Western-backed forces say they plan to crush the Islamic State terror group within two days after launching an operation to clear out the group’s final stronghold.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, the Kurdish-led group that has been the US-led coalition’s main ally against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) in Syria, commenced their final assault on the village of Baghuz just after sunset on Friday night.

“After evacuation of thousands of civilians and our comrades who were held hostage in Baghouz, the operation to clear the last remaining pocket of Isil started at 18:00 this evening,” Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the SDF said.

Mr Bali told The Daily Telegraph that said the operation is expected to last two days, but may take a week to complete as hardened jihadists fight back with heavy weapons and suicide car bombs.

Isil, which once ruled over eight million people in a proto-state covering large swathes of Syria and Iraq, now controls a patch of land about 700 metres across on the banks of the Euphrates river.

The demise of ISIL in Syria and Iraq

The operation follows three weeks of evacuations of civilians from the tiny pocket. About 17,000 people, mostly women and children, have left in the past 16 days.

SDF commanders estimate there are around 1,000 Isil fighters remaining in the pocket, along with an unknown number of non-combatants.  

They may include John Cantlie, a British journalist who was kidnapped in 2012. Ben Wallace, the UK Security Minister, said last month that there was reason to believe Mr Cantlie is still alive.

Photo Dispatch: Syria's fight against ISIL

Although the fall of Baghuz would mark the end of the group’s pretensions to a caliphate, SDF officials have warned it will continue to present a security threat.  

Sleeper cells using guerrilla tactics continue to carry out drive-by shootings and suicide bombings in liberated areas. Some fighters still hold some desolate territory in a remote area west of the Euphrates River.

“All the remaining fighters are experienced and professional. They the true radicals and jihadist fighters. Therefore they will fight to the end,” Mr Bali said. “We do not expect any to surrender.”

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PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)

With a promise to change things up, WWE announced tonight that five NXT superstars are being called up to the main roster in the near future.

During Raw, it was announced that the following five wrestlers would be called up. What brand or when exactly they’ll debut isn’t known:

Lacey Evans, who has feuded with Kairi Sane in the past on NXT television and had recently been scoring wins against the likes of Candice LeRae and Dakota Kai.
Heavy Machinery, the team of Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovich who have been wrestling together as a unit since 2016. They’ve wrestled against the likes of War Raiders, Authors of Pain, TM-61 and the Undisputed Era.
Nikki Cross, who used to be affiliated with Sanity before they were called up to SmackDown earlier this year. She is coming off a feud against Bianca Belair.
EC3, who has competed for the NXT North American title in the past and is coming off a feud against Lars Sullivan. He was formerly known as Derrick Bateman during his last run with the WWE that ended in 2013.

These call-ups are in addition to Lars Sullivan, whose vignettes have been airing since Survivor Series.

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Propaganda and political spectacle is the theme this week as China kicks off the annual meeting of its rubber-stamp parliament in the communist state.

Videos starring an American talking about China’s "style of democracy" and a rapper dropping some rhymes about parliament are just some examples of the somewhat bizarre messaging from Beijing.

The city is on lockdown and censors have gone into overdrive to make sure the week goes smoothly.

It’s no surprise China is trying to shape the message – the country is charting rough waters, facing economic challenges, a trade war with the US and scrutiny on everything from espionage to human rights. 

1956

Kansas City, Kansas:
– Gorgeous George beat Wild Red Berry 2 falls to 0
– Women’s World Champion June Byers beat Penny Banner 2 falls to 0
– Mike DiBiase beat Guy Brunetti 
– Joe Tangaro drew Bibber 

1961

Rochester, Minnesota:
– Special Referee: Bronko Nagurski: AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Hard Boiled Haggerty by DQ
– Jim Hady drew Gene Kiniski
– Wilbur Snyder beat Nick Roberts
– Len Montana beat Bob Rasmussen

1966

Denver, Colorado:
– Mighty Igor Vodik won a battle royal
– Verne Gagne beat Larry Hennig
– The Crusher beat Moose Cholak
– Danny Hodge drew Chris Markoff
– Mighty Igor Vodik beat Mitsu Arakawa
– Chris Tolos beat George Drake
– Wilbur Snyder beat Harley Race

1969

St. Paul, Minnesota:
– Mad Dog Vachon & Butcher Vachon beat The Crusher & Pampero Firpo
– Bill Watts beat Larry Hennig (sub Lars Anderson) 
– Dr. X beat Pat O’Connor2 out of 3 falls
– Billy Red Lyons drew Larry Hennig
– Rene Goulet beat Mike Riker

