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 23, 2018.

Turkey elections

In Turkey, supporters of two main presidential candidates are holding mass rallies ahead of Sunday’s elections. Turkey is gearing up for early presidential and parliamentary elections. Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing a tough challenge from his main rival, Muharrem Inje. Many political experts believe Inje is capable of dragging the race into a run-off. Four other candidates are also running for presidency. The winner will get new sweeping powers under a constitutional shake-up approved in a referendum last year. Sunday’s elections were originally scheduled for late 2019. Erdogan brought the elections forward.

Ethiopia blast

Several people are killed and many more injured in an explosion at a rally in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The rally was held in support of new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The blast was reportedly caused by a grenade which someone was trying to hurl to the stage where the prime minister was standing. The prime minister has outlined a series of radical reforms since taking office in April. Among his policy shifts is the announcement that he is prepared to fully implement a peace deal with Eritrea signed in 2000.

ICC Myanmar probe

The International Criminal Court is investigating Myanmar’s atrocities against the ethnic Rohingya minority. A coalition of Bangladeshi organizations has sent evidence of horrific maltreatment of Rohingya Muslims to the ICC. The cases entail harrowing accounts of women being raped and mass killings of men by Myanmar’s military. Prosecutors at The Hague will also look into allegations of forced deportation of nearly 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh. Myanmar has until July 27 to respond to the accusations and demonstrate that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the Rohingya case. The court argues the cross-border nature of the imposed displacement can legally make it fall within the organization’s remit.

Anti-Brexit march

Campaigners have taken to streets of London to demand a final vote on any Brexit agreement. The protesters argue that the Brexit is not a done deal and that people must make their voices heard. They want the British government to hold a final public vote on the terms of Brexit. The developments come as senior Cabinet ministers insist London is prepared to walk away from talks with the Parliament without a deal. The UK voted to leave the European Union by a margin of nearly 52 to over 48 in a referendum held on 23 June 2016. Britain is due to leave on 29 March 2019.

Zimbabwe explosion

The Zimbabwean president has survived an attempt on his life. An explosion rocked a stadium in the city of Bulawao where Emmerson Mnangagwa was giving a speech. The presidential office said Mnangagwa was evacuated from the scene unhurt and taken to the state house. The Zimbabwean president was addressing a ruling ZANU-PF party rally when the blast occurred. Although details are sketchy, early reports indicate some people could have been injured. Authorities said a police investigation is underway to determine what exactly happened.