International Glance
Most of the civilians are in the Old City which lies immediately south of where the current fighting is taking place.
The area, a warren of narrow streets and closely-spaced buildings, has posed a major challenge for security forces, and the coming battle to retake it poses a major threat to civilians.
"There are densely populated neighbourhoods," Javaid said.
"Streets upon streets of people who are living in the besieged areas of Mosul. Around 200,000 people live there and ISIL uses them as human shields."
Mosul battle: At least 142 civilians killed in six days
Russia calls for expulsion of Estonian, Moldovan diplomats
Russia on Wednesday called for the expulsion of Estonian and Moldovan diplomats in response to moves against Russian diplomats in those countries.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said five diplomats from the Moldovan embassy in Moscow had been declared personae non grata and would have to leave within three days. It did not name those to be expelled, but said the decision followed Moldova's decision on Monday to expel five Russian diplomats.
Kabul bombing: Huge explosion rocks diplomatic district
A massive truck bomb blast has ripped through the heart of Kabul's diplomatic district, killing at least 80 people and wounding hundreds, in a powerful explosion described by officials as "one of the biggest" to have hit the Afghan capital.
A tanker truck believed to be carrying either water or human waste exploded on Wednesday near Zanbaq square, in Kabul's 10th district, close to shops and restaurants, as well as government offices and foreign embassies.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, told Al Jazeera that the group was not involved in the attack.
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US won't ban laptops on flights from Europe: report
The Trump administration has decided not to ban laptops on the cabins of U.S.-bound flights from Europe, Politico reported Tuesday.
The decision was reportedly announced during a conference call between Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and European Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc.
A spokesperson for Homeland Security, however, said in a statement that the ban is still on the table.
Panama's ex-dictator Manuel Noriega dead at 83
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega, who recently underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, has died at the age of 83, President Juan Carlos Varela said
"Death of Manuel A. Noriega closes a chapter in our history; his daughters and his family deserve a funeral in peace," Carlos Varela wrote late Monday on Twitter.
Noriega had been imprisoned since December 2011 in Panama on a 60-year sentence on an array of charges including murder, corruption and environmental crimes. He previously spent 21 years in French and U.S. prisons for drug trafficking and money laundering.
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Nighttime, early morning bombings in Baghdad kill 31
A massive bombing by the Islamic State group outside a popular ice cream parlor in central Baghdad and a rush hour car bomb in another downtown area killed at least 31 people on Tuesday, Iraqi officials said.
Later in the day, bombings in and around the Iraqi capital killed seven more people.
The attacks come as IS militants are steadily losing more territory to U.S.-backed Iraqi forces in the battle for Mosul, the country's second-largest city. The Sunni extremists are increasingly turning to insurgency-style terror attacks to distract attention from their losses.
Close friend of Trump investigated over alleged €170m tax evasion
A close friend and major fundraiser for Donald Trump is under investigation in Italy for allegedly evading €170m (£147m, $190m) in taxes after the sale of a luxury resort on Sardinia’s Emerald Coast, the beach playground frequented by Gulf Arabs and Russian oligarchs.
Thomas Barrack played a critical role in Trump’s 2016 election campaign and inauguration and has been described as one of the president’s key advisers outside the West Wing.
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