*) Voting abroad continues in Türkiye’s runoff presidential elections

Voting by Turks living abroad has continued for Türkiye’s May 28 presidential runoff elections, with over 1.4 million Turkish nationals casting ballots so far.

Voting at diplomatic missions will end on May 24, while the process will continue at customs gates until 5 pm local time on May 28.

Votes cast in Estonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland were sent to Türkiye.

*) Third-place Ogan endorses Erdogan in Türkiye's presidential runoff vote

Meanwhile in Türkiye, Sinan Ogan, who came third in last week's presidential election in Türkiye, has endorsed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the runoff vote on May 28.

Calling on his supporters to back Erdogan in the runoff, he said the two had all kinds of consultations before making the decision.

Erdogan will face Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and joint candidate for the Nation Alliance, in the runoff vote.

*) Air strikes, combat as one-week Sudan truce officially starts

Witnesses in the Sudanese capital Khartoum have reported clashes and air strikes minutes after a one-week humanitarian ceasefire took effect.

The army and the rival paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces reached the agreement in Saudi Arabia over the weekend. The truce is intended to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

After more than five weeks of fighting, the conflict has killed hundreds of people, and left hundreds of thousands more displaced.

*) Russia evacuates civilians from Belgorod region

Kremlin forces have battled a cross-border incursion by what it calls a Ukrainian sabotage group, in Russia's Belgorod region. Kiev denies its involvement.

The city's governor says a number of people had been injured in clashes with what they call 'saboteurs'.

Ukraine has denied any involvement, claiming it was actually two armed Russian opposition groups that had carried out the attacks.

Meanwhile, Kiev says its forces are still holding on to parts of the eastern city of Bakhmut - despite Russian mercenary Wagner group and the Kremlin saying they had seized the city.

*) G20 meeting kicks off in disputed Kashmir sans China, Saudi Arabia, others

A G20 tourism meeting has begun under tight security in India-administered Kashmir.

The three-day meeting that began on Monday is the first significant international event in Kashmir since New Delhi stripped the Muslim-majority region of its semi-autonomy in 2019.

Indian authorities hope the meeting will show that the contentious changes have brought peace and prosperity to the region.

But both China and Pakistan have condemned holding the event in the disputed territory, which is split between New Delhi and Islamabad, both of whom claim it in full.

*) Battle for Bakhmut: Russia claims control but Ukraine says fight not over

Although Russia claims it has won control of Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut, top Ukrainian military leaders say the battle is not over.

Russia’s defence ministry said Wagner mercenaries backed by Russian troops had seized the city, after a grinding nine-month conflict in which tens of thousands of fighters have died.

However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Bakhmut was not being fully occupied.

*) Arab countries condemn Israeli minister’s storming of Al Aqsa complex

Jordan, Qatar and Egypt have condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s storming of Al Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.

The far-right minister had forced his way into the flashpoint site early Sunday under Israeli police protection, in the second such tour since he joined the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late last year.

While inside the site, Ben-Gvir claimed Israel's ownership of the complex in a video message from the mosque's courtyard.

*) Israel kills three Palestinians in occupied West Bank refugee camp

Israeli security forces have killed three Palestinians during a raid in the occupied West Bank early on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Gunfire and loud explosions rocked the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, witnesses said, adding that a house was demolished.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, said the three were among the group's fighters.

*) US, Papua New Guinea to sign defence pact amid competition with China

Papua New Guinea will sign a defence pact with the United States, giving US forces access to its airfields and ports. This comes as Washington vies with China's growing footprint in the Pacific region.

The State Department said the new agreement would provide a framework to help improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of PNG’s defence force and increase regional stability.

By signing the security deal with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also expand the US military's capacity to deploy in the region.

*) Greece PM's party wins election, but not outright victory: initial results

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' party has registered a victory at the election, the first results show but fell short of an outright majority to rule alone.

With just over 50 percent of the ballot counted on Sunday, his New Democracy party was credited with 40.9 percent of the votes.

His party had a 20-point lead ahead of his nearest rival, Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party, which garnered 20.1 percent.

