Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Ex-SEAL testifies that he saw Ventura punched
• Syria's President Assad sworn in for new seven-year term
• UN working to start cross-border aid to Syria
• What happens to your online accounts when you die?
• Iraq Sunni insurgency seeks end to Shi'te political domination
• WikiLeaks founder loses bid for scrapping of arrest warrant
• Iraq Sunnis play down Islamic State role in 'popular revolt'
• Assad declares victory, push to topple him tenuous
• Top Marine to Obama: Get in the Fight
• Morocco warns of terror plot from Syria, Iraq
• Man charged in ND with masquerading as FBI agent
• Violence threatens Iraqi diversity, says UN
• UN peace envoy for Syria seeks way forward
• White House Petition Site Generates More Grievances Than It Redresses
• UK museum looks at epic, intimate sides of WWI
• Syria's President Assad says the Arab Spring is dead
• Iraq's PM welcomes electing new parliament Speaker
• Confident Assad launches new term in stronger position
• Syrian President Assad sworn in for 3rd term
• Bill ensures emails, photos won't die with you
• Siemens, SK Engineering win U.S. appeal in Pemex bribery case
• Higher gasoline costs raise US producer prices
• Iraqi Shiite cleric tells AFP: PM Maliki must go
• Oil price rises after China growth ticks higher
• Saudi Arabia boosts security on heavily fortified Iraq frontier
• Afghan future hangs on fragile vote deal
• Senate derails Army bid to take Guard helicopters
• Why Hezbollah is playing a smaller role in this Iraqi conflict
• U.S. Policy Failures Come Full Circle in Libya
• Iraqi army retreats from Tikrit after assault stalls
• Oil prices rise after China growth ticks higher
• Brent holds above $106 on China growth, oil demand figures
• Asian stocks steady as China GDP growth hits target
• Iraqi forces withdrawn from militant-held Tikrit after new push: sources
• Today in History
• Top Asian News at 3:30 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 3:00 a.m. GMT
• Global turbulence tests US alliances
• Top Asian News at 2:30 a.m. GMT

Ex-SEAL testifies that he saw Ventura punched Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:32 PM PDT ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A former U.S. Navy SEAL testified Wednesday that he saw military sniper Chris Kyle punch former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in a bar in 2006, providing the most complete account yet backing the version told by Kyle in his best-selling autobiography.

Syria's President Assad sworn in for new seven-year term Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:30 PM PDT Syria's President Bashar al-Assad was sworn in Wednesday for a new seven-year term in a red carpet ceremony in Damascus, after an election his opponents had slammed as a "farce". Assad swore by the Koran before the country's parliamentarians in an extraordinary session, 40 months into a conflict estimated to have killed more than 170,000 people. I congratulate you for your revolution and for your victory," Assad told his supporters. More than 1,000 people were invited to the inauguration ceremony, with Assad arriving at the presidential palace in a black sedan car before being met on a red carpet by a military band.

UN working to start cross-border aid to Syria Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:25 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations said Wednesday it has already positioned supplies for the first convoys that will deliver aid from several neighboring countries to rebel-held areas in Syria, and hopes to reach 2.9 million people.

What happens to your online accounts when you die? Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:06 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — You've probably decided who gets the house or that family heirloom up in the attic when you die. But what about your email account and all those photos stored online?

Iraq Sunni insurgency seeks end to Shi'te political domination Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:01 PM PDT By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Sunni insurgents and tribal leaders said on Wednesday after a closed meeting they would keep fighting until they take over the Iraqi capital and bring down a U.S. imposed political order that brought Shi'ites to rule the country and marginalised them. Sunni cleric Abdul Malik Al-Saadi, who praised the "mujahdeen" (holy warriors) leading the revolt, said tribes were the backbone of a broad based insurgency battling against Iraqi Shi'ite Islamist Prime Minister Nuri Maliki's rule. He said these forces had now captured large parts of western and northern Iraq. The Islamic State, the Al Qaeda offshoot, is only a part of the uprising, the Sunni's top religious figure said.

