President Joe Biden sets September 11 as new deadline for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a photo of Turkey’s Van Lake wins NASA’s photo competition.

NEWSREADER INTRO: This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, April 14th.

*) US to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11

President Joe Biden says the US will withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11, almost 20 years after the war began.

Biden's decision would miss a May 1 withdrawal deadline that his predecessor Donald Trump had agreed to with the Taliban.

Hours after the announcement, the Taliban said the group will not attend any summit on Afghanistan's future until all foreign forces leave the country.

*) Minnesota officers resign two days after Daunte Wright shooting

The Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop and the city's police chief have resigned.

The resignations came after the city council passed a resolution to dismiss both police personnel over the death by “mistake” that triggered protests.

Tensions have soared in the community, already on edge amid former cop Derek Chauvin's ongoing murder trial over George Floyd’s death last year.

*) Pakistan forces try to clear sit-ins by protesters

Pakistani forces fired tear gas at baton-charged supporters of a religious party after five people died in earlier demonstrations that turned violent this week.

Protests erupted on Monday in major cities across the country after police arrested Saad Rizvi, the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan.

Rizvi was taken into custody hours after the TLP threatened the government with protests if they did not expel France’s ambassador over depictions of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.


*) US pauses use of J&J vaccine over rare blood clots

Health authorities in the US have called for an immediate pause in the use of the Johnson and Johnson single-dose coronavirus vaccine.

The joint decision, by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control, comes after a rare disorder involving blood clots was reported in six people.

Almost seven million Americans have received the Johnson and Johnson shots and one suspected death has been reported from clots linked to the jab.

And finally …

*) A photo of Turkey’s Van lake wins NASA competition

A photograph of Lake Van in eastern Turkey has won a NASA photo competition.

The photo, depicting the lake with its swirling cerulean and azure waters, was captured by astronaut Kate Rubins from space.

The Tournament Earth competition gathered 32 participants and featured more than two decades of snapshots taken by astronauts.

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

Curfew in Minneapolis after police killing of Black man, and Muslims begin fasting month of Ramadan amid coronavirus pandemic

NEWSREADER INTRO: This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, April 13th.

*) Curfew imposed in Minneapolis after police killing of Black man

A curfew has been imposed in Minneapolis after protests erupted over the police killing of a Black man some 16 km from where George Floyd died last year.

A cop shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright on Sunday during a traffic stop, later claimed she "mistakenly" used her gun instead of a taser.

Police bodycam footage shows the officer shouting "Taser! Taser! Taser!" but then, instead, firing a gun at the victim.

*) ‘Protecting Libya's sovereignty Turkey's top goal’

President Erdogan says Turkey will support Libya’s Government of National Unity just as it did for the previous government.

Erdogan made the statement after receiving Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh for a two-day visit to Turkey.

Dbeibeh stressed Libya’s keenness to enhance relations with Turkey and hoped for cooperation in security reforms as well as combating terrorism and cross-border crime.

*) Japan to release contaminated Fukushima water into sea

Japan says it will release massive amounts of treated radioactive water from the tanks of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

The move prompted anger from activists and fishing communities as well as concern from neighbouring countries including China and South Korea.

The water is stored in tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant since its 2011 meltdown after a massive earthquake and tsunami.

*) OPCW: Syrian regime used chemical weapons Saraqeb attack

A global chemical weapons watchdog says the Syrian regime dropped chlorine bombs in the rebel-controlled city of Saraqeb in February 2018.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says a dozen people were treated for symptoms consistent with chemical poisoning.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian regime but Damascus and its ally Russia have repeatedly denied using chemical weapons in the war.

And finally …

*) Muslims begin observing Ramadan for second time in pandemic

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has begun across several countries as much of the world grapples with an intense new coronavirus wave.

A time for fasting, worship and charity, Ramadan is also when Muslims congregate for prayers and gather around for meals to break their fast.

But hopes of many Muslims of a better Ramadan than last year have been dashed because of curbs imposed due to the pandemic.

*) Iran blames Israel for Natanz incident

Iran has vowed to exact revenge against regional arch-foe Israel which it blames for Sunday's incident at Natanz nuclear site.

Iranian authorities described the incident as an act of "nuclear terrorism".

Israeli public radio and other media outlets quoted intelligence sources as saying Mossad was behind a cyber attack on Iran's Natanz facility.

