WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, February 14, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, February 15, 2017.

US gun violence

At least 17 people have been killed after a gunman, using an assault-style rifle, opened fire at a high school in the state of Florida. Police officials say the shooter is an 18-year-old former student who has been arrested. They say an investigation is underway to find out whether there were other people involved in the shooting. The violence erupted shortly before dismissal at the school which is 72 kilometers north of Miami. Official data show 33,000 people die as a consequence of gun-related violence in the US every year. A surge in shootings nationwide has recently reignited the debate on the need to put stricter laws on guns in the country.

Aiding terrorists

The Syrian envoy has slammed the UN Security Council for failing to address the atrocities committed against Syria by some countries. Ja’afari went on to say the US, UK, France have done all they could to destroy Syria. He said the West and some of its regional allies have been facilitating the movement of terrorists to Syria with the aim of changing the government. Elsewhere, Ja'afari said Western states have been manipulating media to distort reality about the situation in Syria. He dismissed the reports accusing the Syrian government of using chemical weapons as false and fabricated.

Egypt crackdown

Egyptian police have arrested a leading government critic and party leader along with five of his aides. The reason for the arrest of Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh who was a candidate in the 2012 presidential election, is unclear. This came after the arrest of a party deputy leader and a call by Aboul Fotouh and several other politicians for a boycott of next month's presidential vote. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is expected to easily win the election as most rivals have been sidelined or have quit the race for presidency. Sisi was elected in 2014, a year after he ousted former president Mohamed Morsi in a coup. Sisi staged the coup as Egypt’s defense chief.

Bahrain protests

Bahrainis continue their anti-regime protests overnight as they mark the seventh anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising. The demonstrators called for resistance against Manama’s brutal crackdown. They blamed the Bahraini king for the atrocities committed against protesters. Earlier, security forces clashed with demonstrators in the Persian Gulf Kingdom. Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders says Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of seven journalists and social media activists since the uprising began. It says the move is aimed at pressuring media outlets to “toe the government line”. According to rights groups, more than 550 people have been stripped of their citizenship since 2012.

Zuma announces resignation

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma announces his resignation with immediate effect after coming under intense pressure from the ruling ANC Party. Zuma made the statement during a televised address from the city of Pretoria. He says he will resign even though he disagrees with the party's decision to force him to vacate office. Zuma noted that there should have been a period of transition before his departure. Earlier, the ANC gave Zuma an ultimatum to step down by the end of Wednesday or face a parliamentary vote of no confidence. Zuma had served as South Africa’s president since 2009. His resignation comes as he is implicated in a corruption scandal.

Iran-India ties

The Iranian president has embarked on an official visit to India with the aim of promoting relations between the two countries. Prior to his departure, Hassan Rouhani hailed bilateral ties between Tehran and New Delhi. He said the three-day trip revolves around political, cultural and economic issues. The Iranian president, who is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation, added that he will also discuss the development of Iran’s southeastern port of Chabahar with Indian officials. Rouhani stressed that Iran and India share common concerns about regional issues, including the fight against terrorism.

Fate of ‘Dreamers’

A bipartisan group of US senators have reached a deal on President Donald Trump's controversial proposals that have been stoking tensions between Democrats and Republicans. Around two dozen senators, with centrist views, have circulated legislation aimed at balancing Democrats' fight for young immigrants with Trump's demands for a Mexico border wall. It would fulfill Trump’s calls to grant legal status to 1.8 million dreamers and appropriate 25 billion for the wall. It would also bar ONLY Dreamers from sponsoring their parents for citizenship, far narrower than Trump's proposal to prevent ALL immigrants from bringing parents and siblings to the US. The move came as formal debate on Trump’s immigration policy is set to intensify Thursday. A Democratic-Republican showdown on the issue led to a brief partial shutdown of the US government last month.

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