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SPARTAK, Ukraine (AP) — Clashes have broken out near the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine today, throwing into doubt the two-day old cease-fire agreement between government troops and Russian-backed separatists. Shelling set at least two houses ablaze in the rural village of Spartak, just north of Donetsk. A man whose house was hits says rebels had fired from a spot nearby, provoking a retaliatory attack from Ukrainian government troops.
CAIRO (AP) — The head of the Arab League is appealing to its member states to confront Islamic State insurgents "militarily and politically." The apparent call to arms comes as the U.S. continues airstrikes against the group's fighters in Iraq. U.S. officials say the most recent strikes around Haditha Dam in western Iraq came at Iraq's request as its troops fight to retain control of the facility.
YOLA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian soldiers have been fighting to keep Islamic extremists from advancing on the capital of Borno state in the country's northeast. But witnesses say Boko Haram (BOH'-koh hah-RAHM') fighters continue to seize towns along Nigeria's border with Cameroon, prompting both residents and soldiers to flee. One man says the militants are trying to persuade people to stay as they try to set up an "Islamic caliphate."
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he "should've anticipated the optics" of going to play golf during his vacation last month just minutes after denouncing the militants who had beheaded an American journalist. The president drew heavy criticism for the outing. But Obama tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that there always will be tough news somewhere and the more important issues are getting the policies right and whether he's protecting the American people.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Guardians of the Galaxy" is the top attraction in movie theaters for the fourth straight weekend. The cosmic Marvel adventure a little more than $10 million, according to studio estimates, bringing its U.S. earnings to nearly $295 million after six weeks of release. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is second with $6.5 million.
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