BEIRUT (AP) — A U.S.-backed Kurdish-led force battling the Islamic State group in Syria will be in control of Raqqa "within a few days" after attacking the last militant-held pocket of the city, a spokesman for the force said Monday.Mustafa Bali of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, also said that fierce street battles were underway near the main hospital in Raqqa, once the de facto capital of the extremists' self-proclaimed caliphate.SDF fighters launched an operation to retake the last IS-held pocket of the city after some 275 militants and their family members surrendered over the weekend. The extremists still hold about 10 percent of Raqqa, including the hospital and the main stadium, which is believed to be used by the militants as a jail and an arms depot.Activists said those who surrendered were taken to … [Read more...] about US-backed Syrian force expects Raqqa victory in ‘a few days’
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Trump in Asia will call for increased pressure on NKorea
Caption Close WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will ask U.S. allies to pressure North Korea on its nuclear program in an upcoming trip to the Asia-Pacific region. The White House says Trump will travel in November to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from Nov. 3 to Nov. 14. Trump will also stop in Hawaii. The White House said that in South Korea, Trump will meet with President Moon Jae-in (jah-yihn) and "call on the international community to join together in maximizing pressure on North Korea." In Japan, Trump will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (shin-zoh AH'-bay) and participate in a meeting with families of "Japanese citizens abducted by the North Korean regime." Trump will also meet with leaders of China, Vietnam and the Philippines and attend two trade summits. … [Read more...] about Trump in Asia will call for increased pressure on NKorea
The Latest: Iraqi militias claim success in Kirkuk
KIRKUK, Iraq — The Latest on Iraq, where federal forces have attacked the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk (all times local): 2:30 p.m. A spokesman for Iraq’s state-sanctioned militias says they have “achieved all our goals” in retaking areas from Kurdish forces in and around the disputed northern city of Kirkuk. Ahmed al-Assadi says federal forces came under fire from “some rebels” after launching the operation early Monday and returned fire. He says federal forces have been deployed in the area of the K-1 military base, the Kirkuk airport and a number of oil fields and installations. But he says the state-backed militias, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, have not entered the city center. Associated Press reporters earlier saw militiamen at posts in western Kirkuk. Kurdish forces seized control of Kirkuk in the summer of 2014, when Islamic State militants swept across northern Iraq and the country’s armed forces crumbled. The Kurds claim … [Read more...] about The Latest: Iraqi militias claim success in Kirkuk
Holy Cross fires head coach Tom Gilmore
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Holy Cross has fired football coach Tom Gilmore. Gilmore was fired Sunday in the middle of his 14th season, a day after the Football Championship Subdivision Crusaders fell to 2-5 with a 32-0 loss to Yale. Athletics director Nathan Pine says the decision was "the best course of action for our student-athletes and for the success of our football program moving forward." Gilmore had an overall record of 72-81 at Holy Cross and 41-39 in the Patriot League, with one conference championship and playoff appearance in 2009. Offensive coordinator Brian Rock will be the interim head coach for the final four games of the season. A national search for Gilmore's replacement is underway. … [Read more...] about Holy Cross fires head coach Tom Gilmore
Clinton brands WikiLeaks boss ‘tool of Russian intelligence’
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Hillary Clinton has told an Australian state broadcaster that WlkiLeaks founder Julian Assange was a tool of Russia in his release of hacked emails that hurt the U.S. Democratic presidential nominee's campaign.Clinton told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in an interview broadcast on Monday that the Australian whistleblower had "become a kind of nihilistic opportunist who does the bidding of a dictator," Russian President Vladimir Putin."He's a tool of Russian intelligence, and if he's such a ... martyr of free speech, why doesn't WikiLeaks ever publish anything coming out of Russia?" she said.Clinton was complaining about WikiLeaks' publication during the 2016 election campaign of politically damaging emails from the Democratic National Committee.Assange, who is holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London, hit back at Clinton's interview, tweeting that she was "not a credible person.""It is not just her constant … [Read more...] about Clinton brands WikiLeaks boss ‘tool of Russian intelligence’
The Latest: Minnesota man said to be killed in Somalia blast
