WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, July 7, 2018.

Somalia bomb blasts

At least 13 people are wounded in two separate explosions in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. A car bomb went off near Somalia’s presidential palace while another blast struck near a police station. According to police sources, the blasts were followed by gunfire. The al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to overthrow the government in Mogadishu for over a decade. Despite losing towns and territory in recent years, the group continues to carry out regular bombings and armed raids on government, security and civilian targets across the African nation.

Migrant reunion row

The United States government wants a California judge to give it more time to reunite migrant parents with their children under 5, who were separated at the border. The US government has until Tuesday to reunite at least 100 toddlers with their parents. Government attorneys say it’s been unable to find parental ties for 19 cases. They argue that the process takes time, as they have to use DNA tests to determine parentage. The judge has not revised the deadline. Instead, he’s asked the government to offer the list of all toddlers by Saturday night. They’re among more than 2,300 children separated from their parents at the Mexican border. Family members were detained separately, after President Donald Trump ordered tough immigration policies in May. The separation caused outcry in and outside the US.

Japan deadly floods

Torrential rain has killed nearly 40 people and forced mass evacuations in western and central Japan. At least 50 people are missing while four are in critical condition after being injured in landslides. Officials have described the downpour as historic and warned citizens about the possibility of more landslides, rising rivers and strong winds. More than 1.6 million people have been ordered to evacuate and over 3 million more advised to leave their homes. About 48,000 police, firefighters and members of Japan's Self-Defense Forces are helping with search and rescue operations.

‘Regrettable talks’

North Korea has accused the United States of unilateral demands for denuclearization during two days of talks in Pyongyang. North Korea made the remarks in a statement by foreign ministry. According to the statement, Washington insisted on complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization while Pyongyang wanted a phased approach under which both sides take steps at the same time. The statement said the talks have led to a dangerous phase as they might have rattled North Korea’s firm will for denuclearization. It also described the US attitude and positions at the high-level talks as extremely troubling and regrettable. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited North Korea Friday and Saturday for denuclearization talks with Pyongyang.

Battle for Dara’a

Syrian government forces have retaken control of the Nasib border crossing with Jordan following a Russian-brokered surrender agreement with militants. The militants agreed to lay down arms on Friday, surrendering Dara’a province to the government. This has marked another major victory for President Bashar al-Assad and his allies in their fight against foreign-backed militants. They had agreed to hand over weapons in all the towns and cities of Dara’a as included in the deal. President Assad now controls most of Syria with the help of his allies, though most of the north and a chunk of the east are still under militant control. Syria’s next target in the southwest is militant-held areas of Quneitra province at the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Iran oil output

Iran’s oil minister says there has been no significant change in the country’s oil production and export despite US pressures. Bijan Zanganeh condemned the US president for trying to politicize the decisions of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. He said the global hike in oil prices is a result of Donald Trump’s demand from some OPEC members to increase their production. Zanganeh added the US president’s order is an insult to the national sovereignty of these independent governments and nations. He added such policy is against the founding principles of OPEC. The top Iranian official emphasized that Tehran will resist US measures and will safeguard its market share by all means.

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