WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, March 25, 2019.

Response to Israeli threat

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement has warned Israel against any aggression toward the Gaza Strip following an alleged rocket attack near Tel Aviv. Islamic Jihad chief Ziyad al-Nakhaleh says the resistance group will respond strongly to any Israeli strike on the besieged enclave. Israel’s military claims a long-range rocket launched from Gaza landed on a community northeast of Tel Aviv, wounding seven people. The military has blamed the strike on Hamas which runs the Palestinian territory. It says troop reinforcements and armored units are being sent to the so-called buffer zone with Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to hit back “with force”. Netanyahu, who is currently on a visit to the US, says he will cut short his trip.

France response to protesters

Prosecutors in the French city of Nice have opened an inquiry after an elderly yellow vest activist was seriously injured during Saturday’s protests. Officials say they want to know what happened to 73-year-old Genevieve Legay. When paramedics evacuated the activist from the demonstration, she was bleeding from the head. Her daughter later said that she had suffered several fractures to the skull and subdural haematomas. She is now in stable condition. The French government has faced questions about the handling of the yellow vest rallies since their launch in November. Hundreds have been wounded in the past 19 weeks of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies.

Brexit impasse

Some senior members of the UK’s conservative party have reportedly asked Prime Minister Theresa May to step down in order to resolve the current deadlock over her Brexit deal with the EU. According to media reports, senior conservative lawmakers asked May to set out a timetable to leave office if she wants to get her deal done. The request was made during a crisis meeting on Sunday amid speculations of a cabinet coup to oust the embattled premier. May's office, however, only stated that a range of issues were discussed, including a third attempt for a meaningful vote in parliament on the Brexit deal this week. Two senior cabinet ministers also slammed any immediate attempt to challenge May’s leadership and called on lawmakers to deliver on her deal with the EU.

Brexit uncertainty

The European Union says it has completed preparations for Britain’s withdrawal from the bloc without a deal. European officials say the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit is growing, adding that the bloc doubts London’s ability to solve its political stalemate. British lawmakers are expected to vote on the government’s next steps on Brexit on Tuesday. Last week, Brussels agreed to postpone Britain’s exit from the block from its previous deadline on March 29th. A departure date of May 22 is set to be applied if the British parliament rallies behind Prime Minister Theresa May and her deal. If May fails, however, Downing Street will have until April 12 to offer a new plan or leave the bloc without a deal.

UK Saudi arms sales

In the UK, five opposition parties call on the government to stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. The Labour Party, the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, The Green Party of England and Wales and another Welsh party made the appeal in a joint letter to Downing Street. In the letter, the leaders of the parties accused Saudi Arabia of a reckless and barbaric behavior in its war on Yemen. The letter adds that the government is on the wrong side of history by not recognizing the devastating reality of the onslaught. It also blasts the government for attempting to convince other countries that have stopped arms sales to Riyadh, to reverse their decision. The United Kingdom is a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia. London has defied calls by international rights groups to stop the weapons deliveries.

Iran floods

Record rainfall in Iran has caused heavy flooding in parts of the country. Showers and thunderstorm in the city of Shiraz caught many New Year vacationers by surprise. At least 17 people have been killed and dozens of others have been wounded. Many streets have been inundated and dozens of vehicles have been washed away. The flooding has also caused major property damage. Flooding has also been reported in several other cities including Urmiyah, Yasuj, Khorramabad and Hamedan. Iranian authorities have warned about further downpours in the next two days. Meanwhile, the water is subsiding in flood-hit Golestan and Mazandaran provinces in northern Iran.

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