*) Anti-UN protests in DR Congo leave 100 dead

The death toll from anti-UN protests last week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 100, the head of a platform of youth organisations has said.

Lucas Pecos, director of the Collective of Youth Solidarity Organizations in Congo-Kinshasa, which accused the army of committing a massacre last Wednesday, at a church in the city of Goma, in North Kivu province, said it has counted 100 bodies so far.

*) Pope praises Mongolia religious freedom dating back to Genghis Khan

Pope Francis has praised Mongolia's tradition of religious freedom dating back to the times of its founder, Genghis Khan, as he opened the first-ever papal visit to the Asian nation with a word of encouragement to its tiny Catholic flock.

The Pope met with Mongolian President in a traditional ger, set up inside the state palace.

Francis was in Mongolia to meet one of the world's newest and smallest Catholic communities — around 1,450 Mongolians are Catholic — and make a diplomatic foray into a region where the Holy See has long had troubled relations, with Russia to the north and China to the south.

*) Mission accomplished, India puts moon rover to 'sleep'

India switched off its moon rover, the first craft to reach the lunar south pole, after it completed its two-week assignment conducting experiments, the country's space agency said.

The Pragyan rover from the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft was "set into Sleep mode" but with batteries charged and receiver on, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

By landing on the moon, India joined the United States, China and the former Soviet Union. It went beyond them in reaching the rugged south pole.

*) 'This time it is serious': Typhoon Haikui makes landfall in eastern Taiwan

Typhoon Haikui made landfall on eastern Taiwan, unleashing torrential downpours, whipping winds and plunging thousands of households into darkness as the first major storm to directly hit the island in four years.

Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, hundreds of flights cancelled and businesses closed in preparation for the storm.

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said the typhoon had made landfall in coastal Taitung, a mountainous county in lesser-populated eastern Taiwan.

*) Turkish 'Sultans of the Net' reign supreme in European volleyball

Türkiye defeated Serbia in a thrilling five-set match to win the 2023 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship title.

The Turkish women's volleyball team won the final on Sunday night with set scores of 27-25, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, and 15-13 at Brussels.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Türkiye on winning the trophy.

*) AU suspends membership as Gabon’s general to be sworn in as president

General Brice Oligui Nguema will be sworn in as transitional president of Gabon on Monday, the army has said.

The coup overthrew the 55-year Bongo dynasty, which had ruled the country since independence from France in 1960.

The opposition has called for its candidate to be recognised as the winner of weekend elections, which were disputed by the government.

The African Union has condemned the coup and suspended Gabon from its activities.

*) Ecuador jail inmates take dozens hostage

Prisoners at a penitentiary in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca are holding hostage 50 guards and seven police officers, Interior Minister Juan Zapata has said.

The mass hostage-taking came a day after hundreds of soldiers and police officers carried out an operation to search for weapons, ammunition, and explosives in one of the country's main penitentiaries in the Andean city of Latacunga in the south.

The nation's prisons office said earlier in the day that the hostage-taking was a reprisal for that operation, but authorities later said it was in protest at the transfer of inmates to other prisons.

*) US cracks down on unlicensed gun sellers amid mass shootings

The Biden administration is making it harder for people to sell guns without a license and background checks.

The Justice Department released rules to follow the Safer Communities Act, passed by Congress in June 2022 in response to mass shootings.

The rules will close loopholes that let people sell guns without a license by claiming not to make money from transactions or by saying their lack of a storefront or insignificant sales volume exempts them from dealer requirements.

It also tightens the rules on collectors who buy and sell guns, and on failed gun dealers selling their inventories.

*) Pope visits Mongolia as Vatican ties with China, Russia remain strained

Pope Francis visits Mongolia, a Buddhist country with just 1,450 Catholics, in hopes of improving relations with China.

The 86-year-old pontiff arrived in Mongolia on a chartered plane with his entourage and reporters.

The first event in the capital for Francis is on Saturday, when he addresses government leaders and the diplomatic corps.

Pope Francis renewed a deal with China last year on the issue of appointing bishops, and Francis has sought to broker an end to the war in Ukraine with Russia.

And finally…

*) New York recovers looted Marcus Aurelius statue from Türkiye

A headless bronze statue believed to depict the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was seized from a museum in Cleveland by New York authorities because they consider it was stolen from Türkiye.

The warrant was secured as part of an ongoing investigation into a smuggling network involving antiquities looted from Bubon in southwestern Türkiye and trafficked through Manhattan, authorities said.

The museum acquired the statue in 1986 and had been a highlight of its collection of ancient Roman art.

