WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, March 14, 2019 to 0800 GMT, March 15, 2019.

Israel strikes Gaza

Israel conducts new airstrikes against the Gaza Strip amid rising tensions with Palestinians in the besieged region. The warplanes targeted Palestinian positions in the north and south of the coastal enclave. There have been no reports of casualties or damage as of yet. Meanwhile, rocket sirens sound in Israeli communities shortly after the air raids. The airstrikes came hours after Israel said two rockets were fired at Tel Aviv from Gaza.

New Zealand terror attack

A shooting attack in New Zealand targeting two mosques has left at least 40 people dead. The attacks took place in the city of Christ-church. The assailant was dressed in a military-style uniform. He randomly shot at people with an automatic rifle at close range. The mosques were packed with worshipers who had gathered for Friday afternoon prayers. The gunman was a right-wing extremist with Australian citizenship. Three people are in custody in connection with the attack but none of them were on any police watch-lists. Witnesses described the incident as horrific.

Denouncing mosque shootings

Reactions are coming in following a deadly terror attack in the New Zealand city of Christ-church that killed some 40 people and injured 20 others. Turkish President Rejep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the assault, saying may God have mercy on the victims and grant a speedy recovery to the wounded. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said Jakarta strongly denounces the shooting, especially at a place of worship. Malaysia described the incident as a black tragedy facing humanity and universal peace. Pakistan and Afghanistan also separately condemned the deadly incident.

Yemen funeral

The Yemeni people hold a funeral for civilians killed by Saudi air raids in the northern province of Hajjah over the weekend. The ceremony was held in the capital Sana’a. The participants condemned the massacre. They called on the United Nations and the international community to investigate the crime. According to the United Nations, the Saudi airstrikes in Hajjah led to the deaths of 10 women and 12 children. Dozens of people were also wounded in the attacks. Saudi Arabia launched a deadly onslaught on Yemen in March 2015. The war has killed over 15,000 Yemenis and pushed 10 million others on the verge of famine.

Saudi rights violations

Activists, families of detainees and US lawmakers have slammed human rights violations by Saudi Arabia at a press conference held in US Congress. During the presser, the deputy director of the Project on Middle East Democracy said Saudi rulers are counting on US silence and protection. US Senator Patrick Leahy said the Saudi government behaves like a criminal enterprise. Andrea Prasow of Human Rights Watch said there has been a significant increase in Saudi rights violations over the past two years. The participants also slammed the Saudi trial of 10 women rights activists on Wednesday and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last year. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has said the trial of rights activists in Riyadh is another stain on the Saudi authorities’ appalling rights record.

Senate rebukes Trump

The US Senate votes 59 to 41 to pass legislation to terminate the president’s national emergency declaration at the border with Mexico. Following the vote, the Senate minority leader called for all-out support against Donald Trump’s move. The measure is unlikely to become law since a two-thirds vote of Congress is needed to override the presidential veto that Trump vowed to use. The dispute could ultimately be decided by courts. With the emergency declaration, Trump is seeking an alternative way to get billions of dollars for a wall at Mexico border after Congress declined to give him funding.

US-Afghanistan row

A senior Afghan official has slammed the US negotiator, following Kabul's exclusion from the peace talks with the Taliban. National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib says Zalmay Khalilzad is delegitimizing the Afghan government. He says Khalilzad has ulterior motives that are not related to peace. Mohib says Kabul believes the US negotiator is planning to create a caretaker government and become its head. Mohib’s statements come after the conclusion of the second round of US-Taliban talks earlier this week. Kabul was not represented at the talks. The Taliban have rejected direct negotiations with the Afghan government, saying it is a US puppet.

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