The Assad regime and Russia continue assault on Syria’s northwest, and Manchester City keep Premier League title.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, May 13th.

Regime forces make advances in northwest Syria

Syrian regime forces advance forward into parts of Idlib and Hama, the last areas controlled by the opposition and rebels.

As Bashar al Assad’s forces push forward on the ground, ally Russia has been pounded the region with over 200 air strikes.

The demilitarised zone has been rocked by violence since April 30, with dozens dead and 150,000 displaced.

Social media sites blocked in Sri Lanka after fresh violence

Sri Lanka has imposed a temporary and partial ban on social media, including Facebook and WhatsApp.

The platforms were suspended after rioters attacked Muslim homes and shops following a dispute which started on Facebook.

The country is still dealing with the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings which killed more than 250 people.

Attackers kill 6 people at Catholic church in Burkina Faso

Gunmen killed six people – a priest and five worshippers – in a Catholic church in Burkina Faso.

According to the mayor of Dablo, nearly 20 to 30 attackers then set fire to the church, several shops and looted a health centre.

This is the second attack on a church in two weeks.

Pompeo to discuss Iran in Brussels

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will discuss Iran with European officials in Brussels.

The talks follow Iranian President Rouhani’s decision to partially stop complying with the 2015 nuclear accord.

Pompeo will meet Russia’s President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov in Sochi as planned but has cancelled the Moscow leg of his Russia trip.

Manchester City wins Premier League title

And finally,

Manchester City retained the Premier League trophy after beating Brighton 4-1 on the final day of the season.

The Guardiola team reached the title one point above Liverpool after an intense race as the top two finished with a record 195 points combined.

"Liverpool was exceptional. I don’t mean to rub it in, it is what it is. They didn’t deserve to lose," City captain Vincent Kompany said.

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

Friday, May 10, 2019

Turkey calls on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria's Idlib, and a fake heiress is behind bars.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, May 10th.

*) Turkey calls on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria's Idlib

Turkey is calling on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria’s Idlib province.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu asked his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov to stop the bombardments.

More than 80 civilians have been killed there in the past two weeks.

Idlib is meant to be a de-escalation zone Moscow agreed with Ankara.

*) Trump's tariff hike on Chinese goods takes effect

The US has raised tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Trump's attack on imports from China comes as officials from the two countries are trying to find a solution to his trade war.

Analysts say US consumers will pay the price for the president's move.

The IMF says the showdown is a "threat to the global economy."

*) South Africa’s ANC looks set to remain in power

South Africa's governing African National Congress looks set to stay in power for at least another five years.

The party has 57% percent of the vote from Wednesday's election with most votes counted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is promising reforms to boost the economy.

*) All-English finals in Europe

English football is the best in Europe.

Only English clubs will feature in the finals of Europe’s two top club competitions for the first time.

Chelsea will play Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku on May 29.

And Liverpool will play Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1.

*) Fake heiress goes to prison

And finally,

Convicted fraudster Anna Sorokin will spend up to 12 years in prison.

The 28-year-old stole over $270,000 from New York's elite after conning them.

Her cover... a wealthy heiress!

Netflix and HBO are already looking at a movie or TV series.

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

Friday, May 10, 2019

Turkey calls on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria's Idlib, and a fake heiress is behind bars.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, May 10th.

*) Turkey calls on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria's Idlib

Turkey is calling on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria’s Idlib province.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu asked his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov to stop the bombardments.

More than 80 civilians have been killed there in the past two weeks.

Idlib is meant to be a de-escalation zone Moscow agreed with Ankara.

*) Trump's tariff hike on Chinese goods takes effect

The US has raised tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Trump's attack on imports from China comes as officials from the two countries are trying to find a solution to his trade war.

Analysts say US consumers will pay the price for the president's move.

The IMF says the showdown is a "threat to the global economy."

*) South Africa’s ANC looks set to remain in power

South Africa's governing African National Congress looks set to stay in power for at least another five years.

The party has 57% percent of the vote from Wednesday's election with most votes counted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is promising reforms to boost the economy.