Now, Mitsotakis will either enter into tough negotiations with his rivals to seek a coalition or he could opt to head to a new election, likely in early July.

*) Palestinians protesting 'Flag March' face Israeli fire

Israeli forces have fired tear gas and live bullets at Palestinians in occupied Gaza as they protested against a "flag march" in occupied Jerusalem.

One Gaza resident was wounded in the protests against the annual event marking Israel's capture of Jerusalem in the 1967 war.

Thousands of illegal Israeli settlers and far-right Israelis had gathered in occupied East Jerusalem, raising racist chants against Arabs and also storming Al Aqsa Mosque compound.

*) Pakistan police outside Imran Khan's house

Pakistani police have kept up their presence around the home of former prime minister Imran Khan as a deadline to hand over suspects allegedly sheltered inside expired.

The siege and the authorities' demand for the suspects, wanted in violent protests over Khan's recent detention, have raised fears of renewed clashes.

Khan had demanded a probe into the violence, but denied his supporters were behind it, instead accusing Pakistan's ruling party of trying to foment trouble between his supporters and the army.

*) China unveils Central Asia development plan

China's President Xi Jinping has unveiled an ambitious plan to help further modernise and develop Central Asia in an address at the China-Central Asia Summit.

Xi said China stands ready to synergise development strategies with the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

He also urged the six countries to oppose external interference in their internal affairs and maintain a zero-tolerance stance against separatism and extremism.

*) Scores killed in central Nigeria clashes

More than 3,000 people have been displaced in central Nigeria after 85 people were killed in clashes between herders and farmers.

The violence erupted on May 15th in several villages of Plateau State, an area which has struggled with ethnic and religious tensions for years.

It was unclear what triggered this week's attacks in Mangu district, but tit-for-tat killings between herders and farmers often spiral into village raids by heavily armed gangs.

And finally…

*) Türkiye marks Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day

Türkiye celebrates the 104th anniversary of the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day, a milestone marking the beginning of the country's War of Independence.

19 May 1919 was the day when Türkiye’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk arrived in the Black Sea city of Samsun to launch the war that transformed the Turkish republic.

The national holiday, dedicated to the Turkish youth by Ataturk, sees youth take part in sporting and cultural activities with official ceremonies across the country.

*) Ukraine grain deal extended

Russia has agreed to extend the Türkiye-brokered Black Sea grain deal, allowing Ukraine to resume grain exports halted after the Russia-Ukraine conflict began.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the two-month extension, saying Ankara hoped to “see the days when the war between Russia and Ukraine will end”.

The deal, renewed a day before it was set to expire on May 18th, eases a global food crisis exacerbated by the conflict.

*) Pakistan ex-PM's bail extended

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan has secured an extension to his protective bail until May 31st.

According to Khan’s lawyer, the extension came as the prosecutor requested more time to produce details of the case against him.

As for his supporters, involved in violent protests over his arrest, the information minister for Punjab province said they would be tried by military courts.

*) Iran, Russia transport network agreement

Iran and Russia have agreed to collaborate on the construction of the final part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.

Iran’s Transport Minister signed the agreement with his Russian counterpart in Tehran, saying the 164-kilometre railway in Iran's north would be completed within three years.

The commercial transport network passes from northeast Russia via Azerbaijan to Iran's southern coastline and on to India by sea, steering clear of Western sea lanes.

Russia and Iran are both under international sanctions that restrict trade.

*) 843,000 internally displaced in Sudan conflict

The International Organization for Migration has announced that more than 843,000 people have been internally displaced since the start of the conflict in Sudan.

In a statement, the organisation warned that 1.8 million more are expected to be internally displaced if the war persists.

Nearly 259,000 people have escaped from Sudan to nearby countries since clashes began mid-April amid a power struggle between Sudan’s army and paramilitary force.

*) Next five years will see hottest period ever

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that the years from 2023 to 2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded.

There is a 98 percent chance that “at least one of the next five years, and the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record,” according to the UN weather agency.

