WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, July 27, 2017.

'Impossible inspection'

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman says the country will never allow the United States to inspect its military bases. Bahram Qassemi made the comments in response to speculations that Washington may make such a demand. Elsewhere in his remarks, he denounced a recent joint statement by the US and three European countries that branded Iran’s missile tests as provocative. Qassemi added that Islamic Republic’s missile program serves as deterrent and does not violate any UN resolutions. He also blamed Washington for trying to breach the 2015 nuclear deal. Qassemi however noted that Tehran will stick to the accord. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman however reiterated that the nation will respond to the US violations of its obligations under the nuclear deal, if necessary.

Australia rights abuses

Rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the death of a refugee in an Australian offshore detention center. Rights advocates say authorities could have prevented the death of the 28-year-old Iranian who was found dead while hanging from a tree on Papua New Guinea Island. They say the man should have been treated with basic decency and respect. His death brings to at least five the number of asylum seekers losing their lives since Canberra’s offshore detention facilities were launched in 2013. The UN had previously warned that Australia’s practice of offshore processing was contrary to principles of refugee protection. The country has forcibly transferred thousands of asylum seekers to its detention facilities on South Pacific islands of Papua New Guinea and Nauru where they are kept under dire living conditions.

Pakistan explosion

A bomb blast in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore has left at least 34 people injured, some of them critically. A top government official says the explosive material was planted inside a truck. He says that most of the casualties were passerbys, adding that the injured have been taken to two hospitals. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The explosion came weeks after a bombing claimed by Pakistani Taliban left over two dozen people dead in Lahore. Attacks in the Punjab provincial capital have become less frequent over the past couple of years but militant groups are still active there and periodically carry out deadly attacks.

US immigration lawsuit

The US city of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration for withholding funds for the so-called “sanctuary cities”. The lawsuit challenges the federal immigration crackdown. It comes less than two weeks after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced new requirements for federal funding. Under the new measures, the so-called sanctuary cities that did not allow immigration officials to have unlimited access to prisons would be deprived of certain grants. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has called the government’s immigration policies counterproductive. Chicago’s Corporation Counsel has also criticized the Trump administration, saying the effort to punish sanctuary cities by denying them federal funding is illegal and unconstitutional.

Iraq attack

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces or PMF says the U-S military has targeted their positions on the Iraq-Syria border, leaving dozens of fighters dead. Reports say up to 30 fighters were killed while dozens others wounded after the U-S artillery shelled the PMF positions. A PMF statement has called on the Iraqi government to open an urgent investigation into the attack. The paramilitary forces have, however, vowed to continue operations to cleanse Daesh Takfiri terrorists from the border area, saying they would not succumb to an American agenda. The volunteer forces have been battling Daesh terrorists along Iraq's border with Syria in coordination with the central government in Baghdad.

Turkey-Germany row

Turkey’s president has added fuel to the already tense relations with Germany by accusing Berlin of incompetent in the fight against terror. Erdogan also criticized Germany for undermining Turkey’s jurisdiction and refusing to extradite trade mark terrorists. He warned that Turkey would take action accordingly to teach Berlin a lesson on jurisdiction. Tensions between the two NATO members have intensified ever since Ankara refused to allow German lawmakers to visit troops at a Turkish air base and imprisoned several German nationals. In response, Berlin issued a travel warning to Turkey for safety concerns. Ankara also accuses Berlin of sheltering Kurdish militants as well as people linked to last year’s failed coup attempt. Germany denies the allegations.

Saudi war on Yemen

A senior UN official says more than two hundred children have been killed in the war-torn Yemen this year. Meritxell Relano, UNICEF representative in Yemen, said hundreds of children were also maimed this year. She also reported the recruitment of hundreds of boys in the ongoing fighting in Yemen. The revelations came days after a Saudi air raid in Sa'ada province killed at least 12 civilians, including children. The UN condemned the airstrike and expressed deep concern over the brutality of the Yemen conflict. The Saudi war has claimed the lives of more than 12,500 people, since 2015. Riyadh also imposed an all-out siege which has pushed the impoverished Arab country to the brink of a humanitarian tragedy.

Venezuela rally

Tensions in Venezuela show no signs of abating as the government and opposition trade accusations over an attack on an army base and a newly elected Constituent Assembly. Government supporters have taken to the streets in a show of mass support while the opposition-held national assembly says it will not accept the new body's decisions.

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