Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Syrian rebels buckling in face of jihadis
• U.S. trims Nigeria surveillance flights seeking abducted girls
• Pentagon: Armed drones guard US interests in Iraq
• Iraq, Out of Hellfire Missiles, Asks US for 1,400 More
• Business Highlights
• Iraq's top cleric urges quick deal on new PM
• On Guard: How Sword-Fighting Is Bringing Veterans Together
• Armed U.S. aircraft now flying over Iraq: defense officials
• Syrian rebels likely to receive US aid
• Stocks notch tiny gains, but still end week lower
• US flies armed drones over Baghdad to protect Americans
• Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric calls for prime minister to be chosen by Tuesday
• US military aid to Syria rebels: why Obama is seeking it now
• Oil price steady on quiet day for energy
• Obama keeps heat on Republican critics
• 'Worst is over' in Iraq, ex general in US-led invasion says
• UNESCO: Mali restoration project short $8 million
• US stocks drift toward a weekly loss; DuPont sinks
• Dozens of foreign diplomats seek asylum in Canada
• A look at Iraq's key political players
• Humanitarian corridors needed to reach many displaced in Iraq
• Iraq's top cleric calls for deal on PM by Tuesday
• France lashes out at Iranian opposition group
• Obama shares an (atypical) 'day in life' of Minnesota woman
• Official: Armed drones guard US interests in Iraq
• Texas man pleads guilty to trying to aid foreign terrorists
• Kerry: Syrian moderate rebels could help in Iraq
• Rights Group Confirms ISIS Mass Grave Images
• European shares head for first weekly drop since April
• Why China stays quiet on Iraq, despite being no. 1 oil investor
• Kerry arrives in Saudi for Iraq and Syria talks
• Lebanon suicide bomb claimed by ISIL group: statement
• Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric calls for top political jobs to be filled by Tuesday
• Tankan survey, US data 'likely to boost Tokyo stocks'
• Iraq's Barzani says Kurdish self-rule in Kirkuk to stay
• Oil prices steady after weak US data
• Iraq's top cleric wants deal on PM before Tuesday
• Afghan election impasse revives suspicions about Karzai's role
• Young people get punished for harsh internship law
• Japan set for landmark easing of constitutional limits on military

Syrian rebels buckling in face of jihadis Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:05 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian rebels that the U.S. now wants to support are in poor shape, on the retreat from the radical al-Qaida breakaway group that has swept over large parts of Iraq and Syria, with some rebels giving up the fight. It is not clear whether the new U.S. promise to arm them will make a difference.

U.S. trims Nigeria surveillance flights seeking abducted girls Posted: 27 Jun 2014 03:37 PM PDT By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Friday it had decreased its surveillance flights in the search for more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants in Nigeria, but added that the overall effort was unchanged due to more flights by other countries. "We don't have any better idea today than we did before about where these girls are, but there's been no letup of the effort itself," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters. Kirby denied a suggestion that U.S. flights over Nigeria had been reduced to accommodate increased U.S. surveillance over Iraq, where Washington is flying unmanned and manned aircraft to gather intelligence about Sunni insurgents. He said some of the resources that were being used in Nigeria had been diverted from other missions in Africa and could now be used elsewhere on the continent.

Pentagon: Armed drones guard US interests in Iraq Posted: 27 Jun 2014 02:59 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has armed drones flying over Baghdad to protect U.S. troops that recently arrived to assess Iraq's deteriorating security, the Pentagon said Friday.

Iraq, Out of Hellfire Missiles, Asks US for 1,400 More Posted: 27 Jun 2014 02:54 PM PDT With Iraq needing all the help it can get in pushing back Islamic militants, the government has requested 1,400 additional Hellfire missiles from the United States to restock its depleted supply.  Iraq burned through its inventory of 300 Hellfire missiles two weeks ago. In mid-July...

Business Highlights Posted: 27 Jun 2014 02:52 PM PDT ___ Ramadan rush: Mega-rich shoppers descend on London Before the fast, let there be a shopping feast. From Harrods in Knightsbridge to the glittering diamond stores in Mayfair, London has long attracted ...

Iraq's top cleric urges quick deal on new PM Posted: 27 Jun 2014 02:39 PM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's top Shiite cleric ratcheted up the pressure Friday on lawmakers to agree on a prime minister before the newly elected parliament meets next week, trying to avert months of wrangling in the face of a Sunni insurgent blitz over huge tracts in the country's north and west.

