WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, October 2, 2017.

Las Vegas shooting

Police in the US city of Las Vegas have identified the gunman behind an incident at a music festival that is being described as the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history. The police sheriff added that the suspect, who was a Nevada resident, shot himself dead before officers arrived at his firing place. The official also said the suspect had ten rifles and opened fire on spectators in the concert from the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel. Three officers are among those killed and over 400 people have also been injured. Daesh has claimed credit for the attack, saying the assailant had joined the terror group months ago. But US officials have discounted Daesh’s claim. Parts of Las Vegas are now cordoned off and people have been ordered to keep away from the shooting site. US President Donald Trump took to twitter to extend condolences to the families of the victims.

Kurdistan referendum fallout

Iran’s armed forces have started the third round of joint military drills with the Iraqi army along the two countries’ borders. The troops have conducted military exercises along Iran’s western borders, especially the strategic Parvizkhan area. During Monday’s drills, Iran’s ground forces used heavy armored vehicles and rockets. The maneuvers also tested Iran’s army capabilities in aerial operations. There will be another joint drill on Wednesday.

Catalonia crackdown

The president of Catalonia’s regional government has blamed the central government in Madrid for the violence that marred Sunday’s independence referendum. Carles Pujdemont urges Spanish police to leave the region. The Catalan leader said he doesn’t have any contact with the Spanish government and invited third international parties particularly the European Union to mediate between Barcelona and Madrid. Pujdemont noted that Catalonia is going to form a special commission to investigate reports of rights abuses by the Spanish police during the disputed referendum. On Monday, Catalonia’s regional government met behind closed doors to discuss the next steps as it pushes ahead with its plan to declare independence from Spain. The region earlier said preliminary results suggest 90 percent of voters favor independence. Also, thousands of protesters have now gathered in Barcelona to demonstrate against police brutality.

Talks with North Korea ‘waste of time’: Trump

The US president says negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear program would be a waste of time, after it emerged that Washington had channels of communication with Pyongyang. Donald Trump says Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is wasting his time trying to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Tillerson earlier revealed that US officials were in touch with Pyongyang despite an escalating war of words. The State Department has, however, said North Korea had shown no inclination to negotiate about its nuclear program. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel hailed Tillerson's revelation about talks with North Korea, calling it a right course. Gabriel also urged the US to have dialog with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump has threatened to unravel. Germany said such a move would undermine the credibility of US offer to North Korea.

Monarch Airlines collapse

The UK's fifth biggest carrier, Monarch Airlines, has ceased operations, leaving thousands of customers stranded overseas. The Civil Aviation Authority says all of Monarch’s future bookings have been cancelled following its failure to reach a deal about renewing its license to sell package holidays. The government has asked the aviation authority to charter more than 30 aircraft to bring back those stranded abroad. People due to fly from the UK have also been told not to go to airports. The CAA has opened a 24-hour help-line and has advised customers abroad not to panic or cut short their stay. In a statement, the authority said everyone due to fly in the next fortnight will be brought back to the UK at no cost.

Iran, Turkey reject Kurdish region’s secession vote

Iran and Turkey have agreed to expand military cooperation in the region. Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces and his Iranian counterpart discussed the issue in the capital Tehran. Iran’s military chief of staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri said mutual defense ties, war in Syria and the fight against terrorism were among the topics discussed during his meeting with Hulusi Akar. He said Tehran and Ankara shared common views on the Iraqi Kurdistan’s secession vote. The top Iranian commander emphasized that preserving the territorial integrity of Iraq was a top priority for Iran and Turkey. General Hulusi Akar, for his part, emphasized Ankara’s determination to boost military cooperation with Iran especially on border security and the war on terror. The two generals also stressed the need for more joint war games.

Hamas-Fatah talks

Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, is visiting Gaza as part of reconciliation efforts to reconcile rival Fatah and Hamas groups. Hamdallah expressed hope that he and his delegation can help unite the Palestinian factions after a 10-year rift. Fatah and Hamas have been at odds ever since a parliamentary election in 2006. Hamas governs the Gaza Strip, while Fatah has set up offices in the West Bank. The two rival factions finally agreed on a unity government in April 2014, but it fell apart months later. Last month, Hamas announced that it had agreed to dissolve its administrative committee in Gaza. It also invited the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to return to the territory and hold new elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

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