WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, April 20, 2018 to 08:00 GMT, April 21, 2018.

'North Korea to suspend weapons tests'

In a significant policy shift, the North Korean leader has backtracked on his promise to develop the country’s nuclear and missile programs. Kim Jong-un has been quoted as saying that he will suspend nuclear and missile tests during a meeting of the ruling party's full Central Committee. Kim also pledged to shut down a nuclear test site in the country’s north. In reaction, US president Donald Trump has welcomed North Korea’s move, saying he looks forward to a meeting with Kim. On Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that CIA Director Mike Pompeo made a secret visit to Pyongyang for talks about the Trump-Kim meeting slated for late May or early June. The developments come amid decreasing tensions on the Korean peninsula ahead of a landmark summit between the North and the South next week.

French fury

France’s economy minister lashes out at Donald Trump’s trade policies as the clock runs out on US metal tariff exemptions for Paris and Washington’s other major partners. Bruno Le Maire expressed dismay at the provisional exemption and demanded Europe be permanently excused from the tariffs. He said France would not allow the US to drag it into a vain and pointless trade war with China. Le Maire, however, suggested reforms in Chinese trade practices that have often been criticized as unfair. The remarks come less than two weeks before Washington's metal tariff exemptions are due to expire for its major trading partners. The US president unveiled the punishing tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum last month as an attempt to rebuild the country's metal industry.

Nicaragua deadly protest

Deadly clashes have erupted between the Nicaraguan police and protesters who took to the streets of the capital Managua over a new pension law. At least two protesters and a police officer were killed during demonstrations on Friday. Similar rallies were held in several other cities. The protests began on Wednesday in response to the new law under which employees will have to contribute a larger amount of their pay checks to the pension scheme. The recent wave of protests is described as the most significant in President Daniel Ortega's eleven years in office.

UN slams Israeli killings

The United Nations has condemned Israel for killing children during peaceful demonstrations in the besieged Gaza Strip, calling for an investigation of the tragic incident. In a tweet, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said it is outrageous to shoot at children. Nikolay Mladenov stressed that the Israeli atrocities in Gaza fuel anger and cause more deaths. Mladenov’s comments come after four Palestinians, including 15-year-old Mohammed Ayoub, were killed on Friday by Israeli troops near the so-called buffer zone. The deaths bring to 39 the number of Palestinians killed during weeks-long protests in Gaza.

US gun protests

Students have walked out of classes across the United States to demand tighter gun laws. A group of students held a sit-in protest outside the White House to mark the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado. New York city, Florida and North Carolina were also the scene of anti-gun violence protests. The goal of the demonstrations, which involve more than two-thousand schools across the US, is to raise awareness about gun violence and to combat the government’s inaction.

Iran nuclear deal

Iran’s president says the country is prepared to take the necessary measures regarding the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers. The president also touched upon the upcoming US decision on whether or not to waive sanctions against Iran. He said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has been instructed to be ready for every eventuality that Washington can and cannot think of. He described the administration of US President Donald Trump as undecided, saying it is not sure what step it wants to take next. He said Trump’s ambivalence toward different issues has been problematic for American people as they do not know what their president is going to take within the next hour.

UK immigration policies

The British premier and her home secretary are facing growing calls to resign over their hostile immigration policies. The scandal revolves around the so-called Windrush generation who were invited from Caribbean countries in the British Commonwealth to immigrate to the UK as laborers. Press TV’s Amina Taylor has more details London.

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