Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Same-party November battles for Calif. lawmakers
• Chinese hackers turned focus to U.S. experts on Iraq: security firm
• Isis mobile wallet abandons name to militant group
• Bahrain orders US diplomat to leave
• US 'troubled' by jailing of Saudi rights activist
• 'Strong support' for gold market reform: industry body
• US-Kurdistan Business Council Hosts Top KRG Officials in Washington, DC
• Iraq parliament delayed for five weeks, general killed near Baghdad
• Amid Iraq turmoil, US insists on 'united' government
• Saudi reports shelling on border with Iraq
• Oil slips below $104 as Libya set to boost exports
• Morocco to beef up security checks for US-bound flights
• Iraqi parliament squabbles over when to next meet
• CAIR: NSA Interception of American's Personal Data Will Undermine Political Participation
• Egypt President defends recent price hikes
• Oil prices drop as tight supply concerns ease
• Egypt's Sisi: extremists destroying the region, threaten the world
• U.S. says 'no reason to doubt' authenticity al-Baghdadi video
• Iraqi parliament delays next session until August
• House races feature candidates from same party
• Syrian army tries to choke off rebels in Aleppo
• Meet America's Top Dogs! Eight Furry Finalists Chosen For American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™
• Osborne fetes Modi, seeks business openings
• Lebanon charges 28 for planning bomb attacks
• Lebanon charges 28 with planning suicide attacks: agency
• UK finance minister fetes Modi, seeks business openings
• Iraq delays key parliament session as fightback stumbles
• Why U.S. gas prices may never go down again
• 10 cases coming soon to the Supreme Court
• Republic, Found: Constitutional literacy and citizenship
• Government troops advance in Syria's largest city
• Senior Iraqi army commander killed in battle: prime minister
• At least seven dead in suicide bomb attack in northern Baghdad: sources
• Syrian troops advance in largest city
• Iraq parliament postpones key session
• Iraq army general 'killed by shelling'
• Girl killed, eight people hurt in Iraqi airstrike: Kurdish official
• Egypt's Sisi warns Iraqi Kurd secession would splinter Mideast
• U.S. Blasts Assad as Worst Since Nazis
• ISIS Set to Destroy Biblical History

Same-party November battles for Calif. lawmakers Posted: 07 Jul 2014 04:40 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Voters can forget the traditional Republican-Democratic matchups in at least seven California congressional districts come November. Contenders for those seats will have to do battle against challengers from their own parties.

Chinese hackers turned focus to U.S. experts on Iraq: security firm Posted: 07 Jul 2014 04:05 PM PDT By Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A sophisticated group of hackers believed to be associated with the Chinese government, who for years targeted U.S experts on Asian geopolitical matters, suddenly began breaching computers of experts on Iraq as the rebellion there escalated, a security firm said on Monday. CrowdStrike Inc said that the group is one of the most sophisticated of the 30 it tracks in China and that its operations are better hidden than many attributed to military and other government units. CrowdStrike co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch said he has "great confidence" the hackers are affiliated with the government, though he declined to provide many details on the matter. Over the past three years, CrowdStrike said it has seen the group it calls "Deep Panda" target defense, financial and other industries in the United States.

Isis mobile wallet abandons name to militant group Posted: 07 Jul 2014 03:41 PM PDT Mobile wallet service Isis is changing its name to distance itself from an acronym used to refer to militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. US telecom companies AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon four years ago teamed together to back Isis, software that takes advantage of near-field communication chips in smartphones to allow people to consumate transactions by tapping mobile devices on sensor-enabled pads at shops. "We wanted a name that brought life to our company and our values," Isis chief executive Michael Abbott said Monday in an online message about the decision to dump the name inspired by an Egyptian goddess.

Bahrain orders US diplomat to leave Posted: 07 Jul 2014 02:29 PM PDT MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain ordered a top U.S. diplomat to leave the country on Monday after he met with a leading Shiite opposition group.

