WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, May 21, to 08:00 GMT, May 22, 2017.

Iran raps Bahraini sentence against cleric

Iran has strongly condemned a Bahraini regime court ruling against prominent cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim. Foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi, slammed the al-Khalifa regime for leveling illicit charges against the religious leader of Bahraini Shias. Qassemi warned Manama against any act of aggression regarding the cleric. He urged the al-Khalifa regime to consider the spiritual position of the Sheikh and respect the popular demand for his freedom. The verdict announced by prosecutors includes suspended one year imprisonment and seizure of assets. Last June, the Manama regime revoked the Sheikh’s citizenship over accusations of using his position to serve foreign interests and promote sectarianism. The top cleric has denied the allegations. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s dissolved opposition bloc, al-Wefaq has criticized the ruling. It says the regime has entered a new phase of crisis as the verdict poses risks to the kingdom’s future.

Homs liberation

The governor of the Syrian city of Homs has announced the complete evacuation of the last batch of militants from the city. The governor said the militants and their families left the Waer neighborhood in the last phase of evacuation and left toward Idlib, Jarablus in Aleppo countryside. The city is cleared of militants for the first time since the Syrian crisis began in 2011. The Syrian government says the evacuation is not a pure reconciliation deal, but rather a surrender of militants, who are mostly linked with al-Qaeda, al-Nusra Front, and Ahrar al-Sham.

UNSC meeting on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet behind closed doors to discuss North Korea's latest ballistic missile test. The world body said the emergency meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, had been requested by the US, Japan and South Korea. North Korea fired a ballistic missile into waters off its east coast on Sunday. Washington and Seoul have voiced concern over North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs. Pyongyang says these programs are meant to protect the country from US hostility and aggression.

Response to Trump

The Iranian foreign minister has denounced the latest anti-Tehran remarks made by US President Donald Trump during his visit to Saudi Arabia. On his twitter account, Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized the U-S president for verbally attacking Iran. The top Iranian diplomat said it was unclear whether Trump’s comments were part of Washington’s policy or aimed at milking hundreds of billions of dollars from Saudi Arabia. During a speech in Riyadh, the US president called on all countries to work together to isolate Iran. He also accused the Islamic republic of fuelling the fires of sectarian conflict and terror.

Unrest in Venezuela

Tensions boil over between rival camps in Venezuela. Anti-government protesters have set on fire a government supporter during rallies in the capital Caracas. The interior and justice ministries said the 21-year-old victim remained at hospital with burns to 80 percent of his body and stab wounds. Meanwhile, a demonstrator died from gunshot wounds, raising to 48 the number of people killed in seven weeks of protests against President Nicolas Maduro. The attorney general's office said gunmen allegedly opened fire on a demonstration in the western city of Valera. The oil-reach Latin American country has been grappling with economic and political crises since 2015. The opposition blames Maduro for the problems BUT the president says his opponents are seeking a coup with US support.

Palestinian hunger strike

Hundreds of detainees have reportedly joined the mass hunger strike staged by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. 220 Palestinian prisoners joined the Freedom and Dignity Strike which was launched on April 17. Meanwhile, activists say a number of prisoners have been transferred to a civilian hospital after falling into a critical health condition. They are warning that prison authorities might force-feed hospitalized strikers. The hunger-striking prisoners are demanding proper medical care and treatment and an end to solitary confinement and the so-called administrative detention. The say they will continue their open-ended protest action until their demands are met.

Protest in Brazil

Protesters have taken to the streets across Brazil to call for the resignation of President Michel Temer and demand direct presidential election. The protests were triggered by an audio that purportedly showed Temer approving the payment of bribes to former Senate colleague Eduardo Cunha. Cunha is currently serving a prison sentence for taking millions in bribes as part of Operation Car Wash. He had previously claimed to hold compromising information that could affect several senior Brazilian politicians. But Temer has refused to resign and said he would ask the Supreme Court to suspend an investigation into him obstructing justice. If Temer resigns or is removed from power, speaker of the Lower House of Congress Rodrigo Maia would be next in line for succession for 30 days until congress votes for a new president.

Clashes in Turkey

Clashes have erupted between Turkish police and anti-government demonstrators who took to the streets of the city of Istanbul. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters who were calling on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resign. Erdogan gained sweeping new powers following his victory in the April 16 constitutional referendum. The demonstrators claimed the referendum was carried out illegitimately due to widespread irregularities. The vote changes the country's governing system from a parliamentary structure to a presidential one. It has so far led to numerous rallies across the country. The latest protest came as Erdogan was reappointed the leader of the country’s ruling party.

Protests in Bahrain

In Bahrain, people have taken to the streets in several regions to protest a regime court ruling against prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim. Protesters denounced the verdict, which includes a suspended prison sentence for Sheikh Qassim and the seizure of all his assets. Bahraini regime forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters in some areas. The regime court ruling has drawn reactions in the region. Iran slammed the Al Khalifah regime for leveling accusations against the religious leader of Bahraini Shias. Tehran urged Manama to consider the spiritual position of Sheikh Qassim and respect the popular demand for his freedom. The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah also condemned the ruling.

Yemen humanitarian crisis

A prominent international NGO says children in Yemen are bearing the brunt of a nationwide cholera outbreak. Save the children says an average of one-thousand cases are being detected every day, with nearly two out of three suspected of being children under 15 years. The organization has warned the outbreak could become a full blown-epidemic, with more than 65-thousand cases expected by the end of June. Medical officials in Yemen say hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients. The disease has claimed more than 3 hundred lives and has affected nearly 30 thousand others over the past few weeks. Aid organizations say Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen and its crippling sea and naval blockade have caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.

Global displacements

One person every second has been internally displaced in 2016 because of conflicts and natural disasters. According to a report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre more than 31 million people were forced to flee their home inside their own country last year. The new report warns that the numbers will grow unless the underlying causes like climate change and political turmoil are tackled. The aid group also noted that internally displaced people now outnumber refugees by two to one. Unlike refugees, who seek asylum in other countries, internally displaced people remain in their own country and can't claim international protection so they are often overlooked.

Battle for Mosul

Fierce clashes are taking place between the advancing Iraqi forces and Daesh terrorists in the last five districts of western Mosul where the Takfiri group is still present. This comes as the battle to cleanse the entire city approaches its final phase. According to Nineveh Province Council the Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces are close to liberating three neighboring districts North West of Mosul’s old city. The paramilitary forces say once the districts are freed, they will unite to attack the old city, where Daesh is reported to be cornered and in control of eight square kilometers. On Sunday the counter terrorism service declared their mission complete. The Special Forces say they have liberated the districts assigned to them but stand ready to support other forces. Analysts warn that as Daesh loses Mosul, the Takfiri group is likely to step up its bombing campaign against civilians elsewhere.

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