WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, May 31, 2017.

Cruising toward Daesh

Russia’s war vessels have targeted Daesh positions near the Syrian city of Palmyra. Russian media, citing the country’s Defense Ministry, have said that a warship and a submarine fired four cruise missiles from the Mediterranean to hit Daesh manpower and equipment near the ancient city of Palmyra. Moscow had reportedly warned the US, Turkey and Israel, prior to the launch. The US-led coalition and Russia had earlier announced plans for holding more talks on Syria operations.

North Korea Defiance

North Korea says it is ready to conduct new intercontinental ballistic missile tests a day after the US successfully tested a system designed to intercept them. Pyongyang says it will test-fire ICBMs anywhere and anytime upon orders from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. It has also warned to turn the US into ashes with nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, the US military said it had intercepted a mock-up of an intercontinental ballistic missile in a first-of-its kind test. Washington says the system is meant to deter a mounting threat by North Korea. Pyongyang’s latest missile test was conducted on Sunday which drew international condemnation. Earlier in the day, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with China’s state councilor over the issue.

Crackdown Condemned

A group of Bahraini rights groups have condemned harassment of activists by the ruling monarchy. In a joint statement, six NGOs outlined the methods used by the Al Khalifah forces, which included verbal harassment, sexual assault and electric shocks. They said operatives have also threatened to harm the family members of the activists. The NGOs called on Manama to stop targeting human rights defenders and respect the international law in this regard. According to the statement, the recent spike in crackdown reveals the regime’s intention to besiege and stifle activists. Bahrain has been the scene of a new wave of protests since May 21, after a court sentenced top cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim to one year in jail.

Condemning Kabul Blast

The Daesh bomb attack in Afghanistan’s capital has drawn condemnation from countries across the globe. Iran has blamed the incident on certain countries’ support for terrorists. The bomb attack has also been slammed by Russia. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has expressed sympathy with the families of the victims. She called for bringing to justice those responsible for the attack. The US Embassy in Kabul said in a statement that such horrific attacks demonstrate the terrorists’ total disregard for human life. NATO, China, Turkey, and Germany have also condemned the deadly incident.

Turkey-US Row

Turkey has once again voiced opposition to the US arming of Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the YPG, and urged Washington to reverse its mistake. Cavusoglu also said Turkey has warned about the risk and danger the US support for YPG will cause to the future of Syria. Washington has begun providing small arms to the Kurdish militia in their fight against Daesh in Syria. The US and Turkey are bitterly at odds over the support for the YPG forces. Ankara regards the Kurdish group as an extension of the PKK, which is fighting for an independent Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey. Turkey has designated the PKK as a terrorist organization. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had warned Washington against arming the Syrian Kurdish militia during his visit to the White House earlier this month.

US Climate Policy

The US president says he will announce his decision on the Paris climate accord over the next few days. Reports quote senior US sources as saying that Donald Trump is expected to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The accord brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. Only days ago, leaders of G7 nations who gathered in Italy’s Sicily urged Trump to remain part of the climate deal. Following his return to the US, Trump met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt who supports pulling the US out of the deal. He will also be meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who supports staying in the accord before making a final decision.

Saudi School Shooting

Two people have been killed and another has been injured in a school shooting in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. A man opened fire inside a private school's administration building. The Chairman of Kingdom schools said the shooting was a case of a disgruntled employee. The shooter was an Arab national who was dismissed four years ago. The school had been closed about a week before the Ramadan holiday in line with a royal decree. The Interior Ministry says it is a "criminal case" and Riyadh Police will issue a statement with further details.

Kabul Terror Attack

The death toll from a huge bomb blast in Afghanistan has risen to 90. The attack targeted the diplomatic quarter of the capital Kabul. At least 400 people have also been wounded. The bomb went off during the morning rush hour. Daesh terrorists have claimed responsibility. The explosion caused damage to Iranian, German and French embassies as well as cars and buildings in the area, including Press TV’s office. The head of the Iranian broadcaster’s bureau in Kabul is also injured. German Foreign Ministry says several embassy staffers have been injured. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has strongly condemned the bloodshed.

Ill-Conceived Airstrikes

Russia has criticized the airstrikes conducted by the US-led coalition in Syria as ill-conceived and poorly planned. Zakharova made the remark in a statement to the press in the Russian capital, Moscow. She also said the coalition’s airstrikes have made the situation in Syria worse. Zakharova noted that the number of civilian casualties have increased due to the air raids which started the chaos and destruction. Zakharova argues the airstrikes play into the hands of militants and terrorist organizations, such as DAESH, al-Nusra, and organizations connected to them. A coalition led by the US has acknowledged over 450 civilian deaths since it began its airstrikes in Syria and Iraq in 2014. Airwars, a London-based group that tracks civilian deaths, has put the number at nearly 3700 since then.

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