Daily News Brief for Friday, February 15th:

*)Turkey, Russia, Iran outline road map for Syria

Turkey’s President Erdogan says a solution to the eight-year war in Syria is closer than it has been before.

Erdogan was speaking at a meeting in Sochi with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

The three leaders agreed to work on a new constitution for Syria as well as rid it of terrorists.

*)Kashmir car bombing tests India Pakistan relations

India and Pakistan's troubled ties are being tested after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for harbouring militants behind the deadliest bombing in three decades of bloodshed in India-administered Kashmir.

Over 40 paramilitary troops were killed on Thursday in a suicide attack on a troop convoy.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since independence in 1947 with the nuclear-armed neighbours each claiming it as their own.

*)Maduro dismisses aid but open to discussion

The crisis in Venezuela took an unexpected turn on Thursday when President Nicolas Maduro said his government was in secret contact with the US administration. Beyond the possibility of further talks, the substance of the talks is not yet known.

The crisis was triggered in late January when opposition leader Juan Guaido named himself interim president with US backing.

*)Trump ups ante in battle for border wall

Boxed in by the US Congress, President Trump now says he'll declare a national emergency to get funding for his border wall.

The president's latest move comes after Congress passed a bipartisan resolution to keep the government open with minimal money for a wall.

Trump is expected to sign the bill after the negative fallout from his first shut down of the government over wall funding.

*)Chicago police dispute reports 'Empire' actor attack a hoax

And finally,

Chicago police are denying media reports that an attack on actor Jussie Smollet was staged.

Chicago's ABC7 television is reporting that Smollet staged being physically assaulted because he was being written out of the show ‘Empire’.

Producers of the hit Fox drama are also disputing reports that Smollett's character is being written off.

Daily News Brief for Friday, February 15th:

*)Turkey, Russia, Iran outline road map for Syria

Turkey’s President Erdogan says a solution to the eight-year war in Syria is closer than it has been before.

Erdogan was speaking at a meeting in Sochi with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

The three leaders agreed to work on a new constitution for Syria as well as rid it of terrorists.

*)Kashmir car bombing tests India Pakistan relations

India and Pakistan's troubled ties are being tested after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for harbouring militants behind the deadliest bombing in three decades of bloodshed in India-administered Kashmir.

Over 40 paramilitary troops were killed on Thursday in a suicide attack on a troop convoy.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since independence in 1947 with the nuclear-armed neighbours each claiming it as their own.

*)Maduro dismisses aid but open to discussion

The crisis in Venezuela took an unexpected turn on Thursday when President Nicolas Maduro said his government was in secret contact with the US administration. Beyond the possibility of further talks, the substance of the talks is not yet known.

The crisis was triggered in late January when opposition leader Juan Guaido named himself interim president with US backing.

*)Trump ups ante in battle for border wall

Boxed in by the US Congress, President Trump now says he'll declare a national emergency to get funding for his border wall.

The president's latest move comes after Congress passed a bipartisan resolution to keep the government open with minimal money for a wall.

Trump is expected to sign the bill after the negative fallout from his first shut down of the government over wall funding.

*)Chicago police dispute reports 'Empire' actor attack a hoax

And finally,

Chicago police are denying media reports that an attack on actor Jussie Smollet was staged.

Chicago's ABC7 television is reporting that Smollet staged being physically assaulted because he was being written out of the show ‘Empire’.

Producers of the hit Fox drama are also disputing reports that Smollett's character is being written off.

Daily News Brief for Friday, February 15th:

*)Turkey, Russia, Iran outline road map for Syria

Turkey’s President Erdogan says a solution to the eight-year war in Syria is closer than it has been before.

Erdogan was speaking at a meeting in Sochi with his Russian and Iranian counterparts.

The three leaders agreed to work on a new constitution for Syria as well as rid it of terrorists.

*)Kashmir car bombing tests India Pakistan relations

India and Pakistan's troubled ties are being tested after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for harbouring militants behind the deadliest bombing in three decades of bloodshed in India-administered Kashmir.

