Iraqi forces advanced Thursday after declaring a new phase in their offensive on eastern Mosul, stepping up efforts to reclaim the Islamic State group's last major stronghold in the country. Elite forces have reconquered several

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Oman, which generally stays neutral in the face of regional disputes, has joined a Saudi-led military coalition aimed at "fighting terrorism," official media in Riyadh said Thursday. The Gulf sultanate, which maintains good ties with

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Russian officials probing the crash of a Syria-bound military plane said Thursday there was no explosion on board, but equipment was not functioning correctly when it plunged into the Black Sea. The Soviet-era Tu-154 plane

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Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a new video on Thursday to dispute a claim that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold. "We are safe. We have not

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A key military commander for the Islamic State group in Syria has been killed in an air strike carried out by the US-led coalition, the Pentagon said Thursday. Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti died Monday near Tabqa

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Syria's army and key ally Russia on Thursday announced a nationwide ceasefire to take effect at midnight, in a major potential breakthrough after nearly six years of civil war. The deal was brokered by Russia

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Floods triggered by heavy rains and a river bursting its banks have killed at least 50 people and left thousands more homeless in southwestern Congo, a provincial governor said Thursday. Torrential rains caused the Kalamu

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ICE cotton futures were largely unchanged in holiday-thinned trading on Wednesday, amid a stronger dollar. "It's dull market today... very little volume. There is no new fundamental to grab this market one way or the

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Shanghai copper futures followed the London contract higher in late Asian trading on Thursday, reversing earlier losses as speculators built up positions ahead of the end of the year. The most-traded copper contract on the

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Copper prices were softer on Thursday alongside equities in thin holiday trade as markets fretted about the higher dollar and the potential for a liquidity crunch in top consumer China. Benchmark copper on the London

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