UN General Assembly adopts Syria resolution [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
A large majority of the UN General Assembly backed a resolution on Syria condemning the government's use of heavy weapons, and criticized the UN Security Council's inability to take action in the face of the ongoing crisis in the country.

Guest, Male #2 (Bashar al-Ja'afari, Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations)
The legitimate popular demands of the Syrian people are now being moved to the 3rd or 4th level of priorities by those who pretend to want to help the Syrian people. The foreign interference in our internal affairs and the smuggling of weapons, including stinger missiles, have only helped to push these legitimate demands for reform in the country from the first priority to priority number five or six. This foreign interference has transformed the agenda of priorities into an armed rebellion against the government and the state.

Reporter, Female #1
Another non-binding resolution was reached by the international community, and although some described it as symbolic, several problems delayed it. The latest was the resignation of UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan from his mission, intensifying the difficulty of finding a solution to the Syrian crisis. This pushed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to view the conflict in Syria as a test of the principles of the United Nations, comparing the current international stance to his helpless position before the massacres in Yugoslavia.

Guest, Male #3 (Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General)
Eight days ago, I visited Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Srebrenica symbolizes one of the darkest chapters in the history of this organization, as the international community failed to protect civilians from the massacres.

Reporter, Female #1
Ban Ki-moon called on major powers to overcome their differences to end the conflict in Syria, especially after these divisions became public, and could no longer be concealed, not even in front of the cameras of journalists. One of the main players in the Syrian crisis, Russia, broke diplomatic protocols yesterday when its representative spoke before the French representative, who is chairing the Security Council's sessions this month, causing the latter to respond.

Guest, Male #4
The French ambassador, as you all know, there is a tradition for the chairman of the Security Council to speak first, but maybe the traditions have different meanings in different places.

Reporter, Female #1
The real dispute it seems is no longer over who gets the first word; rather, it is over who will have the final say, especially since the path to reaching a solution no longer goes through the Security Council. The draft resolution presented to the General Assembly was a condemnation of the Security Council's inability to implement its resolutions, and a condemnation of the Syrian army's shelling of cities. It also included a call for Damascus to return its military and heavy weaponry to the barracks. The Security Council similarly condemned the Syrian regime on the same exact day one year ago; a condemnation that remained a declaration, not a resolution.

Reporter, Female #1
So it seems a full year later, three veto-blocked resolutions have come full circle, vetoes used by Russia and China. And while it seems that the international divisions have no quick resolution on the dialogue table, all parties continue to implement policies that endorse a Syrian side. The Russian general staff announced that a new fleet of weapons is on its way to Syria one day after news was leaked that American President Barack Obama signing a secret document approving support for the Syrian opposition fighters.

Reporter, Female #1
Some believe that the disputes and international tension has made the international powers unable to do anything in relation to the Syrian crisis. This diplomatic shortcoming has left the Syrian scene full of violence and militarization. Zeina al-Hayyan, BBC.

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Obama authorizes secret US support of Syrian rebels [Press TV, Iran]

US President Barack Obama is supporting the rebels to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to unnamed US sources familiar with the White House's position. President Obama reportedly signed the secret order earlier this year, and is also being described as an intelligence briefing, permitting the CIA and other US agencies to give assistance to groups that could help rebels oust the Syrian president. A US foreign policy analyst says that the US fears a calamity that will harm Israel, which shares a border with Syria.

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Tensions rise along Afghan-Pakistan border [Press TV, Iran]

Tensions are growing between Islamabad and Kabul over Pakistan's repeated bombardment of towns in northeastern Afghanistan. In Kunar Province, one of the areas frequently hit by rockets, Afghan officials want an immediate end to such attacks. In the past 40 days, over 3,000 rockets are said to have landed in Kunar Province's Dangam Village alone. About 20 have been killed, and scores of others injured. Pakistan's government says that Taliban members are hiding in Kunar, but some local residents say that the attacks are Pakistan's retaliation for US assassination drone strikes in Pakistan.

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Bahraini forces injure 25 protestors marching for self-determination [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
In Bahrain, at least 25 protestors were injured last night in clashes with the security forces. The demonstrators were taking part in protests they called "marches for the right to self-determination."

Reporter, Female #1
Police arrested a number of them, including a leader of the opposition al-Wefaq Society, Ahlam al-Khuzai, and human rights activist Zainab Alkhawaja.

