WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, October 15, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, October 16, 2017.

Kirkuk operation

Reports say the situation is tense near the Iraqi city of Kirkuk as government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters exchanged artillery fire. Iraqi government sources earlier said the army took control of vast areas in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. The army and the Peshmerga are locked in an armed standoff over the control of oil fields near the city. Baghdad accused the Kurdish authorities of the Regional Government of deploying terrorists belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party to the region. The government said it considered the presence of PKK a declaration of war. Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have rejected Baghdad’s call to withdraw from strategic locations near Kirkuk. The Peshmerga moved into Kirkuk following the offensive of Daesh terrorists in northern Iraq in 2014.

Trump ‘withdrawal doctrine’

Iran’s Foreign Minister says President Donald Trump’s domestic politicking has no impact on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as five other countries besides the US have signed the landmark nuclear deal. Mohamad Javad Zarif says the US administration is withdrawing from all its international commitments. In an interview with the CBS, Zarif said this so-called Withdrawal Doctrine has led to a global atmosphere of distrust against Washington. The top diplomat underlined Iran's commitment to the JCPOA but warned if one party withdraws or violates the most important elements of the deal then it will be a totally different situation. Zarif advised the US administration to open its eyes on the realities of the Middle East and avoid getting into a quagmire that would harm both US national interests and those of the region.

Trump mental health

A group of psychologists have warned against US President Donald Trump’s increasingly threatening behavior. The Duty to Warn PAC, an organization of psychologists, says Trump is suffering from malignant narcissism. Over a hundred psychologists from the organization took to the streets of New York City on Saturday to warn that Trump’s mental volatility posed a significant threat of nuclear war. They also demanded the ouster of the president. This is not the first time Trump’s controversial remarks and decisions are criticized. Ditching internationally-recognized agreements, unexpected firing of his close companions, and the use of provocative language to address global issues are a few of many things that have raised eyebrows ever since Trump took the oval office.

Venezuela elections

Venezuela's electoral body says the government of President Nicolas Maduro has taken a majority of governorships in the country’s regional elections. The National Electoral Council said the ruling Socialist Party won 17 governorships, versus five for the opposition with irreversible results for all but one of the 23 states. Opposition leaders are disputing the vote count. They accuse the government of changing the voting sites at the last minute in an attempt to disconcert the opposition voters. The elections come after months of deadly political turmoil in the oil-rich nation.

US-South Korea war games

South Korea and the United States have launched joint naval drills on the east and west coasts of the Korean Peninsula. About 40 Navy ships from both countries, including the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, are taking part in the week-long exercises. North Korea has condemned the joint exercises as a rehearsal for war. Over the past months, Pyongyang has conducted several nuclear and ballistic missile tests in response to what it calls US threats against the country. North Korea is reportedly preparing to test-fire a long-range missile that it claims could reach the west coast of the United States. The UN Security Council recently passed its ninth sanctions resolution over North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs since 2006.

Russia on JCPOA

Russia has rejected the U-S officials’ comments on possible improvements to the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 countries or a secondary agreement that complements the deal. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says Iran is doing its share of the deal. He said what needs to be improved is Washington’s implementation of the agreement. The senior diplomat further stressed that Russia wants the nuclear agreement to be implemented in its current form. His comments come after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington is trying to stay in the nuclear deal while hoping to achieve more from it. He said the US will seek its European partners’ cooperation on its concerns about the deal. The US has called for inclusion of Iran’s missile program in the nuclear deal. Iran says its defensive capabilities are not negotiable.

Catalonia crisis

The Catalan leader has sent a letter to the Spanish government in response to Madrid’s deadline to clarify whether or not he has declared independence. Carles Puigdemont, however, didn’t give a clear answer. Puigdemont said that Catalonia is seeking a two-month reprieve for negotiations with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy over the issue. The Spanish government has repeatedly threatened that if Puigdemont doesn’t withdraw from independence, Catalonia will return to direct rule from Madrid. Puigdemont’s answer Madrid can pave the way for the central government to take control of the region. Two weeks ago, Catalans staged an independence referendum the Spanish government declared invalid.

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