Slamming US threats
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has slammed US President Donald Trump's latest rhetoric against Iran, including his threat to use the so-called “mother of all bombs” against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. The IRGC’s spokesman, Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, said in a message that only a savage civilization could use the sacred word "mother" for its heaviest bomb. He added that the future belongs to a nation that turns the enemy's greatest threat into street and market humor. His remarks came after the Iranian Army’s Deputy for Executive Affairs said the country's armed forces are on high alert and ready to respond to any threats. Brigadier General Alireza Sheikh said the Army, equipped with modernized weaponry, has its fingers on the trigger. He warned against the enemy’s use of propaganda to intimidate the Iranian nation, emphasizing that Iranians will counter the enemy’s excessive demands with resilience and unity.
West Bank settler violence
Israeli settlers have attacked a convoy of European diplomats and beat up a visiting French mayor in the occupied West Bank, in a new escalation of violence during the Palestinian olive harvest. Local sources quoted the 78-year-old mayor as saying that masked settlers yelled defamatory comments about France. They kicked him and hit him with iron bars as he joined Palestinian olive farmers, alongside the top French and Belgian representatives in al-Quds, and Polish diplomats. The French mayor said the whole world needs to know what's happening in the occupied territory, as Palestinians are those who continue to suffer the most from settler attacks. The attack came just one day after settlers beat an American photographer for The Washington Post, who was in moderate condition with broken vertebrae. Following the incident, Belgium called for an end to “impunity for violent settlers,” while French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, demanded that Israel crack down on ‘criminal violence.” Israel’s prime minister, however, downplayed the attack, calling it a "smear" campaign against settlers.
Europe anti-govt. protests
Violent protests led by students over the rising cost of living, social inequality, and deteriorating public services are sweeping through Europe, with demonstrators and police clashing in several European countries. Thousands of people took to the streets in Portugal, demanding higher wages, better pensions and improved public services. Dozens were reportedly injured in a police crackdown in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra. In Albania, student-led protests entered their fifth day, including in Tirana, Durres and Korce. Arrests and property damage were reported after police deployed water cannons. In the Belgian capital, police responded with tear gas and water cannons and arrested dozens, after protesters rallied against rising education costs. Similar protests were held in France against the rising cost of living, social inequality, and deteriorating public services. The General Confederation of Labour union says some 800,000 people turned out across France for the protests, while a minister put the number at over half a million people, with 110,000 only in the capital, Paris. Human rights groups have accused police of using disproportionate force in response to the protests.
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website