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August 20th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Taliban take hostages in Afghanistan
We start in Afghanistan where the government says its forces have freed over 100 people abducted by the Taliban in the north of the country.
However, some hostages are still being held.
The Taliban stopped a convoy of buses and boarded them in Kunduz province.
They were looking for members of the security forces and government, according to officials.
The incident comes after President Ghani offered a ceasefire to mark a major Muslim holiday this week.
Drive-by shooting hits security booth at US embassy in Ankara
US officials say nobody was hurt when shots were fired outside the US embassy in Turkey's capital early on Monday.
Police are searching for the car involved in what appears to be a drive-by shooting.
The embassy is closed this week for the Muslim Kurban holiday.
US officials thanked Ankara police for their rapid response to the incident.
Turkey lira
Staying with Turkey, and the lira was trading around 6 to the dollar early on Monday.
That's up from a record low hit early last week.
Turkish markets were set to begin a public holiday today that will last to the end of the week for the Kurban holiday.
Brazil border with Venezuela tense
Brazil now, and the Latin American country's only land border crossing with Venezuela is being reinforced after riots on the weekend.
In recent years, thousands of Venezuelans have fled into Brazil to escape poverty and political turmoil at home.
But some Brazilians turned on the latest arrivals after a local shop keeper was stabbed and beaten. Hundreds of people were forced back across the border.
Korea reunions
And finally,
About 180 families separated at the end of the Korean war in 1953 will see one another again for a short time on Monday.
The family reunions will be the first in three years.
They started again this year after the leaders of the two countries met in April.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Mon, 20 Aug 2018 10:19:21 +0000
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August 17th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Turkey remains defiant in face of US attacks
Turkey's Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak says Turkey will "emerge stronger" from its current spat with the US.
The minister spoke with more than 6,000 international investors by teleconference on Thursday.
He told them capital controls were not an option, and that Turkey was not in talks with the IMF.
The lira was holding below 6 to the US dollar in early trading on Friday, but stocks were down.
Imran Khan set to become Pakistan's prime minister
Pakistan's parliament is set to elect Imran Khan to lead the government.
The party of the former cricketer-turned politician's won most votes in the recent general election.
But Khan's Pakistan Movement for Justice, or PTI, fell short of a majority. So it will be looking to form a coalition government with minor parties.
Spain marks one year since Barcelona terror attack
One year ago today in Barcelona, a man ploughed a truck through the centre of the city, killing fourteen people.
Over 100 others were injured in the terrorist attack, which was claimed by Daesh.
The city is holding commemoration events throughout the day on Friday.
India's Kerala battles worst floods in a century
The worst floods in the Indian state of Kerala in a century have killed more than 160 people so far this monsoon season.
Over 200,000 people have been forced to take refuge in relief camps.
Officials says more misery is expected, as waters continue to rise, with heavy rain pounding the state.
World mourns death of Aretha Franklin
And finally,
The world is mourning the death of Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul."
She was 76, and died of pancreatic cancer, at home in the US city of Detroit.
Tributes poured in from across the world. And fans are heart-broken.
The first black US president, Barack Obama, said Franklin "helped define the American experience." And he added, "And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance."
Friday, August 17, 2018
Fri, 17 Aug 2018 09:22:10 +0000
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August 16th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Foreign investors flock to Albayrak teleconference
The interest of international investors in Turkey continues, with some 3,000 signing up for a teleconference today with Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak.
They include investors from the US, Europe and the Middle East who went to hear the minister's message on current challenges Turkey's economy and finances are facing.
The Turkish lira has been buffetted in recent days by attacks on the currency, primarily from the US administration, according to the Turkish government.
Taliban step up attacks in Afghanistan
Gunmen in Afghanistan have attacked an area around a training centre for the intelligence services in the capital Kabul.
There has been no claim of responsibility yet. But the Taliban have stepped up attacks across the country in recent days, with hundreds dead in several provinces.
There was also a suicide attack in Kabul on Wednesday in which at least 34 people died. But the Taliban says that attack wasn't them, and it bore the signature of Daesh.
