WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, August 18, 2018 to 0800 GMT, August 19, 2018.

Turkey-US tensions

Turkey's president vows to challenge anyone trying to threaten the country through its economy. Rejep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks during an address to members of his ruling AK party. In reference to the US, Erdogan said Turkey will not surrender to those who treat their allies as strategic targets. Washington has slapped sanctions on Ankara over its refusal to release an American pastor. That has accelerated a widening currency crisis in Turkey.

Yemeni retaliation

The Yemeni army, backed by Ansarullah forces, has launched attacks against Saudi Arabia in retaliation for Riyadh’s bombings of their country. Yemeni troops fired a short-range ballistic missile at a military base in the kingdom’s southern border region of Jizan. Yemeni military officials say the strike inflicted damage on the military base and left several casualties. In a separate incident, Ansarullah members attacked a gathering of Saudi forces in Jabal al-Doud district of Jizan. That attack also left a number of casualties. Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemen since March 2015. Over 14,700 people, mostly civilians, have lost their lives since then.

Remembering Kofi Annan

Tributes and reactions are pouring in following the death of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The UN temporarily lowered its flag to half-staff to mourn the death of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. UN chief, Antonio Guterres, described the former secretary-general as a guiding force for good. Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, expressed his grief over the passing of Annan. Zarif described Annan as an unwavering champion of peace and justice. The Russian president and German chancellor also hailed the former secretary-general. President of Ghana, where Annan was born, has announced a week of mourning.

Russia calls for aid to reconstruct Syria

Russia’s president has stressed the necessity of stepping up humanitarian efforts in Syria where people have been bearing the brunt of war since 2011. Vladimir Putin who is on an official visit to Germany, made the remarks alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel. For her part, Merkel underlined the need for bringing Syria’s conflict to an end through political means.

London attack probe

The UK police have announced the charges against a man accused of plowing his car into pedestrians before crashing into the security barrier outside Britain’s parliament. Salih Khater is charged with one count of attempting to murder members of the public and one of attempting to murder police officers. Police say prosecutors are treating the case as terrorism. The suspect is due to appear in court on Monday. Khater is a 21-year-old UK national originally from Sudan. He was arrested on Tuesday following the incident outside London’s iconic Palace of Westminster. Several people were wounded in the attack.

Israel's Gaza siege

Israel has closed the besieged Gaza Strip's only pedestrian crossing into the coastal enclave. Tel Aviv says it took the punitive measure at the Israeli-controlled Erez Crossing in response to weekly Palestinian protests. The regime has routinely closed the crossing. It has also banned the entry of humanitarian supplies and other goods into Gaza. Palestinians have waged weekly Friday rallies near a heavily militarized Israeli fence in protest against the siege. Since the mass demonstrations began in late March, Israeli snipers have shot dead 170 protesters.

Anniversary of 1953 US-British coup in Iran

Iran marks the 65th anniversary of the coup by American and British governments that brought down the democratically elected government of then Premier Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953. Our correspondent Ghanbar Naderi has more in this report.

Hajj pilgrimage

More than two million Muslims from around the world are flocking to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The five-day journey begins from the Grand Mosque of Mecca with pilgrims in white garment performing Hajj rituals. Among them is a special walk around Islam’s holiest site, Ka’aba. The next day, the faithful would stream into the Arafat plain near Mecca and stay there until the evening, reciting prayers. The largest Muslim gathering would reach its climax on Tuesday when the worshipers flood into the nearby tent city of Mina. They would go through key Hajj rites there, including the symbolic stoning of the devil. The day marks Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, which is a major occasion on the Islamic calendar. Hajj is a major pillar in Islam. Every Muslim, who can afford, must undertake it once in their lifetime.

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