WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, March 22, 2018 to 08:00 GMT, March 23, 2018.

US arms sale to Saudi

The US has formally approved weapon sales contracts with Saudi Arabia totaling more than one billion dollars. The State Department confirmed it had green-lighted a 670-million-dollar deal for anti-tank missiles, a 106-million-dollar contract for helicopter maintenance and 300 million dollars for ground vehicle parts. The department said the move will support US foreign policy and national security objectives. US officials say the deals had been in the pipeline since President Donald Trump announced more than 100 billion dollars in possible new contracts on a visit to Riyadh last year. The US is under fire for its military aid to Saudi Arabia and its potential complicity in the Kingdom’s war on Yemen.

US-China tariff row

The US president has signed an order to impose tariffs and investment restrictions on China for what Washington calls stealing American technology. Trump further said the move will make the US a much stronger and much richer nation. The sanctions target China's high-tech sector and could also include restrictions on Chinese investments in the United States. Meanwhile, Beijing has denounced Trump's decision, accusing him of Quote putting the two economies on course for a trade war. China's embassy in Washington also said in a statement that the country would fight to the end to defend its own legitimate interests with all necessary measures.

France austerity anger

France has held its largest protest since Emmanuel Macron became president. Macron has pushed right-wing economic reform agenda since taking office last May, causing his popularity to nosedive. Unions from many key sectors say they have had enough, and have initiated the largest wave of strikes in recent years. Ramin Mazaheri has more from Paris.

Trump new shake-up

In the latest administration shake-up, the US president has replaced National Security Adviser HR McMaster with former ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton. Trump announced the appointment in a tweet saying a formal handover would occur in April. Bolton who will become Trump’s third National Security Adviser, said he sees his role as an honest broker by providing a full range of options to the president. He has a history of taking hard-line positions on foreign policy. The 69-year-old politician was a leading advocate of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He has also pushed for using military force against North Korea and Iran.

EU-Russia tensions

A number of European Union countries are considering expelling Russian diplomats from their countries over what they call Russia’s involvement in the poisoning of a former double agent in Britain. An EU official, on condition of anonymity, said the countries are also thinking about recalling their envoys from Moscow. He added that the bloc has decided to summon its envoy in Russia for consultation over the issue. Ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Britain earlier in March. EU countries have backed UK’s claim that Moscow was behind the toxin attack. Russia however denies any involvement in the incident.

Macron’s plunging popularity

French President Emmanuel Macron's popularity has hit a record low amid widespread dissatisfaction over his economic policies. A new poll indicates that only 40 percent of people have a favorable opinion of the 40-year-old president. The percentage is the lowest during Macron’s less than a year tenure and 12 points down since the end of the last year. Sweeping labor and welfare reforms seem to be the driving force behind Macron’s growing unpopularity. The wide-ranging measures have frustrated many public sector workers, prompting them to walk out their jobs nationwide.

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