WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, March 10, 2017.

UK ‘national disgrace’

The UK government has come under severe criticism for signing an aid deal with Saudi Arabia over the kingdom’s deadly war on Yemen. The two countries have agreed on a 140 million dollar deal with the stated goal of improving livelihoods in some of the world’s poorest nations. Now, British opposition lawmaker Kate Osamor has described the accord as a national disgrace which will whitewash Saudi Arabia’s reputation and role in the Yemen war. Amnesty International said the UK cannot provide humanitarian aid on the one hand and supply arms that fuel a humanitarian crisis on the other. Save the Children also slammed the British government for lavishing a welcome on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited London this week.

West double standard

The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has lashed out at certain countries for their double standards regarding the use of chemical weapons. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said some countries supplied the former Iraqi regime with chemicals to produce weapons and use them in its war against Iran in the 1980s. He said the same countries now launch a broadside against a certain group for allegedly using chemical arms. The Leader noted that Germany provided former Iraqi strongman, Saddam Hussein, with noxious chemicals to use them against Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei said even the former Soviet Union, France and NATO were on board with the US in supporting Baghdad in order to eliminate the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Khamenei, however, emphasized that Iraq failed to seize even an inch of the Iranian territory with all that support.

Airspace violations

Qatar has once again lodged a complaint with the United Nations over the violation of its airspace by Emirati and Bahraini planes. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Qatari authorities said a Bahraini military aircraft overflew the country’s exclusive economic zone on February 28. The letter also said that an Emirati jet approached the Qatari border on February 25, before changing course after warnings were issued. This is the third complaint filed by Doha in that regard over the past four months. Bahrain and the UAE are among the four Arab nations that cut ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism. They imposed economic sanctions as well as travel and transport bans on Qatar and its nationals. Doha rejects all allegations.

Battle for Ghouta

The Syrian army captures another town in Eastern Ghouta as it presses ahead with its operations to wrest control of the area located on the Damascus countryside. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the troops liberated Mesraba. They’ve also cut major roads in Eastern Ghouta, dividing the area into three parts. These include the largest town of Douma and its surroundings, the town of Harasta and its surroundings and other areas stretching to the south. The operations to liberate Eastern Ghouta began three weeks ago with Russian and Syrian air forces providing cover. The region is the last stronghold of terrorist groups near the capital Damascus.

Taliban attack

Afghan officials say the Taliban have killed at least 18 soldiers and members of the Special Forces in the western province of Farah. Several soldiers were also wounded when Taliban militants attacked a military outpost in Bala Buluk district. Afghan authorities say fierce fighting broke out between the two sides leading to an army airstrike that killed more than two dozen militants. A Taliban spokesman twitted that 53 of the group’s commandos were either killed or wounded. The deadly battle comes only a day after 20 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack in Takhar province on Friday.

Immigrant mistreatment

The video of a migrant woman being pulled away from her weeping daughters in the US state of California, has sparked outrage for the way federal agents enforce immigration laws. Morales-Luna’s lawyer says the officers could have done their job without causing such a dramatic separation. Police accuse Morales-Luna of having a role in a smuggling ring and being in the United States illegally. Morales-Luna denies the allegations. Her lawyer says the Border Patrol has offered no evidence. Thousands of people, who are either known for or suspected of being in the country illegally, have been arrested since Trump took office in January 2017. Hundreds of immigrant parents have filed a class action lawsuit, arguing that the Trump administration has violated their rights by separating them from their children.

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