Saudi forces fire live rounds at demonstrators in al-Qatif [Press TV, Iran]

In Saudi Arabia, regime forces have fired live rounds at protestors in the town of Qatif in the oil-rich Eastern Province. A number of people have been injured in the attack and many have been arrested. Also on Thursday, thousands of protestors took to the streets of Qatif calling for the release of political prisoners, including Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, and the downfall of the US-backed monarchy.

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Kashmiris protest against killing of boy by Indian troops [Press TV, Iran]

Protestors have taken to the streets in Indian-controlled Kashmir to rally against the killing of young demonstrators by Indian forces, namely the killing of a young boy who was shot in Bandipora. Angry demonstrators gathered in Srinagar and shouted slogans against the provincial governments, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Police detained the chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Yasin Malik, along with other party activists during the rally.

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Syrian rebels wage 'mother of all battles' as civilian death toll rises [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said over 60 people were killed today in different parts of Syria; most died in Aleppo and Daraa. Activists said regime forces shelled many neighborhoods in the provinces of Aleppo and Damascus, and the latter's countryside, in addition to Homs, Deir az-Zour, Latakia, and Idlib. Activists added that clashes with the Free Syrian Army are ongoing in the provinces of Daraa and Idlib. This comes as many protests were held in response to calls to participate in what the opposition called the "Friday of the uprising of the two capitals."

Reporter, Male #2
This is a video filmed by the opposition as part of a campaign to rally support for the uprising of the two capitals. In Aleppo, the second capital, clashes continue on the ground. And the shelling from the sky is ongoing in different neighborhoods, as both sides reinforced their forces ahead of what the regime called "the last battle," and what the opposition called "the mother of all battles."

Guest, Male #3 (Amr Idilbi, Syrian Coordination Committees Member in Cairo)
The shelling was renewed by the regime's army with helicopter machine guns, and targeted al-Azamiyah, Salah ed-Din, al-Mashhad and al-Sukari. The city of al-Bab, in the countryside of Aleppo, was also indiscriminately shelled by the army; so was the city of al-Adareb near its northern countryside.

Reporter, Male #2
Syrian TV continued to broadcast patriotic songs that highlight the army and its heroism before the newscast that briefly reported on what is happening in Aleppo.

Guest, Female #1
An armed terrorist group carried out a massacre of Salah ed-Din residents in Aleppo. The residents of the neighborhood told our news team that this group was wearing a military uniform, similar to that of the army, to accuse it of this criminal act.

Reporter, Male #2
However, the opposition says the regime committed this massacre. And clashes continue in the first capital, Damascus, and its countryside. These images reveal the shelling of al-Qalamoun in the countryside of Damascus.

Reporter, Male #2
The opposition says regime forces are also shelling the besieged neighborhood of al-Hajar al-Aswad. In Homs, these images show the shelling of the city of al-Rastan. Bombardment that reached the nearby city of Talbisa, in what was an attempt to storm both cities amid a siege that has been imposed for months. In the city of Homs, regime forces are shelling different neighborhoods like al-Khalidiya, Jouret al-Shayah, and al-Qarabin.

Reporter, Male #2
Peaceful protests were also held. In the south, this demonstration was held in the countryside of Damascus. In the north, Taraweeh prayers were performed, asking for a breakthrough in a month during which supplications are answered.

Reporter, Male #2
And, as the battles, shelling, and clashes continue, civilians continue to die in the absence of a sign that the violence in the country will end. Moustafa al-Menshawee, BBC.

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Israeli settlers use mobile homes to expedite colonization of Palestinian land [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
Under the protection of the occupation's soldiers, a number of settlers built mobile homes on the lands of al-Khader Town, south of Bethlehem. Eyewitnesses say they saw settlers set up ten mobile homes on the land surrounding the Itimar outpost. They believe the settlers' escalation is aimed at expanding that outpost, which was established at the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada, or the Second Uprising.

Reporter, Male #2
Southwest of Bethlehem, to the area of Batn al-Maasi in al-Khader Town, settlers came under the protection of the occupation's soldiers, and placed 10 mobile homes on the citizens' land.

Guest, Male #3 (Mohamed Salah, Land Owner)
He will place his mobile home here and forget about it for 10 years. Then he'll come back and say this is mine, and I live in it, and I have a family living here, so he can claim that this was his originally. Then they remove the caravan and replace it with cement, and take the land from us. We've had a long history and huge problems with this issue of mobile homes. Since 1979 until today, we have had a battle with them every single year. Everyone witnessed the battle of 1994.

