WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

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

Israeli crackdown

Israeli forces have arrested 40 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank overnight. The Israeli army says it apprehended the suspects wanted for what it called their involvement in terror activities that target civilians and security forces. The army says 37 of the suspects are members of Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The army has announced reinforcement since Thursday when a Palestinian man shot dead two Israeli soldiers near the Ofra settlement, north of Jerusalem al-Quds. The Thursday shooting as well another stabbing attack in the occupied territories prompted the Israeli army to put the entire city of Ramallah on lockdown.

Trump fund probe

Reports say US prosecutors are investigating whether foreign donors funneled money to President Donald Trump’s inaugural fund and a pro-Trump political action committee. The investigators are trying to find out whether the alleged payments were made in an attempt to buy influence over the US policy. They are also focusing on allegations that people from countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, disguised donations by using straw donors. Trump's inaugural committee says the ceremony was organized in full compliance with all applicable laws. The White House has also rejected any connection between Trump and the planning for the celebration. Trump's inaugural committee raised nearly 107-million dollars, more than double what his predecessor Barack Obama raised for his first inaugural.

US gun deaths

New analyses show gun deaths in the United States reach the highest level in nearly forty years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, and CNN have conducted separate analyses with all yielding similar results. The data showed some 40,000 people died by guns in 2017. This is over 10,000 more deaths compared to 1999. Out of those killed by gun in 2017, nearly 24,000 people died from suicide by guns which is the highest figure in eighteen years. In terms of race, the data reveal that white men were the majority of those behind the deaths.

Eurozone growth slump

A major survey shows business growth in the Eurozone has hit its lowest in four years, due to a global trade war and the unrest in France.  IHS Markit analysts say job creations have slipped to a two-year low, and business optimism has declined as new business inflows have stopped. The data also points to a fall in both GDP and demand growth in the zone. European companies believe international conflicts have intensified the bloc’s economic tensions. Both France and Germany have faced a sharp decline in their business growth. Analysts say French protests and the weak demands for autos have particularly lowered the growth across Europe, adding the decline affects the bloc as a whole.

Brexit row

Britain's opposition Labour Party calls on Prime Minister Theresa May to reinstate the vote on her Brexit deal with the EU and let Parliament take back control. Labour's Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, said the premier failed to win meaningful changes to her deal at a summit with European leaders. This comes as May demanded help from the EU leaders to win support in British parliament in the January vote over her Brexit deal. The European Union has rejected any renegotiation with Britain over its withdrawal agreement. May’s Conservative Party has also rejected her deal with the EU describing it as unacceptable.

Trump hush money

The US president’s former lawyer says Donald Trump knew it was wrong to pay hush money to women who allegedly had affairs with him. Michael Cohen also said Trump personally directed him to make the payments to actresses Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. He added, Trump acted because he was very concerned about how this would affect the 2016 presidential election. The US president has denied he had affairs with the women and has said he never directed Cohen to break the law. On Wednesday, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for the payments, tax evasion, and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia.

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

www.presstv.co.uk