WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, September 30, 2017.

Catalonia vote tensions

Pro-independence groups in Spain's Catalonia region say they are determined to press ahead with an independence referendum despite a ban imposed by Madrid. Separatists have occupied dozens of schools designated as polling stations to stop police from closing them down. This comes as the police are telling them to vacate premises in orders to impede the plebiscite on Catalonia's independence from Spain. Some 1,300 of more than 2,300 schools designated as voting stations have already been sealed off. In the meantime, pro-and anti-independence demonstrators have held rallies to support their cause. Earlier, Catalonia's President Carles Puigdemont renewed his criticism of the central government’s crackdown on Sunday’s referendum.

Puerto Rico disaster

The mayor of Puerto Rico’s hurricane-battered capital has vehemently criticized the US president’s poor handling of relief efforts. Cruz slammed the Trump administration for failing in figuring out logistics for the small Caribbean island. In her emotional appeal for more aid, Cruz urged the members of the press to send a mayday call for help all over the world. The mayor warned that Puerto Ricans would see “something close to a genocide, if enough food and water are not provided to them”. Cruz’s dramatic remarks come ten days after Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit Puerto Rico in nearly 90 years, left a trail of death and devastation on the island.

Iran-Iraq joint drills

Iran's armed forces will soon conduct joint military drills with the Iraqi army along the two countries' borders with the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The announcement was issued at a meeting of top Iranian military commanders. The session was held upon a request from Baghdad for Iranian help and cooperation to protect Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The top commanders dismissed the recent secession referendum in Iraq’s Kurdistan region as illegal. They added that necessary decisions have been made to establish security along the common borders of Iran and Iraq. They also stressed full support for Iraq’s territorial integrity. Iran closed its borders and stopped flights to Iraqi Kurdistan airports following a secession referendum in the region held on Monday.

Korea Peninsula tensions

The US says it’s opened channels of communication with North Korea to test the waters about Pyongyang’s willingness to retreat from its nuclear and missile programs. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Washington is using “its own direct channels to probe the North’s interest in dialogue”. Tillerson who is in Beijing, made the remarks after holding talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top diplomats. Washington sees Beijing as critical in a possible military confrontation with Pyongyang. North Korea accuses the US of having a hostile attitude and says its missile and nuclear programs are meant to deter US threats.

Israel role in KRG vote

The Turkish president says Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, had a role in the controversial referendum that took place in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Monday. Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Erbil will pay the price for holding the vote which as he said opened a wound in the region to twist the knife in. The Turkish president cautioned that any change in the regional conditions would lead to repercussions for the KRG. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced that Ankara has stopped all direct dealings with Erbil. Yildirim emphasized Iraq, Iran and Turkey will work to “ensure the games being played in the region will fail”.

China’s worries on Taiwan

China has urged the United States to respect Beijing’s concerns about Taiwan to avoid disturbances in Sino-US ties. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remark during a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Beijing has repeatedly called Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in its relationship with the White House. Chinese authorities have been upset by Washington’s expansion of military exchanges with Taiwan and its arm sales to the self-ruled Island. China suspects that the island-nation wants to declare formal independence from China. Taiwan’s president, however, has dismissed China’s concerns saying she maintains peace with Beijing.

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

www.presstv.co.uk