Over 40 paramilitary troops were killed on Thursday in a suicide attack on a troop convoy.

Kashmir has been split between India and Pakistan since independence in 1947 with the nuclear-armed neighbours each claiming it as their own.

*)Maduro dismisses aid but open to discussion

The crisis in Venezuela took an unexpected turn on Thursday when President Nicolas Maduro said his government was in secret contact with the US administration. Beyond the possibility of further talks, the substance of the talks is not yet known.

The crisis was triggered in late January when opposition leader Juan Guaido named himself interim president with US backing.

*)Trump ups ante in battle for border wall

Boxed in by the US Congress, President Trump now says he'll declare a national emergency to get funding for his border wall.

The president's latest move comes after Congress passed a bipartisan resolution to keep the government open with minimal money for a wall.

Trump is expected to sign the bill after the negative fallout from his first shut down of the government over wall funding.

*)Chicago police dispute reports 'Empire' actor attack a hoax

And finally,

Chicago police are denying media reports that an attack on actor Jussie Smollet was staged.

Chicago's ABC7 television is reporting that Smollet staged being physically assaulted because he was being written out of the show ‘Empire’.

Producers of the hit Fox drama are also disputing reports that Smollett's character is being written off.

Daily News Brief for Thursday, February 14th:

*)US House votes to end support for Yemen war

The US-controlled House has voted to end American involvement in the war in Yemen.

The US is supporting the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthis in a proxy war that has become a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Republican-controlled Senate could also back the resolution given the level of bipartisan revulsion at ongoing US involvement in the war.

However President Trump is a staunch Saudi ally and has threatened to veto the bill.

*)Suicide bomber targets Iran's Revolutionary Guard

A suicide car bombing on a Revolutionary Guards bus in southeastern Iran has killed at least 27 soldiers.

The Jaish al Adl militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Tehran linked the attack to ongoing US attempts to isolate Iran.

*)Google, Apple face pressure to pull app that monitors Saudi women

Activists are urging Google and Apple to remove from online stores a Saudi government app that allows men to monitor women.

The Absher app lets men give or revoke permission for their wives and female relatives to travel internationally and get text messages.

Campaigners say it's yet another sign of the repression and abuse of women in the kingdom.

*)US knuckles down on Venezuela

In the latest on the Venezuelan crisis, Trump heads to Miami on Monday when he's expected to voice support for opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The head of Congress has named himself interim president in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dozens have died in street protests on both sides in support of their preferred leader.

*)NASA bids adieu to Opportunity

And finally,

NASA has said goodbye to Opportunity, its trusty Mars rover.

The rover was originally designed to sniff about Mars for three months.

It ended up sending back data to Earth for 15 years.

But engineers lost contact with the little robot last June, and yesterday finally pulled the plug on its amazing mission.

Daily News Brief for Thursday, February 14th:

*)US House votes to end support for Yemen war

The US-controlled House has voted to end American involvement in the war in Yemen.

The US is supporting the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthis in a proxy war that has become a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Republican-controlled Senate could also back the resolution given the level of bipartisan revulsion at ongoing US involvement in the war.

However President Trump is a staunch Saudi ally and has threatened to veto the bill.

*)Suicide bomber targets Iran's Revolutionary Guard

A suicide car bombing on a Revolutionary Guards bus in southeastern Iran has killed at least 27 soldiers.

The Jaish al Adl militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Tehran linked the attack to ongoing US attempts to isolate Iran.

*)Google, Apple face pressure to pull app that monitors Saudi women

Activists are urging Google and Apple to remove from online stores a Saudi government app that allows men to monitor women.

The Absher app lets men give or revoke permission for their wives and female relatives to travel internationally and get text messages.

Campaigners say it's yet another sign of the repression and abuse of women in the kingdom.

*)US knuckles down on Venezuela

In the latest on the Venezuelan crisis, Trump heads to Miami on Monday when he's expected to voice support for opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The head of Congress has named himself interim president in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dozens have died in street protests on both sides in support of their preferred leader.

