*)Dozens killed as roadside bomb targets Afghan bus

At least 34 passengers travelling on a bus were killed, and many others wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

The victims included women and children.

Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, a provincial official blamed the Taliban for the attack.

But the Taliban has categorically denied any responsibility.

*)UN warns Syria onslaught may spark humanitarian disaster

The UN humanitarian chief urged the Security Council to take action to end the "carnage" in Syria's Idlib province.

Mark Lowcock told council members they’ve ignored previous pleas and done nothing for 90 days as the massacre continues.

He warned that continued violence could create the worst humanitarian disaster of the 21st century.

*)Hong Kong protesters appear in court to face riot charge

More than 40 protesters appeared in a Hong Kong court after being charged with rioting.

A wave of protests began in late April over a now-suspended extradition bill that would’ve allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China for trial.

The protests have now evolved into a wider backlash against the city’s government and its political masters in Beijing.

*)India's parliament outlaws Muslim practice of instant divorce

India’s parliament passed a law against the Muslim practice of Talaaq or instant divorce, making it a criminal offence punishable by being jailed for three years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government pushed through the bill, despite stiff resistance from several opposition parties.

Instant divorce is when a Muslim man ends his marriage by simply saying the word “talaaq” three times, which means “divorce” in Arabic.

*)Rhinoceros conceived artificially at California zoo

And finally,

There’s hope for rhinos, after a southern white rhino conceived through artificial insemination, was born at the San Diego Zoo.

The birth is seen as a milestone that could help save the sub-species from extinction.

It marks the first successful artificial insemination birth of a southern white rhino in North America.

*) Prison riot in Brazil kills at least 57

At least 57 inmates were killed during a prison riot in northern Brazil as rival gang factions fought each other.

Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the clash that led to a fire.

The incident marks the second major eruption of violence in the country's severely overpopulated and deadly prison system in as many months.

*)Pakistan military plane crash kills 18

At least 18 people were killed when a small military plane crashed into a residential area in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.

The military says five soldiers were among those who were killed.

Pakistan has a chequered aviation safety record, with frequent plane and helicopter crashes over the years.

*)At least 10 killed in Yemen air strikes

At least 10 people, including children, have been killed in an air strike on a market in Yemen.

A hospital official says jets were flying over the area while the Saudi-led coalition accuses Houthis of firing rockets into the market.

The four-year-old war, which has killed tens of thousands of people, has long been in a military stalemate.

*)Five Sudanese protesters shot dead

A curfew has been imposed in four towns of Sudan's North Kordofan state after five people, including four school kids, were shot dead at a rally.

Witnesses say the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fired on the teens during a peaceful march protesting water and electricity shortages.

The killings comes a day before protest leaders and military officials are set to hold talks on the transition of power.

*)Man bites a snake in revenge attack

And finally,

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but not for an Indian man who was bitten by a snake only to promptly bite it back.

Raj Kumar was at his Uttar Pradesh home when he was bitten.

He grabbed the snake and bit it back, chewing the reptile into pieces.

Kumar’s family took him to hospital, where doctors said he was in a critical condition.

*)At least four killed in shooting at US food festival

At least four people have been killed and 15 injured in a shooting at a festival in the Californian city of Gilroy.

The suspected shooter was shot dead by the police.

Police are now investigating witness reports of a second suspect.

The shooting occurred during the three-day annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 people.

*)At least 60 killed in attack on Nigerian village

Boko Haram terrorists killed more than 60 people in an attack on villagers leaving a funeral in northeastern Nigeria.

A local official said that 11 other people had been wounded in the attack which took place over the weekend.

It was the deadliest terror attack against civilians in the region this year.

*)A weekend of violent clashes in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police used tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets to drive back protesters blocking roads, making it the second night in a row of its kind.

Hong Kong has been in turmoil ever since protests began against a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed criminals to stand trial in China.

Beijing is set to make an announcement on the Asian financial centre's worst crisis since 1997.

*)Muhammad soars to break 400-m hurdles world record

Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad broke one of athletics’ oldest world records when she stormed to the women’s 400 metre hurdles title.

