WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEALDINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, February 26, 2017.

Myanmar ‘ethnic cleansing’

The United Nations has called Myanmar’s military crackdown on Rohingya Muslims a “clear example of ethnic cleansing”. Guterres made the comments while addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He called on Myanmar’s authorities to ensure unfettered humanitarian access in Rakhine State, where army operations forced over half a million Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. Guterres added that the Rohingya refugees need immediate, life-saving assistance, as well as long-term solutions and justice. The UN chief said he has written an official letter to the Security Council about the issue.

Reaction to UN resolution

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has expressed support for the recent UN Security Council resolution that calls for ceasefire in Syria. Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi expressed disappointment over the continuity of clashes in the war-torn country. He said Tehran hopes that the resolution would lead to a decrease in violence across the Arab nation. Over the past week, more than 500 people have been killed in clashes between Syrian forces and terror groups in Eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus.

US-North Korea tensions

South Korea has called on the United States to lower the threshold for talks with North Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in made the comment during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier in Seoul. Moon also urged Pyongyang to show willingness for de-nuclearization. The South Korean president emphasized that constructive talks be held between the US and the North as quickly as possible. Pyongyang has agreed to take steps to improve relations with Washington as inter-Korean talks develop. The White House, however, insists on its hostile approach against North Korea despite Pyongyang’s overture.

Slamming US embassy move

Iran has slammed the United States for planning to move its embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds, saying the US will pay the price for its decision. Qassemi added that Iran will consult with other countries, including Muslim states about the issue. He made the comments during the foreign ministry weekly press briefing in Tehran. On Friday, Washington announced that it will open its new embassy in Jerusalem al-Quds in May. The move follows a declaration by US President Donald Trump back in December, when he recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. Trump’s declaration has infuriated Palestinians and Muslims across the world.

Turkey Syria offensive

More Turkish forces cross the Syrian border as Ankara looks to widen an offensive against Kurdish militants, despite UN calls for a ceasefire. Turkey’s deputy prime minister says special paramilitary forces have entered Syria’s northwestern Afrin region. Bekir Bozdag also says the extra troops are being sent for a new battle which will see the operation move from rural parts of Afrin to residential areas. This comes despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for a nationwide ceasefire. In mid-January, Ankara launched a cross border incursion into Afrin to battle Kurdish YPG militants that it considers terrorists. Most of the larger towns in the Afrin region, including Afrin town itself, remain under the YPG’s control.

Nigeria missing girls

The Nigerian government has acknowledged that a total of 110 students have gone missing after militants raided the country’s northeastern Yobe state nearly a week ago. The Nigerian information minister said extra troops and planes have been deployed to locate the missing schoolgirls. Local officials had earlier indicated that no one was missing. Suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded the town of Dapchi on Monday. Eyewitnesses say some of the attackers were camouflaged and students thought they were government soldiers. President Muhammadu Buhari has apologized to the girls’ families and described the incident as a national disaster. The attack revived the bitter memories of the Chibok raid in 2014, when over 200 girls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists.

‘Bogus reports’

Russia rejects as bogus stories, media reports of an alleged chemical attack on the militant-held region of Eastern Ghouta in Syria. Lavrov made the remarks during a press conference with his Portuguese counterpart in Moscow. Earlier, a London-based monitoring group said at least one person died and dozens suffered breathing difficulties following a suspected gas attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed the incident on the Syrian government. Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov said the UN Security Council resolution calling for a nationwide ceasefire across Syria will work as long as all parties comply with it.

Bahrain crackdown

The Bahraini regime presses ahead with its crackdown on political dissent: eight more citizens have been convicted over an alleged bombing attack in the Persian Gulf kingdom. Bahrain’s Court of Cassation on Monday upheld a death sentence for one defendant, a life jail sentence for a second one and lengthy prison terms for six others. The court also revoked the citizenship of all the defendants. The highest appeal court charged the defendants with espionage and terrorist activity and found them guilty over a 2016 bombing on the island of Sitra which left a woman dead. The Al Khalifah regime has been clamping down on political and right activists as well as anti-government protesters since early 2011. Opponents of the Bahraini government have been seeking democratic changes in the kingdom.

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