WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Minister) David Davis (L) listens to European Union Chief Negotiator in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain Michel Barnier (R) as he addresses media representatives during a press conference at The European Union Commission Headquarters in Brussels on July 20, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, August 27, 2017.

 

Brexit talks

Britain has called on the European Union to adopt a flexible approach and expedite the Brexit progress, in the wake of a new round of talks on the UK's exit from the bloc. UK’s Brexit ministry has issued a statement saying British negotiators would push for trade talks in a new round of talks this week. The EU, however, says the two sides should first agree on the status of EU nationals in Britain, the divorce bill and the future of Northern Ireland's border with the Irish Republic. Both sides had earlier expressed hope to start talks on future trade ties by October. Brussels, however, says the timescale is getting increasingly unlikely.

DR Congo displacement

The United Nations says the number of those displaced by violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has doubled to 3.8 million people over the past six months. The UN refugee agency said the situation is at its worst in the conflict-ridden region of Kasai, where fighting between pro and anti-government groups has claimed over 3,000 lives since September. The agency said nearly one and a half million people there are in need of food, clothing and urgent protection. The UNHCR added that things are especially harsh for children who are “sleeping in conditions difficult to imagine”. Resources have also been exhausted in Congo due to the flow of hundreds of thousands of refugees, escaping war in four of its neighboring countries.

Battle for Tal Afar

The Iraqi military says forces have retaken almost all of Tal Afar from Daesh and only a small area outside the city remains to be liberated. The military says the forces will declare complete liberation of the city after taking control of its surrounding areas. The announcement came after troops recaptured the neighborhoods of Sina’e and Askari from Daesh terrorists on Sunday. The Tal Afar operation began less than a week ago and the military has made a faster-than-expected advance on the ground. The city is of strategic significance as it lies on a terrorist supply route connecting the recently-liberated city of Mosul to the border with Syria. Iraqi forces are also fighting to dislodge the terrorists from the supply route north of Tal Afar. The city is one of the last urban bases of Daesh in Iraq.

Rohingya Muslims’ miseries

Bangladeshi border guards have forcibly returned some 70 Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar just hours after Myanmarese troops opened fire on them. A police official said the Rohingya refugees were detained four kilometers inside the Bangladeshi territory, and were immediately sent back to Myanmar. According to the police, they were heading for the Kutupalong refugee camp, which is mostly inhabited by Rohingya Muslims. Earlier, Myanmar’s troops opened fire on hundreds of Rohingya who were escaping their homes in the Rakhine state.

South Asia floods

More than 1,200 people have lost their lives in some of the worst flooding to hit South Asia in decades. Flood waters submerging large areas in India, Bangladesh and Nepal have affected over 24 million people. Rescue workers have scrambled to provide aid to millions stranded. Thousands of villages have been cut off, leaving flood-stricken people in dire need of food and clean water. Many have already been taken to relief camps, but the Red Cross has warned that the situation is going from bad to worse. The floods come as the region is going through the monsoon season.

Lebanese troops ‘dead’

The head of Lebanon's internal security agency says nine Lebanese soldiers in Daesh’s captivity since 2014 are almost certainly dead. General Abbas Ibrahim says the remains of six of the soldiers have been retrieved and the search for the other three is ongoing. DNA tests are underway to confirm the identities of the soldiers. The findings follow the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire by the Lebanese army, Hezbollah fighters and the Syrian army along the Syria-Lebanon border where they had launched offensives against Daesh terrorists. The ceasefire was aimed at paving the way for negotiations over the fate of the captive Lebanese soldiers. The truce came a week after Lebanon and Syria launched simultaneous offensives on both sides of the border to dislodge the terrorists from the region. Northeast Lebanon suffered from one of the worst spillovers of the Syria war in 2014, with Daesh and other terror groups crossing the border into Lebanese territory.

Anti-US rally in Pakistan

Violence has broken out at an anti-US rally in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Thousands of protesters clashed with police who were deployed to Karachi, amid growing anti-US sentiment. The protesters slammed recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, in which he criticized Pakistan’s stance on terrorists. The protesters also held placards slamming Israel. The South Asian nation has seen a rise in anti-US sentiment after Trump singled out Pakistan for failing to crackdown on terrorists on its soil. Since then, many anti-US demonstrations have been held. Pakistani officials have also criticized Trump’s comments.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku