WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, February 15, 2019.

Political uncertainty in Spain

The Spanish Prime Minister announces snap general elections following a parliamentary vote that rejected his budget proposal. Pedro Sanchez says he has proposed to dissolve the parliament and call elections for April 28. The premier says either his government should do nothing and continue without a budget or give the people of Spain the chance to vote. Sanchez says he would choose to hold elections. The Catalonia regional government and a number of other parties withdrew their support for the prime minister’s fiscal bill after 12 Catalan leaders were put on trial for their role in the region’s independence bid last year. Pedro Sanchez took power just over eight months ago after he ousted his conservative rival in a dramatic parliamentary no-confidence vote.

US immigration suit

A group of human rights organizations has sued the administration of US President Donald Trump over an immigration policy affecting South American migrants. American Civil Liberties Union and some other organizations filed their lawsuit in US District Court in California. The motion protests sending non-Mexican migrants, who cross the southern border, back to Mexico. It says the policy puts asylum seekers in danger and violates protections they are entitled to under US and international law. The US government introduced the policy in December last year. Rights groups say asylum seekers may have to wait for months and years while their claims are reviewed.

Ignoring occupation of Palestine

A video has been leaked of a closed door meeting in which senior Persian Gulf Arab officials play down the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The footage was released by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in its YouTube channel before it was quickly removed. It shows a series of comments made by officials from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on a panel discussion at a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw. Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid Al Khalifa said Iran is a far bigger threat to regional security than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Asked about Israel's military activity in Syria, the UAE's Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Tel Aviv has the right to defend itself. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir also accused Iran of spreading mischief throughout the region.

India-Pakistan tensions

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemns a deadly suicide attack against security forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir, pledging to punish the perpetrators. Modi said India will give a strong reply to Thursday’s attack that killed 44 members of the paramilitary police. The attack was claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group. The premier added that he will not allow neighboring Pakistan to destabilize India. New Delhi’s finance minister Arun Jaitley also vowed to take all possible diplomatic steps to ensure the complete isolation of Pakistan from international community. Moreover, India's foreign ministry summoned Pakistan's ambassador to lodge strong protest over the incident. Islamabad called the attack a matter of grave concern, but rejected suggestions that it had any role in it. Kashmir has been a serious bone of contention between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947.

Brexit warning to May

A British lawmaker warns Prime Minister Theresa May that her government could collapse if she relies on the opposition Labour Party to pass her Brexit deal. Steve Baker says the Northern Irish Party would withdraw its support from the government if May makes such a decision. The Labour Party has offered to support the government's Brexit deal if the prime minister makes five legally-binding commitments, including joining a customs union. The Northern Irish Party is against the inclusion of the Irish border backstop in May’s Brexit deal. The party has ten members in the Parliament and is part of the coalition government. On Thursday, May’s Brexit deal was rejected by the Parliament for the second time.

China-US trade talks

China and the US reach a consensus IN PRINCIPLE on some key issues during trade talks in Beijing. According to China’s state-run news agency, both sides discussed many topics during a long-week session. The subjects included technology transfers, intellectual property protection, and trade balance. The Chinese news agency added, the two countries also discussed an agreement on trade and economic issues. After the meeting in Beijing, the two sides agreed to hold further talks next week in Washington. After months of trade tensions, in December, China and the US agreed to halt new trade tariffs for ninety days to resolve their differences through negotiations.

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