WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, March 12, 2017.

Chemical attack plan

The Syrian military has reportedly found a workshop used by foreign-backed militants to make chemical weapons. Russian media say the workshop was discovered in a recently-relieved area in Eastern Ghouta. The US and its western and regional allies have often pointed their fingers at the Syrian government for chemical attacks. Damascus has consistently denied the allegations. Syria surrendered its chemical stockpiles in 2014 under the supervision of the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Meanwhile, the discovery of the workshop is yet another revelation in a prolonged debate on who used chemical weapons in Syria. Back in 2012, a video was released showing the terrorists testing a chemical substance on lab rabbits and threatening to use it against pro-government Syrians.

North Korea-US summit  

South Korea says the North has remained cautious in announcing its stance over an upcoming summit with the United States. A spokesman for South Korea’s Unification Ministry says no official response has been received from Pyongyang as yet. He added that North Korea is approaching the matter with caution and needs time to organize its stance. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump have agreed to meet over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. The meeting is due to be held by the end of May, and is part of efforts to ease tensions between the US and North Korea. China has welcomed what it called positive changes on the North Korean issue.

Nepal plane crash

At least 38 people are killed as a passenger plane from Bangladesh crashes and bursts into flames upon landing at Kathmandu airport in Nepal. According to the Nepalese police, 23 are also injured and 10 are unaccounted for. The Bombardier Dash 8 was operated by the US-Bangla Airlines. The twin propeller plane broke into several large pieces upon impact. Dozens of firefighters and rescue workers were immediately sent to the crash site. Fire crews put out the flames very quickly. Kathmandu's airport has been the site of several deadly crashes so far.

Palestinian protest

Clashes have erupted outside the Palestinian city of Ramallah after Israeli forces attacked protesters during a rally over the detention of a student leader. Israeli forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at the protesters, injuring at least four people. Video footage also shows the Israeli troops push to the ground a medic who was trying to attend to an injured protester. The demonstration near Beit El checkpoint was staged over the detention of Omar al-Keswani, the head of the Student Council at Birzeit University last week. He was detained during a raid on the university by Israel’s undercover agents.

Rapping West rights stance

Iran’s representative to the UN Human Rights Council has blasted Western states over their approach toward the issue of human rights. Mohammad Javad Larijani said Western states have adopted a biased approach toward human rights, which is based on political and racial issues. He called for efforts to oppose such stance and announced Iran’s readiness to cooperate in this regard. Larijani also blasted the US and European countries for keeping silent on the civilian lives taken by the Saudi war on Yemen. He said these countries remain silent while they claim to be defenders of human rights. The Iranian representative was speaking at the 37th regular session of the UN human rights council in Geneva.

Fleeing Afrin

Thousands of people are fleeing Afrin as Turkish troops and allied militants get closer to the besieged town in northern Syria. Kurdish sources say those fleeing are heading toward government-controlled areas. They say Turkish troops have destroyed power plants in the Afrin area, making it difficult for people to stay. Nearly 200 civilians have been killed since Turkey launched its military operation against Syria’s YPG Kurdish forces on January 20. The Syrian government has slammed the Turkish offensive as a violation of its sovereignty. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to press ahead with the onslaught.

Double agent poisoning

Russia and Britain aren’t unfamiliar with disputes: their latest row is over a chemical agent attack in the UK, which London has blamed on Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has once again denied any involvement in the poisoning of a double spy in Britain. Peskov said the fact that it took place in Britain proves Russia had no role in the incident, which Britain describes as a nerve agent attack. A senior British lawmaker has accused Moscow of poisoning 66-year-old Russian citizen Sergey Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter in Salisbury.

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