Amendment protects people from being compelled to become witnesses against themselves in a criminal case.

Attorney General Letitia James said her office uncovered evidence that Trump's company misled lenders and tax authorities about the value of prized assets like golf courses and skyscrapers.

Trump Organization even exaggerated the size of Trump's Manhattan penthouse, saying it was nearly three times its actual size — a difference in the value of about $200 million, James' office says.

*) Sierra Leone imposes nationwide curfew after violent protests

At least two police officers and a civilian have been killed after a protest descended into clashes between security forces and demonstrators who were demanding the president's resignation.

"Two police officers, a male and female, were mobbed to death by protesters at the east end of Freetown," police spokesperson Brima Kamara said on Wednesday.

In addition, Reuters reported that a civilian was also killed in the violence. A hospital worker in Freetown said that dozens more had been wounded.

*) Ukraine shelling causes ammonia leak in Donetsk – separatists

Pro-Russian separatists have accused Ukraine of shelling in the occupied eastern city of Donetsk, killing one person and triggering a leak of ammonia, Interfax news agency reported.

The emergency ministry in the Russian-backed so-called Donetsk People's Republic said a shell had hit an ammonia line late at night. It sparked a fire that at one point covered 603 square metres.

Pictures from the scene showed flames lighting the sky above one part of the city as well as firefighters donning masks. One picture appeared to show a corpse on the ground.

*) Iraq's Sadr gives one-week deadline to judiciary to dissolve parliament

Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr has called on the country's judiciary to dissolve parliament by the end of next week.

The judiciary "must dissolve parliament by the end of next week... if not, the revolutionaries will take another stance," Sadr said in a statement on his Twitter account.

The Iraqi Shia leader has helped inflame tensions in Iraq over the last two weeks by commanding thousands of followers to storm and occupy parliament.

And finally…

*) African football body launches new Super League to boost local clubs

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched a new lucrative $100 million Super League aimed at injecting financial muscle to the cash-strapped clubs on the continent.

Twenty-four clubs, yet to be decided, will take part in the first edition, which has the backing of world governing body FIFA. It will take place between August 2023 and May 2024.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who announced the new competition, did not say if it would replace CAF's existing Champions League and the second-tier Confederation Cup.

*) Republicans dub FBI raid on Trump house 'weaponised politicisation'

Top Republican leaders have thrown their support behind former US president Donald Trump after an FBI raid on his Florida residence sparked a political firestorm.

Trump's former vice president Mike Pence expressed "deep concern" and said the raid smacked of "partisanship" by the Justice Department.

Kevin McCarthy, who is seeking to become the next House of Representatives speaker, accused the Justice Department of "weaponised politicisation."

The FBI search marked a significant escalation of the federal investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House as he was leaving office.

*) US police arrest 'prime suspect' in New Mexico Muslim murders

New Mexico police have arrested a "prime suspect" believed to be involved in two of the four murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque.

Authorities charged 51-year-old Muhammad Syed in the killings of two Muslim men and he is suspected of slaying two others.

Police tracked down a vehicle of interest in their investigation of the murders, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina wrote on Twitter.

Medina said "the driver was detained and is our primary suspect for the murders.”

*) Large explosions rock Russian air base in occupied Crimea

Powerful explosions have rocked a Russian air base in the occupied Crimea, killing one person and wounding several others, authorities said.

Russia's Defence Ministry said munitions blew up at the Saki base, and it emphasised that the installation had not been shelled.

But Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities as the conflict entered its 167th day.

*) Deadly IEDs target soldiers in northern Burkina Faso

At least 15 soldiers have been killed in northern Burkina Faso when a transport vehicle drove over a hidden explosive device.

The first explosion killed several troops before a second explosion killed those who rushed to their aid.

The incident occurred on a rural road in the Bam province of the country's Central-North region, where soldiers and civilians are routinely targeted by insurgents, the army said.

And finally…

*) Serena Williams announces retirement from tennis after US Open

Tennis great Serena Williams has said that she is planning to retire from the sport following the US Open which begins later this month.

Williams wrote in a Vogue article that she "never liked the word retirement." She said that she is "evolving away from tennis" to focus on having another child and her business interests.

Williams won her last Grand Slam in 2017 and has been chasing an elusive 24th crown that will draw her level with Margaret Court who holds the record for the most majors.