ISIS puts up heavy fight to slow Iraqis in Ramadi
BAGHDAD – Islamic State fighters are putting up a tough fight in the militant-held city of Ramadi, slowing down the advance of Iraqi forces, a senior Iraqi commander said Sunday.
Iraq launched the long-awaited operation to retake the Anbar provincial capital, which was captured by IS militants in May, but after an initial push across the Euphrates River, their progress stalled.
Gen. Ismail al-Mahlawi, head of the Anbar military operations, told The Associated Press that the advance was hampered by suicide bombers, snipers and booby traps.
Iraqi troops will “need days” to get to the city’s central government complex, said al-Mahlawi, adding that the troops were about a half mile from the complex on Sunday.
Al-Mahlawi said he could neither confirm nor deny media reports that IS fighters had pulled out of the government complex by nightfall Sunday. But he cited residents in the area as telling his troops that the IS militants had withdrawn from the neighborhood of Albu Alwan, adjacent to the complex.
Drones to aid disaster relief in Japan next year
TOKYO – A Sony Corp.-affiliated firm will start as early as spring next year a drone project to deliver relief goods to areas that become isolated in the event of an earthquake or torrential rain, it has been learned.
In response to requests by local governments and medical institutions regarding disasters, Tokyo-based Aerosense Inc. is to dispatch high-performance drones for the delivery of relief items such as medical supplies and communications equipment to isolated areas that ships and automobiles cannot access because roads are cut off and ports are damaged or destroyed.
This will be the first time for drones to be used for this purpose in Japan.
The drone manufacturing company is to test-fly drones jointly with the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry in Chiba Prefecture in January and February. After analyzing safety issues, the company aims to start operations as early as March.
‘Force Awakens’ becomes fastest movie to $1 billion
LOS ANGELES – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has reached $1 billion at the box office, reaching the milestone with record-setting hyper speed.
The Walt Disney Co. said “The Force Awakens” crossed the billion-dollar mark Sunday, accomplishing the feat in just 12 days. The previous movie to reach $1 billion the fastest was Universal’s “Jurassic World,” which did it in 13 days in June. “Jurassic World” also had the benefit of record grosses in China. “The Force Awakens” doesn’t open in the world’s second-largest movie market until Jan. 9.
J.J. Abrams’ installment of “Star Wars” also posted the biggest Christmas Day box office in history with $49.3 million and the best second-weekend earnings with $153.5 million.“The Force Awakens” has been setting records since its debut Dec. 17.
It brought in a galactic $238 million in North America over its opening weekend, besting previous record-setter “Jurassic World,” and set international opening-weekend records in Australia, New Zealand and throughout Europe. It scored the biggest worldwide debut with $529 million. It also topped $100 million in IMAX screenings in 10 days, another global record.
Associated Press & WashIngton Post
