Toronto attack

Ten people died and another 15 were injured when a man mowed them down with a van in the Canadian city of Toronto.

Police say the attack looks to be deliberate, but they don't have a motive yet.

The 25-year-old driver was Alek Minassian. He wasn't on police radar. And Canadian media also say he wasn't a member of any organised militant group.

Armenian politics

Armenia's prime minister has resigned amid mass protests against what critics say were attempts to extend his hold on power.

Serzh Sargsyan had ruled Armenia for ten years, either as president or prime minister.

The opposition is pushing for early parliamentary elections to prevent him from now running Armenia from behind the scenes.

Syria's war

An international meeting chaired by the EU and UN is looking to raise $6 billion in aid for Syria.

Brussels invited 85 governments and NGOs to the two-day conference on aid, reconstruction, and removing explosive devices from devastated cities.

The EU's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, is calling on key stakeholders - Russia, Turkey and Iran - to push for a lasting ceasefire that would allow aid access and medical evacuations.

Macron in the USA

French President Emmanuel Macron continues his three-day state visit to Washington.

Tuesday's meetings with US President Donald Trump and the administration promise to be interesting.

Macron is hoping to convince Trump not to abandon a multi-sided nuclear deal with Iran.

The president's threat of a trade war with Europe is also vexing European leaders.

And in the past, Macron has mocked Trump's exit from the Paris Climate Accord on global warming.

Macron went on Trump's favourite news network, Fox, to prime the meetings. The French president said, "If you make war against everybody ... it doesn't work. You need allies. We are the allies."

Immunisation week

And finally...

World Immunisation Week begins today.

The WHO says there are more than 19 million unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children in the world. Of them, one in ten, will never receive any vaccinations. And most of them have never been to a doctor.

The UN's health body is hoping to drive that message home this week.

Maybe some of those children will have a better life as a result.

Toronto attack

Ten people died and another 15 were injured when a man mowed them down with a van in the Canadian city of Toronto.

Police say the attack looks to be deliberate, but they don't have a motive yet.

The 25-year-old driver was Alek Minassian. He wasn't on police radar. And Canadian media also say he wasn't a member of any organised militant group.

Armenian politics

Armenia's prime minister has resigned amid mass protests against what critics say were attempts to extend his hold on power.

Serzh Sargsyan had ruled Armenia for ten years, either as president or prime minister.

The opposition is pushing for early parliamentary elections to prevent him from now running Armenia from behind the scenes.

Syria's war

An international meeting chaired by the EU and UN is looking to raise $6 billion in aid for Syria.

Brussels invited 85 governments and NGOs to the two-day conference on aid, reconstruction, and removing explosive devices from devastated cities.

The EU's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, is calling on key stakeholders - Russia, Turkey and Iran - to push for a lasting ceasefire that would allow aid access and medical evacuations.

Macron in the USA

French President Emmanuel Macron continues his three-day state visit to Washington.

Tuesday's meetings with US President Donald Trump and the administration promise to be interesting.

Macron is hoping to convince Trump not to abandon a multi-sided nuclear deal with Iran.

The president's threat of a trade war with Europe is also vexing European leaders.

And in the past, Macron has mocked Trump's exit from the Paris Climate Accord on global warming.

Macron went on Trump's favourite news network, Fox, to prime the meetings. The French president said, "If you make war against everybody ... it doesn't work. You need allies. We are the allies."

Immunisation week

And finally...

World Immunisation Week begins today.

The WHO says there are more than 19 million unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children in the world. Of them, one in ten, will never receive any vaccinations. And most of them have never been to a doctor.

The UN's health body is hoping to drive that message home this week.

Maybe some of those children will have a better life as a result.

SDC targets DC

The Syrian Democratic Council, which is dominated by the YPG terror group - has filed a request to open an office in Washington DC.

“The SDC's mission in the United States will primarily focus on educating the American people about the Democratic process in Syria," the application reads in documents obtained by TRT World.

Turkey's foreign ministry said it is aware of the filing and intends to take it up with the US State Department.

Regime strikes

The Syrian regime continues to pound a rebel-held area near Damascus, as Assad forces step up efforts to wipe out the insurgency's last foothold near the capital.

On Sunday, the regime targeted a region just south of Damascus that is controlled by Daesh and the Nusra Front, formerly Al Qaeda.

"Yarmouk has been transformed into a death camp, like one of the lower regions of hell," a UN official in the area said, calling for safe passage for sick, wounded and dying civilians.

Afghanistan

Two suspected Taliban attacks in Afghanistan's western Badghis province killed at least 14 troops and police on Monday.

The Taliban have not claimed the attacks, but a deputy police chief in the region blamed the insurgency, and said they had stepped up their attacks on Afghan security forces across the province.

