Daily News Brief TRT World

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, June 9th.

*) Saudi Arabia rules out normalisation with Israel without two-state solution

The Saudi foreign minister has said that normalisation of ties with Israel "is in the interest of the region" but without giving Palestinians "dignity and justice" such a move will have limited benefits.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan was speaking alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riyadh.

"We should continue to focus on finding a pathway towards a two-state solution," Prince Faisal bin Farhan said.

Blinken for his part urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to undermine prospects for a Palestinian state.

*) Zelenskyy hails 'results' in eastern Ukraine fighting

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed what he described as the "results" in heavy fighting in Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

"There is very heavy fighting in Donetsk region," Zelenskyy said in his daily video message, delivered in a train after visiting areas affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka power dam.

Zelenskyy referred to other areas where fighting is going on, but said he would provide no details.

*) Hafize Gaye Erkan is Türkiye central bank's new governor

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has chosen seasoned banker Hafize Gaye Erkan to succeed Shahap Kavcioglu as the governor of Türkiye's Central Bank.

Forty-one-year-old Erkan earned a doctorate in operations research and financial engineering at Princeton University.

She also completed two training programmes on management sciences at Harvard Business School and leadership at Stanford University.

Erkan has held a number of top posts at major banks and companies including US-based First Republic Bank and Marsh McLennan, Goldman Sachs, and Tiffany & Co.

*) US Senate confirms highest-ranking Muslim in govt despite GOP blockade

The US Senate has confirmed Dilawar Syed as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration, ending more than two years of delays after a blockade by Republicans in the last Congress.

Syed, a Pakistani-born businessman, will be the highest-ranking Muslim official in the US government.

Republicans on the Small Business Committee had blocked his nomination, citing the agency's payouts to abortion providers and other reasons.

And finally…

*) Canada wildfire smoke cloaks eastern US with haze

Smoke from Canadian wildfires again shrouded US cities in a noxious haze, delaying flights and disrupting outdoor events in what President Joe Biden called a "stark reminder" of the climate crisis.

Thick skies and an acrid campfire smell hung over the capital Washington on Thursday and early Friday.

This exceeded some of the most polluted cities in the world in South Asia and China, leading many residents to wear masks to protect their health.

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

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, June 8th.

*) World Bank to assess damaged Ukraine dam

The World Bank says it will conduct a rapid assessment of damages and needs after the destruction of the huge Novo Kakhova hydroelectric dam in Ukraine.

The region’s governor said the flooding from the dam breach extended over 600 square kilometres on the Ukrainian-held right bank of the Dnipro River.

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed a “comprehensive investigation” into the explosion at the dam.

He said the investigation should be conducted “in a way that leaves no room for suspicion.”

*) Tunisia recovers bodies of African refugees after new boat disaster

The Tunisian Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of nine African refugees and migrants and rescued 29 after their boat sank off the coast of Monastir.

The country, whose coastline is less than 150 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa, is a favoured spot for irregular refugees and migrants attempting the journey.

In recent years, thousands have either died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean.

*) Hundreds of Sudanese children rescued from an orphanage

About 300 infants, toddlers and older children have been rescued from an orphanage in Sudan’s capital after being trapped there while fighting raged outside.

The evacuation at the4 Al Maygoma orphanage came after 71 children died from hunger and illness in the facility since mid-April.

The deaths have highlighted the heavy toll inflicted on civilians since mid-April when clashes erupted between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

*) Canada wildfires trigger air quality alerts for 100 million in US

More than 100 million people in the United States are living under air quality alerts caused by Canadian wildfires.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the region "includes much of the Northeast US — extending to Chicago to the west and Atlanta to the south".

The devastating fires have displaced more than 20,000 people and scorched about 3.8 million hectares of land in Canada,

And finally…

*) Messi chooses Inter Miami over Saudi, Spain football clubs

Lionel Messi says he is planning to sign with Inter Miami.

The global soccer icon is choosing the United States as his next destination over a Barcelona reunion or blockbuster deal to play in Saudi Arabia.

