WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, May 17, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, May 18, 2018.

Nigerians demand Zakzaky freedom

Supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have staged a protest, demanding the release of their leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky. Press TV’s Correspondent Danjuma Abdullahi has the details from the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

New CIA director

The US Senate has confirmed Gina Haspel to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, despite concerns surrounding her role in brutal torture techniques. Haspel, who will be the first woman to head the CIA, needed a simple majority to be confirmed. She had strong support from the administration of President Donald Trump. Haspel has worked for the spy agency for 33 years and has been involved in undercover spying operations throughout the world. The Senate Intelligence Committee released a report in 2014 about the CIA's use of torture against detainees in the years after the September 11 terror attacks on US soil. The report concluded that the torture techniques were far more brutal than what the agency had publicly acknowledged.

Putin-Assad meeting

Russia says the situation in Syria is now favorable for a major political process. President Vladimir Putin has told his Syrian counterpart that after the military success in the country, a political process will speed up the withdrawal of foreign forces from Syria. Bashar al-Assad says he welcomes a political process in his country but believes it will not be easy as some countries do not want stability to return to Syria. Assad is on an unannounced official visit to Russia’s Sochi for talks with Putin. The two also agreed on joint, coordinated actions to fight terrorism in Syria.

Trump threatens North Korea

The US president threatens North Korea with a Libya-model intervention if Pyongyang does not reach a deal with Washington. Donald Trump, however, differentiated his approach to North Korea from what his country and its allies did to Libya. He said the West did not give any protections to former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, to quit power, whereas he would let North Korean Leader, Kim Jong-un, rule his country if he agrees to a deal. Trump’s statement came after Pyongyang said a meeting between the US president and Kim would not take place if Washington continues its hostile policies, including war games with the South.

Mexico US complaint

Mexico files a diplomatic note of complaint to the US State Department after President Donald Trump used an offensive term against immigrants. Mexican Foreign Minister, Luis Videgaray, said his government regards Trump’s comments absolutely unacceptable. He said the remarks were not respectful of human rights. This comes after Trump called some illegal immigrants animals which drew rebukes on social media. The US president later defended his statement, saying he was referring to criminal gangs.

OIC Palestine summit

Iran’s president says the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation provides an opportunity for Muslim nations to defend the Palestinians in the face of Israeli crimes. Hassan Rouhani made the remarks before leaving Tehran to attend a summit of the OIC in Turkey. Rouhani condemned the latest massacre of dozens of Palestinians by Israeli forces in Gaza. He labeled as illegal and disastrous the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Al-Quds. Rouhani stressed that the Iranian nation will remain committed to the aspirations of the Palestinians. He said Israel and the US create problems in the Islamic world to distract attention from the issue of Palestine. The OIC summit seeks to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the wake of the recent carnage by Israel in the Gaza Strip

DR Congo Ebola warning

The World Health Organization has warned of a very high public health risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a case of Ebola was confirmed in a major city. The assessment came after a patient was diagnosed with the disease in the northwestern city of Mban-daka, located on major national and international river, road and domestic air routes. This increases the risk of spread within the country and to neighboring countries. The UN agency has warned of a much rapid outbreak if the disease spreads into urban areas. A WHO statement has reported a total of 47 cases of the disease, including 15 deaths, between the months of April and May. The agency is sending over 7500 doses of an experimental vaccine in a bid to stop the outbreak in its tracks.

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