WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, March 21, 2019.

Persian New Year

In his annual message on the occasion of Nowruz, the Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution names the Persian New Year as the year of pick-up in production. Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated Iranian people and wished them prosperity, physical health and ever-increasing achievements in the New Year. Iran’s Leader described the last Persian Year as an eventful period where the Iranian nation was able to show off its power in the face of the enemy’s schemes. Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to Iranian people’s strong response to the allegedly unprecedented sanctions imposed by the US and Europe both in the political and economic domains. The leader said that part of the country’s economic woes was to be blamed on inefficient management, which needed to be redressed.

Kabul explosion

Multiple explosions in the Afghan capital, Kabul, have left at least six people dead. Officials say at least twenty-three people were also wounded in the attacks during Nowruz celebrations marking the Persian New Year. There are conflicting reports about of the cause of the blasts which hit a Shia-dominated area in the west of Kabul. According to the Interior Ministry, the explosions were caused by mortar rounds while the Defense Ministry says three rockets were fired at civilian homes and Nowruz gatherings. Police have reportedly arrested the suspected attacker and secured the area. No individual or group has claimed responsibility yet.

Africa deadly cyclone

The death toll from Idai cyclone has risen past three-hundred in the Southeast African region. Mozambique’s land and environment minister says two-hundred and seventeen people have been confirmed dead. He says rescue operations have so far saved some three-thousand people, adding that thousands more still need to be rescued. Meanwhile, the fatalities in neighboring Zimbabwe have also climbed to one hundred. The deadly tropical storm first hit Mozambique on Thursday and then barreled into Zimbabwe and Malawi. International organizations have made a global call for assistance, warning that the region can face the worst humanitarian crisis in its history.

EU Brexit talks

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the European Union could hold an emergency summit to offer conditional Brexit extension. He said possible conditions such as holding another referendum would be unlikely to be supported by the British parliament. Hunt added that the government did not yet know whether Prime Minister Theresa May's twice-defeated Brexit deal would be brought back to parliament next week. He said parliament still has the option to vote to cancel the entire Brexit process IF the deadlock continued. Meanwhile, May is set to meet with EU leaders at Brussels to discuss a short delay to Brexit. She has already asked the EU for an extension until June 30. The current Brexit deadline is just eight days away.

New Zealand terror attacks

Thousands of New Zealanders have gathered in city of Dunedin to pay respect to the victims of last week’s terror attack in the city of Christchurch. The crowd gathered at a stadium where they held a vigil, following their silent march through the streets of Dunedin. That’s the city where the Christchurch attacker had lived. The white supremacist man killed 50 Muslim worshipers last Friday when he opened fire at two mosques. Dozens more were injured in the carnage. New Zealand has announced new gun laws, in the wake of the terror attack.

US-Russia tensions

The Kremlin has accused the United States of stoking tensions by flying nuclear-capable strategic bombers near Russia’s borders. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said such US moves do not lead to strengthening of an atmosphere of security and stability in the region. The comments came shortly after a US B52 bomber was detected flying across the Baltic's neutral waters. Russia's Defense Ministry said it scrambled a pair of fighter jets to intercept the aircraft after it began flying toward the Russian borders. Earlier in March, the Russian military released footage of a fighter jet scrambling to escort a US intelligence plane over the Baltic Sea. Russia's European exclave of Kaliningrad is on the Baltic Sea.

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