*) Dozens killed in Afghanistan clashes despite hope for ceasefire

Fierce fighting between government forces and the Taliban has left dozens killed in Afghanistan even as the two sides continue peace talks in Qatar.

Overnight clashes erupted in three districts of Nangarhar province when Taliban fighters attacked several checkpoints of Afghan forces.

The violence occurred hours after the Afghan government delegation to the peace talks in Doha said they hoped to reach a ceasefire.

*) East Med: Direct Erdogan, Mitsotakis talks a possibility ahead of EU summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again stressed the importance of talks with Greece over the dispute in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan's remarks came after Turkish and Greek military delegations continued diplomatic talks to ease tensions at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

A Greek official has said that direct communication between the Turkish president and Greek prime minister would soon be possible.

*) India asks China to withdraw soldiers from disputed border region

India has urged China to completely disengage their forces from the border region of Ladakh.

India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh has said that China has amassed troops and weapons in Ladakh in violation of agreements reached in the 1990s.

He said that was not acceptable and that India is seeking a peaceful resolution through talks.

*) Hurricane Sally: Gulf Coast braces for second round of flooding

The southern United States is bracing for a second round of flooding in the wake of Hurricane Sally, which has left a trail of devastation in the Gulf Coast.

Officials say Orange Beach in Alabama will remain closed for 10 days as the area sustained significant damage and extensive power outages.

The hurricane is believed to have caused at least one death in Alabama.

And finally,

*) Former model Amy Dorris accuses Trump of sexual assault

A former model has accused US President Donald Trump of sexually assaulting and groping her at the US Open tennis tournament in 1997.

Amy Dorris told Britain's The Guardian that Trump sexually assaulted her in his VIP suite at the US Open tennis tournament in New York.

Trump, who has earlier faced more than a dozen allegations of sexual misconduct, denied the claims via his lawyers.

*) Over 30 million people have been infected with Covid-19

Coronavirus has now infected more than 30 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometer tracker.

The United States has the highest number of Covid-19 infections, followed by India, Brazil and Russia.

More than 945,000 people have died from the virus so far, while over 21 million have recovered from the disease.

*) Libyan Prime Minister announces plan to resign next month

The head of Libya’s internationally recognised government Fayez al Sarraj has announced his intention to resign by next month.

Sarraj says he wants to hand over power to a new administration in October amid talks on ending the country’s conflict.

His resignation could add to political uncertainty in Tripoli or even infighting among the rivals in the coalition.

*) Hurricane Sally drenches US Gulf coast, trapping hundreds

Hurricane Sally has slammed into the US Gulf coast, bringing catastrophic flooding to areas in Florida and Alabama.

One person has been killed and one other is missing after Sally made landfall as a Category Two storm overnight.

Extensive damage has been recorded as wind speeds hit 165 kilometres per hour.

*) West African leaders give Mali’s military junta an ultimatum

The Economic Community of West African States has demanded the appointment of a civilian president without delay or negotiations in Mali.

During a meeting on Tuesday, West African leaders told Mali's junta they have one week to appoint a leader or an embargo will be imposed on the country.

The embargo by neighbouring states will begin at midnight September 23, according to Colonel Major Ismael Wague.

And finally,

*) Highly anticipated Sony PlayStation 5 gets launch date

Sony has said its next-generation PlayStation 5 console will launch in November, squaring off against Microsoft rival Xbox.

The new PlayStation 5 gaming system will be priced at roughly $500, but will also have a cheaper option that does not include a disk drive, priced at $400.

The pricing announcement sets the stage for a year-end showdown between Xbox and PlayStation as players continue to flock to gaming consoles.

*) Palestinians slam UAE, Bahrain deals with Israel

The Palestinians have slammed deals between Israel and two Gulf Arab states, calling them a "treacherous stab in the back".

The Palestinian reaction followed a signing ceremony at the White House in Washington that formalised Israel's ties with the UAE and Bahrain.

The Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestine Liberation Front and Fatah all condemned the deals as agreements of "dependency, protection, and obedience with the occupation state".

*) Greece ready for eastern Mediterranean talks with Turkey

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis says he's ready to enter exploratory talks with Ankara “immediately” over the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey and Greece have been at loggerheads over maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean which are potentially rich in natural gas.

The latest standoff began after Turkey deployed the Oruc Reis research vessel and warships to Mediterranean waters on August 10.

*) Japan elects Suga as new PM after Abe resigns

Japan’s parliament has elected Yoshihide Suga as the country’s new prime minister.

