WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, July 30, 2018 to 0800 GMT, July 31, 2018.

US govt. in disarray

The US secretary of state lists several requirements for a meeting with Iran just two hours after President Donald Trump said he is ready for talks without preconditions. Mike Pompeo made the remarks during an interview with CNBC news channel. Pompeo also accused Iran of launching missiles toward Saudi Arabia, and arming people in Iraq and Syria as well as Lebanon’s resistance movement, Hezbollah. The comments came shortly after Trump said he is willing to meet with top Iranian officials anytime.

US police brutality

US authorities have released body camera footage showing two police officers fatally shooting a black man while he’s yelling don’t shoot me. The incident took place in the city of Minneapolis in June. Police claim that 31-year-old Thurman Blevins was armed during the foot chase. Hennepin County prosecutor's office also refused to file criminal charges against the officers. It said the victim pulled out his gun and pointed it toward the officers before he was shot. The prosecutor's office noted that the officers were authorized to use deadly force under those circumstances. US police are continuously criticized over fatal shooting and brutality against African-Americans. The use of excessive force by police has sparked nationwide protests in recent years.

Syria peace talks

The tenth round of Syria peace talks is underway in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. The formation of a committee tasked with rewriting Syria’s constitution tops the agenda of discussions. Delegations from Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syria attended the meeting on Monday. Besides constitutional reforms, they discussed humanitarian issues including prisoner exchanges, helping refugees to return to Syria and the search for missing people. The agenda of the two-day talks also include strengthening the trust between Syria’s opposition groups and the government. The Sochi talks are being held within the framework of previous round of talks held in Kazakhstan. Moscow, Tehran and Ankara have been mediating the talks since January 2017 in a bid to bring peace to the war-torn country.

Saudi war on Yemen

Four civilians have been killed and several others wounded during a Saudi airstrike on Yemen's Hudaydah province. Reports say children were among the injured. The Yemeni victims were on their way to Durahmi Directorate. Saudi Arabia launched its aggression against Yemen in March 2015. Since then, more than 14,700 people have been killed.

Israel judaizing al-Quds

A settler organization has announced a joint project with two Israeli ministries to erect a so-called Jewish quarter, including a heritage center, in the Silwan neighborhood of the East Jerusalem Al-Quds. Palestinians say this is another move aimed at Judaizing the area around the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. More details in the following report by our Al-Quds Correspondent Fatima AbdulKarim.

Afghanistan deadly blast

A roadside bomb has hit a bus in the western Afghan province of Farah, killing at least eleven people. The bomb attack that hit the vehicle, en route the Afghan capital Kabul, also wounded some 40 people. Local police say the bomb was planted by Taliban militants, who have a heavy presence in the province. Meanwhile, a number of gunmen reportedly attacked a building of the department of refugee affairs in the city of Jalalabad in the eastern province of Nangarhar. Local officials said there were three explosions followed by gunshots. There were no details on possible casualties or who conducted the attack.

Korean Peninsula tensions

The militaries of North and South Korea have held talks in an attempt to further defuse tensions at the two countries’ borders. The meeting was held in the village of Pan-mun-jom in the Demilitarized Zone. It was designed to follow on from an inter-Korean summit in April during which the leaders of the two countries agreed to halt all hostile acts. Meanwhile, US intelligence agencies have reportedly found that North Korea is building new missiles, based on satellite photographs taken in recent weeks. The Washington Post says the factory, where the work is underway, produced North Korea’s first intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Nicaragua unrest

Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega, says the US was behind a wave of deadly unrest that has rocked his country since three months ago. Ortega has told Euronews that the US has intervened militarily in Nicaragua. He said American entities have been funneling millions of dollars to Nicaragua groups, under the guise of upholding democracy. Ortega said the money has been diverted to destabilize the country by armed actions, leading to nearly 200 deaths. The president also rejected calls for snap elections.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk