WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, May 28, 2019 to 0800 GMT, May 29, 2019.

Saudi Yemen airstrikes

Saudi Arabia has carried out fresh airstrikes near the airport of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. The attack targeted arms depots in the al-Deilami Air Base, adjacent to Sana’a airport. There is no report on the possible casualties. The strike is part of Saudi Arabia’s prolonged aggression against its southern neighbor. Riyadh and its allies started a war on Yemen in March 2015. Since then, the Saud-led coalition attacks have killed more than 15,000 people, mostly civilians. The war has also displaced thousands of others.

Iraq-France row

France is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to prevent the execution of six French citizens who have been sentenced to death in Iraq for their Daesh membership. Le Drian said he has relayed Paris’s opposition to the death penalty to the Iraqi president. Two Iraqi courts sentenced two more French nationals to death on Tuesday. This has brought the number of French Daesh members facing the death penalty to six. Thousands of suspected Daesh militants, including hundreds of foreigners, are standing trial in Iraq. France has refused to take back French Daesh members, calling them enemies of the nation. According to Le Drian, there are about 450 Daesh-linked French nationals held in the Kurdish-controlled region in Syria.

Division over EU jobs

European Union leaders continue pushing for their candidates to grab the top jobs in the bloc following last week’s election. Merkel said she supported her center-right candidate Manfred Weber for president of the European Commission in the talks, but Macron refused to reveal his favorite candidates. The two leaders made the statements after a closed-door summit in Brussels. Other big roles up for grabs later this year include heads of the European Parliament, the European Central Bank and the European Council. EU leaders will meet again on June 21st to determine the senior leadership positions in the bloc.

Sudan strike

Wednesday marks the second day of a general strike in Sudan, with organizers seeking to pressure army rulers to hand over power to a civilian government. Thousands of workers have participated in the strike, leaving air and bus passengers stranded. The strike follows weeks of protests demanding civilian rule. This, after the army toppled longtime president Omar al-Bashir and took power in April. Protest leaders and the army have held several rounds of talks to form a new transitional body. But, they have so far failed to iron out differences over who should lead it. An umbrella group representing anti-government protesters insists that the new ruling body must be led by a civilian chairman, with limited military representation.

Nigeria protest

Thousands of Nigerians have rallied in the capital Abuja, calling for the release of the leader of Islamic movement in the country. Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has been in prison since 2015 despite a high court ruling for this release.

US anti-Iran accusation

US national security adviser John Bolton says he’s almost certain that Iran was behind recent attacks on four commercial ships off the UAE earlier this month. Bolton called the increasing presence of the American forces in the region a successful response to Iran’s regional activities. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had dismissed the US allegation as psychological warfare. Zarif had warned that possible plots could be hatched by foreign elements to destabilize the region, and that the US military presence would increase tensions. The US administration has in the past months mounted pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. It has tightened sanctions and reinforced military deployments to counter what it calls Iran’s threats.

Idlib offensive

Syria’s envoy to the United Nations says Damascus will spare no effort to rescue its citizens from terrorist groups in Idlib province. Bashar al-Jafari said Nusra Front terrorists continue attacks against civilians and the army in Idlib, while using civilians as human shields. He stressed that it is Syria’s right to continue operations, including the ongoing one in Idlib, to liberate its territory from terror groups. Jafari called on the foreign military forces who are present in Syria without Damascus’ approval to immediately leave the country. Also in his remarks, the Syrian envoy warned against possible chemical attacks by militants. He said, they put the blame on the government, thanks to threats from the US, Britain and France against Damascus.

Huawei legal battle

Huawei is pressing ahead with its lawsuit against the US government as the Chinese tech giant files a motion in an American court. The telecom equipment-maker has asked the court in Texas to overturn a law that limits its sales in the US. The legislation was passed by the US Congress last summer, and prevents federal agencies from using Huawei products. The embattled firm says there is no evidence to support the ban.

‘Cruel’ migration policy

Pope Francis slams US President Donald Trump for his policy of building border walls and separating migrant families. The pope said it was cruel to separate children from their parents, adding that the practice goes against natural law. He made the criticism in a TV interview with Mexica's Televisa. Trump has long insisted on building a wall along the Mexican border. He argues that the measure is necessary to prevent illegal immigration, drug smuggling and other crimes. Last month, Trump denied media reports that he was considering bringing back the controversial policy of separating immigrant families.

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