WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump plans to skip the first Republican primary debate next week and instead sit for an online interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, the New York Times reported, citing people briefed on the matter.

Trump has for months suggested that he would likely pass on Wednesday night's debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, arguing that it did not make sense to give others a change to attack him given his sizeable lead among Republicans in national polls.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Hilary grew rapidly to Category 4 strength off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Friday and could reach Southern California as the first tropical storm there in 84 years, causing “significant and rare impacts” including extensive flooding.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said a tropical storm watch has been issued for Southern California, the first time it has ever done that.

18 August 2023; MEMO: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed his will to meet Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman “at the earliest opportunity”, confirming earlier reports of such an invitation being planned.

17 August 2023; MEMO: Turkiye is the fastest-growing holiday destination over the last five years, with flying programmes increasing by 200 per cent since 2018, the Independent reports.

According to the report, this growth has been driven by demand, resulting in an upsurge in flying frequency, longer seasons and the launch of holidays to a new Turkish destination, Izmir, in 2019 reported by the tour operator, Jet2holidays.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s controversial commission for examining Russian influence in Poland that is seen as targeting the opposition ahead of Oct. 15 parliamentary elections will not be formed before that vote, a prominent member of the ruling party said Friday.

The European Union and Poland’s ally the U.S. have strongly criticized the law calling for the commission, saying it would interfere with the democratic process in Poland. The EU has launched legal action against member country Poland over the contentious law.

DAMASCUS, Aug 18 (NNN-SANA) – Over 100 schools, ravaged by the massive Feb 6 earthquakes, in Syria’s northern province of Aleppo have been successfully renovated.

Mustafa Abdul-Ghani, the education director of Aleppo, confirmed the accomplishment of the restoration work of 146 schools, adding that, another 49 quake-damaged schools were under renovation.

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — If mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger’s president succeed, it will threaten democracy and security across the region and the continent, a high-ranking member of President Mohamed Bazoum’s political party warned in an interview with The Associated Press.

Boubacar Sabo said Bazoum had been “kidnapped” by members of the presidential guard who overthrew him on July 26 and have since kept him under house arrest.

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Britain on Friday asked its citizens to be vigilant when travelling to Denmark due to possible attacks, following Koran burnings by anti-Islam activists in Denmark and Sweden that have outraged Muslims.

Britain and the U.S. government have previously warned of possible attacks in neighbouring Sweden, which raised its terrorism alert to the second highest level on Thursday.

BEIRUT, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed, and six others were injured in a car accident on the Qalamoun highway in northern Lebanon, LBCI local TV channel reported.

The accident happened as two cars collided, causing one to hit a utility pole.

The victims were transported to nearby hospitals.

MINSK, August 18. /TASS/: The West, guided by its old-time anti-Russian ideology, is trying to emasculate the Slavs, first of all Russia, in the course of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia’s ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, said in response to a TASS question.

17 August 2023; MEMO: The United States (US) granted authorisation for the sale of Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defence system to Germany, in a deal worth $3.5 billion, reported Reuters.

The ministry said in a statement today that senior officials from the Israeli and German defence ministries would sign a letter of commitment to the deal with a preliminary payment of $600 million.

BANGKOK, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is stepping up construction of the China-Thailand railway in an effort to further develop domestic infrastructure, improve competitiveness, and enhance regional connectivity, according to deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul on Thursday.