WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, May 6, 2018.

Iran US warning

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has issued a stern warning to the US over its threats to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal. Rouhani said Iranian bodies, including the country’s Atomic Energy Organization, have prepared their options from months ago. The president said Iran is ready to counter any move by the US. Rouhani also dismissed western calls for negotiation with Iran on its defensive missile activities.

Lebanon elections

Lebanese voters are heading to the polls to cast their ballots in general elections. Over 3.6 million registered voters are eligible to choose among hundreds of candidates vying for the 128-seat parliament. Both President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri have cast their ballots. The polls will close at 16:00 GMT and unofficial results are expected to emerge overnight. This is the first legislative vote in nearly a decade of turbulent politics in Lebanon. Last year, lawmakers agreed on new voting rules that are expected to bring some changes to parliament, but preserve a unity government combining its main political blocs. Disagreement over the electoral law was the main reason elections were delayed three times since 2009.

Targeting Daesh positions

The Iraqi prime minister has ordered an airstrike on the positions of the Daesh terrorist group in Syria. Haider al-Abadi’s office announced in a statement that Iraqi warplanes had struck a site south of the Dashisha village in Dayr al-Zawr province near the Iraqi border. According to the statement, the site was used by Daesh commanders. Abadi’s office added that the air raid dealt a heavy blow to Daesh terrorists. Iraq has so far launched several aerial attacks on Daesh positions inside Syria with the support of Damascus.

Saudi rights violations

Human Rights Watch says there’s been a dramatic rise in the number of arbitrary detentions in Saudi Arabia in recent years. The prominent rights group says over 2,300 people are being held in custody for more than six months without any charges. This compares to the previous data analysis which showed nearly 300 people were jailed arbitrarily. The group has called on Saudi officials to either charge the defendants or release them immediately. The HRW Middle East director says the Saudi criminal justice remains unjust despite claims made by the crown prince on reforms.

‘No US role’ involved

North Korea has warned the United States not to mislead the public opinion over its denuclearization decision. A spokesman for the North Korean foreign ministry said his country’s intention to denuclearize was not the result of US pressures and sanctions. He also accused Washington of deliberately provoking Pyongyang in a bid to undermine the atmosphere of dialog. The North Korean official said describing the North’s change in policy as a sign of weakness would not be conducive to talks and may bring the situation back to square one. The reaction by Pyongyang came after US President Donald Trump credited US sanctions and maximum pressure for a breakthrough with North Korea. Trump is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the next few weeks in a historic meeting.

Israel kills Palestinians

Israeli forces have shot to death two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials say the two along with another suspect were trying to cross over the so-called buffer zone. They claimed the Palestinians had plans to damage “security infrastructure”. Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed the deaths. Israel has deployed more troops along the so-called buffer zone after residents of the enclave began their weekly mass rally there on March the thirtieth. The gathering dubbed the Great Return March is held against Israel’s occupation and the regime’s refusal to allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homeland. Israeli forces have killed nearly 50 of the peaceful protesters so far drawing condemnation from international rights groups.

Afghan toll rising

A bomb blast kills at least 19 people at a mosque in eastern Afghanistan. The bomb went off when worshippers were gathering for afternoon prayers at the mosque in Khost province. It also left 29 people wounded. Authorities say the number of casualties may rise. There is no claim of responsibility for the bombing. But the main suspects behind similar attacks are Taliban militants or Daesh terrorist group’s offshoot in Afghanistan. Daesh’s franchise has carried some of the deadliest terror attacks in the country in recent months.

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