WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, May 17, to 08:00 GMT, May 19, 2017.

China US Complaint

Iran has added nine US individuals and organizations to its list of sanctions in response to Washington’s new measures against Tehran. Iran's foreign ministry says the American individuals and companies violated human rights through complicity in Israeli crimes against Palestinians, support for Takfiri terrorism and involvement in actions against Iran’s national security. On Wednesday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on two Iranian officials, an Iranian company and a China-based network for what it calls supporting Iran's ballistic missile program. China says it lodged a protest with the United States after the recent move.

US Strike in Syria

The US secretary of defense says his country does not want to get more involved in the Syrian war hours after the US targeted a pro-government Syrian convoy in Homs province. James Mattis says the US military will however defend itself if attacked. US officials say the attacked Syrian convoy seemed to be transporting militiamen to a garrison near the Jordanian border. The US-led coalition says the strike occurred inside a de-confliction zone, where British and US commandos have been training local forces against Daesh. Washington says the purpose of its presence in Syria is to fight the Daesh terror group, but many civilians have fallen victim to its indiscriminate airstrikes.

Iran Raps US Bans

Iran has added nine US individuals and organizations to its list of sanctions in response to Washington’s new measures against Tehran. Iran's foreign ministry says the American individuals and companies violated human rights through complicity in Israeli crimes against Palestinians, support for Takfiri terrorism and involvement in actions against Iran’s national security. On Wednesday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on two Iranian officials, an Iranian company and a China-based network for what it calls supporting Iran's ballistic missile program. China says it lodged a protest with the United States after the recent move.

Palestinian Funeral

Thousands of Palestinians have gathered to mourn a Palestinian youth who was shot dead by an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank. The mourners waved Palestinian flags during the funeral and demanded revenge on Israeli settlers. 23-year-old Muataz Bani Shamsa was killed on Thursday near the city of Nablus, after an Israeli settler stepped out of his car and opened fire on Palestinian protesters. The Palestinians had gathered to show their solidarity with hunger strikers in Israeli jails. Nearly 300 Palestinians have been killed in the new wave of conflicts which erupted in October 2015.

Gaza Power Shortage

The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis due to prolonged power outages in the Gaza Strip. As Press TV’s correspondent Ashraf Shannon reports, power cuts of over twenty hours a day have been taking a heavy toll on the besieged coastal territory in recent weeks.

Saudi War on Yemen

Saudi Arabia’s unabated and daily bombardment of Yemen continues to claim innocent lives. In the latest airstrike, Saudi warplanes bombed a residential area and a market in Ta'izz province. The attack killed at least one person and injured five others. Meanwhile, Yemeni fighters have launched retaliatory sniper attacks on Saudi forces near the Kingdom’s Jizan region, killing at least one soldier. Saudi Arabia began the war on its southern impoverished neighbor in March 2015. Since then, over 12-thouasnd-forty people, many of them civilians have been killed in the aggression.

NAFTA Renegotiation

In the US, the administration of President Donald Trump begins the countdown for renegotiating a free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. Top officials in Washington triggered a 90-day consultation period with Congress to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement - commonly known as NAFTA. The White House says it is after winning better terms for US workers and manufactures by renegotiating the trade agreement. Renegotiating NAFTA was a key campaign promise of President Donald Trump - who frequently criticized the 23-year old trade pact. NAFTA talks aim to shrink Washington’s trade deficit with Mexico and Canada that stood at 63 billion dollars and 11 billion dollars respectively last year.

Qalandia Clashes

Israeli regime forces have attacked a demonstration in the occupied West Bank injuring nine Palestinians. Israeli troops opened live fire and used rubber bullets on the protesters near the Qalandia checkpoint in occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. The protest was held in solidarity with a mass hunger strike in Israeli jails. The demonstrators have also expressed their anger over the killing of a Palestinian youth by an Israeli settler near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. Earlier thousands of Palestinians attended the funeral of 23-year-old Muataz Bani Shamsa. On Thursday an Israeli settler stepped out of his car and opened fire on a demonstration killing Shamsa.

Anger at Austerity

Greece’s parliament has approved new austerity measures amid massive demonstrations in the capital Athens. The measures passed had been demanded by the country's international creditors. They are expected to usher in additional income losses for the Greeks over the next three years. Meanwhile, some 15-thousand people gathered outside the parliament and a small number of masked youth threw gasoline bombs and clashed with police. A general strike disrupted public transport across the country a day earlier. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is pushing for action including pension cuts and further tax hikes through 20-20, as part of an agreement with international bailout creditors.

Party Plans

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has outlined her party's plan for Britain should she win the June 8 general elections. May says a strong economy and delivering Brexit are her top priorities. The main opposition party, Labour, however, says after ‘seven years of broken promises’ the Conservatives cannot be trusted. Press TV's Amina Taylor reports from London.

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