Reporter, Male #2
The scene of protest marches on Thursday in Bahrain was not exceptional. Local youth took part in what they called "the march for the right to self-determination." The great march planned for the capital al-Manama has turned into nightly marches confronted by the Bahraini police with tear gas. Activists have also been followed to their homes, and the airport, as in the case of a leader of the opposition al-Wefaq Society, Ahlam al-Khuzai. Al-Khuzai was about to travel to Tunisia to participate in a conference in support of the Bahraini people. The escalating confrontations of the last few days come after security forces were accused of committing violations in their dealing with protestors, and of raiding the homes of demonstrators, deliberately damaging their possessions. The opposition's accusations were backed by the latest statements of international human rights organizations, including Physicians for Human Rights and Human Rights Watch. Both organizations have accused the government of excessive use of tear gas. The Bahraini Interior Ministry denied the accusations.

Guest, Male #3 (Tariq Hassan, Director of Bahrain's Public Security)
From the beginning of the year until today, we have probably received 14 complaints or allegations against policemen. The appropriate measures for an investigation were taken. Ten of them have been referred to competent authorities, including the military courts. The other four are still being probed.

Reporter, Male #2
So Bahrain has been at an impasse since the start of the Arab revolutions, and no political solution seems to be on the horizon. Political initiatives are faltering, and the confrontations continue to take place almost every day as the only functioning language.

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Saudi protestors call for release of political prisoners [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
Popular protests and actions are continuing in Saudi Arabia to pressure the regime to release political prisoners. And while six international rights organizations have announced their desire to observe the trials, leaked messages from prisons revealed that nearly 30,000 political prisoners are locked up in secret cells and prisons in the kingdom.

Reporter, Male #1
The popular protests in Saudi Arabia are not confined to the Eastern Province, whose residents are suffering from oppression and persecution. Here, in the al-Madinah al-Munawarah, demonstrations were held against the Saudi authorities to demand the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience detained at the prisons of the Mabahith, or secret police. A demonstration in cars covered the streets of al-Madinah al-Munawarah. Protestors sounded their car horns and raised signs bearing the names of male and female prisoners, demanding their release. In response to the Riyadh authorities' ongoing arrest campaign of citizens and important figures in Saudi Arabia, mass protests were held under the banner, "We are all the fighter Muhammad al-Shakhouri." Al-Shakhouri was arrested by the authorities after he was shot in al-Qatif in the eastern part of the country. Protestors also announced their solidarity with the Bahraini people's right to self-determination, and the demand for the Saudi occupation forces to leave Bahrain.

Reporter, Male #1
And alongside these demonstrations, residents of Safwa in the Eastern Province took to the street to demand the release of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, who was arrested last month. Protestors chanted slogans assuring that they will continue to protest until they attain justice, freedom, and democracy, as called for by Sheikh al-Nimr.

Reporter, Male #1
Following the Saudi authorities' arrest of four human rights defenders, six human international rights organization sent a joint letter calling on the Riyadh authorities to allow them to attend and observe the trials of these prisoners. The letter called on the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Saudi minister of justice to allow them to attend as monitors at the trials of Waleed Abul Khair, Abdallah al-Hamed, Mikhlif al-Shimmari, and Mohammed al-Qahtani. They stressed the importance of guaranteeing a public trial that allows the attendance of independent observers who have expertise in international standards of just trials so they can evaluate the integrity of the judicial process.

Reporter, Male #1
The letter also denounced the charges levied against the four prisoners, stemming from their public call over the years for greater respect of human rights in Saudi Arabia, including those of women, religious minorities, prisoners, and those calling for political reforms.

Reporter, Male #1
And while international organizations stood by the four detained human rights defenders, there are hundreds of Saudis who have been abandoned with no one defending them years after getting arrested. A letter posted online by the relatives of the detainees revealed the tragedy these prisoners are enduring because of their demand for freedom and justice. The letter confirmed that over 30,000 prisoners are crammed in Saudi prisons without a trial, and their fate is undetermined, confirming that they suffer from different types of torture.

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Israel further tightens control over al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
Amid heightened security measures, thousands of Palestinians headed to al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the third Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan. The same way it is every Friday, Palestinian worshippers endured a suffocating siege, with most men barred from entering the city of Jerusalem due to restrictions imposed by the occupation forces at security checkpoints.

Presenter, Female #1
Men between the ages of 12 and 40 are usually barred from entering the holy city. These restrictions, which Palestinians say are part of their collective punishment, are being justified by the occupation forces as "necessary measures."

Presenter, Female #1
Joining us from Jerusalem via phone is our correspondent Mohammed al-Sayyed. Mohammed, how does the scene appear in Jerusalem? Were there any problems or confrontations during the prayers?

