WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, February 3, 2019 to 0800 GMT, February 4, 2019.

Maduro rejects Europe ultimatum

The Venezuelan president has rejected a call by European countries to organize presidential elections. Nicolas Maduro said he will not give in to pressure adding that the Venezuelan parliament has done too much damage already. Maduro stressed that the all-powerful Constituent Assembly will debate bringing parliamentary elections forward. The president warned the parliament speaker to stop calling for US military intervention. Several European countries, including France and Germany, have threatened to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as president if Maduro doesn’t call snap elections.

More troops due on Mexico border

The Pentagon is sending more US forces to the southwest border with Mexico to provide additional support to customs and border agents. The Pentagon said three-thousand seven-hundred fifty active-duty troops will be deployed for three months. This will raise the total number of US forces supporting Customs and Border Protection agents there to over four-thousand three-hundred. President Donald Trump first ordered the troop deployment to the border in October 2018 to stop members of a Central American migrant caravan from crossing into the US. Trump has made his hard-line stance on refugees an integral part of his presidency and promised to build a wall along the Mexican border to curb the flow of Central American refugees.

Fragile truce in Yemen

The United Nations mission in Yemen has warned warring sides that the Hudaydah truce is fragile. Head of the UN mission Patrick Cammaert made the comment during meetings with former government officials and Ansarullah forces. He said the talks were cordial and constructive and urged both sides to observe the ceasefire. Cammaert said any violations would jeopardize the Stockholm Agreement and the Yemeni peace process. Under the agreement, the former Yemeni government and representatives of the Ansarullah movement agreed to stop fighting and withdraw from the port city of Hudaydah. However, sporadic clashes have taken place since the truce was called.

Brexit impasse

The British prime minister says she will seek a pragmatic solution to the Brexit impasse with the parliament when she tries to reopen talks with Brussels. Theresa May said she would be armed with a fresh mandate and new ideas when she next meets European Union negotiators. May is trying to get rid of the Brexit deal’s backstop provision, which is to prevent a return to a hard border with Ireland. May’s office has established an Alternative Arrangements Working Group to look into the problem, saying the ideas on the issue include a unilateral exit mechanism or a time limit. MPs voted last week to send May back to Brussels to renegotiate the clause. But EU officials insist that the deal, that British lawmakers rejected last month, is the only way for an orderly withdrawal.

US presence in Iraq

Iraqi president, Barham Salih, says his US counterpart has not asked Iraq’s permission for American troops stationed there to watch Iran. The Iraqi president called on the United States not to overburden his country with its own issues. Salih added that American forces are in Iraq as part of a bilateral agreement to combat terrorism. He stressed that the US should stick to that mission. The Iraqi president also said, it is of fundamental interest to his country to have good ties with Iran. On Sunday, US president Donald Trump called Iran a real problem. He said it’s important for the US to keep military presence in Iraq in order to keep a close eye on Iran. Trump made the comments in an interview with CBS.

Australia floods

Australia is experiencing what is described as once-in-a-century floods that have devastated cities and brought crocodiles onto the streets. Military forces are deployed in the northern state of Queensland to help people flee flooded areas. Food and medical supplies are also being delivered to affected districts. Floods, caused by heavy rains, have drenched homes, schools and airports. Authorities say the northern parts of the country typically experience heavy rains during the monsoon season, but the recent downpour has far exceeded normal levels.