News in Brief - Sat, May, 23, 2015 - 12:30 GMT

1. The leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution says enemies are seeking to sow the seeds of discord among Muslim societies, highlighting the need to counter such plots through insight. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei noted that enemies are in fact seeking to create sectarian, religious and ethnic divisions among Muslims.

2. The Iraqi army, backed by volunteer forces, has retaken parts of a town in Anbar province from the ISIL terrorists. The operation targeted Husaybah east of the provincial capital Ramadi. This is the first counterattack by government forces since Ramadi fell to the Takfiris.

3. ISIL terrorists have broken into the museum of the ancient city of Palmyra, but no harm on antiques has been reported. A Syrian official says the terrorists entered the museum in the city center and left their guards in charge. The terrorists have destroyed major archeological sites in Iraq.

4. The US has approved a nearly two-billion-dollar arms deal with Israel. The package includes tens of thousands of bombs, missiles, and advanced bunker-busters. The US says the deal is part of its commitment to maintain Israel's security. On Friday, President Barack Obama said the US will always have Israel’s back.

5. The UN chief says saving the lives of migrants who are stranded at sea should be a top priority. Ban Ki-moon urged Southeast Asian nations to deal with reasons behind the crisis. Over three-thousand migrants have landed ashore in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand since May. Hundreds of them have been turned away.

6. The US Senate rejects legislation aimed at reforming the National Security Agency’s intelligence gathering. The move is seen as a blow to those demanding an end to mass spying on Americans' phone records. The measure which was overwhelmingly passed by the House would have authorized case-by-case searches of records.

7. French supermarkets are to be banned from throwing away or destroying unsold food. The leftovers now must be donated to charities. Under a new rule, big supermarkets will have to sign contracts with charities by July next year. If they don’t, they'll face financial penalties or even jail terms.

8. Anti-austerity supporters stage a silent demonstration in Madrid, two days ahead of Spain's municipal and regional elections. The protesters demand a broader participation in politics, including through referendums. Sunday's elections come amid soaring unemployment and growing distrust in the ruling Popular Party.

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