Briefly

UNITED STATES

Rival groups square off at Kentucky Derby

Armed supporters of the police clashed briefly with anti-racism protesters in Louisville before the Kentucky Derby horse race on Saturday. In the afternoon, hundreds of protesters marched toward the Churchill Downs track chanting "No justice, no derby", a nod to activists' calls to cancel the annual race, which was being held without spectators to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Louisville has emerged as a flashpoint in a summer of unrest because of outrage over the death of Breonna Taylor, 26, a black woman killed in March when city police burst into her apartment using a so-called no-knock arrest warrant that did not require them to announce themselves. Sadiqa Reynolds, president of the Louisville Urban League, said that while the protesters' goal of canceling the race had not been achieved, their demands, which include holding officers involved in Taylor's death accountable, were heard.

QATAR

Taliban return to Doha; stage set for talks

Taliban officials say a senior delegation returned to Qatar on Saturday, paving the way for the start of peace talks with the Afghan government that are expected to take place in the Gulf state. The delayed negotiations are the second, critical part of a peace deal the United States signed with the Taliban in Doha in February. The Taliban delegation's arrival in Qatar, where the group has its political office, came as a top Afghan government body blamed the militants for delays in starting talks. The spokesman for Kabul's High Council for National Reconciliation, Faraidoon Khwazoon, said on Saturday that the government was ready to start direct negotiations. Until its deal with the US in February, the Taliban refused to directly negotiate with the Afghan government.

SYRIA

Pro-govt fighters capture IS militants

Pro-government fighters ambushed five Islamic State militants in the countryside of Deir al-Zour Province in eastern Syria on Saturday, a war monitor reported. The IS militants were in disguise, wearing uniforms of pro-government fighters when they were ambushed in the city of Al-Mayadeen, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based watchdog group said the IS militants were buying supplies from the city when they were discovered and rounded up by the pro-government fighters. This came as battles have raged between the Syrian forces and the IS militants in the desert region of Deir al-Zour.

IRAN

Teheran looks for visa waiver with Russia

Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Mounesan says he will visit Russia for talks on a tourism visa waiver, Eghtesad Online news website reported on Saturday. Iran and Russia relaxed visa procedures for traders and science tourism in February 2016. Mounesan's visit to Moscow at the end of this month is aimed at having visa requirements for group tours waived. Some countries have resumed the inflow of foreign tourists, he said, and "we are ready to accept tourists in accordance with health and safety guidelines".

Xinhua - Agencies