Daily News Brief TRT World

Jury convicts Donald Trump on all 34 charges in hush money trial

https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/jury-convicts-donald-trump-on-all-34-charges-in-hush-money-trial-18168112

Donald Trump has become the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes.

A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to an adult movie actress.

The verdict from the 12-person jury convicted Trump on all 34 counts after deliberating for 9.5 hours.

*) Recognising Palestine generates positive momentum — Norway’s ambassador

https://www.trtworld.com/europe/recognising-palestine-generates-positive-momentum-norways-ambassador-18167646

The recognition of an independent Palestinian state strengthens the idea of the two-state solution to the longstanding issue of Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, Norway’s ambassador to Türkiye told TRT World.

Andreas Gaarder said “the intention is to contribute to creating a momentum and also to signal to the world community that this is an important issue that needs to be solved and it needs to be solved now.”

Gaarder said Oslo has been involved in “hectic diplomatic activity” in Brussels in the past few days, while strongly advocating for the end of Israel’s brutal war on Gaza and for long-lasting peace in the region.

*) NY hospital fires nurse for Gaza ‘genocide’ reference during award speech
https://www.trtworld.com/discrimination/ny-hospital-fires-nurse-for-gaza-genocide-reference-during-award-speech-18167836
A nurse at New York University Langone Medical Center has been fired for referring to the “genocide” in Gaza during a speech accepting an award earlier this month.
Hesen Jabr, a Palestinian American labour and delivery nurse, drew a link between her work and the suffering of mothers in Gaza.
Jabr said after the speech, she was “dragged” to an office and was handed her termination letter for putting “others at risk” and “offending people.”
*) NATO discusses allowing Ukraine to use Western arms to strike inside Russia
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/nato-discusses-allowing-ukraine-to-use-western-arms-to-strike-inside-russia-18168072
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg pushed at the start of a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers to let Ukraine use Western weapons to strike inside Russia.
Ukraine has been pressing its supporters, led by the United States, to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry it supplies to hit targets on Russian soil.
Some countries including Britain and the Netherlands say Kiev has the right to use their weapons to strike military targets in Russia.
And finally…

*) Efes-2024 exercise based on peacekeeping, no country targeted: Erdogan

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/efes-2024-exercise-based-on-peacekeeping-no-country-targeted-erdogan-18167900

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Turkish military’s ongoing Efes-2024 drill is based on peacekeeping.

In an address to the military during the exercise in Izmir province, the Turkish president said that “no country is targeted within the scope of the Efes-2024 drill.”

Erdogan said Türkiye has the opportunity to use the new domestic systems that have entered the inventory during the ongoing drill.

*) China’s Xi Jinping calls for Israel-Palestine peace summit

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/live-blog-chinas-xi-jinping-calls-for-israel-palestine-peace-summit-18167728

The Chinese president has called for a peace conference on Israel’s war on besieged Gaza as he addressed Arab leaders and diplomats at a forum in Beijing.

This week, China is hosting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi and several other Arab leaders for a forum at which discussions on the war in Gaza are expected.

Addressing the delegations, the president said China supported a “broad-based” peace conference to resolve the conflict.

*) No country is safe unless Israel is made to abide by int’l law: Erdogan

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/no-country-is-safe-unless-israel-is-made-to-abide-by-intl-law-erdogan-18167436

No country is safe unless Israel abides by international law, according to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish president was referring to Israel’s actions in Palestine’s Gaza which have been ongoing for more than seven months despite rulings and resolutions against it.

Erdogan said: “A bare-knuckled Israel is a threat not only to Palestine or Gaza but also to global peace and humanity as a whole.”

*) ‘Finish Them!’: Haley inscribes genocidal message on Biden’s bomb to Israel

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/finish-them-haley-inscribes-genocidal-message-on-bidens-bomb-to-israel-18167719

Nikki Haley, the former Republican presidential contender, has sparked global outrage after writing “Finish Them!” for the Palestinians of Gaza on an Israeli artillery shell during a visit to Israel.

An image of Haley crouched in front of pallets of America-supplied shells, writing with a marker on one, was shared on social media by an Israeli politician and former ambassador to the United Nations.

Haley finished her inscription with a note that “America loves Israel always” with a heart emoji, and was quickly slammed for the message.

*) Women lead Mexico’s presidential race to historic final
https://www.trtworld.com/americas/women-lead-mexicos-presidential-race-to-historic-final-18167740

Campaigning to be Mexico’s next president has reached a climax with two women leading the race for the first time in the Latin American nation.

A woman appears almost certain to be elected leader of the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking country when millions of Mexicans vote on Sunday.

Both the women have dominated the presidential race, in a dramatic change for a country with long-standing gender inequality.

*) India’s New Delhi records highest-ever temperature of 49.9°C

https://www.trtworld.com/climate/indias-new-delhi-records-highest-ever-temperature-of-499degreec-18167344

Temperatures in India’s capital have soared to a record-high 49.9 degrees Celsius as authorities warn of water shortages in the sprawling mega-city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which reported “severe heat-wave conditions,” recorded the temperatures on Tuesday at two New Delhi suburbs stations, Narela and Mungeshpur.

