Curfew in Minneapolis after police killing of Black man, and Muslims begin fasting month of Ramadan amid coronavirus pandemic

NEWSREADER INTRO: This is TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Tuesday, April 13th.

*) Curfew imposed in Minneapolis after police killing of Black man

A curfew has been imposed in Minneapolis after protests erupted over the police killing of a Black man some 16 km from where George Floyd died last year.

A cop shot dead 20-year-old Daunte Wright on Sunday during a traffic stop, later claimed she "mistakenly" used her gun instead of a taser.

Police bodycam footage shows the officer shouting "Taser! Taser! Taser!" but then, instead, firing a gun at the victim.

*) ‘Protecting Libya's sovereignty Turkey's top goal’

President Erdogan says Turkey will support Libya’s Government of National Unity just as it did for the previous government.

Erdogan made the statement after receiving Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh for a two-day visit to Turkey.

Dbeibeh stressed Libya’s keenness to enhance relations with Turkey and hoped for cooperation in security reforms as well as combating terrorism and cross-border crime.

*) Japan to release contaminated Fukushima water into sea

Japan says it will release massive amounts of treated radioactive water from the tanks of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

The move prompted anger from activists and fishing communities as well as concern from neighbouring countries including China and South Korea.

The water is stored in tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant since its 2011 meltdown after a massive earthquake and tsunami.

*) OPCW: Syrian regime used chemical weapons Saraqeb attack

A global chemical weapons watchdog says the Syrian regime dropped chlorine bombs in the rebel-controlled city of Saraqeb in February 2018.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says a dozen people were treated for symptoms consistent with chemical poisoning.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian regime but Damascus and its ally Russia have repeatedly denied using chemical weapons in the war.

And finally …

*) Muslims begin observing Ramadan for second time in pandemic

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has begun across several countries as much of the world grapples with an intense new coronavirus wave.

A time for fasting, worship and charity, Ramadan is also when Muslims congregate for prayers and gather around for meals to break their fast.

But hopes of many Muslims of a better Ramadan than last year have been dashed because of curbs imposed due to the pandemic.