WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, November 20, 2018 to 0800 GMT, November 21, 2018.

Backing Saudi Arabia

The US president says his country stands with Saudi Arabia despite international condemnation of the death and dismemberment of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Donald Trump has also accused Iran of destabilizing the region and said Washington will not nix its military deals with the Saudis because Riyadh is a great ally to counter Tehran.

HRW questions Bahrain vote

An international human rights group says Bahrain’s repressive political environment is not conducive to free elections. Human Rights Watch says Bahrain’s allies should encourage the government to take all necessary steps to reform laws undermining freedom of expression and assembly ahead of the upcoming parliamentary vote. The advocacy group said Manama allies should not give Bahrain a free pass and conduct business as usual while mass rights abuses persist. HRW also urged the Persian Gulf kingdom to immediately free political prisoners and review its decision to shut down independent news outlets and opposition groups. Since the nationwide anti-government protests started in 2011, Bahraini authorities have detained scores of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and opposition leaders.

US-China rift

The White House has rejected Chinese accusations that Washington was responsible for the failure of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held over the weekend. A White House official, who asked to remain anonymous, said China’s criticisms were “complete spin and propaganda”. The official noted that the standoff undermines hopes for a positive meeting between the US and Chinese presidents at the G20 Summit next week. The official stressed that China was the only country opposed to signing the final statement of the APEC summit, adding that Beijing believed the statement was a veiled criticism of its trade practices. Earlier, Beijing blamed Washington for sabotaging the summit.

Yemeni children malnutrition

A leading charity group says some 85,000 Yemeni children under the age of five may have died from hunger since Saudi Arabia waged a war against the country in 2015. A new analysis by Save the Children shows that for every child killed by bombs and bullets in the Saudi war on Yemen, dozens are starving to death. The charity says the number of children at risk of malnutrition has dramatically increased since last year when the Saudi-led coalition intensified its attacks on the port city of Hudaydah. The charity warns that if acute malnutrition is left untreated, it will lead to the death of up to 30-percent of children every year.

France violent protest

French demonstrators have staged a protest near the port city of Bordeaux against a hike in fuel prices. Protesters wearing yellow vests blocked a highway in Virsac commune, setting toll booths on fire and causing heavy damage to gates and lights. Meanwhile, yellow-vest protesters blocked trucks from entering a refinery south of Paris for a fourth day. The so-called "Yellow Vests" movement was launched in response to diesel and petrol price rises, which are due to come into force in January. The move is part of French President Emmanuel Macron’s bid to wean France off fossil fuels. Several hundred people have been arrested since the beginning of the protest campaign.

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