WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, August 2, 2017.

Yemen Humanitarian Crisis

The ongoing Saudi airstrikes coupled with its blockade of Yemen has created the world’s largest food crisis and cholera outbreak in the country. The UN has recorded almost 400,000 cholera cases over the past two months, while nearly 1900 people have lost their lives to the disease. The world body and humanitarian NGOs blame Saudi Arabia for hampering aid efforts, including those to contain the epidemic.

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.

NATO Convoy Targeted

A car bomb attack has targeted US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar. A bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a convoy of foreign forces in Daman area. NATO has confirmed the attack, saying casualties were caused. Witnesses, however, said they had seen three bodies pulled from one of the vehicles. The Taliban militants have claimed responsibility. In an earlier attack on Tuesday, an attacker opened fire on worshippers at a Shia mosque in the western city of Herat before blowing himself up. Thirty people were killed and dozens more wounded. No one claimed the Tuesday attack.

Iran Response

Iran says it has prepared a series of coordinated and proportionate measures to respond to the US breach of promises under the Tehran nuclear deal. Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani says the measures will cover various areas ranging from politics to economy. Shamkhani has warned that the US is seeking to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal, but trying to impose the cost on Iran. He, however, noted that Tehran will never provide Washington with such an opportunity. Shamkhani said the US has become tougher on Iran because it has failed to force the country into changing its regional polices in the wake of the nuclear deal.

Russia Denial

Russia has denied a recent report alleging its military has suffered rising losses in its Syria campaign. The Russian Defense Ministry has been cited as saying that such a report published by Reuters is a lie from beginning to end. The statement says the report is the last in a series of attempts by Reuters to discredit Moscow’s war against Daesh. Reuters claims the report is based on accounts provided by families and friends of the slain soldiers and local officials. It has estimated the actual number of those killed to be at least 40, that's higher than what Moscow has announced.

US Sanctions Regime

US President Donald Trump has signed a new sanctions bill into law which targets Russian energy sector. The legislation also includes measures against North Korea and Iran. This gives the US the ability to sanction companies involved in developing Russian pipelines, and placing curbs on some Russian weapons exporters. Trump has however called the sanctions bill significantly flawed. He slammed it and said Congress has included a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions. On Friday, the US House of Representatives and Senate approved a package of sanctions on Moscow for its alleged role in the US 2016 presidential election and the annexation of Crimea. In response, the Kremlin ordered over 755 US embassy staff to leave Russia.

Brazil Politics

Brazilian lawmakers are debating on whether President Michel Temer should stand trial over an alleged bribery scandal. Temer could be suspended for up to six months pending his trial at the Supreme Court if two-thirds of the Congressmen vote in favor of the bill. The president however is confident he could survive the vote as the opposition lawmakers are unlikely to garner necessary support. Anti-Temer campaigners say the bill could at least drag Temer’s name further through the mire over his alleged corruption. Temer took office last year after his predecessor Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed from office over illegal management of the federal budget.

South Sudan Crimes?

South Sudan’s political party and rebel group, The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, has refuted allegations of atrocity crimes in the crisis-hit African country. This comes after Human Rights Watch released a damning report, accusing both rebel and government forces of raping and killing innocent civilians. Our Correspondent Daniel Arapmoi reports about the situation there.

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