Full News- Tue, June, 02, 2015 - 22:00 GMT

Full News- Tue, June, 02, 2015 - 22:00 GMT

1- The U-S Senate has passed a bill that aims to overhaul the National Security Agency’s controversial mass phone data collection while preserving other domestic surveillance provisions. The bill, known as the USA Freedom Act, has been approved by a vote of 67 to 32 and is sent directly to President Barack Obama for his signature. It was earlier passed by the House of Representatives. The action comes just two days after lawmakers failed to extend the Bush-era Patriot Act that was used by the NSA as the legal basis for spying on Americans. The new Act would shift the storage of the metadata from the NSA to telephone companies and would allow authorities to access them only with a court order. Obama has hailed the Congressional approval of the surveillance bill. He claims the new NSA rules protect liberties and national security.

2- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has filed a criminal complaint against an opposition daily for publishing evidence of Ankara’s support for anti-Damascus militants. Cumhuriyet and its editor-in-chief Can Doundaar are accused of "publishing images and information contrary to the truth and obtaining and disseminating secret information". Erdogan’s legal team has reportedly requested multiple life sentences for Doundaar. On Friday, Cumhuriyet published footage from January 2014, showing boxes of weapons and ammunition on Turkish National Intelligence Organization trucks bound for Syria. But Erdogan accused Doundaar of espionage and pledged he would pay a heavy price for running the story. The president later claimed the intercepted arms were bound for the Turkmen minority in Syria. Doundaar earlier interviewed one of the prosecutors who led a 2013 corruption investigation, implicating Erdogan and his inner circle.

3- The Iraqi army, backed by Sunni tribesmen and Shia volunteers, has made gains against ISIL terrorists in their ongoing operations in Salahuddin province. Iraqi troops advanced on several fronts in the town of Ishaqi, located about 70 kilometers from the capital Baghdad. They also seized an ISIL bunker in the area and destroyed some of their vehicles. Iraqi forces are fighting ISIL terrorists in several areas. Last week, the army launched an offensive against the terror group in Anbar and Salahuddin provinces. A key goal of the offensive is to retake the city of Ramadi which was captured by terrorists on May 17.

4- In Iraq, the ISIL Takfiri group has closed the gates of a dam in Anbar province, posing a humanitarian and security threat. Iraqi officials say the move has lowered the level of the Euphrates River and cut water supplies to areas east of the provincial capital Ramadi. Officials added that the Takfiris reduce the water level to be better able to launch military operations in both sides of the river. Iraqi government forces together with volunteers have massed around Ramadi in an effort to recapture the city from the terrorists. The city fell to ISIL earlier this month.

5- Several Iraqi people have died in a car bomb explosion in the capital Baghdad. Police say at least six people were killed and 13 others wounded after the bomb went off in the parking lot of a restaurant. A police officer is among those killed. No group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack that also caused material damage. But the bombing bears the hallmarks of ISIL terrorists who have been wreaking havoc in Iraq since 2014.

6- The French capital has hosted talks between the members of the so-called US-led coalition allegedly fighting ISIL Takfiris terrorist in Iraq and Syria. Addressing the conference, the Iraqi prime minister blamed the international community’s inaction and the coalition’s lack of commitment for ISIL advance in the region.

7- No end in sight to the invasion of Yemen as Saudi warplanes launch fresh air attacks against its impoverished neighbor. In the latest attacks, Saudi fighter jets targeted Arra Hamdan district, north of capital Sana’a. There are reports of causalities. Saudi attacks also hit Aman Mountain in the city of Ta’izz. Six airstrikes were launched in the southern city of Ta’izz as well. Another airstrike hit a market in Sa’ada city, killing a woman. Earlier, some other areas in Sa’ada province, including Dhahir and Safra districts, were bombed. At least six civilians were wounded in the attacks. More than four-thousand people have been killed since the beginning of the Saudi aggression against Yemen on March 26.

8-  Human rights activists have gathered in London to highlight the role foreign mercenaries play in the continued repression of Bahrainis who have been seeking equality and reforms in the Persian Gulf kingdom. Foreign recruits make up over half of the security forces in Bahrain. Campaigners say the international community must do more to stop this trend.

