WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, May 19, 2019.

Dismissing US threats

The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps says the country is not seeking war, but is not afraid of war, either. Major General Hossein Salami says the United States’ political philosophy is to plunder the wealth of nations, create an atmosphere for modern slavery and secure unilateral domination over humans’ destiny. He described the US as an ostensibly powerful enemy which is on the decline, adding that the foundations of this apparently major power will soon collapse. The top General noted, the Middle East region has turned into a “potential field of fire” for the US.

Detained Iranian scientist

A top official at Tehran’s Tarbiat Modares University says US authorities have so far refused to offer any explanation for the detention of Professor Mas’oud Soleimani, one of the university’s top stem cell scientists. Fathollahi said Soleimani was arrested on a flight to the US, eight months ago and remains in custody there. The official said the internationally-renowned hematologist was visiting the US on a research visa after getting an invitation from a research center in Minnesota. Fathollahi added that Soleimani’s detention fits in with the US policy against top Iranian scientists after the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Exxon Mobil Iraq pullout

The Iraqi oil minister has slammed as unacceptable and unjustified the American oil and gas giant, Exxon Mobil’s decision to evacuate its workers from the country. Thamir Ghadhban said the corporation has made the decision merely for political reasons. He insisted that there are no security concerns which would validate such a move. Ghadhban added that a letter was sent to the company asking for immediate return to work. On Saturday, Exxon Mobil announced that it would withdraw around sixty of its foreign staff from Iraq. The American corporation described the plan as precautionary and temporary. The company insisted that the decision will not affect Iraq’s crude oil or natural gas production capability. Iraq’s oil minister is set to meet with the company's executives later this week to discuss the issue.

Austria scandal fallout  

Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen has called for snap elections, following the collapse of the government over a corruption scandal. Van der Bellen said he prefers that new parliamentary elections take place at the beginning of September. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has also called for a snap vote. Kurz pulled the plug on his coalition government, after his deputy quit over a corruption scandal. Heinz-Christian Strache did so, after two German newspapers published footage of him, apparently offering lucrative government contracts to a potential Russian benefactor. The far-right politician has accepted that the video was catastrophic, and that his behavior was stupid, irresponsible and a mistake.

Sudan protest

Sudan’s military rulers and protest leaders remain divided on who should lead a new ruling body, as they prepare for fresh talks later on Sunday. An umbrella group representing anti-government protesters insists that the new ruling body must be led by a civilian chairman, with a limited military representation. Army generals, however, want the body to be military-led. The two sides are due to hold talks on the country’s political transition later in the day, after army rulers suspended negotiations on Wednesday. The talks were halted following violence at a sit-in in the capital Khartoum, which left several people dead. Sudan is now ruled by a military council, after the army toppled President Omar al-Bashir last month.

Egypt explosion

Egyptian officials say an explosion has hit a tourist bus close to the Giza pyramids outside the capital Cairo. The officials say at least seventeen people, including foreigners, were injured in the blast. They say an explosive device went off near a museum being built close to the pyramids, as the bus was passing. No group has yet claimed responsibility. This is the second incident affecting tourists in Egypt in the past six months. In December, three Vietnamese tourists and their Egyptian guide were killed after a bomb hit their bus near the Giza pyramids.

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