WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom’s headlines from 18:00 GMT, July 3, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, July 4, 2017.

Qatar diplomatic crisis

Saudi Arabia says it hopes for a positive response from Qatar to a list of demands presented by Riyadh and three of its Arab allies to Doha to comply with, in exchange for the end of anti-Qatar measures.

The deadline to respond to the presented list of demands ended on Sunday but it was extended for another 48 hours. Speaking at a news conference with his German counterpart, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that the Qatari reply will be examined with precision. For his part, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel called for a serious dialog between Arab nations to end the current rift.

Raqqah operation

A US-backed Syrian coalition of Kurdish and Arab groups has made fresh gains against Daesh terrorists in the embattled Syrian city of Raqqah. 

The Syrian Democratic Forces have reportedly expelled takfiri terrorists from Hashim Abdel Malek and al-Yarmouk. The SDF captured key areas located on the southern bank of the Euphrates River. This is the first time the SDF fighters have crossed the Euphrates since they launched a campaign to dislodge the terrorists from the city. Daesh captured Raqqah in July 2014 and declared the city as their de facto capital in Syria. The US-led coalition has been aiding the SDF against Daesh with artillery and airstrikes.

Turkish ship fired upon

A Turkish cargo ship has come under fire by the Greek coast guard in the Aegean Sea. 

The captain of the freighter said his vessel was shot at 16 times after he refused an order to dock at a port on the island of Rhodes for inspection. The Greek Coast Guard claims it tried to stop the vessel by warning shots following a tip that it was carrying narcotics. It said the ship was in Greek waters, a claim rejected by the cargo crew. Meanwhile, the Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the incident as disproportionate, accusing Greece of disregarding human life. Greece and Turkey have a series of unresolved territorial disputes, including maritime boundaries.

Yemen resistance

The Yemeni government blames the international silence for the ongoing Saudi airstrikes and the blockade on the country. meanwhile, a rapidly spreading cholera outbreak has also worsened the humanitarian situation in the country.

Macron’s monarchy

French President Emmanuel Macron has given a surprising state of the union address as the new government is starting to get to work in earnest. The only major announcement Macron made was that he would end the state of emergency, but not before a final extension later this month. 

Talks on Syria

The UN Security Council says it’s ready to encourage any positive developments from the next round of Syria ceasefire talks due to be held later today in Kazakhstan.

China’s UN envoy Liu Jieyi, who holds the council presidency for July, has voiced support for a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process. Syria’s warring factions have held four rounds of negotiations in Kazakhstan since January in parallel to the UN-mediated peace talks in Switzerland. During last month’s talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, Iran, Russia, and Turkey agreed on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria’s mainly militant-held areas. The deal, which came into force on May the fifth, called for the cessation of hostilities between Syria’s warring factions. 

Anger at Al Saud

A group of Muslim activists in the United States have rallied in the capital Washington denouncing efforts by Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi ideology to defame Islam.

The 8th day of the lunar month of Shawwal marks the destruction of Muslims’ holy shrines of Baqee by the Al Saud dynasty some 90 years ago. The protesters chanted anti-Saudi slogans and called for the reconstruction of the Baqee Cemetery and protection of the world religious heritage. Ralliers who had gathered in front of the Saudi embassy also slammed the Saudi government for funding and aiding terrorist organizations. 

Brazil arrest

In Brazil, a former minister has been arrested by police in a new blow to the country's scandal-plagued administration. 

Geddel Vieira Lima, the ex-minister for legislative affairs, was taken into custody on suspicion of obstruction of justice. The prosecutor general alleged that Lima illegally extended loans to high profile politicians and businessmen while serving as vice-president of the national CEF bank between 2011 and 2013. Lima is also accused of paying hush money to silence former lower house Speaker Eduardo Cunha and broker Lucio Funaro, who worked as fundraisers for the party of incumbent President Michel Temer. This, as the Brazilian president has himself officially been charged with financial corruption. Temer dismisses the charges as fiction.

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

www.presstv.ir