Press TV's news headlines

Gaza humanitarian crisis

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has raised a serious alarm about the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, amid torrential rains and severe flooding. Philippe Lazzarini warned that the ongoing Storm Byron is sharply aggravating the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He added that the storm “has Gaza in its grip.” Lazzarini said Palestinians, who have lost everything due to war, are now facing a new wave of suffering. According to the UNRWA chief, heavy rains and strong winds pose severe challenges to thousands of displaced families living in makeshift shelters made of plastic sheets and fragile materials. Gaza’s Government Media Office also warned that thousands of displaced people are facing extremely harsh conditions due to lack of proper shelter and necessities. It said Israel continues to obstruct reconstruction efforts by restricting aid entry, exacerbating the suffering of over one-point-five million displaced people. The warnings came as Israeli forces continued to breach the Gaza ceasefire, killing four civilians, including a woman. The death toll from the regime’s genocide now exceeds 70,370, with more than 171,000 others injured. 

US 'criminal piracy'

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has sharply condemned the US seizure of an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. Nicolás Maduro called Washington’s move an act of criminal naval piracy. Maduro was speaking in a televised address. The speech came just after the US sanctioned three of his nephews, along with shipping companies that Washington accuses of moving Venezuelan oil, to intensify pressure on the South American country. The Venezuelan government has filed a formal complaint with the International Maritime Organization, denouncing the dangerous escalation by the US. The seizure marks the Trump administration's first known action against a Venezuela-related tanker since it ordered a massive military buildup in the region. The US has already conducted several strikes against vessels it claims were involved in drug trafficking, killing more than 80 people and drawing severe backlash from human rights organizations.

Trump troop deployments

A US Senator has bitterly criticized President Donald Trump for the deployment of troops to cities around the country, calling it a staggering and unlawful waste of taxpayers' money. Senator Tammy Duckworth said the deployment of US troops to American cities has already cost over 341 million dollars. Duckworth said US troops did not sign up to intimidate the American people, or defend one man's partisan agenda. She added that public trust can be easily lost when the commander-in-chief uses them so recklessly, especially when Trump suggests that the military uses American cities as training grounds for the war within. Democratic city leaders have filed lawsuits to block the troop deployments, calling them an attempt by Trump to punish political foes with militarized shows of force. A federal judge in California has ordered troops in Los Angeles to stand down, ruling Trump has exceeded his presidential authority. With legal battles mounting, the Supreme Court is expected to decide the legality of Trump's use of the National Guard in Chicago, a decision with repercussions for other cities.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir