WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, March 6, 2019 to 0800 GMT, March 7, 2019.

Israeli attacks on Gaza

Israeli forces have fired at Palestinian protesters during a night-time protest in besieged Gaza Strip, killing a young man. Several other Palestinian youngsters were also injured by Israeli forces. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have launched a fresh air raid on the southern Gaza Strip Town of Khan Yunis. The blockaded Gaza Strip has been witnessing tensions since last March following anti-occupation protests. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during protests since then.

US's UAV use

The US president has revoked a requirement that Washington publicly report the number of civilians killed in drone strikes. Donald Trump formally ended the requirement with an executive order, months after signaling such a move. The reporting requirement was put into place by former US President Barack Obama as part of an effort to be more transparent about drone strikes. A US official said the requirement distracted the intelligence professionals from their primary mission. In recent years, the US military has carried out many drone strikes in some Islamic countries using the presence of militants as a pretext. However, evidence on the ground shows the attacks often target civilians.

Turkey-Russia deal

The Turkish president says Ankara will not cancel a deal to purchase S-400 missile defense systems from Russia despite Washington’s pressure. Recep Tayyip Erdogan added that his country may also look into buying S-500 systems from Moscow. The US had warned Turkey not to buy the missile systems saying the move could jeopardize Washington-Ankara defense industry agreements. The State Department had said America might reconsider giving Turkey access to F-35 fighter jets if it buys the Russian systems. Turkey argues it needs alternative missile defenses to counter what it calls regional threats.

Huawei sues US

Chinese telecom giant Huawei is suing the US government for restricting its business activities in America. In a statement, the firm said it has filed a complaint in a Texas district court. Huawei called the restrictions unconstitutional saying no evidence has been produced to target the company’s products. The move comes as Washington tries to persuade allies to ban Huawei from business alleging espionage risks. The company denies the claims. Last year, Congress passed a defense bill that restricted Huawei's business in the United States. This comes as tensions mount between China and the US over the extradition of a Huawei executive from Canada to Washington.

North Korea restoring destroyed missile site: South

New activities have reportedly been detected at a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles plant. South Korean media quoted the country’s spy agency as saying that movements of cargo vehicles were spotted recently around a factory at Sanumdong in Pyongyang. The plant produced the North's first intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States. On Wednesday, another report indicated that North Korea has started rebuilding part of its missile test site it had dismantled following an agreement with the United States last year. The reports came a week after a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke down in the Vietnamese capital over Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

MBS ‘full gangster’

US senators from both sides of the aisle have criticized Saudi Arabia's crown prince saying he has gone “full gangster”. The remarks against Mohammed bin Salman were made during a confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump's nominee for US ambassador to Riyadh. The senators at the hearing condemned the kingdom's conduct in its war on Yemen. They also denounced the kingdom's rights abuses, including the torture of women's activists. The lawmakers have also condemned the murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. The Saudi crown prince is widely believed to have been behind the killing.

Iran's regional role

Iran’s president says the Islamic Republic is playing a key role in making decisions for the regional security, especially in Syria. Hassan Rouhani described Iran as a great power in the Middle East. He said Daesh would have taken control of Baghdad and Erbil if it wasn’t for Iran. Regarding sanctions, Rouhani said the US is itself isolated for imposing embargos on the Islamic Republic. He said, except few, all American allies and even Europe are against the measures. He called such a global stance a victory for Iranians. Rouhani added that the US president requested eight times for a meeting during his 2017 trip to New York. He said the US also made the request through several world leaders during his next trip to attend the UN General Assembly. The Iranian president said he rejected the offers and told US to first re-join the 2015 nuclear deal, before any negotiations could take place between the two countries.

Israeli demolitions  

Israeli forces have demolished the home of a Palestinian accused of shooting dead two Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military says its troops razed the residence of Assam Barghouti in Kobar, north of Ramallah. Tel Aviv claims Barghouti killed the soldiers in the Ramallah area on December 13. It also accuses him of being involved in a shooting attack the previous day. Barghouti’s brother got killed during a raid to arrest the suspect. Israel regularly demolishes homes of Palestinian accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis. Rights groups criticize the move as collective punishment. They argue that the measure is carried out without trial and evidence.

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