WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, September 13, 2018 to 0800 GMT, September 14, 2018.

Spain-Saudi arms deal

Spain says it will sell hundreds of laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia. The deal was struck in 2015 but was halted because of Saudi role in the Yemen war. Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell now says the contract was reviewed three times by a commission which authorizes arms sales. The commission saw no reason not to go ahead with the sales. Borell says the bombs have extraordinary precision and cannot be used indiscriminately against civilians. The halting of the deal had raised worries in Spain that another lucrative contract with the kingdom, the sale of warships, will be at stake. The Saudi-led war on Yemen has so far killed nearly 15,000 people and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

US Syria plan

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman voices serious concern about the US attempts to prepare public opinion for a new military attack on Syria. Maria Zakharova stressed that Washington exerts all efforts to advance its agenda. Zakharova said the terrorists’ plan to stage a fake chemical attack has resulted in the escalation of tensions in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib. Russia and Syria have both presented the United Nations with evidence that the terrorists want to hold Damascus accountable for a false-flag chemical attack and pave the way for the US and its allies to attack the war-battered country. The developments come as the Syrian army is gearing up to launch an offensive against the terrorists in Idlib province.

Argentina strike

Thousands of Argentinean teachers and students have staged a demonstration in the capital city to demand more government funding for public education. The protesters marched through the streets of Buenos Aires, shouting slogans against government policies. The teachers demanded a pay rise to offset the effect of double-digit inflation and the students called for increased investment in universities. The government’s austerity measures, including a reported cut in education funding, have proven ineffective and unpopular. The South American country’s currency, Peso, has lost more than half of its value against the dollar this year.

Spy poisoning row

The US says it will impose severe sanctions on Russia if Moscow doesn’t meet a deadline to prove it wasn’t involved in an alleged poisoning attack in the UK. The US State Department says Russia has been given till November to allow inspection of facilities linked to nerve agent Novichok, which was used in the attack. Washington wants credible information that Russian operatives were not involved in the poisoning of double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in March in the UK. London says two Russian officers were behind the attack. Moscow denies any involvement in the affair.

EU refugee crisis

Political divisions at government level within the European Union will lead to more refugee deaths in the Mediterranean, experts at a conference in Brussels warn. Rights groups accuse the EU of failing in its legal and moral responsibilities by creating a fortress Europe to keep refugees out. Jerome Hughes reports from Brussels.

US North Korea sanctions

The US ambassador to the United Nations has accused Russia of seeking to cover up breaches of UN sanctions on North Korea. Nikki Haley says Russia can’t be allowed to edit and obstruct independent UN reports on North Korea sanctions just because they don’t like what they say. This comes after Moscow pushed for changes to be made to an independent UN report on sanctions violations. The report, released last month, said Pyongyang is violating UN sanctions on exports. Meanwhile, the US imposed sanctions on two firms, one in Russia and one in China, for supporting North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang brands Washington’s demands for a complete denuclearization without any reciprocal action a gangster-like.

Manafort guilty plea?

US President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort is reportedly close to reaching a plea bargain with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. According to a source familiar with the matter, who has asked to remain anonymous, the deal is not final yet. Earlier, ABC News also reported a tentative deal, but said it was not clear whether Manafort had agreed to cooperate with Mueller’s team. The news comes ahead of Manafort’s second trial on charges including bank and tax fraud, which is scheduled for later this month. The prosecutions against him arose from Mueller's investigation into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Philippines super typhoon

Preparations are in full swing in the Philippines, as the most powerful typhoon this year is closing in on the country. Super Typhoon Mangkhut is equivalent to a category five hurricane. It will pack fierce winds of 255 kilometers per hour. Flash flooding, caused by heavy rains, is expected too. The Philippines state weather service said rains and winds are expected from Friday over the north and center of Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the country. Authorities say at least four-million people are directly in the path of the destructive typhoon. Mass evacuations have already begun, while rescuers and troops are on full alert. Other countries across east and southeast Asia have issued emergency alerts and ordered evacuations.

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