On Guard: How Sword-Fighting Is Bringing Veterans Together Posted: 27 Jun 2014 02:35 PM PDT     Armed with swords in hand, a group of veterans at the Fencers Club in Manhattan is learning the sport of fencing. Veterans On Guard provides support and opportunities for military veterans through fencing for free. When Liz Cross thought of a way to...

Armed U.S. aircraft now flying over Iraq: defense officials Posted: 27 Jun 2014 02:00 PM PDT The Obama administration is flying armed aircraft over Iraq, defense officials said on Friday, adding that the flights were aimed at gathering intelligence and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel on the ground rather than conducting strikes. "What I would tell you is that we continue to fly both manned and unmanned aircraft over Iraq at the ... Iraqi government's request, predominantly for reconnaissance purposes. Some of those aircraft are armed," Rear Admiral John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. The United States has increased manned and unmanned reconnaissance flights over Iraq - to about 30 to 35 a day - in an effort to help Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government repel the advance of Islamist militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Syrian rebels likely to receive US aid Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:51 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — President Barack Obama is seeking $500 million from Congress to train and arm select members of the Syrian opposition. U.S. administration officials say the U.S. has grown increasingly confident in recent months about its ability to distinguish the moderate rebels from the more extremist elements that include the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which captured much of northern and western Iraq and a stretch of northern and eastern Syria.

Stocks notch tiny gains, but still end week lower Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:44 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — Summertime settled into Wall Street on Friday as major stock indexes drifted slightly higher going into the weekend. The listless day of trading left the stock market with a tiny loss for the week, its second this month.

US flies armed drones over Baghdad to protect Americans Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:32 PM PDT The US military is flying armed drones over Baghdad to defend American troops and diplomats in the Iraqi capital if necessary, officials said Friday. The move comes after the United States deployed 180 troops as military advisers in recent days to help the Iraqi government army fend off the advance of Sunni militants, who have captured territory north and west of the capital. The flights involved "a few" drones and were ordered as a precaution to safeguard Americans in Baghdad, for what the military calls "force protection," he said. The Pentagon acknowledged that among the manned and unmanned aircraft flying over Iraq to carry out surveillance, some were carrying bombs and missiles -- without specifying if those planes were drones.

Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric calls for prime minister to be chosen by Tuesday Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:14 PM PDT By Raheem Salman and Ned Parker BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The most influential Shi'ite cleric in Iraq called on the country's leaders on Friday to choose a prime minister within the next four days, a dramatic political intervention that could hasten the end of Nuri al-Maliki's eight year rule. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who commands unswerving loyalty from many Shi'ites in Iraq and beyond, said political blocs should agree on the next premier, parliament speaker and president before a newly-elected legislature meets on Tuesday. Sistani's intervention makes it difficult for Maliki to stay on as caretaker leader as he has since a parliamentary election in April. Sistani's message was delivered after a meeting of Shi'ite factions including Maliki's State of Law coalition failed to agree a consensus candidate for prime minister.

US military aid to Syria rebels: why Obama is seeking it now Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:09 PM PDT The $500 million President Obama is requesting from Congress for the training and arming of Syrian rebels has nothing to do with turning the tide against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The defensive nature of the new military assistance was highlighted in a White House statement Thursday, in which the administration makes clear the training and arming is not intended to generate more fighting and violence in the Syrian conflict, but rather to allow the moderate opposition to secure and hold on to the parts of the country it still controls. "While we continue to believe that there is no military solution to this crisis and that the United States should not put American troops into combat in Syria, this request marks another step toward helping the Syrian people defend themselves against regime attacks [and] push back against the growing number of extremists … who find safe haven in the chaos," said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden. The military assistance is also intended to allow Syrians to "take their future into their own hands by enhancing security and stability at local levels," she added.

Oil price steady on quiet day for energy Posted: 27 Jun 2014 01:01 PM PDT The price of oil held steady on Friday on a quiet day for energy markets.

Obama keeps heat on Republican critics Posted: 27 Jun 2014 12:50 PM PDT President Barack Obama used a campaign-style speech in the American heartland Friday to blast his Republican opponents as feckless obstructionists in Congress, saying Washington's current gridlock "drives me nuts." Republicans have become so obsessed with blocking the Democratic president's every move that he has been forced to use his executive authority to advance priorities like pay fairness, Obama said, dismissing as a stunt a threatened Republican lawsuit against him. The White House and Republican congressional leaders, notably House Speaker John Boehner, have sparred repeatedly over Obama's use of executive orders, with Boehner warning this week that Americans "didn't elect a monarch or king." The top Republican in Congress announced Wednesday he would file a lawsuit against Obama because "the president has not faithfully executed the laws" of the nation.