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The Latest on deadly bombing in Somalia's capital (all times local):1:50 p.m.A 50-year-old man who lived in Minnesota is among the more than 300 people killed in a powerful bomb blast in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Ahmed AbdiKarin Eyow died in Saturday's explosion.The executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations told a news conference Sunday that Eyow was in his hotel room when the bomb went off.Hussein says many other Somalis in the Minneapolis area are still trying to find out if family members survived the attack.———1:15 p.m.The director of an ambulance service in Mogadishu says 15 primary school children are among the over 300 people killed in Somalia's deadliest blast.Abdulkadir Adam told The … [Read more...] about The Latest: Minnesota man said to be killed in Somalia blast
Police: 2 men arrested and charged following hit-and-run
FAIR LAWN, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey police say they’ve arrested two men in connection with a hit-and-run over the weekend. Fair Lawn police responded to reports of a pedestrian hit by a car early Saturday. The Record reports police found a 29-year-old victim with significant lower body injuries. Witnesses told police that a Volkswagen Jetta almost hit them while they were crossing the street. After confronting the driver and passengers, a fight ensued and resulted in the victim being thrown to the ground and run over by the car. Investigating officers soon found the occupants of the car in another vehicle, at which point they attempted to flee police. Police stopped the vehicle and arrested the two 21-year-old occupants. The pair faces multiple charges. ___ Information from: The Record (Woodland Park, N.J.), http://www.northjersey.com LOAD COMMENTS ( HIDE COMMENTS … [Read more...] about Police: 2 men arrested and charged following hit-and-run
Police: 7 arrested in ongoing effort to fight drug trade
NASHUA, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire police say they’ve arrested seven people in an ongoing effort to break up the drug trade in Nashua. The investigation and subsequent arrests Thursday are part of the Nashua Police Department’s Granite Shield operation. The Nashua Telegraph reports the operation is funded through a state program aimed at targeting drug dealers during the current opioid epidemic. The state awarded $261,000 to city police last month to fund drug investigations through the Granite Hammer program. This is the second year in a row Nashua has been awarded grant money. Police Lt. Brian Kenney says the city has seen a 25 percent drop in opioid overdoses, and drug dealers with large operations have stopped coming into the city. ___ Information from: The Telegraph, http://www.nashuatelegraph.com LOAD COMMENTS ( HIDE COMMENTS … [Read more...] about Police: 7 arrested in ongoing effort to fight drug trade
1 missing, after oil rig explodes on Louisiana lake
KENNER, La. (AP) — An oil rig explosion on a lake north of New Orleans, apparently caused when cleaning chemicals ignited, injured seven people and left authorities searching for another who was missing.There were "a lot of injuries," many of them serious, with at least seven confirmed and more expected from the Sunday evening explosion on Lake Pontchartrain, Kenner Police Department spokesman Sgt. Brian McGregor told The Times-Picayune . No deaths were immediately reported.Five of the injured people were hospitalized with "blast-type injuries and burns" Mike Guillot, director of East Jefferson Emergency Medical Services, told reporters. They were in critical condition, he said."Authorities on the scene report that cleaning chemicals ignited on the surface of the oil rig platform," the City of Kenner Government posted on its Facebook page Sunday evening.Reports of fire and smoke being seen from Lake Pontchartrain came into the … [Read more...] about 1 missing, after oil rig explodes on Louisiana lake
For real now: Eagles, Panthers, Rams, Texans, Saints, Jets
Caption Close Six weeks of success, some of it relative, do not provide a harbinger for the rest of the NFL season. Nonetheless, it's necessary to praise the work of the Eagles, Panthers, Rams, Texans, Saints and Jets. For now, they are for real. Who expected that? In the case of the Jets (3-3), that doesn't mean they are contenders for a playoff berth, possibly not even for a winning season. A look at their roster and offseason moves made folks wonder if Gang Green was about to tank the season to get a high enough draft choice to find their franchise quarterback. Instead, after opening with two defeats they won three in a row and, perhaps most impressively, might have been a strange officiating reversal away from knocking off New England on Sunday and taking sole possession of the AFC East lead. They are an example of bold and passionate overachievement, something any sports fan can appreciate. "We're just going to build off the game," cornerback Buster Skrine said of the 24-17 loss. … [Read more...] about For real now: Eagles, Panthers, Rams, Texans, Saints, Jets