WikiLeaks founder loses bid for scrapping of arrest warrant Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:56 PM PDT Julian Assange on Wednesday lost a court bid to get an arrest warrant against him scrapped, leaving the WikiLeaks founder marooned in the Ecuadoran embassy in London where he sought refuge more than two years ago. The 43-year-old Assange fears extradition to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual molestation, which he denies. At the hearing in Stockholm District Court, prosecutors demanded that the warrant, issued in late 2010, should be upheld to secure Assange's return to Sweden.

Iraq Sunnis play down Islamic State role in 'popular revolt' Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:54 PM PDT Iraqi Sunni leaders in exile said Wednesday that last month's flare-up of violence was the result of a "popular revolt" against the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Several of around 300 Sunni clerics, tribal leaders, insurgent commanders and businessmen who attended a meeting in Amman insisted that the Islamic State (IS), which in June declared a caliphate straddling Iraq and Syria, was only a marginal player in their country. "What is happening in Iraq now is a revolt of the oppressed," said Abdelmalek al-Saadi, a senior Sunni cleric. "We call on Arab countries to support the rebels in Iraq," Ahmad Dabash, a commander of the Islamic Army of Iraq, a group which emerged after the 2003 US-led invasion and remains active, mainly in Salaheddin and Diyala provinces.

Assad declares victory, push to topple him tenuous Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:25 PM PDT In a lavish ceremony, a smiling and confident President Bashar Assad was sworn in for a third seven-year term on Wednesday, praising his supporters for "defeating the dirty war" and denouncing insurgents who have "failed in trying to brainwash you or break your will."

Top Marine to Obama: Get in the Fight Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:16 PM PDT It's highly unusual for a high-ranking soldier, let alone a high-ranking Marine, to publicly question White House and Pentagon policy. Yet that's exactly what four-star Gen. James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, did yesterday in Washington. Speaking at the Brookings Institute Tuesday, Amos said the Obama administration paved the way for the emergence of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) by completely withdrawing American troops in 2011. Amos also blasted the White House for failing to live up to its obligations around the world.

Morocco warns of terror plot from Syria, Iraq Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:26 AM PDT RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco's interior minister says that Moroccan extremists fighting in Iraq and Syria are plotting terror attacks on prominent figures and sites back home.

Man charged in ND with masquerading as FBI agent Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:16 AM PDT WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — A convicted con man who swindled Nashville, Tennessee, businesses out of five-star hotel rooms, stretch limousine rides, helicopter rentals and expensive gifts didn't fare quite as well during a month in the North Dakota oil patch, investigators contend.

Violence threatens Iraqi diversity, says UN Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:56 AM PDT The flare-up of sectarian violence that saw jihadist-led militants conquer large swathes of Iraq over the past month has displaced 600,000 people and threatens the country's diversity, the UN warned Wednesday. The head of the UN's refugee agency, Antonio Guterres said that ongoing population movements were alarming.

UN peace envoy for Syria seeks way forward Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:44 AM PDT New UN peace envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura will meet members of the Security Council on Friday as he sets out to revive efforts to end the devastating war. Diplomatic sources said it will be a first opportunity to discuss the way forward with De Mistura, an Italian-Swedish diplomat with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 67-year-old former Italian deputy foreign minister was appointed last week, replacing Algerian Lakhdar Brahimi, who resigned in May after two rounds of peace talks ended in failure. The United Nations is hoping to get the peace process back on track but it remains unclear if the roadmap agreed during talks in Geneva six months ago can be salvaged.

White House Petition Site Generates More Grievances Than It Redresses Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:15 AM PDT The Obama administration, arguably the first White House to truly embrace the use of social media, is big on civil engagement. "We the People," an online platform launched by the White House in September 2011, gives any American with a cell phone or a computer the opportunity to take advantage of their constitutional right to petition the government. The basic idea, as described on the site, is to "give Americans a way to engage their government on the issues that matter to them." Individuals can enter a petition, and if it receives a certain number of "signatures," the administration promises to respond. Since its inception, the administration has responded to 150 petitions - ranging from the lighthearted, like one to get the White House's beer recipe, to the more serious, such as a proposal to reduce the burden of student loan debt.

