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LIVE! Trump celebrates Diwali in Oval office

08:15  Trump celebrates Diwali in Oval office:  United States President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali in Oval Office of the White House along with senior Indian-American members of the administration, including Nikki Haley, Seema Verma and community leaders.

Cabinet ranking Haley is US Ambassador to the United Nations and Seema Verma is administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Ajit Pai, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission and Raj Shah his Principle Deputy Press Secretary were among those from his administration.

Daughter Ivanka Trump also joined the President in celebration of Diwali celebrations.

Last year Ivanka, who is now a presidential advisor, had visited Hindu temples in Virginia and Florida as part of Diwali.

Trump, then as the Republican presidential nominee, had addressed the Indian-American community from a public meeting in New Jersey wherein he lit the traditional diya.

The tradition of Diwali celebration was first started by former President George Bush.

During his term it was celebrated mostly in the India Treaty Room of the adjacent executive office building, which is part of the White House Complex.

Bush never personally participated in the White House Diwali celebrations.

In the first year of his presidency, his successor Barack Obama, lit the ceremonial diya in the East Rook of the White House.

Thereafter he made it a point in celebrating the festival of lights in one way or the year.  — PTI

Image only for representation.

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00:16  Raqqa recaptured from Islamic State, claims US-backed forces:  

United States-backed forces said on Tuesday that they have recaptured The Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State group.

The Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces  said on Tuesday that they had captured the citys stadium and the nearby hospital, which were the last holdouts of the terrorist group in the city. But they fell short of issuing an official statement announcing the liberation of Raqqa.

Military operations have ended in Raqqa, but sweeping operations are continuing to destroy sleeper cells if they exist and to cleanse the city from mines, Talal Selo, a SDF spokesman, said in a statement. 

The situation is under control in Raqqa and soon we will announce the liberation of the city.

Islamic State first captured Raqqa in early 2014 before spreading to a number of other major cities in Syria and Iraq, including Mosul. It is believed to have used the city as a command centre for operations in the Middle East and well as in the west. A number of westerners imprisoned by Isis were also held there before being killed.

Source: Rediff