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 21, 2017.

Venezuela Court Decision

Venezuela’s Supreme Court has stripped the country’s chief prosecutor of prosecution immunity, paving the way for a trial against her. The decision was made after a request from a lawmaker from the ruling Socialist party. Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz is accused of committing grave errors in her role. The opposition says the move against Diaz came after she broke with the government and inclined toward anti-president factions. Venezuela has been grappling with an intense political tug of war in the past year. The opposition has been trying to dismantle the government, accusing it of being incompetent in resolving economic problems. The government says the opposition is backed by the United States in its attempts to overthrow the government.

Battling it out in Old City

Iraqi troops are pressing ahead with their operation to wrest full control of the northern city of Mosul from Daesh terrorists. The army forces have stormed the strategic al-Nouri mosque in Mosul’s Old City. The mosque is symbolically important as it is the site, where Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made a rare appearance three years ago. The Iraqi troops have already encircled the Old City, which is the last Daesh stronghold in Mosul. Iraqi forces have taken control of several neighborhoods and a strategic bridge that connects the eastern and western parts of the city. The army has called on civilians to stay inside as terrorists are putting up stiff resistance. Iraqi forces launched an offensive to retake Mosul last October.

Killed in Cold Blood

In the US, dozens of students have taken to the streets of the city of Seattle to demand justice for a pregnant black woman, who was shot dead by the police. The protesters rallied on the steps of Garfield High School, chanting Black Lives Matter. Elsewhere in Seattle, teachers also gathered to encourage a conversation about race, inequality and safety. The 30-year-old Charleena Lyles called the police on Sunday to report a burglary at her apartment. The officers, who arrived at the scene, killed the mother of four because of her alleged violent behavior. Authorities say Lyles confronted the officers with kitchen knives.

Brexit Deal

Britain’s Queen says the government’s priority is to secure the best possible deal for Brexit. Queen Elizabeth the second made the remarks in her speech at the House of parliament. She read a legislative program, including 27 bills, which were slimmed down by Prime Minister Theresa May. The laws include the "Great Repeal Bill" to overhaul existing EU legislation and separate bills on customs, trade, immigration, fisheries and agriculture. The queen said the "Great Repeal Bill" would repeal the European Communities Act, the 1972 legislation that enshrined Britain’s membership of the European bloc. The majority of the Britons voted to leave the European Union in a referendum last year. But there is growing opposition to the government’s hard Brexit approach of cutting immigration at the expense of trade ties.

Brazil Graft Probe

Federal police investigators in Brazil say they have found evidence that President Michel Temer received bribes to help businesses. The investigators have handed over the evidence to a top court justice. They say a former aide of Temer has directly received bribes from a giant meatpacking company on the president's behalf. The investigators also say the bribes were paid to warrant a formal investigation of Temer for another crime which is passive corruption. The president is accused of refusing to answer their questions. The investigation could lead to Brazil's top federal prosecutor lodging corruption charges against Temer and suspend him from office. Temer has denied any wrongdoing and insists he won’t resign.

Iran Defense Power

Iran’s president says Tehran will never seek permission from anyone to enhance its defense power. Speaking at a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Hassan Rouhani called for unity among Muslim nations to curb Zionism and terrorism. He said wounded terrorists receive treatment in Israeli hospitals. The Iranian president added that Tel Aviv arms the terrorists, and carries out airstrikes in their favor. He also noted that Zionists, by creating terrorism and making problems for people in the Middle East, have been trying to sideline the issue of Palestine. President Rouhani stressed that the issue of Palestine will never be forgotten. He called on the Iranian nation to take part in international Quds Day demonstrations on Friday, which is an annual rally in support of the Palestinian people.

Syria Army Gains

Syrian government forces have made major gains near the capital Damascus, recapturing territory on the city’s eastern outskirts from foreign-backed terrorists. The army took control of a number of blocks in the Jobar district, and another area in Ain Terma. Syria's army and its allies have intensified their offensive against terrorists east of the capital. Warplanes have launched more than two dozen air strikes in the area. Militant-held areas east of Damascus are besieged by the government and its allies, which include the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah and Russia. The Syrian government forces have also taken advantage of rising infighting among militant groups to attack and gain ground.

Russia NATO Response

Moscow says it is refining defenses on the western flank in response to what it calls NATO's aggressive actions. Russian news agencies quoted Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying that he regards NATO's military build-up along Russian borders as proof of the anti-Moscow stance of the Western military alliance. Ties between Russia and the US-led NATO alliance have reached the lowest level since the US military build-up in Eastern Europe. Moscow has repeatedly accused NATO of fueling tensions by expanding eastward.

London Fire Fallout

UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has lashed out at the government for minimal fire safety standards and called for emergency safety funds. Corbyn was addressing lawmakers discussing Queen’s speech in parliament. He criticized the government for the fact that there have been 600 fewer firefighters and 10 fewer fire stations in London over the past five years. The leader of Labor Party also slammed the government for scrapping two-point-three billion pounds in police funds over the past 5 years.

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