This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Wednesday, August 2nd.

*) Far-right populist tops Argentina’s presidential primary in shock result

Far-right Javier Milei rocked Argentina’s political establishment by emerging as the biggest vote-getter in primary elections to choose presidential candidates.

Milei says Argentina’s Central Bank should be abolished, thinks the climate crisis is a lie, believes the sale of human organs should be legal and wants to make it easier to own handguns.

*) France opens probe into death of six Afghan migrants in Channel shipwreck

French prosecutors have taken over the investigation into the death of at least six migrants whose boat sank trying to cross the Channel between France and England.

Prosecutors in the channel port of Boulogne opened an investigation on Saturday, hours after the tragedy, but the investigation was switched to Paris.

Most of those on board were Afghans with some Sudanese “and a few minors”, said the French coastal authority Premar.

*) Niger’s military regime to ‘prosecute’ President Bazoum for ‘high treason’

Niger’s coup leaders that toppled Mohamed Bazoum said they would “prosecute” the deposed president for “high treason” and “undermining the security” of the country.

Earlier on Sunday, the head of a religious delegation of mediators said that the leader of the military junta, is ready to consider a diplomatic solution to the country’s stand-off with the West African bloc ECOWAS.

*)Strikes on Odessa leave 3 wounded; Zelenskyy vows justice for Kherson attack

At least three people were wounded in two-waves of Russian drone and missile attacks overnight on the port city of Odessa, officials said.

The Operational Command South said on Telegram that Ukraine has downed three waves of Russian missiles and drones targeting Odessa.

Air defence forces repelled all the attacks, but falling debris damaged a student dormitory and a supermarket in Odessa’s city centre, leaving three workers wounded.

*) Google Doodle celebrates Turkish astronomer Nuzhet Gokdogan

And finally, Google Doodle has commemorated the achievements of Nuzhet Gokdogan, widely hailed as one of Türkiye’s earliest female astronomers.

Gokdogan played a pivotal role in establishing the Turkish Astronomy Association, the Turkish Association of University Women, and the Turkish Mathematics Association, organisations that continue to shape the scientific landscape of Türkiye.

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

*) Russia reportedly lays siege to Ukraine's Kupiansk

Russian forces have almost reached the outskirts of the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, state news agency TASS reported.

TASS said Ukrainian troops are abandoning their positions and just "a number of kilometres are left to pass."

Ukraine denied the report, saying all Russian attacks were repelled and attempts to lay siege were unsuccessful.

*) ​​Earthquake rattles eastern Türkiye, causing panic

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake has struck eastern Türkiye, according to the nation's disaster management agency, AFAD.

Residents in the region were seen moving to open areas to protect themselves from building destruction.

Twenty-three people were injured as a result of panic, but there were no reports of death, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

*) Ivory Coast: ECOWAS approves Niger intervention ‘as soon as possible’

West African bloc ECOWAS approved military intervention in Niger "as soon as possible" to remove its military rulers following last month's coup, Ivory Coast's President Alassane Ouattara has said.

Earlier Thursday, the leaders of the bloc said they would deploy a "standby force" against the military leaders who seized control of Niger, deposing Mohamed Bazoum as president.

Ouattara said Ivory Coast would provide hundreds of men alongside soldiers from Nigeria and Benin, and that other countries would join them.

*) Several Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu bomb explosion: local media

Several Somali soldiers have been killed in a bomb explosion in the capital Mogadishu, according to local media.

Local broadcaster Radio Shabelle said the incident took place when a military vehicle drove over a landmine planted on the road near Darussalam area.

Quoting a witness, the broadcaster said all six Somali soldiers aboard the vehicle died.

*) Hollywood strike causes Emmy Awards to be delayed

The Emmy Awards, postponed due to the Hollywood strike, now have a new date that aligns them with the heart of Hollywood's awards season, marking a notable shift.

Fox announced that the Emmys will air on January 15 from the Peacock Theater at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

The ceremony will happen roughly four months later than originally planned.

*) Ecuador's presidential candidate shot dead after campaign rally Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has been shot dead after holding a rally in Quito.