The 35-year-old 2022 FIFA World Cup winner joined PSG in 2021, and will leave the French powerhouse when his contract expires on June 30.

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

*) Tens of thousands at flooding risk after Ukraine dam collapse

About 42,000 people are at risk from flooding in Russian and Ukrainian controlled areas along the Dnipro River after a dam collapsed.

Ukraine said Russia committed a deliberate war crime in blowing up the Soviet-era Nova Kakhovka dam, which powered a hydroelectric station.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin blamed Ukraine, saying it was trying to distract from the launch of a major counteroffensive Moscow says is faltering.

*) Blinken meets Mohammed Bin Salman in bid to restore strained Saudi-US ties

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have met to discuss bilateral relations, Saudi state news agency (SPA) says.

They also discussed "aspects of cooperation in various fields and developments in regional and international situations", the agency added.

Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on a mission to steady Washington's relationship with Riyadh after years of deepening disagreements.

*) Khartoum islanders 'under siege' as Sudan fighting rages

Battles have continued to rage in Sudan's capital of Khartoum and residents of an island in the Nile reported being "under siege".

A number of broken ceasefires offered brief lulls but no respite for residents who again reported "the sound of heavy artillery fire" in the city's north.

Witnesses also said there were "clashes with various types of weapons" in south Khartoum, where "the sound of explosions shook our walls".

*) Erdogan: We will build 'Century of Türkiye' together

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held the first meeting of his new Cabinet in Ankara.

Erdogan said Turkish democracy has become a point of reference for the world after record participation in both the May 14 and May 28 elections.

He also vowed to embrace all 85 million Turkish citizens and to build the "Century of Türkiye" all together.

*) 'A new tiger will roar': Saudi champions Al Ittihad sign Karim Benzema

Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, the Jeddah-based club confirms.

"Benzema is here. A new tiger will roar," the club wrote on Twitter.

Benzema will join his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom.

The announcement comes days after Real Madrid said that the 35-year-old Benzema was leaving the club after 14 seasons.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, June 6th.

*) Russia 'thwarts another major attack' in Ukraine’s Donetsk

Russia has said it had thwarted another major Ukrainian offensive in Donetsk, inflicting heavy losses.

Moscow said earlier that Kiev’s forces had begun a major offensive in the southern part of the Donetsk region over the weekend, which it had also thwarted.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on if these attacks mark the start of the country’s long-anticipated counteroffensive.

*) Shelling, looting in Sudan's capital as military rivals continue battle

Shelling has hit western areas of Sudan's capital after rival military factions fought through the night, residents said.

Residents reported intense fighting across Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri cities, and smoke was seen rising from several areas on Monday.

They also said RSF troops, who have spread out in neighbourhoods across the capital, were in full control and were looting extensively.

*) UN condemns killing of Palestinian toddler by Israeli army

A Palestinian toddler who was shot by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank last week has died of his wounds, Israeli hospital officials have said.

Mohammed al Tamimi was shot in the head last Thursday near his village of Nabi Salih while riding in a car with his father.

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process condemned the killing and urged Israeli authorities to hold those responsible accountable.

*) Iran set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven-year hiatus

Iran is set to reopen its embassy in Saudi Arabia following a seven-year closure, sealing a Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal earlier this year.

Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani announced the reopening in a statement on Monday.

Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were attacked over the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al Nimr.

And finally…

*) Former VP Mike Pence formally enters 2024 US presidential race

Former US Vice President Mike Pence has officially declared himself a candidate in the 2024 Republican race for the White House.

Pence will launch his campaign with a video and a speech in the early nominating state of Iowa, according to sources familiar with the situation.

His run pits him against Donald Trump, whom he once stood by but refused to back when the former president attempted to overturn the 2020 election results.

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

*) Russian forces 'thwart' major Ukrainian attack

The Russian Defence Ministry has said its forces pushed back a “large scale” Ukrainian assault at five points in Donetsk.

Donetsk is one of four Ukrainian regions Russia illegally annexed last fall.

Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said Ukraine “did not achieve its tasks” and 250 Ukrainian personnel were killed.

