WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, December 21, 2018 to 0800 GMT, December 22, 2018.

US government shutdown

The lawmakers of the US House of Representatives adjourn their meeting at Capitol Hill without passing a budget agreement, ensuring a government shutdown. The partial shutdown comes amid an impasse between President Donald Trump and lawmakers over billions in federal funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border. The shutdown will expire spending for a number of federal agencies, impacting hundreds of thousands of federal employees. The House is set to return from recess at noon on Saturday.

US asylum row

The US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal aimed at allowing President Donald Trump to bar asylum for illegal immigrants. The appeal was made by the administration against a ruling by a California-based federal judge. It ordered a halt to Trump’s immigration instructions as long as a legal challenge against them proceeds. Trump’s order bars entry and asylum proceedings for illegal migrants who enter the US from Mexico. He has called a caravan of the migrants, waiting to apply for asylum, an invasion by thugs and criminals. But rights groups have challenged his new rules, saying they violate administrative and immigration laws.

Hungary protests

Demonstrators have once again taken to the streets of the Hungarian capital Budapest to express their anger at a new labor law. The protests erupted as right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban dismissed them as "hysterical shouting". The current series of rallies were sparked on December 12 when lawmakers passed a law forcing workers to work hundreds of additional hours a year. The measure was quickly dubbed as "slave law" by opponents. Meanwhile, some councils in Hungary passed resolutions promising not to implement the new law.

US stocks fall

US stocks have suffered one of their worst weekly falls in a decade. Nasdaq is down 20 percent since its peak. The Dow Jones has also recorded its biggest weekly drop since 2008. It has fallen six-point-eight percent during the course of this week. A rise in the interest rate, trade tensions with China and the possibility of a government shutdown have scared the markets.

Iran defense power

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has launched the final stage of a major military exercise on the Persian Gulf island of Qeshm. Different units of the IRGC Ground Force are taking part in the drill aimed at enhancing defense capabilities and maintaining combat readiness. The exercise, codenamed, the Great Prophet 12, started three weeks ago and will be running until Monday. In the last stage, IRGC troops are using combat and surveillance drones, gunships and electronic warfare equipment to attack mock enemy targets. The commander of the IRGC Ground Force says Iran poses no threat to any country but will confront aggressors with full force.

Russia-Palestine talks

The Russian foreign minister has held negotiations with his Palestinian counterpart in Moscow. The talks focused on the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Sergey Lavrov has emphasized that any solution to the conflict between Palestine and Israel must take into account the interests of Palestinian people. Press TV correspondent Marina Kortunova reports.

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