Muhammad broke the record in 52.20 seconds at the US Championships in Iowa on Sunday.

Her run sliced off more than a tenth of a second from the previous mark of 52.34 seconds set by Russian Yuliya Pechonkina in 2003.

*)Grasshoppers descend on Las Vegas

And finally,

Grasshoppers have taken Las Vegas by a swarm, disrupting weather radars and deterring tourists.

Attracted to ultraviolet light, the insects have been clustering around the city’s brightly-lit tourist strip.

Scientists say a wetter-than-normal winter is causing a diversion in migration patterns through the Las Vegas valley.

*)Palestinian leader suspends Israel agreements

The Palestinian president has held an emergency cabinet meeting, at which he's confirmed the end of all signed agreements with Israel.

Mahmoud Abbas says the decision has been taken after Israel ignored previous agreements.

The decision came after Israeli forces teared down scores of Palestinian homes in the occupied East Jerusalem despite international outcry.

*)150 migrants feared dead after boats capsize off Libya coast

At least 150 migrants are missing and feared to have drowned after a boat capsized off the coast of Libya's capital Tripoli.

While the Libyan coast guard has so far found only one body, 150 others were rescued by local fishermen and the coast guard.

According to officials, more than 300 migrants were on board the vessel that met with what the UN says is the "the worst Mediterranean tragedy" this year.

*)Tunisian President Essebsi dies at 92, interim leader sworn in

Tunisia will observe seven days of mourning after the death of President Beji Caid Essebsi.

The speaker of parliament, Mohamed Ennaceur, has been sworn in as interim president.

Essebsi died after being hospitalised on Wednesday, and elections scheduled for November were moved to an earlier date on September 15.

*)Russia warns of 'consequences' after Ukraine seizes tanker

Moscow threatened Kiev with unspecified "consequences" after Ukraine seized a Russian tanker near the port of Izmail in the southern Odessa region.

Kiev said it stopped the tanker, the Neyma, saying it was used in a naval confrontation last November.

Ukraine later confirmed the tanker crew had been released without charge.

*)Arsenal's Ozil and Kolasinac escape knife-wielding attackers in London

And finally,

Arsenal footballers Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac escaped unhurt as they fought off knife-wielding carjackers in north London.

While Sead Kolasinac attempted to fight off one of the gang members, Ozil escaped to a nearby Turkish restaurant where staff rushed to his aid and forced the gang to flee.

Police say they are investigating the incident which was captured on video and has been circulating on social media.

*)Trump veteos measures blocking arms sales to S Arabia and UAE

US President Donald Trump has vetoed three congressional resolutions that barred arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and support to the Gulf countries in the Yemen conflict.

The move was the second veto of Trump’s presidency.

The resolutions also served as a sharp criticism of the Trump administration's stance on last year’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

*)North Korea fires two missiles into sea

South Korea’s military said North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea in what is Pyongyang’s first weapon launch in more than two months.

While Japan said North Korea's missile test launches are probably a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, South Korea urged Pyongyang to stop acts that are unhelpful for easing tension.

Some observers say North Korea’s intentions could be to express displeasure over a joint drill involving the US and South Korea planned for next month, and to show what would happen if diplomacy fails.

No Russia exoneration for Trump despite Mueller claims

Robert Mueller has not exonerated US President Donald Trump of obstruction of justice, as the former special counsel delivered a marathon testimony to Congress.

After two years of investigating possible collusion between Trump’s election campaign and Russia, Mueller wasn’t clear on whether the president had committed a crime.

He said Trump could still face justice after his term ends, but the president already declared victory over the probe that he described as an “embarrassment.”

*)Boris Johnson reveals UK’s new cabinet

Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has swept out more than half of the cabinet ministers under Theresa May replacing them with leading Brexiteers.

Johnson’s list includes Sajid Javid as finance minister, Dominic Raab as foreign minister, Priti Patel, as home secretary and his brother Jo Johnson as a minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Johnson, who has vowed to deliver Brexit with or without a deal, will hold his first cabinet meeting today.

And finally,

*)Indonesia pardons woman jailed after reporting harassment

Indonesia's parliament approved an amnesty for a woman who was jailed after recording lewd phone calls from her boss.

