WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, February 23, 2019.

Nigeria elections

Nigerians head to the polls to cast their votes in the country's delayed presidential and parliamentary elections. The polls have opened after a week-long delay that intensified political tensions in Nigeria. The elections were postponed last Saturday for a week due to violence in Nigeria. Incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari and his main challenger Atiku Abubakar resumed campaigning earlier this week. Meanwhile, the northeastern states of Yobe and Borno were attacked by gunmen just hours before the polls open, where locals say they had to flee the area. Nigeria's northeastern region is a hotbed of militancy by the Boko Haram and Daesh terrorist groups. The militancy has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the region.

Sudan unrest

In Sudan, President Omar al-Bashir has declared a one-year state of emergency and disband the government. The move follows two months of nonstop protests across the country. The protesters want an end to Bashir’s 30-years rule.

Venezuela border tensions

Venezuela has ordered the partial closure of its border with Colombia, over what it calls illegal threats by the Colombian government. The announcement came, after Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido defied a travel ban and crossed into Colombia. There, he attended a concert held to mark the delivery of humanitarian aid to Venezuela. Among the countries sending aid, is the United States. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has rejected the US aid as a cheap show. In response, Washington has threatened more sanctions against Caracas. The US was the first country to recognize Guaido, after he declared himself Venezuela’s president last month. On Friday, the Venezuelan foreign minister accused the US of violating his country’s sovereignty.

France protests

France’s Yellow Vest protesters are gathering for the fifteenth straight weekend of anti-government demonstrations. Activists have posted messages on social media, calling for new rallies on Paris’s Champs-Elysées avenue. Demonstrations are expected in the cities of Bordeaux and Toulouse, which have consistently drawn Yellow Vest crowds. The Yellow Vest protests began in November as a movement against fuel tax hikes, but grew to include wider demands, including the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron. Previous rallies have seen violent clashes with police. Since the start of the protests, 11 yellow vest protesters have died. Thousands of them have also been injured.

Iran naval drills

Major drills by the Iranian navy are underway in the south of the country. Day two of the maneuvers featured torpedoes being fired from domestically-made submarines. Cruise missiles launched from frigates also destroyed designated marine targets. The missiles, which have ranges from 250 to 300 kilometers, can be fired from vessels, onshore systems and aircraft. The exercises also involved commandos, who parachuted onto the ground to launch operations against mock enemy targets. The 3-day drills are underway in waters off the southern coast of Iran in an area of more than two million square kilometers.

Kashmir arrests

Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir have detained more than 100 people in overnight raids as part of a crackdown on pro-independence activists. A senior police official said the arrival of more troops and the arrests are part of an election exercise undertaken to ensure free and fair elections. He added, anti-election campaigns will not be allowed and pro-independence activists will be detained to ensure free and fair elections. This comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party is set to seek re-election in nationwide polls due to be held by May. Tensions escalated in Kashmir after last week’s car bomb attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary policemen. The bombing was claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group.

Iran warning

A senior Iranian official says negotiating with the administration of US President Donald Trump would be a seal of approval on its breach of the 2015 nuclear deal. Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said signing a deal with the Trump administration is basically wrong. He said there’s no way to make sure the future US administration would comply with a possible agreement. Shamkhani noted that Washington needs to show its good will first, by living up to its commitments under the nuclear deal. The Iranian official added that Tehran has many options to stop the export of oil from the region and they don’t boil down to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Shamkhani played down threats made by the US, saying President Trump resorts to the language of threat because he cannot go to war with Iran.

Gaza funeral

Palestinians have held a funeral procession for a teenager who was killed by Israeli forces on Friday. 15-year-old Yusuf al-Dayeh was shot by Israeli soldiers during a protest rally in Gaza. Palestinian health officials say around 40 protesters were also wounded. The demonstration was part of the weekly Great March of Return rallies that started last March. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the besieged enclave and the occupied West Bank since then. The demonstrators have been calling for an end to the Israeli occupation and the blockade of the Gaza Strip.