WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, August 11, 2018 to 0800 GMT, August 12, 2018.

Syria army operation

The Syrian army is blasting its way through the country’s south, tightening the grip on remaining Takfiri terrorists. The UK-based Syrian observatory for human rights said government forces scored fresh gains against Daesh terrorists in the desert areas of Suwayda province. The army and its allied units have managed to claw back many areas from the terrorists over the past months in the region. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011.

Protestors slam Israeli ‘apartheid’

Tens of thousands of people have once again held a rally in Tel Aviv to protest against the so-called nation-state law. The protest was organized by Palestinians living in the occupied territories. This was the second large-scale demonstration in Tel Aviv in recent weeks. The demonstrators condemned the law that defines the occupied territories as the historic homeland of Jewish people, giving them supremacy over non-Jews.

US far-right showdown

In the US, white supremacists and anti-racism protesters are set to stage rival rallies, a year after similar demonstrations turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia. Nationalists are planning to gather in front of the White House in Washington DC. Meanwhile, members of several anti-fascist groups including the Black Lives Matter have pledged to stage counter protests at the same place. Authorities in Washington DC and Charlottesville have beefed up security measures ahead of this weekend's planned rallies. President Donald Trump has in a tweet condemned all types of racism. He will not be in town at the time of the planned demos.

EU's call on Saudi Arabia

The European Union has sought clarification from Saudi Arabia on the circumstances surrounding the arrests of women rights activists. The detentions have triggered an escalating diplomatic row between the kingdom and Canada. The spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the bloc demanded that Saudi authorities grant the jailed activists due process to defend themselves. Earlier on Saturday, Mogherini discussed the issue with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on phone. Canada has been calling for the immediate release of the activists. Saudi Arabia sees Canada's request as meddling in its internal affairs. The feud has already strained relations between Riyadh and Ottawa, affecting trade between the two countries.

Caspian Sea summit

The five littoral countries of the Caspian Sea are set to sign a convention in efforts to solve their differences over the resource-rich water's legal status. A summit is taking place in the Kazakh port city of Aktau where heads of state from Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are expected to sign the deal. Before leaving Tehran for Aktau, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the convention will be a step forward in determining the status of the Caspian Sea waters. He said a key provision of the deal limits military presence in the sea to the five signatory countries.

Okinawa anti-US protest

Tens of thousands of Japanese have rallied in Okinawa to call for the removal of a US military base from the island. The protesters chanted slogans and held placards, demanding a halt in the relocation of Henoko military base. They said the relocation poses environmental risks, adding that they want the base to be removed from the island altogether. The gathering also featured a silent prayer to honor Okinawa’s governor, who died of cancer this week. He was a fierce opponent of the relocation plan. The military base is home to half of the United States’ 50,000-strong force in Japan. Locals want the base removed due to controversies surrounding the US military presence there, including the murder of a woman by a US marine in 2016.

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