The 1.9-metre statue dates from A.D. 180 to 200 and is worth $20 million.

*)Dozens dead, many wounded in building blaze in South Africa's Johannesburg

At least 58 people have been killed and more than 40 wounded following a fire at a multistorey building in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, local media and emergency workers said.

Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the blaze on Thursday morning engulfed the building located in the city’s central business district.

Emergency Management Services said another 43 people were injured in the blaze.

Mulaudzi said a search and recovery operation was underway, and it was likely the death toll would rise.

*) Gabon junta names new transitional leader

Gabon coup leaders have named Republican Guard chief General Brice Oligui Nguema as transitional president in a press release.

The military seized control in the wake of elections, cancelling the August 26 general elections, closing all borders until further notice and dissolving all institutions of the republic.

Gabon coup will be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020 if successful, ending the Bongo family's 56-year grip on power.

*) Burkina Faso endorses troop deployment to Niger

Burkina Faso’s Cabinet has given the government the green light to send troops to help defend neighbouring Niger, where the military deposed President Mohamed Bazoum about a month ago.

A Cabinet statement late Wednesday said the government was allowed to deploy a military contingent to Niger “in line with our country's strategic commitments.”

Last week, Niger’s military administration authorised troops from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso to intercede on their side “in the event of aggression” following threats of military intervention by a West African bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) force seeking to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.

*) N Korea says simulated 'scorched earth' nuclear strikes on South Korea

North Korea’s military said they fired two tactical ballistic missiles from the capital to simulate “scorched earth strikes in South Korea.

The official Korean Central News Agency said that North Korea has been rehearsing an occupation of its rivals’ territory in the event of conflict.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launches “a grave provocation” that threatens international peace and violates UN Security Council resolutions which ban any ballistic launches by North Korea.

And finally…

*) Idalia weakens after devastating florida as category 3 hurricane

Tropical Storm Idalia weakens after fierce Florida landfall as Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread devastation.

The storm splintered trees, tore off roofs, and inundated roads, prompting evacuations in Florida's Big Bend region. Despite its downgrade, Idalia maintains destructive force, prompting President Biden to emphasise the climate crisis' impact.

Thousands remain without power in both Florida and Georgia as utility crews rush to restore electricity.

*) President Erdogan to visit Russia 'soon', raising hopes over the grain deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia's coastal city of Sochi "soon", raising hopes of revival of the Black Sea grain deal.

Currently, Türkiye is continuing its efforts to revive the grain deal, and says that there is no alternative to the initiative, seen as crucial to ensuring global food security.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also expected to visit Russia soon to hold face-to-face talks for resumption of the deal.

*) Judge rejects Trump plea for delay, sets March 2024 trial in poll case

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan has set a March 4, 2024, trial date for Donald Trump in the federal case in Washington, where the former president is charged with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Trump’s attorneys had requested to push back the trial by years, claiming that it is necessary to account for the huge volume of evidence they say they are reviewing and to prepare for what they contend is a novel and unprecedented prosecution.

However, the judge rejected their request saying, “The public has a right to a prompt and efficient resolution of this matter”.

*) Germany reports over 250 anti-Muslim crimes in first half of this year

German police have recorded 258 anti-Muslim crimes in the first half of 2023, according to figures by the parliament.

According to the information provided by the ministry, the cases include hate crimes, threatening letters, verbal and physical assaults, vandalism or property damage.

More than a dozen mosques were attacked between January and June, and dozens of Muslims were physically assaulted or verbally harassed on the street or in public places. Seventeen people were injured in these attacks.

Most of the crimes were committed in the eastern German states, the traditional stronghold of far-right parties, according to the figures.

But scores of these hate crimes were also registered in the capital Berlin, and the western cities of Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich.

*) Sudan army chief promises 'decisive victory', rejects talks with 'traitors'

Sudan's army chief General Abdel Fattah al Burhan has quashed hopes of a negotiated settlement to the protracted conflict, terming his rival general a “traitor” and vowing to crush the paramilitary RSF.

Burhan's speech came one day after the head of the RSF expressed openness to talks and a long-term ceasefire.

An estimated 4,000 people have died and millions have been driven from their homes since the conflict between the army and the RSF began in April.

Burhan has embarked on a tour of bases in army-controlled regions and is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, prompting some to speculate that a deal was imminent.

*) From the Moon to the Sun: India announces next space mission

India's space agency says it will launch a satellite to survey the Sun, just days after becoming the first nation to land a craft near the Moon's largely unexplored south pole.

"The launch of Aditya-L1, the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun, is scheduled for September 2," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Monday on X.

