WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, July 20, 2017.

US' Syria program

US President Donald Trump has reportedly decided to halt the CIA’s years-long secret program to arm and train militants fighting the Syrian government. The US media says Trump promised to do so in a secret meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the recent G20 summit in Germany. The report has also quoted U-S officials as saying phasing out the covert operation reflects Trump’s interest in finding ways to work with Russia. The White House has declined to comment on the report and has not ruled out whether the issue was discussed during a recent meeting between Trump and Putin. The CIA began its covert operations to arm, fund and train militants in 2013. Many of the weapons supplied to the militants have ended up in the hands of Daesh.

Syria army advances

The Syrian army has advanced against foreign-backed militants in the eastern suburbs of the capital Damascus. Government forces managed to take control of a strategic market and a petrol station in Ayn Tarma district. This came after days of fierce clashes with militants. The army resumed operations in the area on Monday, aiming to take control of Ayn Tarma and Jobar districts. The gain helps expand the buffer zone around the Syrian capital. Militants have repeatedly launched mortar attacks from the area on Damascus.

Lula in trouble

A Brazilian judge has ordered assets belonging to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to be frozen after his last week conviction on corruption charges. The former president has been given a nine and half-year sentence. The new corruption charges are linked to a massive embezzlement scheme at Brazil’s Petrobras Oil Company. Federal prosecutors accused Lula of taking bribes from a construction giant. His spokesman has called the charges invented. The Workers' Party founder already faces trials in other cases. The mounting scandals are likely to wreck the once popular leftist leader's chances of a political comeback in the 2018 election. Dozens of politicians have been accused of financial impropriety linked to Petrobras in recent months.

Israeli restrictions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at his regime’s decision to keep in place the newly-implemented restrictions outside the al-Aqsa Mosque. Netanyahu has told officials in Tel Aviv that metal detectors would remain in place. Israeli authorities installed the devices last week after three Palestinians and two Israeli policemen were killed in a shootout inside the compound. The measure, together with a two-day closure, drew widespread protests in the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds with Palestinians refusing to enter the holy site and conducting group prayers outside instead. They say Israel is intending to boost control over the compound and change the identity of Islam’s third holiest site.

Brexit talks

The European Union’s chief negotiator has called on the British government to clarify its position on citizens’ rights, as negotiations for Brexit heats up. Michel Barnier said the 28-member bloc wants London to say if it wants to pay the requested divorce bill. Barnier stressed that such clarifications are indispensable, saying they enable the EU to make sufficient progress on the financial dossier. The remarks were made during a fresh round of Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union in Brussels. Last month, both sides agreed on a potential timetable for negotiations toward a future trade relationship, which Britain would like to start as soon as possible.

Israeli atrocity

Israeli troops have killed a young Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian media says the Israeli forces fired four shots at the victim outside a village in the city of Bethlehem. Eyewitnesses also say an Israeli military vehicle then ran over the man. The Israeli army accused the slain Palestinian of attempting to stab a female soldier. The occupied territories have been the scene of fierce clashes between Israelis and Palestinians since the beginning of October 2015. Hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis have been killed in the violence.

Germany-Turkey tense ties

Germany has promised to take a range of measures against Turkey in response to Ankara’s arrest of human rights activists including a German national. Gabriel said Germany will review state guarantees for foreign investment in Turkey and urged businesses against investing in the country. The German foreign minister also warned against issuing a revised travel alert this week as German citizens’ safety cannot be guaranteed amid what he called arbitrary mass arrests in Turkey. Gabriel accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of trying to silence every critical voice through sweeping crackdowns since last year’s failed coup against his government. Meanwhile, Turkey criticized Germany’s statement as diplomatic rudeness. It said Berlin’s demand that Ankara release the German activist is unacceptable and interference with the Turkish judiciary’s work. 

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