The attacks followed a blast in Kabul on Sunday in which over 50 people were killed when a Daesh suicide bomber attacked a voter registration centre.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has won the PFA Player of the Year award. The Professional Footballers' Association award is voted by the players themselves. So the best of the best in English football clearly think the Egyptian international is pretty good.

Salah's response - "I'm really honoured just to be nominated because the Premier League has fantastic players ... all the other players who also voted played a really good season and they also deserved to win."

Harry Potter

And finally… After a hit debut on London's West End, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" has opened on Broadway in New York.

The five-hour production is set 19 years after Rowling's book series concluded the boy wizard's teen years with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in 2007. The new story centres on the lives of an adult Harry Potter and his son.

Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close were two of the stars who attended the play's red-carpet opening on Broadway.

SDC targets DC

The Syrian Democratic Council, which is dominated by the YPG terror group - has filed a request to open an office in Washington DC.

“The SDC's mission in the United States will primarily focus on educating the American people about the Democratic process in Syria," the application reads in documents obtained by TRT World.

Turkey's foreign ministry said it is aware of the filing and intends to take it up with the US State Department.

Regime strikes

The Syrian regime continues to pound a rebel-held area near Damascus, as Assad forces step up efforts to wipe out the insurgency's last foothold near the capital.

On Sunday, the regime targeted a region just south of Damascus that is controlled by Daesh and the Nusra Front, formerly Al Qaeda.

"Yarmouk has been transformed into a death camp, like one of the lower regions of hell," a UN official in the area said, calling for safe passage for sick, wounded and dying civilians.

Afghanistan

Two suspected Taliban attacks in Afghanistan's western Badghis province killed at least 14 troops and police on Monday.

The Taliban have not claimed the attacks, but a deputy police chief in the region blamed the insurgency, and said they had stepped up their attacks on Afghan security forces across the province.

The attacks followed a blast in Kabul on Sunday in which over 50 people were killed when a Daesh suicide bomber attacked a voter registration centre.

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has won the PFA Player of the Year award. The Professional Footballers' Association award is voted by the players themselves. So the best of the best in English football clearly think the Egyptian international is pretty good.

Salah's response - "I'm really honoured just to be nominated because the Premier League has fantastic players ... all the other players who also voted played a really good season and they also deserved to win."

Harry Potter

And finally… After a hit debut on London's West End, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" has opened on Broadway in New York.

The five-hour production is set 19 years after Rowling's book series concluded the boy wizard's teen years with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in 2007. The new story centres on the lives of an adult Harry Potter and his son.

Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close were two of the stars who attended the play's red-carpet opening on Broadway.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, April 20th.

Gaza protest

Thousands of Palestinians are expected to gather along the Gaza-Israel border, as they have every Friday for the past month for mass demonstrations.

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The protests, dubbed the “Great March of Return”, are calling for Palestinians refugees to return to their former homes, now inside Israel.

Israel’s response to the protest has drawn international criticism, with its security forces killing over 30 Palestinians and wounding hundreds.

The protest ends on May 15, when Palestinians mark the day of the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, when 700,000 people were forced from their land during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Turkey vote

Turkey is set to debate a bill in parliament seeking early presidential and parliamentary lelections.

President Erdogan announced the snap elections for June 24 in a bid to fast-track Turkey’s transition to a presidential system of governance….that was approved in a referendum last year.

Erdogan says the new system is needed to respond to developments in Syria and Iraq, and will ensure economic stability on the domestic front.

Russia Syria

Turkey’s concerns over regional stability have increased since the US-led strikes on Syria.

The strikes, aimed at punishing the Assad regime for the suspected use of chemical weapons, have pit Russia against the US and its allies.

And now Moscow says it has no moral obligation to withhold its S-300 anti-aircraft missiles systems from its ally, the Syrian regime.

Meanwhile, international chemical weapons inspectors are yet to enter the site of the alleged gas attack by the regime, as Washington accuses Russia and the regime of a cover up.

Asperger Nazi regime

A new study says Hans Asperger, the paediatrician who pioneered research into autism, "actively co-operated" with the Nazi regime in Austria.

Asperger, whose name describes a form of autism, "publicly legitimised race hygiene policies" of the Nazis by deeming certain children unworthy to live, the study claims.

He referred them to the notorious Spiegelgrund facility, where nearly 800 children lacking "hereditary worthiness" and "racial purity" died.

Besiktas-Fenerbahce

And finally…

There are two big stories in Football today.

The much-anticipated match between Besiktas and Fenerbahce saw more action off the pitch than on the field.

The Turkish Cup semi-final second leg was abandoned in the 57th minute after the Besiktas manager was hit on the head by an object thrown by Fenerbahce fans..

