WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, February 9, 2017.

War on Syria

Members of the UN Security Council have failed to agree on a statement over the humanitarian situation in Syria. The measure was proposed by Kuwait and Sweden. Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, called for an immediate 30-day ceasefire in Syria. He said the humanitarian situation in the country is the worst since 2015, citing as an example what he described as horrific conditions in Eastern Ghouta. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports the idea of the cessation of hostilities in Syria, but the plan is not realistic because terrorists are keeping up their attacks there. Eastern Ghouta has been the scene of clashes between Syrian government forces and militants for weeks. Damascus says it launched the operation in the area to stop militant attacks on the capital. Nearly a dozen people have lost their lives in militant shelling in Damascus in the past week alone.

Israel atrocities

Israeli forces have attacked Palestinian protesters during new demonstrations against the US decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the capital of Israel. A young Palestinian has been killed after he was shot in the head by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip. Fierce clashes have also taken place between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians near Ramallah and in other towns and villages across the occupied West Bank. Several Palestinians were injured by live fire. This is the tenth consecutive Palestinian day of rage following Friday prayers. The tensions began in early December when US President Donald Trump on December 6 announced Washington’s recognition of al-Quds as the capital of Israel.

Historic visit

The US vice president has warned the world against falling for “the glossy image” of the two Koreas as they are preparing to march under one flag in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Mike Pence made the remark as he arrived in South Korea to attend the ceremony. He said the Games should not be used as an opening for substantive talks with North Korea until Pyongyang agrees to negotiate its nuclear and missile programs. The North has so far rejected to hold any talks over the issue. Tensions have been on the rise on the Korean Peninsula amid a war of words between the North Korean leader and the US president. The Olympic Games, which will be attended by North Korean athletes, have signaled a thaw in tensions.

Post-Brexit doubts

The European Union’s Brexit negotiator says major differences remain between the bloc and Britain over whether London should respect its obligations during the transition period. Michel Barnier said if the disagreements are not resolved, there will be no transition to agree upon. The EU negotiator noted that Britain must accept all the rules and conditions until the end of the transition period. He also warned that Britain has to accept what he called the inescapable consequences of its decision to leave the EU. Barnier, however, expressed hope that the differences will be resolved in the next round of talks with London. The two sides have held numerous rounds of negotiations on a post-Brexit 21-month transition period starting as of March 2019 until the end of 2020.

Korean unity

South Korea’s president and a high ranking North Korean official have shared a historic handshake amid a warming of ties on the Peninsula. Moon Jae-in also held talks with the North’s ceremonial head of state during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, Kim Yong Nam. The two men smiled as they posed for photographers at a reception for leaders for the Pyeongchang games. Kim Yong Nam is the highest-level Northern official ever to visit the south. Meanwhile, Moon has shaken hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister who has also travelled to the South. Kim Yo-jong attended the opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics where athletes from South and North Korea have marched under a unified flag.

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