President Guillermo Lasso confirmed Villavicencio's death in a statement on social media, vowing that "this crime will not go unpunished." The 59-year-old centrist was one of eight candidates in the first round of the presidential election scheduled for August 20.

*) ​​Wildfires engulf Hawaii, killing multiple people and displacing many A wildfire tore through the heart of Maui with alarming speed and ferocity, destroying dozens of homes and businesses in a historic tourist town of the US state of Hawaii.

The fire killed at least six people and injured at least two dozen others, forcing panicked residents to jump into the ocean to flee the flames. It was widespread in Lahaina Town, including on Front Street, a popular shopping and dining area, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said.

*) UN concerned over deplorable living conditions of Niger’s president UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the reportedly deplorable conditions that Niger’s president and his family are living under while in arbitrary detention.

A UN spokesperson issued a statement following reports that Mohamed Bazoum and his family are living without electricity, water, food or medicine. Guterres once again called for his immediate, unconditional release and his reinstatement as head of state.

*) Pakistan president dissolves parliament on advice of prime minister Pakistan's President Arif Alvi has dissolved the country’s parliament on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the President's Office said. Alvi signed the advice half an hour after it was sent by Sharif late on Wednesday night, paving the way for a caretaker setup that will hold general elections.

The federal Cabinet automatically stood dissolved following the signing of the summary. Sharif will continue to serve as acting prime minister until the caretaker premier takes an oath.

*) Biden restricts US investments in Chinese technology President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that would block and regulate high-tech US-based investments in China.

The order covers advanced computer chips, microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence. Senior administration officials said that the effort stemmed from national security goals, rather than economic interests and that the categories it covered were narrow in scope.

*) UN gets authorisation to deliver aid to quake-hit northern Syria

United Nations will resume aid deliveries to Syria through the Bab al Salam and Al Rai border crossings from Türkiye until November 13.

The Syrian regime agreed to a second three-month extension of two border crossings opened to UN humanitarian workers after the February earthquake and was due to close on August 13.

The February 6 quakes in Türkiye and Syria killed more than 55,000 people.

*) ​​Russia shoots down Ukraine's drones targeting Moscow – mayor

Russian forces have downed two combat drones headed for Moscow, the city's mayor said, the latest in a surge of drone attacks targeting the capital.

He said one drone was downed on the southern outskirts of the city, while the second was shot down in the Minsk highway area, west of the capital.

According to Russian officials, the strikes are at least the third attack on Moscow within a week, with Ukrainian drones downed on Sunday and Monday.

*) Diplomacy best for Niger, force still on table: Nigeria

Nigeria's president and head of the West African bloc ECOWAS, Bola Tinubu, has not ruled out military intervention in Niger, but believes diplomacy is the "best way forward" to resolve the crisis, his spokesperson has said.

Tinubu weighed in for the first time since the soldiers behind the coup in Niger defied the bloc's Sunday deadline to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum or face the possible use of force.

Meanwhile, efforts by ECOWAS and the United States to parlay with Niger's new rulers have made no headway ahead of a crisis summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday.

*) Jailed ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan's lawyers file legal challenge

Lawyers for former Pakistan PM Imran Khan filed an appeal against his conviction for graft.

Imran Khan is incarcerated in a century-old prison at the beginning of a three-year term.

Unless overturned, the conviction will rule him out of contesting upcoming elections.

Pakistan's election commission on Tuesday issued a statement officially disqualifying Khan for five years.

And finally…

*) Amazon nations agree to fight deforestation

Eight South American countries have agreed to launch an alliance to fight deforestation in the Amazon, vowing at a summit in Brazil to stop the world's biggest rainforest from reaching "a point of no return."

The closely watched summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) adopted on Tuesday what host country Brazil called a "new and ambitious shared agenda" to save the rainforest.

The group's members signed a joint declaration in Belem, near the Amazon River, laying out a nearly 10,000-word roadmap to promote sustainable development, end deforestation and fight the organized crime that fuels it.

