WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, November 14, 2018.

US support for Israel

The Palestinian ambassador to the UN has slammed the latest Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, calling on the Security Council to take action to end the violence. Following a Security Council meeting, Mansour said there was one country that was not allowing discussions at the UN high body in a reference to the US. The session ended with no agreement on how to address the issue. Ahead of the meeting, Palestinian factions issued a joint statement, announcing an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel. They said they are ready to abide by the truce as long as Tel Aviv does the same. Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, however, rejected a call for both sides to exercise restraint. Seven Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past days.

Italy budget row

The Italian government defies the European Commission by refusing to change its big-spending budget which Brussels sees as detrimental to the economy of the eurozone. The Italian deputy prime minister says Rome will make money by selling useless public property. He says the government intends to keep the deficit at 2.4 percent. Last month, the European Commission totally rejected Italy’s proposed budget for 2019, saying the country’s deficit will reach nearly three-percent. That’s the limit set by the EU. Brussels has threatened Rome with sanctions if it goes ahead with the plan.

Greece strike

In Greece, public sector workers go on a 24-hour strike, demanding better pays and higher pensions. The workers are expected to stage a rally in central Athens. The strike follows a demonstration on Tuesday when pensioners took to the streets over the same demand. Wednesday’s strike was called by the country’s largest public sector union and is the first major such move since Greece exited its bail-out program in August. Union leaders are calling on the government to stop its austerity measures now that the financial crisis is over. The Greek government, however, is still required by the international creditors to continue its restrictive measures to gain a budget surplus.

US Iran sanctions

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has once again condemned the United States for re-instating sanctions on Tehran. Speaking at a cabinet session, Rouhani said the US intended it would be able to totally block Iran’s oil exports, but it failed to do so. Rouhani noted that Iran will continue to sell crude and that the US actions are futile. He also hailed the Iranian nation for standing united against what he called cruel US measures. Washington restored sanctions on the Iranian oil sector last week after multilaterally withdrawing from an international deal over the Iranian nuclear program.

‘Unpredictable’ US

Moscow has criticized Washington for what it calls the unpredictability of the United States under the administration of President Donald Trump. Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, says the fact that America has become unpredictable lately, is no secret to anyone. Peskov says such unpredictability on the part of the US is the subject of deep global concern. He made the comments during a visit by President Vladimir Putin to a regional summit in Singapore. Relations between the two countries recently soured with Washington planning to impose fresh sanctions against Moscow over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergey Skripal in Britain. The Kremlin says it does not recognize what it calls the unilateral restrictions, saying it considers them illegitimate.

Lieberman resignation

Israel’s Minister of Military Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, announces his resignation in protest against a Gaza truce deal. Lieberman's resignation comes into effect 48 hours after he puts it in writing. This will significantly weaken Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition and could bring about early elections. Meanwhile, the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, has called Liberman’s decision to quit a political victory for the resistance. On Tuesday, Hamas said it had accepted an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire and would abide by it as long as Israel does. At least seven Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave since Monday. This has been described as the worst violence between the two sides since 2014.

Displaced Yemeni civilians

New figures show the US drone attacks in Yemen have left more than 30 civilians dead so far this year. Investigations by the Associated Press reveal that the administration of US president Donald Trump has carried out 176 strikes in Yemen in nearly two years. This is while the previous administration under Barack Obama had launched 154 strikes in Yemen during eight years. The investigations prove that the US carried out airstrikes in areas where civilians’ life was in jeopardy. The revelations come as the Pentagon has so far refused to release its assessment of the death toll. Yemen has come under regular US strikes. Washington claims its drones target al-Qaeda militants while facts on the ground show civilians have been the main victims.

Brexit deal

The British prime minister has defended her strategy with the European Union over the UK’s exit from the bloc, saying the draft Brexit deal fulfills Britain’s national interests. May said the deal gives Britain the opportunity to take back control of its borders, laws and money. The conservative premier added London will drop out of EU common policies while protecting jobs, security and integrity of the UK. May also decried her Labour rivals for being critical of divorce talks with the EU regardless of the progress made. Opposition leader, Jeremy Corbyn, however, accused the Tory premier of putting a false choice to the parliament between what he called a botched deal or no deal.

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

www.presstv.ir