WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, July 2, 2017.

US anti-Iran Moves

Iran’s parliament speaker says the country will give a strong response to any move by the US government or congress to increase pressure on Iran. Larijani added that the US has taken up a clearer anti-Iran stance in recent months. He said proposals presented by the US officials are more openly aimed at undermining Iran’s regional standing. Larijani noted that Washington’s policy towards Iran is evident in both titles and contents of some of the bills being debated in the US Senate. Two weeks ago, US senators voted for a bill on new anti-Iran sanctions over its ballistic missile program and support for anti-Israeli resistance groups. In response, Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy committee has prepared a bill to counter Washington’s hostile measures. The committee says the bill lays the basis for future responses to any sanctions imposed by the US.

Battle for Mosul

Iraqi forces have recaptured a hospital and other medical facilities as they are pressing ahead with anti-Daesh mop-up operations in the western part of the city of Mosul. An army spokesman says the forces retook the Ibn Sina Teaching Hospital along with other facilities, further limiting Daesh’s hold on the area. Meanwhile, Iraqi forces are said to have been advancing from three sides to dislodge the terrorist group in the few remaining pockets of the Old City. The army has already seized the remains of al-Nuri mosque, where the Daesh leader declared the so-called caliphate back in 2014. The group blew up the mosque as Iraqi forces were closing on them. On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the full liberation of the city is near and that Iraqi forces were about to bring about victory.

World Refugee Crisis

The United Nation’s refugee agency has urged the European Union to aid Italy cope with its refugee crisis as the Mediterranean country warns to tighten the noose on asylum seekers. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has said in a statement that Italy is playing its part in taking in and protecting asylum seekers, urging the country to continue its efforts. He added, however, that the refugee crisis is a matter of international concern and EU members should be fully involved in resolving it. Italy threatened last week to close its ports to humanitarian refugee rescue ships from other countries. According to the UNHCR, over 12000 refugees travelled to Italy during last weekend alone, of whom more than 2000 lost their lives on route.

Rage against G20

Tens of thousands of people against corporate globalization have taken to the streets of the German city of Hamburg ahead of the upcoming G20 summit. Anti-globalization demonstrators converged on Hamburg despite rainy weather conditions to call on G20 leaders to take more action on inequality, climate change and populism. The leaders are due to gather for a two day summit in Hamburg on July 7 amid tight security to discuss issues including trade, climate change and migration. As protests rage, the German chancellor has promised people that the summit would look into their concerns, including distribution of wealth and consumption of resources. Angela Merkel says they will seek a win-win situation for everyone in which consumer protection, social and environmental standards are upheld.

Defeating Daesh

Iraqi forces have in their latest push recaptured the Makawi region and Belal al-Habashi mosque from Daesh terrorists as they press ahead with mop-up operations to fully liberate the city from Daesh terrorists. Earlier in the day, Iraqi forces also recaptured a hospital and other medical facilities in the western part of Mosul as they press ahead with mop-up operations to fully liberate the city from Daesh. An army spokesman says the seizure has further limited ISIL’s hold in the area. The army in now closing in on the area from three sides as it edges closer to retaking the remaining pockets of the Old City.

Egypt Mass Verdicts

An Egyptian court has upheld the death penalty for 20 men convicted of killing policemen in the violence that followed the 2013 coup that toppled former president Mohamed Morsi. The court has however changed the sentence for many others to long prison terms. The verdicts can be appealed again. The case involves 156 defendants and is known as the "Kerdasa incident". That is a reference to the pro-Muslim Brotherhood neighborhood where the violence took place in the Giza province near the capital. Morsi’s downfall plunged Egypt into chaos and violence that have continued to date and left many dead. Egypt has been frequently criticized by rights groups for harsh crackdown on opponents of the coup which brought down the former president.

Victory in the Making

Iraqi forces have started celebrations after recapturing more neighborhoods from Daesh terrorists in western Mosul. The celebrations began after the army recaptured the Makawi region and Belal al-Habashi mosque from Daesh terrorists. Earlier in the day, Iraqi forces took control of a hospital and other medical facilities in the western part of Mosul as they pressed ahead with mop-up operations. The fighting has narrowed as street battles have become limited to several pockets of Mosul’s Old City.

Syria Chemical Probe

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s opposition to any use of chemical weapons. He was speaking during a meeting with the head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ahmet Ozumchu in Tehran. Zarif noted that Iran was a victim of chemical arms during the 8-year Iraqi imposed war. The Iranian foreign minister says Tehran is ready to cooperate with the OPCW in the organization’s investigation into the April chemical attack in syria’s Idlib province. He said terror groups including Daesh have a history of launching chemical attacks in Syria. Ozumchu also referred to the use of chemical warfare against Iran by the former Iraqi regime, saying the OPCW issues a statement on the anniversary of the gas attacks each year. Ozumchu added that the agency is now probing the deadly chemical attack in Syria.

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