WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, September 3, 2018.

Call for Idlib clean-up

Iran says terrorists must move out of Syria’s Idlib province as part of the Arab state’s efforts to get rid of terrorism on its soil. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said his country will soon host a meeting with Russia and Turkey on latest developments in Syria. He said the upcoming meeting will cover a number of issues including the fight against terrorists in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib.

Israel home demolitions

Israeli forces clash and forcibly remove Palestinians who were trying to protect their homes from demolition in the occupied West Bank. Armed with rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades, Israeli soldiers forcibly dragged people away from their homes in the village of Walaja. Several people were injured during the clashes. Israeli forces then razed four homes in the area with a court order. However the reason behind the demolition was not clear. Israel demolishes the houses of Palestinians whom it accuses of attacking Israelis. International rights groups say it’s an attempt to uproot Palestinians from their homeland, and confiscate more areas for the expansion of Israel's illegal settlements.

Iraq politics

The Iraqi parliament holds its inaugural session four month after it was elected in May. The parliamentarians are to choose a new speaker. They have also thirty days to elect a new president who will then task the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a new government. Sixteen political groups have reached an agreement to create such bloc. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s party as well as the one led by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are among the alliance. The other major alliance is led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Secretary-General of Badr Organization Hadi al-Ameri.

UNRWA slams US

The chief of the UN agency for displaced Palestinians says ignoring Palestinian refugees is impossible after Washington cut funding to UNRWA. Pierre Krahenbuhl added, rights of Palestinian refugees are undeniable under international law. He also pledged UNRWA, will continue its operations despite Washington’s decision. Earlier on Monday, Krahenbuhl expressed his deep regret and disappointment over the US move. The European Union and the Arab League also strongly condemned it. UNRWA provides services to about five million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

China Africa aid

China says it wants to increase its economic role in Africa as it pledges to write off some of the debt by poor African countries. President Xi Jinping made the offer during a summit between China and eight African countries in Beijing. The offer will bring China’s financial help to Africa to over 120 billion dollars since 2015. The fresh monetary package includes aid, interest-free loans, credit lines and special funds for imports from Africa as well as financing sustainable development projects. Beijing has pledged to encourage Chinese companies to invest more than 10 billion dollars in African countries. President Xi has announced his country will also provide the African Union with free military assistance.

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