News in Brief - Fri, July, 03, 2015 - 00:30 GMT

1. A new research shows the UK approved a six-million-dollar arms shipment to Israel in the wake of its deadly war on Gaza. The findings show London also issued arms exports licenses for other countries that sell weapons to Israel. The research said Britain’s arming of Israel makes it a complicit in serious human rights violations.

 2. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has warned about a severe shortage of funds to cover emergency humanitarian needs. It says the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip is further hampering its services. UNRWA's Director Robert Turner says his organization might close hundreds of schools because of a funding crisis.

 3. The British government raps state-funded broadcaster, the BBC, for refusing to stop using the term Islamic State to refer to ISIL terrorist group. British Prime Minister David Cameron says Muslims would recoil at the phrase being used to justify what he calls the perversion of a great religion.

 4. Saudi Arabia continues its relentless airstrikes on Yemen despite international calls for an end to those raids. In the latest attacks, Saudi fighter jets targeted areas in Jawf and Sa'ada provinces as well as Aden’s international airport. Earlier, three civilians were killed and ten wounded in multiple air strikes in Sa’ada.

 5. UN observers say the recently-held legislative polls in Burundi were not free and credible. A UN spokesman says the elections were marred by intimidation and violence. Burundi’s legislative elections were held on June 29 despite UN’s calls for postponement. The opposition boycotted the vote.

 6. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has reiterated that the Islamic Republic will not accept any discrimination over its nuclear rights. Rouhani made the remark during a meeting with Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano. Amano is in Tehran for talks on Iran's nuclear energy program.

7. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has expressed hope that Iran and the P5+1 will reach a final deal over Tehran’s nuclear program. Kurz says the potential agreement will bring peace, security and stability to the Middle East and other parts of the world.

8. Austrian MPs are due to discuss an EU exit referendum. This, after more than 260,000 citizens called for the move in a petition. Petition organizers hailed the result, saying there will be more support for a referendum now because of the EU and Greece's economic crises.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk