WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, April 24, 2019 to 0800 GMT, April 25, 2019.

Confronting US threats  

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has brushed aside US sanctions on the country’s crude exports, saying Tehran will continue to sell its oil. President Hassan Rouhani has also said Washington will never be able to bring Iran's oil exports to zero. The US move has drawn negative reactions from countries across the globe.

French arms in Yemen war

French officials have launched an investigation into the leaking of a classified military note which revealed the use of French weapons in Yemen. The 15-page document indicates that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are using French weaponry, including tanks, artillery and military ships in Yemen. The note appears to contradict previous public statements made by the French government. Rights groups accuse Paris of being complicit in war crimes committed in Yemen. More than 15,000 Yemeni people have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a devastating airstrike campaign against the impoverished country in March 2015.

US’s Iran sanctions

Iran’s foreign minister says the recent US decision to end waivers on Iranian oil imports is aimed at harming ordinary Iranians. Zarif made the comments in an interview with the Reuters news agency in New York. He said the Iranian government will do all in its power to reduce pressure on its people. Zarif expressed confidence that his country can survive the US sanctions, because Iran is a big country with great resources.

France’s support for Libya’s Haftar

The prime minister of the UN-backed government in Libya has denounced France for supporting renegade general Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are attacking the capital Tripoli. Fayez al-Sarraj expressed surprise at the French government’s support for “a dictator”. He said Paris was partly to blame for Haftar's offensive on Tripoli. Sarraj says he has warned President Emmanuel Macron about growing anti-French sentiments in Libya. But Paris has publicly denied supporting Haftar. Earlier this month, Haftar ordered his forces to capture Tripoli despite repeated warnings from the international community. The ensuing clashes have left hundreds of people dead. Libya is split between Sarraj's UN-backed government based in Tripoli and a rival administration based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported by Haftar.

Algeria corruption case

In Algeria, authorities have stepped up an anti-corruption campaign against wealthy individuals with links to former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The country’s Supreme Court says it has reopened two investigations against former energy minister Chakib Khelil and his affiliates. One case has to do with a violation of laws regulating capital transfers overseas. The other involves two contracts signed between the company and two foreign firms. Khelil, was energy minister for 10 years. He quit the government in 2010 following graft accusations which he managed to beat. The reopening of Khelil’s case comes following the detention of FOUR tycoons on corruption charges, all with links to Bouteflika. Authorities also arrested Algeria's richest man on suspected false customs declarations.

Putin-Kim summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the city of Vladivostok. This is the first face-to-face talks between the two heads of states. Putin told Kim that he is confident the visit will help develop bilateral ties, and help in reaching a settlement over the country’s nuclear standoff. The Russian president said he supports the ongoing efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and welcomes efforts to normalize Washington-Pyongyang relations. In February, denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea collapsed. Pyongyang demanded some sanctions relief from the US in return for dismantling a major nuclear site but Washington rejected the offer.

Iran-Venezuela ties

Iran’s foreign minister has emphasized Tehran’s support for the government of Venezuela. Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned any attempt for foreign interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs. He pointed out the need to respect international law and confront unilateralism. Zarif also expressed Tehran’s willingness to expand economic relations with Caracas. The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks during a meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart in New York. Jorge Arreaza, for his part, hailed Iran’s support for Venezuela, highlighting his government’s total control over the country. Arreaza underlined the public outcry against US interventionism and slammed the subservience of the country’s opposition to Washington. The two top diplomats also insisted on continued dialogue and cooperation between Tehran and Caracas.

Sudan politics

Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council and the opposition have agreed to form a committee to resolve their differences. The military rulers said they agreed with most of the protest leaders' demands. In a statement after the meeting, the military council also announced the resignation of three of its members. Earlier, protest leaders announced plans for a million-man march on Thursday and called for a general strike. Protests in Sudan started in December last year following a government decision to increase the price of bread. The demonstrations led to the military ouster of President Omar al-Bashir earlier this month. A transitional military council took over the leadership and pledged to hold presidential elections in two years. But the protesters doubt the army’s sincerity to hand over power.

Urging Russia sanctions

Ukraine’s president-elect has urged more international sanctions against Russia following Moscow’s decision to offer east Ukrainians fast citizenship. Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s office said in a statement that Russia’s move confirmed its role as “an aggressor state” in the conflict in the east of Ukraine. It said the decision would not help the peace process in eastern Ukraine. The statement came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to speed up citizenship applications from Ukrainians in areas controlled by pro-Russian forces. Ukraine's outgoing President Petro Poroshenko also slammed the decision an unprecedented interference in the internal affairs of an independent state. Putin, however, looks at the issue from a humanitarian perspective.

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