As greenhouse gases and El Nino combine to send temperatures soaring, the World will soon exceed the 1.5C threshold from Paris climate accords on a temporary basis.

*) Turkish women in parliament

Women's representation in the Turkish parliament has risen to the highest level in history after Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

According to the unofficial results, 121 women secured seats in the 600-member parliament.

The female representation rate, which was 17.1 percent in the previous elections, rose to 20.1 percent this year.

*) Chinese fishing vessel capsizes

A Chinese fishing vessel has capsized in the central Indian Ocean with its crew of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian and five Filipino sailors missing.

State media reported that so far, none of the missing 39 persons had been found as President Xi Jinping ordered a search and rescue operation.

Search and rescue teams from Australia and several other countries had also arrived on the scene.

*) Biden scraps visits to focus on debt talks

United States President Joe Biden has scrapped planned visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea to instead focus on talks on the nation's debt limit.

After the G7 summit in Japan, Biden will join the final negotiations with congressional leaders to ensure that Congress takes action to avert a default.

Biden’s decision came after the secretary of treasure warned of "catastrophic" consequences if the US ran out of cash to pay its bills, defaulting on debts as early as June 1st.

*) East Libya-based parliament replaces PM

Libya's eastern-based parliament has voted to replace Fathi Bashagha as prime minister, assigning his finance minister Osama Hamad to take over his duties.

The parliament spokesperson said the move came after Bashagha failed to take office in Tripoli where the incumbent Abdulhamid Dbeibah has refused to cede power.

*) Germany jails five over art heist

A German court has sentenced five gang members to up to six years in prison for snatching priceless 18th-century jewels from a Dresden museum in November 2019.

The court handed down sentences ranging from just under to just over six years for armed robbery, aggravated arson and grievous bodily harm.

In what has been dubbed the biggest art heist in modern history, the thieves stole 21 pieces decorated with 4,300 jewels from the Green Vault museum in under five minutes.

They made off with a haul worth more than 123 million dollars. Some of the loot was recovered in exchange for four of the defendants confessing in court.

*) Türkiye 2023 election goes to runoff

Türkiye's 2023 presidential election has gone to a runoff after no candidate was able to clear the required 50 percent of the vote in the first round on May 14th.

The country’s incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.51 percent of the vote, while his main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu secured 44.88 percent.

The run-off will be between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu on May 28.

*) Fresh Russian air attacks on Kiev

Explosions have rocked Ukraine’s Kiev as air defence systems repelled Russian air attacks on the capital and other places in the country.

Ukraine downed an entire barrage of Russian drones and missiles, including six advanced Kinzhal missiles.

The developments show Ukraine has bolstered its air defences after a winter of systemic strikes on key infrastructure.

*) Tunisia sentences Saied's opponent

A Tunisian court has sentenced Rached Ghannouchi, one of the main opponents of President Kais Saied, to a year in prison following his arrest last month.

Ennahdha party leader Ghannouchi had appeared in court on terror-related charges at the end of February after being accused of calling police officers "tyrants".

Human Rights Watch had called his arrest a move "to neutralise the country's largest political party".

*) Teen kills multiple people in New Mexico

An 18-year-old gunman has shot three people to death and wounded six others in a US town before he was fatally shot by police outside a church.

Local police said they responded "to find a chaotic scene where a male subject was actively firing upon individuals" in a residential area.

Two officers, who were struck in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, were among those wounded in the shooting in northwest New Mexico.

Three civilians were killed.

*) 31 Abrams tanks

The US Defence Department announced that 31 M1 Abrams training tanks have been sent to Germany a few weeks ahead of a US-led training program for Ukrainian forces.

Expected to last several months, the training program is aimed at preparing Ukrainian tech crews to operate and maintain the tanks, which will be used to defend Ukraine against Russia.

*) Israeli strikes on Gaza enter fourth day

Israel's air strikes on Gaza have entered the fourth day with at least 30 Palestinians killed.

Officials in Gaza said several civilians, including children, women, and elderly were killed in the air strikes, while Islamic Jihad confirmed it has lost five military leaders.