*) All-English finals in Europe

English football is the best in Europe.

Only English clubs will feature in the finals of Europe’s two top club competitions for the first time.

Chelsea will play Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku on May 29.

And Liverpool will play Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1.

*) Fake heiress goes to prison

And finally,

Convicted fraudster Anna Sorokin will spend up to 12 years in prison.

The 28-year-old stole over $270,000 from New York's elite after conning them.

Her cover... a wealthy heiress!

Netflix and HBO are already looking at a movie or TV series.

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

Friday, May 10, 2019

Turkey calls on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria's Idlib, and a fake heiress is behind bars.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, May 10th.

*) Turkey calls on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria's Idlib

Turkey is calling on Russia to halt air strikes in Syria’s Idlib province.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu asked his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov to stop the bombardments.

More than 80 civilians have been killed there in the past two weeks.

Idlib is meant to be a de-escalation zone Moscow agreed with Ankara.

*) Trump's tariff hike on Chinese goods takes effect

The US has raised tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Trump's attack on imports from China comes as officials from the two countries are trying to find a solution to his trade war.

Analysts say US consumers will pay the price for the president's move.

The IMF says the showdown is a "threat to the global economy."

*) South Africa’s ANC looks set to remain in power

South Africa's governing African National Congress looks set to stay in power for at least another five years.

The party has 57% percent of the vote from Wednesday's election with most votes counted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is promising reforms to boost the economy.

*) All-English finals in Europe

English football is the best in Europe.

Only English clubs will feature in the finals of Europe’s two top club competitions for the first time.

Chelsea will play Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku on May 29.

And Liverpool will play Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final in Madrid on June 1.

*) Fake heiress goes to prison

And finally,

Convicted fraudster Anna Sorokin will spend up to 12 years in prison.

The 28-year-old stole over $270,000 from New York's elite after conning them.

Her cover... a wealthy heiress!

Netflix and HBO are already looking at a movie or TV series.

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

*) Trump imposes new sanctions on Iran’s metal sector, and Uber drivers in London and US protest low wages.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, May 9th.

*)Trump hits Iran's economy as nuclear deal withers

US President Trump has imposed sanctions on Iran’s metal industry.

Hours earlier, President Rouhani announced Iran was relaxing some restrictions on its nuclear programme as it awaits better terms from participants of the landmark 2015 atomic deal.

The new US sanctions target Iran’s iron, steel, aluminium and copper sectors.

*)UN Security Council to discuss situation in Syria's Idlib

The UN Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss the latest escalation of violence in Syria's northwestern region of Idlib.

Belgium, Germany and Kuwait requested a closed-door meeting as Russia and the Syrian regime intensify their bombardment of the region.

More than 150,000 of Idlib’s remaining 1.5 million residents have fled since April 29, according to the UN.

*)House panel votes to hold US attorney general in contempt

The US House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress over access to special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report.

President Trump has invoked executive privilege to block access to the full report.

In April, Barr released a redacted version of the 400-plus-page document on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

*)Attackers in Kabul target foreign aid group

Afghan security forces clashed with attackers who used a car bomb to attack the compound of a US aid group in Kabul.

At least a dozen people were injured while some 80 employees of Counterpoint International were rescued.

*)Uber drivers strike in London and US

And finally,

Uber drivers are going on strike in London and major US cities to protest declining wages.

Drivers turned-off their apps on Wednesday, complaining the company was attracting billions of dollars from investors.

The rift between Uber and the drivers exposes financial unrest as the company heads its initial public offering on Friday.

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

*) Trump imposes new sanctions on Iran’s metal sector, and Uber drivers in London and US protest low wages.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, May 9th.

*)Trump hits Iran's economy as nuclear deal withers

US President Trump has imposed sanctions on Iran’s metal industry.

Hours earlier, President Rouhani announced Iran was relaxing some restrictions on its nuclear programme as it awaits better terms from participants of the landmark 2015 atomic deal.

The new US sanctions target Iran’s iron, steel, aluminium and copper sectors.

*)UN Security Council to discuss situation in Syria's Idlib

The UN Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss the latest escalation of violence in Syria's northwestern region of Idlib.