The sabotage comes a day after the launch of new centrifuges at the site.

*) Arauz admits defeat to Lasso in Ecuador presidential election

In Ecuador, socialist economist Andres Arauz has conceded defeat to conservative former banker Guillermo Lasso after a presidential election run-off.

Lasso received more than 52 percent of the vote and defeated Arauz.

His victory comes as Ecuador grapples with a health and economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic.

*) US: There will be consequences if Russia acts aggressively

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned Russia there would be consequences if Moscow acts aggressively towards Ukraine.

Blinken's statement comes as the Kremlin says certain conditions of the Minsk Protocol must be met before peace talks can go ahead with Kiev.

Fighting has intensified in recent weeks between Ukraine's army and pro-Russia separatists, with Russian troop build-up raising concerns of major escalation.

*) Myanmar security forces killed more than 700 since February 1

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borell says China and Russia are blocking attempts to implement an arms embargo in Myanmar.

More than 700 people have been killed by security forces since the military snatched power from the government in February.

China and Russia are the largest suppliers of weapons to Myanmar where the junta continues to crack down on anti-coup protesters.

And finally …

*) Hideki becomes first Japanese man to win a major tournament

Hideki Matsuyama has become the first Japanese man to win a major golf championship with a one-shot Masters victory.

He overpowered Will Zalatoris, his closest challenger, at Augusta National in his 33rd major championship appearance.

Matsuyama held off the field that included Xander Schauffele and debutant Zalatoris to win the Masters by one stroke.

*) Medical experts deal big blow to Derek Chauvin’s defence

Medical experts asserted that Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck long enough to cut off his oxygen.

Doctors Martin Tobin and Bill Smock testified that a lack of oxygen led to brain damage and caused Floyd's heart to stop.

The damaging testimony has ripped a big hole in the defence's theory that Floyd died because of his issues with drugs.

*) Biden attempts to tackle US gun violence

President Joe Biden branded US gun violence an epidemic at a ceremony to unveil his first attempt at getting the problem under control.

With Congress unable to agree on broad new gun regulations, Biden announced six measures that he said will help slow down the crisis.

The new measures include a move to crack down on homemade firearms that lack serial numbers and tightened regulations on pistol-stabilising braces.

*) Israel will not cooperate with ICC war crimes probe

Israel has formally decided not to cooperate with an International Criminal Court investigation into war crimes committed in Palestinian territories.

The ICC's chief prosecutor last month opened an investigation into incidents in the Israeli-occupied territories.

Palestinians called the move a rare opportunity to hold Israel accountable for what they call serious and longstanding violations of international law.

*) Violence erupts again in Northern Ireland despite pleas for calm

Authorities in Northern Ireland sought to restore calm after Protestant and Catholic youths in Belfast hurled bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs at police and each other.

The often violent protests that began last week stemmed from the unionist community, leading to joint condemnation from political leaders in the British province.

Unionists are angry over apparent economic dislocation due to Brexit and existing tensions with pro-Irish nationalist communities.

And finally …

*) Mike Pompeo joins Fox News

Fox News has hired former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo as an on-screen contributor and political pundit.

The conservative cable network has hired other members of the Trump orbit in recent months, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Pompeo says he intends to give viewers a candid, no-nonsense look at geopolitics and international relations.

*) US to repair ties with Palestine

The US has announced it will resume financial support for the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees.

The aid package, worth more than $230 million, will go toward humanitarian, economic and security assistance.

The move is aimed at repairing Washington's ties with the Palestinians after the Trump administration cut the funding.

*) US reviews child migrant cases at the Mexican border

The US is reviewing the cases of 5,600 migrant children to determine if they were separated from their families at the Mexican border by the Trump administration.

President Joe Biden is aiming to build a comprehensive database of families that were separated under Trump's zero-tolerance migration policy.

Biden issued an executive order in February, which aims to reunite children taken away from their parents.

*) Australian politicians no longer exempt from sexual harassment rules

Australia is overhauling its sexual harassment laws to make members of parliament, judges and public servants accountable for their actions.

The move aims to quell public anger over parliamentary sex abuse scandals.

MPs, judges and public servants are currently exempt from anti-harassment rules that apply to other Australian workplaces, though they can still face criminal prosecution for sexual assault.

