WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, September 7, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, September 8, 2017.

Syria’s fight against terror

Syrian government forces are pushing ahead with their battle against Daesh terrorists toward the eastern city of Dayr al-Zawr. The fighting is underway in and around a military base on the outskirt of the city. The Syrian army is advancing toward sholah which is the last town under Daesh’s control before reaching Dayr al-Zawr. The battle to retake control over the city started three months ago. The Syrian troops managed to partly breach the Daesh siege of Dayr al-Zawr on Wednesday. The city has been under the Takfiri terrorists’ siege since early 2015. Tens of thousands of Syrian civilians are trapped there.

Blocking Catalonia’s independence bid

The Spanish Constitutional Court has blocked Catalonia’s independence referendum and has taken steps to press charges against lawmakers behind the move. The court says the purpose is to allow judges time to consider whether the vote breaches the country's constitution. Spain’s constitution clearly states that the country is indivisible. The Spanish prime minister said earlier that the move would deprive Spaniards of their right to decide their future. Catalonia's government, however, brushed aside the warnings insisting that the vote will take place despite a covert state of siege being imposed by Madrid. On Wednesday, the Catalan parliament agreed to set the stage for the independence referendum on October the first. Catalonia which is home to some seven-point-five million people has long demanded greater autonomy from Madrid.

UK’s Brexit bill

In the UK, the lawmakers debate legislation to sever ties with the European Union, with Prime Minister Theresa May gearing up for a major battle. The parliament is to discuss the principles of the Brexit bill which would convert existing European rules into British law. Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister’s office issued a statement calling on lawmakers to support the legislation. The statement says passing the motion will provide legal protection for people and businesses. The opposition Labor party, however, has said it won’t support the bill as it will give the government unparalleled executive powers to change laws without parliamentary scrutiny. Lawmakers are set to vote on the bill on Monday.

Myanmar’s claim challenged

New fires are reportedly burning in a Myanmar village that has been abandoned by Rohingya Muslims. About two dozen Journalists have given their eyewitness accounts of the raging blazes in Gawdu Zara village in northern Rakhine state. The journalists, who were on a government-controlled trip, also reported pages ripped from Islamic texts that were left on the ground. This intensifies doubts about Myanmar’s claims that members of the Rohingya have been destroying their own homes. The army blames the minority group for setting their villages on fire without offering proof. The Muslims fleeing Myanmar, however, say that army troops burn their homes, spray bullets indiscriminately and stab civilians.

Syria demanding UNSC action

Syria has called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel’s repeated attacks on the country and take immediate action to stop them. The Syrian Foreign Ministry says the Israeli attacks complement the crimes committed by Daesh and undermine regional peace and stability. The ministry, in messages, to the UN chief and the Security Council accused Israel of protecting terrorists. That’s hours after an Israeli air raid on a Syrian military position in Hama province left two soldiers dead and caused material damage. Damascus says the Israeli aggression is in response to Syria’s recent victories against terrorists. The Syrian ministry has expressed regret over the UN inaction to halt the Israeli attacks.

Israeli settlements

Israeli authorities are reportedly planning to approve the construction of over a hundred and seventy new settler units in occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds. An Israeli NGO, Peace Now, says the regime will discuss issuing building permits in the Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood on Sunday. The group has warned Tel Aviv against approving the plan saying the measure would constitute a severe blow to the so-called two state solution. Israel has already approved the construction of thousands of settler units in the occupied West Bank, ignoring international outcry over the issue. All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

Persian Gulf diplomatic tensions

The months-long Persian Gulf crisis is apparently taking a new turn, as the four Arab countries boycotting Qatar slam mediating efforts by the Kuwaiti Emir. In a statement, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain said any dialogue on meeting their demands should not be preceded by prior conditions. The statement expressed regret over Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah’s comments suggesting that Qatar was willing to negotiate despite rejecting some of the boycotting nations’ demands. Meanwhile, the US president hailed the Kuwaiti Emir for trying to bring to an end the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Arab adversaries.

Lebanon funeral

Lebanon holds a ceremony to honor nine army soldiers killed by Daesh Takfiri terrorists. High-ranking Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun, attended the funeral ceremony in Beirut. The bodies of the troops were retrieved as part of a deal between Lebanon’s resistance movement, Hezbollah, and Daesh terrorists. The Lebanese soldiers were among 30 troops and police officers kidnapped by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and Daesh terrorists in the Lebanese border town of Arsal back in 2014.

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