WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, February 23, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, February 24, 2018.

Moscow rejects anti-Iran resolution

Russia has rejected a draft resolution that would condemn Iran at the United Nations Security Council for failing to block supplies of missiles to Yemen and call for measures against Tehran. Moscow says the findings mentioned in the draft resolution are too weak to justify a condemnation of Iran. Earlier, Russia’s ambassador to the UN had said the resolution was about extending the mandate of a group of experts monitoring sanctions on Yemen. Vassily Nebenzia added that the council should not focus on Iran instead. The UN Security Council is negotiating a resolution, drafted by Britain, which calls for condemning Iran for alleged transfer of missiles to Yemen. Tehran strongly denies supplying any weapons to the war-torn Arab country.

UNSC decision on Syria delayed

The United Nations Security Council has postponed until Saturday noon, a vote on a draft resolution seeking a month-long ceasefire in war-torn Syria. The resolution put forward by Kuwait and Sweden calls for a 30-day truce, mainly to allow medical and other aid to reach Eastern Ghouta which has recently been the scene of deadly clashes. The resolution also demands an end to all sieges in the country. If approved, the ceasefire will take effect 72 hours later. More than 400 people have been killed in the five-day clashes in Eastern Ghouta located near the capital Damascus. Foreign-backed militants have also fired rockets from the area on different parts of Damascus, killing and injuring scores of civilians.

US warns N Korea

The United States announces its largest ever sanctions package on North Korea. The US Treasury Department says the new sanctions target 27 companies and 28 vessels. It added that the measures are aimed at stopping shipments of oil from reaching North Korea. Washington has also warned it will impose sanctions on those who enable shipping to and from North Korea. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has said that if sanctions on Pyongyang don’t work, Washington will have to go to phase two, which he described as very unfortunate for the world.

US not ‘touching’ Nusra

Russia's top diplomat describes al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat Fateh al-Sham formerly known as Nusra Front as the main problem in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta, criticizing the US-led coalition for not targeting the terror group. Sergei Lavrov was speaking during a joint press conference alongside his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov in Moscow. Lavrov also accused the US of seeking to partition Syria, saying the Astana peace process led by Iran, Russia and Turkey hinders Washington’s efforts in that regard. He also questioned the effectiveness of the United Nations Security Council resolution on a 30-day truce in Syria. The Russian foreign minister said there are no guarantees that anti-Damascus militants will abide by the ceasefire.

EU response to Brexit condition

The European Council has reacted to reports that Britain wants to comply with some regulations of the European Union after Brexit and abandon others. The body says this would be an illusion. Tusk added that Britain should make ready its proposals on Brexit before the March summit where draft guidelines on the issue will be put to vote. He said the EU will adopt the guidelines with or without input from the UK. Tusk said he hopes to get more clarity on Britain’s position when he meets Prime Minister Theresa May in London next week. May is scheduled to outline her vision of post-Brexit ties a day after the meeting with Tusk. But her position remains unclear with part of her government backing continued trade ties with the EU and others seeking a full divorce from the bloc.

Kabul explosion

At least one person has been killed and several others have been injured as an explosion rocks the Afghan capital Kabul. According to the Afghan Interior Ministry, the blast happened in the Shash Darak area, after an assailant detonated his explosives close to the headquarters of NATO forces and the US embassy. Daesh terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, two separate bomb attacks in the southern Helmand province have left at least three Afghan security forces dead and several other civilians injured. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the Helmand attacks. Afghanistan has been the scene of terror-related bloodshed for years. The Taliban have intensified their bomb and gun attacks across the country over the past few weeks.

Turkey Syria operation

Syrian officials say the Turkish military operation in the Afrin region has taken a heavy toll on the area’s infrastructure and residential areas. According to local authorities, Turkey has targeted a water treatment and pumping station, causing water shortages in the region. Our correspondent Mohamad Ali reports on the story from Afrin.

Myanmar border fence

Myanmar’s parliament has approved a budget for constructing a fence along the border with Bangladesh in Rakhine state. The 15-million dollars will also be spent on related projects in Rakhine, where an army-led crackdown has forced over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee into Bangladesh since August. The budget was proposed by the Home Affairs Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the Border Affairs Ministry that are all controlled by the military. The border fence plan comes amid criticism the South East Asian nation has been facing over the army’s bloody crackdown against the Muslim minority group. On Friday, satellite images were released showing Rohingya villages being completely bulldozed by Myanmar.

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