WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, September 1, 2017.

Hajj pilgrimage

Around two million pilgrims from across the world are performing the final Hajj ceremonies as the annual pilgrimage nears its end. Having spent the night at Muzdalifah, where they also gathered stones, the pilgrims have now gathered in the city of Mina. There, the white-clad pilgrims throw seven stones at three pillars representing the devil. The stoning marks the third day of Hajj and the start of Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. This is considered a major occasion in the Islamic calendar, when the Hajj pilgrims live, eat and pray in the Tent City of Mina. They will then go to the city of Mecca to perform Tawaf by walking around the Kaaba seven times.

FARC transformation

Colombia’s former armed group has adopted a new name as it morphs into a political party. FARC members voted on Thursday to keep the acronym, which will now stand for the Alternative Revolutionary Force for the Common People. The group was previously known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The decision is part of efforts by the former rebel group to shake off its violent past and assume a new identity. The group that led an armed battle against the government for five decades gave up arms in June as part of a peace agreement. The deal ensured that the rebels get 10 unelected seats in Congress until the end of 2026.

Korean Peninsula tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin says pressuring North Korea won’t stop the country from pursuing its nuclear missile program. Putin warned in an online article that the Korean Peninsula is on the brink of a large-scale conflict. He suggested that only direct negotiations of all parties could resolve the region’s standing problems. The Russian leader added that his country has drawn up a roadmap with the help of China to ease the region's tensions and create lasting peace. The plan proposes that North Korea stops its missile program in exchange for a halt to the large-scale US and South Korea war games. Putin made the remarks only hours after a mock bombing raid by Washington and Seoul. Pyongyang denounced the drill as wild military acts.

Kenya election ruling

The Kenyan Supreme Court annuls the results of last month’s presidential election. The legislative body ruled that the August 8 vote was harmed by irregularities and illegalities, and ordered fresh election to be held within sixty days. This came after opposition candidate Raila Odinga claimed the electronic voting system was hacked into and manipulated in favor of Uhuru Kenyatta who won a second term in office. Odinga hailed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Kenyatta’s re-election, describing it as a triumph for the people of Kenya.

New ‘Jungle’ refugee camp in Brussels

Right in the heart of Brussels, the European Union’s de facto capital city, hundreds of African refugees establish a new “Jungle”, named after the dismantled refugee camp in France’s Calais. Just as people sleep on the ground without shelter in Maximilian Park, rights groups say Belgium and the European Union are failing in their legal obligations to help the stranded refugees.

Plight of Rohingya Muslims

The UN says over 47,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled persecution at the hands of government forces in Myanmar over the past few days. Based on the UN estimates, 27,000 refugees have managed to reach neighboring Bangladesh following a perilous journey. 20,000 others remain stranded at the Bangladeshi border as the country’s authorities have denied them entry. Some 40 Rohingya Muslims have drowned in recent days while making such risky journeys. 17 bodies were washed ashore on Friday after their makeshift boat capsized en route to Bangladesh. New official data show nearly 400 Rohingya Muslims have died in the harsh crackdown by Myanmar’s army since last week.

Russia-US row

Russia’s Foreign Minister issues a stern warning following the US government’s decision to close a Russian consulate and some other diplomatic offices. Sergey Lavrov said the new anti-Russia move by Washington is designed to prevent President Donald Trump from using his constitutional powers to the full in order to influence the US foreign policy. The top Russian diplomat also blamed the administration of former US president Barack Obama for the exchange of sanctions between Moscow and Washington.

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