WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

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

Syria fight against terror

Syrian military officials say the government forces have taken full control of the last major Daesh-held town in Homs province. According to a military source, several Daesh terrorists were killed and their weapons destroyed in the town of al-Sukhnah. The town is some 50 kilometers from the provincial boundary of Dayr al-Zawr province. The province on the western side of Iraq’s border is the last major bastion of Daesh in Syria. Meanwhile, the Syrian army forces are inching closer to Jordan’s border as they push to shut down the corridors terrorists have been using to smuggle weapons into Syria.

Myanmar crackdown

Myanmar confirms it is imposing new curfews in the state of Rakhine where the military is accused of committing crimes against the members of Rohingya Muslim community. The state media has also confirmed plans to deploy additional troops to the region adding that curfews will be imposed in necessary areas. This as the United Nations has expressed alarm over the military buildup, warning the development “a cause for major concern”. Since last October, government troops have waged a violent crackdown in Rakhine accusing members of the minority Rohingya population of an attack on police. Widespread rights abuses have been reported including mass rape and killing of Muslims. The UN says the crackdown may amount to ethnic cleansing, a charge the Myanmarese government denies.

Kenya violence

In Kenya, at least three people have been shot dead during rallies protesting the outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election. A Police official said several other people suffering from gunshot injuries were taken to hospitals. Angry demonstrators flooded the streets of the capital Nairobi and the city of Kisumu after the election committee announced incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta winner in the presidential election. The police resorted to live rounds to disperse protesters blocking roads and setting up barricades. Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga say the election was rigged in favor of Kenyatta.

India child deaths

At least 60 children have died in an Indian hospital over the past 5 days due to an alleged lack of basic supplies. Officials in Uttar Pradesh state are investigating the deaths of the victims who included newborns. The children’s parents allege that the fatalities at the Baba Raghav Das Medical Hospital were caused by a lack of oxygen supply in the children’s ward. Local officials do admit that there was a problem with the pipeline supplying oxygen. They, however, deny this was the reason behind the deaths. They argue the children were being treated for different ailments which turned out to be fatal.

Saudi war on Yemen

Iran’s foreign minister and the UN envoy to Yemen have stressed the need to find a comprehensive political solution to end the crisis in the impoverished Arab country. Mohammad Javad Zarif and Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed discussed Yemen’s latest developments during their meeting in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The two sides agreed that ways should be found to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Sheikh Ahmed’s session with Zarif followed a meeting with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari. The Iranian diplomat said Iran has since the beginning of the conflict in Yemen stressed that the crisis cannot be resolved through military means. He once again noted that only dialog between the warring factions can settle the crisis.

Charlottesville clashes

Violent clashes have erupted between white nationalists and counter-protesters in US. Both groups exchanged blows and pushed each other. Several people have been reportedly injured in the violence. Authorities in Charlottesville have issued a state of emergency in the city. Police dispersed the crowd and made arrests after declaring the rally unlawful. This is the third of such rallies taking place in Charlottesville in the past four months. Only last night similar confrontations occurred as hundreds of white supremacists, waving torches, marched at the University of Virginia. The mob was angered at the planned removal of a statue of a General who commanded pro-slavery forces during the US Civil War.

Turkey-Germany relations

The Turkish president says relations with Germany will improve once the country’s general elections are over. Erdogan went on to blame the strained relations between Turkey and the EU on the domestic politics of European countries. Germany is due to hold parliamentary elections on September 24. Tensions between the EU and Ankara escalated following last year’s failed coup in Turkey and the ensuing crackdown. Tens of thousands of employees have been dismissed and many more detained over their alleged involvement in the putsch and links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

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