WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, January 10, 2017.

Israel manhunt

Israel has set up roadblocks and deployed troops around the West Bank city of Nablus as part of a manhunt for suspected attackers who allegedly shot dead an Israeli settler. The Israeli military said in a statement that entering and leaving the villages surrounding the city will be possible only after passing through security checks. An Israeli man was shot outside a settlement near Nablus overnight. He reportedly sustained multiple shots to his upper body and was taken to hospital in critical condition before he succumbed to his injuries. The Israeli military says the shots came from a moving vehicle. The area frequently sees tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. At least 17 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,000 injured in clashes with Israelis since December 6, 2017.

Myanmar media crackdown

Myanmar formally files charges against two local journalists for covering the military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority. Wa Loon and Ko So Oo have been charged under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly acquiring secret documents from two policemen. The police officers had worked in Rakhine state, where mass human rights abuses have been reported. The two journalists face up to 14 years in prison and will return to court in two weeks to hear their verdicts. Wa Loon stressed his innocence as he was being taken away in handcuffs to a waiting police van.

US’s new nuke policy

A former US official says the administration of President Donald Trump plans to adopt a hawkish position on the use of nuclear weapons. That’s according to Jon Wolfsthal who was special assistant to former US president Barack Obama as senior director for arms control and non-proliferation. He said the new nuclear posture review prepared by Pentagon loosens constrains on the use of nuclear weapons and scenarios in which such weapons could be used. He said it also proposes developing small lower-yield missiles that are easier to use. The plan is set to be published by Pentagon at the end of January. Arms control advocates have voiced the alarm at the new proposal, saying it will make a nuclear war more likely. Since taking office, Trump has been vocal in his support for nuclear weapons and an increase in the US stockpile.

Iran nuclear program

Iran says it’s capable of speeding up its nuclear activities, in particular the uranium enrichment, compared to the pre-nuclear deal era. Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, said the body reported to the country’s authorities about its capacity to multiply the pace of nuclear activities. Kamalvandi said if the US tries to de-certify Iran’s compliance with the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, Tehran will take necessary measures. The spokesman, however, stressed that the scale and percentage of the nuclear enrichment depend on the authorities’ decisions. US President Donald Trump will announce on Friday if he certifies the Iranian compliance with the deal, known as the JCPOA, and extends the sanctions waivers. All other signatories have called for the deal to be upheld and live on.

Saudi prince fired

A Saudi prince has been sacked from his job for criticizing the regime over the arrest of his relatives. Prince Abdullah bin Saud bin Mohammed was fired after he made an audio recording, calling the arrests false and illegal. His comments came after the Kingdom confirmed that it had arrested 11 princes following their protest against austerity measures and loss of privileges. Saudi Arabia’s attorney general accused the princes of disrupting public peace and order, saying they will face trial on a number of charges. The arrests are the latest in a long-running purge in the kingdom. The Saudi regime has detained over 200 princes in an alleged anti-corruption crackdown, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Catalonia leadership

Catalonia's main separatist parties say they have agreed to re-elect fugitive leader Carles Puigdemont as president of the region. A spokesperson with Puigdemont's political platform Together for Catalonia says the region's ex- president has secured the backing of the left-republican ERC party. ERC has also confirmed the news. Puigdemont's been residing in Brussels since he was ousted following an independence referendum held last October. Puigdemont faces immediate arrest upon returning home so the parliamentary vote on his re-election will take place in his absence later this month. Meanwhile, Puigdemont's predecessor Artur Mas resigned from his role as the President of the Catalan European Democratic Party amid reports of internal division. He said the move is meant to pave the way for new leaders from Catalonia’s independence movement.

Defending Iran deal

Iran’s foreign minister says the US has failed to fulfill its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the P-five-plus-one group of countries. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. The top Iranian diplomat accused Washington of pursuing destructive policies against the deal, also known as the JCPOA. He stressed the need for close cooperation among all sides to safeguard the landmark agreement. Sergei Lavrov, on his part, said Moscow will defend the deal as a key to the regional stability. He added that Russia agrees with the International atomic energy agency in confirming Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA. The meeting comes as foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France as well as the EU foreign policy chief will hold a meeting with Zarif in Brussels on the nuclear deal. An EU diplomat says the aim is to send a message to Washington that Iran is complying with the terms of the deal.

Slamming US House resolution

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed a US Congressional resolution, calling it Washington's interference in the country’s domestic affairs. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi called the US measures a failed policy, adding that such unlawful and repetitive resolutions confirm US intervention. He stressed that Washington’s hostile statements and actions against the Iranian nation arise from the dominating nature of American rulers. Qassemi went on to say that Iranians closely monitor US double standards and will accordingly respond to such imprudent measures if needed. The comments come after the US House unanimously passed a resolution supporting protesters in Iran. It also urged the Trump administration to issue new sanctions on what it called human rights violators.

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