1970

Orlando, Florida:
– 6 Man Elimination Match: Man Mountain Mike & Jack Brisco & Louie Tillet defeated Mephisto & Dante & Sir Roger Mitchell 
– Missouri Mauler defeated Hiro Matsuda by DQ
– Sailor Art Thomas & Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Jim Dalton & Pancho Rosario 
– Jose Lothario defeated Dale Lewis 
– Danny Miller drew Mr. Saito 
– Bob Roop defeated Jose Betancourt 

1971 

Tampa, Florida:
– Jack & Jerry Brisco defeated The Infernos to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles
– Dewey Robertson & Salvador Garcia defeated Alex Perez & Krusher Karlson 
– Bob Roop defeated Bob Kaiser (Unmasked Medic) 
– Danny Miller defeated Mike Bowyer 
– Southern Title: Rene Goulet defeated Louie Tillet by DQ
– Steel Cage Match: Jose Lothario & Cyclon Negro defeated Great Malenko & Tarzan Tyler

St.Louis, Missouri:
– Missouri Champion Terry Funk defeated Jerry Brisco
– The Invader went to a double DQ with Pat O’Connor
– Pat O’Connor won a Wrestle Royal 
– Big Bill Miller and Yvon Koloff defeated Sonny Myers and Rufus R. Jones 
– Jim Steele defeated Don Anderson
– Dan Miller defeated Steve Bolus
– The Viking and Ronnie Etchison defeated Bennie Ramirez and Stan Pulaski. 

1982

Quebec, Ontario, Canada:
– Dino Bravo won a 16 man battle royal 
– Gilles Poisson & Sailor White defeated Gino Brito & Tony Parisi 
– Dino Bravo defeated The Destroyer 
– Raymond Rougeau defeated Michel Dubois 
– Edouard Carpentier defeated John White 
– Richard Charland defeated Mr. Hito 
– Jos Ventura (Chief Jos Lightfoot) defeated Robert Orlando

Oakland, California:
– Baron Von Raschke (sub Nick Bockwinkel) beat Pat Patterson by DQ
– Ken Patera & Bobby Duncum beat Hulk Hogan & Tito Santana
– Weasel Suit match: Buck Zumhofe beat Bobby Heenan
– Sheik Adnan beat Greg Gagne
– Brad Rheingans drew Jerry Blackwell

1985

Waukegan, Illinois:
– Non Title: Nick Bockwinkel beat AWA Champion Rick Martel
– The Crusher & Baron Von Raschke beat AWA Tag Team Champions Road Warriors by DQ
– Jerry Blackwell beat Mr. Saito
– Jim Garvin beat Curt Hennig
– Billy Robinson beat Tom Zenk
– John Nord beat Steve Regal

1986

Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Curt Hennig & Scott Hall beat Mongolian Stomper & Nord The Barbarian
– AWA Champion Stan Hansen beat Leon White (Big Van Vader)
– Greg Gagne beat Scott Irwin by DQ
– Boris Zhukov beat Brad Rheingans by countout
– Colonel DeBeers beat Frankie DeFalco
– Marty Jannetty beat Bill Irwin

1987

Memphis, Tennessee:
– Jerry Lawler & AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel beat Austin Idol & Tommy Rich by DQ
– Barbed Wire Cage Match: Stan Lane & Steve Keirn & Paul Diamond beat Johnny Boyd & The Sheepherders
– Jeff Jarrett & Billy Travis beat Big Bubba & Goliath
– Jimmy Snuka & King Cobra beat Tarzan Goto & Mr. Rising Sun by DQ
– Soul Train Jones beat The Hunter

1988

Louisville, Kentucky:
– AWA Tag Team Champions Midnight Rockers drew Rock & Roll Express
– Jerry Lawler beat Tommy Rich by reverse decision
– Jeff Jarrett beat Bill Dundee by DQ

Frank Bonema Memorial show: Portland, Oregon:
– The Grappler no contest AWA Champion Curt Hennig, title held up
– Assassin won battle royal for vacant TV title
– Cage Match: Mike Miller beat Rip Oliver
– Steve Doll & Scott Peterson beat CW Bergstrom & Moondog Moretti
– Strap Match: Brian Adams beat Abudda Dein
– Assassin beat Avalanche Paul Neu (PN News)
– Coco Samoa beat Destroyer

