WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom’s headlines from 18:00 GMT, June 19, to 08:00 GMT, June 20, 2017.

Solidarity with Muslims

People have gathered in north London to show their solidarity to those affected by an attack on a mosque.

A man rammed a van into a crowd of worshippers outside Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park on Monday, killing a man and injuring at least nine others. British media named the suspect as Darren Osborne, 47-year-old man who was living in Cardiff, Wales. The security ministry said the suspect, who is now in custody, was not known to authorities prior to the attack. Police are treating the incident as a terror attack. Earlier this month, terrorists ploughed a van into crowds on London Bridge and later entered the Borough Market, killing eight people and injuring dozens more.

Daesh days numbered

A final push to eradicate Daesh Takfiri terrorists from Mosul continues with the Iraqi forces making fresh gains. As our correspondence Ali Musawi reports the presence of civilians trapped in the war zone is slowing down the army’s advance. 

‘Ban the bomb’

Dozens of anti-nuclear bomb activists have been arrested in New York during a protest against Washington’s decision to boycott negotiations on a nuclear weapons ban treaty.

The arrests were made after the activists chanting slogans such as - US join the talks, ban the bomb-blocked the entrances to the US mission to the UN. The protesters sat in front of the doors before the police moved in. In March, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley announced that the United States, Britain and France had decided not to join talks on a nuclear weapons ban treaty. A second round of negotiations is underway at the UN. The world body adopted a resolution in December to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading toward their total elimination and encouraged all member states to participate. 

‘Brazen’ US statement

Iran’s envoy to the UN has strongly denounced as interventionist the recent anti-Tehran remarks by the US Secretary of State. 

Gholamali Khoshroo made the comments in a letter to the UN chief. He also described Rex Tillerson’s statement as a flagrant violation of an international treaty, which obliges the US not to intervene in any country’s internal affairs. Khoshroo stressed that the Iranian nation has on multiple occasions proven that it can decide its own destiny. He noted that Washington’s attempts to intervene in Iran’s domestic affairs are doomed to failure. The remarks followed Tillerson’s call for a regime change in Iran. The US secretary of state had also accused the Islamic republic of conducting destabilizing moves in the region and supporting terrorists. 

US Muslims outraged by girl’s murder

The murder of a teenage Muslim girl in the US state of Virginia has sparked outrage among Muslim communities across the country. 

Social media flooded with shock and resentment, with Muslims urging authorities to investigate the death of 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen as a hate crime. The girl was walking with friends to a mosque in northern Virginia when she was attacked and beaten to death. Her body was later found in Sterling area, outside Washington with signs of beating. So far, police have ruled out hate crime as a motivation for the incident, stressing that the killing was the result of a road rage. A 22-year-old man, identified as Darwin Martinez Torres, is charged with the killing. A vigil for the slain girl is scheduled for Wednesday.

London fire

British activists have staged a protest outside the parliament to decry what they called the government's lack of action in a deadly London tower fire.

The protesters demanded a proper and independent inquiry to hold those criminally responsible for the disaster to account. They also called for justice for the victims and their families. Last week, at least 79 people were killed by fire which blazed through London’s Grenfell Tower occupied by many refugees. The British government has faced harsh criticism from the opposition, the public and the media over the tragedy, with many saying that the rescue efforts were not adequate.

Israeli settlements

Israel has stepped up its settlement activities in the occupied West Bank.

Data released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics shows construction of settler units in the area soared by 70-percent between April 2016 and March 2017. Israeli watchdog “Peace Now” says the settlement boom comes as there has been a two-point-five-percent drop in construction activities in other parts of the occupied territories. The group has sharply criticized Tel Aviv for pressing ahead with settlement expansion despite international outcry. It has warned that such construction activities continue to distance the Israelis from the only way to end the conflict with the Palestinians through a two-state solution. All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

Syria army gains 

Syrian government forces have made further advances against Daesh terrorists, regaining control over nearly two dozen towns and farms around the city of Raqqah.

During their operations, the Syrian Army reportedly killed hundreds of terrorists and destroyed their vehicles and tanks. The US backed forces have also made advances against Daesh terrorists in the city of Raqqah. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces or SDF has reported their advances but noted that the mines left by the terrorists slowed down their progress towards the city center. Meanwhile, the SDF has accused the Syrian government of bombing their positions, southwest of the flashpoint city, in recent days. They also threatened to retaliate if the attacks continue. The force, which is made up of Kurdish and Arab militants, has taken territory to the west, east and north of the Daesh strong hold. Officials estimate that thousands of takfiri terrorists remain in the city.

UK economic downturn

Britain’s economy is expected to slow in the coming years.

The Confederation of British Industry blames the projected economic downturn on domestic political turmoil, the impact of Brexit, and fallout from the recent inconclusive general elections. The confederation, which is the UK’s biggest employers’ grouping, said the country is expected to see steady but subdued economic growth over the next few years. It said the economy will continue to face headwinds amid ongoing political uncertainty. The confederation said rising inflation and low wage growth mean that people are already starting to feel the pinch.

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