WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, January 27, 2017.

Turkey Syria offensive

The Turkish Foreign Minister says the US needs to withdraw from Syria’s Manbij city immediately. Mevlut Cavusoglu added that Washington has to take concrete steps to end its support for Syria’s Kurdish militants known as the YPG. Earlier on Saturday, Ankara said it was informed of the US recent decision not to provide any more weapons to the group. Turkey launched an offensive against the Syrian Kurdish militants last Saturday. The onslaught has strained ties between Turkey and the US, with Ankara accusing Washington of supporting the YPG. The Turkish president on Friday said his country plans to extend its offensive in northern Syria to the city of Manbij where the US forces have been deployed.

Iraqi cleric denounces US airstrike

An influential Iraqi cleric denounces a US airstrike that killed eleven people in Anbar province, saying America has once again violated Iraq’s sovereignty. Moqtada Sadr also says the air raid was in violation of the Iraqi government’s independence. Sadr has demanded immediate action against the US military which he says has proved its tyranny and arrogance. Meanwhile, a senior commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces says the US airstrike poses “serious questions”. Qais al-Khazali questions the justification and the role of the US military in Iraq following the collapse of Daesh. The air raid struck an Iraqi security convoy in Anbar province’s al-Baghdadi town. Local officials say a senior intelligence official, security forces and civilians are among the dead.

Kabul deadly blast

A huge car bomb blast has hit a crowded area of the Afghan capital Kabul, leaving 17 people dead and scores more injured. The explosion took place at a police checkpoint in an area near foreign embassies and government buildings. Fatalities are expected to rise as ambulances continue to take the wounded to hospitals. Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for the attack. The Afghan capital has witnessed numerous bombings by Daesh and the Taliban over the past year. Last week, an attack by the Taliban on the Intercontinental Hotel killed more than 20 people.

US Iraq airstrike

At least eight people have been killed and nearly a dozen more injured in a US airstrike in Iraq’s Anbar province. The attack was carried out in al-Baghdadi district, northwest of the provincial capital, Ramadi. A US military helicopter fired rockets at a convoy carrying local officials. According to an Iraqi official, a senior intelligence officer and five policemen were among the dead. Iraq's Joint Operation Command has ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the attack. This is not the first time Iraqi officials and security forces have been targeted by the US military. One such attack happened in last August, when more than 30 members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units were killed in a US strike near the Syrian border.

Syria opposition boycotts peace talks

Syria’s foreign-backed main opposition group has refused to attend the next round of Russia’s proposed peace talks in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. The spokesman for the Syrian Negotiations Commission was speaking at the end of two days of UN-brokered talks between the Syrian government and opposition. Yahya al-Aridi said Russia had not provided the necessary commitment and that the Sochi conference was aimed at undermining the UN-led efforts. He noted that if the Russians want to bring peace to Syria they should put their efforts on Geneva talks. He also called on Moscow to apply pressure on Damascus to meet its commitments. The next round of talks in Sochi will be held on Monday and Tuesday.

BBC probe

The British Broadcasting Corporation is facing multiple investigations over allegations that it’s silencing gender discrimination and sexual harassment victims by using non-disclosure agreements. According to British media reports, the BBC’s director-general will be questioned on the issue by an influential parliamentary committee next week. Dozens of cross-party lawmakers have also called on the National Audit Office to launch a formal probe into the BBC’s alleged use of gagging orders. In 2016, the broadcaster was found guilty of serious failings on sexual abuse cases. That’s after it was found that former BBC TV presenter and radio hosts sexually abused nearly 100 people for decades. Last year, the BBC was also found gender biased after it was forced to disclose the salaries of its top earners. It was revealed that just a third of BBC employees were women and the top seven were all men.

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

www.presstv.ir