16 Ukrainian tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armoured combat vehicles were also destroyed, he said. There was no comment from Ukraine.

*) India: Deadly train crash caused by signal system failure

The cause of a train disaster that left more than 300 people dead and hundreds more injured in India was linked to the signal system, the railway minister said.

Railway officials had said a signalling error sent the Coromandel Express onto a side track where it slammed into a freight train and derailed an express train.

The minister confirmed this, saying a "change that occurred during electronic interlocking” caused the accident.

He said “whoever did it, and how it happened, will be found out after proper investigation”.

*) Sudan battles rage as US, Saudi renew push for fresh ceasefire

The United States and Saudi Arabia have made a renewed push for truce talks between Sudan's warring generals as deadly fighting has raged into its eighth week.

The foreign mediators called for "the parties to agree to and effectively implement a new ceasefire, with the aim of building to a permanent cessation of hostilities", Riyadh said.

A five-day extension of an earlier truce formally expired on Saturday evening, with no signs of the conflict abating and fears that the rival sides were poised for an escalation.

Deadly urban battles have gripped the Sudanese capital Khartoum and Darfur region, after fighting erupted between the regular army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

*) Stoltenberg thanks Türkiye for sending reinforcements to Kosovo

The chief of NATO has expressed gratitude to Türkiye for its efforts in Kosovo during a meeting in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: "I thank Türkiye for sending reinforcements to northern Kosovo following the recent unrest" in the region.

In Kosovo last week, at least 30 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission were injured in clashes with protesting Serbs.

*) Saudi Arabia further cuts oil output by 1M bpd to boost falling prices

Saudi Arabia will cut one million barrels of oil per day in July but "can be extended", the energy minister said.

Saudi Arabia, the dominant producer in the OPEC+ alliance, was one of several members that agreed on a surprise cut of 1.16 million barrels per day in April.

That the country felt another cut was necessary underlines the uncertain outlook for demand for fuel in the months ahead.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, June 2nd.

*) Deadly protests rock Senegal as court sentences opposition’s Sonko to jail

Nine people have been killed in Senegal in clashes between riot police and supporters of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko after a court sentenced him to two years in jail.

The government said that the deaths occurred after protests broke out in parts of the capital Dakar and other cities.

The court ruling cast serious doubt on the opposition leader’s chances of running for president next year.

*) US averts first-ever default as Congress passes debt deal

Fending off a US default, the Senate has given final approval to a ceiling and budget cuts package, and sent it to President Joe Biden for signing it into law before the fast-approaching deadline.

The upper chamber of Congress late on Thursday rubber-stamped a bill passed a day earlier by the House of Representatives to extend the country’s borrowing authority through 2024.

The compromise package negotiated between Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy leaves neither Republicans nor Democrats fully pleased with the outcome.

*) US imposes sanctions in Sudan as warring sides fail to abide by ceasefire

The United States has announced that it will levy sanctions against key defence companies and people “perpetuating the violence” in Sudan as warring sides fail to abide by a ceasefire agreement.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the measures are intended to hold accountable those responsible for undermining the peace, security and stability of Sudan.

Sullivan further said the ongoing fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group is a tragedy that has already stolen far too many lives, and that it must end.

*) Türkiye: Sweden must fulfil commitments against terrorism for NATO bid

Türkiye has called on Sweden to fulfil its commitments regarding the fight against terrorism in order to start the ratification of the Nordic country’s accession to NATO.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter that Stockholm should fulfil its commitments arising from the trilateral memorandum, and take concrete steps in the fight against terrorism.

Earlier, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, during his doorstep remarks at NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Oslo called on Türkiye and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s bid.

And finally…

*) Heatwave and wildfires bake Canada’s east

Eastern Canada continues to swelter under a record-breaking heatwave that risks inflaming wildfires ravaging the Atlantic coast and other parts of the country.

More than 210 fires were burning across Canada, including 82 out of control. Officials said more than 2.7 million hectares have been scorched already this year.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told a news conference that the conditions this early in the season are unprecedented and it is deeply concerning.

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