AFP, BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces battled the Islamic State jihadist group on separate fronts Thursday, ramping up operations to retake Baiji and Ramadi, two of the conflict’s worst flashpoints. The Baiji area has seen almost uninterrupted fighting since IS swept across Iraq last year, but top officers…

AFP, BRUSSELS: EU leaders meet Thursday to try to persuade Turkey to help stem the flow of refugees towards Europe, with German chancellor Angela Merkel saying it was “unacceptable” that the short sea crossing to Greece was being controlled by people smugglers. “We cannot organise…

AFP, WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton bested her challengers in the campaign’s first Democratic presidential debate, but her biggest accomplishment may have been to neutralize a potential rival who was not even on stage: Joe Biden. Analysts and observers said Clinton delivered a commanding performance…

UK refuses to grant Assange safe passage for medical check AFP, QUITO: Britain has refused Ecuador’s request to give Julian Assange safe passage for a medical checkup after he had a sharp pain in his right shoulder, Quito’s top diplomat said Wednesday. The WikiLeaks founder has been holed…