*) Aleppo airport out of service after Israeli strikes on Assad regime

An Israeli air strike hits the international airport in the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, damaging a runway and putting it out of service.

Israel has targeted airports and seaports in the government-held parts of Syria in an apparent attempt to prevent arms shipments from Iran to armed groups backed by Tehran, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Thousands of Iran-backed fighters from around the region joined Syria’s 12-year conflict helping tip the balance in favour of regime leader Bashar al Assad's forces.

*) France announces ban on Muslim overgarment 'abaya' in schools

France plans to ban the abaya, a long loose-fitting overgarment worn by some Muslim women, on school grounds, the country's education minister said.

Gabriel Attal has told broadcaster TF1 that the government intends to convey "clear rules" on the matter to school officials across the country.

The decision is the latest in several limitations on Islamic clothing in France, where critics say the government has targeted Muslims with statements and policies in recent years.

*) Zimbabwe's opposition claims victory, disputing president's re-election

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Nelson Chamisa contested the official re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and claimed victory in an election which international observers said fell short of democratic standards.

Mnangagwa, 80, won a second term with 52.6 percent of the ballots against 44 percent for his main challenger, Chamisa, 45, according to official results.

Zimbabweans voted Wednesday and Thursday for a president and new parliament, in polling marred by delays that sparked opposition accusations of rigging and voter suppression.

*) Murder charges against Pakistan’s ex-Premier Khan dismissed

Murder charges against former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan were dismissed,, his lawyer said.

Khan is already in jail over graft charges. He is facing nearly 150 cases ever since being removed from power last year in April.

And finally…

*) Climate activists target super-rich in string of protests against luxury

Climate activists spray paint a superyacht, block private jets from taking off and plug holes in golf courses this summer as part of an intensifying campaign against the emissions-spewing lifestyles of the ultrawealthy.

Climate activism has intensified in the past few years as the planet warms to dangerous levels, igniting more extreme heat, floods, storms and wildfires around the world.

They’re now turning their attention to the wealthy, after long targeting some of the world’s most profitable companies – oil and gas conglomerates, banks and insurance firms that continue to invest in fossil fuels.

*) Trump surrenders at Fulton County Jail in Georgia election subversion case

Former US President Donald Trump has turned himself in to authorities in Fulton County, Georgia to be booked on charges tied to alleged efforts to overturn the state’s results of the 2020 presidential election.

He was released on a $200,000 bond nearly 20 minutes after being booked at the county Jail, where he was fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken, becoming the first US president in history to do so.

Trump reappeared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, marking his first post there since January 2021, as he shared an image of his mugshot with the words: "ELECTION INTERFERENCE! NEVER SURRENDER!"

The former president faces 13 criminal counts, including violations of the Georgia state RICO Act, solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer, conspiracy to impersonate a public officer and conspiracy to commit false statements.

*) Bangladesh protests mark six years since Rohingya exodus

Thousands of Rohingya refugees have rallied at camps in Bangladesh to demand their safe return to Myanmar on the sixth anniversary of the 2017 military crackdown.

Bangladesh is home to around a million members of the stateless minority, most of whom fled the crackdown now subject to a genocide probe at the International Criminal Court.

Malnutrition and violence have continued to plague the camps, which are home to armed groups and are used as staging posts for regional drug trafficking networks.

Bangladesh and Myanmar are working on a pilot programme to begin returning the Rohingya to their homes, despite concerns from rights groups who say conditions are not safe for their return.

*) Wagner boss Prigozhin’s plane brought down intentionally: US intelligence

A preliminary US intelligence assessment has concluded that an intentional explosion caused the plane crash that killed Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

One of the US and Western officials who described the initial assessment said it determined that Prigozhin was “very likely” targeted.

The explosion is widely believed to be possible vengeance for the Wagner group’s attempted mutiny in June that posed the biggest challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s 23-year rule.

Russian authorities have said the cause of the crash is under investigation.

*) 'Sins of the past': Guyana President demands reparations for slave trade

Guyana president Irfaan Ali has lashed out at descendants of European slave traders, saying those who profited from the cruel, trans-Atlantic slave trade should offer to pay reparations to today’s generations.

The leader of the South American country also proposed that those involved in the slave trade be posthumously charged for crimes against humanity.

Ali spoke ahead of Friday’s planned formal apology in Guyana by the descendants of a Scottish 19th-century sugar and coffee plantation owner, saying the apology should also include issues of compensation and reparative justice.

*) Pressure mounts on Olaf Scholz as German economy takes a battering

Stagnant growth, high inflation and manufacturing weakness – the challenges facing the German economy will be at the top of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's agenda when political life fully resumes following the summer break.