The weather bureau said the temperatures were nine degrees higher than expected.

Algeria proposes UNSC resolution calling for truce in Gaza

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/live-blog-algeria-proposes-unsc-resolution-calling-for-truce-in-gaza-18167320

Algeria has circulated a proposed UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ordering Israel to halt its military invasion in the southern city of Rafah immediately.

The draft resolution also demands that the ceasefire be respected by all parties and calls for the immediate release of all hostages.

Additionally, the draft demands compliance with previous council resolutions that call for the opening of all border crossings and humanitarian access to Gaza's 2.4 million people who desperately need food and other aid.

*) Prosecutor seeks guilty verdict in Trump trial, citing powerful evidence

https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/prosecutor-seeks-guilty-verdict-in-trump-trial-citing-powerful-evidence-18167314

In the closing arguments at the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president, prosecutors stated that Donald Trump engaged in a "conspiracy and a cover-up" to conceal hush money payments to an adult movie star.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass delivered the prosecution's summation, urging the jury to disregard distractions and focus on the evidence.

Steinglass argued that the prosecution had presented compelling evidence of Trump's guilt.

*) Turkish universities to welcome academics from West who oppose Israel’s war

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/turkish-universities-to-welcome-academics-from-west-who-oppose-israels-war-18167339

The president of Türkiye’s Council of Higher Education has announced that the doors of Turkish universities are open to academics and students from Western educational institutions who lost their jobs for opposing Israel’s massacres in Gaza.
The announcement was made at the opening of a conference titled “Gaza Genocide Attempt: Tellings of an Eyewitness” at the Social Sciences University of Ankara.

The conference was presented by Ghassan Abu Sitta, the Palestinian rector of Glasgow University, who volunteered as a doctor during Israel's siege of Gaza and was prevented from talking about his experiences in some European countries.

*) Kenya begins holding public hearings into alleged abuses by UK troops

https://www.trtworld.com/africa/gunmen-kill-multiple-civilians-abduct-dozens-in-central-nigeria-official-18166913

Kenya has launched public hearings to investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses of power by British troops stationed in the former colony.

The sessions will examine accusations of mistreatment, torture, unlawful detention, and killings, according to a circular issued by the lower house of parliament.

British soldiers stationed in the country have faced accusations of serious offences, including murder.

And finally…

*) Colombia moves to become latest South American country to ban bullfighting

https://www.trtworld.com/latin-america/colombia-moves-to-become-latest-south-american-country-to-ban-bullfighting-18167325

Colombia's congress has passed a bill banning bullfighting, a popular yet controversial pastime in the South American country with hundreds of events drawing thousands of spectators every year.

If approved by President Gustavo Petro, who has in the past supported restrictions on bullfighting, the ban will come into effect in 2027.

The lower house gave the bill the green light with a 93 to 2 vote.

*) Israel bombs Palestinian shelters in Rafah, leaving dozens dead

Israeli forces have targeted tents of displaced Palestinians near the UNRWA headquarters in northwestern Rafah, resulting in numerous casualties, according to the Palestine Red Crescent.

The attacks have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and left dozens more injured.

Gaza's civil defence agency corroborated these reports, highlighting the severe impact on an area sheltering approximately 100,000 displaced Palestinians.

*) Israel's actions in Gaza are collective punishment: ICC chief prosecutor

International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan said that Israel is imposing collective punishment on Gaza, emphasising that no one has immunity to commit war crimes or crimes against humanity.

In an interview with the British newspaper The Sunday Times, Khan discussed the reactions following his move to seek arrest warrants for members of the Palestinian group Hamas and senior Israeli officials.

*) Death toll from Russian strike on hypermarket in Ukraine's Kharkiv rises

The death toll from a Russian air strike on a hypermarket in Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv rose to 16, local authorities have said.

Earlier in the day, the authorities said 12 people were killed in the attack, which targeted a local hypermarket and damaged a furniture store and a shopping centre.

They claimed that the strike was carried out using two guided bombs.

*) France ends New Caledonia state of emergency, more forces arrive

Seven more mobile force units will soon arrive as reinforcements in New Caledonia, the Elysee said in a statement, also indicating a state of emergency would end as planned, in the French Pacific territory on Tuesday morning.

Seven people have been killed, hundreds arrested and large numbers of buildings and cars destroyed in a fortnight of upheaval, triggered by a contested electoral reform and fueled by sharp economic disparities between the indigenous Kanak population and people of European background.

*) Seven young elephants drown in Sri Lanka

Wildlife authorities in Sri Lanka found seven carcasses of young elephants believed to have drowned in the biggest single loss of the animals in five years.

Sri Lanka's wild elephant population has dwindled to just over 7,000 down from an estimated 12,000 at the beginning of the last century.

*) Iran preliminary report indicates no foul play in Raisi's helicopter crash

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/iran-preliminary-report-indicates-no-foul-play-in-raisis-helicopter-crash-18165759

Iranian Armed Forces have released a preliminary report on the investigation into the president’s helicopter crash.

