WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, December 17, 2018.

Kashmir tensions

Indian-controlled Kashmir is witnessing yet another shut down amid anger over the killing of civilians by Indian forces. A security clampdown and a strike called by pro-independence groups have brought the disputed Himalayan region to a standstill. That’s a day after chaotic anti-India protests and clashes left seven Kashmiris dead. People took to the streets on Saturday to denounce the killing of several pro-independence fighters. Residents accused troops of indiscriminate shooting. Meanwhile, the authorities have placed several Kashmiri leaders under house arrest in anticipation of more anti-India protests. While shops and businesses remained closed, armed police and paramilitary soldiers are fanning out across the region. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their partition and independence from Britain in 1947.

US-China trade rift

The US and China clash at a World Trade Organization meeting after an American envoy slammed China’s trade policies. Dennis Shea accused China of pursuing what he called unfair competitive practices. He said such a move is aimed at harming foreign companies and workers in a way that violates the WTO’s rules. In response, China’s ambassador said the US trade policies have brought back the ghost of unilateralism to the WTO. Zhang Xiangchen urged Washington to work on WTO reforms through consultations on equal grounds. The two countries have been engaged in an escalating trade war since Donald Trump took office in 2017.

Backing Yemen talks

Iran says it supports the ongoing process of the UN-brokered peace talks over the crisis in Yemen and that it will spare no effort to help the Yemeni people. Qassemi said the invasion of Yemen and the bombardment of innocent civilians need to stop in order for the ceasefire to take effect. He said Tehran has been insisting on a political process from the very beginning of the Saudi-led onslaught on Yemen. The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the tragic humanitarian crisis in Yemen will remain as a point of disgrace in the world’s history. He expressed hope that the invaders could learn from their failure in Yemen, where they thought could change the fate of a nation using military force.

US Somalia airstrikes

The US military says it has killed dozens of al-Shabab terrorists during military operations in southeast Somalia. The US military’s Africa Command says four airstrikes were carried out in Banaadir province on Saturday, killing 34 people. Two air raids were also conducted on Sunday, leaving 28 people dead. The Command said in a statement that the airstrikes aimed to prevent terrorists from using remote areas to plot, direct and recruit for future attacks. The US mostly uses drones for airstrikes in Somalia and other Muslim countries like Pakistan, Yemen and Afghanistan. Rights groups say the attacks have claimed thousands of civilian lives in these countries.

Russia-Ukraine tensions

Moscow says it’s deploying ten fighter jets to Crimea as tension is rising between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian defense ministry said the fighter jets will be permanently stationed in the Belbek air base in Crimea. It comes after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Kiev of preparing an armed provocation near the borders of Crimea before the end of the year. Tensions between the two countries flared in November after Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships that had illegally entered the Russian waters, off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula. Kiev said Moscow blocked the vessels from passing into the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait. Tensions have been high around the Black Sea since Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum in 2014.

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