WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, February 14, 2018.

Bahrain uprising anniversary

Bahrainis have staged demonstrations to mark the seventh anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising. The protesters blocked roads with burning tires in several towns and villages and hurled rocks at security forces. Fierce clashes erupted in Ekr and Ma’ameer villages where regime forces fired live rounds and tear gas to scatter angry mobs. The rallies come amid a general strike across the Persian Gulf kingdom. The uprising in Bahrain began with peaceful protests, but snowballed into a full-fledged movement sweeping the whole country. The pro-democracy protesters demanded political reforms and equality. The uprising turned deadly when the Manama regime, backed by Saudi troops, used an iron-first to put down the protests.

Iraq reconstruction

The Iraqi prime minister says his country needs nearly 90-billion dollars for reconstruction after the war with Daesh. Haider al-Abadi was addressing an international conference for donors and investors held in Kuwait. The conference is dedicated to efforts to rebuild Iraq’s economy and infrastructure as the country emerges from years of violence and conflict. During the conference, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called for the launch of new projects aimed at assisting the Iraqi government in healing from devastation. EU Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini, expressed a similar concern and pledged 400-million euros in humanitarian aid to Iraq. The country declared victory over the Daesh Takfiri group last December, after its army forces liberated all the territories captured by the terrorists in 2014 and 2015. Daesh has also been largely defeated in neighboring Syria.

Corruption case in South Africa

The South African police have raided the home of a wealthy family, accused of influence-peddling and corruption in President Jacob Zuma’s government. At least two people, including a Gupta family member and a business associate, were arrested after police entered their compound in the city of Johannesburg. The family is accused of using their friendship with Zuma to influence cabinet appointments and amass wealth. The raid happened as the ruling African National Congress Party instructed the president on Tuesday to step down over a series of scandals. A judicial commission is preparing to investigate the alleged corruption. Zuma and the Gupta family deny the allegations.

Call for US withdrawal from Syria

A senior Iranian official says those who are in Syria without the permission of Damascus should leave the country. Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, underlined that Iran is in Syria at the request of the Syrian government. US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, had said earlier that Iran needs to withdraw its military forces from Syria. This comes as Iran has announced time and again that it has no troops in Syria, and that it has only military advisors in the country as requested by Damascus. The Syrian government has repeatedly called on the United States to withdraw its forces from the Syrian soil calling them an occupying force.

Israeli PM defiance

The Israeli prime minister has rejected calls to step down after police recommended his indictment over alleged corruption. Benjamin Netanyahu shrugged off police recommendations as biased and extreme. He added that he intends to remain in office despite opposition calls for him to stand down. Police say they have enough evidence to charge Netanyahu with bribery and breach of trust. They say the premier had received gifts worth three-hundred thousand dollars from two billionaires. Meanwhile, Likud coalition chairman David Amsalem has accused the police of committing an illegitimate act to attempt a coup d'etat in Israel.

Talks on Syria

The UN Special Envoy for Syria has urged all parties to help stop further escalation of violence in Syria and implement the outcome of the recent talks held in the Russian city of Sochi. Staffan de Mistura who was briefing the UN Security Council also called for immediate and sustained humanitarian aid to the besieged areas in Syria. De Mistura added that current situation in the Arab country is undermining the efforts for political solution. He also stated that a committee should be formed in Geneva to discuss a new constitution for Syria. The United States and Russia were also taking part in the Security Council meeting and exchanged barbs regarding the Syria situation. The Russian envoy urged US to cease provocations in Syria while the American envoy accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons in the country.

US Mideast plan

The US Secretary of State says President Donald Trump's Middle East plan is "fairly well advanced". The announcement comes despite the fact that the Palestinians have said they don't recognize America as a mediator anymore. Rex Tillerson was speaking at a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, in Amman. Tillerson said the plan had been under development for a number of months and President Trump would decide when to announce the outcome. His comments come two days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he no longer considers the US as a mediator in the conflict with Israel. Tensions erupted in the occupied territories after Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capital back in December. Trump’s move also drew sharp criticism from the international community.

US NSA shooting

Three people have reportedly been shot and wounded near the US National Security Agency's headquarters in Maryland. Reports say another person was taken into custody. Local fire and police departments tweeted earlier that they were responding to a possible shooting incident outside the agency's campus in Fort Meade. Reports suggest the highway near Fort Meade was closed in both directions due to the police investigation. Witnesses say police forces surrounded the area and handcuffed a man. There’s no immediate official comment on the incident but the NSA said the situation was under control. Gun violence is the third leading cause of accidental death in the US, behind drug overdoses and automobile crashes.

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