WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, October 30, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, October 31, 2017.

Iran nuclear deal

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has reiterated that Iran is abiding by its obligations under the nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of countries. Yukiya Amano made the comment during a nuclear energy conference in the United Arab Emirates. Amano added that the IAEA inspectors are facing no problem in their verification efforts in Iran. During a visit to Iran on Sunday, the IAEA chief said that other signatories to the nuclear agreement should also fulfill their commitments.

Slamming US sanctions

Former Lebanese president Emile Lahoud has slammed fresh US sanctions against Hezbollah and says the measures won’t affect the resistance movement. The former Lebanese commander in chief was speaking in an exclusive interview with PressTV. He praised and defended Hezbollah’s military presence in Syria. According to Lahoud, Hezbollah went to fight the Takfiris in Syria to prevent them from sneaking into Lebanon. He noted that Hezbollah will return to Lebanon when the situation in Syria returns to normal. Lahoud also accused Saudi Arabia and the United States of hampering efforts to normalize the situation in Lebanon. He said the two countries are doing their utmost to keep Lebanon at an emergency state by preventing the return of Syrian refugees to their country.

Catalonia cisis

Belgium has confirmed that the deposed Catalan leader Carles Pujdemon is in Brussels as he escapes the Spanish region for fear of prosecution. According to officials speaking with the Belgian broadcaster VRT, Pujdemon and his companions will later see their lawyers. The Spanish government has also confirmed the news. Pujdemon left Catalonia on Monday as the top Spanish prosecutor announced charges of sedition, rebellion and embezzlement against him and others and asked them to testify before a court. Meanwhile, Belgium’s migration minister has announced that the country will consider Pujdemon’s asylum seeking case if he requests.

Call for cooperation

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has renewed criticism of foreign interference in the Middle East, urging regional countries to resolve their problems through dialog. Rouhani made the remarks after a meeting with Parliament speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Sadeq Larijani. The Iranian president said arrogant powers have always been seeking to spread terrorism, create insecurity and instability in the Middle East. He said such powers often pit regional countries against each other to increase their arms sales. He noted that they had made futile attempts to change the geographical borders in the Middle East. Rouhani further said that the recent US stance on the Iran nuclear deal is part of plots Washington has been hatching against the Islamic Republic.

Israel Gaza attack

The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, has slammed the latest deadly Israeli attack on Gaza Strip as an attempt to undermine reconciliation talks between the Palestinian factions. Hamas also said that the Israeli attack constituted a new war against Gazans. The Fatah movement, for its part, has accused Tel Aviv of trying to create division among the Palestinians and hampering talks with Hamas. At least eight people were killed after an Israeli warplane targeted a tunnel in southern Gaza. According to Palestinian officials, several of the victims died due to inhaling unknown poisonous gas. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement has vowed revenge saying all options are open for response. Iran has also denounced the aggression. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Israel’s decades-long bloodshed has failed to weaken the Palestinian resolve in fighting against occupation.

Trump-Russia probe

The FBI investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election takes a new turn. President Donald Trump's former campaign chief and another close associate have been charged in the case. Both men have however pleaded not guilty and they have been ordered to be put under house arrest.

Iran drills

The Iranian military’s Air Force has launched major drills in the central parts of the country. The two-day exercises are being held in the Anarak region of Isfahan province. Various military aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, and reconnaissance jets are taking part in the maneuver. Smart bombs and precision bombs are being used in the drills to hit long-range targets. The equipment developed by Iranian experts over the past years will also be tested. Officials say the main goal of the exercises is to demonstrate the country’s national capability, security, and stability.

Syria Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations says more than 13 million people inside war-torn Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, with nearly half of them in acute need of food and other basic requirements. The UN humanitarian chief told the Security Council that the number of internally displaced Syrians has dropped from 6.3 million to 6.1 million. Mark Lowcock, however, noted that the level of new displacement remained high. He said over 436,000 Syrians were forced to leave the city of Raqqah alone after the anti-Daesh offensive began there in last November. The UN official added that some 3-million Syrians continue to live in besieged or hard-to-reach areas where the UN faces considerable challenges in meeting humanitarian needs. Lowcock also warned about an alarming number of child malnutrition cases in eastern Ghouta. Millions of Syrians have been affected by militancy that gripped the Arab country back in 2011.

Australia Protest

Australians have held a rally in the city of Sydney in support of refugees. The protesters called on the government to guarantee the safety of asylum seekers and organize their re-settlement. The demonstration comes as security forces vacated an off-shore detention center on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island and closed the facility. However, the 600 refugees at the camp are refusing to leave. They say the new facilities are less secure and they fear for their safety amid threats of violence from locals. Authorities have shut down water and electricity in an attempt to force the refugees to relocate. During the past four years, Australia has paid Papua New Guinea, its nearest neighbor, and the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru to house asylum seekers who attempt to reach the Australian coast by boat.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir