WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, October 17, 2018 to 0800 GMT, October 19, 2018.

Saudi war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia’s fresh airstrikes on Yemen’s Hudaydah province have left four civilians dead and two others injured. One was killed in a mosque and three others elsewhere in the city. The attacks came five days after similar air raids on the same province killed 19 civilians including women and children and injured 30 others. Saudi Arabia began the war on its southern neighbor in March 2015. Since then, over 15,000 Yemenis, most of them civilians, have been killed.

Trump reaction to Khashoggi killing

The US president says his country’s response will be strong if it is confirmed that Saudi Arabia is responsible for the death of the Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Donald Trump stressed that Washington is waiting for the results of an investigation into the incident. He added that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about who ordered Khashoggi’s murder. Trump’s statements come a day after US senators criticized him for his weak handling of the Saudi journalist’s case. On Sunday, Trump said the United States would be punishing itself if it halted weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over the incident.

Kashmir shutdown

In Indian-ruled Kashmir, life has come to a standstill after pro-freedom groups called for a shutdown to protest the killing of two pro-freedom fighters, one police officer and a civilian who were killed in a gun battle in the heart of Srinagar’s downtown. Our correspondent Shahana Butt reports.

UK Saudi arms sale

A UK-based news organization says British sales of military equipment to Saudi Arabia dramatically increased last year. Sky News says the government’s arms sales to Riyadh in 2017 increased by more than 450 million pounds compared to 2016. Saudi Arabia’s arms purchase from the UK includes air-to-air missiles, aircraft components, sniper rifles, anti-riot gear, ballistic shields and body armor. Campaigners have repeatedly called for UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be stopped over humanitarian concerns particularly the kingdom’s deadly war on Yemen.

Iran slams Israeli crimes

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has called on the international community to form a united front and stand against Israel's atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Gholamali Khoshroo said the world must recognize the rights of Palestinians. Khoshroo stressed that Tel Aviv totally disregards the Palestinians’ rights. The Iranian diplomat said Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes, the controversial nation-state law and the US recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital have deteriorated the situation in Palestine. He added that Washington's unflinching support for Tel Aviv has emboldened Israel and helped it violate hundreds of UN Security Council resolutions. Khoshroo stressed Israel is totally addicted to cruelty, crime, death and destruction.

Afghanistan elections

Afghan election commissioners have recommended suspending parliamentary elections in the southern province of Kandahar. It comes a day after a local police chief was killed in a Taliban attack. The recommendation must be approved by the National Security Council before taking effect. The suspension deals a severe blow to the election process which is already plagued by security threats as well as technical and organizational problems. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the killing of General Abdul Razeq won’t fundamentally change the security situation in the province. Razeq died of wounds he sustained during an attack by the Taliban militants. Afghanistan is holding parliamentary elections on Saturday despite deep security concerns.

UN Gaza warning

The United Nations Middle East envoy has warned about the worsening conditions of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Nickolay Mladenov made the statement at a UN Security Council meeting. He said half the population of Gaza lives below the poverty line. Mladenov added that all the key indicators show the humanitarian, economic, security and political conditions in the coastal enclave are deteriorating. He warned that Gaza stands on the brink of another devastating conflict, stressing that it is necessary to take action to prevent the conflict. Gaza has been under an all-out Israeli blockade since 2007 and witnessed three wars since 2008.

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