On Florida trip, Trump to address Jewish group, GOP dinner

AVENTURA, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump's trip to Florida on Saturday will feature separate addresses to a meeting of Jewish Americans and members of Florida's Republican Party. The trip comes hours after Trump celebrated Iran's decision to free a Chinese-American scholar from Princeton University who...

Iraqi officials raise toll to 25 killed in Baghdad bloodshed

BAGHDAD (AP) — Anti-government protesters wielding a blood-drenched flag returned to Baghdad's central plaza on Saturday after a night of bloody attacks that left 25 people dead and more than 130 wounded. Storm clouds gathered over Khilani Square as the protesters surveyed the blackened facade of a...

Pensacola naval base shooting tests US-Saudi relations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top U.S. defense and military officials on Saturday reaffirmed America's continued commitment to and relationship with Saudi Arabia after a Saudi Air Force student's deadly attack at a Navy base in Florida. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and others attending a security conference in...

Iran frees Chinese-American scholar for US-held scientist

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Princeton scholar held for three years in Iran on widely criticized espionage charges was freed Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange that saw America release a detained Iranian scientist, a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington after months of...

Pentagon chief plans to shift US focus to China and Russia

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Saturday he still plans to shift the American military’s focus to competing with China and Russia, even as security threats pile up in the Middle East. Esper outlined his strategic goals and priorities in a speech at the Reagan National...

Report: Some 14,000 to run for 290 seats in Iran parliament

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s official IRNA news agency reports that nearly 14,000 people have registered to run for office in the country’s parliamentary elections in February. The Saturday report said the exact number would be announced Sunday but already the number of potential candidates was...

Report: Iranian soldier shot 3 policemen to death

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency is reporting that a soldier has shot three policemen to death in the country's south. The Saturday report said the incident took place at a police station near the port city of Bandar Lengeh, some 1,000 kilometers , or 620 miles, south of the...

Iran’s foreign minister says Chinese-American Princeton scholar to be freed in exchange for US-held Iranian scientist

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s foreign minister says Chinese-American Princeton scholar to be freed in exchange for US-held Iranian scientist.

Esper sees no immediate need to send more US troops to Gulf

SIMI VALLEY, California (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday the Trump administration is keeping a close eye on unrest in Iran and Iraq, but he sees no immediate need to send any substantial number of additional U.S. forces to the region. “Right now we believe we have sufficient...

15 killed in Iraqi capital as assailants fire live rounds

BAGHDAD (AP) — Gunmen in cars opened fire Friday in Baghdad's Khilani Square. leaving at least 15 people dead and 60 wounded, Iraqi security and medical officials said. At least two of the dead were policemen. Protesters fearing for their lives ran from the plaza to nearby Tahrir Square and mosques to...