1989

WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event: Hershey, Pennsylvania:
– Hulk Hogan defeated Bad News Brown 
– Ted DiBiase made the first defense of his Million Dollar Belt, defeating The Blue Blazer (Owen Hart) 
– Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty wrestled Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson to a double countout

1992

Norfolk, Virginia:
– Terrance Taylor & Greg Valentine defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Tom Zenk
– Richard Morton pinned Johnny B. Badd
– Abdullah the Butcher pinned PN News
– Mr. Hughes pinned Van Hammer
– Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Steve Armstrong & Tracy Smothers
– Barry Windham defeated Larry Zbyzsko in a Texas Death Match
– Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Dustin Rhodes, & Ron Simmons defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude, WCW TV Champion Steve Austin, WCW Tag Team 
  Champions Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton in a steel cage match

1997

WWF In Your House: Final Four: Chattanooga, Tennessee:
– Henry & Phinneas Godwinn defeated the Headbangers
– Marc Mero (w/ Sable) pinned Leif Cassidy 
– Farooq, Crush, & Savio Vega (w/ PG-13, D-Lo Brown, Clarence Mason, and other Nation members) defeated Goldust (w/ Marlena), Flash Funk, & Bart Gunn 
– WWF IC Champion Rocky Maivia pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
– Bret Hart defeated Steve Austin, Vader and The Undertaker to win the vacant WWF World Heavyweight Title in a “Final Four” elimination match 
– Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon defeated World Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith via disqualification

2002 

Tokyo, Japan:
– Tadao Yasuda defeated Yuji Nagata to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title in a tournament final

2004

Bakersfield, California:
– Booker T & Rob Van Dam defeated Ric Flair & Batista to win the WWE World Tag Team Titles

2010

Kansas City, Missouri:
– Ezekiel Jackson defeated Christian to become the final ECW Champion before the title was retired

2018

PWG: Reseda, California:
– Adam Brooks beat Brody King 
– Dalton Castle pinned Joey Janela
– Travis Banks beat David Starr
– Zack Sabre Jr. beat Flip Gordon
– Keith Lee pinned Matt Riddle
– Chuck Taylor pinned Trent to retain the PWG title

Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke belonged to one of the best-known groups of computer hackers as a teenager, Reuters revealed on Friday.

The former US congressman from Texas confirmed to Reuters that as a youth in El Paso, he belonged to the hacking group known as the Cult of the Dead Cow.

He also acknowledged that, during those teenage years, he stole long-distance phone service to participate in electronic discussions.

Others in the group committed the same offense and got off with warnings; the statute of limitations ran out long ago.

In the group, Mr O’Rourke wrote online essays under the pseudonym “Psychedelic Warlord” that could provide fodder for political supporters and foes alike.

One mocked a neo-Nazi, while another was a short piece of fiction from a killer’s point of view.

The Reuters article marks the ex-congressman as the most prominent former hacker in American politics.

It draws on interviews with more than a dozen members of the group who agreed to be named for the first time in the book, titled “Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World.”

There is no indication that Mr O’Rourke himself engaged in the edgiest sorts of hacking activity – breaking into computers or writing code that enabled others to do so.

After his active period in the late 1980s, the group became famous for releasing tools that allowed ordinary computer users to hijack other people’s machines. Though it was controversial, the resulting chaos forced Windows maker Microsoft to dramatically improve security.

For Mr O’Rourke, the long-suppressed tale fills out an unusual portrait for a presidential aspirant.

Born to a prominent El Paso family and sent to a boarding school and an Ivy League college, Mr O’Rourke felt a misfit as a youth and played in a punk band before starting a small technology business and an alternative press outlet, launching him into local politics.

Mr O’Rourke came to national attention last year when he came within three percentage points of defeating Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, energising new voters and taking in record donations for a Senate campaign while eschewing special-interest money.

The few technology professionals let in on Mr O’Rourke’s secret said it showed a deep understanding of technology and a healthy willingness to challenge traditions, attributes that Mr O’Rourke stressed in his interview.

“There’s just this profound value in being able to be apart from the system and look at it critically,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“I think of the Cult of the Dead Cow as a great example of that.”

Spanish police have dismantled Europe’s largest-scale TV piracy racket in an operation involving a series of raids on properties and server farms across the continent, including Britain.

The probe was launched in 2015 when England’s Premier League football corporation reported a website in Malaga offering unlicensed subscription packages.

Spanish police led an investigation also involving British, Danish and Europol investigators that uncovered a highly sophisticated and far-reaching parallel network of TV subscriber packages spanning virtually all of Europe.

The investigation led to three arrests in Spain and two in Denmark.