*) Authorities close investigation into Tiger Woods crash

The LA County Sheriff's Department has closed its investigation into the accident that injured golfer Tiger Woods.

In a concluding report, the department said Woods may have hit the accelerator instead of the brake before his accident.

The black box of the SUV showed the car was moving at 135 to 140km/h before it crashed, which is double the speed limit.

And finally …

*) Rare Superman comic sells for record $3.25M

A mint 1938 comic book that introduced Superman to the world sold for a record $3.25 million during a ComicConnect.com online auction.

The comic showed readers the origins of Superman, how he came to Earth from Krypton and moved around as Clark Kent.

It's estimated only about 100 copies of Action Comics #1 exists today but in varying conditions.

*) President Erdogan says Turkey's ultimate goal is full EU membership

Turkey’s President Erdogan held talks with top officials in Ankara on a range of issues including the refugee crisis, trade, visa liberalisation, and a revamp of ties.

President Erdogan told EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council chief Charles Michel, that Ankara's ultimate goal is to attain full membership into the bloc.

The EU Commission says it will soon make a proposal to Turkey to ensure the flow of funding for refugees.

*) Iran says initial talks with world powers ‘constructive'

Iran says negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal are heading in the right direction.

Top diplomats from all the signatories to the original agreement are in Vienna for talks.

While Iran says it will not directly negotiate with the US until all sanctions are lifted, Washington hopes to rejoin the accord abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018.

*) US says Ukraine needs to be more free for NATO membership

The US says it will support Ukraine's candidacy for NATO membership-- but only if the country becomes more stable, democratic, prosperous and free.
Ukraine’s president asserts that a spot in NATO could discourage Russian aggression on its border.

But Moscow calls the assertion hostile, and warned any presence of NATO troops will worsen the situation.

*) UN says death toll from clashes in Darfur at least 56

At least 56 people were killed in clashes in Sudan’s Western Darfur, prompting the government to impose a state of emergency in the region.

The UN says almost 4,000 people have fled to neighbouring Chad, amid the recent escalation of violence.

The clashes are the latest in a resurgence of violence, since the signing of a peace agreement late last year and the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers.

And finally …

*) Mrs. Sri Lanka contest ends in onstage drama

A beauty contest in Sri Lanka ended in onstage drama, with the winner reporting head injuries.

After being awarded the Mrs. Sri Lanka title, Pushpika De Silva had her crown seized moments later by its 2019 winner, Caroline Jurie.

Jurie took the microphone and said there’s a rule which says participants must be married, not divorced. She then attempted to remove the crown from the winner’s head.

Organisers say there’s no such rule and kept De Silva as the new winner.

*) Kneeling on Floyd's neck violated policy, ‘values’ says police chief

Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo testified in the Derek Chauvin murder trial, saying the former cop violated policy during George Floyd's arrest.

Arradondo said the use of force against Floyd was reasonable during the "first few seconds" of his arrest but that it should have ended quickly.

Floyd’s May 2020 death in police custody had sparked protests against racism and police brutality across the US and around the world.

*) Royal court: Prince Hamzah pledged loyalty to King Abdullah

Jordan's royal court says former crown prince, Hamzah bin al Hussein, has signed a letter pledging allegiance to King Abdullah.

The king had reportedly asked an uncle to settle the dispute with his half brother.

Prince Hamzah is accused of conspiring with foreign elements in an attempt to destabilise the country's security, and was placed under house arrest.

*) Officials expect death toll in Indonesia, East Timor to rise

The death toll from floods in Indonesia and in neighbouring East Timor has risen to more than 150, with dozens more missing, following a cyclone.

Authorities recorded 130 deaths in a cluster of remote islands near East Timor.

Search-and-rescue teams are also racing to find more missing people by using diggers to clear mountains of mud and debris.

*) Hundreds of inmates freed after gunmen attack prison

More than 1,800 inmates escaped from a prison in southern Nigeria after a heavily armed gang attacked the facility.

The attackers used explosives and engaged in a gun battle with police before freeing the inmates.

No group has claimed responsibility for the coordinated jail break.

And finally …

*) Prayer vigil held outside NY hospital for rapper DMX

Supporters and family of rapper DMX chanted his name and offered up prayers outside a New York hospital, where he remains on life support.

The 50-year-old was admitted on Friday following a heart attack.

The cause of the heart attack is not known but DMX has long suffered with drug addiction.