Guest, Male #1 (Moahmmed al-Sayyed, Dubai Correspondent in Jerusalem)
Today was just like the past two Fridays when Palestinians head to the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, with one difference in terms of the number of worshippers. Today, the number of Palestinian worshippers who came from all over the West Bank to al-Aqsa Mosque was relatively high.

Guest, Male #1
From Jenin in the north to Hebron in the south, vehicles carrying Palestinian worshippers started to line up early in the morning at Jerusalem's two main checkpoints, Ramallah-Qalandiyah and Bethlehem, amid heavy police and army presence. The Israeli army barred most men under the age of 40 from entering.

Guest, Male #1
Again, the number of worshippers converging on al-Aqsa Mosque was high today. The prayers ended thirty minutes ago amid heavy police presence, with officers being deployed in every corner of the Old City. There were no reports of confrontations with the Israeli police on this third Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Presenter, Female #1
Mohammed al-Sayyed from Jerusalem, thank you.

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Hillary Clinton urges Sudan, South Sudan to reconcile as UN deadline expires [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
In other news, the UN granted al-Khartoum and Juba additional time to resolve their problems and reach a peace agreement, as confirmed by the French ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, whose country is presiding over the Security Council this month. This comes after the UN deadline for Sudan expired last night. Araud said that despite the fact that the two Sudans failed to meet the deadline, notable progress has been achieved, adding that it is not time yet to impose sanctions. He further said that the UN Security Council will discuss the Sudanese issue again on August 9.

Presenter, Female #1
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived to Juba this morning as part of her tour in Africa. Clinton urged the two Sudans to exert great efforts to settle their outstanding differences. She said the fate of the two neighboring countries is linked. The US secretary of state is expected to meet with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir before heading to Kenya and concluding her African tour.

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Golan Heights residents divided over conflict in Syria [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
The predominantly Druze-occupied Golan Heights, which was an observation point of domestic Syrian affairs, is now being affected by the same ailments as Syria. The recent events in their country are now impacting the residents of the Golan.

Reporter, Female #1
The conflict is now inevitable in the Syrian town of Baqaat, located on the eastern wing of the Golan Heights, where residents are able to hear the gunfire from their homes and see the fighting from a distance on one of the hills. Eighteen thousand Druze Syrians live in the Golan, and although they have not been harmed by the exchange of gunfire, their emotions are running high, and their loyalties are divided. Mahmoud Aamasha says that President Bashar al-Assad's loyalists attacked him because of his pro-opposition views.

Guest, Male #2
A group of young men attacked my car and hit me, and that led to some fractures and pain.

Reporter, Female #1
The occupation of the Golan is ever-present on the minds of everyone here. Ali Abu Awad is supporting the rebels because he believes that the liberation of the Golan Heights is related to ending the Assad family rule.

Guest Male #3
We do not accept the fact that there is a national army that has been massacring its people for 17 months. Were his father's actions not enough? All the bloodshed? I think that Hafez al-Assad is still ruling the country from his grave.

Reporter, Female #1
Ten kilometers from here, in the town of Majd al-Shams, Ghandy al-Kahlouni's opinion is completely different. He believes that what is happening is in the interest of Israel and the United States, and says he only trusts the besieged leader.

Guest, Male #4
Al-Assad will remain a lion who will protect his home, which is Syria and the Syrian people, and will protect Syria's national unity. No one else is worthy.

Reporter, Female #1
Not everyone can clearly see who is responsible for the bloodshed, and the future of the Syrian people is dependent on the result of a struggle that has claimed the lives of 19,000 victims since March of 2011.

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Locally-engineered solar car makes its debut in Hebron [IBA, Israel]

Engineers at a factory in the West Bank city of Hebron have designed a solar-powered car, which is turning heads on the streets of the Palestinian city. The director of the Royal Industrial Trading Company helped build the vehicle with the aim of utilizing the abundance of sunshine in the region. The roof of the car is covered in solar panels, which enable the sun's energy to be absorbed and converted into electricity. Engineers involved in the project say it took only two month to design and build the vehicle, which was primarily assembled from available materials at a local factory at an estimated cost of USD 5,000 per vehicle.

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Fourth annual Jerusalem Woodstock revival concert features top Israeli musicians [IBA, Israel]

At Jerusalem's Kraft Stadium, the fourth annual Jerusalem Woodstock revival concert was held. The modern-day tribute to the three-day 1969 festival featured an impressive lineup of top Israeli performers. Thousands of music lovers from around the country attended the event, which they said was all about rock and roll, love, and peace.