WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, December 31, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, January 1, 2018.

New Year

Cities around the world are ringing in 2018. London has been among the latest to mark the New Year with massive fireworks. Fireworks also lit up the sky above Berlin, Paris and Moscow thrilling thousands of spectators. Jakarta, Hong Kong, Pyongyang and Sydney also welcomed 2018 with a bang. The city of Auckland in New Zealand was the first to celebrate the New Year with a huge fireworks spectacle. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the United States, as people gear up to mark the New Year in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Israel expansionism

The central committee of the Israeli Likud Party has voted in favor of a resolution calling for the formal annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank. The non-binding vote urged Likud MPs to spread Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. The measure also called for unlimited construction in the Israeli settlements which are deemed illegal by the international community. The Palestinian Fatah Movement slammed the move as a clear violation of the United Nations’ resolutions. It also warned the Israeli regime about the consequences of the vote. Tel Aviv has further escalated its expansionist policies in the occupied territories since US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

Warning of US-North Korea war

A former senior US military officer says President Donald Trump's incredibly disruptive presidency is pushing the United States on the verge of a nuclear war with North Korea. Mike Mullen warned that Trump’s warlike rhetoric is not likely to be constrained by his Defense Secretary James Mattis, his National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster or White House chief of staff John Kelly. In his UN General Assembly speech in September, Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea if the US was forced to defend itself or its allies. In August, he vowed to unleash fire and fury on North Korea if it continued to threaten Washington or its allies.

Palestinian reaction

The Palestinian Authority has called back its ambassador to Washington nearly one month after the US recognized the city of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. The Palestinian foreign minister says the envoy is being temporarily recalled for consultations about the future relations with the United States. Riad Malki said the discussions would set the decisions needed by the Palestinian leadership in the coming period regarding ties with the US. He said the envoy is expected to return to his normal work after the discussions. Palestinians are completely outraged over US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem al-Quds. They say Washington can no longer claim to be an impartial mediator in the Palestinian conflict.

Kim’s message to US

The North Korean leader has issued a stern warning to the US in his New Year message. Kim Jong-un said the entire US is within range of North Korean nuclear weapons. Kim announced that the country completed nuclear force in 2017. The North Korean leader also said that operational deployment of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles will be Pyongyang’s main focus. The US and North Korea have been at loggerheads following Pyongyang’s recent nuclear and missile tests. The North says it will not relinquish its nuclear deterrence and missile capability unless Washington and its regional allies end their hostile policy toward the East Asian country.

DR Congo violence

At least eight people have been killed in anti-government protests in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The protesters slammed President Joseph Kabila over his refusal to step down. Catholic churches and activists had called for the demonstrations after Sunday mass. Last year, the church oversaw the signing of an accord that set a new election date. President Kabila’s mandate ended in December 2016. He promised to organize an election by the end of 2017. The country’s election commission, however, says the vote cannot be held until December 2018.

Palestinian resistance

 Palestinians have strongly condemned an Israeli resolution calling for the formal annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank. The Fatah Movement slammed the move as a clear violation of the UN resolutions. Fatah warned that the Israeli regime will be responsible for the consequences of the illegitimate settlements. The Palestinian resistance movement has also denounced the decision as a clear sign of the constant infringement of Palestinians’ rights. Hamas underlined resistance as the only path against Tel Aviv. On Sunday, the central committee of the Israeli Likud Party unanimously voted for a non-binding resolution, urging lawmakers to spread Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank has never been recognized by the international community.

US deadly shooting

One officer is killed and six others injured after a gunman opened fire in an ambush-style attack in the US state of Colorado. Police say the gunman fired more than 100 rounds before he was shot dead by the police. The attacker opened fire on sheriff deputies who were deployed to an apartment complex near Denver. Three deputies, a police officer and two civilians were wounded in the incident. The police had gone to the apartment in response to a domestic disturbance report. The gunman has been identified as US Army veteran Matthew Riehl.

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