WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, March 7, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, March 8, 2017.

Eastern Ghouta

A UK-based monitoring group says Syrian forces have retaken half of Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the army and its allied forces made the breakthrough after regaining control over Al-Ashaari and Beit Sawa towns as well as a farmland in the militant-held region. Syrian forces have intensified their offensive against terror groups in Eastern Ghouta. Heavy airstrikes hit several key towns in the area on Wednesday, as Damascus dispatched hundreds of pro-government troops to the front. Earlier in the day, Syrian army units also attacked militants in the Eastern Ghouta town of Mesraba. The flash-point area has been the scene of fierce clashes between Russian-backed government forces and militants for more than two weeks now.

Controversial Israeli legislation

Israel’s Knesset has approved a discriminatory legislation allowing Tel Aviv to revoke the residency status of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem al-Quds under certain conditions. The move has been slammed by Palestinians who see it as a violation of their rights.

Fallout from departure of US financial official

The US government’s planned tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum sends the country’s financial markets plummeting. Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 0.5 percent of its value. The Dow Jones suffered a hefty blow and tumbled up to one percent. Industrial companies like Caterpillar and Boeing also shed considerable points. This came hot on the heels of an unexpected decision by the US president's top economic adviser Gary Cohn to step down due to differences with Donald Trump over trade policies. Trump has announced a 22-percent tariff on imports of steel and aluminum. The move has fueled concerns about a possible global trade war as it raises the prospects of retaliatory measures by Washington’s key trading partners.

China warns Washington

China has warned that it will make a necessary response in the event of a trade war with the United States. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, however, said such a war would only harm all sides. He said the two countries don’t have to be rivals. US President Donald Trump is expected to impose tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum this week. But the White House has said there could be a 30-day exemption for Mexico and Canada and some other countries based on national security. US imports of these two goods from China make up a small proportion of its total imports. But the tariffs may be the first foray in an American trade war with Beijing.

Saudi-led war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia continues its relentless airstrikes against Yemen, killing eight people and causing more destruction. One air attack targeted a residential area in Yemen’s northern city of Sa’ada. It killed a mother and her child. The airstrike also left several others injured. Saudi warplanes also bombed a house in the capital Sana’a. The attack killed six civilians, including two women and three children. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Ansarullah movement killed at least three Saudi soldiers in the Kingdom’s Jizan province. The Saudi war on Yemen has raised concern among prominent rights organizations. Nearly 14,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since Saudi Arabia launched its air campaign against Yemen in 2015.

Controversial clearance

India’s national flag carrier says it has obtained permission from Saudi Arabia to fly between New Delhi and Tel Aviv over Saudi airspace. Air India says the new flight route will help save two hours of travel time. Air India plans to operate flights three days a week starting March 22. Israel’s El Al airlines is also reportedly lobbying to access Saudi airspace. The decision by the kingdom to allow Air India to use its airspace effectively ends a 70-year ban, further signaling a diplomatic shift in policy towards Israel. The once-clandestine Riyadh-Tel Aviv ties are becoming more apparent with Saudis willing to turn a blind eye to Israel’s widely-condemned policies in the region, particularly in Palestine.

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