July 1, 2019 - Daily News Brief - a podcast by TRT World

Turkey demands Libyan armed group release its citizens, and Japan resumes commercial whale hunting

This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Monday, July 1st.

*)Turkey demands Libya’s Haftar release its citizens
Turkey has warned Libya’s Khalifa Haftar that his militia will become a “legitimate target” if he doesn’t release six detained Turkish citizens immediately.

Turkey vowed to respond to any attacks on its vessels or interests after Haftar’s forces said they were their targets in Libya’s civil war.

Ankara has been backing the UN-recognised government in Tripoli against the militia.

*)Violent clashes as Hong Kong marks China handover anniversary

Protesters tried to ram their way into Hong Kong’s parliament, battling police armed with pepper spray, on the anniversary of the territory’s handover to China.

Historic demonstrations rocked Hong Kong in the past three weeks, demanding an end to a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China.

Democracy activists are planning a massive protest for later in the day.

*)Seven killed in fresh protests in Sudan

At least seven people were killed across Sudan after security forces used tear gas and live bullets to disperse pro-civilian rule protesters.

The demonstrations were the largest since security forces killed more than 100 people in a raid on a sit-in in Khartoum in early June, according to doctors.

Sudan’s protesters demand the ruling military council hand over power to a transitional civilian body.

*)Bus crash in India-administered Kashmir kills 31

A minibus crash in Indian-administered Kashmir has killed at least 31 people.

The bus plunged off a Himalayan mountain road as the driver negotiated a curve and rolled down into a 150-metre deep gorge along a rocky stream.

At least seven people were critically injured.

*)Ships set off in Japan’s first commercial whale hunt in over 30 years

And finally,

Five small ships set sail on Monday in Japan’s first commercial whale hunt in more than 30 years.

The move aroused fears for the fate of the whales amid fears that Japan’s whaling-for-research is a guise for selling the creature’s meat.

Japan’s exit from the whaling commission to resume hunting was the culmination of years of campaigns by industry supporters and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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

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