Reuters- Video: World News-Peace talks resume in Washington -Israeli-Palestinian talks begin amid deep divisions

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, and Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni sit down for dinner with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to resume peace talk efforts. Talks were held at an iftar dinner to break fast during the holy month of Ramadan on Monday evening at the State Department. For the first time in nearly three years both sides agreed to come to the table with cautious expectations.
Earlier in the day Israeli chief negotiator Tzipi Livni told Reuters she's hopeful but not necessarily optimistic. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI JUSTICE MINISTER TZIPI LIVNI SAYING: "To be optimistic is something that we cannot afford. But there is some hope. And I hope that when in Israel they see the first meeting they will understand that we should not give up hope, and it is reachable and we need to do it, because it is in the Israeli interest. It is not a favor to the United States or to the Palestinians, this is something that we need to do." The talks are expected to continue later on Tuesday and could last up to nine months.


Three months after more than 1100 people were killed in a factory collapse in Bangladesh, a review of the country's building inspection process presents a grim reality. A Reuters special report has found major discrepancies in the handful of agencies qualified to inspect the countries some 5300 factories. During a surprise safety check at Miami Garments several violations were uncovered. First, the factory is housed in a residential building. Inspectors noted this single narrow exit staircase, weak floors and columns and only one fire extinguisher in the entire building. But the inspector's assessment? That the building is relatively compliant with standards. Alternatively, some factories are getting checked up to six times by various agencies. This factory has passed a half dozen inspections including one performed for our crew that involved a three hour check for wall cracks by a four person inspection team. In the aftermath of the deadly Rana Plaza collapse, the European Union and the U.S. have both threatened punitive measures if safety conditions did not improve. Still the country's garment exports rose 16 percent last month proving that demand has not waned regardless of standards.



ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: A tornado tore through an Italian industrial region in Grezzago, near Trezzo, in the province of Milan on Monday (July 29) injuring 12 and damaging buildings and vehicles. Mobile phone footage captured the tornado ripping through the industrial zone and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake as it destroyed cars, overturned trucks and uprooted telegraph poles. Firemen, civil protection and other rescue services rushed to the scene. Although no deaths have been reported there are reports of a dozen injuries.



ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: Mourners packed a memorial service on Monday for the 79 people who died in the country's worst rail disaster in decades, as investigators prepared to analyze information from the train's data recording device, or "black box." The driver of the train, 52-year-old Francisco Garzon, has been charged with 79 counts of negligent homicide and released pending trial after a judge determined he was not a flight risk. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Prince Felipe were among mourners at Monday's mass in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, site of a religious shrine in northwestern Spain where the high-speed train derailed after going through a tight curve too fast. Investigators would begin analyzing data from the train's data recording device on Tuesday, trying to discover how Garzon exceeded speed limits despite a control system meant to force him to slow down, a court source told Reuters. Prince Felipe, his wife Letizia, the Infanta Elena, Rajoy, members of the cabinet and regional leaders stood near the front of the cathedral alongside many of the victims' families and members of the emergency services. Dozens of well-wishers gathered at the back of the cathedral and in the Plaza del Obradoiro outside. After the service, Felipe, the Archbishop and political leaders passed amongst the mourners and offered individual condolences to the victims' families. Sixty-nine people remained in hospital on Monday, with 22 in critical condition.



The scene of the crime in France. On Monday authorities confirmed that 136 million dollars of jewels were stolen from a luxury hotel on the French Riveria in Cannes. It was the country's biggest gem theft on record in France, and a union representative says it was a surprise to the hotel workers. (SOUNDBITE) (French) CGT UNION REPRESENTATIVE AT CARLTON HOTEL ZAKARIA RAMI SAYING: "I would say I'm dismayed. I'm dismayed because it's incredible. It's incredible. I didn't expect these sorts of figures. We know we have jewelry exhibitions and everything, we knew that we had valuable items, but we didn't know we had items of that value. No one in the hotel knew that, I reckon. I think even the management must be amazed." The thief burst into Carlton Hotel Sunday armed with an automatic pistol and a cap and scarf concealing his face. No one has been arrested (SOUNDBITE) (French) CGT UNION REPRESENTATIVE AT CARLTON HOTEL ZAKARIA RAMI SAYING: "As far as I'm concerned the management was irresponsible because they let jewelry makers come to the hotel without taking into account all the security considerations. We don't have extra security at entrances or reinforced doors." The hotel was where Alfred Hitchcock filmed scenes from the 1955 film "To Catch a Thief", starring Cary Grant as a one-time cat burglar.

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