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British Prime Minister Theresa May (Photo by AFP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, June 2, to 08:00 GMT, June 3, 2017.

British Elections

The British Prime Minister’s lead over the opposition Labour party has sharply fallen in the run-up to the upcoming general elections. A recent opinion poll shows that Theresa May's lead has shrunk to five points from 15 points two weeks ago. The Ipsos MORI poll also shows that the conservatives’ share of the vote has decreased to 45 percent. Back in April, May dissolved the parliament and called for early elections on June 8 to secure a Brexit mandate. Failure to win with a large majority would weaken May in the Brexit talks and a majority loss in parliament would throw British politics into turmoil.

Iran Compliance

The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, says Iran has lived up to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of countries. According to a new report by the IAEA, Iran’s stockpiles of low-enriched uranium and heavy water have not exceeded the agreed limits. The report, which is published every three months, also says the Islamic Republic has not pursued the construction of the nuclear reactor in Arak. The West claims the reactor could be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Under the nuclear deal, Iran accepted some restrictions on its nuclear energy program in exchange for the removal of sanctions imposed on Tehran by the US and its Western allies. US President Donald Trump has described the deal as a terrible agreement, saying he will seek to renegotiate it.

Provocation against Syria

The Russian president says Moscow is fully convinced that the April 4 chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib province was a provocation against the Syrian government. Vladimir Putin went on to say Moscow’s offer to inspect the airbase from which the attack was allegedly carried out was rejected. Putin also said if the purported aircraft had taken off from the air field, modern control sources would have been able to spot the loading of shells with chemical agents. Meanwhile, Putin stressed that Russia’s intervention is meant to avoid a Somalia- and Libya-like situation in Syria. He also criticized NATO, saying the situation in a country like Afghanistan has deteriorated despite the alliance’s years-long presence in the country.

Germany Terrorist Threat

Authorities in Germany have evacuated people from a music festival over a possible terrorist threat. German police said in a statement that they were in possession of concrete elements in the light of which a possible terrorist threat cannot be ruled out. The police made no further comments over the issue as investigations are underway. The three-day event at an arena near the southern city of Nuremberg is scheduled to run until Sunday. It draws tens of thousands of people annually.

Iraq Fight on Terror

Iraqi forces are tightening the noose around Daesh across the areas still controlled by the Takfiri terror group in the city of Mosul. Obeidi said Iraqi troops are now preparing for an assault on Mosul’s Old City. He also said the army has avoided entering some areas because of the existence of narrow streets and the presence of civilians in the battle zone. The massive operation to liberate Mosul started more than seven months ago. The northern Iraqi city was captured by Daesh in 2014. The latest gains by the Iraqis have however forced the terror group into Mosul's Old City and several nearby areas.

UN North Korea Sanctions

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved new sanctions against North Korea. The sanctions slap a global travel ban on 14 North Korean officials, some of them involved in Pyongyang’s military program as well as its foreign intelligence service. An asset freeze is also imposed on four entities including the strategic rocket force of the North Korean army. The move was a response to North Korea’s ballistic missile tests since the turn of the year. Pyongyang has conducted two nuclear tests and dozens of missile launches this year. The tests have drawn criticism even by North Korea’s closest ally China.

UN Bahrain Call

The United Nations has called on Bahrain to launch an independent investigation into the deaths of five protesters in a police raid in the town of Diraz. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, urged Bahrain to punish those who were responsible for the killings. He called disturbing reports that the victims were buried without the consent of their families. The UN official also urged authorities to release all those detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly. Over a week ago, Bahraini security forces attacked protesters holding a sit-in in support of top Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassem. Bahraini security forces also arrested 286 people. The incident took place two days after a Court in Manama gave a one-year suspended jail sentence to Sheikh Isa Qassem on charges of money laundering.

Morocco Clashes

Police in Morocco have clashed with anti-government demonstrators in the provincial town of Imzouren. Police fired water cannon to disperse the angry crowd protesting against corruption, repression and unemployment. The clashes came after authorities detained a prominent protest leader in the northern city of al-Hoceima. Nasser Zef-zafi was detained on Monday on charges of threatening national security. The city also witnessed a second day of general strike on Friday which was called by activists demanding the release of Zef-zafi. Tensions around al-Hoceima have been high since October after a fisherman was crushed inside a garbage truck while trying to salvage his fish confiscated by the police.

Yemen Cholera Deaths

The United Nations Children's Fund has warned about a surge in the number of cholera-related deaths in war-torn Yemen. UNICEF says nearly 600 Yemenis have lost their lives due to the cholera outbreak over the past month. The UN agency has warned that the number of suspected cases is expected to reach 130 thousand within the next two weeks. The epidemic began in October 2016 and a new surge in cases began in April 2017 due to the collapse of the country’s economy and health system. Yemen has been devastated as the result of Saudi Arabia’s incessant bombardment and blockade of the country since March 2015.

CIA Torture Report

The US administration has blocked the publication of the full version of a key report on torture by the CIA. The administration’s decision has drawn angry criticism from top Senate democrats. Former head of the Intelligence Committee Dianne Feinstein suggested that Republicans want to destroy the report before it is published. American Civil Liberties Union also blasted the Donald Trump administration’s attempt to bury the torture report. ACLU said the document must be made public to expose what it called CIA’s horrific abuses. The document exposes extensive use of torture techniques including waterboarding in CIA detention centers. So far only an executive summary of the report has been published.

US Killing Civilians

The pentagon confirms that 484 civilians have been killed by US-led airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014. According to a Pentagon statement, the total civilian death toll has increased by more than a third in a month. US Defense Secretary James Mattis has said that the coalition is pursuing annihilation tactics as pre-requisite for speedy outcome in the military campaign in Syria and Iraq. Mattis claimed that attacks on civilians were unintentional but rather a fact of life in such situations. Human rights advocates indicate that the civilian toll resulted from US-led aerial bombing campaign in Syria and Iraq is a magnitude higher.

Storm Hits Mexico

At least three people have been killed by a massive storm in southern Mexico. Heavy rains and strong winds of Tropical Storm Beatriz destroyed several homes, killing a woman and two children. Several people have also been reported missing. According to Mexican authorities, many roads in the state of Ohaka have suffered structural damage. Schools have been closed in the entire state for a second day. The US National Hurricane Center has warned that life-threatening flash floods and mudslides are likely to follow the strong weather conditions.

Anti-Terror Drive

The Philippine military has launched new air raids in a bid to dislodge a Daesh-linked terror group from the southern city of Marawi. Plumes of smoke could be seen over the now mostly deserted city after fighter jets pounded the potential terrorist hideouts. Armed forces have been using a combination of ground and air operations in their battle against the terrorists. Clashes first erupted after a militant group, known as Abu Sayyaf, raided the city and beheaded a police chief. According to the defense ministry, some 500 terrorists had been fighting with a plan to occupy the city. Many terrorists including Saudi, Malaysian, Indonesian, Yemeni and Chechen nationals have been killed since then.

South Korea Scandal

No end in sight yet to the resonation of a corruption scandal in South Korea which led to the ouster and arrest of ex-president Park Geun-hye. In a latest development, a court has denied a prosecutors' request for an arrest warrant for the daughter of a key figure in the scandal. The 20-year-old Chung Yoo-ra fled to Europe last year to avoid prosecution by South Korean authorities. Now the prosecutors are expected to reapply for an arrest warrant. Yoo-ra's mother, Choi Soon-sil was a long-time confidante of the ex-president and accused of colluding with her to collect bribes from top businesses. Choi and Park are being held at detention centers undergoing trials for extortion and abuse of power.

 


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