US 'troubled' by jailing of Saudi rights activist Posted: 07 Jul 2014 02:06 PM PDT The United States expressed its concern Monday over the jailing of a prominent rights lawyer in Saudi Arabia and said it would raise such cases with the kingdom. Washington "is troubled by the 15-year prison sentence, travel ban and steep fine handed down to human rights lawyer and activist Waleed Abulkhair," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. "We urge the Saudi government to respect international human rights norms, a point we have made to them regularly." Abulkhair, under arrest since April 26, has had many run-ins with the authorities over his activism and for allegedly insulting them.

'Strong support' for gold market reform: industry body Posted: 07 Jul 2014 01:54 PM PDT The World Gold Council, an influential industrial body, said Monday there is "strong support" for its plan to reform a century-old method of setting the price of gold in London. "There was strong support for the World Gold Council's key principles for reform," senior WGC official Natalie Dempster said in a statement after a meeting here to discuss changes. "We are at the start of a process that will lead to a reformed and modernised gold benchmark which attracts a broader range of market participants," added Dempster, whose official title is managing director, central banks and public policy. She spoke after the WGC convened a debate on how to modernise the so-called London Gold Fix.

US-Kurdistan Business Council Hosts Top KRG Officials in Washington, DC Posted: 07 Jul 2014 01:54 PM PDT WASHINGTON, July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States-Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) hosted two top Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials in Washington in a closed-door meeting last week. Dr. Fuad Hussein, Chief of Staff for President Barzani, and Dr. Falah Bakir, head of the Department of Foreign Relations met with the USKBC while the delegation was in town.

Iraq parliament delayed for five weeks, general killed near Baghdad Posted: 07 Jul 2014 01:29 PM PDT By Isra'a al-Rubei'i and Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's new parliament put off its next session for five weeks on Monday, extending the country's political paralysis amid a Sunni Islamist insurgency which claimed the life of an army general near Baghdad. Citing the politicians' failure to reach "understanding and agreement" on nominations for the top three posts in government, the office of acting speaker Mehdi al-Hafidh said parliament would not meet again until Aug. 12. Putting off the work of reaching consensus is a slap in the face to efforts by Iraq's Shi'ite clergy, the United States, the United Nations and Iran, who have all urged the swift formation of an inclusive government to hold the country together. With no signs that Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will abandon his bid for a third term, his Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurdish opponents warn there is a risk that Iraq will fragment along ethnic and sectarian lines.

Amid Iraq turmoil, US insists on 'united' government Posted: 07 Jul 2014 01:19 PM PDT The United States stuck to its position Monday that uniting Iraq's sectarian factions was the only way to repel advances by Sunni jihadists, despite the deepening dysfunction of the country's political system. Washington is looking on with increasing dismay as political structures set up under the US occupation are increasingly unable to fill a political vacuum exploited by Islamic State (IS) radicals who have seized vast tracts of the country. On Monday, bickering in Baghdad led to the delay of a key parliamentary session to select a new government until August 12 -- likely meaning any fresh administration will not be in place until well after that. Last week, Iraq's Kurds further rattled the political structure by confirming plans for an independence referendum, in a blow to hopes of a unified federal government.

Saudi reports shelling on border with Iraq Posted: 07 Jul 2014 01:12 PM PDT Saudi Arabia on Monday reported three shells hit the Arar area inside the country along its border with Iraq, where jihadist-led militants have gone on the offensive. "Three shells struck near a residential complex in the northern border area, without causing casualties," a border guards spokesman said, adding that an inquiry into the origin of the shelling was under way. In November, Iraqi pro-Iranian Shiite group Jaish al-Mukhtar claimed it had fired six mortar rounds into a remote area of northeastern Saudi Arabia as a "warning" to the kingdom. Sunni Saudi Arabia has deeply strained relations with Iraq's Shiite-led government.

Oil slips below $104 as Libya set to boost exports Posted: 07 Jul 2014 12:47 PM PDT The price of oil slipped below $104 a barrel Monday on expectations that Libya will soon boost its exports of crude.

