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 3, 2017.

Catalonia anger

Large numbers of Catalans have staged a general strike in protest against police violence at a banned weekend referendum. Flights and train services could be disrupted together with port operations as a result of the stoppage. The move comes to condemn the police response to the plebiscite, in which more than 90 percent of voters backed the region’s independence from Spain. Barcelona’s public universities are expected to join the strike, as are the contemporary art museum and football club FC Barcelona, among others. Violent scenes played out in towns and cities across the region on Sunday as riot police closed in on polling stations to stop people from casting their ballots. In some cases, police used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Madrid is opposed to Catalonia’s independence.

Brexit standoff

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator says things are not still ready for a summit where future relations with Britain are to be discussed. Barnier’s comments were echoed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. He said it is too soon to move on to the next phase. EU leaders will decide whether to move on with Brexit talks in the October 19 summit. But the European Parliament, which has the final say on any departure deal with Britain, could postpone the date in a vote planned for Tuesday. Britain has offered a number of concessions in its Brexit talks. Brussels has welcomed London’s conciliatory tone, but warned that differences remain, including on a financial settlement with London.

Reconciliation in Gaza

The new Palestinian unity government has held its first cabinet meeting in Gaza to push reconciliation between the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah. The meeting was chaired by Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah. During the cabinet session, Hamdallah pledged to end a decade-long split between Hamas and Fatah. The two movements have been at odds since a parliamentary election in 2006. Hamas governs the Gaza Strip, while Fatah has set up offices in the West Bank. The two groups agreed on a unity government in April 2014, but it fell apart months later. Last month, Hamas announced that it had agreed to dissolve its administrative committee in Gaza. It also invited the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to return to the territory and hold new elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Rohingya crisis

The United Nations is warning about an outbreak of water-borne diseases including diarrhea in Bangladeshi camps where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya are settled in. A UN spokesman says there is an increasing trend of diarrhea cases including patients with severe dehydration. The world body on Monday opened a 20-bed treatment center in a refugee camp. It will allocate another 60 beds to treat the Rohingya suffering from the disease. Teams have been sent to several camps to identify those who have not sought treatment yet. Bangladeshi health officials say at least 10,500 people have been treated since August 25 when Rohingya refugees began fleeing army’s crackdown in Myanmar. UNICEF has described the situation of Rohingya children as horrifying.

Kurdistan referendum fallout

The Iraqi parliament has ruled out the issue of negotiations with the Kurdistan region over secession threatening to halt the region’s financial transactions. The announcement was made following a parliament session boycotted by Kurdish lawmakers. The parliament, however, has offered to hold talks with the Kurds to resolve the disputes between the two sides. Iraq wants the Kurdish leaders to pave the way for dialog by canceling the results of the disputed referendum or face continued sanctions. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan region has announced plans to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on November first to push for secession. As tensions over the referendum mount, Turkey says it will impose further sanctions on northern Iraq if it opts for a split.

Catalan strike

The Spanish Interior Minister has accused Catalonia's government of inciting rebellion following a banned weekend referendum. In a statement, Juan Ignacio Zoido said the Spanish government would exert all efforts to stop what he described as acts of harassment by protesters. The remarks were made after violent scenes played out in towns and cities across the region on Sunday as riot police closed in on polling stations to stop people from voting. Police used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Meanwhile, some 300,000 Catalans have staged a general strike in protest against the police violence.

Ex-Iraqi president dies

Iraq’s former president Jalal Talabani has died at the age of 83. Talabani passed away at a hospital in the German capital Berlin. The announcement was made shortly after Iraqi media said his health had deteriorated. Talabani served as Iraq’s sixth president from 2005 to 2014, making him the country’s first president under the new constitution. He also served as the country’s 39th prime minister and is the founder of the Kurdish Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

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