WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

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

Arba’een commemoration in Iraq

Iraq’s holy city of Karbala is packed with Muslim pilgrims ahead of Arba’een, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein. Millions from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and many other parts of the world have gathered there, commemorating the sad occasion which falls on November 10. The procession is the culmination of a long march from the holy city of Najaf and other Iraqi cities toward Karbala, which started some two weeks ago. The holy shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas Ibn Ali are located in Karbala. Arba'een is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It comes 40 days after Ashura when Imam Hussein and his 72 companions were martyred during the battle of Karbala some 14 centuries ago. Iranians across the country are also marking Arba’een.

Hariri ‘held by Riyadh’

A top Lebanese official says Saudi Arabia is holding Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri. The official, who declined to be identified, said Lebanon will ask foreign and Arab states to put pressure on Saudis to release Hariri, and to secure his return to Lebanon. The official said keeping Hariri with restricted freedom in Riyadh is an attack on Lebanese sovereignty. Saudi Arabia has denied reports that Hariri is under house arrest, but he has put out no statements himself. Hariri’s sudden resignation, which was announced from the Saudi capital, has plunged Lebanon into a new political crisis. His resignation came amid a high-level purge in Saudi Arabia, where Hariri made his fortune. Hezbollah says Hariri was forced by the Saudis to resign.

Cuba slams US bans

Cuba has slammed new US sanctions that impose more restrictions on American travelers who want to visit Cuba. An official in the Cuban Foreign Ministry has added that Havana is against unilateral sanctions and that’s why it has never retaliated against US punitive measures. New US sanctions against the Caribbean Island nation come into force on Thursday. They make it more difficult for the Americans to travel to Cuba or have business with nearly 200 Cuban government officials, entities, companies and those active in the tourism sector. Relations between Washington and Havana resumed under US president Barack Obama almost 50 years after the Cuban revolution. Republicans have been critical of that policy and President Donald Trump has pledged to roll back Obama's move for warmer ties with Cuba.

UN Yemen death warning

The United Nations has once again sounded the alarm bells about the catastrophic consequences of the Saudi-imposed blockade on Yemen. UN aid chief Mark Lowcock also called on Riyadh to immediately lift the blockade. The remarks were made following a closed-door meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss the humanitarian situation in Yemen. The Council urged Riyadh to reopen Yemen’s air and sea ports. The Saudi-imposed naval blockade on the war-torn country has further aggravated the humanitarian situation there. The Saudi military aggression which began in March 2015 has so far left over 13,000 Yemenis dead.

Syria's Bukamal fully liberated

The Syrian army has announced the full liberation of the Daesh-held town of Bukamal in Dayr al-Zawr province. An army spokesman said the gain is very important because it represents the fall of the terrorist group’s project in the region. He added that government forces and their allies are still fighting Daesh pockets in the desert. Bukamal, lying along the border with Iraq, was the last significant stronghold of the Takfiri terrorists in Syria. The victory comes just a week after army recaptured the city of Dayr al-Zawr from Daesh.

‘Leave Lebanon immediately’

Saudi Arabia has called on its citizens to immediately leave Lebanon following a political standoff between Beirut and Riyadh over Saad Hariri’s resignation as the Lebanese Prime Minister. In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Beirut also ordered all Saudis not to travel to Lebanon. This, after the resigned Lebanese premier’s Future Movement said Hariri’s return is necessary to restore Lebanon’s internal and external balance. Meanwhile, Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, has called on Riyadh to stop interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs. A top Lebanese official, who has declined to be identified, said Saudi Arabia is holding Hariri with restricted freedom– a claim the kingdom has denied.

‘Stop interfering in Lebanon’

Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah urges Riyadh to stop interfering in the Lebanese internal affairs after Sa’ad Hariri resigned as Lebanon’s prime minister in Saudi Arabia.

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