*) UN concerned with safety of Afghan civilians

The UN says it's deeply concerned about the safety of tens of thousands of civilians in Afghanistan who are trapped by fighting between govt forces and the Taliban.

The insurgents have stepped up attacks in multiple provinces since US and NATO forces began withdrawing from the country.

Fighting has been particularly heavy around the city of Herat, near the western border with Iran, and Lashkar Gah and Kandahar in the south.

*) Kashmiris warned not to strike on annexation anniversary

Indian police are warning Kashmiri businesses not to take part in a shutdown to mark the second anniversary of India's annexation of the disputed Himalayan region.

Syed Ali Geelani, a 91-year-old pro-freedom leader, put the call out for today's mass action.

Two years ago, New Delhi unilaterally changed the semi-autonomous status of disputed Kashmir.

*) Tunisia’s Ghannouchi makes political turnaround

In an eyebrow-raising turnaround, Tunisia's Speaker of Parliament and opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi says he and his Ennahda Movement party support reform efforts by President Kais Said.

Last week, the president fired the prime minister and dissolved the government.

Many, including Ghannouchi, heavily criticised Said's actions, saying it amounted to a coup.

Ghannouchi now says he sees this an opportunity for the country.

*) Anti-govt protests in Ghana

Thousands have protested in Ghana, calling on the govt to improve the country's economy.

They're blaming the president for the economy's poor performance.

Protesters say rising prices and the coronavirus pandemic is making life very hard for citizens, especially the youth.

And finally ...

*) Parchment beats Holloway to gold in 110m men’s hurdles

Jamaican Hansle Parchment has beaten US world champion Grant Holloway to win gold in the men's Olympic 110m hurdles.

Parchment clocked 13.04s, with Holloway taking silver and another Jamaican, Ronald Levy, winning bronze.

The 31-year-old Jamaican made no mistake as he won the first global medal of his career.

*) Explosions rock Afghan capital

Multiple explosions and gunfire have rocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul, killing at least six people.

The first explosion was near the home of a minister while the second occurred a short time later.

Govt forces are battling Taliban insurgents across the country as they try to seize control of major cities.

*) Hot weather hampers firefighting efforts in Turkey

Eleven fires are still burning out of control in southern Turkey.

Firefighters and volunteers have been struggling as strong winds and hot temperatures stall their progress.

The EU has sent three firefighting planes, as support from the international community continues.

*) No justice a year after Beirut port blast

Today marks a year since a massive explosion killed 218 people and destroyed nearly half of Lebanon's capital.

Over 7,000 people were injured and many were left without limbs.

With political corruption rife, civilians don't know if justice will ever be served by the courts.

*) Inquiry finds NY Gov Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women

An investigation by the New York State Attorney General has found that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and violated federal and state law.

The report reveals his office was a toxic environment for women.

Cuomo refuted the findings of the report and maintained his innocence.

And finally ...

*) McLaughlin sets new world record in women’s 400m hurdles

Sydney McLaughlin of Team USA smashed her own world record as she stormed to victory in the Olympic women's 400m hurdles final.

McLaughlin powered home in 51.46s, with Dalilah Muhammad claiming silver and Femke Bol taking bronze.

The 21-year-old’s blistering time bettered her world record set in Oregon in June, when she ran in 51.90s.

*) Taliban attacks Afghan provincial capitals

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is blaming his country's deteriorating security situation on US and NATO troop withdrawal.

Assaults by the Taliban on provincial capitals are intensifying.

Thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes amid fears the cities could soon fall into the hands of the insurgents.

*) Hot weather hampering firefighting efforts in Turkey

Firefighters are still working tirelessly across Turkey to contain wildfires that are threatening towns and cities.

One of the worst-hit areas is Mugla, where four massive forest fires are still burning.

In Antalya, strong winds, searing temperatures and low humidity are hampering firefighting efforts.

*) Sheikh Jarrah families to wait another week for verdict

Israel's Supreme Court has failed to deliver a final verdict on the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah.

Families must wait for another week to hear the final ruling on their appeal.

The case has become an international cause, with millions around the world voicing their support for the affected families.

*) Hundreds protest Pakistan lockdown

Hundreds of people rallied against the latest coronavirus measures in Pakistan's Karachi.

A new lockdown, which began over the weekend, is set to end on Sunday.

Authorities say they imposed tougher measures to curb a surge in new infections and fatalities, but demonstrators say their livelihoods are in jeopardy.

And finally ...

*) Boeing to launch uncrewed test flight to ISS

Boeing will attempt an uncrewed spaceflight to the International Space Station on Tuesday.

The aviation company's Starliner capsule will launch on an Atlas V rocket built by the United Launch Alliance.

If successful, the mission will entail a pick-up and drop off of cargo from the ISS.

*) Wildfires brought under control in Turkey

At least eight people have died as firefighters continue taking out forest fires across Turkey.

So far, 117 out of 125 fires have been brought under control.

Families who evacuated affected areas are now returning back to their homes.

*) Wildfires in Greece, Italy

Meanwhile, at least 300 firefighters are battling wildfires in the west of Greece.

Several villages have been evacuated as the fires burn through pine forests and olive groves.

And in Italy, more than 800 wildfires were recorded over the weekend, fanned by hot winds from a heatwave.

*) Iran accused of attacking oil tanker

The US and the UK are accusing Iran of carrying out a drone attack on an oil tanker that resulted in two deaths.

Last week, a drone targeted merchant tanker Mercer Street, killing two crew members, a Brit and a Romanian.

The tanker is managed by an Israeli company, and Tel Aviv says this was the reason the ship was targeted. Iran has denied any involvement.
*) Zoom pays out $85M in lawsuit settlement

Video software firm Zoom has agreed to pay $85 million to settle a lawsuit in the US.

The company has been accused of violating users' privacy rights by sharing their personal data with Facebook, Google and LinkedIn.

It's also alleged that it allowed hackers to disrupt Zoom meetings in a practice called Zoombombing.

And finally ...

*) Italy’s Jacobs sprints to 100m glory

Italy’s Lamont Marcel Jacobs has won gold in the 100m sprint event at the Tokyo Olympics.

In a dramatic final, Britain's Zharnel Hughes was disqualified for a false start leaving a seven man field.

Jacobs won with a time of 9.80 seconds ahead of USA's Fred Kerley and Canada's Andre de Grasse.

TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, July 30th:

*) Syrian regime continues attack on Daraa

Syrian regime forces are attacking Daraa in the south, trying to regain control of some areas from opposition groups.

They're targeting populated areas with rockets and artillery fire, killing at least 15 Syrian civilians as regime soldiers reportedly defect during the fighting.

Activists have warned Daraa is facing a medical crisis after the regime destroyed the area's only medical centre on Wednesday.

*) Afghan forces repel Taliban attack on outskirts of Herat city

Afghan forces repelled a Taliban attack on the outskirts of Afghanistan's western city of Herat, officials have said.

The Taliban recently seized several districts around the city as well as two border crossings in the province along the frontiers with Iran and Turkmenistan.

The insurgents launched their assault in early May, soon after the US-led foreign forces began their final withdrawal which is now almost complete.

*) Biden orders tough vaccination rules for federal workers

US President Joe Biden has announced new pandemic requirements to boost Covid-19 vaccination rates for millions of federal workers and contractors.

Federal workers will have to sign forms attesting they’ve been vaccinated or comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, and distancing.

US citizens will be given up to 100 dollars if they get jabbed, with Biden also urging the public to go back to wearing masks while indoors, even if vaccinated.

*) Turkey battles forest fires in country's south

Scorching heat and strong winds have fanned forest fires in southern Turkey, killing at least four people and hospitalising 58.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters battled the flames of 20 fires that erupted across six Turkish provinces in the last two days.

Dozens of houses have been damaged or destroyed in Antalya with farming lands also scorched.

And finally ...

*) Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over ‘Black Widow’ release

Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney for releasing the superhero movie "Black Widow" on streaming at the same time as in theatres, alleging a breach of contract.