UK museum looks at epic, intimate sides of WWI Posted: 16 Jul 2014 10:11 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — It's an iconic scene of Britain at war: Thousands of Londoners huddled in Underground stations as German bombs rained down.

Syria's President Assad says the Arab Spring is dead Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:45 AM PDT Syrian President Bashar al-Assad mocked the failures of the Arab Spring in a defiant speech at his swearing in ceremony for a third term in office today. President Assad signaled his intent to serve the full seven-year term.

Iraq's PM welcomes electing new parliament Speaker Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:59 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's embattled prime minister welcomed on Wednesday the election of a parliament speaker — the first step in forming a new government amid an increasing threat from militants who have taken over a large swath of northern and western Iraq.

Confident Assad launches new term in stronger position Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:53 AM PDT By Marwan Makdisi DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Bashar al-Assad was sworn in for a new term as Syria's president on Wednesday, after an election which his opponents dismiss as a sham but which he said proved he had achieved victory after a "dirty war" to unseat him. Those close to Damascus say he now believes his Western and regional foes will be forced to deal with him as a bulwark against Sunni Islamist militants who advanced across northern Iraq last month. At his inauguration he delivered a defiant speech, vowing to recover all Syria from Islamist insurgents and warning that Western and Arab countries would pay dearly for supporting rebels he described as terrorists. Looking calm and confident, the president of 14 years repeatedly took aim at the West and Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab monarchies who have funded and armed the rebels that have taken control of much of the north and east of his country.

Syrian President Assad sworn in for 3rd term Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:20 AM PDT DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Proclaiming the Syrian people winners in a "dirty war" waged by outsiders, President Bashar Assad was sworn in on Wednesday for a third seven-year term despite the bloody civil war ignited by a mass uprising against his rule.

Bill ensures emails, photos won't die with you Posted: 16 Jul 2014 08:17 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — When you die, should your loved ones have access to your Facebook, Yahoo and other online accounts?

Siemens, SK Engineering win U.S. appeal in Pemex bribery case Posted: 16 Jul 2014 07:53 AM PDT By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday upheld the dismissal of a $500 million lawsuit by state-owned Mexican oil company Pemex [PEMX.UL] accusing Siemens AG and SK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd [SKEC.UL] of bribing Pemex officials to secure oil refinery projects in Mexico. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that Pemex's claims against Siemens and SK Engineering were "simply insufficient" to support bringing a lawsuit in U.S. courts under federal racketeering laws over alleged non-domestic conduct. ...

Higher gasoline costs raise US producer prices Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:11 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Rising gasoline costs pushed up the prices U.S. companies receive for their goods and services in June, but overall inflation remains tame.

Iraqi Shiite cleric tells AFP: PM Maliki must go Posted: 16 Jul 2014 06:08 AM PDT The removal of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki would be an "important part" of the solution to Iraq's political crisis, the spokesman for one of the country's top Shiite clerics said. The statement is the first from any of Iraq's revered Shiite religious leaders to explicitly endorse Maliki's departure, and is one of a string of recent announcements indicating a more active national role for the usually taciturn clergy. The speedy formation of a new more inclusive government is seen as a crucial step in countering last month's onslaught by Islamic State (IS) militants, who have exploited resentment stoked by Iraq's ineffectual and fractious political leaders. An important part," said Sheikh Ali al-Najafi, spokesman for his father Grand Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi, referring to Maliki's defenestration.

Oil price rises after China growth ticks higher Posted: 16 Jul 2014 05:52 AM PDT Oil prices rose Wednesday after China reported a slight improvement in economic growth for the second quarter that allayed fears its slowdown was continuing.

