WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, February 6, 2019.

Trump's penchant for wall

The US president says he has ordered some four-thousand troops to the Mexico border to prepare for what he calls the tremendous onslaught of immigrants. Donald Trump made the remarks in his second state of the union address. He urged Congress to pass a bill that will fund his government to build a wall on the country’s border with Mexico. Trump said an economic miracle is taking place in the United States. He criticized the Democrats for derailing US economy through what he called unfair investigations. On his foreign policy, Trump hailed the self-declared president of Venezuela for his quest for freedom.

US anti-BDS bill

US senators have passed a bill that would allow countries to penalize businesses that boycott Israel. The bill aims to fight the global boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, BDS and pressure companies to do business with Israel. Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who sponsored the bill, said he is pushing back against what he described as a campaign of discriminatory economic warfare against Israel. However, in order to become a law, the bill has to go through the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Some lawmakers have warned that the measure is in violation of free-speech rights. The BDS movement is a Palestinian-led campaign that aims to end Israel’s occupation.

Arming Yemen militants

An Amnesty International report says the United Arab Emirates has become a major conduit in arming Yemeni militant groups. The open-source investigation says the conflict in Yemen is facing a growing danger with the advanced weaponry that the UAE is diverting to the country. It highlights that Yemen has turned into a safe haven for unaccountable UAE-backed militias accused of war crimes. Amnesty officials accuse the coalition-backed militants for worsening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and posing a growing threat to the civilian population. They say the weapons are the result of billions of dollars worth of arms the Emirati forces receive from Western countries that are in violation of the Arms Trade Treaty. Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, and the US are among the states that have recently supplied the UAE with arms.

Iran regional message

Iran’s president has renewed his call for a Middle East free of nukes and other weapons of mass destruction. Hassan Rouhani said Iran’s foreign policy is based on the principle of not interfering in others’ affairs on one hand and confronting foreign intrusion in Iranian affairs on the other. Rouhani insisted the foreign intervention and military presence in the region should end. He emphasized on Tehran’s determination to fight violence and extremism. The Iranian president also slammed US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and its illegitimate sanctions against the Iranian nation. He criticized the European signatories to the deal for their delay and lack of sufficient efforts in preserving the rights of Iran. Rouhani made the remarks to the foreign dignitaries in Tehran on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

Sistani dismisses Trump remarks

Iraq's highest religious authority has issued a rare political statement days after the US President made remarks about using Iraqi soil to monitor Iran. The office of Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani said Iraq rejects its territory being a base to harm any of its neighbors. The statement added that Baghdad wants to maintain friendly and balanced ties with all countries. The cleric is the latest high profile Iraqi figure to rebuke Trump's remarks. The Iraqi President and Prime Minister as well as political and military leaders have already criticized the American president on the issue. Trump said he wants to keep a military base in Iraq to monitor the Islamic Republic. The statement contradicts the official US mission in the Arab country to fight Daesh terrorists.

Attacking Brexiteers

The president of the European Commission has once again ruled out the possibility of re-negotiating Britain’s departure deal with the European Union. Jean Claude Juncker made the remarks in a joint press conference with the Irish prime minister in Brussels. Juncker said the bloc can consider alternative arrangements for the Irish border but it cannot abandon the idea of backstop. Earlier, the European Council president took a strong rebuke against Brexit advocates. Donald Tusk said those who supported Britain’s exit from the 28-nation bloc without a plan deserve a special place in hell.

 Source: presstv.com