WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Police deploy at scene of explosion in Manchester, England, on May 23, 2017 at a concert. (Photo by AFP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 01:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, May 23, 2017.
Manchester Arena Incident
British police have confirmed nineteen fatalities and several injuries after reports of an explosion in the city of Manchester. The police say they are treating the reported explosion as a terrorist incident. According to witness accounts, a huge bang was heard after explosion at a music concert at the Manchester Arena, causing panic and sudden rush in big crowd. Meanwhile, people have been warned to stay away from the Arena while investigation is underway. The police have also surrounded the Victoria train station while blocking off many roads. Videos posted on social media from near the arena show large numbers of ambulances and police vehicles in the area.
US Racial Gerrymandering 
The US Supreme Court has rejected two congressional district maps in the state of North Carolina, saying Republican legislators illegally used race to draw up the boundaries. In a ruling, the top court agreed with plaintiffs that the redrawn electoral boundaries deliberately targeted minority voters to diminish their political power. The court found that Republicans who controlled the state legislature and governor office in 2011 placed too many African-Americans in two districts with the aim to dilute the strength of voters. The ruling obliged the North Carolina legislature to redraw the maps. It will have significant potential implications for the 2018 midterm elections.
Anger at UN Inaction
Yemenis have staged a rally to protest the United Nations’ inaction to stop the ongoing deadly Saudi war on their country. The protesters marched from the UN headquarters in Sana’a to the city airport. They chanted slogans calling for the reopening of Sana’a international airport. Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed has arrived in the city in a bid to restart peace talks and establish a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. The UN envoy has warned of possible huge civilian casualties in case of an attack on the port city of Hudaydah which is under the control of Ansarullah fighters.
Iran-France Ties
Iran says it is ready to cooperate at all levels with other countries, including France, to fight against terrorism and to resolve the Syrian crisis. Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani made the pledge in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. He told the newly elected French leader that the peace and stability should be brought back to the region. Rouhani who has just won his second term as president also hoped that Europe would not fall into the trap of countries giving wrong interpretations about the region. For his part, the French president congratulated Rouhani on his election victory. Emmanuel Macron said Iran has a key role in solving the crisis in Syria and fighting terrorism in the region.
Bahrain Reinforcement 
The Bahraini regime has deployed armored vehicles to the village of Diraz where prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim lives. The deployment comes a day after a court sentenced Sheikh Qassim to one year in prison over charges of promoting sectarianism and inciting violence. Bahrainis have held protests and sit-ins in Diraz ever since the regime stripped the cleric of his citizenship. Bahraini opposition groups say they believe Sheikh Qassim will be arrested soon. Meanwhile, angry protests continue across the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom over Sunday’s verdict. Clashes erupted in the area of Eker and al-Musalla, with regime forces firing tear gas to disperse the people. Rights groups say the ruling against Sheikh Qassim is part of the regime’s agenda to silence dissent and pro-reform protests.
US Killing Yemenis 
The US army says it has launched a series of ground and air attacks on Yemen, killing seven people. According to Pentagon, US troops launched the raid backed by drone strikes and helicopter gunfire in Ma’rib province in the early hours on Tuesday. The US claims to have targeted suspected Al-Qaeda elements. This is the latest US ground operation against alleged al-Qaeda militants in Yemen. Washington claims the attacks are part of its operation to stem terrorism, but most of their victims are found to be civilians.
Park at Court
South Korea’s Former President Park Geun-hye is on trial over a corruption scandal which led to her ouster two months ago. The hearing at the Seoul Central District Court is Park's first public appearance since she was taken into custody in March. The trial, which is expected to last for months, might shed new light on Park’s ties with the bosses of the family-run conglomerates who allegedly bribed her. She faces 18 charges including bribery, coercion and abuse of power for offering policy favors to tycoons. The ex-president is also accused of sharing state secrets with her confidante Choi Soon-sil. Park Geun-hye might get a life sentence in prison if convicted.
UNSC against N Korea
The UN Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test. The 15-member council, in a statement, instructed the UN sanctions committee to redouble efforts to implement a raft of tough measures adopted last year. It also agreed to take further action, including sanctions, to force Pyongyang change course and end what it called its highly destabilizing behavior. On Sunday, North Korea announced a successful testing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Pyongyang insists that its ballistic and nuclear programs are meant to protect the country from US aggression. Washington has recently deployed an advanced missile system to South Korea in order to counter what it calls North Korean threat.
Daesh under Pressure 
The Popular Mobilization Units has made new gains in its operation against terrorists in the northern Iraq. The troops have regained full control of Qairawan district in north-west of Nineveh province. This comes as Iraqi army and security forces are pressing ahead with their operation against militants in the provincial city of Mosul. The Iraqi troops are in the final stages of the battle to purge the entire city from terrorists. According to latest reports, Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces were close to liberating three neighboring districts northwest of Mosul’s old city. Iraqi forces are then set to attack the old city where Daesh terrorists are cornered.
Homs Deadly Blast
At least two people have been killed and fifteen others wounded in a car bomb explosion in western Syria. The blast occurred in the city of Homs. No person or group has claimed responsibility for the incident. In the meantime, the Syrian army destroyed a vehicle rigged with explosives near a Shia Muslim shrine south of the capital, Damascus. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the blast. But media reports suggest there were two occupants inside the car when it was destroyed.
Manchester Worst Attack 
The British Prime Minister has described the deadly bombing in Manchester, claimed by Daesh terrorist group, as one of the worst terror attacks the UK has ever experienced. May went on to say that security services know the identity of the assailant but will not disclose it for now. She added that the bomber acted alone but it’s still unclear if anyone else was involved in plotting the terrorist attack. She made the comments after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency committee. The British Queen has also condemned the bomb blast in Manchester as an act of barbarity. Meanwhile, British police have evacuated a shopping mall in the city and arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the attack that took place at a concert. Twenty two people were killed and nearly 60 others injured when a bomber detonated his explosives as people were leaving the concert hall on Monday night.
Taliban Afghan Attack 
A militant attack on an Afghan army base has left at least 10 soldiers dead. Afghan Defense Ministry said the attack also left nine army troops wounded. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack that took place in the southern province of Kandahar. It follows the Sunday coordinated attacks on security outposts in the southern province of Zabul that killed at least 20 police officers. It was claimed by Taliban militants. The militant group has dramatically increased its raids and bombings across Afghanistan since April as part of what it calls the spring offensive. They conducted one of their deadliest raids on a military base in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif last month. It left at least 135 security forces dead.
Slamming Bahrain Crackdown
Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society made an urgent appeal, calling on the international community to stop what it called the massacre in Diraz. Iranian Foreign Minister has also condemned the raid in a twitter message. Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US President, who had traveled to the region, emboldened the Bahraini regime to carry out the deadly attack against peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, a spokesman for Yemen's Ansarullah movement condemned the raid by Bahraini forces, saying it will have consequences for Manama. Prominent Muslim clerics in Lebanon have also called on the Bahraini people to take to the streets and defend Sheikh Issa Qassim.


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

www.presstv.co.uk

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Press TV News Roku