WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, September 29, 2018.

Indonesia disaster

The death toll from a major earthquake and the resulting tsunami which hit a coastal Indonesian city has jumped to 384. Waves as high as 3 meters, triggered by the 7.5 magnitude quake, swept through the city of Palu on Sulawesi Island. Strong aftershocks continued to rock the coastal city on Saturday morning. Bodies could be seen lying on the ground along the shoreline. The death toll is expected to rise as dozens of people remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected area. In July and August a series of quakes killed hundreds on the Indonesian island of Lombok.

Cooperation on Syria

Iran’s foreign minister holds a series of meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York with the nuclear deal and the Syrian conflict high on the agenda. Mohammad Javad Zarif focused mainly on the fate of the Iran nuclear deal when meeting counterparts from Algeria, Austria and the Netherlands. Zarif thanked Europe for its commitment to the accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He then discussed worsening humanitarian situations in Syria and Yemen with UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock. Zarif finally wrapped up his day with a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem.

Iraq Kurdistan vote

People in the Iraqi Kurdistan region are set to vote in the parliamentary elections as the economy remains top of their concern. The voting in the semi-autonomous region began on Friday for armed forces ahead of the general vote scheduled for Sunday. The people will vote to elect 111 members of the parliament which is responsible for passing laws in provinces governed by the Kurdistan Regional Government. Two main rival parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan are trying hard to maintain their power over the region. The oil-rich Iraqi region is struggling to rebuild its economy, a year after a failed independence referendum that Baghdad deemed illegal.

Israel Gaza killings

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have laid to rest two teenagers killed by Israeli forces on Friday. One funeral was held for a 12-year-old boy in the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. The other one was held for a 14-year-old boy at the Bureij refugee camp, in the middle of the besieged territory. They were among seven people shot dead by Israeli forces during anti-occupation protests. At least 193 Palestinians have been killed since March 31. That’s when Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began what they call March of Return rallies. Demonstrators want the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.

US-China tensions

Media reports say a diplomatic and security meeting between China and the US next month may not take place due tensions between the two countries. Reuters News Agency cited diplomatic sources as saying that the high-level talks could be canceled because Beijing is unhappy with Washington’s sanctions on the Chinese military and its support for Taiwan. However, China's Defense Ministry said in a statement that Beijing and Washington have maintained communications about the dialogue. The two sides are embroiled in a trade war, initiated by US President Donald Trump. The latest round of US tariffs targeted 200-billion dollars of Chinese products. China hit back by imposing levies on 60-billion dollars of American goods. The US has also accused Beijing of seeking to interfere in congressional elections.

‘US Syria massacre’

The Syrian foreign minister says the US-led coalition, which is in Syria under the pretext of combating terrorism, has committed massacre against civilians in the war-torn country. Muallem said the campaign, led by the U-S, has done everything in Syria except fight against terrorism. He said Syria’s battle is almost over and the country will soon purge its territory from all terrorist groups, regardless of their names. Muallem called on U-S, French and Turkish forces to withdraw immediately from Syria. He said Damascus is now determined to liberate the occupied Golan Heights from Israel. Muallem noted Tel Aviv had direct military intervention and launched repeated attacks on the Syrian territory. The top diplomat stressed that the doors are all wide open for Syrians abroad to return home.

More Yemenis killed  

Saudi Arabia has conducted fresh airstrikes on Yemen targeting civilian areas in the war-ravaged nation. At least two people were killed and many others injured after Saudi warplanes hit an area in Hajjah province. Riyadh has been carrying out deadly raids on Yemen on almost a daily basis. Just days ago, similar strikes in Hudaydah and Sa’ada provinces left at least three people including a child dead. Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a war on Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to crush Ansarullah fighters and reinstate former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The war has so far killed nearly 15,000 people, most of them civilians.

Spain scuffles

Police in Spain’s Catalonia scuffle with protesters marking the first anniversary of the region's independence referendum. The scuffles in Barcelona broke out amid thick clouds of colored powder swirling around police and protesters. The demonstrators threw the powder at officers who prevented them from reaching police headquarters. No injuries were reported, although police forces used baton. Last year, Catalans voted in favor of independence from Spain. But the Spanish government annulled the vote and declared it illegal. The organizers of the referendum are now in jail or exile and the situation is still tense.

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