TRT World’s Daily News Brief for Friday, July 31st:

*) US President Trump floats delayed elections

President Trump has drawn a rare GOP rebuke for floating a delay in US presidential elections over Covid-19 and unsubstantiated voter fraud claims.

Trump’s Republican party abruptly dismissed the idea, saying polls “should go forward” as planned.

The date of the US election is enshrined in federal law and would require an act of Congress to change.

*) At least 18 killed in Afghanistan bombing

At least 18 people, including Afghan security forces personnel, have been killed in a suspected car-bombing in eastern Afghanistan.

The attack happened on Thursday, hours before a three-day ceasefire was to begin in the country for the Muslim festival of Eid al Adha.

Violence has continued to plague Afghanistan even after US-brokered peace talks between the Taliban and a government-mandated committee.

*) Protests continue in Israel

Demonstrations outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence are continuing, calling for him to step down.

The protests have been going on for the past few weeks, sparked by what critics see as the government's failure to handle the coronavirus crisis.

Netanyahu has also come under growing criticism for staying in office while on trial for corruption.

*) Belarus accuses Russians, president’s critics of plotting unrest

Belarus authorities say they've arrested 33 Russian nationals who they accuse of being mercenaries to disrupt next month’s presidential election.

But Russia says the group of men who were detained outside of the capital Minsk are wrongly accused and are demanding an explanation.

President Lukashenko is seeking a sixth term and has accused Russia of trying to force Belarus to abandon its post-Soviet independence.

And finally,

*) Mars rover runs into technical trouble after blast off

NASA's latest rover Perseverance has launched for Mars, blasting off from Florida on schedule.

Its mission is to look for evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet.

The spaceship appeared to run into technical difficulties after the launch, NASA confirmed, adding it was running on safe mode for the time being.