WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, April 22, 2019 to 0800 GMT, April 23, 2019.

Oil sanctions & prices

Crude oil prices increase almost 3 percent as the US says it will no longer exempt any country from buying Iranian oil. The decision has come under criticism by many countries.

US anti-Hezbollah move

The United States has intensified its pressure campaign against the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, offering reward for information leading to disrupting its finances. The State Department said it would give ten-million-dollar to anyone who provides the US with intelligence about the group. On a visit last month to Beirut, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Lebanon to counter the resistance group. However, Lebanese President Michel Aoun told him that Hezbollah is a Lebanese party with popular support. Hezbollah is the second biggest party in the country’s ruling coalition, and holds three seats in the cabinet. Together with allies, it won 70 of parliament's 128 seats in the election last year.

Candidates clash in Catalonia

The main candidates in Spain’s general election have held a debate on Monday, clashing over the handling of Catalonia's independence issue. Pablo Casado of the conservative People’s Party, and Albert Rivera, from the centre-right Ciudadanos accused Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of seeking to break up Spain. They said that the premier’s attempt, to negotiate with Catalan separatists, is against the country’s interests. Sanchez, however, defended himself, stressing that he will never allow a referendum on Catalonia’s independence. He also said that dialogue was necessary to avoid a repeat of a failed secession bid in October 2017. Spain’s parliamentary election is due to be held on April 28. Opinion polls show the socialist party is on the lead, but it might need support from other parties to form a government.

Sri Lanka deadly blasts

People across Sri Lanka have observed three minutes of silence to pay respect to victims of the Sunday bomb attacks. Crowds gathered in various places, reciting prayers silently. A mass funeral also took place in the capital, Colombo. Tuesday has been announced a national day of mourning, with flags at all government institutions lowered to half-mast. The bombings hit churches and luxury hotels in several cities including Colombo. So far, 310 people have been confirmed dead. Around 500 others were wounded. No group has claimed responsibility yet. Police say they have arrested 40 people in connection with the blasts. Security remains tight across Sri Lanka amid warnings of more attacks.

Trump impeachment

The US president says Congress can't impeach him over the findings of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election. Donald Trump said only high crimes and misdemeanors can lead to impeachment, adding that he has committed no crimes. He also accused the Democrats of committing crimes and Witch Hunt. Some of the Democrats say they intend to hold discussions in the following weeks over the impeachment process. Some prominent party figures, including 2020 presidential hopefuls Elizabeth Warren and Julian Castro have even called for the process to begin. The redacted version of Mueller’s report did not find sufficient evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin. However, the report mentions to at least 10 instances where Trump may have obstructed justice. Trump has called the entire investigation crazy, fabricated and untrue.

Iran blacklists CENTCOM

The Iranian parliament has approved a resolution, designating the US Central Command as a terrorist organization in response to the US blacklisting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. The double-urgency bill was approved by 173 votes in favor. Based on the legislation, all US military and intelligence forces in the region will be blacklisted. Any kinds of support, including military or logistical, will be considered as assistance in a terrorist act. The parliament, in a statement, said US forces are destabilizing the region. It said blacklisting the IRGC, which is part of Iran’s defense forces, is against international law. On April 8, the US formally designated IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization.

India ‘super Tuesday’ vote

Tens of millions of Indians are voting in the third and largest phase of the country’s general elections. People cast their ballots in 15 states and federally-controlled territories. The Tuesday vote is crucial as it determines the fate of parliamentary seats in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state as well that of the opposition Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi. The seven-phase election began on April 11 and wil end on May 19. The vote is considered a referendum on Prime Minister Modi’s five-year tenure, amid the opposition’s criticism of his performance on economy.

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