WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, December 14, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, December 15, 2017.

Fallout from US's decision on al-Quds

Speakers of the Arab parliaments have rejected as null and void the US president’s decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel. The top lawmakers expressed their opposition to the move by Donald Trump in a statement following a meeting in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The statement objects to any further mediation by the US in the issue of Palestine and Israel. The parliament heads have also condemned the US decision to move Washington’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds. They called on all Arab governments and institutions to actively support the Palestinians and recognize al-Quds as the future capital of Palestine.

US ‘evidence’ on Iran ‘fabricated’

US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, has claimed that Iran’s missile program is a blatant violation of the world body’s resolutions. To back up its anti-Iran allegations, Haley showed journalists what she described as a missile given by Iran to Yemen’s Ansarullah forces. She said the US seeks to build an international coalition to push back against Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reacted to Haley’s remarks. Zarif suggested that the US was used to waging wars against other nations based on fabrications. Meanwhile, Iran’s mission to UN earlier flatly rejected Hailey’s accusations, saying the alleged weapon displayed by the US envoy was fabricated. The Iranian mission stressed that Haley’s comments were irresponsible, provocative, and destructive. The remarks by the US ambassador to the UN come as Washington has been equipping Saudi Arabia with large quantities of ammunition and weapons which have killed thousands of civilians in Yemen.

Syria: West, Saudi Arabia sabotaging peace talks

Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Ja’afari, has accused Saudi Arabia and Western governments of sabotaging the eighth round of peace talks in Geneva. Ja’afari, who is the head of Syrian delegation in Geneva, described the so-called Riyadh Two statement as a bloody message which imposes preconditions. He added that because of such moves, Damascus refuses to engage in any direct talks with the foreign-backed opposition. Syria’s permanent envoy to the UN also stressed that as long as the opposition seeks President Bashar Assad’s resignation, there will be no direct peace negotiations.

Yemen rejects US's anti-Iran claim

A spokesman for Yemen's Ansarullah movement has rejected US allegations that Iran provided the group with a missile which was used to target Saudi Arabia last month. Abdel-Malek al-Ejri says the accusations are an attempt to divert Arabs’ attention from the US president’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel. He says it is surprising that Washington suddenly finds evidence of Iran’s support for the Houthis after three years of war in Yemen. On Thursday, the US envoy to the United Nations presented what she called conclusive evidence that Tehran provided weapons to Houthi fighters. She stressed that the alleged move by the Islamic Republic was in violation of UN resolutions. Iran was quick to reject the allegation as unfounded.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia’s relentless bombardment of war torn Yemen shows no sign of abating. In the latest wave of airstrikes, Saudi warplanes have killed at least 12 civilians in the province of Ta’izz. Fighter jets targeted a bridge linking the districts of Al-Burj and Maq-banah. Elsewhere airstrikes also targeted Sa’ada province killing eight people including two women and a child in the district of Ghomar. On Wednesday, at least 50 people were killed in airstrikes on Ta’izz and Sana’a. Over the past week, Riyadh has considerably increased its aerial attacks on the impoverished country.

EU rejects Israeli plea

In a fresh rebuke to the United States’ recently-announced decision on Jerusalem al-Quds, the European Union president says the bloc’s stance on the holy city remains unchanged. In a tweet, Donald Tusk reaffirmed the 28-member bloc’s commitment to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through negotiations. The tweet was posted after the EU leaders discussed Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli capital on Wednesday. Last week, the EU foreign policy chief also raised the alarm about the consequences of Washington’s decision on the holy city. Federica Mogherini stressed that the move could take the Middle East backwards to even darker times. The shift in Washington’s al-Quds policy has so far sparked angry reactions across the world.

Australia abuse inquiry

Australia’s royal commission has called on the Vatican to make celibacy optional for priests amid longstanding abuse of children at Catholic religious institutions. The commission has published a scathing report following a five-year inquiry into abuse at institutions controlled by both the government and the Catholic Church. It says compulsory celibacy elevates the risk of abuse and the rules of confession protect abusers. The report also notes that there have been catastrophic failures by the Catholic Church authorities in this regard over the past decades. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was quick to react to the results of the inquiry, describing the findings as a national tragedy.

US repeals net neutrality

The US Federal Communications Commission has voted to repeal net neutrality rules aimed at ensuring a free and open internet. Activists and protesters, who gathered outside the FCC building, slammed the move, saying it undermines the rights of people. Press TV’s Colin Campbell reports.

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