WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, May 24, to 08:00 GMT, May 25, 2017.

The French state of emergency

France is to prolong the state of emergency in the country following the Manchester bombing. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed the extension to the French parliament. Reports say Macron is also seeking new legislation to permanently strengthen France’s security forces. If French lawmakers approve Elysee’s request, it would be the sixth extension of the state of emergency, giving police exceptional powers. The emergency state was first introduced after a terror attack killed 130 people in Paris in 2015. Meanwhile, French Interior minister Gerard Collomb has said the bomber behind the Manchester attack Salman Abedi had links to Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Solidarity with Bahrainis

Iraqi demonstrators have gathered in front of the Bahraini embassy in Baghdad to protest Manama's raging crackdown on dissidents and anti-government protesters. The ralliers condemned a Bahraini police raid on the hometown of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim. At least five supporters of Sheikh Qassim were killed during the raid. Bahraini authorities accuse Qassim of promoting extremism in the Persian Gulf kingdom. Qassim’s supporters reject the allegations and say his persecution is driven by political motives.

US aid for Israel

Israel’s prime minister says the United States has added tens of millions of dollars in extra military aid to Tel Aviv following President Donald Trump’s visit. Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that the US has offered another 75 million dollar aid package to the Israeli missile program. The White House says Trump’s recent visit to Israel underscored the US Ironclad commitment to Tel Aviv, including its qualitative military edge. Washington is already supplying the regime with an annual 3.8 billion dollar military aid package from tax payer money. This has angered critics who lambast Israel’s almost daily violations of Palestinian rights. Over the past decade the regime has waged numerous wars on the besieged Gaza strip, most recently in 2014.

Brazil protests

Brazilian army troops have been deployed to secure government buildings amid ongoing protests in the country. The Brazilian minister made the remarks after protesters clashed violently with police in the capital Brasilia and set fire to the Agriculture Ministry. This prompted officials to evacuate the building. Police also unleashed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the demonstrators who marched toward Congress. Brazilians have been calling for the resignation of President Michel Temer and holding snap elections. The protests were triggered by an audio that purportedly showed Temer approving the payment of bribes to former senate colleague Eduardo Cunha. The president remains defiant in the face of calls to step down.

US-Saudi arms deal

US Senator Rand Paul says he will force a vote in Congress to block President Donald Trump’s massive arms deal with Saudi Arabia, citing the Kingdom’s regional destabilizing role.

Speaking to US media, Paul highlighted evidence of Saudi backing for terrorism. This included leaked emails by former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, expressing concern about Saudi support for the Daesh terror group. The Kentucky senator also noted evidence pointing to the Saudi monarchy’s involvement in the September 11 terror attacks. During Trump’s trip to Riyadh over the weekend, the US president signed a 110 billion arms deal with the Kingdom, which may reportedly even grow three times. Rights groups have slammed Trump for the sale.

US air power in Afghanistan

The use of American air power in Afghanistan has sharply increased as military officials press US President Donald Trump to send thousands more troops to the country. According to new statistics, US warplanes dropped more weapons on Afghanistan in April than in any other single month since 2012. The US Air Force unleashed 460 bombs, missiles, or other ordnance last month in Afghanistan. The figure is more than seven times compared to April last year. Trump is considering proposals from his top military advisers calling for the United States and its coalition allies to send up to 5,000 more troops to Afghanistan. The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. However, foreign troops are still stationed in the country.

Saudi demolition of Awamiyah

UN cultural experts have slammed Saudi Arabia for destroying old parts of the Shia town of Awamiya in the east of the kingdom. The experts say Riyadh’s so-called development project has wiped out Awamiya’s cultural heritage and violated human rights. According to the UN, Saudi security forces are burning down historic buildings and forcing residents out of their homes. The world body’s experts believe the Saudi project is an act of forced eviction under international law. Residents of Awamiya have long been complaining about what they call Riyadh’s oppressive policies towards Saudi Arabia’s Shia citizens.

OPEC oil freeze deal

The Iranian oil minister says OPEC members have achieved a near consensus on extending last year’s agreement on cutting oil output. Zangeneh made the remarks in Vienna where he will attend Thursday’s OPEC meeting. The Iranian minister also said he does not expect OPEC to call on his country to reduce its oil production. OPEC clinched a historic deal with Russia and other non-member states last year to slash global production by nearly 1.8 million barrels per day for six months, which started in January. However, Iran was exempted from cutting output and was allowed to increase production by 90,000 barrels. Iran’s current oil output is close to four million barrels a day.

New Iran sanctions

The US Senate is planning to impose more sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to debate the issue in a session later on Thursday. Former Secretary of State John Kerry has warned the committee against the move urging the panel to use diplomacy instead. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that his department is planning to slap more sanctions on Iran. Mnuchin added that the department is also reviewing the licenses needed for Boeing and Airbus to sell aircraft to Iran. The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken a hostile stance against Iran’s missile and nuclear programs since coming to power in January. Tehran has repeatedly said that its missile launches are in line with the constructive spirit of the nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Manchester attack probe

Britain has widened its probe into Manchester attack, arresting more people in connection with the deadly incident. Eight men are already held in custody. Police said one woman arrested earlier in Blackley was released without charge. Now the British police are racing to track down an extremist network suspected of orchestrating the attack. This comes as leaked material from the probe is hampering the investigation. Britain's intelligence services blame their US counterparts for revealing the bomber’s identity and other details of the probe. The leaks are expected to be discussed during the meeting of British Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump at a NATO summit in Brussels. May is set to chair a meeting of the country’s emergency committee later Thursday.

US Yemen raid

A human rights organization has disputed the official account of a US raid on Yemen this week which allegedly killed seven al-Qaeda terrorists. UK-based Reprieve group says the raid had led to the deaths of five civilians instead. Citing local sources and witness accounts, the organization says the operation went wrong from the offset, when US navy seals opened fire and killed a 70-year-old partially-blind man. According to the rights group, four other men emerged from neighboring houses and were also shot dead. US military operations in Yemen have seen a sharp increase since President Donald Trump took office. In late January another botched raid in al-Bayda province killed 25 civilians including nine children.

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