Meanwhile, Israeli police reported that rocket fire from the Gaza Strip killed one person in a central Israeli city and injured at least two others.

Three others sustained shrapnel injuries elsewhere in Israel.

*) Pakistan orders release of Imran Khan

Pakistan's Supreme Court has declared the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan "invalid" after his detention sparked violent protests across the country.

In response to a petition by Khan’s political party challenging the arrest, the Supreme Court said the process would be backtracked.

Khan was arrested on Tuesday on corruption charges and remanded in custody in a culmination of months of political crisis.

*) US Republicans pass bill restricting asylum

United States House Republicans have passed a bill to enhance the US-Mexico border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers.

Passed by a six vote difference, the legislation is a hard-line counter to President Joe Biden's policies and has virtually no chance of becoming law.

Biden has already promised he would veto the bill, which includes aggressive measures decried by Democrats as “cruel” and “anti-immigrant".

*) Mpox no longer a global health emergency

The World Health Organization has announced that mpox no longer constitutes a global health emergency, almost a year after the disease began spreading globally.

WHO’s decision was prompted by falling case numbers worldwide, but the disease remains a threat, particularly in areas of Africa where it has long been present.

The declaration came just a week after the UN agency also said that Covid-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

*) Maiden's Tower reopens to visitors

Istanbul's iconic Maiden's Tower has reopened its doors to visitors with a special light and laser show after a two-year restoration.

Perched on a small island approximately 200 metres from the Uskudar coast, the Maiden's Tower offers a unique 360-degree view of Istanbul.

The landmark, with its rich history and numerous legends that add to its fame, will continue to serve as a memorial museum for visitors from near and far.

*) Israel-Palestine fighting in Gaza intensifies

Israel continues with its air attacks on Gaza, killing at least 23 Palestinians, including 10 civilians and the head of Islamic Jihad movement’s rocket-launching force.

Palestinian armed groups have also launched volleys of rockets towards Israel.

The United Nations condemned Israel, saying the country must abide by international humanitarian law, including the proportional use of force, and take all feasible precautions to spare civilians.

*) Black Sea grain deal meeting begins in Istanbul

The two-day talks for an extension of the Türkiye brokered Black Sea grain deal between Russia and Ukraine began in Istanbul on Wednesday, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

Deputy defence ministers of the three countries met with UN officials to extend the deal from last July, which resumed grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

So far, 30 million tons of grain have been transported to those in need under the deal, which is set to expire on May 18th.

*) Pakistan deploys army to quell violence

Pakistan's government has brought out the military in areas roiled by deadly violence following the arrest of former premier Imran Khan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the unrest by Khan's supporters "damaged sensitive public and private property," forcing him to deploy the military in the capital Islamabad, the province of Punjab and in volatile regions of the northwest.

At least eight people have been killed, nearly 300 wounded, and over 1,900 detained across the country according to local media.

*) Sudan's rival armies make progress in talks

Talks between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Saudi Arabia have reportedly made progress, and a ceasefire agreement is expected soon.

Envoys of the warring generals have been meeting in Jeddah since this weekend.

During the fighting, which killed more than 750 people and wounded over 5,000, multiple ceasefires have been declared and flouted.

Negotiations aim to secure an effective truce and allow access for aid workers and supplies.

*) Microsoft signs deal with nuclear fusion company

Nuclear fusion company Helion Energy has announced that it will provide Microsoft with electricity in about five years, in the first such deal for the power source.

The nuclear fusion plant will target power generation of 50 megawatts or greater after a one-year ramp-up period.

Government labs and more than 30 companies are racing to generate power from fusion, which could one day help the world slash emissions linked to climate change.

*) Dozen killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza

At least twelve people have been killed and over 20 others injured in Israeli air strikes on besieged Gaza.

According to Palestinian officials, three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement were killed alongside at least nine civilians, including four children.

The Israeli military said the aerial bombings were directed at the three senior commanders, who were accused for recent rocket fire toward Israel.