'Worst is over' in Iraq, ex general in US-led invasion says Posted: 27 Jun 2014 12:39 PM PDT The worst of the insurgency in Iraq is "over", a former general who commanded US Marines and British forces in the 2003 US-led invasion said Friday, in a rare note of optimism over the crisis. Speaking on the sidelines of the annual conference of Iran's exiled opposition -- in which he was a guest speaker -- General James Conway said the insurgents who have overrun major parts of Iraq were unlikely to make any further significant gains. The lightning offensive this month by jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other militant groups has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced tens of thousands. Until now, ISIL has primarily made inroads in Sunni Arab areas in the north of Iraq, supported by Sunni militants that loathe current Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

UNESCO: Mali restoration project short $8 million Posted: 27 Jun 2014 12:32 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — UNESCO is more than two-thirds short of the $11 million needed to fulfill its promise to help restore Timbuktu's storied mausoleums and other Malian cultural treasures destroyed by Islamic radicals two years ago, the U.N. cultural agency said Friday.

US stocks drift toward a weekly loss; DuPont sinks Posted: 27 Jun 2014 12:06 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market drifted mostly lower in light trading Friday, putting major indexes on track for their second weekly loss this month. Reports of sluggish economic growth have weighed on the market this week.

Dozens of foreign diplomats seek asylum in Canada Posted: 27 Jun 2014 11:48 AM PDT Dozens of foreign diplomats have requested asylum in Canada, the daily French-language newspaper La Presse reported Friday, citing secret government documents. They include 38 Afghanistan envoys and their families, from 2009 to 2014, as well as 16 diplomats from countries such as Syria, Iraq, Greece, Honduras, and even an American embassy staffer. Former head of Canada's consular affairs, Gar Pardy, told the Montreal newspaper this is an "unprecedented number" of refugee claims by foreign officials. Immigration spokeswoman Alexis Pavlich noted that Canada has "one of the most fair and generous asylum systems in the world."

A look at Iraq's key political players Posted: 27 Jun 2014 11:45 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is under increasing political pressure to step aside as Sunni militants led by fighters from the al-Qaida breakaway Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant overrun much of northwestern Iraq. Al-Maliki, a Shiite who is looking to secure a third consecutive term after winning April elections, has proven himself to be a skilled politician and hard-nosed negotiator. But there are growing calls from all quarters — including fellow Shiite and senior clerics — for him to step aside. Here's a look at some of the names being mentioned to possibly replace him:

Humanitarian corridors needed to reach many displaced in Iraq Posted: 27 Jun 2014 11:23 AM PDT The International Organization for Migration warned Friday that aid workers could not reach tens of thousands of Iraqis displaced by the violence rocking the country, urging the establishment of humanitarian corridors to access those in need. "The only way to respond (to the needs of the displaced) is to create humanitarian corridors," IOM spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume told reporters in Geneva. The migration body said it, along with the UN's World Food Programme and children's agency UNICEF, had been able to distribute relief to around 10,000 people in Iraq this month. "But that is a drop in the bucket when you consider the tens of thousands of people who have been displaced by the ongoing fighting in Mosul, Tal Afar, Tikrit and on the road south to Baghdad," IOM Baghdad Emergency Coordinator Mandie Alexander said in a statement.

Iraq's top cleric calls for deal on PM by Tuesday Posted: 27 Jun 2014 11:10 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's top Shiite cleric stepped up the pressure Friday on politicians to agree on Iraq's next prime minister, after incumbent Nouri al-Maliki lost the confidence of former allies in the fight against Sunni militants.

France lashes out at Iranian opposition group Posted: 27 Jun 2014 11:06 AM PDT VILLEPINTE, France (AP) — France's government is condemning an Iranian opposition group that has drawn huge crowds to rallies outside Paris.

Obama shares an (atypical) 'day in life' of Minnesota woman Posted: 27 Jun 2014 10:33 AM PDT By Roberta Rampton MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - President Barack Obama spent a "day in the life" of a young Minnesota accountant struggling to make ends meet, but the road trip on Thursday quickly turned into a typical day in the life of Obama - one spent defending his actions and criticizing Republicans. The trip, billed as the first in a series, was aimed at reconnecting Obama with Democrats ahead of midterm elections in November when Republicans stand a good chance of taking control of the Senate, jeopardizing his opportunity to accomplish goals for his last two years in office. After Obama chatted with Rebekah Erler, 36, over a cheese-filled "Jucy Lucy" hamburger at the dark-paneled Matt's Bar in Minneapolis, he drove for a town hall meeting to a city park where 350 invited participants were waiting. These were issues Obama loves to talk about, and the friendly crowd frequently applauded his answers, which were salted with stories about his family and childhood, and his frustrations trying to make changes in Washington.