*)NASA bids adieu to Opportunity

And finally,

NASA has said goodbye to Opportunity, its trusty Mars rover.

The rover was originally designed to sniff about Mars for three months.

It ended up sending back data to Earth for 15 years.

But engineers lost contact with the little robot last June, and yesterday finally pulled the plug on its amazing mission.

Daily News Brief for Thursday, February 14th:

*)US House votes to end support for Yemen war

The US-controlled House has voted to end American involvement in the war in Yemen.

The US is supporting the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthis in a proxy war that has become a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Republican-controlled Senate could also back the resolution given the level of bipartisan revulsion at ongoing US involvement in the war.

However President Trump is a staunch Saudi ally and has threatened to veto the bill.

*)Suicide bomber targets Iran's Revolutionary Guard

A suicide car bombing on a Revolutionary Guards bus in southeastern Iran has killed at least 27 soldiers.

The Jaish al Adl militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Tehran linked the attack to ongoing US attempts to isolate Iran.

*)Google, Apple face pressure to pull app that monitors Saudi women

Activists are urging Google and Apple to remove from online stores a Saudi government app that allows men to monitor women.

The Absher app lets men give or revoke permission for their wives and female relatives to travel internationally and get text messages.

Campaigners say it's yet another sign of the repression and abuse of women in the kingdom.

*)US knuckles down on Venezuela

In the latest on the Venezuelan crisis, Trump heads to Miami on Monday when he's expected to voice support for opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The head of Congress has named himself interim president in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dozens have died in street protests on both sides in support of their preferred leader.

*)NASA bids adieu to Opportunity

And finally,

NASA has said goodbye to Opportunity, its trusty Mars rover.

The rover was originally designed to sniff about Mars for three months.

It ended up sending back data to Earth for 15 years.

But engineers lost contact with the little robot last June, and yesterday finally pulled the plug on its amazing mission.

Daily News Brief for Thursday, February 14th:

*)US House votes to end support for Yemen war

The US-controlled House has voted to end American involvement in the war in Yemen.

The US is supporting the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthis in a proxy war that has become a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Republican-controlled Senate could also back the resolution given the level of bipartisan revulsion at ongoing US involvement in the war.

However President Trump is a staunch Saudi ally and has threatened to veto the bill.

*)Suicide bomber targets Iran's Revolutionary Guard

A suicide car bombing on a Revolutionary Guards bus in southeastern Iran has killed at least 27 soldiers.

The Jaish al Adl militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Tehran linked the attack to ongoing US attempts to isolate Iran.

*)Google, Apple face pressure to pull app that monitors Saudi women

Activists are urging Google and Apple to remove from online stores a Saudi government app that allows men to monitor women.

The Absher app lets men give or revoke permission for their wives and female relatives to travel internationally and get text messages.

Campaigners say it's yet another sign of the repression and abuse of women in the kingdom.

*)US knuckles down on Venezuela

In the latest on the Venezuelan crisis, Trump heads to Miami on Monday when he's expected to voice support for opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The head of Congress has named himself interim president in defiance of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dozens have died in street protests on both sides in support of their preferred leader.

*)NASA bids adieu to Opportunity

And finally,

NASA has said goodbye to Opportunity, its trusty Mars rover.

The rover was originally designed to sniff about Mars for three months.

It ended up sending back data to Earth for 15 years.

But engineers lost contact with the little robot last June, and yesterday finally pulled the plug on its amazing mission.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 13th:

*)El Chapo found guilty

Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is facing life in prison after a US jury convicted him on multiple counts.

But his notorious Sinaloa cartel seems unfazed.

Experts say it's business as usual as drugs flow into the US from south of the border.

*)Hundreds flee battle for last Daesh stronghold in Syria

The YPG-dominated SDF battling to capture Daesh's last major stronghold in Syria is making measured progress.

That’s according to the US-led coalition backing them.

Hundreds of civilians are now fleeing the battle in eastern Deir Azzor province.

