WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, February 28, 2018.

Rouhani remarks on defense

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has reiterated that the country’s defense capabilities are not up for negotiation. Rouhani made the remark while addressing a crowd of people in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. He said Iran does not need anyone’s permission to acquire weapons like missiles to defend itself. The president also noted that Iran is ready to hold talks with regional countries about maintaining the security of the Persian Gulf. He further took a jab at the United States for its efforts to deal a setback to Iran. Rouhani said such attempts have borne no result for the US but isolation in the international community.

Syrian army gains

Syrian government forces have gained ground in clashes with militants in Eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus. Government troops have taken full control of the Hawsh al-Dawahiri district on the eastern edge of Ghouta. They’ve also made advances against militants in the Shefoniya area. Fierce fighting broke out in Ghouta nine days ago when Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, launched a campaign to take it from militants. Moscow announced a plan for daily five-hour pauses to allow the evacuation of civilians. The plan kicked off on Tuesday. But fighting was renewed after a brief lull. Russia said militants had prevented civilians from leaving the area.

New offer for Taliban

Syrian government forces have gained ground in clashes with militants in Eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus. Government troops have taken full control of the Hawsh al-Dawahiri district on the eastern edge of Ghouta. They’ve also made advances against militants in the Shefoniya area. Fierce fighting broke out in Ghouta nine days ago when Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, launched a campaign to take it from militants. Moscow announced a plan for daily five-hour pauses to allow the evacuation of civilians. The plan kicked off on Tuesday. But fighting was renewed after a brief lull. Russia said militants had prevented civilians from leaving the area.

Russia Syria support

Russia has expressed full support for the Syrian army in its fight against the terrorist menace. Lavrov made the comments in an address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He underlined the dire humanitarian crisis in Syria and urged all parties to respect the UN framework for alleviating the plight of civilians. The Russian foreign minister condemned the militants in Eastern Ghouta for continuous shelling of Damascus, blocking aid deliveries, and the evacuation of those wishing to leave. He called upon the US-led coalition to ensure safe humanitarian access to the areas in Syria under their control. The top diplomat insisted that the fight against terrorism must be based on international law and national legislation.

Catalonia’s new govt.

Catalan separatist parties are close to finalizing a deal to form a new government with ousted leader Carles Puigdemont unlikely to assume the regional presidency. Puigdemont, speaking from exile in Belgium, said he will respect any decision by the Catalan parliament, but noted that most of lawmakers support his re-election. However, reports coming out of Catalonia indicate that lawmakers are seeking to replace Puigdemont with jailed civil society leader, Jordi Sanchez, and only retain a symbolic role for him. Puigdemont wants to govern Catalonia remotely, but Spain’s Constitutional Court has required him to be present in the regional capital Barcelona. The Spanish region has been without a government following a failed declaration of independence in late October.

Russia on Syria violence

The Russian President says there are many terrorist organizations operating inside Syria's eastern Ghouta. In a joint presser with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Vladimir Putin said the terrorists are using the flashpoint Damascus countryside as a base to shell other areas. He added that a large group of civilians have managed to leave eastern Ghouta due to Russia’s plan for a daily five-hour pause which allows the evacuation of people from the besieged area. Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign minister has expressed full support for the Syrian army in its fight against the terrorist menace.

Palestinian church reopened

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged foreign diplomats to use everything at their disposal to revoke Israel’s restrictive measures against Christian churches in occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. Erekat was speaking following Abbas’ meeting with EU representatives and ambassadors in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The Palestinian president also handed them his appeal in writing. The issue broke out last week when Israel came up with a plan to impose taxes on church properties in Jerusalem al-Quds. The potential Knesset bill had angered Palestinians, especially Christians in the holy city who believe it would violate their long standing status quo.

UK-EU Brexit row

British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has accused the European Union of trying to undermine the country's constitutional integrity. May also rejected the bloc’s draft divorce treaty to keep Northern Ireland in a customs union. The British premier stressed that she will make it clear to the EU that London can never agree to Northern Ireland having different customs rules to the rest of the UK. This, after European Union's Brexit Negotiator, Michel Barnier, called on Britain to speed up talks on divorce from the bloc.

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