Malaysia's high court orders Kim Jong-nam case to proceed
In Malaysia, the country's high court has ruled that the trial of two women - one an Indonesian, the other Vietnamese - women can go ahead. They're accused of assassinating the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un.
Kim Jong-nam was attacked with VX nerve agent in Kuala Lumpur on February the 13th.
The two women said they thought they were taking part in a prank.
The high court was not persuaded. And now their trial, which is expected to last several more months, will continue.
US newspapers denounce Trump's attack on the press
More than 300 US newspapers say they will run editorials today in defence of press freedom.
The Boston Globe organised the editorial push to defend the press from President Donald Trump's assault on any news he doesn't like.
Trump has called the press the "enemy" of the American people, and its work "fake news."
Freedom of the US press is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
Trump's critics say he's acting more like the Soviet Union's Josef Stalin than an American president.
Worldcon is underway and not without controversy
And finally,
The annual science fiction and fantasy convention, otherwise known as Worldcon, gets underway today in the US city of San Jose.
It features, writers, artists, musicians and other creators, and of course fans.
One of the biggest events will be the Hugo Awards, which are given by fans to their favourite writers.
This year's awards on Sunday will be watched for signs that the genre is going to recognise new names and new ideas.
When the nominations came out for this year, there was a huge backlash against the lack of diversity among the nominees.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Thu, 16 Aug 2018 11:34:58 +0000
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August 15th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
Turkey raises tariffs on a range of US imports.
Turkey is increasing import duties on a range of US products, including alcohol, cigarettes and cars.
It's in retaliation to Washington's tariffs on Turkish aluminium and steel, which helped push the lira to a record low.
The announcement was made a day after President Erdogan called for a boycott on some US electronics.
The current diplomatic dispute relates to several issues: US support for the terror-linked YPG in Syria, Washington's failure to extradite the leader of the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation, and the house detention of an American pastor facing terror-related charges.
Dozens killed in Italy bridge
At least 35 people were killed when a bridge collapsed in the Italian port city of Genoa on Tuesday.
Rescue service worked through the night looking for survivors.
Officials say the believe structural failure caused the collapse of the 51-year-old bridge during a heavy storm.
Taliban steps up offensive against Afgan government
A Taliban attack on a military outpost in the northern province of Baghlan has killed as many as 44 Afghan police and soldiers.
The assault was the latest in a series of Taliban assaults that have killed dozens of members of the police and army in provinces across Afghanistan.
UK treating Westminster attack as terrorism
The man accused of ramming a car into pedestrians near the UK parliament on Tuesday has been named as Salih Khater, a British citizen of Sudanese origin.
The 29-year-old Khater has no history with European intelligence agencies.
Police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack, but say they don't yet have a motive.
US court details sex abuse by Catholic priests
And finally,
In the US, the Catholic Church has been accused of covering up decades of sexual abuse by more than 300 priests.
The US state of Pennsylvania has released a report that says more than one-thousand children have been abused over a 70-year period.
But the courts said most of the cases are too old to prosecute.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Wed, 15 Aug 2018 10:58:37 +0000
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August 14th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 14th.
Turkey's banking system is solid
Turkey has one of the most solid banking systems in the world in all respects, President Erdogan said on Tuesday.
The president was speaking as the lira and Turkey's markets have been buffeted by tensions, especially with the US.
Erdogan said Turkey was taking necessary measures to protect the economy. As part of that, he said Turkey will boycott American electronic products.
This follows moves on Monday by the Central Bank to stabilise the lira and markets.
Erdogan earlier said the US had trashed its strategic partnership with Turkey with its recent actions.
Multiple countries support Turkey as economy is tested
With Turkey's economy being tested, a number of key countries have spoken out in support of Ankara.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany would like to see an economically prosperous Turkey, and that no-one has an interest in Turkey's destabilisation.
Moscow says it's open to the idea of trading in roubles and lira, without using the US dollar.
And Iran and Pakistan also voiced support for Turkey as it grapples with its financial and economic challenges.
Taliban overrun Afghan army base
In two days of fighting, Taliban militants have overrun large parts of an army base in northern Afghanistan. At least 10 soldiers have been killed.
