News Headlines - 23 February 2019

▽Trump agrees to keep about 400 US troops in Syria, official says - CNNPolitics

President Donald Trump has agreed to keep about 400 US troops in Syria after the withdrawal of most US forces there this spring, a senior administration official said Friday.
Trump agreed on Thursday to keep about 200 US troops as part of planned multinational force that would maintain a safe zone in northeastern Syria, the official said. This force would be in addition to the 200 troops the US is planning to maintain after the withdrawal at its base in at-Tanf, Syria, the official said.

▽North Korea's Kim begins long train trip to Vietnam for summit with Trump: Report - Channel NewsAsia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un set off by train for Vietnam on Saturday (Feb 23), for his second summit with US President Donald Trump next week, media reported, and hours later, two witnesses saw a train crossing into China from North Korea.
The reports of Kim's departure from North Korea came after Vietnam announced that Kim would make an official visit in "coming days", as the Southeast Asian country prepares to host the summit with Trump on Wednesday and Thursday.

▽UK says it will not transition EU-Japan trade deal before March 29 | Reuters

Britain will not be able to replicate the European Union’s trade deal with Japan before it leaves the bloc on March 29, the government said on Thursday in a document setting out its progress on transitioning existing agreements.
Britain is seeking to roll over around 40 EU bilateral trade deals ahead of its exit from the bloc in 36 days. The government is yet to win parliament’s backing for its Brexit deal with Brussels, and if Britain leaves without a deal those bilateral agreements will cease to apply, likely disrupting trade.

▽Crown prince ready to carry on legacy, find new role as emperor - The Mainichi

Crown Prince Naruhito, on the occasion of his 59th birthday on Saturday, expressed his resolve to fulfill his new role as emperor after acceding the throne on May 1, saying he will follow the path shown by his parents.

▽Sudan's Omar al-Bashir declares state of emergency - BBC News

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has declared a national state of emergency, dismissed the federal government and sacked all state governors.
Mr Bashir made the announcement in a TV address to the nation, but later appointed members of the security forces as replacement governors... Mr Bashir has been the focus of anti-government protests in recent weeks.