Morocco to beef up security checks for US-bound flights Posted: 07 Jul 2014 12:46 PM PDT Morocco said Monday it will tighten security measures for US-bound flights from Casablanca at Washington's request, amid fears in the United States that Islamist militants could be planning new attacks. The measures will come into force on Tuesday following a request from the US Transportation Security Administration, the Moroccan transport ministry said, cited by official media. The measures will affect flights to the United States from Casablanca's Mohammed V airport, Morocco's largest, and from where all its trans-Atlantic flights depart. These include daily flights to New York's JFK airport.

Iraqi parliament squabbles over when to next meet Posted: 07 Jul 2014 12:21 PM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — With political leaders deadlocked, Iraq's parliament squabbled Monday over when to hold its next session, potentially delaying the formation of a new government for weeks despite the threat from extremists who have seized control of a large chunk of the country and declared the establishment of an Islamic state.

CAIR: NSA Interception of American's Personal Data Will Undermine Political Participation Posted: 07 Jul 2014 12:17 PM PDT WASHINGTON, July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, today expressed concern about new revelations of the overbroad surveillance authority granted to the National Security Agency (NSA) and other intelligence agencies. CAIR noted that, based on the experience of American Muslim communities in the last decade, such surveillance can significantly undermine legitimate political activities. SEE: CAIR Condemns ISIS Violence and Rejects Calls to Join Extremists Abroad, http://tinyurl.com/CAIRCondemnsISIS ]

Egypt President defends recent price hikes Posted: 07 Jul 2014 11:58 AM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi defended Monday his recent decisions to partially lift subsidies on fuel that caused a public outcry, calling them a necessary "bitter pill" to revive his nation's ailing economy.

Oil prices drop as tight supply concerns ease Posted: 07 Jul 2014 11:43 AM PDT Oil prices dropped Monday on easing concerns over tight supplies linked to violence in Iraq and Libyan disruptions, analysts said. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August fell 41 cents to stand at $110.63 a barrel in late London deals. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August slid 75 cents to $103.31 a barrel compared with Friday's close. Desmond Chua, market analyst at traders CMC Markets, said oil prices "continue to track lower as Iraq's production remains unaffected by the recent unrest".

Egypt's Sisi: extremists destroying the region, threaten the world Posted: 07 Jul 2014 11:11 AM PDT By Stephen Kalin CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned world powers on Monday that Islamist militants are ravaging the Middle East and pose a threat to everyone's security. "Be alert to what is happening in the region ... This region is being destroyed right now and we should not let this happen," Sisi said in a televised speech. Militants have long challenged pro-Western Arab countries, and Egypt itself faces an Islamist insurgency based in the Sinai peninsula. Top U.S. defense officials said last week Iraq's security forces were able to defend the capital, Baghdad, but would have difficulty going on the offensive to recapture lost territory, mainly because of logistic weaknesses.

U.S. says 'no reason to doubt' authenticity al-Baghdadi video Posted: 07 Jul 2014 10:59 AM PDT The United States has "no reason to doubt" the authenticity of a video posted on the Internet over the weekend of reclusive Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the State Department said on Monday. "We seen, of course, the reports of the video. We have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the video," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a news briefing. Islamic State, a Sunni militant group, has taken control of large areas of Iraq from the Shi'ite-led government.

Iraqi parliament delays next session until August Posted: 07 Jul 2014 10:49 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — With political leaders deadlocked, Iraq's parliament postponed on Monday its next session until mid-August, delaying the formation of a new government for weeks despite the threat from extremists who have seized control of a large chunk of the country and declared the establishment of an Islamic state.

House races feature candidates from same party Posted: 07 Jul 2014 10:42 AM PDT Under California's primary system, the top two candidates regardless of political affiliation move on to the general election, leading to cases in which candidates will be facing members of their own party this November.

Syrian army tries to choke off rebels in Aleppo Posted: 07 Jul 2014 09:59 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops advanced in and around the northern city of Aleppo on Monday, in what appears to be an attempt to lay siege to opposition-held parts of the country's largest city, activists said.

