WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, September 9, 2018.

US West Asia plots

The Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution says hegemonic powers have created insecurity and instability in different parts of the world, especially in the West Asia region. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the comment at a joint graduation ceremony for army cadets. He said hegemonic powers led by the tyrannical United States trigger domestic wars, provoke acts of terrorism and fuel regional conflicts to secure their own interests. The Leader said some regional countries unfortunately help those powers in their plots. Ayatollah Khamenei further said Syria, Iraq and Lebanon are examples of the failure of Washington’s conspiracies in the region. The Leader then urged the Iranian Armed Forces to hone their skills to further dishearten the enemies.

IRGC ‘attacks terrorists’

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has confirmed firing 7 short-range missiles at a gathering of terrorist commanders in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The IRGC said, in a statement, that the attack killed and injured tens of terrorists, affiliated with enemies, who were plotting against Iran’s national security. It said the attack was a response to terrorists’ instigation of insecurity along Iranian borders over the past weeks. The IRGC added that the terrorists had ignored Iran’s warnings that their bases would be hit if they did not stop their nefarious activities. The force warned terrorists of more crushing reactions if they repeat their actions.

US China tariffs  

Four US tech firms have appealed to President Donald Trump to exempt key products from his tariffs on 200 billion dollars worth of imports from China. The firms - Cisco, Dell, HP and Juniper, warned that Trump’s planned 10 to 25 percent duties on network equipment would cause “broad, disproportionate economic harm” to US interests. They said the measure that comes to force on Friday, will cost jobs and affect broader US strategic priorities. Separately, another US tech giant, Apple, has warned about the impact of the US tariffs. Trump has so far slapped duties on 40 billion dollars worth of Chinese products, triggering equal measures by Beijing. This week, Trump upped his rhetoric, threatening to impose tariffs on all Chinese exports.

Catalonia independence drive  

Catalan leader Quim Torra once again calls on Spain to accept a referendum on the region’s independence from Madrid. Torra said Catalonia will press ahead with its bid for secession even if the Spanish government rejects the demand. His remarks come two days before pro-independence Catalans take to the streets in the first of a series of major protests in the region. On September 11, they will mark a regional holiday in Barcelona that originally fuelled sentiments against the Spanish rule over Catalonia. Spain is to try nine separatist leaders for alleged rebellion and their role in last year's banned referendum. The trial could begin as early as October.

Kabul deadly blast

A suicide bombing attack has killed at least seven people in the Afghan capital Kabul. 20 other people were also injured in the incident. The attack came as supporters of former military commander Ahmad Shah Massoud were marking his 17th death anniversary in Kabul. Earlier, Afghan security forces shot dead a man who was reportedly planning to blow himself up near the gathering. Massoud led resistance to the Soviet occupation in the 1980s. He was killed by suicide bombers in 2001.

UN calls on Egypt to reverse death sentences

The United Nations has called on Egypt to reverse the death sentences handed over to dozens of former members of the Muslim Brotherhood. UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet said these people were given an unfair trail. She warned that if carried out the sentences would represent a gross and irreversible miscarriage of justice. Bachelet urged the country’s appeals court to overturn the rulings. Bachelet also criticized a law which gives immunity to security officers. An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced 75 people to death over their alleged role in a 2013 armed sit-in that ended with the intervention of security forces. Hundreds of protesters were killed.

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