Suga was elected head of the ruling Liberal Democrat Party following the resignation of Shinzo Abe and his cabinet.

Abe announced last month that he was stepping down due to health problems.

*) Hurricane Sally threatens Gulf Coast

Hurricane Sally is moving toward the US Gulf Coast, possibly bringing with it "extreme, life-threatening" flash floods.

Sally has strengthened to a Category 2 storm and threatens massive flooding in Alabama and Mississippi.

Authorities in the coastal Alabama city of Gulf Shores warned of life-threatening conditions and ordered a curfew.

And finally,

*) Turkey's flying car completes its first test flight

Turkey's first domestically produced flying car Cezeri [jezerie] has successfully completed its first test flight.

The car is named after Ismail al Jazari, a renowned 12th-century Muslim engineer and polymath.

It's expected to take an estimated 10 to 15 years for the car to hit the roads.

Bahrain and the UAE set to sign normalisation deal with Israel at the White House, and scientists find potential life on Venus.

*) Normalisation deal between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE

Delegates of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel are meeting in Washington to sign a normalisation deal.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization has condemned the move by UAE and Bahrain, calling it a "stab in the back".

The deal has been welcomed by another Gulf country, Oman, leading many to believe it may be the next in line.

*) President Trump and Joe Biden clash over cause of wildfires

President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden have clashed over the cause of the deadly wildfires ravaging the US west coast.

Trump has dismissed climate concerns and blamed "poor forest management" as the cause.

In response, Biden called Trump a "climate arsonist" whose reelection would be catastrophic for the environment.

*) Turkish Red Crescent aid worker killed in vehicle attack

A Turkish aid worker was killed, and two others wounded, in an attack on their vehicle by masked assailants in northern Syria.

The vehicle, which bore the Red Crescent emblem, was attacked between Syria's Al Bab and the Turkish border town of Cobanbey.

The Turkish Red Crescent said the two workers who were wounded were not in a critical condition.

*)Blast kills several in Syria’s Afrin

Staying in Syria, at least nine people have been killed and 43 injured in a truck-bomb blast in Syria’s opposition-held Afrin city.

Afrin was largely cleared of YPG/PKK terrorists by Turkey in 2018 in anti-terror Operation Olive Branch.

Local security sources say YPG/PKK terrorists continue to carry out attacks but do not claim responsibility as they end up harming civilians.

And finally,

*) Life on Venus is a possibility

Scientists have discovered potential signs of life in the atmosphere around Earth's neighbouring planet Venus.

Telescopes in Hawaii and Chile spotted signs of phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus, hinting at the possible presence of microbes.

The discovery doesn't yet satisfy the “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" standard established by the late Carl Sagan.

US wildfire death toll rises past 30, and Oracle set to purchase TikTok.

*) California wildfires continue to burn West Coast

Wildfires torching the US West Coast have killed at least 35 people.

The fires have been burning for three weeks, spreading from California to Oregon.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated with dozens missing.

*) Belarus protests continue for 5th consecutive weekend

Tens of thousands of people have protested in Minsk for the fifth consecutive weekend to demand President Alexander Lukashenko’s resignation.

Approximately more than 100,000 people marched in Minsk on each of the past four weekends after Lukashenko’s disputed election victory.

The Belarusian president is set to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

*) Turkey says France is inflaming tensions in eastern Mediterranean

Turkey says France’s President Emmanuel Macron is inflaming tensions between Ankara and Athens.

Comments by Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar follow France's push for EU sanctions on Turkey.

Tensions in the region have been high since Turkey resumed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean after Greece and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation deal.

*) Bahrain opposition rejects Israel normalisation deal

Opposition groups in Bahrain have rejected a decision by the Gulf state to normalise relations with Israel.

The accord between Israel and Bahrain follows a US-brokered deal between the UAE and Israel to form diplomatic ties.

Bahrain's opposition has called on the region to resist the Israel pact, throwing support behind the Palestinian cause.

And finally,

*) Oracle to buy TikTok

Bytedance has rejected Microsoft's bid to buy TikTok's US operations, reportedly choosing Oracle as a buyer or "technology partner".

Bytedance was in talks with Microsoft ever since President Donald Trump threatened to shut down the Chinese-owned app last month.

TokTok's parent company hopes a deal with Oracle will allow the app to be spared from a US ban and appease Beijing at the same time.

*) Mass evacuations underway as wildfires gut US west coast

US firefighters are in a race against the clock to save lives and homes in the states of Washington, Oregon and California.

