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 9, 2017.

Syria army gains

Syrian government forces have made fresh gains in their battle against Daesh terrorists near the volatile city of Dayr al-Zawr. In the most recent advances, the army has managed to retake control of Teym, a major oilfield near the city. They also liberated several adjacent areas and are now pushing ahead to liberate Dayr al-Zawr's military airport, located in the district of Maqaber. Last week, in a major breakthrough, Syrian forces managed to break the years-long Daesh siege on the city. Dayr al-Zawr province, which fell into the hands of Daesh in 2014, served as a main supply corridor for the Takfiri group operating in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

Venezuela to drop US dollar

The Venezuelan government has decided to sell commodities in currencies other than the US dollar in a bid to escape from Washington-imposed sanctions on the country. President Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela would start selling oil, gas and other products in new currencies, including the Chinese yuan, the Japanese yen and the Russian ruble. He said that an economy free from the US imperialist system was possible. Last month, Washington imposed fresh sanctions on Caracas barring American banks from trading with the Venezuelan government or its state-run oil company. The South American country has been reeling from unrest for months in a crisis caused by political disagreements amid shortages of food and medicine as well as hyperinflation.

Rohingya Muslim refugees

Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence and persecution in their home country of Myanmar continue to arrive in neighboring Bangladesh. Asylum seekers are waiting for hand-out from aid agencies since they lack food, clean water and shelter. Locals say many of the Rohingya refugees are also sick and wounded. According to the United Nations, some 300,000 people have sought refuge in Bangladesh over the past two weeks. Muslims are escaping from the violence being perpetrated by the army and radical Buddhists in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma has made landfall in Cuba, wreaking havoc as it strengthens to Category Five storm on its way. The eye of the storm is just 190 kilometers southeast of the Cuban city of Caibarien. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 260 kilometers per hour and is moving west. Cuba has already evacuated some 10,000 foreign tourists from beach resorts and has raised its disaster alert level to maximum. Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a century, is expected to hit the US state of Florida on Sunday. Florida's governor warned residents that time is running out and ordered them to evacuate.

Mexico earthquake

Rescue efforts are continuing in Mexico nearly 24 hours after a massive earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks took the lives of at least 61 people. The massive operations are underway in the states of Tabasco, Oaxaca and Chiapas where the tremor struck the worst. Heavy machines are deployed in those areas to remove piles of concrete from collapsed buildings. An unknown number of people including a police officer are feared to have been trapped under rubble. At least 200 injured people have already been confirmed injured while the full extent of human and economic losses remains unknown. Mexican officials have declared three days of mourning following the deadly incident. The 8.2 magnitude quake hit Mexico’s southern coast during the late hours of Thursday. It was the strongest tremor to have hit the region in almost a century.

Plight of Rohingya Muslims

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak has strongly criticized the Myanmar government for its harsh treatment of the Rohingya Muslims. Najib says the minority group faces “systematic violence” in the South Asian country. The Malaysian premier was speaking to reporters at a military base where a cargo airplane was being loaded with food and medical supplies for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. He said Rohingya are being discriminated against, tortured, raped and murdered in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Najib then expressed readiness to do more to help Myanmar’s persecuted minority. On Tuesday, Malaysia summoned the Myanmar ambassador to voice its concern over the situation in Rakhine.

Boko Haram atrocity

More deadly violence in Nigeria as terrorists carry out an attack in the country’s northeast, leaving casualties. Officials say at least seven people were killed in the city of Ngala after gunmen opened fire on a camp for the displaced. Several people also sustained injuries. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. However, officials blame Boko Haram terrorists for similar acts of terror in Nigeria. The camp houses more than 80,000 people displaced by the years-long conflict and civil war in the country.

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