NATION & WORLD WATCH

Manafort’s lawyers say they’ll ask court to throw out evidence

WASHINGTON – Lawyers defending Paul Manafort told a judge Friday that they will ask a court to throw out “improperly obtained” evidence against President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman.

The lawyers’ single-page court filing does not detail what evidence they think investigators for special counsel Robert Mueller gathered inappropriately for their case against Manafort and his associate Rick Gates. Rather, it amounts to a heads-up to the judge that they plan to raise the issue.

Man arrested after threats prompt lockdown of White House

WASHINGTON – The White House grounds were locked down briefly Friday as a man was arrested for making threats near the complex, the Secret Service said.

The Secret Service said Ervin Pettaway, 33, of Washington, D.C., was charged with one count of felony threats. He claimed to have “dropped explosives” on the north side of Lafayette Park near the White House, the Secret Service reported.

US carries out first airstrikes against Islamic State in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The U.S. military for the first time has conducted two airstrikes against Islamic State group fighters in Somalia.

The U.S. Africa Command said the two drone strikes killed “several terrorists” in northeastern Somalia, with the first around midnight local time and the second Friday morning.