WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, December 26, 2018 to 0800 GMT, December 27, 2018.

Trump says shutdown to stay until funding provided for his wall

The US president vows to wait as long as it takes for the 5-billion-dollar funding for the US-Mexico border wall. Donald Trump blamed the shutdown on Democratic figure Nancy Pelosi. He added that Pelosi’s opposition to his demand for wall funding originates from her need for votes to become speaker of the US House of Representatives. The remarks come as the shutdown over budget spending is in its fifth day. The closure began on Saturday after weeks of failed talks between Trump and congressional leaders. The shutdown affects about 800,000 employees of the US Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation and other agencies.

Migrant child who died in US custody laid to rest

Guatemalans on Tuesday laid to rest Jakelin Caal Maquín, a seven-year-old migrant girl who died in US custody earlier this month. On the same day, another Guatemalan child, an eight-year-old boy, also died in US custody. Both were among thousands of Central American migrants who are stuck at the US-Mexico border. Following the deaths, the US border security head called for federal health care funding, warning that his agency has been overwhelmed by the enormous flow of families crossing from Mexico.

Syria says Israeli airstrike violation of sovereignty

Syria has strongly slammed Israel’s recent airstrike near the capital, Damascus, as a blatant violation of a United Nations’ Security Council resolution. In separate letters to the UN Secretary-General and the head of the UN Security Council, the Syrian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of seeking to prolong the crisis in Syria. The Foreign Ministry said what Israel is doing is tantamount to what Daesh and other terrorist groups are seeking to achieve in Syria. Damascus stressed that Israel would have not attacked Syria if it had not enjoyed the US unflinching support. Lebanon has also condemned Israel for violating its airspace. On Tuesday, Syria said it intercepted missiles fired by Israeli warplanes from above the Lebanese territories.

Iraqi lawmakers blast Trump for secret visit to Iraq

Iraqi lawmakers have slammed the US president’s surprise visit to Iraq, saying the move is in violation of the country’s sovereignty. The leader of Iraq’s Islah parliamentary bloc Sabah al-Saadi called for an emergency session regarding the matter, saying Donald Trump should know his limits. Other parliament blocs also objected the US president’s visit to Iraq. The scheduled meeting between Trump and the Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi was reportedly cancelled due to a disagreement over the venue. Meanwhile, the US president defended his decision to withdraw American forces from Syria, but also emphasized that he has no plans to do the same in Iraq.

Sudanese party calls for probe into killing of protesters

Sudan's Popular Congress Party has called for a probe into the killings of protesters during demonstrations over an increase in price of food items. At a press conference in the capital Khartoum, Suleman said his party's own reports indicated that 17 people were killed, 88 wounded and over 500 detained in the demonstrations. This comes as Amnesty International put the death toll at 37. Angry crowds have taken to the streets in Khartoum and several other cities since December 19 when the government tripled the price of bread.

Tunisia reignites

Clashes between Tunisian protesters and security forces over the death of a journalist have spread across the country. In the western city of Kasserine, where the unrest began, police used tear gas to disperse angry protesters. Clashes also broke out in the eastern town of Jebiniana, where a policeman was injured. Five people were also arrested during a protest in the northern city of Tebourba. The turmoil follows the death of 32-year-old journalist Abderrazk Zorgui on Monday. Zorgui set himself ablaze for economic problems.

Indonesia raises alert level for volcano

Indonesia has raised the alert level for the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano days after it triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people. All flights were also re-routed around the volcano after authorities set a five-kilometer exclusion zone around the area. The volcano has been active since last week, spewing lava and rocks, and sending huge clouds of ash into sky. The eruption triggered underwater landslides, smashing high waves into the coast on the Sunda Strait, between the islands of Java and Bali. Rescuers are still searching for missing people amid fears of another Tsunami. This year, Indonesia has suffered its worst annual death toll from natural disasters in more than a decade.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk