WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, March 7, 2019 to 0800 GMT, March 8, 2019.

OPCW ‘false’ report

Syria rejects a report by the global chemical weapons agency that a toxic chemical was used in last year’s attack on the Syrian town of Douma. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said such findings are false and lack credibility. It also accused the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of being biased. The OPCW says chlorine was used in the April 2018 attack in Douma which was under the control of militants at that time. Western powers led by the United States blamed Damascus for the assault that killed dozens of people. They also launched air raids on Syria under the pretext of the chemical attack. Damascus rejected any involvement. It also accused militants of staging chemical attacks inside the country to help justify western military actions.

US sanctions threat

The United States has pledged to "expand the net" of sanctions on Venezuela. US President Donald Trump's special representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams said financial institutions which support President Nicolas Maduro will be slapped with more sanctions. Elliott asked European banks to take steps to shield individual Venezuelans' assets from Maduro's government. Washington has recognized Guaido as Venezuela’s president and threatened to launch a military attack to overthrow Maduro. President Nicolas Maduro slammed the move and accused Guaido of seeking to stage a US-directed coup.

Germany warns US

The German economy minister has warned the US against imposing higher unilateral tariffs on European Union products. Peter Altmaier said the EU will respond with countermeasures if Washington considers such tariffs. He said the bloc wants to avoid a trade war with Washington. The German minister noted that the EU seeks to solve its dispute with the US by agreeing to lower tariffs. The two sides have been at loggerheads about setting an agenda for trade talks. President Donald Trump wants countries to lower their tariffs on US goods and buy more of them.

Coalition Syria strike

US-led warplanes have bombed civilian targets in the eastern Syrian city of Dayr al-Zawr. Local sources said the US warplanes used white phosphorous bombs in the attack that led to deaths of a number of people including women and children. The attack comes as the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are engaged in fighting Daesh terrorists in the town of Baghouz in the region. Baghouz is the last remaining pocket in control of the Daesh terrorist group. The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate.

Trump’s ex-aide jailed

The US president’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for financial crimes. Manafort will also have to pay a fine of 50,000 dollars and the restitution of 24 million dollars. He is due to be sentenced next week in another case related to his illegal lobbying. The charges stem from an inquiry into whether Donald Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. The Trump aide pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy against the US.

US Huawei sanctions

China’s foreign minister has denounced US accusations against Telecom giant Huawei, saying China will defend the legitimate rights of its companies and individuals. Wang Yi called the recent actions of Washington against the company as deliberate political suppression, adding that Chinese companies should not be silent lambs to slaughter. His remarks came as Huawei announced on Thursday that it had filed a lawsuit against the restrictions that bars the US government and its contractors from using its equipment. Washington has pressed charges against the company over alleged violation of Iran sanctions and has warned its western allies to shun the firm over security fears.

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