President Joko Widodo had granted an amnesty to Baiq Nuril Maknun after she had exhausted all other legal avenues in the controversial case.

The case had caused outrage and warnings in the country that it could discourage victims of sexual abuse from speaking out.

*)Mueller testifies before Congress

Special counsel Robert Mueller is set to testify before the US Congress over his investigation into Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

The double-session hearings will cover possible obstruction of justice and potential collusion with Russia ahead of the 2016 election.

Mueller’s 448-page report was not released to the public.

The hearings will be chaired by two Democrats representatives.

*)Britain under Boris Johnson’s leadership

Boris Johnson will take over Britain’s top job from an embattled Theresa May.

Johnson will inherit the October 31 Brexit deadline, which he’s promised to meet with or without a deal.

He faces deep divisions within the Conservative Party and fierce opposition from other parties.

*)Strait of Hormuz not a joking matter’

The Strait of Hormuz is not a place for joking, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said.

Iran earlier rejected a proposal for a European-led maritime security force to be stationed in the Gulf.

It comes as recent tensions culminated in Tehran seizing a British-flagged ship last Friday.

*)Trump meets Republican leaders over S-400 purchase

US President Donald Trump met with 45 Republican senators to discuss Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defence system.

The group discussed a federal law that could impose sanctions on Ankara.

Last week, the Trump administration removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme.

And finally,

*)Facebook agrees to pay $5B in a privacy settlement

The US Federal Trade Commission is set to announce an agreement with Facebook on a settlement of allegations it mishandled user privacy.

Facebook will pay $5 billion, two people briefed on the matter said, and will agree to new certifications that users’ privacy is properly protected.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg will have to certify every three months that the company is properly safeguarding user privacy.

Trump offers to mediate Kashmir issue

US President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to mediate the 70-year-old Kashmir issue.

India rejected the statement Trump made, saying it will deal directly with Pakistan on issues related to the disputed region.

At a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump said he could end the Afghanistan war but it would wipe it "off the face of the earth".

Syrian regime and Russian jets kill at least 69

Syrian regime and Russian jets hit a crowded market in northwest Syria, killing at least 69 people, according to a war monitor.

The raids hit a vegetable market and surrounding areas in the town of Maaret al Numan in Idlib province, air strikes also struck the nearby town of Saraqib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.

Hong Kong police arrest six over train station attack

To Hong Kong now, where police have arrested six suspects believed to have triad links after an attack at a train station injured 45 people.

The suspects are believed to be part of a masked group that assaulted pro-democracy demonstrators during protests over a controversial extradition bill.

The attacks happened as protesters were heading home after the seventh consecutive week of anti-government demonstrations.

Rockets fired into Turkish border town from Syria

Six people, including a child, were injured when one of two rockets fired from a YPG-controlled area in Syria hit a family estate in southeastern Turkey.

The Turkish army responded with heavy artillery fire to various positions.

The US-backed YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group which has led an insurgency against the Turkish state that cost at least 40,000 lives.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not face rape charges in Las Vegas

And finally,

Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo will not face charges in Las Vegas over sexual assault allegations.

Prosecutors said the case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Kathryn Mayorga, a former model, said that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in 2009. The striker has denied the accusations.

*)Britain prepares for emergency meeting for seized tanker

UK Prime Minister Theresa May will hold a meeting of Britain’s emergency committee COBRA to discuss Iran’s seizure of a UK-flagged tanker.

Iranian forces seized the oil tanker with 23 crew members aboard in the highly sensitive Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

Tensions continue to escalate in the Gulf after a series of attacks on oil tankers prompted the US to increase military presence there.

*)Palestinians face Israeli demolition of homes

Israeli forces began demolishing Palestinian-owned buildings in a village in occupied East Jerusalem.

Bulldozers accompanied by hundreds of Israeli soldiers rolled into Sur Baher, in the face of Palestinian protests and international criticism.

The move comes despite calls from the EU and UN for Israel to halt demolitions which target at least 100 apartments in 16 buildings.

*)Masked men storm train station in Hong Kong

A vicious assault against pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by suspected triad gangsters left dozens wounded.

