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 17, 2017.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia has stepped up its military campaign against its southern neighbor, killing dozens of Yemeni civilians in fresh airstrikes. In the latest round of air raids, at least 10 women were killed as Saudi fighter jets attacked a wedding convoy in the central province of Ma’rib. Earlier in the day, the airstrikes targeted a vehicle in the province of Hudaydah, killing three people and wounding several others. Dozens of people were also killed in separate attacks on Friday, in a series of deadliest assaults since Saudi Arabia launched its military campaign in 2015. Over 13,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed since then. The humanitarian situation in the impoverished country has also aggravated due to a Saudi-led blockade.

Pakistan attack

A church service has turned bloody in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta following an attack by unidentified gunmen. Local officials say two assailants burst into the Methodist church, detonating bombs and shooting at worshippers. The attack has left at least five people dead and nearly 20 others injured. Security forces have killed one gunman in an exchange of fire. There has been no claim of responsibility.

Pro-Palestine rallies

Pro-Palestine rallies have been held in the US and Indonesia following Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. Thousands of protesters rallied near the White House in Washington DC to express their anger over the US president’s decision. Protesters waved Palestinian flags and carried banners denouncing the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Also in Jakarta, around 40,000 people gathered to protest against the controversial decision. The demonstrators said Trump's move has violated international law. Muslim clerics in the country have also called for a boycott of Israeli and American products. The dramatic shift in US policy has drawn international condemnation, with pro-Palestine rallies held in many countries.

US Russia probe

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has gained access to thousands of emails from the US president’s transition team, as part of a probe into alleged collusion between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia. Reports say the investigators obtained the emails from the General Services Administration at the FBI’s request in September. The GSA is an independent agency of the United States government that supports presidential transitions. The emails in question pertain to over a dozen senior Trump transition officials. Kory Langhofer, a counsel to the transition team, has accused the GSA of improperly providing the email records for investigators. The revelation adds to the growing friction between Trump and Mueller's office as it continues probe into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. Trump himself has loudly declared Mueller's effort a waste of time. But a former Trump advisor recently pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacting Russian officials.

Pakistanis rally against Trump’s Jerusalem decision

Global demonstrations continue against the US recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. In the latest of such rallies, people have come out in their thousands in the Pakistani city of Karachi. The protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against the Israeli regime. Earlier, a similar rally was held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in which around 40,000 people participated. Such demonstrations have been taking place on a daily basis all around the world since over a week ago when US President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel. The decision sparked international outcry with even many of US allies rejecting the move. The UN Security Council members have prepared a draft resolution to make Trump’s decision null and void. Washington is expected to veto the motion.

UN al-Quds resolution

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that makes null and void any unilateral decision on the status or demographic composition of Jerusalem al-Quds. The move follows the US president’s recognition of the city as the Israeli capital. The draft resolution says any action on al-Quds must be in compliance with previous UN Security Council resolutions. The document also calls on all countries to avoid establishing diplomatic missions in the holy city. UN diplomats said the council could vote on the Egypt-proposed measure as early as Monday. The US has found itself isolated over its decision on al-Quds. The move was condemned by all other members of the Security Council two weeks ago. Donald Trump’s decision has also drawn widespread international condemnation.

Taliban deadly attack

At least 11 Afghan police officers have been killed and nearly 10 others have sustained injuries in new Taliban attacks. Officials say the double attacks broke out early Sunday at a checkpoint in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province. Security forces foiled the attacks and killed the assailants during counter-offensives. Provincial authorities have reported casualties among the police forces without either confirming or rejecting the figures reported by local media. The attacks come a week after nearly 30 police officers were killed in a Taliban ambush in Helmand. The southern Afghan province is one of the main bases of the Taliban Takfiri group in the country.

Philippines landslides

Landslides triggered by a tropical storm have killed 26 people and left nearly two dozen others missing in the eastern Philippines. Some 90,000 people have been forced to flee their homes after tropical storm Kai-Tak made landfall. Kai-Tak pounded the major islands of Samar and Leyte on Saturday a day after hitting the small island province of Biliran. The devastating storm has cut power to nearly 40 cities and towns. Roads and bridges have been damaged. Kai-Tak has now been downgraded to a tropical depression.

Turkey to open embassy in East al-Quds

The Turkish president says Ankara will open an embassy in East Jerusalem al-Quds representing the country’s diplomatic mission in the state of Palestine. Recep Tayyip Erdogan was addressing a large crowd who had gathered to condemn the US recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. He said the embassy should be built soon as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has already recognized East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. Concurrent with the Ankara rally, people in the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir also took to the streets to denounce Washington’s decision.

Chile vote

People are voting in Chile’s presidential run-off election which has pitted conservative former president Sebastian Pinera against center-left candidate Alejandro Guillier, a senator and popular TV journalist. Reports coming out of Chile show the outcome of Pinera's comeback bid is far from certain after an unexpected surge from Guillier. About 14 million people are eligible to vote at more than 43,000 polling stations. Pinera previously held Chile’s highest office from 2010 to 2014. He is trying to return as the successor to center-left incumbent Michelle Bachelet, who is constitutionally banned from running for re-election. The president supports Pinera’s rival, Guillier. Whoever wins the presidential vote will take office from March 2018 until 2022.

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