And in the English Premier League, Arsene Wenger who led Arsenal football club to 10 titles in 22 seasons...will be stepping down at the end of the season...

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, April 20th.

Gaza protest

Thousands of Palestinians are expected to gather along the Gaza-Israel border, as they have every Friday for the past month for mass demonstrations.

l

The protests, dubbed the “Great March of Return”, are calling for Palestinians refugees to return to their former homes, now inside Israel.

Israel’s response to the protest has drawn international criticism, with its security forces killing over 30 Palestinians and wounding hundreds.

The protest ends on May 15, when Palestinians mark the day of the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, when 700,000 people were forced from their land during the creation of Israel in 1948.

Turkey vote

Turkey is set to debate a bill in parliament seeking early presidential and parliamentary lelections.

President Erdogan announced the snap elections for June 24 in a bid to fast-track Turkey’s transition to a presidential system of governance….that was approved in a referendum last year.

Erdogan says the new system is needed to respond to developments in Syria and Iraq, and will ensure economic stability on the domestic front.

Russia Syria

Turkey’s concerns over regional stability have increased since the US-led strikes on Syria.

The strikes, aimed at punishing the Assad regime for the suspected use of chemical weapons, have pit Russia against the US and its allies.

And now Moscow says it has no moral obligation to withhold its S-300 anti-aircraft missiles systems from its ally, the Syrian regime.

Meanwhile, international chemical weapons inspectors are yet to enter the site of the alleged gas attack by the regime, as Washington accuses Russia and the regime of a cover up.

Asperger Nazi regime

A new study says Hans Asperger, the paediatrician who pioneered research into autism, "actively co-operated" with the Nazi regime in Austria.

Asperger, whose name describes a form of autism, "publicly legitimised race hygiene policies" of the Nazis by deeming certain children unworthy to live, the study claims.

He referred them to the notorious Spiegelgrund facility, where nearly 800 children lacking "hereditary worthiness" and "racial purity" died.

Besiktas-Fenerbahce

And finally…

There are two big stories in Football today.

The much-anticipated match between Besiktas and Fenerbahce saw more action off the pitch than on the field.

The Turkish Cup semi-final second leg was abandoned in the 57th minute after the Besiktas manager was hit on the head by an object thrown by Fenerbahce fans..

And in the English Premier League, Arsene Wenger who led Arsenal football club to 10 titles in 22 seasons...will be stepping down at the end of the season...

Turkey elections

Turkey is headed to the polls on June 24, seventeen months ahead of schedule

President Erdogan announced the snap presidential and parliamentary elections in a bid to fast-track Turkey’s transition to a presidential system of governance approved in a referendum last year.

Erdogan says the new system is needed to respond to developments in Syria and Iraq, and will ensure economic stability on the domestic front.

Chemical probe

One trigger for the early elections in Turkey was the war in Syria across the border.

Ankara welcomed the recent US-led strikes on the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons facilities.

But OPCW inspectors have yet to enter Douma, after its advance security detail from the UN was fired on.

The town in eastern Ghouta was the site of the suspected gas attack that triggered the recent US-led strike on the regime.

Cuba president

Cuba’s parliament has nominated Miguel Diaz-Canel to succeed Raul Castro as president.

Diaz-Canel is a trusted Castro ally. But his elevation to the top job still means it will be the first time since the 1959 revolution that a Castro hasn't been at the helm of the island nation.

Cuba is the only communist country in the Americas.

No confidence Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has sacked his cabinet after a no-confidence vote in parliament.

The governing coalition withdrew its backing for Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, leading to his ouster.

The move exposed an apparent power struggle between the president and ex-president Almazbek Atambayev.

The former president is not a member of parliament, but heads the Social Democratic party, the core of the governing coalition.

Galatasaray win

And finally…

Basketball. And Istanbul's Galatasaray has won the EuroCup women's title.

It was the second EuroCup title win for the Turkish team. It lost Wednesday's return match to Italy's Reyer Venezia, but won the two-game final on aggregate.

Turkey elections

Turkey is headed to the polls on June 24, seventeen months ahead of schedule

President Erdogan announced the snap presidential and parliamentary elections in a bid to fast-track Turkey’s transition to a presidential system of governance approved in a referendum last year.

Erdogan says the new system is needed to respond to developments in Syria and Iraq, and will ensure economic stability on the domestic front.

Chemical probe

One trigger for the early elections in Turkey was the war in Syria across the border.

Ankara welcomed the recent US-led strikes on the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons facilities.

But OPCW inspectors have yet to enter Douma, after its advance security detail from the UN was fired on.

The town in eastern Ghouta was the site of the suspected gas attack that triggered the recent US-led strike on the regime.

Cuba president

Cuba’s parliament has nominated Miguel Diaz-Canel to succeed Raul Castro as president.

