WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, May 29, 2019 to 0800 GMT, May 30, 2019.

Iran pressure tools

The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has once again ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the US. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says talks with Washington will not only be useless but also harmful.

Trump impeachment calls  

US Democrats are calling for impeachment proceedings to begin against President Donald Trump following rare public remarks by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Senator and presidential hopeful Cory Booker says Congress has a legal and moral obligation to begin the process immediately. Fellow Senator, Bernie Sanders, says he would support the measure if the House Judiciary Committee decides to go ahead with the move. Other Democratic presidential hopefuls have also called for impeachment proceedings to begin immediately. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged caution but says the option is not off the table. The surge in calls comes after Mueller said his office could not charge Trump with a crime because that is a role for Congress, not the Department of Justice.

Israel political deadlock

Israeli lawmakers have voted to dissolve parliament after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu missed a deadline to form a ruling coalition. The Knesset voted by 74 to 45 to dissolve itself, setting Israel on the path to a snap election which is expected to take place in September. Netanyahu was mandated to name a cabinet after his rightwing Likud Party won 35 of the Knesset's 120 seats in the April election. But despite weeks of negotiations, he failed to bridge the gap between secular and religious allies. Netanyahu, whose fifth term in office has been jinxed, vowed on Thursday that his conservative party would win the new vote.

Trade tensions

China has accused the United States of “naked economic terrorism” as tensions flare up between the world's two largest economies amid stalled trade talks. The Chinese deputy foreign minister criticized the US policy toward his country, saying Washington’s premeditated instigation of a trade conflict is its economic chauvinism, and economic bullying. Zhang Hanhui added that China is against the trade war but it’s not afraid of it. He, however, warned that there is no winner in a trade war. Beijing and Washington have held trade talks for months without any breakthrough. The trade tension started after US President Donald Trump imposed higher tariffs on Chinese products, prompting retaliatory measures from the Chinese side.

Sudan general strike

Protesters demanding a civilian government in Sudan are keeping up pressure on military rulers. Thousands of workers participated in the second day of a strike on Wednesday, 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.

Call for resistance

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has called on Muslim nations and governments to maintain their unity against the Israeli regime. The ministry made the call in a statement on the occasion of International Quds Day. It urged the Islamic community to remain vigilant against plots hatched by Israel to sow discord among Muslims and make the issue of Palestine slip into oblivion. The ministry also called for Islamic states to prevent Israel and its supporters from pushing ahead with their political machinations, such as the so-called Deal of the Century. It said the US plan, which is to go into effect in a meeting in Bahrain, will be an eternal blow to Palestine and a major achievement for its occupiers. The ministry called for a huge turnout in Quds Day rallies on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Taiwan military drills

Taiwan’s air, sea and land forces are holding annual military drills amid tensions with China. Fighter jets launched strikes and warships opened fire to destroy a mock enemy beachhead. More than 3,000 soldiers are taking part in the live-fire drill in the southern county of Pingtung. Defense Minister Yen Teh-fa personally observed the maneuver on Thursday. He pledged to defend the self-ruled island against what he called China’s rising military threat. The four-day drills began on Monday. China sees Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. During recent months, China's military staged extensive drills near the island.

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