The attack in the north coincides with an attack that started on Friday on a strategic city in the south.
That battle is still on, with hundreds dead, as Afghan forces, with US support, battle for control of the strategic city of Ghazni. Ghazni links the south to the capital Kabul.
Hundreds dead in India's monsoon season
In India, more than 700 people have died this year so far during the monsoon season.
Seven states have been worst hit, with more than 50,000 people affected.
The monsoon season runs from July through August.
Google tracks you everywhere, all the time
And finally,
It turns out that Google tracks you, wherever you go, even if you tell it not to.
An AP investigation found that many Google services on mobile phones store your location data. And that's even if you've set your privacy to prevent that from happening.
We're both shocked and not at all surprised. And we think it's not only scary, but also quite creepy.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:59:02 +0000
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August 13th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, August 13th.
Turkey to ease markets with action plan
Turkey’s Finance Minister says an action plan is being implemented to stabilise the lira.
Berat Albayrak described the fluctuations in the lira as an attack by the US.
He also said Turkey would not seize foreign currency accounts.
The Turkish currency fell to a new record low in Asian trading on Monday.
Turkey's Central Bank meanwhile announced measures to stabilise the economy.
It says it will provide all the liquidity banks need to do their work.
Roubles for oil
Russia says it’s considering taking roubles as payment for oil instead of US dollars.
Responding to new US sanctions, Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the dollar is a risky trade tool.
The ministry also announced it will reduce its holdings of US securities and begin using roubles and other currencies, rather than dollars in settlements.
Government fights for control in Afghanistan’s Ghazni
Afghan special forces have joined the battle in Ghazni to try to beat back the Taliban, who launched an assault on the city on Friday.
Afghan officials said US special force units were also involved, helping coordinate air strikes.
Ghazni is a strategic centre linking the capital Kabul with southern Afghanistan.
Dozens of casualties have been reported on both side in the ongoing battle.
Floods in India's Kerala state kill at least 39
Flash floods in India's southern Kerala state have killed at least 39 people and displaced around 36,000.
Heavy monsoon rains have caused landslides, and led to reservoirs overflowing in many areas.
The army has joined rescue efforts.
White supremacist rally washed out
And finally,
Heavy rain helped wash out a white supremacist rally in Washington on Sunday.
'Unite the Right 2' was organised on the anniversary of a racist rally in Charlottesville last year in which one anti-fascist was killed.
Counter protesters easily outnumbered the two dozen neo-Nazis who turned up for the Washington event.
A heavy police presence also helped keep the white supremacists in check.
Monday, August 13, 2018
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 10:08:39 +0000
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August 10th, 2018 - Daily News Brief
UN calls for an investigation into Yemen air strike
UN chief Antonio Guterres is calling for a probe into a Saudi-led coalition air strike in Yemen that killed dozens of children.
Twenty-nine children were among over 50 people killed, when the coalition hit a busy market and school bus in Saada province.
The area is held by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The coalition says the strike was a "legitimate military action."
Turkey to reveal new economic plan
Turkey's government is to unveil a new economic model today.
Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak wants to secure economic growth of 3 to 4 percent in 2019.
He also wants to rein in inflation and turn around the lira, which hit a record low ahead of Friday's announcement.
Cleric Sadr wins Iraq vote recount
A manual recount of votes in Iraq confirms that the alliance of Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr won most seats in Iraq's election in May.
This puts Sadr in a good position to play a central role in forming the country's next government.
But who will actually be in it, is unclear, with the major parties still negotiating over its makeup.
Ryanair pilots go on strike
Tens of thousands of passengers were hit by transport chaos on Friday as Ryanair pilots across Europe went on strike.
The no-frills Irish airline cancelled 400 out of 2400 [twenty-four hundred] flights.
About 55,000 passengers are affected, and it's the peak of the busy summer season.
US unveils Space Force
And finally,
The White House has announced a US Space Force, with plans to make it a sixth branch of the US military by 2020.
It's unclear what inspired the move. The Trump adminstration says it's looking at a growing Russian and Chinese threat.
We think they've probably been watching Starship Troopers.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:53:23 +0000
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