WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, February 4, 2019 to 0800 GMT, February 5, 2019.

Iran comments on INSTEX

Iran says the European financial mechanism officially registered by France, Germany and Britain last week has nothing to do with the Financial Action Task Force, the FATF. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Europe’s financial program known as the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges should not be associated with issues such as the FATF. He said the registered financial mechanism is part of Europe’s commitments to secure Iran’s interests under the 2015 nuclear deal. The spokesman added that the mechanism, which will allow trade between the EU and Iran without relying on direct financial transactions, is not operational yet and needs more time to take effect. He described Europe’s move as a significant and positive step while expressing dismay over a delay in adopting the measure.

Blocking Spain budget bill

Pro-independence parties in Catalonia are gearing up to block the Spanish government's 2019 budget proposal. The parties said they will file full parliamentary amendments to the budget bill unless the administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez considers some of their political demands. Their move could potentially block the passage of the bill, which faces its first vote next week. Sanchez's minority Socialist government relies on Catalan nationalists and other smaller parties to pass the legislation. Failure by parliament to approve the budget bill could prompt a snap election before the next scheduled vote in 2020.

Lima’s anti-Maduro move

The Lima Group has reaffirmed its support for the head of Venezuelan national assembly, Juan Guaido, who has declared himself the interim president of the country. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Lime Group has agreed to the request of Guaido that Caracas be accepted as a full member of the multilateral body. She called for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the Latin American country. The top Canadian diplomat underlined that the group backs the process of peaceful transition of power in Venezuela without the use of force. Freeland urged Venezuela’s military to support Guaido. The Lima Group, which comprises 14 member states, has frequently accused President Nicolas Maduro of plunging Venezuela into crisis. Meanwhile, the European Parliament has called on Italy to follow the lead of other major European countries in recognizing Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.

Arming militants in Yemen

A US media report has revealed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have transferred American-made weapons to al-Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen. According to CNN, the two Arab states have used the weapons as a form of currency to buy the loyalties of militias or tribes. The report said the move endangers the lives of American troops in other conflict zones. A Pentagon official has confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation into the issue. Based on the rules of the Department of Defense, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have broken the terms of their arms sales with the US by handing off the military equipment to third parties. The US is by far the biggest supplier of arms to both countries. The weapons have been used in attacks against Yemen that have killed thousands of civilians, many of them women and children.

US Senate versus Trump

The US Senate has approved an amendment that opposes President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria and Afghanistan. The Senate voted 70 to 26 in favor of the non-binding amendment. It was drafted by majority leader Mitch McConnell. The text of the draft says a precipitous withdrawal of US forces from either country could put at risk the country’s national security. To become law, the bill needs to pass the House of Representatives. Last December, Trump announced plans to pull out American soldiers from Syria. The decision was met with strong domestic opposition. It also led to the resignation of Secretary of Defense, James Mattis.

Bolivia landslides

Two landslides in northwest of the Bolivian capital have left 14 people dead. Dozens of people were also injured or missing in the incident. The landslides, triggered by torrential rain, occurred during the weekend when a large block of earth collapsed under the road linking La Paz to the town of Caranavi. Authorities say the search and rescue operation will take a few more days amid fears of further victims. At least 150 military personnel have been dispatched to the area to support the rescue work with police and firemen. President Evo Morales visited the site alongside emergency teams and advised people to stay clear of the area.

Divide on Venezuela

Italy has blocked a joint EU position to recognize Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. Eleven countries of the bloc recognized Guaido after President Nicolas Maduro ignored their demand to call a new election. But Italy rejected a draft EU statement on the issue. The Five-Star movement, a party to Italy's coalition government, described sanctions on Venezuela as a pretext for military intervention. It said Italy will never recognize people who appoint themselves president. The European Parliament has called on Italy to change its position.

US-China trade dispute

The United States has pledged to pursue its unilateral trade approach to China amid an ongoing trade war between the two economic powers. The US trade agency says negotiating new rules at the World Trade Organization to restrict China is unrealistic and futile. Therefore, the trade office says it will keep up with its own actions against what it calls China's mercantilist practices. The US stance comes as the European Union, Canada, and Japan have started talks on potential changes in WTO rules. The move is aimed at containing China’s economic policies. The US has imposed a ten-percent hike in tariffs on 200 billion dollars worth of goods imported from China. It is set to increase tariffs to 25 percent next month if bilateral talks fail.

Democracy in US

US-based think-tank Freedom House says President Donald Trump’s actions have put democratic freedoms in the country under unprecedented attacks. The group’s president said Trump has undermined the pillars of freedom in the US by undercutting press freedom, judiciary’s independence, and legitimacy of elections. Michael Abramowitz said no president in living memory has shown less respect for the norms and principles of the US constitutional system. Abramowitz mentioned Trump’s attacks on media as the enemy of the people and his resistance to anti-corruption norms as examples of how the president has undermined democracy in the US.