WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, July 17, 2018.

Israel tightening Gaza siege

Israel is tightening its blockade on the Gaza Strip, preventing fuel deliveries through its only goods crossing with the besieged land. The Israeli ministry for military affairs says the suspension of fuel deliveries started late Monday and will continue until Sunday. It said the fishing zone enforced by Israel off the Gaza Strip will see further limitations as well. Israel claims the move is in response to scores of kites carrying firebombs flown by Palestinians to burn Israeli farmland. Tel Aviv said the crossing will be open only for delivering food and medicine on a case-by-case basis. Gaza has been under the Israeli siege since 2007. The United Nations has slammed the decade-long blockade, saying it’s in violation of international humanitarian law.

Syrian Army gains

Syrian army forces have made new gains against foreign-backed militants in the southwestern province of Dara’a, which borders Jordan. Soldiers recaptured the town of al-Mal and the nearby al-Mal hill in Dara’a northwestern countryside on Tuesday. Army units had earlier liberated the strategic hill of Harra and four villages in the province. The hill overlooks the occupied Golan Heights. The Syrian army has been pushing an offensive to drive foreign-backed militants from parts of the country’s southwest over the past weeks. The highlight has been the full liberation of Dara’a city on Thursday.

Putin rejects UK accusations

Russia’s president says London has been making baseless accusations against his country over the poisoning attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain. Putin said, in an interview with Fox News, that London’s allegation of Russia’s role in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, could be driven by domestic issues in Britain. The British government says the Skripals were poisoned by Russian-made nerve agent Novichok on March fourth. In late June, Britain also accused Russia of poisoning two other people with Novichok that left one of them dead. The incidents have triggered reciprocal expulsions of diplomats in Moscow and London.

EU-Japan trade deal

The European Union and Japan have signed a massive free trade agreement amid Donald Trump's America First policy. European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker says the agreement underlines win-win solutions offered by free trade. The deal is the largest ever negotiated by the EU and will eliminate about 99-percent of its tariffs on Japanese goods. Tokyo will also scrap almost all tariffs on EU products. The deal must be ratified by EU and Japanese lawmakers and is expected to enter into force from 2019. It comes on the backdrop of the US President's import tariffs and threats of trade war.

Japan deadly heatwave

Over a dozen people have lost their lives as an intensive wave of hot weather blankets across Japan. Fourteen people including a women in her 90s died, thousands were hospitalized fir heat-related conditions over three days at the weekend. The temperatures rose as high as 39.3 degrees Celsius in Gifu prefecture, central Japan. The capital Tokyo also recorded unprecedented 34 degree weather. Temperatures also hit the flood-stricken western regions where at least 200 people died last week. The Japanese government has predicted the barometer to reach 40 degrees Celsius and urged people to take extra measures to prevent heatstroke.

Israelis controversial bill

The Israeli Knesset has passed into law yet another controversial bill. It prevents human rights activists or organizations from entering schools across the occupied Palestinian territories. The measure seeks to silence those who shed light on violations committed by Israeli soldiers against Palestinians. More details in the following report by Fatima AbdulKarim from Jerusalem al-Quds.

Catalonia’s independence blocked

In Spain, the Constitutional Court has blocked a motion approved in Catalonia to resume efforts to declare independence. The court formally suspended the motion after the central government in Madrid filed an appeal against it. According to the top court, under the current Spanish constitution, Catalonia cannot hold a referendum on independence. Pro-secession Catalonian parliament approved a motion on July 5 that would allow the northern region to seek independence under its new administration. Catalonia declared independence from Spain in October 2017, but the move was blocked by Madrid which nullified the referendum and abolished the regional government and parliament. A number of pro-independence leaders including former president Carles Puigdemont who later fled are wanted for sedition.