Reporter, Male #2
The Israeli forgery not only violates the citizens' land by placing mobile homes on it, but even reaches greater heights. Settlers place electricity poles and power lines to make it seem as if the area has been inhabited for some time.

Guest, Male #4 (Ramzy Salah, Head of al-Khader Municipality)
I think the Israeli settlement plan being implemented now through the attacks on the lands of al-Khader is part of a clear Israeli scheme to impose new realities on the ground in the West Bank, and is an attempt to exchange the ownership of the land since the Palestinian side continues to reject this plan.

Guest, Male #5 (Ahmed Salah, Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in al-Khader)
Settlers placed 10 caravans on the hill of Batn al-Maasi in southern Bethlehem. This expansion plan aims to increase the settlements surrounding the city of Jerusalem, and tighten the settlements around Jerusalem.

Reporter, Male #2
The area of Um-Mohamdain, part of al-Khader Town, was also affected by this attack, and 10 mobile homes were placed there almost one week ago. This embodies a new settlement policy of using mobile homes with the aim of expediting the pace of settlement construction, and to seize the land of the farmers who live off their land.

Reporter, Male #2
So it is a new settlement attempt that confirms the goal of the occupation's government is to annex the western countryside for the settlements, which are established on the land of the Palestinian citizens in the countryside of Bethlehem. Alaadin el-Abd, Palestine TV, al-Khader Town.

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Al-Aqsa Mosque opened to 100,000 Palestinians for Ramadan [IBA, Israel]

Security was tight throughout the day in and around Jerusalem's Old City, as an estimated 100,000 Palestinian worshippers made their way to the al-Aqsa Mosque to take part in the second Friday prayer services of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Most of the participants arrived from the West Bank through the Qalandia checkpoint. All female Muslims and children under the age of 12 were permitted to enter Israel, while only men over the age of 40 were allowed in due to security concerns. The prayers ended without incident.

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Migron settlement outpost evacuation delayed again [IBA, Israel]

The slated evacuation of the West Bank outpost of Migron has been delayed for at least 20 days. Israeli Supreme Court President Asher Grunis announced that the court has scheduled another hearing for the settlers to argue their case against the dismantling, which was originally scheduled to take place on the first of August. The court will now reconvene on August 21.

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Pentagon, Lockheed-Martin deal will enhance F-35 weapons systems with Israeli technology [IBA, Israel]

The Pentagon reportedly reached an agreement with the Lockheed-Martin Corporation on a USD 450 million program to enhance weapons systems on F-35 fighter jets by integrating Israeli technology. The deal, which is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks and to begin in 2016, is considered a major step for Israel's USD 2.7 billion agreement to purchase 19 F-35 jets that was signed two years ago. The announcement comes ahead of US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's visit to Israel.

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Egypt's Morsi, Hamas' Haniyeh discuss Gaza siege, national reconciliation [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
In the latest development in the case of the Palestinian reconciliation, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi discussed with the Palestinian prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, lifting the siege imposed on the strip. The Egyptian presidency said the meeting is a follow-up to last week's consultations between Morsi and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas' political bureau.

Reporter, Male #1
The Palestinian government's prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived to Egypt through the Rafah crossing. This is his first official visit after Dr. Mohamed Morsi assumed the presidency in Egypt. Many issues were discussed by the two parties, most notably the political situation between the two countries, and Palestinian reconciliation. In addition, they discussed the electricity and fuel crisis that the residents of the Strip are enduring. The Palestinian delegation confirmed that positive changes have been noted in Egypt's foreign policy, confirming they hope to look into the special status of the Rafah crossing, and the files of those placed on the no-fly list.

Guest, Male #2 (Ghazi Hamad, Hamas Deputy Foreign Minister)
We expect that there will be additional improvements to the Rafah crossing, especially when it comes to increasing work hours, increasing the number of travelers, and also solving an essential problem, which is that of people who have been blacklisted and banned from traveling for security reasons. There is a large number of people who are still not allowed to travel.

Guest, Male #3 (Maher Sebeih, Gaza security Chief)
In the last facilitation meeting, we discussed cooperation regarding the Rafah crossing and the 13 Egyptian crossings. Also, we talked about keeping them open 24 hours a day, solving the problem of those who are blacklisted for security reasons, and ending the deportations.

Reporter, Male #1
And away from media outlets, Morsi and Haniyeh met at the presidential palace, where they discussed relations between the two countries, reconciliation, and rebuilding the Gaza Strip. The situation differed during Mubarak's era. Ismail Haniyeh sitting at the presidential palace with the president is a scene with multiple implications, most importantly the implication that actual change can now be seen in Egypt after the January 25th revolution. Islam Aboul Magd, Al-Alam, Cairo.

