WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, June 18, 2017.

Battle for Mosul

The Iraqi army is making a major push to fully liberate the northern city of Mosul. In a statement, the army said Iraqi troops have started storming the old city of Mosul to take out the remaining pockets of Daesh there. The historic district is the last under Daesh control. The densely-populated area contains the Grand Noori Mosque where the terrorists announced their rule in Iraq and Syria in 2014. If recaptured, the terror group will lose its main stronghold in Iraq.

French elections

The French are heading to polling stations for the second time in one week to pick their parliamentarians. Surveys predict an overwhelming majority for President Emmanuel Macron’s newly established “Forward” party with 400 to 470 seats. The party topped the first round of elections on June 11. Final victory in the Parliamentary elections will provide the pro-EU Macron with a free hand to press ahead with his programs. A total of 7, 882 candidates are standing for 577 seats. Meanwhile over 46 million people have registered to vote which shows a rise of nearly two percent compared with the previous parliamentary elections.

US racial ternsions

Protests persist in the US, two days after a police officer was acquitted of killing a black man in Saint Paul, Minnesota last year. Hundreds of people gathered in New York City, demanding justice for Philando Castile. The rally started in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan and continued to the Trump Tower. The protesters condemned police brutality against African Americans and chanted ‘Black Lives Matter.’ A similar rally was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota for a second consecutive day to protest against the court verdict. Officer Jeronimo Yanez was cleared of all charges relating to the death of the 32-year-old Castile on Friday. The deadly shooting took place outside Minneapolis, after police pulled Castile over for a broken tail light. The immediate aftermath of the shooting was live-streamed on Facebook.

Storm slaps Chile

A strong storm has pounded Chile, causing flooding and wrecking thousands of homes. Four people are confirmed dead. According to the national emergency office, the violent weather that began on Thursday slammed nine regions of central and southern Chile. It said the storm, packing fierce winds, damaged nearly 3,000 homes and left a quarter million people without electricity. Most of those displaced live in the southern region of Biobio where rivers overflowed. Some streets were also flooded in the capital Santiago, with no traffic lights for hours. Authorities said they were continuing to closely monitor the situation.

Saudi-Israeli ties

Saudi Arabia and Israel are reportedly in talks to establish economic ties as part of their new emerging alliance in the Middle East. Israeli and British media have quoted Arab and American sources as saying that Riyadh and Tel Aviv are considering steps to normalize their relations. They say the two sides may initially agree on allowing Israeli companies to set up businesses in the Saudi kingdom or letting Israeli airline, EL AL, use Saudi airspace. Sources close to Saudi Arabia, however, dismissed the story, saying the report was no more than wishful thinking by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Israel and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations. But, there have been various reports of secret talks between military and intelligence officials of the two sides in the past to pursue mutual interests as well as to explore ways of confronting Iran.

Russia condemns US anti-Cuba measures

Russia has condemned new anti-Cuba measures by the administration of US President Donald Trump as “regrettable”. The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed its solidarity with Havana, saying the new Cuba policies adopted by the US administration resemble Cold war rhetoric. Trump has ordered tighter restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba and a crackdown on US business dealings with the country’s military. The US president has described his predecessor’s liberalizing ties with Cuba as terrible and misguided. He has, however, kept some changes made by former president Barack Obama, including the reopened US embassy in Havana. Cuba has denounced Trump’s move as hostile.

Portugal tragedy

The death toll from a forest fire in central Portugal has risen to 62. Most of the victims were locked in their cars and burnt to death while trying to flee. The blaze broke out in the central municipality of Pedrogao Grande late Saturday and quickly spread to nearby areas. Most of the victims found their cars engulfed in flames sweeping across the roads. Hundreds of firefighters and aircraft from Spain and France have been dispatched to tackle the fire that has been contained to a large extent. Officials blame the wildfire on the lack of rain and scorching temperatures in recent days. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa called the incident the greatest tragedy of human lives in Portugal.

Iran-China drill

Iran and China are conducting joint military exercises across the Persian Gulf region and the Sea of Oman. Some 1,400 military personnel from the two countries are taking part. An Iranian destroyer as well as two Chinese warships are among the vessels participating in the naval maneuvers. Iranian navy commanders say the two countries will exchange defense experiences during the drill. Iranian navy also says the exercises are aimed at boosting political and diplomatic ties between the two nations and providing peace and security across the region. This is the first time Iran and China conduct joint military exercises since 2014.

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