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 16, 2017.

Israel's crackdown on Palestinians

Palestinian officials have called for a probe into an unknown gas used by Israeli forces in their crackdown on protesters in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the Israeli tear gas had unusual side effects such as dizziness and nausea. Israeli forces used live fire and tear gas to disperse Palestinians holding fresh anti-US protests on Friday. At least 2 Palestinians were killed and scores of others wounded in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, another two were killed and over 350 others were injured. On December six, the US recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel. Since then, protests against the move have gained momentum with 10 Palestinian fatalities.

Questioning US claims

France has reacted to recent anti-Iran allegations by the US envoy to the United Nations. Paris says the world body has not drawn any conclusions regarding Washington's claims that Tehran provided Yemen with a missile. French foreign ministry deputy spokesman, Alexandre Giorgini, said Paris is still studying information at its disposal regarding the allegations. On Thursday, the US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, claimed that Iran provided Yemen’s Ansarullah movement with a missile that targeted the Saudi capital last month. The Iranian foreign minister quickly dismissed the accusation. Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US is complicit in the Saudi war on Yemen, and is trying to cover up its own crimes. Earlier this week, a UN report also refused to confirm Saudi Arabia’s claims that Iran has been arming Yemen’s Ansarullah fighters.

US seeks to cover up war crimes in Mideast: Zarif

Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed as ‘baseless and unconvincing’ the recent anti-Iran allegations by the US envoy to the United Nations. Mohammad Javad Zarif says Washington's claim -- that Tehran provided Yemen with a missile -- is an attempt to cover up its actions in the Middle East, which can amount to war crimes. He also said the US has sold weapons to Saudi Arabia and its allies, enabling them to "kill civilians and impose famine" in Yemen. Earlier, French foreign ministry deputy spokesman, Alexandre Giorgini, said the UN has not drawn any conclusions regarding Washington's claims. On Thursday, the US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, claimed that Iran provided Yemen’s Ansarullah movement with a missile that targeted the Saudi capital last month.

Mourning in Palestine

Palestinians have held a funeral for a protester who was killed by Israeli forces during anti-US rallies in the besieged Gaza Strip. A large number of Palestinians gathered in Gaza City to bid farewell to the protester who was killed during Day of Rage rallies on Friday. Leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Ismail Haniyeh also attended the funeral procession. He said during a speech that Jerusalem al-Quds will remain a Palestinian and Islamic city and nobody can change its status quo. Separately, a funeral has been held for another Palestinian killed in the West Bank town of Bet Awla in the city of al-Khalil, also known as Hebron.

Venezuela talks

The Venezuelan government and opposition have concluded yet another round of negotiations aimed at resolving the country’s political and economic crisis. The two sides described the talks, held in the Dominican Republic, as constructive and positive. Head of the government delegation, Jorge Rodriguez expressed hope that an agreement will be reached in future. The dialogue is slated to resume on January 11. Foreign ministers from several Latin American countries are serving as mediators in the talks. Venezuela was the scene of political unrest and violent protests earlier this year. That unrest was caused by political differences as well as acute shortages of food and medicine.

ANC elective conference

Thousands of delegates of South Africa’s ruling ANC party have got together in the city of Johannesburg to elect a new leader. The conference will last for five days and is seen as a major competition between the incumbent president’s ex-wife and the deputy president. Opponents of the president have urged people not to vote for his ex-wife, saying she would be Jacob Zuma’s proxy. They’re also worried Zuma's wife could block investigations into his graft allegations. The ANC conference is seen as a critical moment for South Africa’s post-apartheid history. The election of iconic figure Nelson Mandela as the party's leader in 1994 marked the end of the country’s white-minority rule.

Russia warning

Moscow has warned against a risk of uncontrolled escalation amid rising tensions between the United States and North Korea. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov noted that the current situation is extremely dangerous urging a political solution. He made the remark after Washington toughened its stance on North Korea nuclear talks during a UN Security Council session on Friday. During the meeting, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, scaled back his previous comments that the US was ready for negotiations with North Korea without any preconditions. Tillerson urged the international community to oppose a nuclear North Korea. Trump also on Friday accused Russia of failing to pressure North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons program.

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