WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT July 23, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, July 24, 2017.

Japan flooding

Authorities in Japan have asked thousands of people to evacuate their homes as major flooding triggered by heavy rains hits the country’s northeast. Some 25,000 people living in Akita prefecture were ordered to evacuate and around 65,000 others were told to prepare to leave the area. Floodwaters have inundated over 100 homes and cut rail links. No deaths or injuries have been reported however an investigation is underway for possible casualties. Akita officials warned residents to stay vigilant even if the heavy rains stop.

Jordan shooting

A shooting incident has taken place at the Israeli embassy in the Jordanian capital Amman. A Jordanian has been killed and an Israeli seriously wounded in the shooting. Authorities have not released any more details. The police have sealed off the heavily protected area and security forces have been deployed to the compound. Jordan has seen an outpouring of public anger against Israel since July 14 when Israel increased security measures at al-Aqsa Mosque following a deadly shooting there. Jordan is the official custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem al-Quds. Many of Jordan's 7 million citizens are of Palestinian origin.

Anti-terror operation in Syria

At least 11 people have been killed in a bomb blast in the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib. Dozens of others were injured as an explosives-laden truck went off in the city. The attack came after the former al-Qaeda affiliate group, Tahrir al-Sham, took control of Idlib two days after an agreement to end fighting with another terrorist group. There were fierce clashes between Tahrir al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham across much of Idlib province this week. Tahrir al-Sham is an offshoot of the terrorist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which was previously known as al-Nusra Front before renouncing its ties to al-Qaeda. Idlib is one of the last remaining militant strongholds in Syria.

Al-Quds tensions

Fresh clashes have erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds. The clashes broke out as thousands of Palestinian worshippers gathered around the al-Aqsa Mosque compound for evening prayers. The protests came after Israeli forces installed new cameras at the entrance of the mosque. Some twenty protesters were injured in Israeli attacks. The Palestinian protesters also clashed with Israeli forces in Bethlehem over the new restrictions at the mosque. The measures, including installation of metal detectors at gates of the holy site, sparked angry protests this week. Palestinians say Israel is trying to expand its control over the holy site and change the historic status of the mosque. Since October 2015, three hundred and five Palestinians and 50 Israelis have been killed in a wave of violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.

US sanctions against Russia

The White House says US President Donald Trump is open to signing legislation toughening sanctions on Russia. The new White House press secretary made the remarks in an interview with ABC news. US lawmakers say the legislation will pass with enough votes to override a veto should Trump decide not to sign it. They also consider the bill as a message to the US president to keep a strong stance against Moscow. Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives reached agreement on the revised bill which allows sanctions against Russia as well as Iran and North Korea. The bill was passed in the Senate a month ago, but was held up in the House after Republicans proposed including North Korea sanctions in it. The House will vote on the new bill on Tuesday.

UK-Saudi arms sales

Official figures reveal that the British government approved arms sales worth 368 million dollars to Saudi Arabia in the six months after a deadly Saudi air raid on a funeral in Yemen. According to data from Campaign against Arms Trade, the purchase included combat aircraft, missiles as well as bombs. Following the attack, UK Trade Secretary Liam Fox delayed signing a set of export licenses and the ministry officials were set to suspend sales to Saudi Arabia. However, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson reportedly advised Fox that the sales should continue. The airstrike on October 8, 2016 hit a funeral hall in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, killing 140 people including dozens of women and children and injuring hundreds more. Riyadh is the UK’s most important weapons client. The Saudi war on Yemen has so far left over 12,500 people, mostly civilians, dead.

Afghanistan attack

A car bomb blast in the Afghan capital Kabul has left at least 24 people dead and dozens more injured. According to the police, an attacker hit a vehicle laden with explosives against a bus carrying Ministry of Mines employees in the city's west. Ambulances rushed to the scene and security forces surrounded the area. Medical officials say due to the severity of the blast, the casualty toll may rise. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban have denied any role.

Ukraine conflict

Close to 10,000 people have been killed since April 2014 when the Ukrainian army launched an operation to crush pro-Russian militia. Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of interfering in the crisis by providing military and logistical support for the militia. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations.

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