WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 1800 GMT, October 22, 2018 to 0800 GMT, October 23, 2018.

Germany-Saudi Arabia ties

The German chancellor has described the killing of Khashoggi a monstrosity. Angela Merkel pledged to stop German arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the case is cleared up. France, however, declined to say whether it will heed Berlin’s call to suspend weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. The French Foreign Ministry said France's arms sales control policy is based on case-by-case analysis.

Israeli crime against Palestinians

Palestinian health officials say 20 protesters have been injured by Israeli forces in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Palestinians were participating in a protest on the seashore in northern Gaza against Israeli’s 12-year-long maritime blockade of the enclave. The Palestinians also used more than 40 fishing boats to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza. But they had to stop their advance as Israeli troops opened fire. Israel has time and again intercepted ships trying to do so, causing casualties. The Gaza Strip has been under Israel’s blockade since June 2007. In recent months, Tel Aviv has tightened the siege and banned the entry of humanitarian supplies into enclave. The blockade has caused a decline in living standards as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and poverty.

Mass migration in America

The United Nations has called for upholding international law in dealing with Central American migrants heading in a caravan to the US border. Haq cited a report by the International Organization for Migration that large numbers of people are arriving in Mexico. He said the caravan comprises over seven thousand persons, many of whom intend to continue the march north. The US president has described the approaching migrants as criminals and unknown Middle Easterners. Donald Trump called the caravan's approach a national emergency. He said the stage has been set for a confrontation when the swelling mass of migrants reaches the US border. Trump has also threatened to cut aid to countries that fail to stop the expedition.

'Mohammed bin Salman’s phone call with Khashoggi'

A new report suggests the Saudi crown prince had talked to Jamal Khashoggi on the phone shortly before he was murdered in the Kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. Turkish media say Mohammad bin Salman tried to persuade the dissident journalist to return to Riyadh but he refused the offer for fear of being arrested and killed. The revelations come as new footage emerged which purportedly shows Saudi officials burning evidence in the consulate’s garden the day after khashoggi was killed. Meanwhile, CNN has released a video, allegedly showing a Saudi hitman leaving the consulate wearing Khashoggi’s clothes. CNN quoted a senior Turkish official as saying that the Saudi operative left the consulate by the back door.

Companies boycotting Saudi confab

More companies decide to boycott an upcoming investment conference in Saudi Arabia following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. French utility giant EDF and German engineering company Siemens say their chief executives will not attend the summit. Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser says it is necessary to find out what really happened at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and to administer justice. Ministers from the US, Britain and France have already pulled out of this week’s business conference. Many western corporate leaders and media companies have also boycotted the summit.

US holding kids illegally

Court filings by activists and lawyers show that US authorities have unlawfully held undocumented immigrant children in a tent city for months. According to the court filings, more than 500 children have been housed in tents near Tornillo, Texas since August. Another group of 46 children have been held there since June. None of the children were accompanied by their parents when they crossed into the US. The detentions violate a 1997 court order that strictly limits the government’s ability to hold minors for more than 20 days. The administration of President Donald Trump has pledged to crack down on illegal border crossings. The zero-tolerance policy has been met with domestic and international condemnation.

Turkish FM’s comments on Khashoggi

The Turkish foreign minister says his country is ready to cooperate with any international inquiry into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Mevlut Chavush-oglu says it is important that Saudi Arabia acknowledges the killing of the dissident journalist. Chavush-oglu says the Saudis have been more open to cooperation on the issue after a phone call between Turkey’s president and the Saudi crown prince. But he said certain issues should be clarified, including that of a Saudi consulate car parked in Istanbul, which Turkish investigators were not allowed to search. Chavush-oglu made the comments after the Turkish presidential spokesman said Ankara will go until the end to shed light on Khashoggi’s murder.

Medicine shortage in Gaza

Hundreds of chronic kidney patients in the Gaza Strip have no access to a special medicine that produces red blood cells. This is posing risks to their lives. This comes amid the Israeli blockade that has left hospitals acutely short of medicines. PRESS TV correspondent Ashraf Shannon has more details in the following report.

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