Links for 7-31-2016

U.S.-backed forces now control nearly 70% of Manbij, Syria after two days of rapid progress pushing ISIS out.

Around 50,000 people marched through the streets of Cologne, Germany in support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey shut down its military academies and put the military under the control of the defense minister (previously it was controlled by the prime minister).

There have been two attacks against petroleum facilities near Kirkuk, Iraq, one targeting an oil field and the targeting a natural gas compression facility. Four employees were killed and one injured at the gas facility.

ISIS leaders are reportedly sneaking out of Mosul, Iraq before the Iraqis and Kurds launch their assault on the city proper.

Tunisia's parliament booted Prime Minister Habib Essid for taking to long to push through an economic growth package.

Russia is planning to build its own replacement for the International Space Station (ISS) once it's retired, and they're planning to reuse some ISS components.