Eurasia

Iraq’s military pushed deeper into Mosul’s Old City on Wednesday, taking two more districts from Daesh and bringing it closer to total control of the city. The army’s 16th infantry division captured Hadarat Al Saada and Al Ahmadiyya, the military said in a statement. The areas are northwest of the …

The EU recently agreed to extend sanctions against Russia on its actions in Ukraine following the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, 3 years ago. Moscow also sees NATO with suspicion after the Alliance has strengthened its presence in Eastern Europe.

Egyptian cabinet decided on Thursday to extend the state of emergency in the country for three more months. The decision to extend the emergency state was made during a cabinet meeting.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Pakistan’s prime minister on foreign affairs, on Sunday in Islamabad to discuss peace and stability in Afghanistan. During the meeting, Aziz said: “Pakistan has consistently emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan is in our interest and a stable Afghanistan …

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with US Defence Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump. Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also present at the meetings.

US-backed fighters seized a quarter of Syria’s Raqqa from the Islamic State group, a monitor said on Monday, less than three weeks after they first launched the offensive to recapture the northern city. Arab and Kurdish militiamen from the Syrian Democratic Forces smashed into the militants’ main Syrian bastion on …

The battle to take full control of Mosul from Islamic State will be over in a few days after an attempted fightback by the militants failed, an Iraqi general has told Reuters. “Only a small part remains in the city, specifically the Old City,” said Lieutenant General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, …

Fresh clashes on Saturday between government troops and a militia in Nord-Kivu province in the troubled east of Democratic Republic of Congo have left two soldiers and four fighters dead, the army said. The army’s position in Kaseghe was attacked around dawn “by the Mai Mai (militia) which caused the …

Eight Chadian soldiers were killed in fierce fighting with Boko Haram insurgents at the weekend on islands on Lake Chad, which borders four countries on the edge of the Sahara, Chad’s army said on Monday. “Our forces attacked Boko Haram elements on five islands near Nigeria on June 24 and …

Prime minister Narendra Modi Friday said the aim of his upcoming visit to the US was to build a “forward-looking vision” for the bilateral partnership and further consolidate the robust and wide- ranging ties. Modi, who will be meeting president Donald Trump for the first time on June 26 in …