9- A meeting in the Belarusian capital, aimed at resolving the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine, has been postponed. The Minsk talks had brought together officials from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. At the last hour, they decided to put off the meeting with representatives of pro-Russia militias. A Ukrainian source has blamed Moscow for the breakdown of talks. But Russian media have cited a source close to the negotiations as saying that the sides could hold a fresh meeting on June 16. Fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russia forces in the east began in April 2014. Since then, the warring sides have signed two peace accords. The last agreement was signed in Minsk in February. However, the ceasefire has proved to be fragile as sporadic clashes erupt every now and then.

10-  Just days after being re-elected as FIFA President for a fifth time, 79-year old Sepp Blatter says he resigns from his position. This comes as World Football Governing Body is plagued by a deepening corruption scandal! Speaking at a press conference at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Blatter also said that his mandate didn't seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football. He added that he reached the decision after thoroughly considering his presidency and his 40-year experience at FIFA. Earlier, reports suggested that FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valck authorized 10 million dollars in bribes for World Cup bidding votes in 2008. However the body denied the allegations. Last Wednesday SEVEN senior FIFA officials were detained in Switzerland over corruption charges.

11- The EU enlargement commissioner says Macedonian political leaders have agreed to hold early elections in 2016 in order to overcome a deep political crisis. Johannes Hahn says all political sides have agreed that elections be held by the end of April next year. He made the comments after meeting with Macadonia’s key political actors, including the Prime Minister and main opposition leader. Hahn says the details of the EU-brokered agreement are due to be hammered out next week in Brussles. Macedonia fell into political turmoil after the government and opposition exchanged serious accusations. The opposition has accused the government of Nikola Gruevski of wiretapping thousands of people as well as of corruption and a murder cover-up. The government in return has filed charges against opposition leader Zaev Zoran, accusing him of spying and trying to destabilize Macedonia.

12- More than 400 passengers are still missing after a ship capsized in a river in southern China on Monday night. At least 14 people have been brought to safety and seven are confirmed dead. Officials say a violent storm caused the tragic incident. More than four-thousand people and 110 vessels have taken part in the search and rescue operation. The vessel, with 458 people onboard, submerged in Yangt-zee River overnight. Most of the passengers were senior citizens. The captain and the chief engineer, who’ve been rescued, say the ship sank right after being caught in a cyclone en route to Chong-ching city. Police have detained both of them.

13- French law enforcement officers have evacuated African migrants from a tent camp under a subway bridge in northern Paris. More than 350 migrants were surrounded by law enforcement officers and forcefully evacuated before the camp was bulldozed. Over the weekend, French authorities put up signs in the area ordering migrants to leave the tent camp. Most of those cleared are said to be from Sudan, but migrants from Eritrea, Somalia and Egypt were also residing in the same place. The migrants have been relocated to various shelters in the Paris area. A survey shows more than half of them intended to leave France for other destinations.

14- The UN envoy for Libya says there is no military solution to the conflict in the North African country.  Bernardino Leon says most of political leaders in Libya want peace and support a political solution to the conflict. He made the remarks ahead of renewed peace talks in Algeria on Wednesday. Previous rounds of talks to help resolve the crisis ended in vain. Libya has two rival governments striving to gain control of the country. The internationally recognized government controls cities of Bayda and Tobruk in the east while Tripoli is under control of another group. Amid the crisis, ISIL took control of the airport in Sirte last month.

15- Libya says it will block any UN action aimed at supporting Europe’s plan to battle migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean. Libya’s Ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi said the European Union must deal with the legitimate government as the only representative of Libyan people to get the consent. Dabbashi reiterated that there would be no Libya’s green light for a UN resolution as long as the E-U is discussing its plan with Libyan militia in charge of coastal territory. Last month, E-U Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini called on U-N Security Council to back the bloc’s military plan to tackle migrant crisis in Libyan territorial waters. The resolution requires the Libyan government to give its approval for the operations that could also take place on its coastal territory.

16- Over 5-thousand Burundian refugees who have fled to Uganda are in dire need of food. The World Food Program has appealed for one-point-seven million dollars to help the refugees. Press TV's correspondent Daniel Arapmoi has taken a closer look at the refugees’ situation and in the following report from Kampala.


Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku