WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, September 3, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, September 4, 2017.

Syria army gains

Syrian government forces are inching closer to the Daesh-held city of Dayr al-Zawr in the country’s east. Local officials say the government forces are now only 20 kilometer away from the city, with the provincial governor saying that the army would reach the city within 48 hours. Reports said dozens of Daesh Takfiri terrorists were killed in fierce clashes with the army on its way to the group’s stronghold. Government forces also cut off supply routes for the terrorists. Meanwhile, Dayr al-Zawr residents celebrated the army’s gains and the looming liberation of the city. The army has launched a multi-pronged operation to recapture the city, which fell to Daesh in 2014.

US warning to North Korea

The US government has once again issued a stern warning to North Korea following Pyongyang’s latest hydrogen bomb test. The US secretary of defense said Washington would give a massive military response if Pyongyang threatened the US and its territory. James Mattis called on North Korea to take heed of UN Security Council resolutions. Mattis also stressed the necessity of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general condemned North Korea’s nuclear test as profoundly destabilizing for regional security. Antonio Guterres added that the test violated the country’s international obligations. The UN Security Council is set to meet on Monday to discuss the situation.

US nuclear threat

The US president has warned that Washington might resort to using its nuclear arsenal against North Korea. Donald Trump issued the warning in a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The US president reaffirmed his country’s commitments to its allies in the region. The two leaders also condemned what they called North Korea’s continued destabilizing and provocative actions. They hailed the two countries ironclad mutual defense commitments.

Plight of Rohingya Muslims

The number of Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar is on the rise as the military crackdown in the western Rakhine state continues. Aid officials are warning that camps in Bangladesh are reaching their limits. The ethnic cleansing in Myanmar has brought about major concerns. More in this report:

South Korea war games

South Korea launches a ballistic missile exercise in response to North Korea's hydrogen bomb test. The South's live-fire exercise simulated an attack on the North's nuclear site, hitting targets in the East Sea. The South's military said the range to the simulated targets was equivalent to the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the country's northeast. Meanwhile South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have agreed in a phone call to pursue stronger UN sanctions against North Korea. Abe has also vowed to increase Japan’s missile defense capabilities in cooperation with the United States. In the meantime, Australia is warning about the risk of war on the Korean peninsula.

BRICS summit in China

The ninth annual summit of BRICS, a forum of five major developing economies, has kicked off in the Chinese port city of Xiamen. In a keynote speech, the Chinese President called on the member states to stand up together to fight global challenges. Xi Jin-ping also expressed his opposition to a growing tide of protectionism and called for the promotion of economic and trade relations among developing countries. The Chinese leader pledged over 76 million dollars for a BRICS economic and technology plan as well as 4 million dollars for the group’s new development bank. BRICS, the acronym for an association representing Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa was formed a decade ago to advocate for better representation for developing countries and challenge the Western-dominated world order. Some 1200 people including business executives are taking part in the two-day gathering. Leaders from Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan and Thailand are among the guests of honor.

South Korea’s response to North Korean test

South Korea says it will deploy more of the American THAAD missile system in response to North Korea's hydrogen bomb test. Two launchers of the missile system are already operational, and Seoul's defense ministry says the four remaining ones will soon be deployed. The ministry says that North Korea plans to stage more ballistic missile launches. It says the South Korean president and officials believe that it is time to strengthen military response against the north. South Korea has already launched a live-fire ballistic missile exercise, simulating an attack on the North's nuclear site. Meanwhile South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have agreed in a phone call to pursue stronger UN sanctions against North Korea. Abe has also vowed to increase Japan’s missile defense capabilities.

Israel settlement expansion

Israel has approved a roughly 16-million-dollar budget for the construction of a settlement in the occupied West Bank. The move marks the regime’s first new official settlement to be constructed in West Bank in 25 years. Tel Aviv says the new settlement will accommodate settlers from Amona outpost, which was demolished by order of the Israeli Supreme Court back in February. Israel occupied the West Bank during the six-day war in 1967, in a move which has never been recognized by the international community.

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