WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, September 25, 2017.

Merkel coalition headache

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is bracing for yet another coalition after securing a fourth term in Sunday’s elections. Party leaders have gathered to discuss the government formation after Merkel's conservative bloc took 33 percent of the vote, down over eight points from the previous elections. It was one of the weakest post-war showings by Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and its ally, the Christian Social Union. The bloc, however, still remains the biggest in the parliament. Center-left challenger, Martin Schulz, has already conceded the defeat after his Social Democrats trailed with just over 20 percent support. Schulz, who has vowed to sit in the opposition, called Merkel the biggest loser. The major surprise in Sunday’s vote was the emergence of the Alternative for Germany or AfD, a right-wing populist and Eurosceptic party. This is the first time AfD has entered the parliament in more than half a century.

Syria civilian casualties

A rights group says the US-led forces killed at least 84 civilians including dozens of children, near the northern Syrian city of Raqqah in March. Human Rights Watch says the strikes hit two sites. A school housing displaced families in the town of Mansourah, and a market and a bakery in the town of Tabqa. The group says at least 30 children were among the victims in the two incidents. The US-led coalition has killed many civilians in operations supposed to target Daesh terrorists in Syria. The Syrian government has repeatedly condemned US attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.

EU Brexit warning

The European Union has once again warned Britain that time is running out for Prime Minister Theresa May to clinch a deal. Deputy Minister for E-U Affairs Matti Maasikas says there has been some progress but the process needs to move forward now. He was speaking ahead of a fourth round of Brexit talks to be held later on Monday. The European affairs and foreign ministers of the bloc’s member states along with E-U Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier are expected to take part in the talks. Brussels insists there has to be sufficient progress in Britain's divorce bill and the fate of E-U citizens before starting talks on any future relationship.

Iraq-Kurdistan tensions  

The Iraqi parliament demands the government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi deploy army troops to parts of Kirkuk province which are disputed with the country’s Kurdistan. This is part of a series of measures that have been approved in reaction to the secession referendum which is underway in the semi-autonomous region. According to an Iraqi lawmaker, the MPs also called for the closure of all crossing points with the Kurdistan region. Iraq’s parliament considers the referendum unconstitutional and has asked the central government in Baghdad to take legal action against all Kurdish officials and government employees attending the vote. Meanwhile, in Iraq’s Kurdistan, voters are still casting their ballots in the controversial vote. An estimated five million people are expected to participate in the voting. The initial results are set to be released within 72 hours.

Indonesia volcano

Nearly 50,000 people flee Mount Agung amid fears of an imminent volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Bali. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency says the number is expected to rise because more than 60,000 people live in the danger zone. The volcano's alert status was raised to the highest level on Friday following a dramatic increase in seismic activity. Thousands of those displaced by the tremor are living in temporary shelters, sport centers, and village halls. Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,000 people.

Rohingya’s ‘unimaginable horrors’

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh are in need of urgent aid. UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi warned that there will be a dramatic deterioration in circumstances without urgent international assistance, amid a dire shortage of aid. Grandi also said the Rohingya refugees have fled “unimaginable horrors” in Myanmar. He said the horrors include the burning of Rohingya villages, the shooting and hacking of people to death, and the brutalizing of women at the hands of Myanmar’s government forces. Grandi said hardships at refugee camps are further troubling the deeply traumatized minority. This, as doctors treating the Rohingya in Bangladesh are warning of the danger of diseases spreading at the camps in Bangladesh.

North Korea US warning

North Korea says US President Donald Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly was a clear declaration of war against Pyongyang. The top North Korean diplomat added that his country will take countermeasures against Washington after Trump’s comments. Ri Yong-Ho also said Pyongyang has the right to shoot down US bombers even outside the North’s airspace. He, however, said North Korea wishes that the war of words between the two states will not escalate into real conflict. During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Trump threatened to destroy North Korea if it continues its “hostile behavior”.

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