WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, December 21, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, December 22, 2017.

Hamas welcomes UNGA vote

Palestinian groups have welcomed the outcome of the United Nations General Assembly vote on Jerusalem al-Quds that left Israel and the United States totally isolated. Gaza-based resistance Movement Hamas described the vote as a step in the right direction and a blow to President Trump’s decision. According to Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, the resolution reiterates the Palestinians’ right to the holy city of al-Quds. Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh hailed the vote as a victory for justice, urging the US to reverse its decision. In the occupied West Bank, an aide to Palestinian president Abbas thanked all the countries that voted in favor of the resolution despite all the pressures. Nabil Abu Rudeneh says the vote reflects the international support for Palestinians who will press ahead with their effort to create their own state. Meanwhile, Turkish President Rejep Tayyip Erdogan also praised the assembly’s vote and advised Trump to rescind his decision without any delay.

Iran highlights Palestinian cause

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says despite all the plots and manufactured crises, Palestine will remain the primary issue in the Muslim world until its full liberation. Bahram Qassemi says no country and no issue could divert the attention of Muslims from Palestine. Qassemi’s remarks come in response to a tweet by the Bahraini foreign minister, who had described Palestine as a side issue. The Iranian diplomat says describing Palestine as a secondary issue shows Manama’s utter ignorance. He says Bahrain is publicly undermining its credibility with what he called “baseless and imbecile statements”. Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifah had said in his Wednesday tweet that fighting with the US over Palestine was not helpful and that Iran was the real threat.

‘Catalan republic’ victory

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont says it is indisputable that pro-separatists have won the region’s parliamentary elections. Speaking from self-imposed exile in Brussels, Puigdemont described the win as a victory for QUOTE the Catalan Republic over the Spanish state. He added that the vote was a slap in the face of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who called it. Puigdemont also demanded that Article 155 be suspended which Madrid triggered to impose direct rule on Catalonia following an independence referendum in October. The remarks come after pro-independence parties won 70 seats in the 135-seat assembly. The voter turnout was at a record high of 80 percent.

US VP in Afghanistan  

The US vice president has made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet the country’s leaders and promote Washington’s strategy. Mike Pence said US forces would stay in Afghanistan until victory against Taliban militants. In a reversal of his campaign call for a swift withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, US President Donald Trump in August ordered an increase in the number of troops in the war-torn country. At least 15,000 US soldiers are currently stationed in Afghanistan after the deployment of 3800 troops to the country this fall. Pentagon is due to send more troops to Afghanistan early next year to fight in what is the longest war in US history.

Syria’s Aleppo celebrates

Thousands of Syrians have gathered in Aleppo to mark one year since the city’s liberation from terrorists. The military was greeted by joyous residents carrying banners and images of President Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile foreign-backed militants fired missiles and artillery shells targeting residential neighborhoods two streets away from the celebrations. At least 3 people were killed and several others were wounded in the attack. Syrian forces managed to retake the city last December. Aleppo fell into the hands of terrorists in 2012. It witnessed some of the most brutal clashes during the war on Syria.

Rights violations in Bahrain

A leading human rights organization has called on Bahrain to release all political prisoners, expressing serious concern about the country's continued clampdown on dissent. In a statement, Amnesty International urged the Persian Gulf Kingdom to free opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman and prominent activist Nabeel Rajab. It stressed that all charges against them must be dropped. Amnesty International further stressed that civilians must not be tried before military courts and that their cases have to be transferred to a competent ordinary tribunal. The Manama regime has intensified its crackdown by sentencing more activists and dissidents, defying international calls to release political prisoners. The kingdom has been rocked by a popular uprising since 2011.

Peru politics

Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has narrowly survived an impeachment vote triggered by graft allegations linking him to a Brazilian construction firm. 19 lawmakers voted against the motion, 21 abstained and 10 skipped the vote. The motion fell eight votes short of the 87 needed for Kuczynski’s impeachment. Opposition lawmakers were bent on ousting Kuczynski after his private consulting business was accused of receiving payments from a Brazilian construction giant. The 79-year-old leader says he had no management duties at his consulting firm when it received 782,000 US dollars over a decade ago.

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