Belgium, Germany and Kuwait requested a closed-door meeting as Russia and the Syrian regime intensify their bombardment of the region.

More than 150,000 of Idlib’s remaining 1.5 million residents have fled since April 29, according to the UN.

*)House panel votes to hold US attorney general in contempt

The US House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress over access to special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report.

President Trump has invoked executive privilege to block access to the full report.

In April, Barr released a redacted version of the 400-plus-page document on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

*)Attackers in Kabul target foreign aid group

Afghan security forces clashed with attackers who used a car bomb to attack the compound of a US aid group in Kabul.

At least a dozen people were injured while some 80 employees of Counterpoint International were rescued.

*)Uber drivers strike in London and US

And finally,

Uber drivers are going on strike in London and major US cities to protest declining wages.

Drivers turned-off their apps on Wednesday, complaining the company was attracting billions of dollars from investors.

The rift between Uber and the drivers exposes financial unrest as the company heads its initial public offering on Friday.

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

*) Trump imposes new sanctions on Iran’s metal sector, and Uber drivers in London and US protest low wages.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, May 9th.

*)Trump hits Iran's economy as nuclear deal withers

US President Trump has imposed sanctions on Iran’s metal industry.

Hours earlier, President Rouhani announced Iran was relaxing some restrictions on its nuclear programme as it awaits better terms from participants of the landmark 2015 atomic deal.

The new US sanctions target Iran’s iron, steel, aluminium and copper sectors.

*)UN Security Council to discuss situation in Syria's Idlib

The UN Security Council will meet on Friday to discuss the latest escalation of violence in Syria's northwestern region of Idlib.

Belgium, Germany and Kuwait requested a closed-door meeting as Russia and the Syrian regime intensify their bombardment of the region.

More than 150,000 of Idlib’s remaining 1.5 million residents have fled since April 29, according to the UN.

*)House panel votes to hold US attorney general in contempt

The US House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress over access to special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report.

President Trump has invoked executive privilege to block access to the full report.

In April, Barr released a redacted version of the 400-plus-page document on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

*)Attackers in Kabul target foreign aid group

Afghan security forces clashed with attackers who used a car bomb to attack the compound of a US aid group in Kabul.

At least a dozen people were injured while some 80 employees of Counterpoint International were rescued.

*)Uber drivers strike in London and US

And finally,

Uber drivers are going on strike in London and major US cities to protest declining wages.

Drivers turned-off their apps on Wednesday, complaining the company was attracting billions of dollars from investors.

The rift between Uber and the drivers exposes financial unrest as the company heads its initial public offering on Friday.

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

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

*) Iran inches away from nuclear deal amid US sanctions, and South Africans head to the polls in parliamentary and provincial elections.

*) This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, May 8th.

*)Iran threatens more nuclear deal measures

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gives world powers sixty days to set new terms for the 2015 nuclear deal.

If that deadline is not met Iran will stop complying with the landmark accord.

What does that mean? For starters, Iran will resume high level enrichment of uranium.

*)Shrine blast kills 9 in Lahore

A powerful bomb targeting the elite police force at a popular Sufi shrine in Pakistan has killed at least nine people and wounded 23 others.

Lahore police chief Ghazanfar Ali said the bombing at Data Darbar occurred when hundreds of pilgrims were inside and outside the shrine.

Officials say a suicide bomber carried out the attack near the entrance used by women.

*)Pakistani woman acquitted of blasphemy lands in Canada

A Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row over false blasphemy charges has landed in Canada, her lawyer told CNN.

Aasia Bibi was forced into hiding for her own safety after she was acquitted by the Supreme Court more than six months ago.

In January, proponents of Pakistan’s contentious blasphemy law made a last ditch effort to see Aasia Bibi return to death row but failed.

*)Lawmakers to be prosecuted in Venezuela

Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly stripped seven opposition legislators of immunity for joining rallies on April 30 amid a failed uprising.

The Supreme Court said the legislators should be investigated for crimes including conspiracy, treason and rebellion.

