WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, July 27, 2017 to 09:00 GMT, July 28, 2017.

Russia slams US sanctions

Russia has slammed the US sanctions bill that targets Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted to the legislation by threatening to take retaliatory measures. A number of European countries have also criticized the bill in an unprecedented move.

Israel attacks Palestinians

Israeli forces have attacked Palestinians who gathered outside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound to celebrate the removal of Tel Aviv’s restrictive measures around the sacred site. Over 130 people were injured after Israeli troops fired stun grenades on Muslim worshippers. Clashes erupted as Palestinians were demanding the removal of remaining devices at an entry point, known as Bab-al Hata. Earlier, hundreds of Palestinians entered the mosque from different gates to offer prayers. Israel removed its recently-imposed barriers, high-tech cameras and metal detectors amid anger in the occupied territories and elsewhere across the Muslim world. Israel imposed the restrictions following the July 14 deadly violence. The move, however, provoked days of unrest and violent clashes on the streets of Jerusalem al-Quds. Palestinians say Tel Aviv was trying to expand its control over Islam’s third holiest site under the pretext of beefing up security.

Senate approves sanctions

The US Senate has overwhelmingly voted for legislation to impose fresh sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill now goes to the White House to be signed or vetoed by President Donald Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier pledged to respond to the measures. A number of European countries have also criticized the bill in an unprecedented move.

Syrian fight against terror

Syrian government forces and their allies have advanced against Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the countryside east of Raqqah. The advance was made in the provincial boundary between Raqqah and Dayr al-Zawr for the first time from the west. Now, the Syrian army is getting closer to the territory controlled by US-backed forces in the city of Raqqah. Dayr al-Zawr province, which borders Iraq to the east, is almost entirely under Daesh control. The Syrian government has control over a territory in Dayr al-Zawr city, the provincial capital, and controls a nearby airbase. The unrest in Syria began in 2011 when militants, supported by some regional and Western countries, took arms against the legitimate government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

Turkish MPs stripped of status

The Turkish parliament has voted in favor of stripping two opposition lawmakers of their status. The Peoples’ Democratic Party or the HDP says the two MPs were removed from office on the ground of absenteeism. The opposition party slammed the move saying this was the first time a parliament member lost their seat for this reason. Local media reports say the two are currently abroad to escape trial on accusations of links to Kurdish militants. The government accuses HDP officials of having links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party or the PKK which is viewed by Ankara as a terrorist group. The party fiercely denies the allegation saying it is being targeted because of its opposition to the government.

Israel al-Aqsa restrictions

Israel is keeping up a steady stream of restrictive measures at the al-Aqsa mosque compound. Under new restrictions, Palestinian men under 50 years of age are barred from entering the holy site. Israeli police have also threatened that there will be casualties if Palestinians continue with their protests despite removal of Tel Aviv’s restrictive measures at the mosque. In a statement, the police stressed that they would forcefully respond to any disturbances. Israeli police added that they would check any suspicious person at the entrance of the mosque. This, as Palestinian factions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip called for mass protests against Israel’s restrictive measures at the holy site on Friday. The developments come after bloody clashes broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinians outside the compound on Thursday.

Pakistani PM resigns after disqualification

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding office over a long-running case of corruption. Judges of the five-member bench of the apex court unanimously announced their vote against the premier on Friday. They further ordered that cases be filed against him and his family. The trial process has been ordered to commence within the next two weeks. Meanwhile security is tightened in Islamabad with nearly 3,000 troops deployed around the court building. Sharif’s children are accused of using forged documents to hide ownership of ill-gotten luxury apartments in London. The scandal broke out last year as part of a large-scale document leak, known as the Panama Papers.

Obamacare repeal fails, again

The US Senate votes down a Republican-drafted healthcare bill aimed at repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. The legislation, dubbed the skinny repeal bill, failed to pass the Senate after hours of intensive debate. It was the third and last failed attempt by Republicans to replace Obamacare in the past week. The No vote is a gigantic blow to President Donald Trump and his plans to reform the current healthcare law. He’d promised during his election campaign, and later as president to introduce a new health system that benefits more Americans at a lower cost. In a twitter message he reacted to the vote, blaming the three Republican senators, who voted No, for helping democrats win the vote.

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