WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, June 4, to 08:00 GMT, June 5, 2017.

More Pressure on Daesh

Iraqi popular forces have announced the liberation of more territory from Daesh as part of operations to cleanse the country’s border with Syria from the Takfiri group. The Popular Mobilization Units also known as PMU says it has recaptured five villages around the key town of Baa’ej west of Mosul. Earlier a senior commander with the PMU announced the liberation of Baa’ej which chokes off the Daesh supply lines between Northern Iraq and Syria. The mobilization force says it will now head south towards Qa’im. The strategic town lies opposite the Syrian city of al-Bukamal where the Syrian army and Hezbollah are fighting to push the militants out.

Egypt Crackdown

An Egyptian court has designated some one thousand five hundred members of the Muslim brotherhood as terrorists. The three-year ruling’s immediate effects include a travel ban, asset freeze, loss of political rights and passport cancellation. Among those placed on the list are former President Mohamed Morsi and high ranking members of the Muslim Brotherhood. The former soccer star Mohamed Abu Trika is also included. The designated individuals were all charged with jeopardizing the country’s national security in 2014. Human rights advocates criticize President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's decree for organizing lists of terrorists for violating rights to due process.

London Attacks Fallout

Britain’s opposition leader has urged the government to hold what he called difficult conversations with Saudi Arabia following London’s terror attack. Jeremy Corbyn said the talks should start with the Saudis and other Persian Gulf states that have funded and fueled extremist ideology. Earlier, Prime Minister Theresa May demanded a stronger response to extremism after the Saturday night attack on London Bridge. Saudi Arabia and some other Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf region stand accused of funding and arming terror groups, particularly Daesh. Apart from its atrocities in the Middle East, the group has so far carried out deadly terror attacks in some European countries.

Gaza Power Cuts

People in the Gaza Strip continue to suffer due to the unprecedented electricity crisis that has gripped the coastal enclave since mid-April. PRESS TV’s correspondent Ashraf Shannon tells us in the following report how the power cuts are affecting the people's lives.

Daesh Claims London Attacks

The Daesh terrorist group has claimed Saturday’s deadly attacks in London. A statement posted on the group’s media page said a detachment of Daesh terrorists executed the attacks in the British capital. Seven people were killed and 48 others injured as a van hit pedestrians on London Bridge. Three men then got out and stabbed people in a nearby market. The attackers were shot dead by the police. The terrorist act came ahead of the UK’s general elections on Thursday. It was the third attack to hit the UK in as many months following the car and knife attack in Westminster in March, and the Manchester bombing nearly two weeks ago.

Yemeni Resistance

The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has slammed the silence of the international community as Saudi Arabia’s war continues to claim civilian lives in the impoverished Arab country. Al-Houthi also stressed that the Ansarullah will continue to defend the Yemeni people and the territory against the Saudi invasion, which he said, is aimed at dividing the Yemenis. He called on the people to preserve their unity against the threats and challenges. Houthi also said all Yemenis are standing with Ansarullah against the deadly Saudi war, which is now in its third year. The Saudi invasion has killed over 12-thousand Yemenis since 20-15. The war and a blockade have also created a humanitarian disaster in Yemen, leaving eighty percent of the country’s population in need of aid.

Portland Tensions

US police make arrests as supporters of President Donald Trump clash with rival groups in downtown Portland, in the state of Oregon. The confrontation erupted after thousands of protesters tried to disrupt a Trump Free Speech Rally near City Hall. Heavily armed local and federal officers tried to keep the dueling protesters separated. Tensions continue to build in Portland after a racially-motivated attack left two people dead last week. A man shouting anti-Muslim hate rhetoric at two Muslims fatally stabbed two passengers who tried to step in on May 26.

Putin’s Denial

Russia has once again rejected Washington’s claims that Moscow meddled in the US presidential election through hacking and other means. Putin made the remarks during an interview with American television network, NBC. The Russian leader emphasized that he had no relationship with Trump and never met him. Putin also denied any knowledge of alleged contacts between Russia’s US ambassador and Trump’s former National Security adviser and his son-in-law. The Trump administration has been hit by a political crisis over potential links with Russia. But Trump says an FBI probe of his alleged ties with Moscow is a witch hunt aimed at questioning the legitimacy of his election win. He also slammed allegations that Russian intelligence operatives may have compromising information about him.

Cutting Ties with Qatar

The rift among the members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council deepens rapidly as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in addition to non-member Egypt break all diplomatic ties with Qatar. Riyadh cuts relations with Doha to protect Saudi Arabia from the dangers of terrorism and extremism. The kingdom also closed all its land and sea ports as well as airspace to Qatar and urged brotherly countries to follow suit. Bahrain meanwhile has blamed Qatar for media incitement and supporting what it describes as Iranian-backed groups spreading chaos in Bahrain. Manama gave Qatari diplomats 48 hours and other nationals two weeks to leave Bahrain. Egypt has cited support for terrorist groups as the reason behind its cutting ties with Doha. The UAE has slammed Qatar for undermining regional stability and embracing sectarian organizations.

Crisis Continues in Venezuela

The Venezuelan government has announced the official date for President Nicolas Maduro’s Constituent Assembly elections amid protests by the opposition. Lucena made the remarks while addressing the nation on the state television. She also hailed a record-high number of candidates enrolled in the activity. The government decided to press ahead with a vote to elect a constituent assembly with powers to rewrite the nation’s constitution. Maduro says the move is a bid to bring peace back to the oil-rich nation, but the country’s opposition and the international community strongly oppose the idea.

South China Sea Controversy

China has strongly criticized what it called irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea by US secretary of defense. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that Beijing maintains its sovereign activities in the region and fulfills its international responsibilities. She contested US ulterior motives for going against efforts of countries around the South China Sea to maintain peace and stability. Hua opposed shows of military force in the region in the name of freedom of navigation as a threat to China's sovereignty and security. Pentagon chief James Mattis had criticized what he described as Beijing’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea. He accused China of having contempt for other nations' interests and disregarding international law.

Kashmiris Killed

Indian security forces have killed four more pro-independence Kashmiris in the disputed Himalayan region. According to a military official, soldiers intercepted four heavily armed men and engaged them in a firefight while they were attempting to storm a paramilitary camp. He said no soldier was injured in the exchange. None of the groups fighting against Indian rule in the Himalayan valley has confirmed the incident. Anti-India sentiment is on the rise since the killing of a leading pro-independence figure by government forces last month. Nearly 70 thousand Kashmiris have been killed in the fighting and the ensuing Indian crackdown since 1980s. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan and both claim the territory in its entirety.

HRW Slams Israel

A leading international rights group has strongly condemned Israel for committing war crimes during decades of occupation of Palestinian territories. In a report published on the 50th anniversary of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, Human Rights Watch also accused Israel of systematic abuse of Palestinian rights. The report noted that Tel Aviv controls the occupied territories through coercive methods including repression, institutionalized discrimination and abusive detentions. According to HRW, many of Israel’s abusive practices were carried out in the name of security. The rights organization also blamed some Palestinian armed groups for violating humanitarian law by carrying out attacks on Israeli civilians.

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