Venezuela has been in a state of political crisis ever since Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in a bid to oust Nicolas Maduro.

*)South Africans vote in parliamentary, provincial elections

And finally,

South Africans head to the polls in parliamentary and provincial elections.

The ruling ANC party is currently expected to win but is unlikely to do as well as it did five years ago.

Voting begins at 0500 GMT and polling stations will close at 1900 GMT.

*): And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World ... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

*) Iran inches away from nuclear deal amid US sanctions, and South Africans head to the polls in parliamentary and provincial elections.

*) This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, May 8th.

*)Iran threatens more nuclear deal measures

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gives world powers sixty days to set new terms for the 2015 nuclear deal.

If that deadline is not met Iran will stop complying with the landmark accord.

What does that mean? For starters, Iran will resume high level enrichment of uranium.

*)Shrine blast kills 9 in Lahore

A powerful bomb targeting the elite police force at a popular Sufi shrine in Pakistan has killed at least nine people and wounded 23 others.

Lahore police chief Ghazanfar Ali said the bombing at Data Darbar occurred when hundreds of pilgrims were inside and outside the shrine.

Officials say a suicide bomber carried out the attack near the entrance used by women.

*)Pakistani woman acquitted of blasphemy lands in Canada

A Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row over false blasphemy charges has landed in Canada, her lawyer told CNN.

Aasia Bibi was forced into hiding for her own safety after she was acquitted by the Supreme Court more than six months ago.

In January, proponents of Pakistan’s contentious blasphemy law made a last ditch effort to see Aasia Bibi return to death row but failed.

*)Lawmakers to be prosecuted in Venezuela

Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly stripped seven opposition legislators of immunity for joining rallies on April 30 amid a failed uprising.

The Supreme Court said the legislators should be investigated for crimes including conspiracy, treason and rebellion.

Venezuela has been in a state of political crisis ever since Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in a bid to oust Nicolas Maduro.

*)South Africans vote in parliamentary, provincial elections

And finally,

South Africans head to the polls in parliamentary and provincial elections.

The ruling ANC party is currently expected to win but is unlikely to do as well as it did five years ago.

Voting begins at 0500 GMT and polling stations will close at 1900 GMT.

*): And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World ... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

*) Iran inches away from nuclear deal amid US sanctions, and South Africans head to the polls in parliamentary and provincial elections.

*) This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, May 8th.

*)Iran threatens more nuclear deal measures

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gives world powers sixty days to set new terms for the 2015 nuclear deal.

If that deadline is not met Iran will stop complying with the landmark accord.

What does that mean? For starters, Iran will resume high level enrichment of uranium.

*)Shrine blast kills 9 in Lahore

A powerful bomb targeting the elite police force at a popular Sufi shrine in Pakistan has killed at least nine people and wounded 23 others.

Lahore police chief Ghazanfar Ali said the bombing at Data Darbar occurred when hundreds of pilgrims were inside and outside the shrine.

Officials say a suicide bomber carried out the attack near the entrance used by women.

*)Pakistani woman acquitted of blasphemy lands in Canada

A Pakistani Christian woman who spent eight years on death row over false blasphemy charges has landed in Canada, her lawyer told CNN.

Aasia Bibi was forced into hiding for her own safety after she was acquitted by the Supreme Court more than six months ago.

In January, proponents of Pakistan’s contentious blasphemy law made a last ditch effort to see Aasia Bibi return to death row but failed.

*)Lawmakers to be prosecuted in Venezuela

Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly stripped seven opposition legislators of immunity for joining rallies on April 30 amid a failed uprising.

The Supreme Court said the legislators should be investigated for crimes including conspiracy, treason and rebellion.

Venezuela has been in a state of political crisis ever since Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in a bid to oust Nicolas Maduro.

*)South Africans vote in parliamentary, provincial elections

And finally,

South Africans head to the polls in parliamentary and provincial elections.

The ruling ANC party is currently expected to win but is unlikely to do as well as it did five years ago.

Voting begins at 0500 GMT and polling stations will close at 1900 GMT.

*): And that’s your daily news brief from TRT World ... For more, head to TRTWorld.com.