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 3, 2018.

Afghanistan students at home

Humanitarian organizations say nearly half of the children in Afghanistan are out of school. That’s according to a study conducted by some aid groups including UNICEF. The study shows some 3.7 million children are unable to go to school due to the ongoing conflict. That accounts for 44 percent of Afghan children. The report also cited poverty and child marriage as other main reasons behind this. It says in some provinces, up to 85 percent of girls are deprived of education. Afghanistan has been ravaged by war since the US-led invasion in 2001.

Mattis on North Korea sanctions

The US defense chief says North Korea will not get any sanctions relief until it takes verifiable steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons. Mattis made the comments at a security conference in Singapore ahead of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The summit is set to be held in Singapore on June 12. The issue of Pyongyang’s denuclearization remains a stumbling block to the talks. Washington wants North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear weapons in a verifiable way in return for economic relief. North Korea, however, says it wants security guarantees that the US will not try to topple the Pyongyang government if it abandons its nuclear arms.

Perilous journey

Tunisia’s coastguard recovers the bodies of 35 refugees who drowned in a shipwreck off the country’s south. The Tunisian Interior Ministry says 67 other asylum seekers were rescued. Refugees from Africa and the Middle East regularly cross the Mediterranean in pursuit of a better future in Europe. The UN says at least 660 asylum seekers have died while crossing the Mediterranean so far this year. About 3,500 refugees died last year.

Trade tensions

China has warned US against slapping tariffs on Chinese goods as another round of bilateral talks on trade disputes ends in Beijing. China says any trade and business deals will be void if the US goes ahead with its threats of sanctions. It says the two sides have made concrete progress on many areas but the details are left for final approval. The warning came following a meeting between US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in Beijing. Last month, they held talks in Washington and put out a joint statement. But this time no joint statement was issued. The US has threatened to implement tariffs on 50 billion dollars worth of Chinese imports. Washington wants Beijing to narrow its trade surplus.

Yemen fighting

Medical sources have expressed concern about the rising death toll from a Saudi-backed assault on the Yemeni port of Hudaydah. 52 people were killed in the armed conflict between forces loyal to the former Yemeni president and Ansarullah fighters during the weekend. The deaths have brought the toll to at least 110 since Wednesday. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, thousands of civilians are fleeing from the outskirts of Hudaydah. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also warned that any military scenario in the densely-populated port will risk a huge human cost. Hudaydah is the main port of entry for humanitarian supplies into Yemen. The Saudis accuse Yemen’s Ansarullah of using the port for weapons delivery.

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