WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, December 28, 2017.

Kabul bomb blast

At least 40 people have been killed and dozens injured in multiple bomb blasts in the Afghan capital Kabul. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Taliban have denied involvement in the attack that took place at a cultural center. Officials said a ceremony was being held there to mark the 38th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The cultural center is near the building of an Afghan news agency. The attack comes days after a bomber killed several people near the Afghan intelligence agency compound in Kabul. That attack was claimed by the Daesh terrorist group.

Turkey anti-terror operation

Turkish police have arrested nearly 40 people suspected of having links to the Daesh terrorist group. According to Turkish media, the operations were conducted in the northwestern province of Bursa. Police forces carried out simultaneous raids on homes in different districts, smashing doors open and searching properties. On Wednesday, British media reported that thousands of Daesh terrorists are believed to be hiding in Turkey following the collapse of the Takfiri group in Iraq and Syria. Since the beginning of the Syria conflict, Turkey has been a corridor for the terrorists to pass through into Syria. The country has also been the victim of terror attacks by the same terrorists.

‘Terrorist act’ in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Wednesday’s explosion in the country’s second-largest city of Saint Petersburg was an act of terrorism. Putin ordered the country’s security forces to kill terrorists on the spot if they pose a threat to their lives. On Wednesday, an improvised explosive device went off at a storage area inside a supermarket, leaving 13 people injured. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. The blast comes after a bombing killed 15 people and wounded dozens on the Saint Petersburg metro in April. That bombing was claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group. Earlier this month, Russian security forces arrested a group of Daesh terrorists. They wanted to blow up the Kazan Cathedral that is one of Saint Petersburg's most famous landmarks.

‘Absurd war’ in Yemen

The United Nations expresses deep regret over the mounting number of civilian deaths caused by Saudi Arabia’s bombardments in Yemen. The world body denounces the Saudi aggression as an absurd war. UN humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick says Yemeni civilians are being punished as part of a futile Saudi military campaign. The UN official has urged all parties, particularly the Saudi-led coalition, to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and spare ordinary people and civilian infrastructure. McGoldrick’s remarks came as at least 68 people were killed in Saudi airstrikes on Tuesday alone. At least 54 civilians died in air raids on a crowded market in Ta’izz. Fourteen members of a family were killed in the bombardment of Hudaydah. Seven more civilians have also been killed since Wednesday.

Plight of refugees in Europe

The Italian prime minister says his country will send troops to Niger to help stem the flow of refugees heading to Europe. Paolo Gentiloni said Italy will be sending 470 soldiers to Niger to reinforce security measures in the transit country. Some 200 soldiers will be deployed to central Niger in early 2018. Thousands of people fleeing war and persecution have been heading to Agadez, Africa’s human-trafficking capital, hoping to reach Europe. Last year, the EU offered Niger more than 600 million euros to curb migration via the Mediterranean Sea. Some 1.5 million refugees have gone to Europe since the influx began a few years ago.

Russia slams Japan

Russia has slammed Japan’s decision to deploy a US missile system in the country. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Maria Zakharova said the move will hurt Moscow’s relations with Tokyo. She added that the decision is also in breach of a landmark arms control treaty with Washington. Earlier this month, Japan formally decided to expand its ballistic missile system with US-made ground-based Aegis radar stations and interceptors. It said the measure is in response to a growing threat from North Korean missiles.

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