WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

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

Trump’s State of the Union address

The US president has delivered his first State of the Union speech to Congress. Donald Trump defended his administration’s immigration policies, saying they focus on the best interests of American workers and American families. Trump said the House and Senate would be voting on an immigration reform package over the next few weeks. He then called for bipartisan action to fix what he called the nation’s fractured immigration systems, which caused the recent government shutdown. The US president also called for the modernization of America’s nuclear arsenal to “deter any acts of aggression by any other nation”. He said he signed an order to keep open the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Earlier this year, Trump asked Congress for funds to upgrade the prison. The Guantanamo prison has been criticized for its harsh detention practices amid reports of torture.

US ‘divisive’ policies

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed CIA chief Mike Pompeo’s accusations against Tehran as a flagrant sign of Washington’s meddlesome policies. The ministry’s spokesman dismissed the comments as cheap remarks aimed at dividing the Muslim nations in the region and exposing US avarice. Bahram Qasemi slammed US meddlesome policies as the main divisive factor in the Middle East and a serious threat to the interests of the nations in the region. Qasemi accused Washington of playing a major role in the rise of extremism and instability in the region. He highlighted Iran’s policy of putting its neighbors first and stressed Tehran’s respect for its neighbor’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In an interview with the BBC, Pompeo had described Iran as a threat to regional stability, encouraging Iranian people to rise against their leaders.

CAR sanctions extended

The United Nations Security Council has condemned ongoing violence in the Central African Republic, extending sanctions against the African country for another year. In a resolution adopted unanimously, the Council decided that all UN members should take necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel to the CAR. It also extended for another year a travel ban against individuals deemed responsible for destabilizing the country. The resolution urged the CAR government to increase cooperation and information sharing with other countries. The Central African Republic has suffered from extreme violence and instability after its longtime leader Francois Bozize was overthrown in 2013.

Syria peace conference

The Syrian National Dialog Congress has agreed to set up a constitutional committee to discuss the changes to the Syrian Constitution. The United Nations special envoy on Syria made the remarks in a statement issued at the end of Syrian peace conference in Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that those groups who did not attend the conference in Sochi would also be included in the 150-member committee. The final statement of the congress reiterated that basic principles are needed to save Syria after nearly seven years of war. It also stressed that it is the constitutional right of the Syrian nation to decide the shape of their future government through free elections. Over two hundred participants attended the Sochi talks backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey in a bid to resolve the Syrian conflict. Syria’s main foreign-backed opposition group however boycotted the conference.

Aden fighting

In southern Yemen, forces supported by the United Arab Emirates have reportedly wrested control of the port city of Aden from Saudi-backed forces. According to local residents, the separatist forces have captured the last strongholds of Saudi-allied forces who are loyal to former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. The presidential palace has reportedly been surrounded, with former Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghar and some members of his cabinet believed to be holed up inside the compound. The clashes started on Sunday after Hadi failed to meet a deadline by the separatists to dismiss his prime minister. The International Committee of the Red Cross says at least 36 people have been killed in the fighting. Saudi Arabia and its allies including the UAE launched a bloody military campaign on Yemen in March 2015 to reinstate Hadi.

Egypt vote boycott call

A coalition of eight Egyptian opposition parties and 150 public figures have called for a boycott of the March presidential election. Hamdeen Sabbahi announced a campaign under the slogan “Stay at home”, reacting to what he called Egyptian incumbent president’s suppression of the contrary voices. The former presidential candidate described the voting as “a charade”. He said there are no elections because there are no guarantees of any freedom. Despite the calls by the opposition for an election boycott, Egypt’s incumbent President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi looks certain to be re-elected for second term in the upcoming presidential vote.

Trump demonizing Russia, China

The US president has called on Congress to address what he called fundamental flaws in Iran’s nuclear deal as he delivered his first State of the Union speech. Donald Trump described the 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers as a terrible deal which needs to be fixed. This is while Iran has vehemently rejected the possibility of renegotiating or revising the accord. The US president also reiterated Washington’s support for Iran’s recent violent protest rallies over economic issues. Iran had strongly condemned the United States’ role in the protests. Elsewhere in his speech, Trump described China and Russia as the US rivals, saying they are challenging Washington’s interests.

Slamming Trump's ‘ignorance’

Iran’s foreign minister has slammed the US president’s “ignorance of Iran and the Middle East”. In a tweet, Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized Donald Trump’s approach toward the Iranian nation. Zarif scoffed at Washington’s “democratically elected clients” in the region in an implicit reference to Saudi Arabia and its allies. He stressed that Trump’s anti-Iran stance may cheer Washington’s regional partners, but not those under the tyranny of them.

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