UN chief urges international community to resettle refugees

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Baghdad has summoned Saudi Ambassador Thamer Sabhan over his recent remarks against Iranian military advisors in Iraq. Sabhan has accused the Iranian advisors of seeking to stoke sectarian tensions. Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ja’afari has dismissed the Saudi diplomat’s comments as blatant interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.
   
• Iraqi government forces are pressing on with an offensive aimed at liberating the city of Mosul. They are now advancing towards the Daesh-held city from a southern front. The battle to retake Mosul comes only a day after the military declared victory over terrorists in the city of Fallujah.
   
• Russia's defense minister has pledged to increase military assistance to the Syrian government forces fighting terrorists. Sergei Shoigu made the promise in Damascus where he held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Shoigu also visited Hmeymim airbase to inspect Russian Air Force operations.
   
• Bahraini clerics have warned the government against any attempt to target religious practices of the country’s Shia Muslims. They issued the warning after state media reported that authorities were probing funds of two Islamic charities linked to main opposition group al-Wefaq.
   
• The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has urged caution against enemy plots to use scientific relations as a tool for security infiltration. Addressing university professors and academicians, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the enemy capitalizes on whatever means available to infiltrate into the country.
   
• Campaigning resumes in Britain for the EU referendum, after it was halted following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox on Thursday. The vote is set to be held on June 23. Fresh surveys say the 'Remain' camp has a support of 45 percent, as opposed to 42 percent for the 'Leave' camp.
   
• UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on the international community to resettle more refugees. He urged the Greek officials to immediately stop the detention of asylum seekers who arrived in the country. Ban made the comments after meeting with refugees in the eastern Greek Island of Lesbos.
   
• In the US, a raging brushfire in Santa Barbara County has more than tripled, ripping through more than 7,000 acres of forest land. Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for some areas. Residents of neighboring communities have also received evacuation warnings. Officials say the fire has been 45 percent contained.

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

www.presstv.co.uk