Half a million people have been evacuated in Oregon where wildfires are burning towns to the ground.

The death toll now stands at 15 and is expected to rise further.

*) China, India agree to disengage thousands of border troops

China and India have agreed to de-escalate tensions on their disputed Himalayan border.

The foreign ministers of both countries vowed to take steps to restore peace and maintain the status quo at a high-level diplomatic meeting in Moscow.

Border clashes which started in June, have seen dozens of soldiers killed on both sides.

*) EU countries take in refugees displaced from Lesvos

Thousands of refugees on the Greek island of Lesvos spent the third night in the open after the country's largest camp burned down.

The Netherlands, Germany and France agreed to take in hundreds of refugees, while other EU states will take in around 400 minors.

The Moria camp was home to over 12,000 refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

*) Lebanon launches investigation into Beirut port fire

Lebanon has launched an investigation into a huge warehouse fire at the port of Beirut.

The massive fire started in a building that stored cooking oil, and it took firefighters hours to get under control.

There are no casualties and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

And finally,

*) Serena Williams knocked out of US Open

Serena Williams is out of the US Open after being beaten in the semifinals by Victoria Azarenka.

Williams was hoping to win her 24th Grand Slam to equal the world record held by the greatest player of all time, Margaret Court.

Williams says her focus is now on achieving the milestone at Roland Garros later this month.

Hundreds detained in Belarus as tens of thousands march against leader Lukashenko and Typhoon Haishen passes through Korea with less-than-expected damage.

*) Tens of thousands march against Lukashenko in Belarus, hundreds detained

Tens of thousands of protesters have participated in peaceful marches in Belarus, demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko.

Sunday's demonstration in Minsk attracted over 100,000 people. Protests also took place in other major cities.

Lukashenko has refused to quit after his disputed re-election, turning to Russia for help to stay in power.

*) Erdogan calls on EU to take an impartial stance on east Med

Turkey says the EU's stance on the eastern Mediterranean conflict between Ankara and Athens will be a test of the bloc's sincerity.

Turkey's President Erdogan has told European Council President Charles Michel that provocations by European politicians will not help find a solution.

Erdogan's statement followed Michel's comments on the EU exploring a "carrot and stick" approach to Turkey at the upcoming EU Council meeting.

*) India overtakes Brazil by 70,000 Covid-19 cases

India has overtaken Brazil as the second worst-hit country by Covid-19 with over 4.2 million infections.

Setting another daily record with new 90,802 cases, India has the fastest-growing caseload in the world.

Globally, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 27.3 million people, causing the death of some 887,000 people.

*) Libya's rival governments meet for talks in Morocco

Delegates representing Libya's government and warlord Khalifa Haftar have met for talks in Morocco more than two weeks after the two sides announced a ceasefire.

Dubbed the "Libyan Dialogue", the talks brought together five members of the Tripoli-based government and five of the Tobruk parliament loyal to Haftar.

The meeting on Sunday was held at the initiative of Morocco at the coastal town of Bouznika, south of Rabat.

And finally,

*) Typhoon Haishen heads to Korea after hammering Japan

Powerful Typhoon Haishen has made landfall in South Korea after slamming into Japan's southern islands with record winds and heavy rains.

The storm prompted evacuation warnings for millions in Japan but appeared to pass through South Korea without major damage or casualties.

However, it left around 476,000 households without electricity, raising fears of heatstroke for those left without air conditioning.

*) NATO tries to broker Turkey-Greece talks over eastern Mediterranean

Greece says it has not agreed to talks with Turkey on eastern Mediterranean tensions after NATO announced both neighbours were on board.

Earlier, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said both countries had agreed to enter "technical talks" designed to avert a broader conflict.

A Greek frigate collided with a Turkish frigate in August and the two NATO members staged rival war games in the energy-rich but contested region last week.

*) Brazil’s coronavirus cases pass the 4 million mark

Brazil has recorded more than 4 million confirmed coronavirus cases, with 43,773 new cases and 834 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The world is witnessing a surge in the number of virus cases in recent weeks.

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 873,000 people, infecting some 26.4 million around the world.

*) Trump insults US WWI troops as ‘losers’ - reports

A new report has surfaced detailing multiple instances of President Trump referring to US troops buried in a French WWI cemetery as “losers” and “suckers” for getting killed in action.

The US president denied the allegations, calling The Atlantic article “totally false".

Critics took the opportunity to point to Trump’s denigrating comments about late senator John McCain, who was captured in Vietnam.

