WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, July 29, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, July 30, 2017.

US's JCPOA violations 

Tehran says the recent anti-Iran sanctions imposed by the US are a clear violation of the historic nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group of countries.

The senior diplomat reiterated that Iran would soon respond to the punitive action with a parliamentary bill. Araqchi added that the bill also included measures in support of Iran’s armed forces and the Iranian people who have been harmed by the US sanctions.

Cholera catastrophe

The United Nations health agency says nearly 2-thousand people have died of cholera outbreak in the war-torn Yemen.

World Health Organization noted in its statement released on Saturday that the epidemic was increasing at an average of 5-thousand new cases a day. According to the UN body, the two provinces of Hajjah and Hudaydah are the worst hit areas. The statement added that nearly 420-thousand suspected cases of cholera have been reported since late April. Earlier, WHO, the UN Children’s Fund and the World Food Program said malnourishment of 80 percent of Yemeni children was making them vulnerable to the cholera epidemic. 

Venezuela vote

Venezuelans are going to the polls in a matter of hours to select members of an assembly to rewrite the constitution

The so-called Constituent Assembly will comprise 545 elected representatives, most of whom come from areas and entities where Maduro has great support. The assembly is not only tasked with amending the constitution, but will also have the power to change laws and dissolve the National Assembly, which is controlled by the opposition. Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro have boycotted the vote, arguing that the Constituent Assembly will give the socialist leader a stranglehold on power. This comes as the country has been gripped by almost four months of deadly anti-government protests. At least 113 people have been killed in the violence. Maduro accuses the protesters of seeking a coup against him with the US government’s support.

Anti-Russia sanctions

Russia says it cannot be forced to improve its ties with the United States through the use of sanctions.

The Russian Embassy in Washington says the idea that punitive measures can better relations will only raise eyebrows. The remarks come in response to a statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson which was released on Saturday. Tillerson said the purpose of the new anti-Russia sanctions was to make Moscow strengthen relations with the US. On Thursday, Washington slapped a package of sanctions on Russia, accusing it of destabilizing the region. Moscow took retaliatory steps the next day.

Endorsing police brutality?

Human rights groups and activists have accused US President Donald Trump of endorsing police brutality.

US-based rights group Transformative Justice Coalition says Trump is placing lives in danger by encouraging unlawful and unconstitutional behavior. American Civil Liberties Union says Trump is urging lawlessness by his statements. Civil rights advocate Reverend Al Sharpton also slammed Trump for supporting police violence and using a slur against Irish people. On Friday, Trump told a group of police officers not to be too nice when throwing detainees into the back of a  paddy wagon. Paddy is an ethnically offensive term for Irish people.

Canada-Saudi ties

Ottawa has launched a probe into Saudi Arabia’s reported use of Canadian-made armored vehicles against its minority Shias in the east.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is investigating the reports very seriously. The probe comes after Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed deep concern on Saturday over Riyadh’s apparent use of the military vehicles against Shias in the eastern region of Qatif. She was quoted as saying that Ottawa may revise its arms deals with the Saudi kingdom if the reports are confirmed. Riyadh has unleashed a deadly crackdown against its citizens in the Eastern Province in recent weeks. Several people have been killed in the latest peaceful demonstrations staged against Saudi rulers.

Korean Peninsula tensions 

Two US B1 bombers have flown over the Korean Peninsula amid escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

According to a US Pacific Air Forces Commander, the bombers’ 10-hour mission was in direct response to North Korea's ballistic missile tests. The American bombers took off from a base in Guam before flying over Japanese and South Korean airspace. Pyongyang’s ICBM launches this month sparked international condemnations and a stark warning from the United States and South Korea. Washington accused Russia and China of inaction saying, the two bear the responsibility for the growing North Korean threat. In a pair of tweets on Saturday, the US President took a fresh jab at China. Donald Trump said Beijing had done nothing for Washington with regard to Pyongyang although they were allowed by foolish past American leaders to make hundreds of billions of dollars in trade. 

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