WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, June 25, 2017.

Pakistan oil tanker disaster

At least 141 people have been burnt to death as an oil tanker catches fire in the Pakistani city of Bahawalpur in Punjab Province. The death toll is expected to rise as dozens of people have reportedly been taken to hospital with severe injuries. Rescue officials say the incident happened as people rushed to scoop up oil leaking from the tanker that was overturned in the middle of the city. Dozens of vehicles, including 75 motorbikes, were engulfed in the blaze. Eyewitnesses said some people were smoking cigarettes in the vicinity of the tanker, possibly triggering the incident.

Syria releases detainees

The Syrian government has released hundreds of prisoners on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The Justice Minister told reporters that the 672 people released on Saturday were from several Syrian provinces and included 91 women. Al-Sha’ar added that the release of prisoners, including those having direct involvement in the insurgency, came in a bid to sustain national reconciliation efforts. According to state media, the freed inmates pledged not to carry out any act that undermines the safety of their homeland. Syrian authorities usually release detainees on major holidays. Tens of thousands of people have been detained since Syria's crisis began in 2011. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and displaced about half of the country's population.

US mosques targeted

Police are investigating two possible hate crimes against Islamic centers in the state of California. Authorities have launched an investigation after a burnt Qur’an filled with bacon, was found hanging by a fence outside an Islamic Center in the city of Sacramento. In Davis, someone threw pages torn out of the holy Muslim book, while driving by the city’s Muslim Center. In January, a woman was caught on camera shattering windows and leaving pieces of bacon at the entrance of the same center. She was put on probation after pleading guilty. The United States has witnessed a rise in hate crimes, since Donald Trump took office in January.

Yemen retaliation

In Saudi Arabia, another soldier has been killed by Yemeni fire. That brings the number of Saudi forces killed since Saturday to four. Yemeni media say the soldier was shot dead by Ansarullah snipers in Faridha military site, in Saudi Arabia’s Jizan region. Three other soldiers were also shot dead along with three Saudi-backed mercenaries in the border regions of Asir and Najran on Saturday. They were killed in retaliation for the recent airstrikes launched by the Saudi-led coalition against two dozen areas across Yemen. At least five civilians lost their lives in the latest strikes that hit the northern Sa’ada province.

Turkey Qatar stance

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Ergodan has defended Qatar’s position after it dismissed a list of demands by four of its neighbors that have boycotted the nation. Erdogan said the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies on Qatar undermines its sovereignty. He also criticized the call on Qatar to close a Turkish military base as disrespectful. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have also asked Qatar to shut down the Al Jazeera news network and cut ties with Iran among other demands. The four Arab countries have cut diplomatic and economic ties with Doha, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism. Qatar has categorically rejected the allegation.

Israel Syria strikes

The Israeli army says it has targeted Syrian government's positions on the Syrian Golan Heights for a second time in 24 hours. The Israeli military says it has targeted two Syrian artillery positions and an ammunition truck in Quneitra province. The attack came after Israel said projectiles errantly landed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syrian territory. Earlier, Syrian sources said an army jeep was targeted in the Israeli attack. This is the second attack in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night, Syria said Israeli strikes on the Golan Heights targeted a residential area, resulting in a number of civilian casualties.

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

www.presstv.co.uk