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Indonesian protestors call for suspending Myanmar from ASEAN over Muslim massacre [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
Indonesian activists and students called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to suspend Myanmar's membership in the association, and to impose economic sanctions on the country because of its measures against the Rohingya minority. These demands come on the 15th anniversary of Myanmar's ASEAN membership.

Presenter, Female #1
Indonesian Parliamentarian Marzuki Ali viewed the Rohingyans' treatment by their government as mass extermination. He called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to adopt a unified stance at the United Nations, and to turn Myanmar's politicians over to the International Criminal Court.

Reporter, Male #1
Indonesians in the capital Jakarta demanded the suspension of Myanmar's membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Protestors called on ASEAN to lift the siege imposed on the state of Arakan, where the Muslim minority remains. These demands pose a difficult test on ASEAN's ability to protect the citizens of one of its countries from human rights violations.

Guest, Male #2
It is time for ASEAN to take a firm, strong, and courageous stance. If it wants to achieve a unified economic bloc by 2015, then it must not forgot the supremacy of the law and its citizens' rights, and to punish Myanmar economically, socially, and even athletically, by boycotting the upcoming ASEAN countries' sports tournament in Myanmar.

Reporter, Male #1
Relief organizations are complaining about being prevented from delivering aid to Arakan, and even its workers are being prevented from reaching Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw. However, Indonesian organizations have launched a campaign to collect donations for the Rohingya in anticipation of sailing a freedom flotilla to Arakan, or to deliver part of the aid to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Guest, Male #3
We are calling on all relief organizations worldwide to launch campaigns for the Rohingyas. We know it is difficult to reach Arakan, but we must work to lift the siege imposed on it, and to intensify the pressure on the government of Myanmar to deliver aid to Arakan.

Reporter, Male #1
Myanmar, which joined the ASEAN association 15 years ago, still requires a visa for the citizens of ASEAN nations that wish to visit its territories. In contrast, all other ASEAN nations guarantee freedom of movement for all citizens of member states. And amid the silence of most ASEAN politicians, the head of Indonesian parliament described the crimes against humanity that the Rohingya minority is being subjected to as mass extermination and ethnic cleansing. He added that Myanmar politicians must be prosecuted by the international court.

Reporter, Male #1
In the ASEAN organization's charter, it is stated that one of its goals is the promotion of democracy, and the protection of human rights and civil freedoms. But in another part of the charter, it stipulates that countries are committed to non-interference in their neighbors' internal affairs. And that is the dilemma of dealing with a member state that publically deprives segments of its population from life's basic necessities. Sayeb Jassem, Al Jazeera, Jakarta.

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Muslims in Belgium mark Ramadan with festivities and prayers [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
It is not easy for Muslim and Arab immigrant families to mark Ramadan in the same atmosphere as their relatives do back home. However, they consider the blessed month an opportunity to reconnect with their genuine traditions and acts of worship. For their part, local merchants are keen to provide the Muslim community with the best brands of Arabic dates, fruits, and beverages. Ali Mohamed Ahmed reports from Brussels.

Reporter, Male #1
Despite the different Ramadan traditions observed by immigrant communities, family gatherings seem to be the common practice of Muslims during the holy month, especially considering that modern life in Europe doesn't allow this type of interaction on regular days.

Guest, Male #2
There are different Ramadan rituals in Belgium, and include performing the Taraweeh prayer at the mosque.

Guest, Male #3
Food and good relations play a big part in this joyous month.

Reporter, Male #1
During the month of Ramadan, Belgium's largest mosques are usually turned into distinctive gathering areas, where people of various ethnicities and cultures with nothing other than religion in common meet and interact. Everyone helps in the preparation of the free Iftar buffets that are served for the needy, passersby, and even local residents.

Guest, Male #4 (Farid al-Khoutani, Director of the Islamic Center, Brussels)
During Ramadan, the Islamic Center expands its activities outside the mosque by helping other Islamic associations. The center also distributes dates, which are sent to us by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, especially the UAE. May God reward them with blessings!

Reporter, Male #1
Merchants and vendors are usually very competitive, with vendors spending a long time reorganizing their grocery stores and decorating their shops, as well as displaying products needed by Muslim families in the preparation of their traditional Iftar meals.

Reporter, Male #1
Ramadan is a month of modesty and empathy towards the poor. However, many of the families tend to overspend on food and beverages during Iftar and Suhoor meals, which is a widespread practice not only here in Belgium but also in our Arab countries. Ali Mohamed Ahmed, Dubai TV, Brussels.