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 24, 2017.

Raqqah ‘not liberated’

The Syrian government says it does not consider the city of Raqqah liberated until the national flag is hoisted over its buildings. Information Minister, Mohamad Tarj-aman, has described the withdrawal of Daesh from the city as a positive event. Tarj-aman, however, said government troops must enter the city for Damascus to consider it liberated. He also noted this applies to any territory within the country. On Friday, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said they captured Raqqah from Daesh terrorists and would not hand it over to the government. Russia accused the United States of wiping the city off the face of the earth by barbaric bombardments that buried thousands of civilians there.

‘Leave our homeland!’

A senior commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces has called on US troops to start packing their bags and leave the country. Secretary General of the League of Righteous, Qais al-Khaz’ali, addressed his message in a tweet to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Khaz-ali said the US military will not be able to use the presence of Daesh as an excuse to remain in Iraq once the Takfiri group is fully ousted from the country. The PMF leader noted that US forces need to withdraw immediately and without delay. The remarks come after Tillerson caused outrage in Iraq by referring to the Popular Mobilization as Iranian militias who must go home.

Trilateral war games

South Korea has begun two-day missile tracing drills with the US and Japan in response to what they call North Korea’s growing threats. The military exercises are held in waters off the coasts of South Korea and Japan. This is the latest in a series of War games which have been taking place every few months following an agreement between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has, time and again, condemned the joint exercises as a rehearsal for war. Pyongyang has conducted several nuclear and ballistic missile tests in the past few months in reaction to what it calls US threats against the country.

Catalonia independence row

The regional government of Catalonia has announced plans to appeal the application of article 155 in the constitutional court. The announcement follows the central government's decision to strip Catalonia of its key autonomous powers by triggering the constitutional article which allows imposition of direct rule over the wealthy region. Madrid says the move is a result of Catalan leaders’ refusal to clarify their stance on independence. Catalonia says it is confident that regional officials will not follow the order. The region’s separatist parties have threatened to launch a campaign of mass civil disobedience in response to what they call Madrid’s assault on Catalan institutions. Firefighters, teachers and students have threatened to stage strikes and protests if the Spanish government forces early parliamentary elections.

Kenya unrest

Kenyan police have clashed with anti-government protesters two days ahead of a re-run of presidential election, boycotted by opposition candidate Raila Odinga. Sporadic confrontations took place in downtown Nairobi. Demonstrators say Thursday’s vote should not be held. Also in the western city of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold, around two-thousand protesters marched on the election board offices. Odinga has boycotted the contest against incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. He says it will not be free and fair because the election board has not made sufficient progress in carrying out reforms he had demanded. The original election held in August was annulled due to irregularities. Odinga had urged his supporters to ensure Thursday's vote would not take place. The country's Supreme Court is still hearing several cases challenging the legality of the re-run of the poll or Odinga's withdrawal.

Russia vetoes UNSC resolution

Russia has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on extending for a year the mandate of a panel investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria. China abstained from Tuesday's vote, while Bolivia joined Russia in voting no. The mission's mandate is due to expire in mid-November. Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia says Moscow has criticized the Joint Investigative Mechanism but doesn't want it terminated. It wants the mandate amended. He accused Washington of pushing for the vote to show up and dishonor Moscow. The Kremlin wanted to wait for the inspectors’ report, expected on Thursday on April’s chemical attack in Syria’s Khan Shaykhun that killed over 90 people. However, US Ambassador Nikki Haley has pressed for a vote before the report. The Syrian government says the Sarin attack in Khan Shaykhun was likely caused by an explosion that hit an opposition chemical weapons depot.

Kurdistan elections delayed

Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has postponed presidential and parliamentary elections by eight months. Most lawmakers attending the parliament session have voted in favor of delaying the vote. The parliament says the decision was made as political parties have failed to present candidates for both elections amid turmoil following the controversial secession referendum. The current presidency is held by Massoud Barzani, but the fall of Kirkuk prompted the main opposition to ask him to resign. Last week, Iraqi forces took control of Kirkuk and parts of Nineveh and Diyala provinces that were under Kurdish control.

Egypt arrests

Egyptian police have arrested 12 suspected militants in the southwestern province of Fayoum near Cairo. The Interior Ministry said the militants were members of the Hasm movement linked with outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Police also seized 13 weapons and two explosive devices. The arrests came a few days after authorities announced that at least 16 police officers were killed in militants’ ambush near the capital Cairo. Egypt has battled militants in the northern part of Sinai Peninsula for years. However, the insurgency became far more deadly after the 2013 military ouster of the then President Mohammed Morsi. Attacks have increasingly moved from Sinai Peninsula to the mainland in recent months.

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