WATCH PRESS TV NEWS Headlines

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

US-Saudi Arabia ties

The US president has voiced his opposition to cancelling arms sales to Riyadh over missing dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Donald Trump said there are other things the US can do that are very powerful if it is proved that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He also said he is pessimistic about Khashoggi’s fate and that things are not looking good. Earlier, Trump threatened Riyadh with severe punishment if the allegations turn out to be true. Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Riyadh and a US resident, disappeared on October the second after visiting the consulate. Turkey believes he was killed inside the building and his body was removed by a group of Saudis. Riyadh has denied the charges.

Saudi atrocities in Yemen

The death toll from Saudi Arabia’s very recent airstrikes on Yemen’s western province of Hudaydah has risen to at least 19. At least 20 others also sustained injuries after Saudi warplanes bombed two busses packed with civilians fleeing an offensive in the sea port of Hudaydah. Saudi Arabia began the war on its southern neighbor in March 2015. Since then, nearly 15,000 Yemenis, many of them women and children have been killed. The Kingdom’s almost daily bombardment of Yemen has also pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Taliban-US talks

The Taliban say their delegation has met with US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar to discuss ending the Afghan conflict. It was the first official confirmation of talks between the two sides. The Taliban said in a statement that the meeting took place in Doha on Friday. It was the second in the past four months amid reconciliation efforts 17 years after the US invasion. The meeting in Qatar came ahead of this month’s parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, with the Taliban saying Kabul had requested the group to help the government conduct peaceful elections. The Taliban have generally insisted on negotiating only with the United States, saying they will not enter talks unless US troops leave the country. The militant group has overtaken several districts in recent months.

Germans march against far-right extremism

Thousands of people have rallied in the Germen capital Berlin against racism and discrimination. A wide range of groups, including pro-refugee and Muslim organizations, backed the protest under the slogan “solidarity instead of exclusion” and “for an open and free society.” The demonstrators said the protest shows that right-wing agitation and populism are not dominant in Germany. The rally comes amid concerns about increasingly far-right and nationalist sentiments. The eastern city of Chemnitz was the scene of anti-refugee violence a few weeks ago. Last year’s German elections also saw the far-right Alternative for Germany party enter the country’s parliament.

Protesting French police brutality

Allegations of police brutality continue to spark regular protests in France. Activists against the conduct of the police were shocked to know that officers involved in the 2016 death of a young Muslim man were all cleared of any wrongdoing. French cops are rarely convicted in cases of excessive force, but the victim’s family members say they will continue to fight for justice. Ramin Mazaheri reports from Paris.

Iran blasts US policy

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the US has suffered a major political and legal defeat in its efforts to isolate Iran in the world. Rouhani said the US expected Iran to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal shortly after its own withdrawal in May. However, Rouhani said, Tehran showed prudence and stayed in the pact to Washington’s dismay. According to the Iranian president, the measure foiled the US plot to bring onboard the five other signatories to the deal against the Islamic Republic. He further called the current US administration the most spiteful one in dealing with Iran that has ever come to power in the United States. Rouhani said the US administration is seeking regime change by waging psychological and economic war and questioning the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic.

Brazil elections

Brazil's leftist presidential contender Fernando Haddad has accused his far-right rival of fomenting violence. Haddad argued against Jair Bolsonaro's pledge to ease gun laws for citizens to combat rampant insecurity. Haddad described his rival’s comments as contentious. This follows demonstrations against Bolsonaro over his perceived belittling of rape as well as his justification for the gender pay gap. Bolsonaro almost won an outright majority in Sunday's presidential election, but fell just short of the vote needed to avoid a run-off. The second round will be held on October 28.

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