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 14, 2017.

Rohingya refugee crisis

The United Nations children’s agency has raised the alarm about the catastrophic humanitarian situation of Rohingya Muslims as they flee the crackdown in Myanmar. According to UNICEF, there are acute shortages of food, water and shelter especially at refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh. UNICEF says it needs more than seven million dollars to help thousands of children who are at risk of contracting water-borne diseases. This comes following an escalating wave of deadly crackdown against the minority group in Myanmar. The Rohingya Muslims recount heart-breaking moments they’ve gone through while fleeing to Bangladesh.

US anti-Iran measure

US House of Representatives has voted to block sales of commercial aircraft to Iran. Republican Congressman Peter Roskam said that the US should refrain from selling the aircraft to Iran. He claimed that commercial planes have been used by Iran to support Syria in its war against terrorists. Roskam offered two amendments to a 2018 government spending package that would specifically prohibit the use of funds to authorize financial transactions for aircraft sales. Iran’s national flag-carrier airline, Iran Air, signed a deal with US plane-maker Boeing to buy 80 planes in the wake of the 2015 nuclear deal. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, a member of Iran's supervisory body which monitors the implementation of the nuclear agreement, said such US measures violate the nuclear deal. He said the move once again proved that Washington and its allies are untrustworthy. Velayati stressed that Islamic Republic does not need Americans to advance its goals.

Talks on Syria

The sixth round of peace talks to end Syria’s years-long crisis has begun in the Kazakh capital, Astana. The UN-backed talks initiated by Russia, Iran and Turkey. Russia's negotiators has said the three countries are close to finalizing an agreement on establishing de-escalation zones. Astana has hosted five rounds of peace talks for Syria since January. Moscow, Tehran and Ankara serve as guarantor states in the peace process. The negotiations are aimed at bringing an end to foreign-backed militancy in Syria, which began in March 2011.

KRG referendum blowback

The Iraqi parliament has voted to remove the governor of Kirkuk from office amid a row over a planned independence referendum in the country’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Iraqi lawmakers say the decision to sack Najmaddin Kareem came following a request from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. A senior Kurdish official slammed the move saying the parliament has no right to fire Kareem. Kirkuk province has decided to take part in the Kurdistan region’s independence referendum. The oil-rich province is claimed by both the central government in Baghdad and the region. The Iraqi government has slammed the planned vote in Kurdistan as unconstitutional. The referendum has been slated for September 25.

Hailing Iran's support

Syrian President Bashar Assad has, in a message to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, thanked Tehran for helping the Arab country in its fight against terrorists. He said the Syrian army managed to liberate the city of Dayr al-Zawr with the help of its allies, including Iran. Assad said this strategic accomplishment also belongs to the Islamic republic, which has stood by Syria and sacrificed lives in the war on terror. The Syrian president said Tehran and Damascus will continue to fight alongside each other against tyranny, aggression and terrorism in a bid to help establish a regional and international system based on justice, equality and dignity for all nations.

Iraq terror attack

A bombing and a shooting have killed over 50 people in the Iraqi province of Dhi Qar. Three Iranians are among those killed in the attacks in the city of Nasiriyah. Scores of others have been injured. The shooting took place near a restaurant and the bombing targeted a security checkpoint in the same area. Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in recent months, following its defeats from Iraqi forces.

Yemen warns UAE

Yemen’s Ansarullah Movement threatens to target Saudi Arabia and the UAE with more retaliatory attacks deep inside their territories. In a televised speech, Ansarullah’s leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Yemeni forces have developed their own missile and drone programs and will use them against the Saudis and Emiratis soon. Houthi blamed Riyadh and Abu Dhabi for the killing and maiming of thousands of Yemenis since March 2015 when the war began. He also said the Saudi-led war has created a humanitarian catastrophe in the Muslim nation. Houthi noted that the Saudi aggressors have failed to achieve their goals in his country.

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

www.presstv.co.uk