WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, February 13, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, February 14, 2017.

Israel Gaza blockade

The World Health Organization says 54 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip died waiting for Israeli permits to travel for medical treatment in 2017. The WHO says there is a worrying decline in the approval rate for patients to exit Gaza. 2017 has recorded the lowest rate since 2008. Only half of the applications to travel for treatment last year were granted in time for their appointments. In a joint statement, several rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch urged Israel to ease the restrictions. The people of Gaza require Israeli permits to travel to Jerusalem al-Quds or the occupied West Bank to receive medical treatment. The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007. High-quality medical care for conditions such as cancer is not possible in Gaza.

Bahrain revolution anniversary

Bahraini protesters have staged rallies across the country on the eve of the country’s national revolution. Thousands of people poured into the streets of Deih, Ekr, Karanah, Ma’ameer and other towns and villages chanting anti-government slogans. On Sitra Island, the police used tear gas against the crowd to disperse them. The demonstrators expressed solidarity with political prisoners and called for their immediate release. They also expressed sympathy with prominent opposition cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim. In 2011, Bahraini people hit the streets in thousands, demanding political reforms and equal rights. The Al Khalifah regime however used excessive force with help from Saudi Arabia to quell the peaceful demonstrations.

Trump's China threat

The US president has once again slammed China’s economic policies, threatening retaliatory action against Beijing. Donald Trump also criticized China’s steel and aluminum exports policies. He claimed that Washington’s steel and aluminum industries were “decimated by dumping”. Elsewhere in his remarks, the US president described as a disaster the country’s free trade deal with South Korea. Trump pledged that the White House will either renegotiate the agreement or scrap it. The remarks came a day after Trump targeted South Korea and China over their trade surpluses with the US, accusing them of “getting away with murder”.

Questioning US claims

The French president says the country’s intelligence services have not established proof that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons against civilians. Emmanuel Macron said the issue is a red line for France threatening to strike Syria as soon as such proof is established. A few days ago, the US and the UK once again accused Syria of using the banned weapons against civilians. Washington also slammed Russia as a complicit in chemical attacks accusing it of hindering international investigation into the issue. Both Damascus and Moscow dismissed the claims as false and baseless.

No to Trump DACA plan

In the US, a second judge has overruled President Donald Trump’s decision to end a program that does not allow the deportation of immigrants who were illegally brought to the country as children. District Judge, Nicholas Garaufis, ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, dubbed as DACA, cannot end in March 2018 according to the Republican administration’s plan. Garaufis said based on the administration’s reason provided in September 2017, he was not convinced that the protective program must be terminated. The judge ordered the administration to process DACA renewal applications on the same terms as they had been effective before Trump took his action. Back in January, another judge had blocked the ending of DACA on similar grounds. The US Congress is currently considering whether the nation’s immigration laws needs to be changed.

Trump sexual allegation

US President Donald Trump is facing yet another sexual allegation over one year after he took office. Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, says he paid 130,000 dollars, out of his own pocket, to an adult film actress who allegedly had sexual relations with Trump in 2006. Cohen says he was not even reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign for the payment. This is while reports say the payment was to keep the actress from publicly discussing the encounter. The revelation comes after a government watchdog group filed a complaint to the Federal Election Commission. The complaint asked for an investigation to determine whether the payment represented an excessive campaign contribution. Donald Trump has faced multiple sexual allegations since he won the 2016 presidential vote.

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