Saudi Arabia boosts security on heavily fortified Iraq frontier Posted: 16 Jul 2014 05:33 AM PDT By Angus McDowall ARAR Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - The group now calling itself the Islamic State rampaged across the border between Syria and Iraq a month ago and has since declared a caliphate across a swathe of the Middle East from Aleppo to the outskirts of Baghdad. Since the group then known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) launched its lightning offensive last month in Iraq, Riyadh has sent thousands of troops to the border area. Last month King Abdullah pledged to take "all measures" to protect Saudi Arabia, both from Sunni ISIL, which Saudi Arabia has labeled a terrorist organization, and also from Shi'ite militia in Iraq who have mobilised to fight the insurgents.

Afghan future hangs on fragile vote deal Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:50 AM PDT Every single vote cast in Afghanistan's run-off presidential election will be checked for signs of fraud in a painstaking process set to begin this week -- and the stakes could not be higher. Transported to Kabul under armed guard, these 8.1 million pieces of paper hold the key to which of the two men vying to replace President Hamid Karzai will lead Afghanistan into a new era as US-led troops withdraw. The operation is set to get under way on Thursday after a historic deal last weekend between presidential candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah -- whose rival victory claims, amid allegations of massive fraud, pushed the nation to the brink of disaster. "There was a fear that this was getting out of control," said James Cunningham, the US ambassador to Kabul.

Senate derails Army bid to take Guard helicopters Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:12 AM PDT FORT RUCKER, Ala. (AP) — The Army has lost an initial Senate skirmish over a hotly disputed plan to take Apache attack helicopters away from National Guard units in a budget-cutting move that has infuriated governors and state military leaders.

Why Hezbollah is playing a smaller role in this Iraqi conflict Posted: 16 Jul 2014 04:00 AM PDT Hezbollah has dispatched a team of around 250 military advisors to help Iraqi Shiites fight back against the extremist Islamic State (IS) and other Sunni forces, according to sources close to the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite militant group. The deployment of the team comes as Hezbollah continues to battle Syrian rebel groups both in Syria and lately inside Lebanon, on its eastern frontier, underlining just how interwoven the conflicts in Syria and Iraq have become.  Hezbollah is aligned with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and, via its Iranian sponsors, with the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. On Tuesday, Iraq's parliament elected a new speaker, Salim al-Juburi, a move that may pave the way for the formation of a new Iraqi government after weeks of inaction.

U.S. Policy Failures Come Full Circle in Libya Posted: 16 Jul 2014 02:45 AM PDT Experiencing some of its worst violence in months, Libya's capitol city, Tripoli, was in such a state of deterioration that the United Nations evacuated its personnel from the country. In 2011, the United States and its European NATO allies successfully used a bombing campaign to oust Muammar Gaddafi from office. In a bid to win more political and economic power, they've pushed into Libya's north, and are attempting to take Tripoli and Benghazi. The fight for Libya comes as the Middle East descends towards a holy war for the future of the region.

Iraqi army retreats from Tikrit after assault stalls Posted: 16 Jul 2014 02:35 AM PDT By Raheem Salman and Maggie Fick BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces have withdrawn from the militant-held city of Tikrit after their new offensive met heavy resistance, in a blow to the government effort to push back Sunni insurgents controlling large parts of the country. The failure highlights the difficulties of Baghdad's struggle to recapture territory from the insurgents who seized Mosul, Tikrit and other cities last month in a rapid offensive which threatens to fragment Iraq on ethnic and sectarian lines. It is unclear if the election of Salim al-Jabouri as speaker will break the broader deadlock over Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's bid to serve a third term. Government troops and allied Shi'ite volunteer fighters retreated from Tikrit before sunset on Tuesday to a base four km (2.5 miles) south after coming under heavy mortar and sniper fire, a soldier who fought in the battle said.

Oil prices rise after China growth ticks higher Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:54 AM PDT Oil prices rose Wednesday after China reported a slight improvement in economic growth for the second quarter that allayed fears its slowdown was continuing. Benchmark U.S. crude for August delivery was ...

Brent holds above $106 on China growth, oil demand figures Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:12 AM PDT By Keith Wallis SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Brent crude held above $106 a barrel on Wednesday as data from China showed its economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter and the country's implied oil demand rose to its highest since the beginning of last year. "At this moment the market is quite euphoric on Chinese economic and oil demand growth," said Victor Shum, senior partner at Singapore energy consultant Purvin & Gertz. Brent was trading below $106 a barrel prior to the release of China's economic data but quickly jumped higher. "Chinese economic data could be the catalyst to push Brent back up towards $108 a barrel," said Ben Le Brun, a market analyst at Sydney-based trader OptionsXpress.

Asian stocks steady as China GDP growth hits target Posted: 16 Jul 2014 12:08 AM PDT By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian stocks held stubbornly steady on Wednesday after China reported economic growth that was just ahead of market expectations, drawing a sigh of relief from investors rather than outright applause. China's economy expanded by 2.0 percent in the second quarter from the previous quarter, taking annual growth to 7.5 percent. "The GDP figure is in line with our expectation, but the underlying momentum and recovery is still at a fragile state, especially given the property market correction," said Chang Jian, an analyst at Barclays based in Hong Kong. "The recovery is quite dependent on the government support." MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.2 percent while Japan's Nikkei eased 0.1 percent.

Iraqi forces withdrawn from militant-held Tikrit after new push: sources Posted: 15 Jul 2014 11:11 PM PDT Iraqi forces have withdrawn from the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Tikrit after a new push to retake the city met heavy resistance, a soldier who fought in the battle said on Wednesday. The attempt to retake Tikrit, which fell on June 12 to Sunni insurgents led by the militant Islamic State group, began two-and-a-half weeks ago. No fighting was reported in Tikrit on Wednesday morning, according to residents. Tikrit lies 160 km (100 miles) north of Baghdad.

Today in History Posted: 15 Jul 2014 09:00 PM PDT Today is Wednesday, July 16, the 197th day of 2014. There are 168 days left in the year.

Top Asian News at 3:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 15 Jul 2014 08:32 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives near a busy market and a mosque in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing at least 89 people in the deadliest insurgent attack on civilians since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. The blast destroyed numerous mud-brick shops, flipped cars over and stripped trees of their branches, brutally underscoring the country's instability as U.S. troops prepare to leave by the end of the year and politicians in Kabul struggle for power after a disputed presidential runoff.

Top Asian News at 3:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 15 Jul 2014 08:02 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives near a busy market and a mosque in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing at least 89 people in the deadliest insurgent attack on civilians since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. The blast destroyed numerous mud-brick shops, flipped cars over and stripped trees of their branches, brutally underscoring the country's instability as U.S. troops prepare to leave by the end of the year and politicians in Kabul struggle for power after a disputed presidential runoff.

Global turbulence tests US alliances Posted: 15 Jul 2014 07:35 PM PDT Back before campaign promises needed to be cashed, Barack Obama told 200,000 Berliners that allies must "trust each other" and vowed to repair bonds torn by George W. Bush's go-it-alone diplomacy. Sectarian chaos remaking the Middle East, Edward Snowden's bombshells on US spying in Europe and political choices made in turbulent times, have again put US alliances under pressure. A European swoon spurred by Obama's Berlin speech as a presidential candidate in 2008 peaked with a premature Nobel peace prize a year later. "Europe had such extraordinary expectations of President Obama and what he could do.

Top Asian News at 2:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 15 Jul 2014 07:32 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives near a busy market and a mosque in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, killing at least 89 people in the deadliest insurgent attack on civilians since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. The blast destroyed numerous mud-brick shops, flipped cars over and stripped trees of their branches, brutally underscoring the country's instability as U.S. troops prepare to leave by the end of the year and politicians in Kabul struggle for power after a disputed presidential runoff.

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