WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, October 11, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, October 12, 2017.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia continues its relentless airstrikes on Yemen as the civilian death toll from the military campaign mounts. Yemeni media say the latest Saudi air raids targeted Jawf province, killing three people. According to Yemeni military officials, Saudi attacks have killed 55 people in the first ten days of this month alone. They also say children constitute half of the victims. Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemen since March 2015. The aggression has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 Yemenis, many of them women and children.

Syria FM criticizes US-led coalition

The Syrian Foreign Minister has strongly criticized the US-led coalition for wreaking destruction in Syria while sparing the Daesh terror group. Walid al-Muallem was speaking in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Sochi. He said Washington aims to destroy Syria's economy and prolong the war. The Russian Foreign Minister also said Moscow would strongly oppose any attempts to accuse the Syrian government of involvement in a whole range of chemical weapons incidents. Sergei Lavrov also stressed that Russia stands against any attempts to politicize the regulation of the Syrian situation at the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

Plight of Rohingya

The United Nations says Myanmar’s army has carried out coordinated attacks to prevent Rohingya Muslims from returning to their homes. The official added the Myanmar army stages quote brutal systematic attacks against the Rohingya. He also rejected Myanmar’s claim that the violent crackdown is in response to Rohingya militant attacks. He said the army’s “clearance operations” began before the attacks that hit the region on August 25. The United Nations has described the violence as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

Europe backs Madrid

The European Commission Vice-President has urged Catalonia to fully respect Spain’s constitution. Valdis Dombrovskis made the remarks during a press conference in Brussels. He emphasized that the European Commission is closely following the situation in Spain. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected any offer of mediation to resolve the crisis over Catalonia’s independence push. The Spanish premier also accused Catalan leaders of inciting street protests to give an appearance of legitimacy to the vote. The Spanish prime minister has vowed to do everything in his power to prevent Catalonia’s independence.

US lawmakers favor JCPOA

Several US lawmakers have expressed their full support for the Iran nuclear deal amid threats by President Donald Trump to pull out of the internationally-recognized agreement. Ed Royce, who chairs the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, has also stressed that Washington should strictly enforce the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries. The remarks are a rebuke to Trump who has time and again described the 2015 deal as one of the worst agreements Washington had ever been involved in. The US president says he will very soon announce his decision on the 2015 deal ahead of an October 15 deadline on which it is to declare the US stance on the accord.

Iran warns US against pulling out of nuclear deal

Iran’s nuclear chief says the US administration will bear the responsibility for any fallout should Washington withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. Ali Akbar Salehi made the remarks during a press conference in the British capital London. Salehi said it would not be business as usual if the US administration pulls out from the internationally-recognized accord. He says there would certainly be a perturbation, but the size and depth of the consequences are unpredictable. Salehi added that, with the exception of the current US administration, the entire international community, the United Nations and the IAEA are all happy with the functioning accord.

Samsung troubles

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman, Jay Y. Lee has appeared in a packed court for the first day of arguments in the appeal of his five-year jail term for corruption. Two other Samsung executives turned up at the court. Lee was convicted by a lower court in August of bribing former president Park Geun-hye to help strengthen his control of the crown jewel in Samsung Electronics. The appellate court is likely to rule on the case by next February. Whichever side loses could take the case to the Supreme Court, the final court of appeal in South Korea.

Palestine reconciliation deal

Rival Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, have reached a deal over political reconciliation after marathon talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Sources close to the meeting say the details of the agreement will be released at a news conference later on Thursday. Hamas and Fatah kicked off the talks earlier this month amid high hopes for an end to their decades-long bitter ties. The division widened in 2006, when Hamas won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has ever since been running the besieged coastal enclave, while President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah-backed government has been based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The reconciliation effort by the two sides has angered Israel. Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would put his stamp on reconciliation only if Hamas recognizes Israel, disbands its military wing and cuts ties with Iran.

Trump slams JCPOA

US President Donald Trump has once again slammed Iran’s nuclear deal, calling it an embarrassment. Trump who's set to make a decision on the accord later this week said things are going to be announced soon. The president of the United States is required to report to Congress every 90 days if he approves Iran’s compliance with the treaty and whether the lifting of sanctions is in the national interest of the US. So far Trump has certified the pact twice, but has said the next deadline, which expires on Sunday, will be crucial, raising concerns that he may decertify the deal this time. He is also anticipated to announce new anti-Iran measures including blacklisting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which has been strongly slammed by Iranian officials.

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