WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, August 27, 2018.

Iran lawsuit against US

The International Court of Justice at The Hague has begun its first hearing in a case submitted by Tehran over Washington’s re-imposition of anti-Iran sanctions. Iran’s Lawyer said Washington has used false claims and fabricated evidence to justify the re-imposition of sanctions. He called on the World Court to order the US immediately lift the sanctions. Tehran’s representative noted that the US wants to damage Iran’s economy as severely as possible. Iran filed the lawsuit in late June; just weeks after the administration of President Donald Trump re-imposed a wave of unilateral sanctions. The US move followed Trump’s decision to pull out of the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement. Tehran says the measures also violate the 1955 friendship treaty between the two countries. The oral hearings at The Hague will last for 4 days and a decision is expected within a month.

UN Myanmar report

Myanmar’s military had conducted mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya Muslims with genocidal intent, a United Nations fact-finding mission says. It calls for the prosecution of Myanmar’s top generals. The UN mission also blamed Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi for failing to use her position to prevent the crackdown against the Rohingya. The mission was created by the UN Human Rights Council in March last year. It assessed waves of crackdowns against the Rohingya since 2011, particularly the one in August last year. Investigators said the military deliberately targeted civilians and conducted sexual violence against women and children. Rights groups say thousands of Rohingya were killed in the last year crackdown. More than 700,000 others were displaced, mainly taking shelter in neighboring Bangladesh.

Palestinians condemn ‘apartheid’

Palestinian members of the Israeli Knesset are working with Palestinian officials to condemn Tel Aviv at the United Nations over its controversial nation-state law. That’s according to Israeli media. Reports say the Palestinian lawmakers and officials want to condemn Israel at the UN general assembly session next month. They are working to convince the UN to advance a resolution that likens Israel’s nation-state law to apartheid. Israel passed the legislation on July 19. It calls Israel the homeland of the Jewish people, and gives them the unique right to self-determination. The legislation has drawn widespread opposition, even among Israeli officials, and Jews living abroad. Critics say the law is racist and is against minorities including Palestinians living in the occupied territories.

EU-US security ties

French President Emmanuel Macron urges the European Union to stop relying on the United States for its security. Macron said he will put forward new proposals for the EU to boost its security. He added, the bloc needs to take new initiatives and build new alliances. According to Macron, France intends to launch an exhaustive review of its security with all its European partners, including Russia. The US under President Donald Trump has distanced itself from traditional NATO allies. Trump claims they have long taken advantage of Washington economically.

US Syria plan

A top Russian military commander says the United States is building up its forces in the Middle East in preparation for a possible attack on Syria. Major-General Igor Kona-shen-kov also says the USS Ross entered the Mediterranean on Saturday. According to the Russian general, the guided-missile destroyer is armed with 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of hitting any target in Syria. Recently Moscow said Nusra Front terrorists deployed chlorine gas to Idlib. The gas is a toxic agent. Russia also accuses the UK of dispatching militants to Idlib after receiving training by a private UK military company. Moscow says the training involved imitating the rescue of victims of a chemical attack.

ICJ Iran case

Lawyers representing Iran at the International Court of Justice say the US sanctions against Tehran aim to cause maximum damage to the Islamic Republic. Mohsen Mohebbi made the remarks as the ICJ began its first hearing in a lawsuit lodged by Iran against Washington. Mohebbi also called on the court to order the US to immediately lift the sanctions. He said the measures clearly violate the Iran-US Treaty of Amity Economic Relations and Consular Rights, which was signed in 1955. The US says Iran’s complaint at the ICJ is an attempt to interfere with Washington’s sovereign rights. The US earlier said the 1955 friendship treaty is no longer valid.

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