Hong Kong’s unrest took a violent turn on Sunday when gangs carrying sticks and metal poles set upon protesters returning from a huge march.

Hours earlier, hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets in the heart of Hong Kong to call for direct elections.

*)Regime, Russian strikes kill at least 18 in Syria’s Idlib

Syrian regime and Russian jets continue to target opposition-held territories in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 18 people were killed in the latest strikes to hit Idlib region in northwestern Syria.

Anas al Dyab, a young citizen journalist filming the bombardment, and seven children were among the dead.

*)‘Avengers: Endgame’ breaks all-time box office record

And finally,

The global box office has a new king in “Avengers: Endgame.”

The superhero extravaganza passed “Avatar” to become the highest-grossing film of all time.

“Avengers: Endgame” raked in an estimated $2.79 billion worldwide, breaking the $2.789 billion record held by “Avatar” for a decade.

Daily News Brief for Friday, July 19:

*)US might still impose sanctions on Turkey over S-400 purchase

A US law could push the country into sanctioning Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400.

The federal law, called CAATSA, requires sanctions to be placed on anyone engaged in transactions with Russia's defence or intelligence sectors.

Turkey has already been suspended from the F-35 fighter jet programme.

Senior members of Congress are pushing Trump to enact the law, but he appears reluctant.

*)Gulf tensions continue in Strait of Hormuz

The blame game continues in the Strait of Hormuz between the US and Iran.

In the latest incident, the US claims it shot down an Iranian drone that flew close to one of its assault ships.

In response, Iran's deputy foreign minister says all of its air vehicles were fine and the US may have downed its own drone “by mistake.”

*)Blast at Afghan university kills at least eight

At least eight people were killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan's Kabul University.

The explosion happened as a number of students were waiting near the campus gate to take an exam.

Police defused a second bomb close to the explosion site.

No militant group has yet claimed responsibility.

*)Moroccan state executes Daesh members

Three Moroccan men were sentenced to death for killing two Scandinavian tourists.

The women were killed last year near the popular hiking village of Imlil.

Officials say days before the murders, the three men had pledged allegiance to Daesh.

And finally,

*)"Top Gun 2" trailer released

Take my breath away ...

Yes, “Top Gun” is back!

If you're a fan of the iconic 80s film, the first trailer of the sequel has been released.

Actor Tom Cruise reprises his role as cocky fighter pilot Maverick.

“Top Gun 2” will be released in June 2020.

*)Turkey slams US for excluding it from F-35 programme

Turkey has slammed Washington's decision to exclude it from the F-35 programme.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry says removing it from the programme over its purchase of Russia's S-400 defence system is not based on a legitimate reason.

The Trump administration claims the anti-air system could be used by Moscow to covertly attain secret information on the stealth fighter.

Turkey is one of the main partners and heavily invested in the progamme.

*)US House votes to block sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia

US Congress is heading for a showdown with President Donald Trump after the House voted to block him from selling weapons to Saudi Arabia.

Trump has pledged to veto the resolutions of disapproval that passed the Democratic-led House.

The Senate cleared the resolutions last month but, like the House, fell well short of a veto-proof majority.

Overturning a president's veto requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate.

*)Boeing to make $50M in payments to 737 MAX crash victims' families

Boeing will pay $50 million directly to the families of those killed by two deadly 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Kenya.

Another $50 million will be paid out to local governments and non-profit organisations to help families and communities affected by the crashes.

*)Suspected arson attack on animation studio in Japan kills over 20

Over 20 people were killed and 35 others injured after a suspected arson attack in Japan.

Police say a man came into an animation studio in Kyoto and started a fire in the three-story building.

Police are investigating a case of arson.

And finally,

*)Ebola outbreak in DRC declared a global health emergency

The deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now been declared an international health emergency by the World Health Organisation.

The virus spread this week to a city of two million people.

More than 1,600 people have died since August in the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which is unfolding in a region described as a war zone.

This is the fifth such declaration in history. Previous emergencies were declared for Ebola in West Africa, Zika in the Americas, the swine flu pandemic and polio eradication.