WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, October 9, 2017.

Iran US warning

Iran says it will show a strong reaction if Washington puts the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, the IRGC, on its list of terrorist groups. Speaking in a weekly press conference, Qassemi expressed hope the White House will be prudent enough not to make this “very important, strategic and dangerous mistake”. He stressed that Iran will adopt the necessary measures in due time if the US goes ahead with such a move. He reiterated that Iran’s stance on the nuclear deal it has signed with the P5+1 group of countries will not change. Qassemi further noted that Iran’s missile program is part of the country’s defense doctrine, and added Tehran will not allow other countries to interfere in its defense issues.

Afghanistan insecurity

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is planning to reduce its presence in Afghanistan due to the dangers posed to its staff there. Zanarelli stressed that the ICRC is not leaving Afghanistan, but only reducing its presence there. She said the biggest challenge facing the aid group is exposure to risk. The decision follows attacks that have killed seven of staff members of the ICRC this year. Four of the group’s staff have also been abducted over the same period. Around 40 percent of Afghanistan’s territory is either controlled or contested by the Taliban and other militant groups.

Pakistan attack

Five Shia Muslims from the ethnic Hazara minority have been gunned down in the country’s southwest. The attack was carried out in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. The assailants on a motorcycle ambushed the car carrying the victims and sprayed it with bullets. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. A senior Pakistani police official said the attack was a sectarian targeted killing. Quetta has been hit by militants affiliated with the Taliban and Daesh terrorists several times in the past. Police say more than twenty Hazaras have been killed in similar shootings in Baluchistan in the past two years.

Brexit negotiations

The European Union says it is up to the UK to make progress in Brexit negotiations with the bloc before talks on the future relationship between the two sides. The comments come after excerpts from UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech which will be delivered to Parliament later on Monday were made available. In her speech, May has stressed that the ball is in the European Union’s court in terms of Brexit negotiations. She has also called on the EU negotiators to be flexible in the fifth round of discussions. The British prime minister, however, says the UK will receive a positive response from the EU. Britain began the two-year process of leaving the bloc six months ago, but negotiations on the terms of secession have so far moved forward slowly.

Turkey-US tensions  

Turkey's foreign ministry has summoned a top US embassy official to lodge a complaint about the suspension of visa services at American diplomatic missions in Turkey. According to ministry sources, the US embassy undersecretary was told that the visa suspension move had caused “unnecessary tensions” and should be reversed. Washington suspended non-immigrant visa services in Turkey citing security reasons. Earlier, the US embassy said that recent events had forced it to reassess Ankara’s commitment to the security of US missions and personnel. This after Turkish authorities arrested a US consulate employee of Turkish nationality for his alleged links to the Gulen movement. US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen has been blamed by Ankara for last summer's failed coup. The Turkish mission in Washington has also scaled back visa services in a tit-for-tat move.

Sino-Russian JCPOA Stance

Russia and China say they want the Iran nuclear deal to be preserved in its current form amid reports that the US may withdraw from the agreement.

Kenya protest

Hundreds of demonstrators have staged a rally in Kenya's capital Nairobi to protest proposed changes to the country’s electoral law. The proposed changes stipulate that if a candidate boycotts an election whose date has been set, the remaining candidate would win the contest without formal polls. The changes would also limit the circumstances in which the Supreme Court can cancel an election on procedural grounds. Kenyans will go to the polls in a new presidential election on October 26 after the Supreme Court nullified the August 8 vote due to procedural irregularities. Incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta is set to once more face off opposition leader Raila Odinga in the election.

Saudi war on Yemen

At least nine Yemeni civilians have reportedly been killed in fresh Saudi attacks in the northwest of the war-ravaged country. According to Yemeni media, at least eight people were killed and four others injured after Saudi fighter jets bombed the Shada district in Sa’ada province. Separately, one Yemeni civilian was killed and four others were injured after Saudi artillery shells slammed into residential areas in the Mashnaq district in the same province. On Saturday, Saudi airstrikes left at least a dozen people dead. Over 13,000 Yemenis, many of them women and children, have lost their lives since the war on Yemen began in March 2015.

May’s Brexit ‘Mess’

Leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has accused Prime Minister Theresa May’s government of making a mess out of Brexit negotiations. Corbyn added that no real progress has been made after the Brexit referendum. Corbyn said none of the objectives which May outlined during her January speech for Brexit negotiations has been achieved. Corbyn’s comments come after the UK prime minister said the ball is in the European Union’s court in terms of Brexit talks. She said the UK wants a creative solution to the issue of forging a new economic relationship with the EU after Brexit. May’s comments however, drew an angry response from the European Commission Spokesman Margaritis Schinas who said the ball is in the UK’s court.

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