WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, March 8, 2019.

US threats against Venezuela

US President Donald Trump's special representative for Venezuela says Washington will increase sanctions on the South American nation. Abrams made the announcement at a US Senate subcommittee hearing. He also suggested that the Venezuelan people’s assets should be frozen so that they cannot be “stolen” by the government. The US and some other countries have recognized Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president and increased pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to step down. Maduro has slammed the move and accused Guaido of seeking to stage a US-directed coup.

Brexit uncertainty

The British foreign secretary says history would view both the UK and the European Union badly if they mismanage Britain's exit from the bloc. Jeremy Hunt told BBC radio that Britain wants to remain good friends with the EU. He said the Brexit agreement should be implemented in such a way that it does not harm London’s relations with the union. Hunt added some progress has been made in the last few days, adding “it’s entirely possible to get there”. His comments come just days after the EU announced that no progress had been made in talks with London. British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to urge Brussels on Friday to help get her Brexit deal through the House of Commons by agreeing legally binding changes to the controversial backstop policy.

Defying US warnings

The Turkish foreign minister says Ankara will start installing the Russian made S-400 defense missile system in October. Cavusoglu’s statement came as Turkish president expressed support for the purchase of the equipment. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey will not turn back from the deal with Russia, adding that his country needs alternative missile defense to counter regional threats. Earlier, Washington warned Ankara that purchasing the S-400 missile system will jeopardize defense industry deals between Turkey and its NATO allies. The US also announced its decision to end preferential trade with the country. Ankara has slammed the decision, saying Washington should not try to discipline Turkey through trade measures.

Algeria protests

Algerians resume anti-government rallies a day after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika warned that the protests may cause chaos in the African nation. Demonstrators gathered at Algiers’ Grand Post Office square. Police have beefed up security in the capital with anti-riot vehicles out in force. On Thursday, Bouteflika warned that trouble-makers may try to infiltrate the demonstrations. Since February 22, people have been protesting against Bouteflika who is bidding for a fifth term in the April election. They want the 82-year-old leader to resign. Bouteflika’s opponents say he is no longer fit to lead the country as he’s too old for the post and is ill. The president has not spoken in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013. He has been in power for 20 years.

Saudi airstrikes on Yemen

Fresh Saudi airstrikes kill at least three people in Yemen. The victims are members of a single family. Six other people were wounded in the air raids that happened in Yemen’s Hajjah province. Saudi Arabia is under international pressure to end its war on Yemen. Riyadh has so far defied calls to do so. The Saudis and their allies have been accused of war crime during the conflict for systematically targeting Yemeni civilians. More than 15,000 Yemenis have been killed in the war that began in March 2015.

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