WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, August 22, 2018.

US anti-Iran moves

US National Security Adviser, John Bolton, says Washington is ready to exert more pressure on Iran if Tehran refuses to conform to the US expectations. Bolton was speaking at a news conference in occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. He said Washington is not seeking a change of government in Iran. The US National Security Adviser said what the US wants is a massive change in Tehran's behavior. The US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in May and pledged to increase economic pressure on Iran. It also formed a so-called “Iran Action Group” to this end under the pretext of closely monitoring Tehran’s activities.

Rohingya Muslims marking Eid in exile

Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar have marked Eid al-Adha or the feast of sacrifice. They held prayers in makeshift mosques in Bangladesh, where they fled to almost a year ago. The Rohingya say it’s good to celebrate Eid in a calm place. But, the celebrations in the refugee camps are different from what they had in their own country.

Korean families

Elderly North and South Korean family members allowed to meet for the first time in nearly seven decades are returning home. The farewell could be the last time in their lives, as well. Millions of people were swept apart by the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. The conflict left the Korean peninsula split by the impenetrable Demilitarized Zone and separated family members. Over the years, most have died, and fewer than 60,000 South Koreans remain alive. They have registered to meet their Northern kin at occasional reunions. This week's reunions were the first in three years. The have only three days to be with each other before saying goodbye.

Israeli settlements

Israeli authorities have approved plans to construct over one thousand new settler units in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to Israeli media, the units will be built in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli ministry of military affairs is also slated to approve hundreds more settler units for marketing. The media reports suggest an extra stage will be required for the projects in larger settlements. Tel Aviv has stepped up its settlement expansion in the occupied territories in recent months with strong support from the United States. All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. Israel has rejected international calls to stop constructing more settlements.

Russia rejects US assessment

Moscow has rejected the US assessment that Russia is stuck in war-torn Syria, and that the Kremlin is looking for others to fund its post-war reconstruction. The Kremlin said President Putin discussed problems in Russia-US relations with his security council ahead of a meeting with US National Security Advisor John Bolton. The statements came after Bolton claimed that Washington has leverage in its talks with Moscow because the Russians are stuck in Syria at the moment. Bolton also said there is no understanding between the US and Russia over Syria's Idlib province. The Syrian army is preparing an operation to recapture Idlib, the last terrorists-held province. Bolton has made the remarks during a visit to Israel. He also called for the Iranian forces to leave Syria as a precondition for US co-operation to end the war. Iran has repeatedly said its forces are in Syria in purely an advise-and-assist capacity.

Kashmir clashes

Indian security forces have violently clashed with protesters in the disputed Kashmir region. Clashes erupted at the end of the Eid al-Adha prayers in Kashmir’s summer capital, Srinagar. That after people took to the streets to demonstrate against India’s rule on the Himalayan region. Indian paramilitary forces fired tear gas and shotgun pellets to disperse the crowd. Anti-India sentiment is running high in the region amid a rising number of pro-independence activists. Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan for decades. The two neighbors fought twice over Kashmir. Anti-India activists say they want their territory to be either united with Pakistan or become an independent state.

Trump criticizes ex-lawyer

US President Donald Trump lashes out at his former lawyer Michael Cohen who pleaded guilty in a New York court to violating campaign finance laws. Trump accused Cohen of making up stories to get a plea deal. He also said Cohen’s campaign finance violations were not a crime. On Tuesday, Cohen admitted to charges that included making illegal campaign contributions. He also said Trump directed him to commit a crime to influence the 2016 presidential election results. Meanwhile, Trump hailed his former campaign chief Paul Manafort as a brave man. In another court on Tuesday, Manafort was found guilty of eight counts of tax and bank fraud. The developments in both cases have revived speculation that Trump may face legal proceedings.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir