WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, March 12, 2018 to 08:00 GMT, March 13, 2018.

EU counter-measures against US

The German Chancellor says the European Union must stand ready to respond to the unilateral trade tariffs imposed by the United States. Angela Merkel also says the EU must consider taking reciprocal measures against Washington. Merkel, however, expressed hope that the bloc can hold talks with the US to see if the tariffs can be avoided. The US President has hinted he is open to negotiations over his planned move. In a tweet, Donald Trump, also says the US Commerce Secretary will hold talks with EU envoys about trade and their own measures against America. On Thursday, Trump signed a highly controversial decree to levy import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

Eastern Ghouta situation

The Syrian army is pressing ahead with its operation to liberate Eastern Ghouta from terror groups. In the latest development, government forces have taken control of the village of Aftaris. They are now enhancing security in the surrounding areas. Syrian forces have also found civilians in the town of Madyara which was recaptured earlier. The civilians were hiding inside a house fearing the terrorists would kill them if they try to leave.

Kashmir tensions

The killing of three pro-independence fighters by Indian security forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir has triggered protests and a strike in the region. Authorities have closed schools and imposed a curfew in some areas of Kashmir's main city, Srinagar.

Anti-Trump protest

Protesters have marched in San Diego, in the US state of California, to condemn President Donald Trump’s deportation policy and plans for a border wall with Mexico. The protest was attended by immigration groups and local politicians. It comes ahead of Trump’s first visit to the state on Tuesday to inspect prototypes of the Mexico border wall. California’s Republican lawmakers have rejected his border barrier plan as a waste of money. The Trump administration is also at odds with the Democrats in California over his immigration policies. Tensions are especially high as the visit comes just days after the Justice Department moved to block three state laws designed to protect people living in the US illegally.

Fallout from Israeli siege of Gaza

Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip is worsening the already dire conditions in the Palestinian enclave. Hospitals in Gaza are now operating under an emergency state as they’ve run out of medicine. Halla Alsafadi has this report.

UN expects Eastern Ghouta evacuation

The United Nations says an evacuation of civilians out of Syria’s besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta is expected on Tuesday. The civilians, who are scheduled to evacuate, are the latest batch leaving the war-hit suburb of Damascus through humanitarian corridors created by Russia and Syria. The development comes following the Syrian army’s recapture of the town of Madyara. Russian military officials say they have reached a deal with militants that will pave the way for evacuating 1,000 civilians from Eastern Ghouta.

Iran Embassy attack

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council has accused the British government of being behind an attack on the Islamic Republic's embassy in London. Ali Shamkhani said the Iran embassy attack was a very disgraceful bonus by Britain to sweeten a multi-billion dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia. He added that the attack was staged simultaneously with a visit by one of the Arab leaders to London. Iran's top security official also denounced the laxity and passivity of the UK government and its police forces in response to the attack. A number of attackers climbed on to a first-floor balcony of the Iranian embassy on Friday and took down the Iranian flag. On Saturday, Iran summoned the British ambassador to Tehran to voice its strong protest over the attack.

Japan on North Korea's offer of talks

apanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has expressed optimism about North Korea and its upcoming summits with the United States and South Korea. According to a statement by the South Korean government, Abe believes North Korea has big negotiations to make at the summits. The Japanese leader also believes North Korea will not use the summits as an opportunity to buy time over its nuclear and missile issues. South Korea issued the statement following a meeting between its intelligence chief, Suh Hoon and Abe in Tokyo. At the meeting, Abe welcomed North Korea’s denuclearization talks and called for serious steps in this regard.

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