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 4, 2018.

Afghanistan deadly blast  

An explosion near a gathering of religious scholars in the Afghan capital leaves at least eight people dead. Security officials have been quoted as saying that a bomber exploded a device as clerics were leaving a giant tent in the west of Kabul. Some 2,000 clerics from around the country had gathered in the city to denounce terrorism and call for peace. They issued a joint Islamic directive denouncing the ongoing war and terror attacks as illegal and against religious principles. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack on their meeting. The Afghan capital has witnessed a series of deadly bombings and gun attacks often claimed by Taliban and Daesh terrorists.

China-US trade talks

China says it is ready to continue trade talks with the US in principle. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the news on Monday, a day after the two sides wrapped up a round of negotiations in the capital Beijing. China said the talks saw positive and concrete progress with relevant details to be confirmed by both sides. It added that Beijing is ready to increase imports from trade partners, including the United States. The agreements now could take effect only if Washington refuses to push ahead with its trade sanctions, including additional tariffs.

Palestinian killed in Gaza

Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man near the so-called buffer zone in the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops say two men were moving towards the guarded fence, one of them carrying an axe. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the Palestinian men, killing one of them. Israel has imposed a decade-long blockade on Gaza, shooting anybody who attempts to break through the so-called buffer zone. They have also killed at least 124 people in the besieged enclave since the Great March of Return rallies began there on March 30 this year.

New Jordan PM

Jordan’s Prime Minister Hani al-Mulghi hands his resignation to King Abdullah after days of anti-government protests. Jordanian media says the king has asked Education Minister Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government. Al-Mulghi, who came to power in September 2016, stepped down to defuse public anger over economic policies. The demonstrations were the biggest in years. They happened in the Jordanian capital Amman and several other cities. The protesters are angry at austerity measures and tax reforms advised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

‘Facebook privacy violation’

Social networking giant, Facebook, plunges deeper into trouble over breach of its users’ data. A prominent American daily says the company has given phone makers vast access to personal information of its subscribers. New York Times says Facebook has had data-sharing partnerships with at least sixty device makers, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Samsung over the last decade. It quotes Facebook officials as saying that the deal let device makers offer customers popular features of the social network. The report, however, says the partnerships allowed the device companies access to the data of users’ friends without their explicit consent. Facebook has been under extensive scrutiny since March, when revelations were made of its massive data breach scandal involving British company Cambridge Analytica.

Iran nuclear capacity

Monday marks the 29th anniversary of the passing of the founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. Ceremonies are held across the country to commemorate the late leader. The main ceremony is held at his mausoleum near the capital Tehran. Imam Khomeini passed away at the age of 86, after suffering from several heart attacks. His eternal departure came 11 years after the Islamic Revolution toppled the Pahlavi dynasty under the guidance of the late leader. Iranians honor and respect Imam Khomeini as an iconic leader, who brought an end to 2,500 years of monarchical rule in Iran.

‘Iran committed’

The International Atomic Energy Agency has once again confirmed that Iran’s following through on its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement. The IAEA’s Director General Yukiya Amano made the remarks after he delivered a statement to the agency’s Board of Governors in Vienna. Amano stressed that the IAEA has had full access to all sites it needs to visit in Iran. He also called on Tehran to cooperate with the agency’s inspectors in a timely manner. The IAEA has time and again confirmed Tehran’s compliance with the nuclear deal. The latest statement comes weeks after the US withdrawal from the agreement.

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

www.presstv.co.uk