WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, December 2, 2018 to 0800 GMT, December 3, 2018.

Iran FM slams US

Iran’s foreign minister has accused the United States of hypocrisy over Washington’s criticism of Tehran’s defensive missile program. In a tweet, Mohammad Javad Zarif scoffed at the US foreign policy as surrealist. He made the remarks in response to comments by his American counterpart Mike Pomepo, who has accused Iran of violating a United Nations Security Council resolution by testing a ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. Zarif recalled that the US re-imposing of unilateral sanctions against Iran was already a violation of Security Council Resolution 2231. Iran maintains that no UNSC resolution bans the country’s defensive missile program or its missile tests.

Far-right party in the Spanish parliament

A far-right party has won seats in a Spanish regional parliament for the first time in over four decades. The Vox party won 12 seats in Sunday’s regional vote in Andalusia handing a majority to right-wing parties that can now form a coalition. The Socialists gathered most votes, but fell short of a majority. It’s the first time a surge of nationalist sentiments that have swept some other European countries, has reached Spain. The result would rattle Spain’s politics, with a series of local, regional and European elections scheduled for May. Andalusia has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe and is the main arrival point in Spain for refugees crossing the Mediterranean.

400 nabbed in Paris protests

French police say more than 400 people have been arrested in Saturday’s violent protests in the capital Paris. The police added that more than one-hundred vehicles and buildings were set alight after anti-government protests turned into a riot in Paris. The demonstrations left hundreds injured. French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered his prime minister to hold talks with protest leaders as the country is seeing one of its worst disturbances since 1968. The demonstrators are angry at the government’s economic reforms which they say have resulted in diesel tax hikes and high living costs.

Saudi war on Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition has agreed to allow evacuation of wounded Ansarullah fighters from Yemeni capital Sana’a to Muscat. According to the Saudi Press Agency, a UN chartered plane will arrive in Sana’a on Monday to evacuate 50 men in a confidence building measure. The move comes ahead of expected peace talks between the warring sides in Yemen. The coalition agreed to facilitate the medical evacuations at the request of UN envoy Martin Griffiths. Ansarullah on Thursday confirmed they will attend UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden this week. Two rounds of Yemen peace negotiations failed, one in September and the other in 2016. The Saudi war on Yemen has claimed the lives of over 15,000 Yemenis since it began in early 2015.

Israel’s role in Khashoggi murder

A Saudi dissident close to the murdered journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, has filed a lawsuit against an Israeli company for helping the Saudis spy on him. Omar Abdulaziz says the NSO Group helped the Saudi royal court take over his smartphone and sneak into his communications with Khashoggi. CNN has released more than four hundred messages exchanged between the two dissidents. The group has reacted to the lawsuit, saying it is licensed by Israeli authorities for enabling clients fight terror and crime. Amnesty International has also accused the NSO Group of helping Saudi Arabia spy on one of its staff, saying it is seeking legal action.

Plight of refugees in Australia

Australia faces fresh criticism over its treatment of asylum seekers held in offshore detention centers. A top official for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has accused Australian officials of putting lives at risk at camps on Nauru and Manus islands. Catherine Stubber-field says the policy is sold too simplistically and changing it is a matter of basic human treatment and decency. The Royal Austra-lasian College of Physicians has also thrown its voice behind those calling for the government to change course. Around 160 asylum seekers, including women and children, still remain in Nauru camp. Some 600 people are also believed to be in transition centers on Manus Island after the Australian-run camp there was closed last year. Australia has been under fire for documented cases of abuse and trauma in its refugee camps.

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