Johansson was entitled to a percentage of box office receipts from the much-anticipated Marvel film, according to a lawsuit filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court.

The movie was originally due for a big-screen release in 2020 but was delayed multiple times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

*) Residents flee as winds fan massive wildfire in southern Turkey

A massive forest fire in Turkey's Antalya has spread to the town of Manavgat, with at least one person reported dead.

The town mayor said flames had spread as far as the town centre, where many buildings were being evacuated.

Antalya Mayor Muhittin Bocek said the fire had started at four different points and four neighbourhoods had been evacuated as yet.

*) Peru's Castillo, in first speech as president, pledges to heal colonial wounds

Pedro Castillo said Peru's colonial wounds still ran deep and he would seek to heal them in his inaugural speech as president.

Colonial-era divisions that separated classes and races in Peru remained, Castillo said, speaking on the day that marked 200 years since the country declared independence from Spain.

He sought to calm fears among the business community, who had sought to portray him as a communist, vowing a "new deal with private investors."

*) Tunisian president replaces head of national TV

Tunisian President Kais Saied has fired the head of the national television station – one of two dozen officials sacked since Sunday.

Saied on Sunday invoked emergency powers to seize control of government, remove the prime minister and freeze Parliament in a move his foes have called a coup.

Mohamed al Dahach, Wataniya's CEO, was removed after he claimed the army forbade the station from inviting union and human rights representatives to a show. The army denied the accusation.

*) Cambodia imposes virus curbs along Thailand border over Delta fears

Cambodia has imposed a lockdown in eight provinces bordering Thailand to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The lockdown bans people from leaving their homes, gathering in groups and conducting business. Border checkpoints with Thailand will also be closed except for emergencies.

Cambodia and Thailand managed to largely contain the virus for most of last year, but are facing stubborn outbreaks driven by the Delta variant.

And finally ...

*) Living up to the hype: Dressel wins 1st individual gold medal

At an Olympics where some of America's biggest stars have faltered, Caeleb Dressel lived up to the hype.

Dressel claimed the first individual Olympic gold medal of his career with two furious laps of the pool, winning the 100-metre freestyle over defending champion Kyle Chalmers.

As is his style, Dressel dove into the pool and came up with the lead.

*) Tunisia's biggest party ready for elections, warns against 'autocratic regime'

Tunisia's biggest political party, Ennahda, is calling for dialogue after President Kais Saied sacked the prime minister and suspended parliament.

Saied has been accused of launching a coup. But he says he's acting within Tunisia's constitution.

The party's top official said it is ready to go to early legislative and presidential elections while warning against delays as a pretext to maintain the status quo.

*) US police officers testify at first House hearing on Capital riots

A US House select committee has held its first hearing into the deadly attack on the Capitol building in Washington, DC on January 6.

At least five people were killed as a mob of former president Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building.

Four police officers shared testimony of being attacked while trying to protect the building. Officer Daniel Hodges testified he had no doubt that the rioters were there to kill members of Congress.

*) Landslide kills Rohingya refugees at Cox' Bazar camp

At least six Rohingya refugees, including children, have been killed in a landslide that hit their camp in Bangladesh.

It happened at Cox's Bazar refugee camp, in which more than a million people reside.

Heavy monsoon rains have prompted Bangladeshi authorities to relocate thousands of Rohingya to safer areas.

*) Torrential rain triggers mudslides in towns around Lake Como

Extreme weather continues to grip Europe, this time Italy. Dozens of houses have been hit by mudslides and floods near Lake Como, the popular holiday hotspot.

Houses and villas were submerged in debris in the towns of Laglio, Cernobbio and Brienno.

Italian firefighters carried out more than 60 rescues in the area.

And finally ...

*) Vatican tries former senior cardinal on corruption charges

A landmark fraud trial of ten people has started at the Vatican. It includes a cardinal who was once a close ally of the Pope.

Cardinal Angelo Becciu is the most senior Vatican official to be tried for financial crimes after Pope Francis removed his immunity.

Becciu is accused of misusing Church funds causing the Vatican to lose millions of dollars.