WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, October 22, 2018.

Germany calls for European arms embargo on Saudi

Germany has called on other European Union states to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia, over the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said all explanations so far provided by Riyadh have been unsatisfactory. He added that all EU states must halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia to make an impression on the Kingdom. Germany itself has already stopped arms exports to Riyadh. The Saudi government first denied any involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance and murder at its Istanbul consulate earlier this month. The kingdom later confirmed it, but has given conflicting accounts of what exactly happened. A group of top US lawmakers have directly blamed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for the killing. Riyadh denies his involvement.

West Bank killing

Israeli soldiers have killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank. Israel says the man was fatally shot after a stabbing attempt in the city of al-Khalil also known as Hebron. No further details were given regarding the victim’s identity. Over the past months, Israeli forces have been killing Palestinians, arresting people and demolishing their houses in the West Bank for similar allegations.

China reaction

China has criticized the United States for its decision to unilaterally pull out of a nuclear arms control treaty with Russia. Chinese Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said it was wrong of Washington to withdraw from the landmark Cold War-era Treaty. She said China is opposed to the move because the pact eliminated nuclear missiles from Europe. On Sunday, the US president said he has decided to pull his country out of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Donald Trump warned that America will have to develop weapons banned as part of the treaty unless Russia and China say they won't develop such missiles. China, however, is not a signatory to the agreement. Moscow has slammed Washington’s move, calling it a dangerous step.

Khashoggi murder

Turkish officials release new surveillance footage, casting more doubts on the mysterious murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia’s shifting narrative about the journalist’s death. The video, obtained by the CNN, purportedly shows a Saudi hit man wearing Khashoggi’s clothes and a fake beard after the journalist was killed in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. The CNN quoted a senior Turkish official as saying the Saudi operative left the consulate by the back door. The senior Turkish official has identified the operative as Mustafa al-Madani. He is said to be a member of the 15-men hit squad. The revelations come as Riyadh has presented changing stories about what happened to Khashoggi. Riyadh earlier said Khashoggi died as a result of a fistfight. Later, it said the journalist died in a chokehold.

New nuclear arms race?

Russia says it will respond in kind if the United States begins developing new missiles after quitting the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Peskov added the US decision to pull out from the accord is causing concern in the international community. He also said the world will be a more dangerous place if the US goes ahead with its plan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also said the world’s strategic stability could be ensured only based on parity. Meanwhile, China has condemned the US move, saying Washington needs to think three times before leaving the INF.

US-bound migrants

The US president says Washington will begin cutting aid to three Central American nations because of their failure to stop a migrant caravan headed for the US border. Donald Trump said the US will cut off, or substantially reduce, the aid it gives Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. In a series of tweets, he also called the caravan's approach a national emergency and said the stage has been set for a confrontation when the swelling mass of migrants reach the border. Trump said it looks like Mexico's police and military are unable to stop the caravan. He described the approaching migrants as criminals and unknown Middle Easterners. Thousands of migrants, mostly Hondurans, are on their way to the United States. Despite the US government’s repeated attempts, many of them continue their journey.

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