WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, August 24, 2018 to 0800 GMT, August 25, 2018.

EU versus US, Israel

The US lashes out at the European Union for its decision to give 18 million euros in development aid to Iran. The head of the newly-formed Iran Action Group in the US State Department said the decision sends the wrong message at the wrong time. Brian Hook called on Europe to work with the US to help end what it called Iran’s threat to global security. The EU's decision has also infuriated the Israeli premier.

US sanctions against Russia

The Russian foreign ministry spokesperson says the reason why Washington is planning to impose more sanctions against Moscow is the upcoming midterm elections in the US. Maria Zakharova said these kinds of sanctions have already been the routine. Earlier, Russia’s foreign ministry called the new US sanctions futile, saying the measures will only create further tensions between the two sides. The latest sanctions, imposed over Russia’s alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former spy in Britain, will go into force on Monday. They include a ban on financial assistance to Russia and imports of security-sensitive US technologies. The Kremlin denies involvement in the poisoning of Sergey Skripal. Washington said anti-Russia sanctions will not be lifted until Moscow changes its behavior.

US blocks aid for Palestine

The US president has cut over 200 million dollars in funding to UN relief efforts in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. A US State Department official said Donald Trump has ordered the money to be redirected elsewhere, without specifying the details. In reaction, Palestine’s envoy to the US Husam Zomlot said the move represents abandoning of the two-state solution and turns aid into a means of political blackmail. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, has also warned of the dire consequences of the move, especially for the Israeli-besieged Gaza. There, half of the population depends on aid. The US initially said it will cut the UNRWA funding after Palestinians rejected Washington’s so-called deal of the century and condemned the recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

UN denounces Saudi killings

The UN humanitarian chief has condemned Saudi Arabia for carrying out two deadly airstrikes in Yemen in the last two weeks. Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock blamed the Saudis for the attacks that killed more than 60 civilians, most of them children. Lowcock Said he echoed Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ call for an impartial, independent and prompt investigation into the bloodshed. The United Nations Children's Fund has also urged the Security Council to take action to end the Saudi war on Yemen once and for all. UNICEF’s executive director Henrietta Fore said the second attack showed that international outrage failed to stop the Saudis targeting the children.

Italy-EU refugee row

Rome has threatened to suspend funding for the European Union unless 150 migrants stranded in Italy are distributed among EU member states. Brussels slammed Rome’s threat as counterproductive. Press TV correspondent Max Civili has the details.

France slams Israeli settlements

France has denounced the Israeli regime’s approval of new settler units to be constructed in the occupied West Bank. The condemnation came in a statement issued by the French Embassy in Tel Aviv. The statement said the construction of some 1,000 new units in Judea and Samaria areas results in the displacement of Palestinians and harms the establishment of a future Palestinian state. It said Paris calls on Israeli authorities to reconsider the construction plan and drop their policy of expansionism. Tel Aviv has stepped up its settlement construction in the occupied territories in recent months with strong support from the United States. The approval of the new settler units comes against the backdrop of the Israeli crackdown on Palestinians who have been protesting against the occupation and the crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Rohingya anniversary

Rohingya Muslim refugees hold a demonstration in Bangladesh to mark one year since they were forced out of their homeland, Myanmar. The Rohingya gathered outside refugee camps in Bangladesh’s costal region of Cox’s Bazar to mark what they called the black day. They carried a big banner detailing Myanmar’s army crackdown that began on August 25 last year. The banner read more than ten-thousand civilians were killed in the crackdown. Over seven-hundred-thousand were also displaced, while hundreds of women were raped by Myanmar’s armed forces and local Buddhist extremists. The United Nations has described the crackdown as the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. The persecution of the Rohingya has led to calls to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

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