WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT July 24, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, July 25, 2017.

Saudi death sentences

A prominent rights organization has urged Saudi Arabia to halt the executions of 14 individuals who were sentenced to death on charges of taking part in anti-government protests. Amnesty International says the men were convicted following unfair trials based on confessions obtained under torture. The rights group said it is gravely concerned if justice has been served warning that the men could be executed as soon as the King ratifies their sentences. Saudi Arabia claims the defendants committed violent crimes as they joined anti-government protests in the country’s Eastern province back in 2011 and 2012. Some 15 others were also given death sentences on charges of spying for Iran. Prominent human rights organizations accuse the Kingdom of issuing death penalties to suppress dissidents and the opposition.

Trump-Russia ties

Top White House aide and the US president's son-in-law Jared Kushner rejects all accusations against him over collusion with Russia, saying he’s done nothing wrong. Kushner is going to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. He is expected to elaborate on his contacts with Russia during the US election campaign in 2016. Earlier in a statement, Kushner admitted that he met with Moscow’s ambassador to Washington prior to a foreign policy speech by Trump. The controversy about alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election surrounds Kushner, a Trump campaign manager and the president’s son Donald Trump Junior. All three have denied the allegations.

UN al-Aqsa warning

Following days of Israel’s violent crackdown against Palestinians in Jerusalem al-Quds, the UN envoy to the Middle East has called for the end of crisis in the occupied territories by Friday.

Nickolay Mladenov has warned the situation on the ground will deteriorate if the holy city witnesses another Friday prayers without a resolution to the current crisis. This, while clashes are still ongoing between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the occupied territories over Tel Aviv’s restrictive measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Turkey's trial of journalists

The trial of 17 reporters and executives from a Turkish opposition newspaper has begun in the city of Istanbul. The defendants are accused of aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party group and the Fethullah Gulen movement. Critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan consider the case an attack on free speech.

Poland's political crisis

The Polish Prime Minister has criticized President Andrzej Dooda’s veto of two controversial judicial reform bills. Beata Szydlo said the move had slowed down necessary reforms in the path towards a fair Poland. The conservative premier made the comments ignoring street protests as well as the pressure from abroad. On Monday, the president announced he would veto two of three judicial reform bills passed by parliament that have triggered nationwide protests and raised EU concerns. Dooda noted that the judicial system does need overhaul, but said the reforms should be done in a way that does not divide the society. Although cheered by the president’s decision, protesters in Warsaw continued their demonstration against all three bills suggested by the ruling right-wing populists. The European Union has also applied a cautionary stance on the developments in Poland.

Saudi terrorism in Yemen

Advocacy group, Human Rights Watch has blasted Saudi Arabia for its continued bloodshed in Yemen, calling the Saudi war on its neighbor an act of terrorism. HRW questioned Saudi Arabia’s recent accusation of Qatar funding terrorism, saying the kingdom itself continues to carry out terrorism that is killing people in Yemen. The US-based rights organization said Saudis are known for promoting the extreme view that is often adopted by terrorist groups. Since the Saudi war began in 2015, over 12,500 Yemenis have lost their lives. Yemen is also facing a health crisis amid deadly cholera outbreak there. On Monday, the president of the Red Cross paid a visit to the western city of Ta’izz to get firsthand information on raging cholera epidemic and the humanitarian disaster in the war-ravaged country. UNICEF and WHO are also in Yemen to urge for much-needed humanitarian aid.

Declining popularity

The honeymoon period for France’s new president Emmanuel Macron appears to be over as his approval rating has plunged by 10 points. It marks one of the steepest and fastest drops ever recorded for a new president in France. Many say that Macron's right-wing economic policies are the main cause.

Diplomatic deadlock

A Saudi-led alliance of four Arab states has leveled fresh accusations against Qatar saying they have a document showing Doha’s support for terrorist groups. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have unveiled a new terror list with nine entities and nine individuals which they claim had direct or indirect link with Qatari authorities. The four Arab states cut ties with Qatar and imposed an economic blockade on the Persian Gulf Sheikhdom over terror-support allegations. Qatar has rejected the allegations, but says it’s willing to talk only if its sovereignty is respected. Meanwhile, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said his government would keep up the Qatar blockade. Several international calls have so far failed to break the impasse. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also made a trip to the region which he said was aimed at easing the diplomatic crisis surrounding Qatar.

Trump's call for action on healthcare

US President Donald Trump has pleaded with Senators to do the right thing on healthcare and allow debate to begin on a measure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare.

Trump was speaking while standing on the stage with families who he said had been hurt by Obamacare. Trump said the healthcare act, signed by his predecessor, caused a lot of damage to American families. He particularly urged Republican Senators to keep their promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. The Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on whether to begin debating a healthcare reform. Opponents of the bill say the measure will deprive millions of low-income Americans of health coverage. Repealing and replacing Obamacare was one of Trump's key campaign promises.

'Beleaguered' Sessions

US President Donald Trump has called his Attorney General Jeff Sessions beleaguered in a new sign of tension in the US administration over Russia. Trump said, in the tweet, that Sessions and investigators would better turn their focus on Democrats’ crimes and their relations with Russia. The president did not explain why he described his loyal supporter, Sessions, as beleaguered. It comes after Trump harshly criticized Sessions last week for recusing himself of the Russia relations probe. The developments have raised speculations in Washington that Trump is increasing pressure on Sessions to force him into resignation. The attorney general has, however, said he is not going to step down. The Sessions dispute is the latest in a string of fall-outs within the Trump administration over the president’s alleged ties with Russia.

Venezuela crisis

Venezuelan police have fires tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters in the capital Caracas. Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to a young protester who was killed during the protests in June. They lit candles and laid roses on the spot where Neomar Lander was fatally wounded in June. Meanwhile, security forces have reportedly arrested shadow high court judge Angel Zerpa. The opposition says Zerpa has gone on a hunger strike. This comes after President Nicolas Maduro warned that all 33 judges who were named by Congress to form a shadow Supreme Court would be arrested. The opposition argues the current Supreme Court judges are Maduro loyalists.

On the hot seat

In Japan, the second day of parliamentary grilling for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is held over his favoritism scandal. Abe has denied accusations that he misused his influence to help a friend gain approval to open a new veterinary school in western Japan. He said he only sought reforms for the sector and did not directly get involved in the decision on his friend’s application. Meanwhile, activists protested in the capital Tokyo, denouncing Abe’s denial of the scandal. They called for a thorough investigation into the scandal and demanded Abe step down. The Japanese prime minister is facing a hard time as support ratings for his cabinet has hit new lows.

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