WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, August 8, 2018.

‘US not reliable’

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has branded the United States as an unreliable country following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. Rouhani said the US is seen in the world as a country that cannot be trusted due to its lack of commitment to international accords. He made the comments as he met North Korean Foreign Minister, Ri Yong-ho, in Tehran. The top diplomat criticized the US pullout and restoration of sanctions on Iran, saying the moves are against international law. US President, Donald Trump, dropped out of the multilateral agreement in May and re-imposed sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Saudi war on Yemen

Another deadly day in Yemen: At least seven civilians are killed as Saudi warplanes bomb a residential area in Amran province. The victims in the town of Haraf Sofian include three children and two women. Several people were also injured in the airstrike. The Saudi Air Force has been conducting deadly attacks on Yemen on a regular basis. At least 14,700 people, mostly civilians, have lost their lives since Riyadh started its military campaign against its southern neighbor in March 2015.

Indonesia earthquake

Time is running out for rescue workers on the resort island of Lombok in Indonesia which was shaken by a massive earthquake on Sunday. More than 130 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed. Rescuers are still holding out hope for anyone who might have made it and is still breathing under the debris.

‘No to US talks’

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Tehran is waiting to see if the Europeans are fully ready to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal. Zarif was speaking a day the Trump administration re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Zarif said Trump has shown his lack of respect for the US international commitments and the people of Iran. He noted that the Iranian people are the main target of Trump’s measures as the very first sanctions he re-imposed canceled licenses for the sale of passenger jets. The top Iranian diplomat stressed that Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal shows he is not trustworthy for any new negotiations. Trump’s anti Iran posture has failed to enlist his European partners, and the EU leaders are now scrambling to salvage the nuclear deal.

Australia drought

Intense drought in Australia has now taken over an entire state. The New South Wales government says Australia’s most populous state is now listed as 100percent in drought as the northern coast joins the rest of the dry territory. Official figures show at least one-quarter of the state is facing intense drought. Most areas have recorded their driest autumn in living memory with rainfall levels plunging below average. The state and federal authorities have provided over one-billion dollars in emergency funding. New South Wales produces about a quarter of Australia’s agricultural output. Farmers have reported failing crops and severe water shortages.

Defending Iran ties

China, Germany and Turkey have defended their business ties with Iran in the wake of US sanctions on Tehran. The Chinese foreign ministry said, in a statement, that Beijing opposes unilateral US measures. It said China's commercial cooperation with Iran is open and transparent, and does not violate any UN Security Council resolutions. The German government also said that US sanctions violate international law. It said Germany expects the US to consider European interests when coming up with such measures. Turkey also says it remains committed to energy contracts with Tehran. Turkey’s Energy Minister Fatih Donmez called the sanctions unilateral. On Tuesday, Washington re-imposed anti-Iran sanctions. US President Donald Trump tweeted that anyone doing business with Iran will be barred from doing business with Washington.

Saudi-Canada row

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister says the kingdom is planning additional measures against Canada amid growing feud between the two countries. Adel al-Jubeir rejected the possibility of any mediation in the kingdom's diplomatic row with Canada. The top Saudi diplomat was speaking at a press conference in the capital, Riyadh. Earlier, Saudi Arabia announced an end to all its medical treatment programs in Canada. The kingdom has already frozen trade and investment cooperation with Ottawa. Saudi Airlines suspended all flights to and from Montreal. Educational exchange programs with Canada were also halted. The tensions escalated after Ottawa called for the immediate release of two jailed activists. Saudi Arabia described Canada's demand as interference in its internal affairs.

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