WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, December 18, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, December 19, 2017.

US vetoes UN resolution on Palestine

Palestinian officials have called for an emergency UN General Assembly meeting after the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of its declaration that Jerusalem is Israel's capital. 

Riyad al-Maliki noted that the Americans won't have the veto at the General Assembly and they will cast their votes as equal as the other members. The Palestinian president's spokesman has also slammed the US veto, saying the move threatens the stability of the international community. The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas also denounced the US veto, emphasizing that Jerusalem al-Quds is the eternal capital of Palestine. Iran’s ambassador to the UN condemned the US veto, saying it shows Washington’s support for the Israeli occupation and aggression. Separately, Iran’s Foreign Ministry also slammed the US move calling it an act against international peace and stability. And, the Turkish foreign ministry said it was shocked by the U-S decision to veto the resolution. Meanwhile, Israeli Premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, has hailed the US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Trump 'strategy'

US president Donald Trump has unveiled a new national security strategy. 

Trump emphasized on his commitment to the implementation of his 2016 campaign doctrine of ‘America First’. In a wide ranging speech, he announced protecting the homeland as his main priority. The US president reiterated his determination to building a wall on the southern border with Mexico and taking other steps to stem immigration. Trump also insisted on advancing American influence by cooperating with other countries in a manner that always protects US national interests. He called for competing in the international arena by a show of the country’s strength. The US president harshly criticized the previous administrations for engaging America in what he called disastrous international agreements including the  incomprehensible bad deal with Iran. 

Plight of Rohingya 

Human Rights Watch accuses the Myanmar army of pressing ahead with its policy of scorched earth in the country’s Rakhine state, which is home to Rohingya Muslims. 

Human Rights Watch’s Deputy Director also says satellite imagery shows that buildings in at least 40 villages in the north of Rakhine state were burned to the ground in October and November alone. Phil Robertson added that the new data bring to 354 the number of Rohingya villages that have been destroyed by Myanmar’s security forces. He’s also condemned the Myanmar government for its hypocrisy. He said when the country was striking a deal with Bangladesh in November for the return of the Rohingya, the Myanmar army was wiping more villages off the map. 

Japan's costly missiles 

The Japanese government has approved a plan to purchase a set of land-based US missile systems to step up the country’s defense capability.

The approval allows the Defense Ministry to buy two Aegis Ashore systems. Defense officials say the system can cover Japan entirely and could cost around 1.8 billion US dollars. The deployment is planned for 2023. This comes amid nuclear and missile tests by North Korea and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Japan has been pushing to boost its missile combat capability and allow its military a greater international role.

No to pension reforms 

Argentine police have violently clashed with protesters venting anger over the government’s proposed pension reforms in the capital Buenos Aires.

Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators who had gathered outside Congress. Authorities said one hundred people including police officers, retirees and journalists were injured in the clashes. The police also made some 50 arrests. Workers' unions have been expressing their discontent over the planned reforms for months. The administration of President Mauricio Macri says the reforms will reduce Argentina’s high deficit. The bill, however, prompted union leaders to call for a general strike, causing disruption in air transport. Critics of the plan insist that a pension overhaul would diminish the historic rights of workers and instead guarantee profit for employers.

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