WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, September 1, 2018.

Freezing refugee funding

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, has called the United States’ decision to freeze aid funds as deeply shocking and regrettable. UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said the US move to halt funding will affect millions of people including those who are the world’s most disadvantaged ones. He also strongly rejected US claims that UNRWA’s aid operations were flawed.

US Syria stance

The US secretary of state says any operation by the Syrian army to liberate the militant-held province of Idlib will be considered by Washington as an escalation of conflict. On his twitter page, Mike Pompeo also blasted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for defending the operation. On Friday, Lavrov said the Syrian government had every right to protect its sovereignty and drive out terrorists. Meanwhile, media reports say US intelligence officials have prepared a preliminary list of Syrian chemical weapons facilities that could be struck if Syria launched a chemical attack. The US has accused the Syrian government of planning a chemical attack in Idlib. But Syria says the US and its allies are helping militants to launch a chemical attack to blame it on the Syrian government.

Ukraine conflcit

Russia has denounced as provocation the murder of the leader of pro-Russia forces in the flashpoint eastern region of Ukraine. The Kremlin said the killing of Alexander Zakharchenko will undermine a Western-brokered peace agreement and will lead to increased tensions in the region. Moscow has accused the Ukrainian government of its involvement in the Donetsk explosion that killed Zakharchenko. Meanwhile, pro-Russia forces say they have arrested several people linked to the Ukrainian government after the deadly blast. They accuse Kiev of launching “an obvious act of aggression” and pledge to respond in kind.

Saudi war on Yemen

Several Yemeni civilians have lost their lives in shelling attacks in Hudaydah province. Yemeni media say, Saudi-backed militants shelled civilian homes in Tuhaita district on Friday. The attack left a woman dead and a child wounded. In a separate such attack in Durayhimi district, three civilians were killed and ten others injured. Nearly 15,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed since Saudi Arabia launched a war on its southern impoverished neighbor in March 2015.

Trump collusion probe

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller is tightening the noose on President Donald Trump over an alleged collusion between his presidential campaign and Russians. An American lobbyist pleads guilty of acting as an agent to funnel money to Trump’s campaign on behalf of a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine. According to Samuel Patten, he had bought four tickets to Trump’s inauguration and was reimbursed the money through a Cypriot bank account. His dealing circumvents US law which prohibits foreigners from providing money to an organization running the presidential inauguration. Under a plea bargain, Patten has accepted to work with Mueller’s investigation. His possible testimony could bring a new headache for Trump as his business partner is said to be a Russian national who’s been indicted along Trump’s former campaign chief, Paul Manafort.

East Ukraine crisis

Russia says, now that the leader of pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine is killed, peace talks with Kiev are impossible. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called it a serious situation that needs to be analyzed. He was referring to the upcoming meeting between leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany over Ukraine, known as the Normandy format. Moscow accuses the Ukrainian government of being involved in the Donetsk explosion that killed Alexander Zakharchenko. Kiev has denied the accusation. Pro-Russia forces say they arrested several people linked to the Ukrainian government after the deadly blast.

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