Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, February 2, 2019.
US-Russia nuke row
US President Donald Trump has blamed Russia for Washington’s decision to withdraw from a nuclear arms control treaty with Moscow. Trump said the US cannot be the only country unilaterally bound by the Cold War treaty. He pledged that Washington will develop its own military response options and work with its partners to deny Moscow any military advantage from its conduct. On Friday, the US threatened to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in six months unless Russia ends its alleged violation of the pact.
Venezuela political tension
In Venezuela, supporters and opponents of President Nicolas Maduro are set to hit the streets again as the South American country remains embroiled in a political crisis. Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to call for snap elections and offer their backing to the country’s opposition leader Juan Guaido. Earlier on Friday, Guaido encouraged his supporters in a Twitter post to take to the streets of the capital in defense of what he called a free election and a transitional government. He also ruled out any negotiations with Maduro before the start of a transition process. Guaido’s call for Saturday’s popular support will however coincide with pro-Maduro demonstrations. The pro-government rallies coincide with celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Hugo Chavez’s rise to power.
Putin suspends INF after US exit
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suspended a Cold War-era nuclear arms control treaty following a similar move by the United Sates. Putin accused Washington of breaching the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and said US arms need to be inspected. He added that Russia will respond in kind to US nixing of the treaty and will start working on developing new missiles. Putin also told his foreign and defense ministers not to start disarmament talks with Washington. The development comes after the US on Friday announced the suspension of the INF treaty and threatened to pull out of it in six months unless Russia ends its alleged violation of the pact.
Supporting Venezuela government
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has expressed his country’s support for the legitimate government of Venezuela. Rouhani while speaking to Venezuela’ Ambassador to Iran Carlos Antonio Alcala Cordones, said Iran stands by the government of President Nicolas Maduro. He said the US is masterminding a new plot against the Latin American nation. Rouhani said the US is basically opposed to all independent and revolutionary countries and seeks to dominate the world by suppressing them. He called on the Venezuelan people to back Maduro’s government to foil the US plot.
France protests
French protesters have once again worn their yellow vests, taken to the streets and staged anti-government rallies. This is the twelfth consecutive weekend of protests against government’s economic policies in France. Troops have been deployed in the capital Paris in order to contain possible violence. The demonstrators say their rallies this weekend are partly against the police brutality they faced in the past weeks. The rallies started in mid-November as a simple protest against planned fuel price hikes, but soon morphed into mass demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.
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