WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, December 26, 2018.

Hudaydah truce

Sporadic clashes have broken out in Yemen’s port city of Hudaydah where a cease-fire has been in place since last week. The violence comes as a UN-led team, tasked with monitoring the shaky truce in Red Sea port, is set to meet for the first time. Reports coming out of the flashpoint city say Saudi-backed forced and Houthi fighters exchanged gunfire for a few hours. The sound of heavy artillery could be heard to the east of Hudaydah. The warring parties have engaged several times since the UN-brokered truce took force on December 18. Both sides have traded accusations over the breaches. Hudaydah is the main port entry for food and humanitarian aid to nearly 16 million Yemenis.

US government shutdown

US federal workers and their families have taken to social media to voice their frustration on the ongoing government shutdown. The individuals are expressing their problems and worries through Hashtag-ShutdownStories. They’re mainly angry over the timing of the shutdown which is taking place during Christmas holidays. Many others are worried about their due mortgage payments. Nearly one-quarter of the US federal government agencies has been shut down since December 22. This occurred following a standoff between President Donald Trump and Congress. Trump says the shutdown will continue as long as he does not get the necessary funding for building a wall across the Mexico border. Congressmen, mainly Democrats, say the project is costly and the money could go to more important issues.

Guatemala funeral

An eight-year-old Guatemalan migrant boy dies hours after he and his father were detained by US border security agents. The US Customs and Border Protection says the boy was taken to hospital in New Mexico on Monday. He was later released after being diagnosed with a common cold and fever. The boy was returned to the same hospital after starting to vomit. He died in the early hours of Tuesday. The official cause of death has not yet been announced. Meanwhile, a funeral procession was held for a seven-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in US custody earlier this month.

Iran-Taliban talks

The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says the Islamic Republic will continue talks with the Taliban to help resolve security problems in Afghanistan. Ali Shamkhani made the remark in a meeting with Afghanistan’s senior security officials in Kabul. He added that Tehran has been holding talks with the Taliban with the knowledge of the Afghan government. Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged the international community to facilitate dialog between the Taliban and the Afghan government to restore peace to the war-torn country. The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to eradicate the Taliban. Despite its military presence in Afghanistan, the US has so far failed to restore security to the country.

Japan whale hunting

Japan has finally ended its commitment to whale conservation by leaving the International Whaling Commission. While the country defends its controversial practice of whale hunt, the international community has voiced deep concerns regarding Japan’s withdrawal.

Israel Syria strike

Russia says the recent Israeli missile strikes on Syria had put two civilian passenger aircraft in immediate danger. Russia has confirmed that Syria’s air defense systems had destroyed 14 of 16 Israeli missiles which intended to target areas west of the capital Damascus. The Kremlin has also accused Israel of what it called a gross violation of the Syrian sovereignty. Russia says it is very concerned about Israel's attack. The missiles are believed to have been fired by Israeli warplanes that had also violated the Lebanese airspace.

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