The Palestinian group said Israel had scorned all initiatives of mediators and vowed to "avenge the leaders" killed in the latest air strikes.

*) Air strikes hit Sudan as talks yield no breakthrough

Air strikes have again shaken Sudan's capital while the latest truce talks in Saudi Arabia yielded no major progress.

A Saudi diplomat said a permanent ceasefire wasn’t on the table as both sides considered themselves capable of winning the battle.

Sudan was thrown into deadly chaos when fighting broke out on April 15 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The battles have since killed hundreds, wounded thousands and uprooted hundreds of thousands, leading to fears of security fallout beyond Sudan's borders.

*) Russia marks Victory Day amid Ukraine conflict

Russia has celebrated Victory Day, marking the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, as the nearly 15-month war in Ukraine continued to rage.

Russians commemorated the Great Patriotic War, in which around 27 million citizens perished, as they mourned thousands of soldiers killed in the Ukraine conflict.

Celebrations took place amid tight security following a series of drone attacks, including one on the Kremlin, that Moscow says was Kiev’s attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

*) Iran hangs two men over blasphemy charges

Iran has hanged two men convicted of blasphemy as executions surge across the country following months of unrest.

Convicted of desecrating the Quran and insulting the Prophet Mohammed, the two men were arrested in May 2020 and faced months of solitary confinement.

Iran remains one of the world's top executioners, but carrying out executions for blasphemy remains rare, as previous cases saw the sentences reduced by authorities.

*) Thousands march against violence in Serbia

Thousands have rallied in the Serbian capital following back-to-back shootings that killed 17 people in less than 48 hours, including nine children at an elementary school.

The "Serbia against violence" demonstration in Belgrade saw more than ten thousand demonstrators from across the country's political divide come together.

The protesters called for the resignation of a number of top officials and the curtailing of violence in the media.

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, May 8th.

*) Russia launches large-scale strikes across Ukraine

Russia has launched a large-scale wave of strikes across Ukraine, injuring at least five people in Kiev and setting ablaze a foodstuff warehouse in the Black Sea city of Odessa.

The fresh attacks come as Moscow prepares for its Victory Day, which marks the anniversary of its defeat of Nazi Germany.

In his campaign against Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has evoked the spirit of the Soviet defeat of Nazi forces, alleging that Kiev is in the grip of a new incarnation of Nazism.

*) Car-ramming incident kills seven in US

In United States’ Texas, at least seven pedestrians have been killed and several others injured when an SUV mowed down people near a homeless shelter for migrants.

Some migrants were among the dead in the incident in Brownsville, a city on the border with Mexico, according to local police.

It was not clear if the driver had crashed into the group intentionally or lost control of the vehicle. He was taken into custody and charged with reckless driving.

*) PKK supporters attack Turkish election observers

Supporters of the PKK terrorist organisation have attacked election observers in the Netherlands as voting in Türkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections took place.

Part of a bigger group, PKK supporters assaulted ballot box observers of the People's Alliance as polls were closing at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.

Police intervened against the attackers, who shouted slogans in favour of the PKK, and maintained security in the area until the votes were counted and sealed.

*) Israel demolishes EU-funded Palestinian school

Israeli army forces have demolished a European Union-funded Palestinian school in the occupied West Bank for lack of a building permit, according to a local official.

The al Tahadi school, which housed over 60 students, was located in the Oslo Accords-described Area C of the occupied West Bank that is under Israeli army control.

Israel widely uses the pretext of a lack of construction permits to demolish Palestinian homes, especially in Area C.

The EU slammed Israel over the demolition, saying: Demolitions are illegal under international law, and children’s right to education must be respected.

And finally…

*) Pulitzer Prize day honours journalism's best work

The Pulitzer Prizes will be awarded today to honour outstanding journalism from 2022, as well as arts categories focused on books, music and theater.

The winners will be announced during a livestream beginning at 1900GMT. The public service prize winner receives a gold medal.

All other winners receive 15,000 dollars.

The prizes were established in the will of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer and first awarded in 1917.

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