WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, October 1, 2017.

Nasrallah warning

The Secretary-General of the Lebanese Resistance Movement Hezbollah has cautioned the world and the Middle East region about the dangers posed by Daesh terrorists and the Israeli regime. During a speech marking Ashura, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also called on the international community to hold Daesh supporters accountable for the terror group’s crimes. He said Muslim political, religious and youth factions must come together to put an end to the Wahhabi terror ideology. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Hezbollah leader slammed Israel for sowing division in the region and constantly threatening Lebanon and Syria with a new war. He also condemned Tel Aviv for backing a secession bid in Iraq’s Kurdistan region and its attempts to sabotage the Iran nuclear deal. He called on Jews to be careful about the plot hatched by the current Israeli regime under Benjamin Netanyahu. He said Netanyahu is working with US President Donald Trump to push the region toward more wars and conflicts. Nasrallah warned that nowhere in Israel would be safe if such conflicts erupted.

Catalonia independence vote

Voters in Catalonia are trying to resist as police are forcing their way into polling stations across the region to stop an ongoing independence referendum. Scuffles broke out in the city of Khirona, where anti-riot forces have taken control of the polling station, where the Catalan leader is expected to cast his ballot. Voters chanted "we are people of peace" and "we are not afraid" as police forces pushed them back and entered the building. Elsewhere in the northeastern region, some voting stations opened at 9 AM local time and people began to cast ballots. The central government of Spain has already seized millions of ballot papers, but regional officials are using new strategies to uphold the process. People are still showing resilience by blocking active voting centers with human chains.

Yemeni forces shoot down US drone

Yemen’s Ansarullah movement says it has shot down a US drone in the capital Sana’a. Yemeni media say the aircraft was an MQ-9 surveillance drone. It fell in Sana’a’s Jader area. The US has been using drones in several Muslim countries, including Yemen and Afghanistan for both combat and surveillance missions amid widespread criticism. Air strikes by the unmanned planes have left many civilians dead despite Washington’s claims that they only target terrorists and their positions.

Catalonia casualties

More than 460 people have been injured in Catalonia as police clash with protesters taking part in a banned independence referendum. Riot police used batons and rubber bullets in several cities across the region to prevent people from entering polling stations. Madrid says 11 police officers were also injured during the clashes. In Khirona, security forces took control of a polling place where the Catalan leader was initially supposed to vote. Carles Puigdemont, therefore, cast his ballot elsewhere. Talking to reporters, Puigdemont called the use of force “unjustified and irresponsible”. He added that the crackdown has increased people's desire to go to the polls while distorting the image of the Spanish government.

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