WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, November 02, 2018 to 0800 GMT, November 03, 2018.

‘Failed illegal sanctions’

The US decision to re-impose economic sanctions against Iran has drawn a barrage of criticism from Tehran and other signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Iranian foreign minister said Washington, despite its illegal anti-Tehran sanctions, has failed to achieve its goals. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comments on the sidelines of a trilateral meeting between the Iranian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Istanbul. The European Union, France, Germany and Britain also slammed the upcoming US measures. They pledged to protect European companies from the sanctions. US sanctions against Iran will be reinstated on November fifth. They target the country’s oil and financial sectors. However, Washington has granted waivers to eight countries to keep buying Iranian oil after sanctions come into effect. The US has also allowed Iraq to keep importing crucial gas, energy supplies and food from Iran.

Trump U-turn on migrants

The US president has pulled back on his threat to have soldiers shoot migrants who throw stones at the US-Mexico border. Donald Trump made the remarks during a speech at the White House on his bid to crack down on illegal immigration. Earlier, Trump had threatened that the US soldiers can shoot the immigrants to stop them from crossing the border. Meanwhile, thousands of migrants continue their journey from Central America toward the US. This comes as the Pentagon has started the deployment of thousands of its troops to Mexican border.

Khashoggi killing

The Turkish president says the order to kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi has come from the highest levels of the Saudi government. Rejeb Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks in a piece published by the Washington Post. Erdogan said he did not believe that King Salman had ordered the killing but he refrained from directly accusing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Last week, an adviser to Erdogan said the crown prince had "blood on his hands" over Khashoggi’s killing. However, Riyadh rejects that Bin Salman ordered the hit. The Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi government and its de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, disappeared after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.

US shooting

A shooting at a yoga studio in the US state of Florida has left three people, including the shooter, dead and five others injured. Local police said the shooting in the city of Tallahassee was carried out by a gunman who later killed himself. City authorities said the shooting was apparently part of a domestic dispute and not terror-related. The incident comes amid a fresh push for gun-control laws in the midterm congressional elections. Democrats, including Tallahassee mayor who is running for Florida governor, have been openly campaigning against the gun lobby in the US.

Italy stance on migration

Italy says migrant repatriation programs are needed to manage the flow of asylum seekers to Europe. Giuseppe Conte made the comments during a joint press conference with his Tunisian counterpart Youssef Shahed. The Italian premier also welcomed migrant identification projects. He said such plans would facilitate the repatriation procedures as well as assigning of nationalities to refugees. Meanwhile, the Tunisian prime minister highlighted efforts to improve living standards for asylum seekers who head to Europe.

Iran fighter jet

Iran has launched the production line for its first indigenously-built fighter jet called Kowsar. The aircraft was brought online by Iran’s top military brass in the central city of Isfahan. Army commander Brigadier General Abdol-Rahim Mousavi called the event an important day for Iran’s defense industries and the air force. The jet was unveiled by President Hassan Rouhani in August and made its maiden flight in the presence of Iranian officials. It is equipped with advanced avionics and fourth-generation fire control system. The jet also utilizes computerized ballistic calculations of weaponry and an advanced head-up display to increase the accuracy of weapons it carries. It will be used for military and training purposes.

Blasting US threats

Venezuela and Cuba have slammed new US sanctions and threats against the two countries. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro described Washington's move as criminal, saying it targets the country’s private business. Maduro said Venezuela is moving forward, despite sanctions, and nobody can stop the growth and prosperity of its people. The comments come after the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s gold exports. Washington has also leveled new sanctions on Cuba for supporting the Venezuelan government and promised additional penalties against Nicaragua. The US national security advisor branded the three countries as a troika of tyranny, which represents oppression and totalitarianism. Cuba's top diplomat on US affairs slammed John Bolton’s remarks as vulgar, but said Cuba remained open to respectful talks with Washington.

Saudi war victims

A Yemeni kid, whose haunting picture of starvation has put the spotlight on the famine and human cost of the Saudi war on Yemen, has died. Amal Hussain’s family says the seven-year-old girl died at a refugee camp on October 26, three days after she was discharged from hospital. Last month, US media published Amal’s emaciated image on the hospital bed in northern Yemen. She was being treated for acute malnutrition. Some 1.8 million children in Yemen are starving due to Saudi Arabia’s war. Humanitarian officials say at least eight million Yemenis have no food. The Saudi war started in 2015.

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