Battle for Iraq's Mosul could take months: ICRC

GENEVA (Reuters) - The Iraqi government's assault to retake the city of Mosul could take months, prompting more and more civilians to try to flee to avoid being trapped between frontlines, a senior official of the International Committee of the Red Cross told Reuters.

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South Sudanese flee as country edges closer to 'genocide'

KARUKWAT, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Charity Mandulu said the executions began soon after government soldiers - around 100 of them mostly from South Sudan President Salva Kiir's Dinka ethnic group - arrived in her home town of Tore Payam.

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U.N. slaps new sanctions on North Korea to slash cash from exports

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Wednesday aimed at cutting its annual export revenue by a quarter, after Pyongyang carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test so far in September.

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North Korea rejects U.N. resolution, vows stronger self-defense measures: KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign ministry said on Thursday it rejects the latest U.N. Security Council resolution imposing fresh sanctions against the country for its September nuclear test, saying it denied its sovereignty and right to survival.

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Iraq's Shi'ite militias could prove bigger test than Mosul

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - In early June, two Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias under the nominal control of the Iraqi government stormed into an Iraqi military airbase north of Baghdad. Driving armored vehicles and wielding rocket launchers, they took over a building on the base.

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Aleppo rebels hope to reverse fortunes with new alliance

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rebels in Aleppo have agreed to form a new military alliance to better organize the defense of parts of the city they control from a ferocious assault by the government and its allies, officials in two of the insurgent groups said on Thursday.

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Ukraine starts missile test near Crimea, angering Russia

KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine began two days of missile tests near Crimea on Thursday - a move that has angered Russia, which has put its air defence forces on high alert and deployed warships in the Black Sea.

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