The outlook for a country long lauded as Europe's industrial powerhouse is deteriorating, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting it will be the only major advanced economy to shrink this year.

Problems include weakness in the vast industrial sector and a lacklustre performance by exports, both of which have major impacts for the whole of the economy.

*) Ex-PM Thaksin jailed on return to Thailand after 15 years in exile

Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was sent to jail on Tuesday shortly after he returned to the kingdom after 15 years in exile.

The latest political development comes just hours before parliament votes to install his party's candidate as new prime minister.

At the airport in Bangkok, the 74-year-old billionaire was greeted by hundreds of supporters waving banners and singing songs, demonstrating how he has retained an outsized influence despite his long absence.

*) Russia says jet 'destroys' Ukraine reconnaissance boat in Black Sea

Russia's defence ministry said that one of its Sukhoi jets had "destroyed" a Ukrainian "reconnaissance boat" in the Black Sea.

The vessel reportedly sailed near a Russian gas production facility prompting a response from Moscow.

Earlier, Russia claimed that its ships were targeted by a Ukrainian naval drone attack.

*) BRICS summit of emerging economies to begin in South Africa

Leaders of the BRICS nations are due in South Africa to discuss expanding membership amid a push to forge the bloc as a counterweight to the West.

South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa will host Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, from Tuesday to Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, is skipping the meeting amid concerns that he could be arrested due to an outstanding international warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Over 40 countries said they are interested in joining BRICS, but India and Brazil have expressed some reservation, over concerns that the expansion could dilute the bloc’s global influence.

*) Japan to start releasing Fukushima water on Thursday

Japan is expected to release on Thursday the water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, 12 years after one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.

The nuclear plant was knocked out by a massive earthquake and tsunami that killed around 18,000 people in March 2011.

Japan insists the gradual release of the water is safe, but there are concerns that the more than 500 Olympic swimming pools' worth of water is contaminated.

The operator of the plant said the water has been filtered to remove all radioactive substances except the chemical tritium, adding that the amount to be released are far below dangerous levels.

*) ​​Kenya's young Maasai reconnect with their culture at Eunoto ceremony

Hundreds of young Kenyan men have come to a village in the country’s south to join a ceremony reconnecting them with their culture and traditions.

Aged between 18 and 26, the young men all descended from the same generation of Maasai warriors.

For centuries, Maasai men have gone through rites of passage which have been inscribed since 2018 on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage in need of safeguarding.

For many, it is a matter of survival to preserve the traditions and culture of the most famous of Kenya's 45 tribes.

*) 'Public knows who I am': Trump to skip Republican primary debates

New opinion polls reveal that more than 60 percent of Republican voters prefer former President Donald Trump, while Ron DeSantis, his closest competitor, captures 16 percent of GOP voters' favour.

Trump says he would skip the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his popularity and recognition among voters as a testament to his standing ahead of the 2024 election.

On a different note, he faces a deadline of Friday to turn himself in voluntarily in Fulton County, Georgia, following his recent indictment on criminal charges.

*) Live blog: Ukraine nears deal with insurers to cover grain ships - report

Ukraine is in the process of finalising an arrangement with international insurance companies to provide coverage for grain vessels navigating to and from its Black Sea ports.

The scheme is currently under active discussion, involving various government ministries, domestic banks, and global insurance entities such as Lloyd's of London, as reported by the Financial Times.

*) Israel to spend $843M on tightening control over occupied East Jerusalem

In an effort to enhance its control over occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli government has introduced a budget proposal aimed at transforming the area's landscape in the next five years.

The government has allocated 3.2 billion Israeli shekels ($843 million) to invest in occupied East Jerusalem from 2024 to 2028, according to an official statement.

The Israeli government claims the purpose of this endeavour is to tackle social disparities and stimulate economic growth.

*) China cuts key interest rate to put fizz back into flagging economy

China's central bank reduces a significant interest rate to combat the economic slowdown following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The world's second-largest economy is grappling with reduced market activity driven by labour market uncertainties and a sluggish global economy, resulting in weakened demand for Chinese products.

Despite the economic downturn causing concerns in global markets, Beijing asserts that this trend is transitory.

*) Spain World Cup hero Carmona pays tribute to father who died before final

Olga Carmona, Spain's Women's World Cup hero, pays homage to her father for giving her the strength "to achieve something unique" after learning of his death following the country's 1-0 triumph against England.

The 23-year-old defender scored the game-winning goal in Sydney on Sunday, helping La Roja win the World Cup for the first time in their history.

"We love you, Olga, you are in the history of Spanish football," the Spanish federation (RFEF) remarked.