*) Niger junta appoints transitional prime minister

Niger’s junta has appointed a transitional prime minister more than a week after the military coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum.

Economist Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine has been appointed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger's presidential guard, who declared himself the head of a transitional government.

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS is to hold another emergency summit on Thursday in Nigeria to address the political crisis in Niger.

*) ​​US to announce $200M in new arms aid for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden's administration is set to announce $200 million of new weapons aid for Ukraine as it begins to dole out $6.2 billion of funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error, according to two American officials.

Ukraine needs weaponry that can be shipped from US stocks in a matter of days or weeks in order to keep up its fight against Russia's offensive.

Washington is currently working on a supplemental budget request to continue to aid Kiev, a US official said.

*) Palestinian premier, members of US Congress discuss reviving political process

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has held discussions with members of the US Congress on ways to revive Washington’s role in preserving the two-state solution and recognising the Palestinian state.

The meeting was held in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah with a delegation of 22 members of the Democratic party.

Shtayye said Israel violates international law every day through killings, military raids and the expansion of illegal settlements.

He said the continuation of the status quo will lead to a shift towards a single state with an apartheid regime.

*) Greece 'relatively hopeful' for advancing relations, dialogue with Türkiye

Greece is hopeful to further relations and political dialogue with Türkiye, according to the country’s foreign minister.

In an interview with Egypt's Al Qahera TV, George Gerapetritis remarked that he and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have developed a channel of communication.

“What we want to do is to try to promote a positive agenda with issues of common interest, such as trade, economy, civil protection, tourism, the overall development of the two countries, and then work on our relationships,” Gerapetritis said.

A fresh round of talks of the Türkiye-Greece High-Level Cooperation Council is expected to be held in Thessaloniki this fall.

*) South American leaders' summit seeks ambitious roadmap to save Amazon

Brazilian President Lula and fellow South American leaders seek an ambitious roadmap to stop deforestation at a meeting of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization in Belem.

Brazilian leaders face pressure to set out bold solutions to save the damaged Amazon as they open a summit on the world's biggest rainforest.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said the summit would produce a joint declaration setting out "instructions" to implement "new targets and new tasks" to protect the rainforest.

*) Niger waits for West African bloc's response after junta rejects ultimatum

Niger waits on for a response from the West African regional bloc after coup leaders in the capital city Niamey ignored a deadline to reinstate the ousted president.

The Economic Community of West African States has warned that a failure to reverse the coup could lead it to authorise a military intervention.

The bloc has said it will issue a statement on its next steps in response to the junta's refusal to stand down by Sunday following the July 26 power grab.

*) ​​Sudanese army strikes RSF positions near presidential palace

The Sudanese Armed Forces have conducted their first aerial bombardment of positions of the Rapid Support Forces in the presidential palace - controlled by the paramilitary group since April.

RSF positions in the three cities known as the tripartite capital - Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri - also came under heavy artillery fire from the army.

Intense clashes have been ongoing for over 100 days between the army and the RSF, particularly in strategic areas around the capital and in the western part of the country.

*) Peace talks on Ukraine to continue following Jeddah meeting

Talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the Ukraine conflict have concluded with participants agreeing on the importance of continuing consultations for peace efforts.

More than 40 countries, including China, India, the United States and European countries, excluding Russia, took part in the Jeddah talks that ended on Sunday.

Ukraine and its allies called for international support for principles that Kiev wants to be the basis for peace, including the withdrawal of all Russian troops and the return of all Ukrainian territory.

Moscow called the meeting a doomed attempt to swing the Global South behind Kiev.

*) Jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan's lawyers to launch legal challenge

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's lawyers attempt to launch legal challenges against his three year-sentence for graft that has ruled him out of contesting national elections.

The former international cricket star was arrested at his home on Saturday and taken to jail for charges he has previously said are politically motivated.

Petitions have been filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts have demanded power of attorney for Khan, which would allow lawyers to challenge his conviction.

And finally…

*) Saudi Arabia sends its 19th aid plane to Türkiye for quake victims

Saudi Arabia has sent its 19th aid plane for victims affected by Türkiye’s February 6 earthquakes.

