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Smoke billows following an air-strike by the Saudi-led coalition targeting the Al-Dailami air base, in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, on April 5, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, April 22, 2018 to 08:00 GMT, April 23, 2018.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia continues its relentless airstrikes on Yemen, causing more deaths and destruction in the war-torn nation. The latest Saudi air raids hit a wedding ceremony in Hajjah province. The strikes caused dozens of casualties. The Saudi warplanes also targeted ambulances to prevent them from reaching the ground zero. Saudi Arabia launched a war on its southern neighbor back in March 2015. Since then, over 14,000 people, many of them women and children have been killed. The war has also severely damaged Yemen’s infrastructure and caused a humanitarian crisis there.

‘Delusional’ Syria plan

Iran’s foreign minister has described as delusional a US plan to create an Arab coalition military force in Syria. Mohammad Javad Zarif said Syria now needs a political solution, and not military strategies. He said some parties have never abandoned the illusion of replacing the current government in Syria through military means. Zarif said such line of thinking will only lead to their more defeats in Syria. He said Tehran offered a political solution based on the four-point plan almost five years ago. He noted that the Syrian government controls 70% of the country despite repeated plots by terror sponsors. Zarif urged all parties to accept the realities, and work for a national unity government in Syria. The US is pushing for an Arab military coalition in Syria to pave the way for American withdrawal. Saudi Arabia has signaled its readiness to be part of the contingent.

Nicaragua cancels reforms

Following days of deadly protests, the Nicaraguan president has announced the cancelation of his pension reforms, saying the government is ready to hold talks with protesters. Ortega said the board of Nicaragua's social security system has voted to revoke the measures that were approved last week. His comments come as The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights reported that violent protests across the country have claimed the lives of 25 people since Wednesday. The victims were killed during demonstrations against the government’s new pension reforms. Under the proposed law, employees had to contribute a larger amount of their pay checks to the pension scheme.

France immigration bill

French lawmakers have approved a controversial immigration bill to tighten the country’s asylum rule. The bill passed the Lower House by a large majority after intense debates. The bill is aimed at speeding up the consideration of asylum applications and expediting deportations. President Emanuel Macron is an advocate of the measure saying it is needed to stop the rise of anti-immigration populists. But his policy has created divisions within his own party with several M-Ps vocally opposing the measure. Human rights groups have also condemned the move. France's Upper House, the Senate, will vote on the bill in June.

Iran commander slams US

A senior Iranian military commander says the United States has created a large-scale crisis in West Asia by supporting the Daesh terror group. Chief of Staff of Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said Washington and its allies are providing the grounds for war by sending arms to different countries, including Saudi Arabia. He said foreign military presence and interference in the Indian Ocean have destabilized the region, citing the Saudi war on Yemen as an example. Bagheri also criticized the recent attack on Syria by the U-S, France and Britain, stressing that some world powers are trying to create chaos in the world through the use of force. Major General Bagheri made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium in Iran. Navy chiefs from 35 countries are taking part in the event in the capital Tehran.

Air France strike

French travelers are facing more headaches as the country’s flag carrier, Air France has announced the cancellation of more flights amid a strike by its staff. The airliner says it predicts some 25 percent of its flights will be canceled on Monday on the tenth day of the strike over pay. The unions said a third of the pilots, and one flight attendant in five are expected to walk out. The first round of the industrial action took place in February. Air France has launched a new consultation period with staff members to try to end the dispute that has so far cost the airline some two-hundred twenty million euros. The chairman of Air France who is also the chief executive of the Air France KLM parent group says he will resign if the talks fail to make a breakthrough.

Chileans against Pinochet reforms

Thousands of Chileans have taken to the streets of capital Santiago to protest against the country’s pension system. Some ten-thousand people rallied in the streets, slamming the privatized pension system created under the country’s former leader Augusto Pinochet. The demonstrators demand scrap of the current system in favor of one that includes contributions from the employee, the employer and the state. They say the governmental systems are only supporting the upper class society.


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