Reuters: Skirting booby traps, Iraqi troops close in on Islamic State redoubt in Ramadi
Iraqi troops have pushed deeper into the heart of the last remaining district held by Islamic State in the city of Ramadi, despite being slowed by bombs and booby traps, army spokesmen said on Saturday.
Recapturing Ramadi, which fell to the militants in May, would be one of the most important victories achieved by Iraq's armed forces since Islamic State swept across a third of the country in 2014.
Soldiers advanced overnight in the Hoz neighborhood that houses the provincial government compound, the target of an attack that started on Tuesday, joint operations command spokesman Brigadier Yahya Rasool said.
MIDDLE EAST
Iraqi forces in fierce battles with IS in Ramadi. Iraqi forces consolidate position in Ramadi ahead of final push against Islamic State. Islamic State conflict: Iraqi forces push deeper into Ramadi.
Syria war: Yarmouk evacuation camp 'on hold'. Resettlement of militants from Syria's Yarmouk Refugee Camp on hold. Damascus jihadist evacuation plan on hold as rebel leader killed.
Scores dead in rebel assault in northern Syria: monitor.
Young girls forced into 'survival sex', six-year-olds made to pick potatoes for cash and boys of ten working as car mechanics: The shocking truth of child exploitation for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Record 12,000 candidates register for Iran's February election.
Dozens of foreign mercenaries killed in Yemen war, rebels say.
Turkish civilians stuck in urban war zone in southeast.
Turkish banks & government sites under ‘intense’ attacks on Christmas holidays.
Israeli police kill Palestinian attacker in Jerusalem.
Christians are disappearing from the Middle East. Christians face elimination by Isis in Middle East, says archbishop.
ASIA
Afghan forces still battling Taliban over southern district.
Pakistan Army Chief to visit Kabul to discuss Taliban talks.
A hug and high tea: Indian PM makes surprise visit to Pakistan.
North Korea has secured 88 pounds of plutonium, Seoul official says.
14 killed in Muslim rebel attacks in southern Philippines. Breakaway Muslim rebels kill nine people in southern Philippines.
Japan says armed Chinese vessel enters Japan waters. Japan protests intrusion of armed Chinese vessel into its waters.
Vietnam economy grows at fastest pace in five years.
'Many missing' in Myanmar landslide.
Scores injured as powerful quake jolts Afghanistan, Pakistan.
China expels French journalist who questioned treatment of Uighurs.
Christmas Day blaze guts Australia homes.
AFRICA
Security tight as volatile C. Africa set for landmark elections. Central Africans dream of bread and peace after election. C. Africa wracked by decades of strife, mismanagement.
AU assures Burundi no hidden motive in troop deployment plan.
Al Shabaab and ISIS affiliates clash in Northern Somalia.
South Sudan Army backs peace accord’s security arrangement.
South Sudan: Deadly famine looms in South Sudan.
Child hunger, malnutrition on rise in parts of Eastern, southern Africa.
Rwanda constitution allowing Kagame extra terms comes into force.
Nigerian President tells BBC war against Boko Haram 'technically' won. Boko Haram reportedly kills 13, abducts 8 in Borno village.
Mali signs $1.5 bln rail deal with China Railway Construction.
Italian energy company ENI begins drilling at Egypt’s ‘supergiant’ natural gas field.
N. Korean diplomat expelled from South Africa for rhino horn trade.
EUROPE
Russia's Putin orders several counter-terrorism units to be set up on coasts.
Russian Orthodox church sacks ultra-conservative senior priest.
Booming Britain to become world's fourth largest economy as France and Italy face G8 exclusion.
German business leaders fear nationalism, refugee crisis will destroy EU.
Mosque ransacked and copies of Quran burnt in Corsica.
Dozens arrested in anti-corruption sweep in Serbia.
Real IRA could launch one-off attacks on mainland Britain.
Norway is the best place to live in the world, according to the UN.
Gstaad's double life: from sleepy resort to billionaire's Christmas playground.
New Colossus of Rhodes to be built in Greece - and will be taller than Statue of Liberty.
AMERICAS
In final year, Obama seeks to stave off lame-duck status.
It's a very Trump Christmas.
US foreign aid budget targets terrorism, Mideast instability.
Churches offer refuge for Central Americans facing U.S. deportation.
Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay flooding displaces 150,000.
Mexico's criminal gangs 'contaminating democracy' with money laundering activities that are going unchallenged.
The struggle to keep Colombia’s coffee revenue flowing.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
U.S.: At least 60 people charged with terrorism-linked crimes this year — a record.
Mastermind behind the Paris terror attacks 'visited the UK on a forged passport in the summer to seek logistical support from extremists' just weeks before the atrocity killed 130.
Guantánamo Bay lawyers call bluff on Obama's promise to close prison.
AQAP leader says America is the ‘primary enemy’.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Apple sales set to slump in 2016 with no new products, analysts warn.
Meet the individuals who made billions betting against oil.
Twitter pledges to clamp down on trolls. Twitter is winning war on trolls and extremists, says its Europe chief.
Norway, the best country to live in.
ReplyDeleteI've often said to my Wife if I had to live in any other country it would be Norway.
It's more like Canada should be.
Hippie chick lives in Norway.
ReplyDeleteShe and her husband purposefully moved to the International district to be multiculuitral
Their grade school son went through Hell. Finally after several months or a year they caught on. Their son cannot befriend Muslim children no matter how hard he tries. They look down on him and constantly ridicule and disparage him.
There is a FILM OF IT.