WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, August 6, 2017.

Fight against Daesh

Syrian government forces have made fresh gains in their fight against Daesh terrorists in northern and central parts of the country. A UK-based monitoring group says the army has inched closer to the town of Madan in eastern Dayr al-Zawr province. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the Syrian army is just 4 kilometers away from the town, south of Daesh’s de facto capital of Raqqah. Meanwhile, government forces have recaptured several areas in the central province of Homs. Earlier, the monitoring group reported that the Syrian army and its allied forces re-took Sukhnah, an area northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra. The latest gains could pave the way for relieving remaining terrorist pockets in Dayr al-Zawr.

UN North Korea resolution

China has backed the new UN sanctions on North Korea over its ballistic missile launches but calls for negotiations not punitive measures to deal with Pyongyang. Wang also urged Washington and Seoul to avoid provoking the situation and appealed all the involved parties to consider and accept China’s “double suspension” initiative. He was referring to US and South Korea’s war games on the peninsula including those conducted under the recently deployed THAAD missile system. Earlier, Beijing slammed United States’ unilateral sanctions on Pyongyang. The top Chinese diplomat also rejected Washington's accusations that China is not being responsible on the matter.

US genocide in Syria

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council has condemned the US airstrikes in the Syrian city of Raqqah that have taken civilian lives. Ali Shamkhani called the air raids genocide, adding that using prohibited weapons by the US is an obvious example of human rights violation by American forces. The top security official made the remarks in a meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in Tehran. He warned that the West will see the blowback from its suspicious measures which boost terrorism and fan insecurity in the Middle East. Shamkhani noted that peace can be restored to Syria and consequently to Europe if the opponents stop providing financial, military and technical support to terrorist groups in Syria.

France terror threat

The French interior minister says the terrorist threat remains very high in the country as more than 270 French nationals who fought for Daesh in Iraq and Syria have returned home. Gerard Collomb said the authorities have detained some terrorists while investigating others upon their arrival from the Middle East. He further noted that some 700 French nationals are estimated to have fought for Daesh in Iraq and Syria. He added that over 18,000 people are flagged for radicalized behavior in the country. France has extended the state of emergency since November 2015 following multiple terror attacks in Paris. Over 230 people have been killed in terrorist attacks over the past two and a half years.

Rapping Saudi Yemen raids

The United Nations has condemned the recent Saudi airstrike on Yemen as an example of disregard for civilians' safety. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Jamie McGoldrick made the comment after a Saudi air raid on Yemen’s Sa'ada province killed at least 12 civilians. According to aid groups, the attack targeted a house and a private vehicle. McGoldrick expressed deep concern about the “brutality” of the Yemen conflict, slamming all sides for their disregard of the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants. The Saudi aggression against Yemen has claimed the lives of more than 12,500 people since 2015. Riyadh has also imposed an all-out siege which has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Russia-US talks

The Russian foreign minister says the US is prepared to continue dialog with Moscow on complex issues despite the tensions between the two countries. Sergey Lavrov says he thinks the two countries have no alternative and talks between the two sides should move forward. He made the remarks after a meeting with his US counterpart Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in the Philippines capital, Manila. Lavrov and Tillerson also discussed issues related to North Korea. Tensions between Washington and Moscow have reached new heights since Congress imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in last year’s US presidential election.

Myanmar angry at UN report

Myanmar has dismissed a UN report accusing the Southeast Asian country of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in Muslim-majority Rakhine state. Myanmar’s 13-member investigation team said the UN report has exaggerated the allegations and created misunderstanding based on “fabricated news”. The panel was selected by Myanmar’s government to probe reports of violence against the persecuted Rohingya Muslims. In February, the UN said Myanmar has committed violent acts against the Muslims that "very likely" amounted to crimes against humanity and possibly ethnic cleansing. Myanmarese troops and police are accused of killing and raping Rohingya Muslims, who are denied citizenship and are widely viewed as outsiders.

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

www.presstv.co.uk