WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, August 1, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, August 2, 2017.

Kashmir tensions

Indian security forces have clashed with protesters voicing their anger at the killing of two pro-independence fighters and a civilian in the crisis-laden Kashmir region. In Srinagar, police used tear gas and fired shotgun pellets to confront stone-throwing students. All educational institutions were closed and internet service was blocked as precautionary measures. The protests erupted pursuant to a police operation in the village of Hadripora which led to the death of two suspects which New Delhi claims were involved in militant attacks. One protester was killed and several were injured as clashes broke out at several points across Indian-controlled Kashmir following the incident. Kashmir has been the scene of violence since the killing of a popular leader by Indian forces last July.

US violating JCPOA

The Iranian parliament speaker says Tehran has filed a complaint with the Joint Commission of the JCPOA about the US violations. Larijani says parliament will also discuss a motion next week in response to Washington’s sanctions. He noted that Iran has devised a plan in 16 articles on proper reaction to the US provocative measures. President Rouhani is going to notify the Iranian organizations, including the Foreign Ministry and the Atomic organization of the new decision. Last week, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly to impose new sanctions against Iran over its missile program.

Attacking Awamiyah

Reports out of Saudi Arabia’s eastern town of Awamiyah indicate that hundreds of people are fleeing their homes as security forces step up attacks. Fighting between Saudi troops and armed activists have intensified over the past few days forcing many to take refuge in neighboring cities of Damman and Qatif. Local activists accuse the security forces of pushing residents out of Awamiyah firing randomly at homes and cars. Houses, shops and businesses have also been burned or ruined by the clashes. Unrest has been on the rise in the Eastern Province since May when the Saudi military began razing to the ground the old section of Awamiyah in a bid to arrest fugitive anti-government activists. The escalating violence has left several civilians and two security forces dead.

Israel's ‘nasty’ plans

The top Palestinian diplomat says his country has to be well-prepared for a new round of “nasty actions” by Israel after Tel Aviv’s latest violations at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, was speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Turkey. He made the comments amid intensifying tensions in the occupied territories. Tel Aviv imposed restrictive measures at al-Aqsa Mosque following a deadly attack there. However, Israel removed barriers, scaffoldings, high-tech cameras and metal detectors from the holy site following days of demonstrations and unrest across the occupied territories. The clashes have so far left several Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops dead.

Swap deal in Lebanon

Three fighters from Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah have been freed in return for the release of three Nusra Front terrorists. The Hezbollah members arrived in Lebanon as part of a ceasefire deal between the two sides. Under the agreement, the Lebanese side will allow the transfer of thousands of Syrian terrorists and their families from Lebanon into militant-held areas in Syria. On Sunday, Hezbollah swapped the bodies of five resistance fighters with those of 9 Nusra Front Takfiri militants in the first stage of the deal. The ceasefire agreement follows the terrorists’ heavy losses in clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon’s mountainous Arsal region.

Saudi siege of Yemen

The United Nations has voiced concern about “a very bleak” situation in war-torn Yemen criticizing Saudi Arabia for hampering aid delivery efforts. Yemen’s director of the UN Development Program says the Saudi-led coalition is obstructing deliveries of jet fuel to UN planes bringing desperately-needed humanitarian aid to Sana’a. Auke Lootsma has warned that about 70 percent of the country’s 27 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. The UN official has further reported an outbreak of meningitis in Yemen where the cholera epidemic has already claimed thousands of lives. Yemen's health system has collapsed as a result of Saudi Arabia’s deadly war which began in March 2015.

US's North Korea policy

The United States has softened its tone on North Korea following an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, saying it seeks dialogue with Pyongyang at some point. Rex Tillerson said the US had been seeking what he called peaceful pressure on North Korea to force Pyongyang to join the negotiating table. But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham cited President Donald Trump as saying that he would go to war with North Korea rather than let it develop a long-range nuclear-armed missile. On Friday, North Korea said it had successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that proved its capability to strike the US mainland. In response, the US flew two heavy strategic bombers over the Korean Peninsula for a joint drill with Japanese and South Korean forces.

Pakistan rejecting US aid

Pakistan’s opposition leader says his country must reject American aid and pull out of the US-led military campaign on terror. Imran Khan says Pakistani officials decided to enter the so-called war on terror after receiving money from the United States. Khan says the move has created hatred and turmoil in Pakistan. He has added that foreign aid cripples and enslaves countries in a way that their decisions are dictated from abroad. With the ouster of Nawaz Sharif, Imran khan hopes to become Pakistan’s prime minister in next year’s elections. His comments come after Washington announced it would withhold 50 million dollars in military aid to Pakistan for Islamabad's failure to crack down on terror groups.

US policy on Iran

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has admitted that he disagrees with President Donald Trump over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Tillerson was speaking at a State Department briefing. He said Washington could tear the deal up and walk away or stay in the deal and hold Iran accountable to its terms. The US Secretary of State added that the White House has limited options to pressure Iran on its own, stressing that it is important to coordinate with the other parties to the agreement. Tillerson has accused Tehran of violating the spirit of the nuclear deal, an allegation strongly denied by Iran. Donald Trump has also time and again vowed to withdraw from the agreement, which was aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting most Western sanctions.

Brazil Congress vote

Brazilian President Michel Temer faces a vote by Congress on whether he should stand trial over corruption charges. If two thirds of lawmakers approve the charges, Temer will be suspended for up to six months and stand trial at the Supreme Court. However, the embattled president is expected to secure the 172 votes needed to survive the legal battle. Temer has scrambled for support in recent days to avoid becoming the second Brazilian president to be ousted in a year. He has been accused of receiving bribes, but has denied any wrongdoing. Temer took office last year after his predecessor Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed for the illegal management of the federal budget.

Afghanistan deadly attack  

Security is tight in western Afghanistan ahead of a mass funeral for the victims of Tuesday’s attack on a Shia mosque that claimed the lives of at least thirty people. Authorities say a planned protest will be held just before the burial on Wednesday, rather than at a separate time and location, to reduce the risk of more attacks. On Tuesday, a bomber opened fire on people praying at a mosque in the western city of Herat before detonating his explosives. The attack was followed by another explosion ten minutes later. Over 60 people were also wounded in the attacks, with 10 suffering critical injuries. No one claimed responsibility for the deadly incident, but the Daesh terrorist group had warned a day before that it would attack Shia Muslims in the country.

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