Preliminary evaluation indicates that the helicopter continued on its predetermined route without altering its flight path.
According to the report, the helicopter caught fire after the crash, and no traces of gunfire or similar damage were found.

*) More than 100 people killed by a landslide in Papua New Guinea

https://www.trtworld.com/climate/more-than-100-people-killed-by-a-landslide-in-papua-new-guinea-18165763

A massive landslide has struck Papua New Guinea's highlands, with many feared dead, according to local officials in the region.
The disaster hit a village, in Papua New Guinea's remote Enga province, at around 3:00 am local time.

The provincial governor said the landslide had caused "loss of life and property".

*) Growing recognition of Palestine isolating Israel and allies: Turkish FM


https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/growing-recognition-of-palestine-isolating-israel-and-allies-turkish-fm-18165720


Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, "The increasing number of countries recognising Palestine is isolating Israel and its supporters more and more."
Speaking at a joint press conference with the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Fidan said, "It is time for the international community to set aside its silence and take steps to stop the genocide perpetrated by Israel's racist and fundamentalist regime.”
*) China says drills around Taiwan test 'seizure of power' capability
https://www.trtworld.com/asia/china-says-drills-around-taiwan-test-seizure-of-power-capability-18165753

After days into Taiwan's new leader being sworn in, the Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army stated that China's military has commenced its second day of war games around Taiwan.

The group's spokesman noted that the two-day exercises are testing the 'capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes, and control of key territories'.


And finally…


*) Directors at Cannes: Palestinian films 'more important than ever'

https://www.trtworld.com/arts-and-culture/directors-at-cannes-palestinian-films-more-important-than-ever-18165426

Veteran Palestinian film director Rashid Masharawi presented his project, "They are the story," at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
Managing 20 teams in Gaza from abroad, he directed a collection of short films called "Ground Zero", recounting the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the ensuing humanitarian disaster from the perspective of civilians on the ground.
Norway-based Palestinian director Mohamed Jabaly also said, "Our narrative and storytelling is more important than ever,"
Palestinian cinema does not have its own tent at the event, but Algeria has made space for its filmmakers at the other end of the international market at Cannes.

*) Israel kills 25 Palestinians, including 10+ minors, in Gaza

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/live-blog-israel-kills-25-palestinians-including-10-minors-in-gaza-18165361

Israeli strikes have killed 17 Palestinians, including over 10 children, and injured dozens in Gaza City and Rafah.

In Gaza City's Al-Daraj neighbourhood, 16 Palestinians died in an Israeli air strike on a house. One Palestinian was killed in Rafah when Israeli forces targeted a house belonging to the Al-Sha'er family.

Earlier, Israeli forces hit a house in Al-Nuseirat camp, killing eight Palestinians.

*) ‘New war crime’: Israel bars scores in Gaza from Hajj amid Rafah invasion

https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/new-war-crime-israel-bars-scores-in-gaza-from-hajj-amid-rafah-invasion-18165328

Thousands of Palestinians have been barred from performing the Hajj pilgrimage due to Israel’s occupation of the Rafah crossing, the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said.

In a statement, the ministry said that “preventing thousands in Gaza from performing the Hajj is a clear violation of freedom of worship and international humanitarian law.”

Hajj, the pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest site Kaaba in Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslims are required to perform it at least once in life if they have the means to do so.

*) UN set to vote on commemorating the 1995 Srebrenica genocide annually

https://www.trtworld.com/europe/un-set-to-vote-on-commemorating-the-1995-srebrenica-genocide-annually-18165406

The UN will vote on creating an annual day to commemorate the 1995 genocide of over 8,000 Bosniaks by Bosnian Serbs. This proposal has faced strong opposition from Serbs, who fear it will label them all as supporters of the genocide.

The resolution, sponsored by Germany and Rwanda, doesn’t blame Serbia directly. Despite this, Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic have campaigned against it.

The 193-member General Assembly is set to vote on designating July 11 as the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica,” to be observed annually starting in two months.

*) Türkiye applauds Spain, Ireland, Norway’s recognition of Palestinian state

https://www.trtworld.com/turkiye/turkiye-applauds-spain-ireland-norways-recognition-of-palestinian-state-18165045

The Turkish foreign ministry said Türkiye is pleased by announcements from Spain, Ireland, and Norway that they will recognise the state of Palestine.

The Ministry said in a statement that the “recognition of Palestine is a requirement of international law, justice, and conscience.”

*) Macron faces crucial showdown as he lands in restive New Caledonia

https://www.trtworld.com/australia/macron-faces-crucial-showdown-as-he-lands-in-restive-new-caledonia-18165370

French President Emmanuel Macron has landed in the Pacific island of New Caledonia for a series of talks during which he will aim to turn the page on riots triggered by a contested electoral reform.

Any attempt to convince the rioters to get off the streets will be a challenge, as will trying to persuade the French-ruled territory’s pro-independence parties who blame Macron and his government for the riots.