WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, January 23, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, January 24, 2017.

Afghanistan attack

A huge explosion rocks the Afghan city of Jalalabad, the provincial capital of the country’s eastern Nangarhar province. At least eleven people are wounded in the incident. Afghan officials say the blast happened near the office of international aid group “Save the Children”. Witnesses say sporadic gunfire can be heard near the site of the explosion. This, after a group of insurgents launched a coordinated attack near the site of the charity organization. Afghanistan has been the scene of violent insurgency by terrorist groups, including the Taliban and Daesh.

Benghazi bombing

At least 33 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in a twin car bomb attack in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Security sources said an explosive-laden vehicle went off in front of a mosque in the neighborhood of al-Salmani as worshippers were leaving evening prayers. Minutes later, another car blew up in the same area causing more casualties among security forces and civilians. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The North African country descended into chaos after former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

US Russia probe

A US media report says Special Counsel Robert Mueller is seeking to question President Donald Trump as part of an investigation into potential collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The Washington Post reports that Mueller wants to interview Trump in the coming weeks about his decision to sack national security adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey. The report says president’s legal team hopes to provide Trump’s testimony in a hybrid form, consisting of face-to-face interviews and written statements. Earlier, the US Justice Department confirmed that Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions had been questioned last week by Mueller’s office. Both Trump and Russia have rejected a conclusion by US intelligence agencies that Russia did try to sway the results of the 2016 presidential election in favor of Trump.

Chemical attacks probe

Russia has proposed the formation of a new international body to investigate the use of chemical weapons in the Middle East. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting requested by Moscow, the Russian ambassador said previous investigations into the use of chemical weapons were a complete failure. Vasily Nebenzya said the probes collapsed because they were not professional and became a mechanism for political manipulation. Meanwhile, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley accused Russia of sabotaging a probe into the use of chemical weapons in Syria. She also accused Damascus of using chlorine gas in Eastern Ghouta on Monday. Haley said Russia was a complicit in the atrocity. Both Russia and Syria rejected claims by the US as baseless.

Turkey Syria offensive  

The Turkish foreign minister says Ankara’s military intervention in Syria’s Kurdish majority northeast could be expanded beyond Afrin. Mevlut Chavushoglu said Turkey might start an operation in the town of Manbij and even areas east of the Euphrates River, citing threats coming from those regions. On Saturday, Turkey launched an offensive dubbed Operation Olive Branch in Afrin. Ankara has confirmed three Turkish soldiers have been killed in the operation so far. The Turkish military claims to have killed at least 260 YPG Kurdish militiamen and Daesh terrorists in Afrin. While Turkey continues shelling border areas in northeastern Syria, the region’s Kurdish administration has urged civilians to take up arms against the Turkish army and its allied militants. According to the United Nations, an estimated 5,000 people have been displaced by Ankara’s military intervention in the Kurdish-majority region.

Israeli apartheid policies  

The United Nations member states - during a Human Rights Council session held in the Swiss city of Geneva - have slammed Israeli atrocities against Palestinians. The criticism came during a UN-led process aimed at assessing the human rights record of each country, known as Universal Periodic Review. In the session, South African delegate said Israel is “the only apartheid state in the world”. Jordan, the UAE, Iran, Russia and Malaysia among others called for end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and a halt to expansion of Israeli settlements. The UN members also denounced Tel Aviv for the displacement of Palestinians and the demolition of their homes. Also, delegates from Britain, Finland and Austria expressed concern over the arbitrary detention of Palestinian children.

Venezuela presidential vote

Venezuela's president says he is interested in re-election if he is nominated by his ruling Socialist Party. Nicolas Maduro made the announcement at a rally in the capital Caracas. The Venezuelan president says he is a humble worker and a man of the people. Meanwhile, a senior member of ruling Socialist Party has announced that Maduro is their only candidate. Earlier, the South American nation’s all-powerful Constituent Assembly voted to bring forward the presidential election to the first quarter of 2018. The election had initially been scheduled for the end of the year. Maduro’s government is currently faced with widespread public anger over rising prices and shortages of food and medicine.

Anti-Trump protest

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Swiss city of Zurich to protest against a planned visit by US President Donald Trump to the World Economic Forum's annual meeting this week. Protesters chanted the slogan ‘Trump Not Welcome!’ as they marched toward Zurich's financial district. More than 5,000 Swiss security forces have been deployed to guard the Swiss town of Davos where WEF is to be held. Earlier this month, demonstrators also protested against Trump's visit to the Swiss capital Bern.

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