Diaz-Canel is a trusted Castro ally. But his elevation to the top job still means it will be the first time since the 1959 revolution that a Castro hasn't been at the helm of the island nation.

Cuba is the only communist country in the Americas.

No confidence Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has sacked his cabinet after a no-confidence vote in parliament.

The governing coalition withdrew its backing for Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, leading to his ouster.

The move exposed an apparent power struggle between the president and ex-president Almazbek Atambayev.

The former president is not a member of parliament, but heads the Social Democratic party, the core of the governing coalition.

Galatasaray win

And finally…

Basketball. And Istanbul's Galatasaray has won the EuroCup women's title.

It was the second EuroCup title win for the Turkish team. It lost Wednesday's return match to Italy's Reyer Venezia, but won the two-game final on aggregate.

Douma

OPCW experts have yet to enter Douma….The town in Syria that was hit by a suspected chemical attack on April 7, triggering US-led strikes on Syria on Saturday.

The chemical weapons inspectors were meant to go in today, but gunfire in the area prevented that.

The US and its allies say Russia and the Assad regime are stalling the OPCW mission in a bid to clean up the attack site, where dozens died.

Korea peace talks

South Korea is hoping to use a summit with the North next week to start discussions on formally ending the Korean War.

The three-year conflict ended in 1953 with a truce, not a ceasefire. So the two Koreas are technically still at war.

The US also signed the treaty, so it has a stake. And the North-South summit comes ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and the DPRK's Kim Jong-un.

Pompeo nomination

Some of the hype around the Korean meetings comes after US officials said Trump's CIA director at the time met Kim Jong-un two weeks ago.

That ex-CIA director is Mike Pompeo, who's currently in the process of being confirmed as the next US secretary of state.

Although Pompeo is expected to get the job, Senate Democrats aren't making it easy for the trusted Trump lieutenant, last week grilling him on foreign policy.

As Washington's top diplomat he might be meeting Kim again soon, and this time not in secret.

Support for pastor

Relations between Turkey and the US will likely take another hit after Trump voiced support for an American pastor on trial in Turkey on terrorism-related offences.

Andrew Brunson was charged with helping the network of US-based Fetullah Gulen, who orchestrated the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016.

Trump tweeted, "They call him a spy, but I am more a spy than he is."

We don't know whether Trump was joking, or whether there's even more we don't know about the US president.

Starbucks race education

And finally…

Coffee giant Starbucks is shutting 8,000 stores across the US on May 29 for an afternoon of 'racial bias' training.

Starbucks reacted to the fairly pointless arrest of two black men at a store in Philadelphia, after an employee called in police.

Racial bias training might help. But Starbucks is sure to milk the exercise for the PR. So I guess that'll be a white Americano please, if I can find somewhere to get my fix.

Douma

OPCW experts have yet to enter Douma….The town in Syria that was hit by a suspected chemical attack on April 7, triggering US-led strikes on Syria on Saturday.

The chemical weapons inspectors were meant to go in today, but gunfire in the area prevented that.

The US and its allies say Russia and the Assad regime are stalling the OPCW mission in a bid to clean up the attack site, where dozens died.

Korea peace talks

South Korea is hoping to use a summit with the North next week to start discussions on formally ending the Korean War.

The three-year conflict ended in 1953 with a truce, not a ceasefire. So the two Koreas are technically still at war.

The US also signed the treaty, so it has a stake. And the North-South summit comes ahead of an expected meeting between Trump and the DPRK's Kim Jong-un.

Pompeo nomination

Some of the hype around the Korean meetings comes after US officials said Trump's CIA director at the time met Kim Jong-un two weeks ago.

That ex-CIA director is Mike Pompeo, who's currently in the process of being confirmed as the next US secretary of state.

Although Pompeo is expected to get the job, Senate Democrats aren't making it easy for the trusted Trump lieutenant, last week grilling him on foreign policy.

As Washington's top diplomat he might be meeting Kim again soon, and this time not in secret.

Support for pastor

Relations between Turkey and the US will likely take another hit after Trump voiced support for an American pastor on trial in Turkey on terrorism-related offences.

Andrew Brunson was charged with helping the network of US-based Fetullah Gulen, who orchestrated the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016.

Trump tweeted, "They call him a spy, but I am more a spy than he is."

We don't know whether Trump was joking, or whether there's even more we don't know about the US president.

Starbucks race education

And finally…

Coffee giant Starbucks is shutting 8,000 stores across the US on May 29 for an afternoon of 'racial bias' training.

Starbucks reacted to the fairly pointless arrest of two black men at a store in Philadelphia, after an employee called in police.

Racial bias training might help. But Starbucks is sure to milk the exercise for the PR. So I guess that'll be a white Americano please, if I can find somewhere to get my fix.