Armed clashes between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) broke out twice over the past few days, according to KIA officials and local residents. The KIA is the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), who has been in conflict with the central government since a 17 year ceasefire ended in June 2011.

The clashes which first broke out on Friday August 8th and lasted for more than an hour near, took place at Sabaw Maw, a ruby mine located in territory controlled by KIA battalion 6 in the jade rich Hpakan Township. The fighting began when a column of Burmese troops entered the mine area, according to a KIA officer who spoke to the Kachin News Group (www.kachinnews.com) on condition of anonymity.

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Syrian government forces are advancing on Aleppo, aiming to besiege the rebel-held city into submission in what would be the biggest blow yet to the three-year uprising.

The fall of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and economic hub before the fighting, could also bolster the ranks of Islamic State militants who continue to make gains across the country, as defeated rebels from the Western-backed Free Syrian Army switch to their side.

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Dozens of high-powerful bombs have been dropped in northern Mali on Sunday by French Special Forces fighting militants in the country.

French forces have been fighting militants in northern Mali since January 2013 and this latest bombing is directed to thwarting the activities of the militants in the area.

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Ukrainian government forces are preparing for the final stage of recapturing the city of Donetsk from pro-Russia separatist rebels after making significant gains that have divided rebel forces, a military spokesman said on Monday.

The spokesman, Andriy Lysenko, said Kiev’s forces had cut off Donetsk from the other main rebel-held city, Luhansk, on the border with Russia.

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Peshmerga kurds forces have recaptured Makhmur town today, in Iraq, thanks to american air strikes.

Al Jazira panarab television said it.

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Islamic State militants have killed at least 500 members of Iraq’s Yazidi ethnic minority during their offensive in the north, Iraq’s human rights minister told Reuters on Sunday.

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the Sunni militants had also buried alive some of their victims, including women and children. Some 300 women were kidnapped as slaves, he added.

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Somali National Army forces together with AU peacekeeping troops fought against al-Shabaab militants outside Qoryooley town of lower Shabelle region, witness said.

The witness said the fighting erupted after al-Shabaab fighters armed with launchers propelled grenades and machine guns attacked on allied forces, conducting security operation in Xero 1-aad and Xero 2-aad at outside in the town.

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