WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, May 16, to 08:00 GMT, May 17, 2017.

Trump Intel sharing

The national security advisor to the US President has defended Trump’s sharing of intelligence with Russian officials. Herbert McMaster was repeatedly asked by reporters about President Trump’s alleged disclosing of classified information. He said Trump wanted to emphasize the common interests between the countries in the fight against terrorists. Trump has also defended his move in a Tweet. He said he wanted Russia to greatly step up its fight against Daesh. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has also denied the media accusations, implying that American media should not be trusted. Maria Zakharova, said people should not read American newspapers because they can be harmful and even dangerous. Earlier this week media said that during an Oval Office meeting, Trump disclosed classified code-word information that could put a source of intelligence on Daesh at risk.

CAR clashes

The United Nations says clashes between rival armed factions have killed at least 100 people in the Central African Republic. According to the world body, the fighting that began on May 7 has so far left nearly 1,000 civilians without shelter. Scores of people have also sustained injuries during fierce clashes. The fresh round of violence erupted between the armed militia groups of Seleka and anti-Balaka in the town of Bria, northeast of the capital Bangui. The impoverished African country plunged into chaos in 2013 when the anti-Balaka militia began coordinated attacks against the Seleka group.

Turkey DC embassy clashes

Supporters and opponents of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have clashed just outside their country’s embassy in the US capital. US police have arrested two people in connection with the incident. The clashes left at least nine people wounded, two of them seriously. The eruption of violence came after the Turkish president met with his American counterpart Donald Trump in Washington DC. The two presidents touched upon a wide range of issues, including Turkey’s calls on the US to extradite opposition figure Fethullah Gulen. Ankara has accused Gulen of masterminding the failed coup in July 2016 - a claim the cleric strongly rejects.

Trump probe

US media have revealed that President Donald Trump had asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into alleged ties between former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia. The New York Times says Trump urged Comey in a memo to drop the investigation a day after Flynn was forced out of the White House in mid-February over concerns about his contacts with Russian officials. The paper said Comey's memo was part of a paper trail that he kept to document allegedly improper pressure by Trump over the FBI's Russia investigation. Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer reacted to the report saying it has shaken him.

North Korea UN

The United Nations Security Council has met to discuss imposing further sanctions on North Korea over its latest missile test. US ambassador Nikki Haley spoke to reporters ahead of the meeting. Haley said the US was working with China to draft a new resolution on further sanctions against North Korea. She warned that countries which refuse to enforce sanctions would face punitive measures themselves. However, Haley said the US was willing to negotiate with Pyongyang if the North halted its nuclear and missile programs. On Sunday, North Korea tested a long range missile, which Pyongyang said was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. South Korea's defense minister said on Tuesday that North Korea's missile program was progressing faster than expected. Pyongyang has said it will enhance its deterrence capabilities in face of US aggressive policies.

Argentine protest

Thousands of university teachers and professors have rallied in the Argentine capital to call for a rise in their salaries, arguing that negotiations between the government and social unions have not been fruitful. The protesters gathered outside the National Congress and marched towards the Education Ministry. They held signs and chanted anti-government slogans. Argentinean students also joined the rally. The demonstrators called for teachers’ salaries to go up beyond the inflation rate. Salary hikes, however, are said to make it more difficult for the government to control inflation. The march is the latest in a series of protests that are seen as a test for President Mauricio Macri's administration. The government is trying to garner support from the country's powerful unions ahead of legislative elections due to be held in October.

Koreas ties

South Korea's unification ministry has called for reopening communication lines with North Korea, which were severed early last year. The ministry spokesman said South Korean authorities are paying regular visits to the communications office at the Demilitarized Zone between the two countries for possible responses from the North. Communication channels between the two Koreas were cut off in February 2016, as tensions grew between the two sides following Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests. South Korea’s new President, Moon Jae-in, has pledged to push for dialogue with the North.

Colombia riots

Work unions’ demonstrations in Colombia have turned violent with major clashes taking place between the police and protestors. Police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons as protestors fought back with stones. The clashes were the aftermath of a half-million-people march organized by the Colombian Federation of Education Workers in Bogota. Employees from the country’s judicial branch as well as other departmental and local sectors also took part in the rally, calling for better working conditions and higher salaries. The rallies come as millions of workers have launched an indefinite national strike and threatened to refuse working until the government takes some action.

Israel Assad

Israel’s Housing Minister has called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be assassinated, accusing Damascus of committing atrocities in the battle-torn country. Earlier on Tuesday, Galant had told an Israeli Radio that Tel Aviv wanted to see Assad and his government ousted from power and replaced by a moderate ruler. Israel has carried out multiple attacks on Syrian government positions since the foreign-sponsored militancy erupted in March 2011. Damascus says the raids aim to help terror groups, who are fighting against government forces and civilians.

Afghanistan gunfire

In Afghanistan, a group of gunmen have raided a television station in the eastern city of Jalalabad. An afghan official said two of the assailants detonated their explosives in the building, while at least one other is still fighting with security forces. A number of journalists have also remained trapped inside the building. The identity or affiliation of the gunmen is still not clear. Afghanistan remains gripped by insecurity, 16 years after the US and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The war removed the Taliban from power, but terror and instability is still rampant in the country despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.

Iran Leader

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has hailed the country’s atmosphere two days before presidential and local elections. Addressing a crowd of people in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei said the nation is gearing up for the polls in a calm and secure atmosphere in a region overwhelmed with insecurity. The Leader called on electoral bodies to safeguard people’s votes. He also urged the nation to demonstrate strong determination and restraint in the face of the enemy. Iranians are set to cast their ballots to pick their new president and councilors on Friday.

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