THOUSANDS USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS

qayara, iraq» The Islamic State group is using tens of thousands of people as “human shields” in and around Mosul while the Iraqi forces are waging a large-scale offensive aimed at retaking the country’s second-largest city, the U.N. human rights office said Friday.

The U.N. office said civilians from across the region south of Mosul were being herded into Hamam al-Alil, a militant-held town where the population has more than doubled to 60,000.

Dylan wants to attend Nobel Prize ceremony

B new york» Bob Dylan says he “absolutely” wants to attend the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony “if it’s at all possible” in December, finally breaking his silence about earning the prestigious honor.

The 75-year-old was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature earlier this month. In an interview with U.K. newspaper The Telegraph posted Friday, Dylan says “isn’t that something.” and “it’s hard to believe” of getting the award.

The singer-songwriter was silent after the announcement and a member of the Swedish Academy that awarded him the prize said the icon’s silence was “impolite and arrogant.”

The ceremony takes place Dec. 10 in Stockholm. Dylan is the first musician to earn the Nobel Prize in literature.

Engine fire forces aborted takeoff B

chicago» American Airlines passengers bound from Chicago to Miami had a terrifying experience Friday after a tire problem caused an engine to catch fire on the runway and they had to exit the plane down emergency slides.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the American Boeing 767 with 170 people on board blew a tire as it sped down the runway to take off. Sparks or flames from the tire apparently quickly spread to one engine, sending up a plume of black smoke that was photographed by dozens of people watching as they waited to board planes from O’Hare International Airport.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they would investigate the incident.

Kirk apologizes for mocking rival B Illinois

chicago» Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk apologized Friday for mocking his Democratic rival’s immigrant background and her claim that her family’s military service dates back to the Revolution — comments that drew wide criticism and threatened an already difficult re-election campaign.

“Sincere apologies to an American hero, Tammy Duckworth, and gratitude for her family’s service,” Kirk wrote in a Twitter post.

During a debate Thursday evening, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth said her family has “served this nation in uniform going back to the Revolution.”

Kirk responded that he had forgotten that the congresswoman’s “parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington.”

Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs