WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, December 27, 2018 to 0800 GMT, December 28, 2018.

US govt. shutdown

US lawmakers meet just days before the New Year but fail to address the budget impasse that has left the government in partial shutdown for nearly a week. Both chambers of the Congress convened on Thursday without showing a sense of urgency over the shutdown that has affected roughly 20 percent of the government. The shutdown was triggered by President Donald Trump on Saturday after the Congress refused to pay him five billion dollars of taxpayers’ money. Trump wants the funding to build a wall along US border with Mexico. But Democrats and even some of Trump's own Republicans accuse him of overhyping the immigration problem for political gains. A recent opinion poll shows almost half the Americans blame Trump for the shutdown while over 30 percent of the respondents hold Democrats in Congress responsible.

Trump controversial visit

US president Donald Trump made a surprise visit to the American military base in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. The brief visit was met with anger and disapproval from various Iraqi factions. Press TV correspondent Ali Musawi reports from Baghdad.

DRC vote controversy

The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo says the country’s long-delayed presidential election will take place on Sunday. Joseph Kabila rejected as nonsense claims that the electoral commission has been biased. He said the commission does not give any advantages to anyone. The opposition says Kabila has been delaying polls to extend his stay in office. He rejects the allegation. Polls were first scheduled to happen in 2016. But they have been delayed and that caused deadly violence. Meanwhile, the country expelled the European Union’s ambassador over the bloc's sanctions against Congolese officials including the ruling coalition's candidate, Ramazani Shadary.

UAE ties with Syria

The UAE has reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus following a years-long closure. The move is aimed at normalizing ties with the Syrian government. Meanwhile, the Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain has also said its embassy will resume its activities in Damascus starting from Tuesday. Our correspondent in Damascus Mohamad Ali has filed us this report.

US consumer confidence index

In the United States, consumer confidence has dipped amid market instability and political uncertainty. According to a monthly survey, the index saw the biggest change in December with an eight-point dive. Experts said the decline in expectation is reflective of an increasing concern that the pace of economic growth will begin moderating in the first half of 2019. It also suggests a frail view of job prospects and weakened business conditions. The report follows an unstable US market in recent weeks triggered by concerns over fallout of a government shutdown in Washington and President Donald Trump’s dispute with the Federal Reserve.

Iran slams Trump

Iran slams US President Donald Trump's unannounced visit to Iraq where he repeated his anti-Tehran rhetoric. Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Bahram Qassemi, described the trip as stealthy, in violation of diplomatic norms and contempt for Iraq’s national sovereignty. He said Trump’s security concerns came despite Washington’s years-long illegal presence in Iraq. The Iranian official then took a jab at Trump for making what he said interfering and opportunistic comments, saying the regional nations would never let foreigners sow discord among them. During his speech at a US military base, Trump said Washington will maintain its presence in Iraq to watch Iran. Trump’s visit was also met with anger and disapproval from Iraqis who saw the move as disrespectful.

Bahrain-Syria ties

Bahrain says it will reopen its embassy in Syria years after it cuts diplomatic ties with Damascus. In a statement, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry said its diplomatic mission will be operational in Damascus within days. The ministry added flights between the two countries are also set to resume soon. Manama cut diplomatic ties with Damascus in 2011 after foreign-backed insurgency plunged Syria into a devastating conflict. On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates also reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital in a bid to normalize diplomatic ties with the Syrian government.

France protest

France’s yellow vest movement says it will continue anti-government protests into 2019. The movement's representatives said the protests will take place across the country for the seventh straight week on Saturday as well as on New Year's Eve on Monday. They also vowed to hold a large-scale demonstration in late January if the French government fails to deliver on its promises. The movement sprang up online in October in reaction to President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies that are said to favor the rich. Macron announced a 10-billion-euro package of concessions in mid-December to help pensioners and low-paid workers. Paris city officials have announced New Year's Eve celebrations on the Champs-Elysees will go ahead despite the protest plans on the famed avenue.

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