WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, January 16, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, January 17, 2017.

Basic freedoms shrinking in US 

An American watchdog group says basic rights and political freedoms in the United States are deteriorating at a faster pace under President Donald Trump. In its annual report, Freedom House says the erosion of democratic standards in the US has undermined America’s credibility in the world as an advocate of good governance and human rights. The report says the actions and statements of the Trump administration could ultimately weaken US institutions and threaten its democracy. The watchdog group says in 2017, key US institutions were attacked by an administration that “rejects” established norms of ethical conduct across many fields of activity. Trump has drawn widespread criticism for launching attacks on US media, courts and other institutions.

Cutting aid for Palestinians

The US has decided to withhold tens of millions of dollars in money for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The US State Department called on other countries to step forward and do more to help the Palestinian refugees. The department also sent a letter to UNRWA demanding the agency undergo major changes. US President Donald Trump had earlier warned to cut aid if Palestinians rejected negotiations with Israel. Relations between the US and Palestine have been stained over the past weeks since Washington recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

UK-Saudi Arabia ties

A coalition of human rights groups has sent a letter to UK Prime Minister Theresa May, urging her to withdraw an invitation extended to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince to visit Britain. The letter added that the visit was not in the UK's interest, nor in the interest of the people suffering from the Mohammed bin Salman's adventurism. Referring to the Saudi aggression in Yemen, the rights groups said that the British-made jets and bombs have played a major role in destroying civilian targets and the nation's infrastructure. May invited the crown prince and Saudi King Salman in December 2017 to visit the UK in 2018.

UNRWA warning

The United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees has warned about a US decision to cut funds to the agency. UNRWA Chief, Pierre Krahenbuhl, says Washington’s decision will impact regional security and threatens the dignity and human security of millions of Palestinians. UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has also expressed concerns over the US decision. On Tuesday, the US State Department notified UNRWA that Washington is withholding tens of millions of dollars in money for the agency.

Bannon subpoenaed

US President’s former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon has been summoned to testify before a grand jury over Donald Trump campaign’s alleged ties with Russia. Bannon confirmed that he was subpoenaed by former FBI director Robert Mueller who is leading an inquiry into the alleged collusion. He also testified separately before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday behind closed doors. Bannon, however, declined to answer key questions during the hearing. Congress is holding its own inquiry into the allegations. Trump's campaign and transition teams have been accused of colluding with Russian agents to influence the 2016 US election in the Republican candidate's favor. Russia has denied meddling in the election and Trump has denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

Pressuring Pyongyang

The US secretary of state has said the world needs to maintain pressure on North Korea to force it to give up its nuclear weapons program. Rex Tillerson added that Pyongyang has not shown credibility for talks yet. He stressed that pressure campaign will continue until North Korea takes decisive steps to denuclearize. Tillerson noted that the US needs to make sure that Pyongyang’s denuclearization is “verifiable and irreversible”. The top US diplomat reiterated his country’s rejection of a Chinese-Russian proposal for Washington and Seoul to freeze military exercises in return for a halt to North Korea's nuclear program. Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he believes war over North Korea's nuclear weapons is avoidable.

Catalonia protest

Thousands of Catalans have gathered outside the High Court of Justice in Barcelona, demanding the freedom of their pro-independence leaders. The demonstrators switched on the flashlights on their cell phones and held a minute of silence in solidarity with pro-independence leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, who have been behind bars for the past three months. Sanchez, the former president of the Catalan National Assembly, and Cuixart, the former president of the cultural institution Omnium Cultural, were sent to jail on October 16 by a High Court judge. They were imprisoned on charges of sedition related to preparations for the October first independence referendum.

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