Xinhua world news summary at 0900 GMT, March 4

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to levy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports has received worldwide criticism and retaliatory intentions from some of its closest allies.

On Thursday, Trump announced his plan to impose penalties of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum, which will come into effect next week. (U.S.-Tariffs-Reactions)

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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The Brazilian Supreme Court on Saturday rejected a plea from former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, to gain access to international confessions made by former executives of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin ruled that the contents of the Odebrecht confessions were a judicial secret and could not be shared without a prior international cooperation agreement, according to Brazilian television station Globo. (Peru-Brazil-Odebrecht)

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JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday there was "no reason" for early election over spiraling coalition crisis.

Before taking off to his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu was asked if Israel is heading for early elections due to political infighting over the conscription of Jewish ultra-Orthodox into the army. (Israel-U.S.-Early Election)

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SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in decided Sunday to send his special envoys to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in an effort to mediate direct talks between the DPRK and the United States.

Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential press secretary, told a press briefing that Moon's special delegation, composed of five emissaries and five working-level officials, will make a two-day visit to Pyongyang starting March 5 for talks with senior DPRK officials. (S.Korea-DPRK-Visit)

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YANGON -- Myanmar will receive refugees who fled the Rakhine conflict to neighboring Bangladesh based on a list provided by the Bangladeshi side as the first batch, but the list will be converted into Myanmar format, Myanmar News Agency reported Sunday.

"The Bangladesh side had provided a list of more than 8,000 people from 1,600 households who will be sent back as the first batch. However, the list is not according to our format and our immigration department is converting the list into our format," spokesman of the Presidential Office Director-General U Zaw Htay said on Saturday following a battalion commander level meeting held in the two countries' border. (Myanmar-Bangladesh-Refugee) Enditem