WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, December 22, 2018 to 0800 GMT, December 23, 2018.

US government shutdown

The US congress has adjourned a rare session after failing to reach a deal over budget spending that has partially shut down the government. The US majority leader said the next legislative session will be held on December 27th. Mitch McConnell added that Republicans and Democrats will continue negotiations until then. McConnell noted that he will call the senate back into session for a vote at any time if there is a deal on government spending. Earlier, fierce exchanges took place to try and end the impasse. The Senate majority leader blamed the Democrats for the deadlock.

Spain accepts refugees

Spain has permitted a ship carrying hundreds of rescued refugees to enter its waters after Italy and other Mediterranean countries refused to receive it. Spain's Foreign Ministry said Malta denied the aid ship permission to dock and the boat's calls to Italy, France, Tunisia and Libya went unanswered. The boat belonging to the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms saved more than three hundred asylum seekers on Friday in waters near Libya. The NGO said women and children were among the refugees rescued from three vessels. Italy’s far-right interior minister has ordered ports closed to most refugee arrivals by sea. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 1300 asylum seekers have perished trying to reach Italy or Malta since the beginning of the year as a result of the country’s hardline policies.

Venezuela-Colombia tensions

Venezuela's government has responded to the expulsion of one of its diplomats in Colombia by expelling a Colombian embassy worker in Caracas. The move comes amid heightened tensions between the Latin American neighbors over an attempt against Venezuelan President earlier this year. Press TV correspondent Jesus Silva reports from Caracas.

Palestine political tensions

A senior member of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas has slammed President Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council. Hamas lawmaker, Yehiha Moussa said the move will destroy the political system and open the door to chaos. He said the assembly expires only when a new parliament is formed after elections. Moussa rejected Abbas claims that Hamas blocks national unity, accusing Fatah of hindering Egyptian efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation. The remarks came after Abbas said he considered dissolving the legislative council and called for elections in six months. Hamas won the last parliamentary elections in 2006 in a landslide, resulting in an electoral dispute with Abbas's Fatah Party. The split has led to failure of several reconciliation attempts. The parliament has not met since 2007.

Indonesia tsunami

Officials in Indonesia say a tsunami has crashed into the coast off the country killing more than 40 people. Nearly 600 others have been injured after the disaster struck three regions in the Sunda Strait. Government officials say hundreds of buildings have been damaged. They added that a volcano eruption may have caused undersea landslides, causing the tsunami.

France protests

France’s yellow vest protests have reached the country's border points as the anti-government rallies continued for the sixth consecutive weekend. On Saturday, protesters set up roadblocks and disrupted traffic in areas near the borders with Spain, Germany and Italy. Rallies were also held in the capital Paris and other cities. Protests in some locations turned violent including in Paris, where police and protesters clashed. French interior ministry says at least 220 people were arrested nationwide. The demonstrations by the Yellow Vest movement were triggered by fuel tax hikes last month. But, they later turned into a broader call for Macron’s resignation over his plans to revitalize economy. Opponents say the president’s plans favor the rich over the poor.

Italy budget row

Italy’s upper house has approved the revision of the country’s 2019 budget law which had stirred a bitter row with the European Union. Opposition lawmakers criticized Italy’s populist government for rushing the vote in order to avoid in-depth scrutiny of the bill. They also accused Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte of surrendering Italian interests for those of other EU member states. The government, however, insists that the revised bill safeguards the rights and privileges of the lower and middle social classes as promised. The proposed budget should also be approved by the lower chamber of parliament before December 31. The European Commission had rejected Italy's original budget in October over spending plans. It had threatened Italy with disciplinary action, should Rome fail to comply with its request to revise the bill.

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