The most prominent events in the world in the past 24 hours

1. Japanese Prime Minister will attend the Winter Olympics

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea next February. Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Abe's decision to attend the Winter Olympics was announced after it was reported that he would not attend due to disagreements surrounding the issue of "comfort women", Japanese women forced into sexual slavery in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

The Japanese colonial period of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945 and the comfort women issue have been sensitive aspects in relations between Japan and South Korea over the years.

2. More than 100 people were killed or injured in a series of car bombings in Libya.

Scene of the bombing in Benghazi. Photo: Reuters

At least 33 people were killed and more than 70 others injured when two car bombs exploded in succession in the city of Benghazi, northern Libya.

Local media reported on January 24 that two car bombs exploded within 30 minutes of each other near a mosque in downtown Benghazi.

The attack occurred as worshippers were leaving the mosque. According to sources, Mr. Mahdi Falah, an official of the Libyan Intelligence Service, was among those injured.

3. Revealing the powerful right-hand man of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) and Mr. Choe Ryong-hae. Photo: KCNA

According to the Daily Star, Mr. Choe Ryong-hae has just been appointed as the head of North Korea's Organization and Guidance Department (OGD), a powerful position that was previously held only by members of leader Kim Jong-un's family.

Mr. Choe, 68, is considered one of the closest aides to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea expert Michael Madden said that Mr. Choe would have even more influence than other close aides beside Kim Jong-un such as his sister Kim Yo-jong.

4. Expanding the campaign in Syria, Türkiye is bogged down in a new war

Türkiye warns it will expand its "Olive Branch" military operation in Syria. Photo: Aljazeera

Türkiye’s military operation, dubbed “Operation Olive Branch,” has opened a new front in Syria’s multi-sided civil war. Turkish officials warned on January 23 that the operation would extend beyond the Afrin region and would not end until millions of Syrian refugees in the country could safely return home.

Despite international concerns about Türkiye’s recent military operation in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced that Turkey is considering expanding Operation Olive Branch to areas where Kurdish forces are concentrated, outside Afrin. Specifically, in the town of Mabis, northern Syria and the area east of the Euphrates River.

5.Afghanistan: Save the Children office attacked

The attack left at least 11 people injured.

Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the Jalalabad city government, Afghanistan, said that on the morning of January 24, suicide attackers targeted the office of the organization "Save the Children" and detonated a bomb planted inside a car parked right in front of the office of this organization in District 3 of Jalalabad city.

Previously, on January 20, terrorists also launched an attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing at least 22 people, most of whom were foreigners./.

6.Dramatic Czech presidential election

Current President Zeman maintains his opposition to accepting refugees. Photo: CNN

In the first live debate on television on the evening of January 23, attracting 2.2 million viewers, the two candidates, incumbent President Milos Zeman and his opponent Jiri Drahos – former President of the Czech Academy of Sciences – fiercely attacked each other, mainly focusing on the issues of immigration and gun ownership.

President Zeman once again reaffirmed his opposition to accepting refugees for various reasons, while criticizing candidate Drahos' previous statement that he wanted the Czech Republic to accept a certain number of refugees.

7.Lava from Philippine volcano flows nearly 3km, causing danger

Lava from Philippine volcano flows nearly 3km, causing danger. Photo: Fox News

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said on the morning of January 24 that two of the lava flows extended more than 1km, and hot gas and volcanic debris spread up to 5km from the crater in one area.

Authorities on January 22 expanded the no-go zone around Mayon volcano to 8km and more than 56,000 people had to take shelter in evacuation centers as of Tuesday afternoon, January 23.

8.Germany opposes upgrading tanks used by Turkey to attack Afrin

Türkiye launched an attack on Kurdish militia.

The German government is facing calls to halt arms exports to Türkiye after it was revealed that German-made Leopard tanks were used in attacks on Kurdish militia in Syria, the BBC reported on January 24.

Some German politicians have suggested that all work be halted to allow the tank upgrade deal to go through, weeks after the German-Turkish foreign ministers pledged to improve bilateral relations.