WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, January 24, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, January 25, 2017.

Yemen crisis

United Nations’ humanitarian aid coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick has given up his post. McGoldrick, who served for two years in the war-torn country, said he would be leaving Sana’a for a position in New York. The announcement comes just days after UN special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed also said he would be stepping down in February after four years. The United Nations has not announced a new aid coordinator yet. Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis amid Saudi Arabia’s daily bombardment there. Riyadh began the war on its southern neighbor in March 2015. Over 13,700 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed since then.

Egypt election

Prominent rights group Amnesty International has called on Egyptian authorities to stop interfering in the country's upcoming presidential election. Amnesty says authorities are “hell-bent” on arresting and harassing anyone who stands against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The group also accused the government of trying to crush dissent and consolidate power. It says the arrest of former military chief of staff, Sami Anan, is another brazen attack on the rights of Egyptians to freedom of expression. According to Amnesty, Anan appears to have been solely detained because he was widely considered to be Sisi’s serious rival. The group also says Anan is among a growing number of candidates arrested or convicted on “trumped up charges”. The election has been slated for March 2018.

Lula defiance

Former Brazilian president Lula da Silva says he intends to seek another term in the upcoming election despite an appeals court upholding his conviction for corruption. The ex-leader was speaking among his supporters in Sao Paulo in the wake of the verdict. Earlier, three judges at the appeals court ruled to uphold Lula’s conviction and also increased his original jail sentence from nine-and-a-half years to 12 years and one month. The former president can still take his appeal to a higher court but the decision could rule him out as a candidate for October's presidential election. Lula has time and again stressed that he is innocent. His case is part of a massive corruption investigation involving Brazil’s state-run oil giant Petrobras. Dozens of business executives and politicians have been convicted in similar cases.

US ‘propaganda’

Russia has denied the US accusation that Moscow and the Syrian government were behind a chemical attack in a militant-held enclave in the suburb of Damascus. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the attack itself has not been confirmed. Moscow described the accusations as US propaganda aimed at undermining the Syria peace talks that Russia is hosting. It also said Washington’s move is also aimed at scuttling the Syria peace process. The US claims Syria used chlorine gas in Eastern Ghouta on Monday and called Russia an accomplice. Syria has rejected the claim as baseless.

North Korea calls for unification   

North Korea makes a rare announcement calling for the reunification of the peninsula and says military tension was a fundamental obstacle to the improvement of bilateral ties. The announcement was addressed to all Koreans at home and abroad, appealing on them to promote cooperation through dialogue and travel. It added that the North will smash all attempts against the reunification of the peninsula. Pyongyang also said military drills with outside powers have proven to be unhelpful for the development of relations. During a New Year message this year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered an olive branch to lower tensions between the two adversaries. A week later, inter-Korean ties saw a major diplomatic breakthrough following face to face talks between the two countries’ officials which were the first negotiations in two years.

Trump and the Russia probe

US President Donald Trump says he is willing to be questioned under oath in connection with an investigation into alleged collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump added that he is “looking forward to being interviewed”. Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller is reportedly hoping to interview the president in the coming weeks. Mueller, who is examining whether Trump tried to obstruct an investigation into alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia, has already interviewed US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

Rohingya crisis

A veteran US diplomat has quit an international panel set up to address the issue of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, saying the group was pursuing a whitewash. Richardson added that he did not want to be part of a “cheerleading squad” for the Myanmar government. The US diplomat was engaged in a bitter argument with Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi over two reporters who are on trial for their coverage of the Rohingya crisis. He cited Suu Kyi’s furious and heated response as another reason for his resignation. Richardson added that the Myanmar leader is duped by her advisors that do not give her frank advice.

Washington warning

Prominent international humanitarian aid organizations have slammed a US decision to withhold its million-dollar contribution to a UN agency working for Palestinian refugees. The leaders of 21 aid groups have sent a letter to US President Donald Trump’s administration objecting its decision to cut funds for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees or UNRWA. A copy of the letter obtained by Reuters says the White House’s decision would disrupt Palestinian access to food, health care, education and other critical support. The aid groups warn of dire consequences if the cut is maintained. The US withheld 65 million dollars in aid to UNRWA after Trump blamed Palestinians for the lack of progress to resolve the conflict with Israelis. The move also followed growing Palestinian anger over Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

Argentine protest

People have taken to the streets in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires to protest rising prices and a government plan to cut back on welfare. Protesters held banners and chanted slogans criticizing President Mauricio Macri’s economic plans. They argued that rising costs impact children’s health. President Macri has vowed to boost the country’s ailing economy since he took office in 2015. The Latin American country, however, has been the scene of street protests for the past few months over the government's failure to improve the financial system. Protesters accuse Macri of balancing the budget at the expense of the poor under the pretext of implementing reforms.

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