*) Russia says shot down Ukraine drones southwest of Moscow

Russia's defence ministry has said it shot down three Ukrainian drones southwest of Moscow, the latest in a surge of aerial attacks near the capital.

Ukraine launched the attack at 0200 GMT (5:00 am local time) using "three unmanned aerial vehicles on objects in the Kaluga region", the ministry said on Telegram.

Kaluga's governor Vladislav Shapsha said there was no damage or injury to people or infrastructure.

The air attack is at least the fifth this month over the Kaluga region that Russia says it has thwarted.

*) Azerbaijan finds new mass grave in area liberated from Armenia

Azerbaijan has discovered a new mass grave site in the city of Shusha in the Karabakh region, local media reported.

According to state news agency Azertac, the remains of 17 people were uncovered in the territory of Shusha prison during excavations conducted between August 1-15 by Azerbaijan’s State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

In June, Azertac reported the discovery of a mass grave in the Saricali village of Agdam district, where the remains of four people were found.

The Karabakh region has been the site of mass killings and burials since the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s during the Armenian occupation.

*) UN says Taliban's restrictions on Afghan women 'crime against humanity'

The United Nations has said that the International Criminal Court should recognise gender discrimination in Afghanistan as a crime against humanity.

UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown has said 54 of 80 edicts issued by the Taliban explicitly target women and girls and deprive them of their rights.

The international community continues to grapple with how, and if, to engage with the Taliban authorities, with restrictions on women's rights being a key obstacle.

*) Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya leave 27 dead, authorities say

Deadly clashes between rival militias in Libya's capital have killed at least 27 people and left residents trapped in their homes unable to escape the violence, medical authorities said.

The fighting appears to be the most intense to shake Tripoli this year.

Tensions flared on Monday after Mahmoud Hamza, a senior commander of the 444 brigade, was allegedly detained by rival group Special Deterrence Force at an airport in Tripoli, reports said.

And finally…

*) ​​Hawaii wildfire death toll exceeds 100

The number of people known to have died in the horrific wildfire that levelled a Hawaiian town has topped 100, the state's governor said, as a makeshift morgue was expanded to deal with the tragedy.

Governor Josh Green has repeatedly warned that the final count from last week's inferno in Lahaina would grow significantly.

The wildfire is already the deadliest in the US in over a century.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, August 15th.

*) Afghanistan’s Taliban government marks two years of return to power

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has marked the second anniversary of their takeover of the country with celebrations and a public holiday, issuing a defiant statement commemorating their surge back to power.

A statement from the authorities early Tuesday hailed a victory that was able to “pave the way for the establishment of the Islamic system in Afghanistan”.

The international community continues to grapple with how, and if, to engage with the Taliban authorities, with restrictions on women’s rights being a key obstacle.

*) A rights group says it can’t get access to detained officials in Niger

Human rights activists in Niger say they have been unable to gain access to top political officials detained after mutinous soldiers ousted the democratically elected president nearly three weeks ago.

The junta has been holding President Mohamed Bazoum, his wife and son under house arrest in their compound in the capital. Those close to Bazoum say his electricity and water have been cut off and he’s running out of food.

The junta says it plans to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security. If convicted, he could face the death penalty, according to Niger’s penal code.

*) Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in West Bank

Israeli forces have shot and killed two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, in a military raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said.

“Two young men were rushed to the hospital with bullets in their chests,” the Jericho Hospital’s director said early Tuesday.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified those killed as Qusay al Walaji, 16, and Mohammed Nujoom, 25.

The raid took place in the Jericho area, which has seen heavy fighting over the last 16 months. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

*) Russia strikes western Ukraine in deadly large-scale air attack

Russia has launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine’s western region of Lviv and the northwestern region of Volyn, killing three people, injuring others and forcing evacuations, officials said.

Ukrainian media reported that according to preliminary information, Tuesday’s attack was the largest air assault on the Lviv region, which borders NATO member Poland, since the start of Russia’s offensive.

Governor of Volyn, Yuriy Poguliaiko, has said Russia’s air strikes on the city of Lutsk killed three people and left several wounded in hospital.

And finally…

*) ​​Georgia slaps mobster law to indict Trump, others in 2020 election plot

Donald Trump and 18 others have been indicted in Georgia for scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.

Prosecutors have turned to a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other top aides.

The 97-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump and his co-defendants to undo his defeat in the battleground state. It also outlines a scheme to tamper with voting machines in one Georgia county and steal data.

As indictments mount, Trump — the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024 — has been portraying himself as the victim of Democratic prosecutors during his campaigning and fundraising.

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