WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, April 7, 2019 to 0800 GMT, April 8, 2019.

DHS secretary's resignation

US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has resigned amid tensions with the White House over the immigration issue. Nielsen submitted her resignation letter to President Donald Trump, who announced her departure in a tweet. Trump said Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan would become acting secretary. Nielsen, who took the job in December 2017, was one of the defenders of the administration's zero tolerance Immigration Enforcement Policy. She was, however, expected to be sacked by the end of last year after Trump castigated her weak performance on the immigration issue. Despite Trump's railing against migrant caravans and insisting on building a border wall on the Mexico border, the number of migrants crossing into the US has risen in the past year.

Russian stance on Israel's occupation of Golan

The Russian foreign minister has denounced US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over Syria’s occupied Golan Heights. Sergey Lavrov said Moscow rejects the US president’s decision, which flagrantly violates the United Nations Charter. He once again called for finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria in accordance with UN resolution 2254. The top Russian diplomat made the remarks in a visit to the Jordanian capital. Lavrov also said countering terrorism in Syria should be done without double standards. He stressed the need for the United States to end its occupation of Syria’s al-Tanf region and allow humanitarian aid to reach the camp of displaced Syrians. For his part, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi said Trump’s Golan decision violates international law.

Syrian army operations

Syrian government forces have carried out major operations against terrorists in the north and west of the country in response to their breaches of the de-escalation zone agreement. Government forces targeted positions of Nusra Front and other terrorist groups in Idlib and Hama, killing many of them. Several terrorist leaders were reportedly among those killed. Earlier, five civilians were killed and over a dozen others injured as terrorists shelled a hospital in Hama. The attack came as Syrian forces are pressing ahead with the final phase of anti-terror campaign after most terrorist groups were vanquished in the country last year.

War on Yemen

At least 13 civilians, mostly schoolchildren, have been killed in Saudi attacks on the Yemeni capital Sana’a. Scores of others were also injured. The Health Ministry said the air raids targeted a school and residential units. Yemen’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack, saying the silence of the international community over the Saudi crimes and the Western support are a green light to Riyadh’s relentless attacks. The ministry said the Saudis have carried out at least 250,000 airstrikes since 2015, killing and maiming forty-one thousand civilians. The political office of Yemen's Ansarullah movement also urged the UN to stop the Saudi crimes and its allies. It said the US collusion with Riyadh has now become more evident than ever.

Sudan protests

People in Sudan take to the streets of the capital Khartoum for the third consecutive day to demand the resignation of President Omar al-Bashir. Witnesses said soldiers intervened to protect the demonstrators from security forces who attempted to break-up a sit-in outside the defense ministry. Security forces also resorted to tear gas to disperse the protesters. According to the witnesses, the army has deployed troops around its headquarters that also houses Bashir’s official residence. The protests in Sudan have been held on and off since mid-December last year. The protesters are angry over Bashir’s three-decade grip on power. Whopping inflation rate and political and economic corruption are some of the main grievances of the anti-government protesters.

Libya fighting

Russia has blocked a UN Security Council statement that would have called forces loyal to Libyan General, Khalifa Haftar to halt their advance on the capital Tripoli. Moscow argued that the statement should urge all Libyan factions to stop their military activities. This, however, was met with opposition from the United States. Meanwhile, the fighting between Haftar’s forces and troops of the UN backed government rages on near Tripoli. Libyan officials say more than 30 people have been killed so far. The assault on the outskirts of Tripoli began earlier this week after Haftar called on his Libyan National Army to liberate the North African nation’s capital. The country has been divided by two rival administrations over the past several years following a NATO-backed invasion in 2011.

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

www.presstv.co.uk