Pope Francis visits Iraq: Pontiff calls for ‘end to violence and extremism’ on historic visit

Pope Francis made a rousing call for peace on the first day of his historic visit to war-battered Iraq today, pleading with his hosts for an ‘end to acts of violence and extremism, factions and intolerance’.  The 84-year-old, who defied security fears and the pandemic to become the first pontiff to travel to Iraq, urged … Read more

The Pope departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq

The Pope departs from Rome for historic first-ever visit by a pontiff to Iraq – and his most dangerous foreign journey since his election By Reuters and Chris Pleasance for MailOnline Published: 07:11 GMT, 5 March 2021 | Updated: 07:19 GMT, 5 March 2021 Pope Francis left Rome on Friday to start a four-day trip … Read more

Iraqi airbase hosting US troops is hit by multiple rockets 

Multiple rockets slam into US airbase in Iraq By Reuters Published: 07:10 GMT, 3 March 2021 | Updated: 07:15 GMT, 3 March 2021 An Iraqi airbase that hosts US and coalition forces has come under attack.  Multiple rockets landed on Tuesday at Iraq’s Ain al-Asad air base that also hosts Iraqi troops, two security sources … Read more

Death of Hercules: Entire fleet of transporter plane favoured by the SAS is to be grounded

Death of Hercules: Entire fleet of transporter plane favoured by the SAS is to be grounded – and its Airbus replacement ‘could put our troops at risk’ The ‘Super Hercules’ C-130J fleet has been used on Special Forces operations against IS in Iraq and Syria The aircraft is loved by soldiers for being easy to … Read more

Hundreds of British soldiers will be sent to Iraq as part of new NATO mission 

UK troops surge as Iraq simmers: Hundreds of British soldiers will be sent to Iraq as part of new NATO mission Britain to send hundreds of troops to Iraq in biggest increase since the Gulf War Defence sources say Nato plans to increase numbers in Iraq from 400 to 5,000 179 British troops lost their … Read more

Whistle-blowing Iraqi surgeon at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust ‘suffered racial harassment’

A whistle-blowing surgeon from Iraq suffered racial discrimination and harassment after raising the alarm about patient safety at a trust where he claimed ‘white and Indian doctors were untouchable’, a tribunal has found. Associate specialist surgeon Dr Manuf Kassem raised concerns about the care of 25 patients at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust … Read more

Iraq rocket attack kills contractor and wounds a US service member

BREAKING NEWS: Rocket attack by ‘group with links to Iran’ kills a military contractor and wounds an American service member at a US coalition base in northern Iraq The rocket was targeting a US-led base in the Kurdish regional capital of Erbil Security sources said at least three rockets landed near Erbil Int. Airport A … Read more

Bears are released into the wild… and immediately turn on their rescuers 

They’re bearing down on us! Bears are released into the wild… and immediately turn on their rescuers The chaotic scene was spotted at a wildlife conservation project in the Kurdistan of northern Iraq yesterday Six Syrian brown bears were being freed into the wild after they were saved from captivity in people’s homes But as … Read more

Adventurer Jordan Wylie paddleboards 1,477 miles of UK coastline and runs a marathon on his day off

After adventurer, author and former soldier Jordan Wylie rowed solo, unsupported and unarmed across the most dangerous body of water on the planet – the pirate-infested Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (aka the Gate of Tears) – he described the 13-hour 42-minute voyage, from Djibouti to Yemen and back, as ‘the toughest thing I’ve ever done’. And at … Read more