*) Facebook to ban new political ads on cusp of US election

Facebook has said it will ban new political advertising in the week before the US presidential election.

The social media giant vowed to fact-check premature claims of victory, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg warned of a “risk of civil unrest” after the vote.

If a candidate tries to declare himself the winner before a final tally, Facebook will add a label to their posts directing users to official results.

And finally,

*) Pulse raises hope of survivor one month after Beirut blast

Rescue workers are digging through rubble in a wrecked district of Lebanon's capital in search of possible survivors a month after the mega blast.

Search operations resumed early on Friday for survivors after a pulse and other signs of life were detected using a sniffer dog and scanners.

Lebanon is marking one month since the Beirut blast that killed 191 people and wounded thousands.

*) Suspected accomplices of Charlie Hebdo attackers on trial

Fourteen alleged accomplices to the gunmen who attacked French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015 have gone on trial.

The attack by homegrown militants Said and Cherif Kouachi had come after Charlie Hebdo published cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammad.

The assault that claimed 12 lives sparked a series of attacks on French soil, including by Daesh-inspired "lone wolves".

*) US court: Surveillance programme exposed by Snowden was illegal

An appeals court has ruled that the US National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping operation exposed by Edward Snowden was illegal.

The court found US intelligence leaders who publicly defended the programme were not telling the truth and in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

NSA contractor Snowden fled to Russia in the aftermath of the 2013 disclosures and is facing US espionage charges.

*) US sanctions war crimes court prosecutor

The US has slapped sanctions on the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court over an Afghanistan war crimes investigation.

The US has had long-standing issues with the ICC over a number of cases including probes into allegations of Israeli war crimes against Palestinians.

The Hague-based tribunal called the restrictions on ICC officials a "serious" attack against the rule of law.

*) Typhoon pummels South Korea

A powerful typhoon has ripped through South Korea’s southern and eastern coasts with tree-snapping winds and flooding rains

South Korea’s weather agency said Typhoon Maysak weakened to a tropical storm that was east of North Korea around midday.

The typhoon knocked out power to more than 270,000 homes and left at least one person dead.

And finally,

*) Venice Film Festival opens with tribute to coronavirus victims

The Venice Film Festival has opened with a tribute to those who lost their lives to the novel coronavirus.

The festival is the first major international entertainment event to take place in person since Covid-19 shuttered theatres and halted production.

Celebrities arrived on the island of Lido in face masks to a less glamourous red carpet, but organisers hope the films will take centre stage.

*) Turkey slams US decision to lift arms embargo on Greek Cypriots

Turkey says US decision to partially lift an arms embargo on Greek-administered Cyprus poisons hopes for peace in the eastern Mediterranean.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced restrictions on the sale of non-lethal defence articles and services to Cyprus would be waived.

Washington placed restrictions in 1987 to encourage efforts to unify the divided island and avoid an arms race there.

*) Trump brands Kenosha protests ‘domestic terror’

US President Donald Trump has branded anti-racism protests in Kenosha as acts of "domestic terror" by violent mobs.

Kenosha is the latest US city to see mass protests after a police shooting of an unarmed Black man.

Trump has been attempting to divert focus during his re-election campaign from his widely criticised coronavirus response to law enforcement.

*) Egypt to try ex-student for sexual assault in #MeToo case

Egypt is going to try a former student of an elite university on charges of sexual assault of three minors.

Public Prosecutor Hamada el-Sawy said the former student is also charged with blackmailing and sexually harassing the women, who were minors at the time.

The accused was arrested in July after the allegations against him went viral, resulting in a #MeToo movement firestorm on social media.

*) Macron: Lebanon leaders promise crisis cabinet in 15 days

Lebanon's leaders have pledged to form a crisis cabinet within two weeks to push forward with key reforms.

The announcement was made during French President Emmanuel Macron's second visit to Beirut since a deadly explosion there killed more than 180 people.

He attended muted celebrations marking the centenary of Greater Lebanon, shortly after political leaders settled on a new prime minister.

And finally,

*) ‘Game of Thrones’ creators join ‘Star Wars’ director for Netflix series

The creators of "Game of Thrones" are teaming up with a "Star Wars" director and Brad Pitt for a Chinese sci-fi series for Netflix.

Liu Cixin's book trilogy "The Three-Body Problem" will become an international series for the streaming giant.

The team from "Game of Thrones" will be joined by Rian Johnson, who directed "The Last Jedi," and Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment company.