News Headlines - 21 January 2018

▽Turkey defies US and launches Syria attack

Turkish fighter jets bombed a Kurdish enclave in north-west Syria on Saturday, defying calls from the US for restraint and injuring at least six people, two of them children... Mr Erdogan said on Saturday that the assault would “destroy the terror corridor” along its border formed by members of the Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkey views as a big threat.

▽At least five killed in Kabul hotel siege that trapped hundreds of guests - The Straits Times

Afghan Special Forces ended an overnight siege at Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday (Jan 21), killing the last gunman from a group of three attackers who stormed the hotel, taking hostages and battling security forces for hours.
Two gunmen were killed on Saturday night. It was initially reported that four gunmen had attacked the hotel.

▽Trump says position on border wall 'has never changed or evolved' - CNNPolitics

President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that he has remained consistent in his plans for a border wall, a day after his chief of staff, John Kelly, told Fox News he has "changed his attitude" on it.

▽Europe readies riposte to Trump's 'America First' push in Davos

European leaders will be out in force at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to defend multilateralism before U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver his “America First” message.

▽China's 2017 GDP growth accelerates for first time in seven years

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter of 2017, as an export recovery helped the country post its first annual acceleration in growth in seven years, defying concerns that intensifying curbs on industry and credit would hurt expansion.