WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, July 20, 2018 to 0800 GMT, July 21, 2018.

Gaza ceasefire

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and Israel agree to a ceasefire following a flare-up of violence in the Gaza Strip. Hamas said through the efforts of the United Nations and Egypt, the two sides agreed to restore calm in Gaza. This came after Israeli airstrikes and tank fire killed four Palestinians and injured 120 others in the enclave. An Israeli soldier was also shot dead by Palestinian gunfire from Gaza. Earlier, the UN called on Hamas and Israel to scale down the violence. Gaza and the Israeli Army have fought three wars since 2008.

Myanmar Muslims misery

An international group of medical experts says evidence gathered from Rohingya refugees proves the Muslim minority’s accounts of systematic massacre and rape in Myanmar. The PHR official said the Myanmar army forces raped women and burnt homes in attacks that killed hundreds of civilians. Venters said among the victims were children as young as five. He said this contradicts Myanmar’s claim that the massacre was a military campaign against terrorists. Venters said what the Myanmarese army did to Rohingya civilians must be investigated as crimes against humanity.

FARC in Colombia Congress

Colombia’s former FARC rebels take their seats in Congress as part of an agreement that ended five decades of war. The former rebels are preparing to be sworn in on Friday. Outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos who signed the deal with FARC urged the nation to protect the accord and put an end to violence. Under the agreement, FARC was awarded five seats each in the 108-member Senate and the 172-member lower house through 2026. The peace deal has polarized Colombia because the rebels’ lengthy fight with the government led to death of more than 260,000 people.

US Ukraine military aid

The US Department of Defense says it will pay 200-million dollars to help Ukraine strengthen its military capabilities. The financial aid, now totaling one billion dollars, is part of funds provided by the Pentagon since 2014 when Crimea rejoined Russia in a referendum. According to a statement by the military body, the money will provide Kiev with equipment to support its ongoing training programs and operational needs. The financial assistance comes amid a wave of outrage in the US over President Donald Trump’s stance on Russia.

Trump trade threats

The US president has accused China and the European Union of manipulating their currencies and interest rates. Donald Trump has threatened to slap all imports from China with high tariffs. Trump reiterated his views that China’s trade surplus with the U-S amounts to unfair trading practices. Beijing accuses Washington of fabricating justifications for its trade actions. China says the US trade war has become the biggest confidence killer for the global economy. Trump announced a series of tariffs, which are mostly aimed at China, in March and implemented them shortly afterward. He even refused to extend exemptions that had been in place for Europe, Canada and Mexico.

US North Korea sanctions

The US says the world must continue to fully enforce United Nations’ sanctions on North Korea until Pyongyang gives up its nuclear weapons. Pompeo added that members of the Security Council were united on the need for the final and fully verified de-nuclearization of North Korea. He was speaking a day after China and Russia rejected Washington’s call to step up sanctions on Pyongyang at the UN sanctions committee. Speaking alongside Pompeo, US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, also warned against easing sanctions. Beijing and Moscow back North Korea's call for a phased approach to de-nuclearization. On June 12, the US and North Korean leaders signed an agreement in Singapore which committed the US to security guarantees in exchange for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

Europe refugee crisis

The European Union has suffered a new blow after Italy and Libya opposed its migrant policy. Italy has told the EU that it will no longer take in refugees rescued at sea. The country wants other EU members to share the burden and accept some of the asylum seekers. Also in Libya, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj has rejected an EU proposal to set up migrant processing centers in his country. The EU has already been turned down by several other countries in North Africa. Thousands of people have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya into European ports in past years.

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