WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

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

US president policy

The US president says he is ready to keep the government closed, even for more than a year, until the congress approves his multi-billion-dollar funding for a border wall with Mexico. Donald Trump also threatened to use emergency powers to build his border wall with Mexico if the congress fails to endorse his plans. He added that talks on border security will continue over the weekend. This comes as the top democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate said the meeting with the president was contentious.

US Syria pullout

The US government says it does not have a timeline for the withdrawal of its forces from Syria, but it does not plan to stay indefinitely. A State Department official, who asked not to be identified, said the pullout of forces will be in such a way that the US and its allies maintain pressure on the Daesh terror group. The official added that the withdrawal should not open up any vacuums for the terrorists. US officials have noted that it could take several months to carry out a withdrawal. The comments come two weeks after US President Donald Trump said in a surprise announcement that the country will pull out all its troops from Syria.

Anti-Maduro move

Canada and a host of Latin American governments have urged Nicolas Maduro not to take office for a second term next week. Foreign ministers from the 14-member Lima group also said they will not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s president when he takes office for a new six-year term on January 10. The regional group that also includes Canada says it only recognizes the National Assembly as Venezuela's constitutionally elected body. The 14-nation body was meeting in the Peruvian capital Lima to discuss ways to step up international pressure on Maduro’s government. The move coincides with a statement from Venezuela's opposition-dominated National Assembly, calling Maduro’s new term illegitimate. Maduro was re-elected in May after an early election which was marred by accusations of irregularities as well as an opposition boycott.

US Gabon deployment

The US deploys its military to Gabon in anticipation of violent demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The US president announced about 80 military personnel have arrived in Gabon to protect American citizens and diplomatic facilities in the DRC’s capital Kinshasa. Donald Trump said the forces will remain in the region until the security situation improves, and that additional forces may also be deployed if necessary. Congo held a historic election last Sunday to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila after 18 years in power. But while the government claims the election was fair, observers and the opposition say it was marred by serious irregularities. On Thursday, the US State Department called on the electoral commission to release accurate results and threatened sanctions.

War on Yemen

Yemen’s army, backed by Ansarullah forces, has launched fresh retaliatory attacks against Saudi forces inside the kingdom. Yemeni troops fired ballistic missiles and artillery shells at Saudi mercenaries in Najran region. The Yemeni army carries out such attacks in response to Riyadh’s deadly air raids against the impoverished nation. Meanwhile, the Ansarullah movement accused Saudi-backed forces of breaching a UN-brokered ceasefire agreement in the port city of Hudaydah.

Division on Venezuela

Mexico has refused to support a statement by a Latin American group of countries that wants Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to take office for a second term next week. Mexico says the 14-member Lima Group should refrain from interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs and change its approach. Mexico is the sole country in the regional group that has objected to signing the anti-Maduro statement. It was issued following a meeting in the Peruvian capital held to discuss ways to step up pressure on the Venezuelan government. The bloc has called Maduro's new term illegitimate and urged him to step down. Maduro was re-elected in May after an early election which was marred by accusations of irregularities as well as an opposition boycott.

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