The plane, carrying more than 27 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment, departed on Sunday from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and headed to Gaziantep Airport in southeastern Türkiye.

It was sent as part of Saudi Arabia's "aid bridge" established for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, August 4th.

*) Donald Trump pleads ‘not guilty’ to all charges in 2020 election probe

Former US president Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Trump appeared before a magistrate judge in Washington’s federal courthouse two days after being indicted on four felony counts by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith.

The charges accuse him of trying to subvert the will of voters and undo his election loss in the days before January 6, 2021, when supporters stormed the US Capitol.

*) ​​Niger to respond ‘immediately’ to any ‘aggression’ from ECOWAS

Niger’s junta has said it would respond immediately to any “aggression or attempted aggression” against it by West African countries.

ECOWAS has threatened the potential use of force if the junta does not restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday.

The landlocked nation is the fourth member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) hit by a putsch since 2020.

*) Russia ‘destroys’ Ukraine’s drones targeting Novorossiysk port

Ukrainian sea drones have attacked a Russian navy base near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk , a major hub for Russian exports.

The drones were destroyed by Russian warships, Russia’s defence ministry has said.

The attack prompted the Novorossiysk port to temporarily halt all ship movement.

Separately, Russian air defences downed 10 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and suppressed three more with electronic countermeasures.

*) China to lift tariffs on Australian barley

China has said it will remove extra tariffs on Australian barley, in the latest thawing of ties between the two after years of tensions.

China had slapped hefty levies on key Australian exports such as barley and beef in 2020 at the height of a bitter dispute with the former conservative government.

But their icy relations appear to have thawed since Australia’s centre-left government adopted a less confrontational approach to China following its election a year ago.

And finally…

*) Freddie Mercury’s private collection goes on display in UK

From fanciful costumes and working drafts of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, hundreds of items that Freddie Mercury owned have gone on show in Britain.

Sotheby’s transformed its central London gallery to resemble the Queen frontman’s former home in the UK capital for the month-long exhibition ahead of its sale.

The singer-songwriter, who died in 1991, had assembled an array of “treasures” which had been left largely untouched at his one-time West London house.

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

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Thursday, August 3rd.

*) Türkiye will continue intense efforts for grain deal resumption — Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told his Russian counterpart that Türkiye will continue to carry out “intense” efforts and diplomacy for the resumption of the Black Sea grain deal.

Erdogan said that the long-term suspension of the Black Sea Initiative will not benefit anyone, adding that the low-income countries in need of grain will suffer the most.

*) ​​Niger junta chief rejects sanctions, refuses to ‘bow down’ to threats

The leader of the coup that toppled Niger’s president has said that French citizens had no reason to quit the country, but rejected international sanctions, vowing not to bow to “threats”.

Responding to the international sanctions imposed in response to the coup, General Abdourahamane Tiani said the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) “rejects these sanctions as a whole and refuses to give in to any threat, wherever it comes from”.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders have imposed trade and financial sanctions and threatened the use of force if the junta does not restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday.

*) China’s call for counter-espionage concerns US

The United States has raised concerns over a Chinese call to encourage its citizens to join counter-espionage work and said it has been closely monitoring the implementation of Beijing’s expanded anti-spying law.

Washington’s statement comes after China’s Ministry of State Security said China should encourage its citizens to join counter-espionage work, including creating channels for individuals to report suspicious activity and rewarding them for doing so.

A system that makes it “normal” for regular people to participate in counter-espionage should be established, the ministry said.

*) Inter-religious clashes displace Muslims in north India

A sense of dread hangs over Nuh, a small town in north India’s Haryana state, where Muslims are in the majority, as the town and nearby districts were engulfed in “communal violence”, a reference made in India for inter-religious clashes.

As the police have imposed a strict curfew, some local accounts suggest that dozens of Muslim families have fled their homes, fearing both a second round of mob attack led by radical Hindu outfits and arbitrary police detentions.

The violence that erupted during a religious procession by Hindus in Nuh early this week killed at least seven people.

