WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, December 20, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, December 21, 2017.

Iran quake

The head of Tehran’s Crisis Management Organization has warned of more aftershocks following a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that jolted the Iranian capital and surrounding areas. Ahmad Sadeghi says all universities and government organizations will be closed on Thursday. The quake caused panic, prompting people to rush to the streets. The temblor’s epicenter was in the city of Malard at a depth of seven kilometers. The city is located some 50 kilometers west of the capital Tehran. The earthquake was also felt in surrounding provinces. The incident comes as Iran is still reeling from a deadly earthquake, which rattled the western province of Kermanshah last month.

Surge in US drone strikes

The number of US drone strikes in Yemen and Somalia has considerably increased in the first year of US President Donald Trump’s term in office. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, air strikes in Somalia doubled and in Yemen tripled during Trump’s presidency. 30 attacks have hit Somalia since July this year alone, while 125 strikes have happened in Yemen. On Wednesday, officials announced US forces have conducted more than 120 airstrikes in Yemen this year. In March, Trump provided the US military with authority to carry out air raids without notifying the White House. Rights groups accuse the US of killing scores of civilians and a lack of transparency over who is being targeted.

Catalonia elections

People in Spain’s Catalonia region prepare to go to the polls to vote in regional elections which are expected to draw a record turnout. Over five million people are eligible to vote. The figure is almost 100,000 more than the previous regional elections over two years ago. 38 candidates from seven major political parties are contesting the vote. Polls show the contest between pro-secessionist and unionist parties is too close to call. Nearly 17,000 police officers have been mobilized for the polls. In October, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for snap elections on December 21st. The move came less than an hour after pro-secessionist Catalan MPs voted to declare independence from Madrid.

US al-Quds move backlash

South Africa says it will downgrade the country’s embassy in Israel in the wake of the US decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli regime’s capital. The ruling African National Congress or ANC party unanimously approved the measure to downgrade the embassy in Tel Aviv to a liaison office. It has called on the government to immediately pursue the policy, which it says is a show of support for the “oppressed Palestinian people”. The ANC, which fought apartheid in South Africa, added that the move sends a clear message to Israel that it will pay a price for its violations of human rights and international law.

UK minister scandal

British Prime Minister Theresa May suffers a fresh blow as a key ally and cabinet member is ousted from his post over a pornography scandal. The dismissal of First Secretary of State Damian Green comes amid an investigation into pornographic images found on a parliament computer in his office in 2008. May said she asked Green to resign after the inquiry concluded he had not been open about the matter. Green, who has denied any wrongdoing, was a vital political ally of the British premier. He acted as a de facto deputy prime minister and supported May in her Brexit negotiations. His ouster is the third such departure to hit May’s cabinet in two months.

Bahrain court upholds death sentences

Bahrain’s Supreme Court of Appeal has upheld death sentences against five people over their alleged involvement in the killing of a police officer. The charges stem from a deadly shooting in the village of Sitra. Bahraini forces frequently resort to violence against anti-regime protesters there. Eight defendants in the case also had their citizenship revoked. Critics of the Manama regime have dismissed the verdicts as politically motivated. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has voiced deep concern over the revocation of dissidents’ citizenship. It says suspects confess under torture. Over the course of the past year alone, Manama has handed down life sentences to dozens of protesters. It has stripped more than 100 Bahraini activists of their citizenship. Bahrain has been the scene of anti-regime protests since 2011.

Australia terror incident

Chaos and distress in Australia’s second-largest city; a vehicle has mowed down pedestrians in Melbourne, injuring nearly 20 people. Officials say a white SUV failed to brake before crashing into a busy intersection. The driver has been arrested but no name or information has been released. A number of victims have sustained serious injuries including a child. Officers at the scene describe the accident as a terrorist act but this has not been officially confirmed. Roads and streets leading to the scene have been condoned off. A police investigation is underway. This is the second car ram incident in Melbourne this year. In January a car ploughed into pedestrians in the city's busiest mall, killing six people.

Panama City scuffles

Scuffles break out between Panamanian police and protesters in the capital Panama City. The demonstrators had taken to the streets to mark the 28th anniversary of the US invasion of the country. The demonstrators marched to US embassy, chanting slogans and carrying an effigy of President Donald Trump which they set on fire. The protesters slammed the US invasion and called Washington a representative of imperialism.

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