WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, February 23, 2019 to 0800 GMT, February 24, 2019.

Venezuela ties with Colombia

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he will cut all diplomatic ties with neighboring Colombia amid tensions over US aid delivery. Maduro described his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, as the devil. He also called on US President Donald Trump not to interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs. Maduro was speaking at a rally of thousands of his supporters in the capital Caracas. Tensions are high in the South American nation over US-supplied aid, set to be delivered via the country’s borders with Brazil and Colombia. Heavy clashes took place near the cross points.

‘Yellow Vest’ protests in France

French police have clashed with Yellow Vest protesters in the capital Paris. Security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets, as well as flashballs, to disperse the demonstrators. Police made dozens of arrests. Similar protests were held across the country. It was the 15th consecutive weekend people took to the streets across the country against President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies. The protesters call for his resignation.

Syria safe zone

The Turkish president says any safe zone along his country’s border with Syria must be under Ankara’s control. Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the comment after a senior US official said Washington would leave some 400 American troops in Syria. He had already pledged to work with anyone willing to support the planned establishment of the safe zone in northern Syria. Ankara and Washington have engaged in a war of words over the fate of Kurdish forces in northern Syria following the planned withdrawal of American troops. Turkey views the Washington-backed alliance as terrorists.

Saudi appointments

Saudi Arabia has issued a royal decree to appoint princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud as the kingdom’s ambassador to the United States. Princess Reema will replace Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, who was appointed in April 2017. She is the first woman in Saudi Arabia to have been chosen for the post. Also, Khalid bin Salman will join the country’s Defense Ministry as deputy minister. Prince Khalid is the younger full brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is the defense minister.

Egypt crackdown

An Egyptian opposition party, founded by Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, has denounced a campaign of arrests targeting its members. The crackdown against the party comes as it has criticized constitutional changes to extend President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s powers. The party declared its categorical rejection to changes that would allow Sisi, who is scheduled to step down in 2022, to run for two more terms. Sisi, formerly an army general, came to power in 2015 after toppling former president Mohamed Morsi in a coup.

North Korea-US summit

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is heading to Vietnam for talks with US President Donald Trump. The 35-year-old leader set off on the 60-hour train journey from Pyongyang to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Saturday. Kim’s green-and-yellow train is now rolling across China. His sister Kim Yo-jong and chief negotiator, Kim Yong-chol, are accompanying the young leader. The second US-North Korea summit will be held on Wednesday and Thursday. It comes eight months after a first round of talks in Singapore. Top on the agenda is expected to be the thorny issue of North Korea’s denuclearization. The US has said it will not lift sanctions unless a full denuclearization of North Korea is confirmed. Pyongyang, however, has vowed to keep its nuclear arsenal as long as there are threats from Washington.

US Venezuela intervention

The US Secretary of State has slammed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for refusing to let humanitarian aid reach the Latin American country. On his tweeter page, Mike Pompeo accused Maduro of sending his thugs to attack civilians. He threatened that the US will take action against those who oppose peaceful restoration of democracy in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s opposition leader, Juan Gauido, has accused President Maduro of using force to block the aid. He’s proposed to the international community to keep all options open to oust Maduro. Guaido declared himself interim president last month and was immediately recognized by the US. On Monday, he’s due to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence in Colombia. Caracas accuses Washington of trying to deepen the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.

Okinawa referendum  

Residents of Japan's Okinawa have taken part in a referendum on the controversial relocation of a US military base to a remote part of the island. Polls opened early on Sunday morning, with about 1.15 million Okinawans eligible to vote. The non-binding referendum is seen as highly symbolic and has raised questions about what effect it will have. Okinawa residents have long demanded the closure of the US base, citing concerns about long records of sexual abuse and other crimes by American soldiers. Anti-US sentiments have even been on the rise after a US serviceman was found guilty in December 2017 of the rape and murder of a 20-year-old Okinawan woman.