WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, December 9, 2017.

Anger in Palestine

Israeli forces have once again clashed with Palestinians protesting US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capital. The violence erupted in the Palestinian territories for the third consecutive day. Demonstrations were held in the city of Bethlehem as well as the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets as well as live fire to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were wounded in the clashes. The rallies followed a Day of Rage protests on Friday that left two people dead and hundreds of others wounded.

Pakistan US warning

Pakistan’s Air Force commander says he has ordered his forces to take down US drones if they enter the country’s airspace. Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman was speaking at a gathering of aviation students in the capital Islamabad. He said the Pakistani government had not permitted the US to fly its drones over the country. The top military official added that the air force is prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty. The US flies drones over Pakistan and conducts airstrikes on what it claims to be militant positions, especially in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. The years-long US aerial bombardment has led to many civilian casualties. Relations between Islamabad and Washington have been tense after the US administration accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists.

Fight against terror

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the end of war against the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq. Abadi also said that Iraqi troops had regained full control of the border with Syria. Abadi’s declaration came after Iraq’s armed forces announced they had totally liberated the country from Daesh terrorists. In the meantime, the Popular Mobilization Units said they had taken full control of areas along the country’s northern border with Syria and that they were consolidating their positions there. The PMU also announced the liberation of the western Iraqi desert areas known as Jazeera as well as the Badia region.

UK-Iran relations

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has met with his visiting British counterpart, Boris Johnson in Tehran. Johnson arrived in the Iranian capital earlier in the day. He’s expected to discuss regional developments as well as political and economic ties with Tehran. The 2015 landmark Iran nuclear deal will also be discussed in the meetings. The top British diplomat is set to hold talks with other senior officials. Before his trip, Johnson described Iran as a significant country in the Middle East adding that he expects his visit to be constructive. Johnson stopped in Oman on Friday, and will move to the UAE on Sunday.

Boycotting US VP

The Palestinian president’s advisor says Mahmoud Abbas will not attend a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence. The announcement came as Abbas and Pence were expected to meet in the occupied Palestinian territories on December 19. The advisor says the United States has crossed every red line by Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capital. Egypt’s Coptic Pope has also rejected a meeting with Pence over Trump’s decision. Meanwhile, the White House has warned that cancellation of the planned meeting would be “counterproductive”.

Gaza Strip funerals

Palestinians have held funerals in Gaza City and Khan Younis for those recently killed at the hands of Israelis. Mourners carried the body of Mohammed Al-Masri through the city of Khan Younis to a mosque where he was buried. Gunfire was heard throughout the march. Al-Masri was one of the two men shot dead by Israelis in Khan Younis. Elsewhere in Gaza City, funerals were held for two members of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas. Both were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Hamas bases. The Israeli regime claims that it conducted the raids in retaliation for rocket attacks from Gaza. Palestinians have fired several rockets on the occupied territories following US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital on Wednesday. Hundreds of Palestinians have been injured by Israeli soldiers or in air raids over the past days.

Anti-Netanyahu protest

People across the world continue to stage demonstrations to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and slam the US for its recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. In the French capital Paris, people protested against a visit by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for boycotting Israel. The demonstrators also condemned President Emmanuel Marcon for his policies towards the issue of Palestine. Meanwhile in Italy, people gathered outside the US embassy in Rome and expressed their anger at Washington’s move. The demonstrators say the US has broken international law.

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