WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, April 3, 2018.

Russia warns on Ghouta

Russia says with the Syrian army’s offensive to purge militants from Eastern Ghouta nearing its end, more than 40,000 civilians have returned home. The Russian Defense Ministry says those returning to the Damascus suburb had fled their homes over the past month. Meanwhile, the evacuation of militants from their last strong-hold of Douma is ending by Tuesday evening. Over one-thousand militants and their families have left Duma over the past 24 hours. According to the Russia Defense Ministry, nearly 2,300 militants and their families left the town for Jarablus on the Syria-Turkey border since the beginning of a humanitarian pause a few days ago. The final departure of them would leave the entire Eastern Ghouta in the hands of the Syrian government forces.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia launches a new wave of deadly air raids on Yemen. In the latest attacks, Saudi warplanes have struck a home in the Maniya district of Sa’ada province, killing two civilians. Reports say a pregnant woman is among the fatalities. The airstrikes have wounded another four people. More Saudi air raids have targeted Hudaydah province. There are no immediate reports of casualties. On Monday, Riyadh killed 16 civilians in Hudaydah.

Saudi child killing

One of the deadliest attacks on minors in Yemen for years: That’s how the United Nations describes Saudi Arabia’s Monday airstrike on Yemen’s Hudaydah province. The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, verified the killing of several children in the raid. It said many minors are reported missing as the injured and killed are still being pulled out of the rubble. The attack on the port city left at least 16 people, including seven children, dead. Yemeni officials say the death toll is expected to rise. Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemen since March 2015. More than 14,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have lost their lives since then.

Probing Kunduz attack

The United Nations says it is probing disturbing reports of serious harm to civilians following an airstrike in Afghanistan. The UN mission in Kabul says human rights teams are on the ground to establish the facts of the incident. It reminded all parties of obligations to protect civilians from the impact of armed conflict. A suspected US airstrike on a religious school in the northern province of Kunduz left dozens of child casualties. Residents burying loved ones say the strike killed 50 civilians and wounded 150 others. Afghan officials had earlier said the raid targeted a Taliban meeting. Locals have strongly rejected the claim, saying 300 children were hit at the school.

Germany seeking Puigdemont extradition

German prosecutors have asked a court to order the extradition of Catalonia’s ousted President Carles Puigdemont following his arrest in Germany last month. The request comes after protests by independence supporters in Berlin last week and Catalonia calling for Puigdemont’s immediate release. It was not immediately clear when the court would rule on Puigdemont’s possible extradition on charges of rebellion, misuse of public funds, and disobeying the state. The ex-Catalan president was arrested by German police on March 25 as he was travelling from Finland back to Belgium. He has been living in Belgium in self-imposed exile since Catalonia’s failed independence bid last October. The detention came two days after a Spanish judge issued European arrest warrants for Puigdemont and other fugitive separatist leaders.

Eastern Ghouta evacuation

More terrorists have been purged from the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta as the evacuation of the last remaining terrorist faction there is underway. The Russian Defense Ministry has said nearly 2,300 militants and their families have left the town for Jarablus on the Syria-Turkey border since the beginning of a humanitarian pause a few days ago. More than 40,000 civilians have already returned home. Our correspondent Mohammad Ali has the latest on the developments in Eastern Ghouta.

Rouhani to attend Syria summit

Iran’s President Rouhani leaves for Ankara to attend a trilateral meeting with his Turkish and Russian counterparts over the situation in Syria.

Israel racism

The United Nations has urged Israel to reconsider cancellation of a deal with the world body’s refugee agency on resettling thousands of African migrants. A spokesman for the UN refugee agency has confirmed the Israeli premier’s decision. Earlier on Tuesday, Benjamin Netanyahu said he has decided to scrap the agreement with the UN only less than 24 hours after he announced it. The accord would have allowed some migrants to remain in Israel while some others would be resettled in Western countries. In January, Netanyahu announced a plan to drive out illegal migrants, threatening to imprison those refusing to leave. The announcement was met with protests and reactions from rights groups with some calling it racism of the worst kind. The presence of some 42,000 African migrants in Israel has become a key political challenge for Tel Aviv.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir