WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, August 16, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, August 17, 2017.

Virginia violence aftermath

US President Donald Trump has closed down two White House advisory councils over criticism from their CEOs of his remarks on Charlottesville's protest. In a twitter post, Trump said “rather than putting pressure on the business people of the Manufacturing Council, Strategy and Policy Forum, I am ending both”. The CEOs of the two councils resigned from their posts. They slammed the president for blaming both the White supremacists and counter protesters for the Saturday violence. Trump has criticized business leaders who resigned from his White House panel, accusing them of not taking their jobs seriously. The group, which Trump established in January with about two dozen members, was supposed to meet occasionally to offer the president advice on job growth.

Syrians returning home

Thousands of families continue returning to their homes in areas liberated by the army from Takfiri militants in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo. Dozens of buses have taken the internally displaced to the town of Maskanah. They had been seeking refuge in a reception center secured by Russian forces about ten kilometers from Aleppo city. In June, government troops backed by Russian air force managed to recapture Maskanah from Daesh terrorists. After retaking the provincial capital in December 2016, the army launched an operation to liberate the rest of the province. Syrian forces have since pushed terrorists out of hundreds of towns and villages.

UN slams Trump’s threats against Venezuela

The UN Secretary General has criticized US President Donald Trump for threatening to use force to resolve the political deadlock in Venezuela. The UN chief’s comments came after Trump refused to rule out the use of force against the Venezuelan government. Guterres added that the crisis in Venezuela can only be resolved through dialogue. Venezuela has been gripped by political uncertainty for months. The country’s president Nicolas Maduro has accused the US of plotting to overthrow his government and fomenting unrest in the oil-rich South American nation.

Trump condemned by allies

Washington’s closest allies have condemned US President Donald Trump for his reaction to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Those who have criticized Trump include the British Prime Minister. Theresa May spoke out after Trump repeated his view that the white nationalists and counter-protesters were equally to blame for the violence. She said that far-right views should always be condemned. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the violence calling it racist. German Justice Minister Heiko Maas also accused Trump of trivializing racism. Experts at the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination also urged US authorities to punish the perpetrators of racist crimes in the country.

US soldier killed in Afghanistan

A US service member has been killed while engaged in anti-Daesh operations in eastern Afghanistan. In a statement, the US military said the service member died as a result of wounds. It also said that other US and Afghan forces were injured and evacuated for medical treatment. The country is still suffering from insecurity and violence years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The military invasion removed the Taliban from power, but their militancy continues to this day.

Syria chemical attack allegations

Syria has rejected any involvement in a chemical attack earlier this year, and accused the US and the UK of supplying toxic agents to terrorists in the Arab country. Faisal Mekdad said the toxic agents found in the cities of Aleppo and Damascus were produced by British and American companies. He added that terrorists had loaded hand grenades and rounds for grenade launchers with CS and CN toxic agents. The Syrian deputy foreign minister noted that supplying terrorists with such banned substances violates Article 5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Mekdad added that an international chemical weapons delegation will visit Syria in the coming days. Several chemical attacks, including an April suspected Sarin gas attack, have happened in Syria in recent years. Damascus has blamed foreign-backed militants for carrying out the attacks.

Virginia vigil

Demonstrators have taken to the streets in Charlottesville to condemn Saturday’s violent supremacist rally in the city. Thousands participated in the peaceful march. They also held a candlelight vigil against white supremacists, denouncing the hate and violence the city has witnessed. The marchers also sang songs in honor of the victims of a car-ramming attack during a counter protest of the White Supremacist rally on Saturday. One person died and dozens were injured in the violence. Meanwhile, thousands of people marched through the streets of Philadelphia to show support for the people who stood against white supremacist demonstrators during the deadly protest in Charlottesville.

Iran-Turkey talks

The Chairman of Iran’s Joint Chiefs of Staff has held talks with the Turkish president. Major General Mohammad Baqeri met Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital Ankara. The Iranian top commander earlier met with the Turkish defense minister. The two discussed bilateral defense ties, regional developments and the fight against terrorism. The top Iranian general said he discussed the Syria crisis during three-day visit to Turkey.

Debate on Iranian cabinet picks

The third day of debates on President Hassan Rouhani’s proposed cabinet list is underway in the Iranian parliament. Lawmakers are discussing the qualification of Mahmoud Hajjati, the president’s nominee for the Ministry of Agriculture. Wednesday’s debates focused on Mahmoud Alavi, Masoud Karbasian and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the president’s picks to head Intelligence, Economy and Foreign Ministries, respectively. The remaining candidates and their programs will be discussed in the coming days. President Hassan Rouhani won a landslide re-election on May 19. He submitted his cabinet line-up last week prior to the legal deadline. Rouhani is yet to announce his pick for the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

Bid to defuse tensions on Korean Peninsula

South Korea says there will be no more wars on the Korean Peninsula as the United States and North Korea tone down recent tensions. South Korean President Moon Jae-in says the US has promised to seek Seoul’s approval before taking any military action against the North. He made the remarks after US President Donald Trump hailed Pyongyang for its decision to hold off its planned missile launch towards the US territory of Guam. The South Korean president warned Pyongyang that it could face tougher sanctions if it pursues its nuclear weapons program. He, however, hinted that a special envoy would be sent to Pyongyang for talks if it stops further provocations. Meanwhile, chief strategist to the White House, Steve Bannon has admitted that there will be no military solution to the North Korean issue.

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