NEWS OF THE DAY
From Around the World
_1 Syria fighting: The Russian military on Sunday denied claims that it struck a U.S.-backed force in eastern Syria, wounding six fighters. The Kurdish-led and U.S.supported Syrian Democratic Forces said Saturday that its fighters had been hit in the air strike near the city of Deir elZour in an industrial area that recently had been liberated from the Islamic State group. Western forces embedded with the SDF were not injured, the U.S. military said. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said: “Russian air forces carry out pinpoint strikes only on (Islamic State) targets that have been observed and confirmed through several channels.”
_2 Severe storms: The hurricane-battered islands of the Caribbean are facing yet another storm threat: Maria strengthened into a hurricane Sunday and is likely to hit the Leeward Islands on Tuesday. Hurricane watches were in effect for many of the very islands still trying to cope with the devastation left by Hurricane Irma, including St. Martin, St. Barts and Antigua and Barbuda. Meanwhile, Hurricane Jose was moving northward off the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, kicking up dangerous surf and rip currents. But it wasn’t expected to make landfall. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Norma’s threat to Mexico’s Los Cabos area appeared to be easing. Forecasters said the storm was weakening and its center was likely to remain offshore.
_3 Gay pride: Serbia’s first openly gay prime minister joined several hundred gay activists Sunday at a gay pride march that was held amid tight security in the conservative Balkan country. Pride participants marched through the capital of Belgrade, and many approached Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, greeting her and taking selfies. “The government is here for all citizens and will secure the respect of rights for all citizens,” Brnabic said. Serbian riot police cordoned off the city center with metal fences to prevent possible clashes with extremist groups opposed to the pride gathering. Right-wing activists gathered in a central area with banners but no incidents were reported.
_4 Embassy safety: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the Trump administration is considering closing down the U.S. Embassy in Havana following unexplained incidents harming the health of American diplomats. In an interview that aired Sunday on CBS, Tillerson said “we have it under evaluation” and that shuttering the embassy is “under review.” At least 21 Americans have been medically confirmed to have suffered harm in Havana. Some have permanent hearing loss or concussions, while others suffered nausea, headaches and ear-ringing. Tillerson previously called them “health attacks” but the State Department now calls them “incidents.” The cause and culprit have not been determined.
_5 Philippine siege: Government forces rescued a Roman Catholic priest and another civilian who were among dozens of people abducted in May when hundreds of militants aligned with the Islamic State group laid siege on southern Marawi city, officials said Sunday. Presidential adviser Jesus Dureza and two senior security officials said without elaborating that troops retrieved the two late Saturday after a battle to recapture a key mosque and another building used as a command center by the gunmen in Marawi. At least 860 people, including more than 660 militants and 147 troops and police, have been killed since the siege began.