WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, March 1, 2019 to 0800 GMT, March 2, 2019.

US-China trade

The US president has called on China to remove all tariffs on American agricultural products as the two countries continue negotiations to end a months-long trade dispute. Donald Trump wrote in a tweet that he had asked China to immediately implement the measure based on the progress in trade discussions. The US president indicated the importance of such step by Beijing as a corresponding response to his decision to cap tariffs on Chinese goods. Last week, Trump delayed an increase in levies on US imports from China citing substantial progress in talks on divisive areas. The world's two biggest economies have been locked in a trade war with tit-for-tat tariff measures. Washington has also accused Beijing of stealing technology and trade espionage. Beijing has denied the accusations.

OPCW conclusion

The international chemical weapons watchdog has finally concluded that a toxic chemical was used in an attack last April in the Syrian town of Douma. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says it gathered information that provides reasonable grounds on the use of the chemical containing chlorine in the assault. The OPCW, however, has not placed the blame on any of the parties involved in the conflict. The town of Douma was held by foreign-backed militants at the time but besieged by Syrian government forces. The attack killed dozens of civilians and prompted airstrikes against the Syrian government by the US, Britain and France without any tangible proof. Washington blamed the Syrian government but Damascus denied having ever used such weapons.

Rohingya misery

The United Nations has called on Bangladesh to provide protection for Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence and persecution in neighboring Myanmar. UN chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it is important that people fleeing conflict are able to find safe havens wherever they go. Dujarric also praised Bangladesh for the way it treated the minority group. He said the country has been generous in the support it has given to the Rohingya refugees. His comments came after Bangladesh said it would no longer accommodate more people from Myanmar suggesting that it is ready to close the border to refugees. In 2017, Over 700,000 people fled to Bangladesh following the Myanmar military’s harsh crackdown which the UN called a clear textbook example of ethnic cleansing.

Saudi Arabia criticized

A prominent human rights group has condemned Saudi Arabia’s plan to start the trial of female activists who have been behind bars in the kingdom since May last year. Amnesty International said the women should be released for their peaceful activism not referred to trial. The advocacy group slammed Riyadh for continuing what it described as the kingdom's signature repression. According to Saudi media, the public prosecution has prepared the indictment list against the activists to refer their cases to the relevant courts. Saudi authorities have accused the activists of serious crimes, including suspicious contact with foreign parties. The inmates, however, cite campaigning for reforms in discriminatory laws and policies against women as reason for their persecution.

Canada-China row

Canada says a hearing on extradition of the chief financial officer of Chinese tech giant, Huawei, to the US will go ahead. The Canadian government said in a statement that Meng Wanzhou, who is now under house arrest, will appear before judges on March 6. On Friday, the Chinese embassy said Beijing is utterly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes Ottawa’s decision. The embassy added that Meng’s case is a political persecution against a Chinese high-tech enterprise. Meng faces charges of violating US sanctions against Iran, which China rejects. After Meng's detention, China arrested two Canadians on national security grounds.

US Venezuela sanctions

The United States has slapped sanctions on six Venezuelan security officials for blocking US aid to the South American country. The US treasury secretary says the sanctions are in response to the suppression of anti-government protests and the torching of US aid last weekend. Steven Mnuchin also says the treasury will continue to target the supporters of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Mnuchin has also reaffirmed Washington's support for opposition leader Juan Guaido. The US sanctions, freeze the assets held by the targeted individuals in the US. They also ban US financial dealings with them. Separately the US government has revoked visas of 49 individuals it says are aligned with Maduro.

France crackdown

In France, there is growing concern over the fate of thousands of detained Yellow Vest anti-government protesters. The number of arrests, trials and convictions grows every weekend, causing widespread condemnation of the French government and the country's judicial system. Press TV correspondent Ramin Mazaheri reports from Paris.

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