Official: Armed drones guard US interests in Iraq Posted: 27 Jun 2014 10:24 AM PDT The U.S. has started flying armed drones over Baghdad to protect U.S. civilians and military forces in the Iraqi capital, a Pentagon official said Friday.

Texas man pleads guilty to trying to aid foreign terrorists Posted: 27 Jun 2014 10:02 AM PDT A Texas man pleaded guilty on Friday of attempting to provide support and resources to a Middle Eastern foreign terrorist organization as part of a federal undercover operation, U.S. prosecutors said. Michael Wolfe, 23, admitted that "he planned to travel to the Middle East to provide his services to a foreign terrorist organization, namely, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham/Syria (ISIS) and to engage in violent jihad in Syria," federal prosecutors said in a statement. He faces up to 15 years in prison for his attempted involvement with the group, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL. No date has been set for a sentencing hearing, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas said.

Kerry: Syrian moderate rebels could help in Iraq Posted: 27 Jun 2014 09:49 AM PDT JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry signaled on Friday that the U.S. hopes to enlist moderate Syrian opposition fighters that the Obama administration has reluctantly decided to arm and train in the battle against militant extremists in neighboring Iraq.

Rights Group Confirms ISIS Mass Grave Images Posted: 27 Jun 2014 09:08 AM PDT The fighting in Iraq took a disturbing turn Friday as both sides were accused of committing war crimes by human rights groups. Human Rights Watch discovered evidence that ISIS fighters executed between 160 and 190 people and dumped the bodies in two mass graves near Tikrit, Iraq, the former hometown of Saddam Hussein. "The analysis suggests that ISIS killed between 160 and 190 men in at least two locations between June 11 and 14," according to Human Rights Watch's report. "The number of victims may well be much higher, but the difficulty of locating bodies and accessing the area has prevented a full investigation." Human Rights Watch was able to confirm the existence of the sites using satellite imagery and publicly available photos released by ISIS. Amnesty International released a report Friday accusing government forces of "extrajudicial executions" of scores of Sunni detainees during fighting in the northern part of the county. "Reports of multiple incidents where Sunni detainees have been killed in cold blood while in the custody of Iraqi forces are deeply alarming," said Amnesty International's senior crisis response adviser Donatella Rovera, who is currently in northern Iraq.

European shares head for first weekly drop since April Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:21 AM PDT By Marc Jones LONDON (Reuters) - Concern about Iraq and Ukraine and subdued economic data left European shares facing their first week of losses since early April on Friday.

Why China stays quiet on Iraq, despite being no. 1 oil investor Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:01 AM PDT When Li Changrong arrived in Iraq last February to work on a Chinese-built power plant he expected a well paid job, not to find himself trapped by the threat of civil war. Mr. Li is one of an estimated 10,000 Chinese workers who have traveled to Iraq in recent years, mostly on contract to Chinese oil companies that have taken a hefty stake in the country's oilfields to become the industry's largest foreign investor. Most of the Chinese expatriates work in the south of Iraq, in predominantly Shiite areas far from the current fighting and where the Sunni rebels are unlikely to venture.

Kerry arrives in Saudi for Iraq and Syria talks Posted: 27 Jun 2014 05:19 AM PDT By Lesley Wroughton JEDDAH (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Jeddah on Friday to discuss the crises in Iraq and Syria with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and meet Syrian opposition leader Ahmad Jarba, who has close ties to the kingdom. The Obama administration on Thursday asked for $500 million from Congress to train and equip vetted members of Syria's opposition, the most significant move so far by the United States to support those fighting against President Bashar al-Assad.

Lebanon suicide bomb claimed by ISIL group: statement Posted: 27 Jun 2014 05:12 AM PDT A Saudi suicide bomber killed in a raid by Lebanese security forces was part of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant group, according to a statement published on Friday that Lebanese security officials said they were taking seriously. Three members of the security forces were wounded when they stormed Beirut's Duroy Hotel on Wednesday and the Saudi suspect detonated his explosives, killing himself and wounding an accomplice. It was the third bomb blast in five days in Lebanon, which has been hit by violence linked to conflict in neighboring Syria and Iraq, both fighting Sunni Muslim rebels who have seized territory straddling their disintegrating border.

Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric calls for top political jobs to be filled by Tuesday Posted: 27 Jun 2014 05:08 AM PDT Iraq's Shi'ite Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the majority sect's most influential cleric, called on Friday for Iraq's political blocs to agree on the next government's prime minister, parliament speaker and president before parliament meets. He said that after a presidential decree that called for a new parliament to convene on Tuesday, "what is required of the political blocs is to agree on the three presidencies within the remaining days to this date", referring to the prime minister, president and parliament speaker. Sistani's speech was read by his aide, Sheik Abdel Mehdi al-Karbalai at the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala, in front of thousands of his followers. Revered by millions, he has rallied Iraq's Shi'ite population as Sunni armed groups, led by the extremist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), have seized large swathes of northern Iraq since June 10 and are marching on Baghdad.

Tankan survey, US data 'likely to boost Tokyo stocks' Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:36 AM PDT Upward momentum is likely to re-emerge in the Tokyo market, analysts said Friday, as players wait for a key business confidence survey to gauge the impact of a Japanese tax hike. The market will look to Japanese industrial production for May to be issued on Monday, followed by the release of the all-important "tankan" business confidence report from the Bank of Japan on Tuesday. The two major indicators will serve as fresh evidence to gauge the impact, or a lack of it, of the hike in consumption tax to eight percent from five, which came into effect in April, Nomura Securities said in a note to clients. Daiwa Securities noted that Tokyo shares have been surging, fuelled by a robust Wall Street performance, before succumbing to profit taking in the past few days.

Iraq's Barzani says Kurdish self-rule in Kirkuk to stay Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:33 AM PDT Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani said Friday there was no going back on autonomous Kurdish rule in oil city Kirkuk and other towns now defended against Sunni militants by Kurdish fighters.

Oil prices steady after weak US data Posted: 27 Jun 2014 04:30 AM PDT Global oil prices steadied Friday after lacklustre US economic data that has fuelled bearish sentiment about demand in the world's top crude consumers, analysts said. In late morning London deals, Brent crude for delivery in August rose 13 cents to trade at $113.34 a barrel compared with Thursday's close. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August dipped a cent to $105.38 a barrel. The US Commerce Department said Thursday that consumer spending rose a mere 0.2 percent in May after flattening in April, raising questions about recovery in the world's biggest economy.

Iraq's top cleric wants deal on PM before Tuesday Posted: 27 Jun 2014 03:42 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's top Shiite cleric on Friday called on political blocs to agree on the next prime minister before the newly elected parliament sits next week, stepping up pressure on political leaders to set aside their differences and form an inclusive government in the face of Sunni militants who have seized large swaths of territory.

Afghan election impasse revives suspicions about Karzai's role Posted: 27 Jun 2014 03:42 AM PDT By Hamid Shalizi and Jessica Donati KABUL (Reuters) - As thousands of Afghans poured into the streets of Kabul on Friday to protest over the impasse in their country's presidential election, there was little doubt who they held responsible for the mess - outgoing President Hamid Karzai. "Death to Karzai!" some shouted through loudspeakers as protesters marched on the presidential palace, accusing him of creating the crisis over his successor. No one has provided any hard evidence that the protesters are right, but even within Karzai's family and inner circle, many believe the president quietly engineered the electoral debacle to keep his hands on the levers of power. Among them is his brother, Mahmoud Karzai, who says the man who has ruled the war-weary country for more than 12 years deliberately pushed powerful players apart to ensure no one candidate would emerge with a clear majority.

Young people get punished for harsh internship law Posted: 27 Jun 2014 03:20 AM PDT The apprenticeship-like programs greatly improve job prospects, writes Diana Furchtgott-Roth.

Japan set for landmark easing of constitutional limits on military Posted: 27 Jun 2014 03:05 AM PDT By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is poised for a historic shift in its defense policy by ending a ban that has kept the military from fighting abroad since World War Two, a major step away from post-war pacifism and a big political victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The change will significantly widen Japan's military options by ending the ban on exercising "collective self-defense", or aiding a friendly country under attack. For now, however, Japan is likely to remain wary of putting boots on the ground in future multilateral operations such as the 1990-1991 Gulf War or the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, activities Abe himself has ruled out. The change will likely rile an increasingly assertive China, whose ties with Japan have chilled due to a maritime row, mutual mistrust and the legacy of Japan's past military aggression, but will be welcomed by Tokyo's ally Washington, which has long urged Japan to become a more equal partner in the alliance.

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