Spanish police found that the website reported by the Premier League was only one of 20 sites directing customers to 10 different internet protocol television packages aimed at country-specific audiences.

Customer payments were made to a firm based in Gibraltar, behind which Spanish police found a web of companies and a criminal organisation with branches in Spain, Denmark, the UK, Latvia, the Netherlands and Cyprus.

The suspects used a network of 11 server farms to steal and relay transmissions from 800 TV channels, as well as offering a library of copyrighted audio-visual material and foreign radio stations for subscribers in 30 countries.

“The suspects’ strategy was to use a multitude of servers and change them periodically, gradually creating new web pages to form a network of apparently unrelated elements. They thus hoped to avoid police detection and continue to profit from the crime,” a source from Spain’s National Police force said.

Police say the suspects had accrued at least €8 million from their systematic and sophisticated copyright theft operation, some of which they had spent on fuelling a high-octane lifestyle on the Costa del Sol.

The three arrested suspects in Malaga lived in luxury homes, and police said they had impounded 12 top-of-the-range cars.

Investigators said that it had not been easy to identify the gang’s ill-gotten gains, however, as they had also created legal companies dedicated to telecoms, internet and IT hardware services.

They installed fibre-optic internet connections for clients and would also offer them subscription packages under a guise of apparent legality.

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his ruling party would make up for its "shortcomings” after Turkish voters handed it a series of stinging local election defeats amid widespread frustration over the economy.

The Turkish president’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost control of the mayorship of Ankara for the first time in 25 years and preliminary figures appeared to show they had also lost the mayor’s race in Istanbul.

The results are arguably the worst showing for the AKP since it first came to power in 2003 and prompted victory celebrations among the Turkish opposition. 

Mr Erdogan, who has held power for 15 years and presided over a crackdown on the free media and political opponents, campaigned relentlessly and described the local elections as “a matter of survival” for the country. 

However, it was not enough to overcome public anger over the economy, which is currently in recession and has been dogged by a weakened currency that has damaged businesses and hurt families’ finances.   

Speaking in Ankara, Mr Erdogan appeared somewhat chastened by the voters’ rebuke of his party. "If there are any shortcomings, it is our duty to correct them,” he said. “Starting tomorrow morning, we will begin our work to identify our shortcomings and make up for them."

Turkish officials said the president may reshuffle his cabinet ministers as a way of signalling to both voters and the markets that he understood their frustration.  

Mr Erdogan nonetheless claimed victory on the grounds that the AKP and its nationalist allies had still won more than 50 per cent of the vote nationwide. 

AKP officials also said they planned to dispute the results in both Ankara and Istanbul, where their secular rivals, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), had claimed victory. 

The AKP candidate in Istanbul, Binali Yildrim, was trailing by 25,000 votes out of around 10 million total votes cast and refused to conceded. 

Mr Erdogan was elected mayor of Istanbul in 1994 and his allies have held the post ever since, meaning defeat there would be a blow to the president’s personal legacy. 

The gap was larger in Ankara, where the AKP candidate appeared to have lost 51 per cent to 47 per cent to a CHP challenger. The AKP said it planned to challenge the results there also.

"The people have voted in favour of democracy, they have chosen democracy," said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the CHP. 

Rusen Cakir, a prominent Turkish commentator, said the results were as important as those in 1994, when Mr Erdogan first became mayor of Istanbul. “It is is a declaration that a page that was opened 25 years ago is being turned,” he said. 

The results do not affect Mr Erdogan’s grip on the presidency nor his control of parliament, where the AKP retains control through an agreement with a smaller nationalist party.  

However, mayors have significant powers in Turkey and the CHP victories are likely to mean significant changes in how the country’s largest cities are run.   

Turkey has no scheduled elections for the next four years so it may be difficult for the opposition to turn its local election victories into broader political momentum. 

A team of election observers from the Council of Europe said it was “not fully convinced that Turkey currently has the free and fair electoral environment which is necessary for genuinely democratic elections”. 

Turkey’s media is overwhelmingly loyal to Mr Erdogan and his political opponents have faced arrest and harassment by state authorities as they tried to challenge the AKP.

While Mr Erdogan took deliberately pragmatic positions during his first years in office, he has become more hardline over time, developing a political brand based on a combination of Islamism, authoritarian nationalism, and economic populism. 

He has moved aggressively to stamp out dissent in the three years since a failed coup against him in 2016. However, the CHP and other opposition parties retain large memberships and the infrastructure to fight elections.