Meet America's Top Dogs! Eight Furry Finalists Chosen For American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™ Posted: 07 Jul 2014 09:50 AM PDT WASHINGTON, July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America has spoken and after more than one million votes cast by the public and a celebrity panel of dog lovers and experts, eight courageous canines have been chosen as the nation's top dogs in their individual categories for the 2014 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™. Voting now opens for the final round that will determine which heroic hound will be named this year's American Hero Dog at the fourth annual Hero Dog Awards, broadcast on Hallmark Channel this fall. Presented by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards seek to identify and recognize America's Hero Dogs – ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it's saving lives, lending sight or hearing to those in need, or just welcoming us home at the end of a hard day. Each of the eight finalists and their handlers will be flown to Hollywood to take part in the Hero Dog Awards gala at The Beverly Hilton hotel on Saturday, September 27, to be broadcast on Hallmark Channel in the fall.

Osborne fetes Modi, seeks business openings Posted: 07 Jul 2014 09:49 AM PDT By Swati Bhat MUMBAI (Reuters) - Britain's finance minister George Osborne praised India's new prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday for helping create a quick turnaround in investor sentiment, during a two-day trip aimed at opening up opportunities in defence and infrastructure. Along with most western nations, Britain shunned Modi for years after he was accused of not doing enough to stop religious riots that killed hundreds in his home state of Gujarat in 2002, when he was its chief minister. "Prime Minister Modi is seeking more investment in India's economy - and I want British companies to provide it, and the British government to support it," Osborne said.

Lebanon charges 28 for planning bomb attacks Posted: 07 Jul 2014 09:28 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — A Lebanese military prosecutor on Monday charged 28 people with planning bombing attacks in the country and belonging to the extremist group that calls itself the Islamic State, the state news agency said.

Lebanon charges 28 with planning suicide attacks: agency Posted: 07 Jul 2014 08:52 AM PDT Twenty-eight people have been charged with planning to carry out suicide bomb attacks and belonging to the militant group Islamic State, Lebanon's state news agency said on Monday. The move follows three bombings in Lebanon late last month and a security crackdown in the capital Beirut and other parts of the country. Lebanon has suffered a wave of sectarian violence linked to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, which are fighting insurgencies and have lost control of large tracts of land to Islamic State, a powerful jihadi militant group straddling the border. The prosecutor at the military court charged the group with buying equipment to carry out attacks in residential areas of Beirut and for supplying it to potential bombers.

UK finance minister fetes Modi, seeks business openings Posted: 07 Jul 2014 07:33 AM PDT By Swati Bhat MUMBAI (Reuters) - Britain's finance minister George Osborne praised India's new prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday for helping create a quick turnaround in investor sentiment, during a two-day trip aimed at opening up opportunities in defense and infrastructure. Along with most western nations, Britain shunned Modi for years after he was accused of not doing enough to stop religious riots that killed hundreds in his home state of Gujarat in 2002, when he was its chief minister. "Prime Minister Modi is seeking more investment in India's economy - and I want British companies to provide it, and the British government to support it," Osborne said.

Iraq delays key parliament session as fightback stumbles Posted: 07 Jul 2014 07:25 AM PDT A crucial parliament session kickstarting the government formation process was delayed and an Iraqi general was killed Monday as solutions to the country's worst crisis in years appeared increasingly distant. The developments highlighted bickering among political leaders despite calls for unity to see off a jihadist-led offensive that has overrun swathes of territory and which the security forces have struggled to repel. The swift advance has displaced hundreds of thousands, alarmed the international community and heaped pressure on incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as he bids for a third term in office.

Why U.S. gas prices may never go down again Posted: 07 Jul 2014 07:22 AM PDT Consumers paid the highest Fourth of July gas prices in six years this weekend, with most drivers paying 15-20 cents more per gallon than expected, according to AAA. High prices, however, didn't deter an estimated 41 million Americans from traveling 50 or more miles, an increase of 1.9% over last year.

10 cases coming soon to the Supreme Court Posted: 07 Jul 2014 06:55 AM PDT After a week of blockbuster rulings on religious liberty, executive power, digital privacy, and more, the Supreme Court is already set for another exciting term.

Republic, Found: Constitutional literacy and citizenship Posted: 07 Jul 2014 06:40 AM PDT National Constitution Center senior fellow Christopher Phillips shares a personal story about constitutional literacy and citizenry.

