WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, March 30, 2017.

Rejecting France offer

Turkey has rejected France’s offer to mediate in the conflict with Kurdish forces in Syria. Kalin was responding to French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks on Thursday in which he had hoped for “a dialogue between the two sides”. Macron had expressed support for the Kurdish forces while hosting a delegation of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces, including the YPG. Kurdish officials say Macron had also specifically expressed commitment to sending troops to the region. Ankara has vowed to drive the Kurdish YPG forces out of Syria. The Turkish government considers the group to be an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party or the PKK which has waged a decades-long insurgency within Turkey. The Turkish military has also been pushing an operation against Kurds in the Afrin region since January.

US-Russia tensions

The White House says Russia's expulsion of US diplomats and the shuttering of one of its consulates mark a further deterioration in relations between Washington and Moscow. The White House added that Moscow was expected to make such a move, and that the US will “deal with it”. Washington’s reaction came after Russia announced it would shut the US consulate in Saint Petersburg and expel 60 US diplomats in a week’s time. The Kremlin’s retaliatory move comes in response to the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats by some western countries and the US over the poisoning of a former double agent in Britain. London accuses Moscow of being behind the poisoning of ex-spy Sergey Skripal in Britain, a charge Moscow vehemently denies.

Gaza ‘March of Return’

Tens of thousands of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip have congregated along the so-called buffer zone with Israel to mark the annual Land Day. Israeli forces have killed eight Palestinians and injured hundreds of others. Gazans have rallied in different parts of Gaza to take part in the gathering dubbed the Great March of Return. They aim to stay there and protest for six weeks to express their anger at the Israeli occupation and crimes. Israel earlier warned that snipers deployed along the Gaza border will target the protesters. The head of the resistance movement Hamas in Gaza Yahya al-Sinwar says the Great March of Return is a turning point in the fight against the Israeli regime.

Spy poisoning tensions

Russia has taken retaliatory measures against western countries in response to the expulsion of its diplomats in a row over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned British ambassador to Moscow, Laurie Bristow and handed him a note of protest. The UK has been given one month to cut its diplomatic contingent in Moscow to the same size as the Russian diplomatic mission in Britain. After attending the Russian Foreign Ministry, the British envoy once again called on Moscow to provide answers about the poisoning incident.

Air France strike

A new strike action has hit France’s flag carrier Air France, forcing the cancellation of a quarter of its flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded. This is the third time since February that Air France employees walk out of their jobs. Thirty-two percent of the airline’s pilots will also join the strike along 28 percent of the cabin crew and 20 percent of the staff. Two more Air France strikes are planned for April 3 and 7. According to unions, Air France should share last year’s strong revenues with staff while the company says it cannot offer higher salaries without disrupting its growth. To make things worse in France, lawyers are to strike on Friday in protest against reforms in French courts. State rail employees will also begin a three-month rolling walkout next week while rubbish collectors will go on strike on April 3.

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