And finally…

*) Hollywood studios, writers to restart talks amid strike

Hollywood studios will meet with writers this week to discuss reopening talks for the first time since a strike began nearly 100 days ago.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) walkout, which kicked off May 2 over pay and the threat of artificial intelligence, has brought US film and television production to a halt.

Writers have been joined on the picket lines since last month by the much larger Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) ramping up pressure on the likes of Disney and Netflix to return to negotiations.

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

*) US indicts Donald Trump

Former US President Donald Trump has been charged over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the run-up to the Capitol attack by his supporters.

The charges include conspiracy to defraud the government and witness tampering to subvert the peaceful transfer of power.

The indictment is the third criminal case brought against the former president as he seeks to reclaim the White House in 2024.

*) Niger reopens borders with limited countries

Niger's land and air borders with five neighbouring countries have been reopened, nearly a week after they were closed following a coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

"The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad are reopened" from "today", a soldier announced on national television.

The move came hours after the first French evacuation flight took off and five days before a deadline to restore constitutional order issued by a bloc of West African countries.

*) Russian drone strikes Odessa port, causes fire

A Russian drone strike has damaged port infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odessa region on the Black Sea coast, the regional governor has said.

"As a result of the attack, fires broke out at the facilities of the port and industrial infrastructure of the region, and an elevator was damaged," Oleg Kiper said.

The governor added that emergency services were on-site and there were no reports of casualties.

*) Tunisia's President Saied dismisses PM

Tunisian President Kais Saied has appointed Ahmed Hachani as the new prime minister, replacing Najla Bouden, who ended her duties, the Tunisian presidency has said.

Hachani, who served as human resources director at Tunisia's central bank, becomes premier amid a deepening economic and social crisis in the country.

The president has repeatedly blamed officials and the government for failing to address problems and poor public services, such as frequent water and electricity cuts.

And finally…

*) Sweden intensifies border controls

Sweden has said it did not plan on making sweeping changes to "freedom of speech" laws and intended to "intensify" border controls instead.

The move comes in the wake of several incidents involving desecrations of Islam's holy book, the Quran.

"We stand up for the Swedish freedom of speech," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference.

He added that the government will "intensify" border controls due to a worsened security situation.

*) Workers crushed to death in India

At least 17 workers have been crushed to death in western India when a crane collapsed on an under-construction expressway outside the financial capital Mumbai.

The crane toppled onto large concrete slabs during the night, with debris smashing down as labourers worked on the Samruddhi Expressway.

India's National Disaster Response Force said 17 bodies had been recovered, and three injured people had been taken to hospital.

*) Several killed, dozens missing in Beijing rainstorms

At least 11 people are dead and 27 missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing, Chinese state media has reported.

Storm Doksuri, a former super typhoon, has swept northwards over China since Friday, when it hit southern Fujian province after scything through the Philippines.

Heavy rains began pummelling the capital and surrounding areas on Saturday, with nearly the average rainfall for the entire month of July dumped on Beijing in just 40 hours.

*) Drone hits office tower in Moscow

A drone hit an office tower in Moscow that was struck over the weekend, while at least one other drone was downed, the city's mayor has said.

"There is no information on casualties," Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram, adding that emergency services were on the scene.

On Sunday, Russia said it had downed Ukrainian drones targeting the capital in an attack that damaged two office towers in Moscow-City, a business district.

*) Pakistan bombing death toll rises to 54

The death toll from a massive suicide bombing that targeted an election rally of a religious party in Pakistan has risen to 54.

Daesh claimed responsibility for Sunday's bombing, which also wounded nearly 200 people.

The victims were attending a rally organised by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F party, headed by influential cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman.

And finally…

*) Türkiye beat Qatar in FIVB Men’s Final

Türkiye has defeated Qatar 3-2 in the FIVB Men’s Challenger Cup Final.

The Turkish National Volleyball Team won the final in Doha and secured its place in the 2024 Volleyball Nations League.

Earlier this month, The Turkish Women’s National Volleyball Team defeated powerhouse China to win the Volleyball Nations League.