WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, November 16, 2017.

Quake relief operation

Iran says the 5.1 magnitude earthquake in the northwestern city of Parsabad had no fatalities. The governor of Parsabad said the tremor only damaged buildings in rural areas. The quake jolted Iran’s northern neighbor, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday night, with its epicenter lying in the east of the capital Baku. This came three days after Iran’s powerful 7.3 earthquake, which left at least 433 people dead and more than 7,800 others injured in Kermanshah province. Now, a major relief operation is underway in the quake-affected areas. Officials say the stricken areas are now under full control and no security incidents have been reported since the earthquake hit on Sunday night.

‘Rohingya women raped’

Human Rights Watch has once again warned of widespread rape against Rohingya women and girls committed by Myanmar security forces. The rights group says sexual violence has been commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the armed forces of Myanmar. It also warned that the Myanmar military’s acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatized. The United Nations has also denounced the violence as a classic example of ethnic cleansing. Over 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled the violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state since late August. Numerous witness accounts point to prevalent rape, murder and torture of the minority group by the military as well as radical Buddhists.

Korean Peninsula tensions

A high-ranking South Korean official has warned the US against attacking North Korea. Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of South Korea's ruling party, says the US must avoid taking military action against the North without Seoul's consent. She stressed the need to find a peaceful solution to the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Choo is in Washington to meet senior US officials. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly lashed out at North Korea amid escalating tensions in the region. On Wednesday, Trump once again emphasized that he is not taking any option, including the use of force, off the table vis-à-vis Pyongyang.

Zimbabwe coup

Zimbabwe’s opposition has called for a transitional government following the military’s takeover of power. The call was made in a statement which said the transitional authority should be made up of competent Zimbabweans to improve the economy and build a better society. Meanwhile, talks are underway in the southern African country to urge President Robert Mugabe to peacefully relinquish power. The 93-year-old leader is currently under house arrest. He’s been in power since 1987.

Deadly blast in Kabul

At least nine people have been killed in a bomb attack on a political gathering in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry says the attacker detonated his explosives at the entrance to a wedding hall where the event was being held. It also says the victims include seven police and two civilians. The Daesh terror group has claimed responsibility for the bombing. The explosion is the latest in a wave of attacks that have killed and wounded thousands of civilians in Afghanistan this year.

Saudi-Israeli alliance

Israel's military chief of staff says the regime is prepared to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to confront Iran. Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot made the remark in an interview with a Saudi newspaper. He accused Iran of planning to control the Middle East adding that Tel Aviv is ready to share intelligence on Tehran with Riyadh. Eisenkot also labeled Iran as the biggest threat to the region. Israel and Saudi Arabia have intensified anti-Iran rhetoric in the wake of Daesh’s defeat in the Middle East. They are regarded as the main sponsors of terror groups in the region.

Mugabe refuses to step down

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe refuses to step down two days after the military seized power in the African nation. According to a source close to the army, Mugabe expressed his refusal during talks with the country’s generals. Mugabe is insisting that he is Zimbabwe's only legitimate ruler. The president's opponents have been calling on him to resign since he was arrested in the wake of the military takeover. The latest call was made by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

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