WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom’s headlines from 18:00 GMT, July 15, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, July 16, 2017.

Stressing Syria's sovereignty

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council says no deal should violate Syria’s sovereignty. 

Ali Shamkhani says some terrorist elements are using the Syria peace talks and the ceasefire there to reinforce themselves, which is unacceptable. He warned that these terrorists never abide by any commitment and rather use every opportunity to pursue their inhumane goals. Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with Russia’s special envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev in Tehran. The Iranian official also warned that Israel is lobbying to weaken the Syrian government and implement its policies in the region. He added that Tel Aviv has established deep and extensive links with terrorist groups and countries that support them to keep its so-called borders safe and oppress the Palestinians. Shamkhani hailed the Astana trilateral talks as a successful way to end the crises in the region. Lavrentiev stressed that trilateral cooperation by Iran, Russia and Turkey will continue until terrorist groups are eradicated. 

Erdogan's wrath 

The Turkish president vows to chop off the heads of traitors, on the first anniversary of the 2016 failed coup.

Rejep Tayyip Erdogan said he would sign any bill passed by parliament to restore capital punishment. He once again accused US-backed opposition figure Fethullah Gulen of having orchestrated the July 15 coup. The Turkish president defended his decision to launch a heavy-handed crackdown on alleged Gulen supporters after the event. Erdogan said 111,000 people were sacked since then and many more arrested. He stressed suspects being tried on suspicion of involvement in the coup should wear uniforms like the Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Erdogan was speaking to tens of thousands of his supporters at a rally in Istanbul, marking one year since the attempted putsch in which 250 people lost their lives.

Re-opening al-Aqsa 

Israel will re-open the al-Aqsa Mosque compound after its closure due to a deadly shooting. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the site would be open from Sunday noon to Muslim worshippers, tourists and Jewish visitors. Israeli authorities shut the compound on Friday and prevented Palestinians from holding prayers there. The move angered Muslims and drew the ire of Jordan which administers the compound. Hamas also condemned the move and described it as a religious war.

'Netanyahu not welcome'

Activists from Pro-Palestinian NGOs, joined by hundreds of people in Paris, protest the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to France. They decried Israel’s settlement policies criticizing the French President for inviting him. 

Demonstrators numbering in the hundreds held up signs reading Netanhayu’s portrait with words such as fascist, murderer, racist and torturer. Slogans referred to Macron as an accomplice and called for Palestine’s freedom. Netanyahu was invited by the the French president to take part in a ceremony commemorating the mass deportation of French Jews to Nazi camps over 75 years ago. The event laments the collaboration of the French government with Nazis during the mid 20th century. 

No to Trump

Protesters have rallied in the streets of New York City to demand the impeachment of US President Donald Trump.

The activists first gathered outside the Trump Tower and then marched toward Times Square and 9th Avenue. They chanted slogans such as “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA”. Similar protests were organized in nearly 20 other cities across the US, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. The demonstrations were organized by Refuse Fascism, a vocal opponent of the Trump administration.

Israel West Bank killing

Israeli forces have fatally shot one Palestinian amid escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank.

34-year-old Amar Ahmad Halil was shot during a raid on his house in Nabi Saleh, a small village near the city of Ramallah. The Israeli army claims the Palestinian was killed while attempting to open fire on soldiers who came to arrest him. Another Palestinian who was detained overnight was slightly injured in the Israeli raid. Ahmad Halil has been accused of being behind Saturday’s drive-by shooting near the settlement of Ateret that left a driver injured as well as attacking an Israeli outpost that caused no injuries.

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