WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, November 16, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, November 17, 2017.

Iran raps France's ‘biased view’

Tehran has slammed the recent anti-Iran statements by the French foreign minister, saying Paris has a biased view of crises and human catastrophes in the Middle East. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says France’s biased approach to regional issues activates latent crises in the region. Bahram Qassemi says promoting regional peace and stability requires realistic and responsible statements and actions by countries outside the region. He says repeating false allegations of Saudi officials will not contribute to the resolution of regional crises. The Iranian diplomat has added that selling weapons to the initiators of the war on Yemen will only embolden them to create more catastrophes in the region. On Thursday, the French foreign minister expressed concern about Iran’s missile program and what he called Tehran’s hegemonic intentions in the region.

Un describes Saudi was on Yemen as ‘stupid’

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed disappointment over Saudi Arabia’s refusal to lift its blockade on Yemen. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN chief and his top aid officials were heartbroken when they saw the horrific scenes from Yemen. Quoting Guterres, he said the crisis in Yemen was man-made and described the conflict as a stupid war. Meanwhile, an international aid group said an estimated 130 children or more die every day in Yemen from extreme hunger and different diseases. Save the Children said a continuing blockade by the Saudi Arabia was likely to further increase the death rate. Earlier, the heads of three UN agencies urged Riyadh to remove the crippling blockade. UNICEF, WHO and WFP warned that even if the blockade was partially removed, over three million people would face starvation.

Russia rejects anti-Syria resolution

Moscow also withdrew its draft resolution on renewing the mandate of the UN-led Joint Investigative Mechanism. The Russian version called for an extension of the OPCWUN Joint Investigative Mechanism’s mandate for a year. It also demanded the UN Security Council shelve a report blaming the Syrian government for a chemical gas attack. The document also called for a comprehensive probe into the deadly Sarin gas attack in Syria’s Khan Sheykhoun on April 4. US Ambassador Nikki Haley criticized the veto as a deep blow. She accused Moscow of undermining the Security Council’s ability to deter future attacks.

Syria hails Russia’s stance

The Syrian envoy to the United Nations has hailed Russia’s stance in resolving the dispute in Syria. Bashar al-Jaafari said Russia’s veto of a UN resolution on Syria had saved the Security Council from international manipulation. He slammed the US, the UK and France for worsening the situation in his country and accused them of creating and supporting terrorist groups. The Syrian envoy also criticized the UN for not sending an investigation team to probe the 2013 chemical attack in the city of Khan al-Asal. Jaafari noted that Damascus is committed to the treaty that bans chemical weapons and condemns their use. He made his remarks after Russia vetoed a US-drafted UN resolution to extend the mandate for an inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Barcelona rally

In Spain’s Barcelona, demonstrators have rallied to show their support for imprisoned Catalan leaders. The protesters chanted slogans and called on Madrid to release the jailed leaders. The rally was staged to mark one month since the imprisonment of two separatist Catalan leaders, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart. The two were arrested during a protest in Barcelona, as part of a government crackdown to stifle Catalonia’s independence bid. The two are held in detention, without bail, on charges of sedition. The central government has taken over Catalonia’s institutions of power and suspended its autonomy since it declared independence last month.

US Afghanistan deployment

The United States has deployed an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan under President Donald Trump's revised strategy for the war-torn country. According to Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, this brings the total number of US troops in Afghanistan to approximately 14,000. Washington says the troops will help train and advise Afghan security forces. In August, Trump authorized the dispatch of additional forces to Afghanistan despite having called for the withdrawal of American troops during his presidential campaign. The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The Pentagon has maintained its military presence in Afghanistan since then.

New sex scandal in US

Former US President George H. W. Bush has been accused of sexual harassment while in office. An unidentified woman has told CNN that Bush inappropriately touched her while she posed for a picture with him at a campaign fundraiser in 1992. She says she decided to raise the issue following the recent allegations made against the 41st US president. The latest accuser is at least the sixth woman to make allegations of sexual misconduct against the ex-president. George H. W. Bush is 93 years old now. His spokesman issued an apology on his behalf last month.

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