WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, January 21, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, January 22, 2018.

Turkey offensive 

Eleven civilians, including five children, have reportedly been killed in Turkish airstrikes in the northern Syrian region of Afrin. Reports say the deaths occurred when Turkish warplanes bombed the village of Jalbara. Among the victims were eight members of a family who had fled fighting elsewhere. The strikes came on the second day of Turkey’s offensive dubbed Operation Olive Branch, against Kurdish militias in northern Syria. The Kurdish YPG forces also confirmed the raids. On Saturday, a YPG spokesman said that Turkish bombardment had killed 10 people, including seven civilians. Ankara has denied claims of civilian casualties from the Turkish offensive, accusing the Kurdish militants of using civilians as human shields and showing neutralized terrorists as civilians.

Saudi blockade against Yemen

A non-governmental charity organization has warned about a potential increase of death rates among Yemeni children amid Saudi Arabia’s blockade on its southern neighbor. Save the Children says the diphtheria outbreak death toll in the war-ravaged country is likely to rise if Riyadh does not lift its embargo. The organization has stressed that the Yemeni children are bearing the brunt of the worst diphtheria outbreak for a generation. It also says the blockade on the Arab nation has largely hampered aid efforts. Meanwhile, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen has sounded the alarm over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the country.

US blame game

A blame game continues among senior US Republican and Democratic politicians over a government shutdown, which is now in its second day. The Senate minority leader called Donald Trump a dysfunctional president, blaming him for the situation. Republicans, however, blamed the crisis on Chuck Schumer. GOP lawmakers argued that Democrats were blocking extra Pentagon money by keeping the government closed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Democrats to withdraw their objections to a Republican-proposed spending bill, which would keep the government open until February 8th. Meanwhile, some lawmakers in both parties have expressed hopes of finding a way in a late-night showdown vote to end the shutdown before the start of the work week on Monday.

Lavrov slams ‘Russiaphobia’

The Russian foreign minister says “the Russiaphobia” advertised by the West is unprecedented, warning that Moscow’s red lines should be respected. Sergei Lavrov added that the anti-Russian sentiment promoted by the West is even worse than at the height of the Cold War. He expressed disappointment over the fact that all decorum has been cast aside now. The Russian top diplomat slammed what he described as efforts to punish Russia by any means possible, calling sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union absurd and baseless. Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of adopting destabilizing policies in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies the allegations.

Widening wealth gap

Oxfam International has released a report highlighting the scale of wealth inequality and the gap between the super rich and the rest of the world. The report says a CEO from one of the world's top five global fashion brands has to work for just four days to earn what a garment worker in Bangladesh will earn in an entire lifetime. Oxfam executive director noted that the billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy, but a symptom of a failing economic system. The international charity group blamed tax evasion, erosion of workers’ rights and cost cutting for the widening gap. It also urged governments to limit returns to shareholders and top executives, ensure that workers receive a minimum living wage and push through policies to eliminate the gender pay gap.

Iran army drills

The Iranian Army has launched its two-day annual drills near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials say navy forces along with air and ground troops are participating in the drills. According to Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, parts of the drills will be held in international waters with the aim of sending a message of peace and friendship to Iran’s neighboring countries. Sayyari added that the military exercises also show off Iran’s capabilities in securing its territorial waters and oil transit routes.

Civilians flee Afrin

Russian officials say more than one-thousand civilians have fled the northern Syrian region of Afrin amid Turkey’s deadly airstrikes. Evtushenko added that the civilians left the warzone to go to the village of Tal Ajar. Turkish bombardment of the region on Sunday reportedly left eleven civilians, including five children, dead. The strikes came on the second day of Turkey’s offensive, dubbed Operation Olive Branch, against Kurdish Militias in northern Syria. France has requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council regarding the events.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk