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 25, 2018.

South Korea reaction

Reactions are coming in following the US president’s decision to call off a meeting with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. South Korea says direct communication is necessary between the leaders of North Korea and the United States. China has urged Washington and Pyongyang to show patience in resolving their disputes. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang says the two sides have to meet halfway to resolve the row between them. Russian President Vladimir Putin says North Korea has fulfilled its promises.

Saudi crackdown

A leading international rights group has slammed the Saudi regime for detaining activists and women campaigners. Amnesty International has urged Saudi authorities to free all human rights defenders unconditionally and immediately. The group has also called for the “wave of repression” to end. On Friday, Saudi authorities arrested a prominent rights campaigner, bringing the number of detained activists to eight. Most of the detainees have been identified by rights groups as veteran women campaigners. They have been accused of suspicious contact with foreign parties and providing financial support to hostile nations. The arrests come weeks before lifting a decades-long ban on women’s driving in the kingdom. Saudi women have long been fighting for their rights and against the kingdom’s male guardianship system.

Yemen starvation warning

The United Nations aid chief has sounded the alarm about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen. Mark Lowcock called on Saudi Arabia to ease restrictions on vital imports of food and fuel to Yemen. He warned that millions of civilians in the war-ravaged country could face starvation. The UN official stressed that confidence among commercial shippers has eroded. Saudi Arabia began the war on its southern neighbor in March 2015. Since then, over 14,000 Yemenis have been killed. The kingdom’s almost daily bombardment of Yemen has pushed the Arab country to the brink of famine.

Israel-EU row

Israel has accused the European Union of funding non-governmental organizations that promote anti-Israel boycotts. The Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy says anti-Israel NGOs received five million euros in 2016. The ministry called on the EU to stop the funding. The EU delegation in Israel has rejected the accusation, saying the bloc is confident its money does not go to support terrorism or the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. The BDS started in 2005 with the stated goal of bringing an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Tel Aviv has launched a heavy-handed crackdown on BDS activists since then.

US unilateral sanctions on Iran harmful: Putin

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin says unilateral sanctions on Iran are harmful. Putin also says changing international agreements fuels mistrust. The Russian president was referring to the US demand for renegotiating the Iran nuclear deal. He warned such unilateral moves lead to an impasse. Putin also said Iran’s possible withdrawal from the accord will not help Israel’s security. Russia, China and the EU are opposed to changing the Iran nuclear agreement.

Iran nuclear deal

Iran demands the European signatories to the nuclear deal guarantee that Tehran will benefit from the accord. Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said the EU knows normalizing trade relations with Iran is an essential part of the 2015 nuclear deal. He added that the bloc is determined to save the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Araqchi made the remarks after holding talks with members of the joint commission of the nuclear deal in Vienna. The talks come over two weeks after US President Donald Trump pulled out of the JCPOA.

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