Government troops advance in Syria's largest city Posted: 07 Jul 2014 06:34 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops advanced in and around the northern city of Aleppo on Monday in what appears to be an attempt to lay siege to rebel-held parts of the country's largest city, activist said Monday.

Senior Iraqi army commander killed in battle: prime minister Posted: 07 Jul 2014 05:20 AM PDT A senior Iraqi general was killed in fighting with insurgents close to Baghdad on Monday, as the army fights to hold militant Sunni Islamists back from the capital. Major General Negm Abdullah Ali, commander of the army's sixth division, responsible for defending part of Baghdad, "met martyrdom on the battlefield as he was fighting ... terrorists", Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a statement. Ali was killed "when mortar rounds fell" in the Ibrahim Bin Ali area, about 16 km (10 miles) northwest of Baghdad, the office of Maliki's military spokesman said later. Ibrahim Bin Ali has been fought over for months because of its proximity to Shi'ite districts of Baghdad.

At least seven dead in suicide bomb attack in northern Baghdad: sources Posted: 07 Jul 2014 05:20 AM PDT BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least seven people including four policemen were killed in northern Baghdad on Monday when a suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives at a checkpoint, police and medical sources said. The sources said that 17 people were wounded at the checkpoint in the mainly Shi'ite Kadhmiya district. The prime minister's military spokesman Qassim Atta was not immediately available for comment. Security across Iraq remains very volatile as the government battles Sunni Islamist insurgents who have seized large parts of the north and west of the country over the past few ...

Syrian troops advance in largest city Posted: 07 Jul 2014 04:53 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops advanced inside and near northern Aleppo on Monday in what appears to be an attempt to lay siege to rebel-held parts of the country's largest city, activist said Monday.

Iraq parliament postpones key session Posted: 07 Jul 2014 04:07 AM PDT Baghdad (AFP) - Iraq's parliament has postponed a key session that had been slated for Tuesday due to lack of agreement on the post of speaker, officials said.

Iraq army general 'killed by shelling' Posted: 07 Jul 2014 03:41 AM PDT Baghdad (AFP) - Shelling west of Baghdad killed the commander of the Iraqi army's 6th division on Monday, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's security spokesman said.

Girl killed, eight people hurt in Iraqi airstrike: Kurdish official Posted: 07 Jul 2014 03:34 AM PDT A 12-year-old girl has been killed and eight other civilians wounded in an Iraqi airstrike on a Kurdish-held town in Iraq's northern province of Salahuddin, a Kurdish security forces official said. Jabbar Yawar, secretary general of the Kurdish peshmerga fighters, told Reuters the strike occurred on Sunday when military planes and helicopters targeted "a group of civilian residential buildings in the heart" of the town of Tuz Khurmato. Iraqi government forces are battling Sunni Islamist insurgents led by an ultra-radical group called the Islamic State in the area. The Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad said it would "clarify" the details of the incident at a briefing on Monday.

Egypt's Sisi warns Iraqi Kurd secession would splinter Mideast Posted: 07 Jul 2014 03:10 AM PDT Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned the independence of Iraq's Kurdish region would be "catastrophic" and cause the Middle East to splinter along ethnic and religious lines, newspapers reported Monday. A Sunni militant offensive that drove soldiers out of northern Iraq last month has emboldened leaders of the country's three-province Kurdish region to push for an independence referendum. "The referendum currently demanded by Kurds is nothing... but the catastrophic beginning of the division of Iraq into small rival states, starting with a Kurdish state that will grow to include lands in Syria on which Kurds are living," Sisi told Egyptian newspapers.

U.S. Blasts Assad as Worst Since Nazis Posted: 07 Jul 2014 02:45 AM PDT New evidence of the Assad regime's mass murder shows a systematic approach to atrocities not seen since the Holocaust, says the State Department's top war crimes official.

ISIS Set to Destroy Biblical History Posted: 07 Jul 2014 02:45 AM PDT Iraqi antiquities officials are calling on the Obama administration to save Nineveh and other sites around jihadist-occupied Mosul. But are drone strikes really the answer?

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