*)Missing Uighurs' kin want 'proof of life' videos

Uighur Muslims worldwide are calling on China to release videos proving their relatives, thought to be in internment centres, are alive.

The campaign is running with the hashtag #MeTooUyghur.

It follows the release by China of a video purporting to show famed Uighur musician Abdurehim Heyit alive after reports of his death in detention.

*)Australia to reopen Christmas island detention camp

Australia is reopening a controversial offshore migrant detention centre on Christmas Island, south of Indonesia.

The move comes after the government lost a vote in parliament to prevent asylum seekers from getting medical treatment in Australia.

A dozen refugees have already died in two offshore camps and a number have attempted suicide, including children.

*)Wire Fox Terrier is Westminster's 'Best in Show'

And finally,

A wire fox terrier called King has won 'Best in Show' at this year's Westminster Kennel Show in New York.

It's the 15th win for the adorable breed.

'King' beat about 3,000 of his tail-wagging friends from all 50 US states and 14 countries to take the crown.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 13th:

*)El Chapo found guilty

Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is facing life in prison after a US jury convicted him on multiple counts.

But his notorious Sinaloa cartel seems unfazed.

Experts say it's business as usual as drugs flow into the US from south of the border.

*)Hundreds flee battle for last Daesh stronghold in Syria

The YPG-dominated SDF battling to capture Daesh's last major stronghold in Syria is making measured progress.

That’s according to the US-led coalition backing them.

Hundreds of civilians are now fleeing the battle in eastern Deir Azzor province.

*)Missing Uighurs' kin want 'proof of life' videos

Uighur Muslims worldwide are calling on China to release videos proving their relatives, thought to be in internment centres, are alive.

The campaign is running with the hashtag #MeTooUyghur.

It follows the release by China of a video purporting to show famed Uighur musician Abdurehim Heyit alive after reports of his death in detention.

*)Australia to reopen Christmas island detention camp

Australia is reopening a controversial offshore migrant detention centre on Christmas Island, south of Indonesia.

The move comes after the government lost a vote in parliament to prevent asylum seekers from getting medical treatment in Australia.

A dozen refugees have already died in two offshore camps and a number have attempted suicide, including children.

*)Wire Fox Terrier is Westminster's 'Best in Show'

And finally,

A wire fox terrier called King has won 'Best in Show' at this year's Westminster Kennel Show in New York.

It's the 15th win for the adorable breed.

'King' beat about 3,000 of his tail-wagging friends from all 50 US states and 14 countries to take the crown.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, February 13th:

*)El Chapo found guilty

Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is facing life in prison after a US jury convicted him on multiple counts.

But his notorious Sinaloa cartel seems unfazed.

Experts say it's business as usual as drugs flow into the US from south of the border.

*)Hundreds flee battle for last Daesh stronghold in Syria

The YPG-dominated SDF battling to capture Daesh's last major stronghold in Syria is making measured progress.

That’s according to the US-led coalition backing them.

Hundreds of civilians are now fleeing the battle in eastern Deir Azzor province.

*)Missing Uighurs' kin want 'proof of life' videos

Uighur Muslims worldwide are calling on China to release videos proving their relatives, thought to be in internment centres, are alive.

The campaign is running with the hashtag #MeTooUyghur.

It follows the release by China of a video purporting to show famed Uighur musician Abdurehim Heyit alive after reports of his death in detention.

*)Australia to reopen Christmas island detention camp

Australia is reopening a controversial offshore migrant detention centre on Christmas Island, south of Indonesia.

The move comes after the government lost a vote in parliament to prevent asylum seekers from getting medical treatment in Australia.

A dozen refugees have already died in two offshore camps and a number have attempted suicide, including children.

*)Wire Fox Terrier is Westminster's 'Best in Show'

And finally,

A wire fox terrier called King has won 'Best in Show' at this year's Westminster Kennel Show in New York.

It's the 15th win for the adorable breed.

'King' beat about 3,000 of his tail-wagging friends from all 50 US states and 14 countries to take the crown.