Yahoo! News: Iraq

---

• Top Asian News at 11:30 p.m. GMT
• Allies to beef up campaign against Islamic State group
• IS claims to hold Norwegian, Chinese captives
• Russian military buildup continues in Syria: US officials
• Radical killed by Britain in Syria was latest from Cardiff district
• Exclusive: Russian troops join combat in Syria - sources
• Turkey pro-Kurdish party warns of 'civil war' after nationalist attacks
• Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials
• Factbox: Ways to help refugees, migrants in Europe and beyond
• Officials: US to increase number of refugees by 5K next year
• Turkish election 'becoming impossible' because of unrest: pro-Kurdish party
• Latin America joins effort to stem refugee crisis
• Russia said to get Iran's clearance for Syria-bound flights
• Why Russia has boosted its military presence in Syria now
• Venezuela’s border crackdown: Anti-smuggling operation or political theater?
• A tale of 2 Foxes in TV ratings
• The Latest: Hungary secretly settled refugees in 2013-14
• Europe’s migrant challenge
• Iraq PM removes 123 officials amid reform drive
• Juncker appeals to Europe on refugees, as more move on
• Clinton, finally 'sorry' for email scandal, tries to turn page
• Army awards Indiana company $428M ambulance contract
• Migrants finding little sympathy in Hungary for their plight
• IS attacks kill 13 Iraqi troops; Syrian oil field retaken
• Hungary dismisses UN fears over new migrant laws
• 'Tired but happy': refugees arrive in France from Germany
• France carries out second surveillance flight over Syria
• Denmark blocks motorway, rail links with Germany to stop refugee flow
• Coalition destroys IS hub in massive blast
• U.S., allies launch 17 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq: statement
• PSG become latest club to offer refugee aid
• Iraq's Abadi dismisses 123 senior officials as part of reforms: statement
• UAE rejects criticism over Syrian refugee intake
• NATO's new force could have wider crisis role: French commander
• Al Qaeda calls Islamic State illegitimate but suggests cooperation
• Russia: Approval coming on new body to probe Syria attacks
• How the EU plans to share 120,000 more refugees
• Iraqi family's dream of Europe ends in terror, loss
• Al-Qaida, other groups take last army base in Syria's Idlib

Top Asian News at 11:30 p.m. GMT Posted: 09 Sep 2015 04:32 PM PDT BANGKOK (AP) — Police said Wednesday a key suspect in last month's deadly Bangkok blast has admitted he handed a backpack containing a bomb to a man in a yellow shirt who was later seen leaving a similar bag at a downtown shrine just before the blast occurred. The account offered the first possible reconstruction of events leading to the Aug. 17 attack at Erawan Shrine, an unprecedented act of violence in the Thai capital that left 20 people dead and more than 120 injured. Authorities say they still don't know the motive but are also reluctant to call the blast an act of terrorism, which would harm Thailand's image as a tourist destination.

Allies to beef up campaign against Islamic State group Posted: 09 Sep 2015 04:25 PM PDT A US-led coalition is poised to intensify the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, in response to a spiraling humanitarian crisis and lackluster results from a year-long air campaign. Nations from Europe to Australasia are paving the way for increased military involvement in "Operation Inherent Resolve," which aims to degrade and destroy Islamic State jihadists, according to several well-placed officials. Western governments are under fierce pressure to tackle a humanitarian crisis that has seen 380,000 migrants and refugees -- including drowned toddler Aylan Kurdi -- voyage across the Mediterranean already this year.

IS claims to hold Norwegian, Chinese captives Posted: 09 Sep 2015 03:44 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — The Islamic State group on Wednesday claimed to be holding a Norwegian man and a Chinese consultant hostage and demanded ransom for their release.

Russian military buildup continues in Syria: US officials Posted: 09 Sep 2015 03:38 PM PDT Russia is pressing ahead with its military buildup in Syria, US officials said on Wednesday, though Moscow's intentions in the war-ravaged nation remain unclear. Aerial imagery shows Russia is focusing on Bassel al-Assad International Airport, south of Latakia on Syria's Mediterranean coast, and on the Russian naval facility in Tartus. One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that two tank-landing ships have recently arrived at Tartus and about a dozen Russian armored personnel carriers are now at the Bassel al-Assad airport, named after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's older brother.

Radical killed by Britain in Syria was latest from Cardiff district Posted: 09 Sep 2015 03:22 PM PDT By Angus Berwick CARDIFF (Reuters) - For the Muslim community in Reyaad Khan's neighbourhood of Cardiff in Wales, this week's news he had been killed by Britain in a drone strike in Syria was just the latest in a series of shocks about radicals in their midst. Three years ago, two brothers from the same area, Riverside, were jailed for plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange as part of a campaign of al Qaeda-inspired attacks across the British capital in the run-up to Christmas. An ethnically mixed district described by one resident as a "mini United Nations", Riverside differs from much of the Welsh capital only in that some front doors are inscribed with Arabic inscriptions and Halal butchers abound.

Exclusive: Russian troops join combat in Syria - sources Posted: 09 Sep 2015 02:18 PM PDT By Gabriela Baczynska, Tom Perry, Laila Bassam and Phil Stewart MOSCOW/BEIRUT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russian forces have begun participating in military operations in Syria in support of government troops, three Lebanese sources familiar with the political and military situation there said on Wednesday. The sources, speaking to Reuters on condition they not be identified, gave the most forthright account yet from the region of what the United States fears is a deepening Russian military role in Syria's civil war, though one of the Lebanese sources said the number of Russians involved so far was small. U.S. officials said Russia sent two tank landing ships and additional cargo aircraft to Syria in the past day or so and deployed a small number of naval infantry forces.

Turkey pro-Kurdish party warns of 'civil war' after nationalist attacks Posted: 09 Sep 2015 02:00 PM PDT The leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party warned Wednesday the country was being dragged into a "civil war" following a wave of attacks on its offices by nationalists outraged by Kurdish rebel killings of dozens of security force members. Tensions have risen sharply in Turkey in the past few days, as the government presses a major military operation against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, and the rebels hit back with daily attacks against the army and police. On Tuesday night, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Ankara and other cities to condemn the increasingly bloody PKK assaults in the east, where two attacks killed 29 soldiers and police between Sunday and Tuesday.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts from recent editorials Posted: 09 Sep 2015 01:54 PM PDT Excerpts from recent editorials in newspapers in the United States and abroad:

Factbox: Ways to help refugees, migrants in Europe and beyond Posted: 09 Sep 2015 01:53 PM PDT (Reuters) - For those looking for ways to help the hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants fleeing wars and poverty, the following is a list of humanitarian organizations that are distributing aid and services in Europe and the Middle East. Before you make a donation, read about non-profit organizations on sites such as CharityNavigator (www.charitynavigator.org) and GuideStar (www.guidestar.org) to understand the mission of the group and how they use the money: * Mercy Corps (www.mercycorps.org) The group is deploying a team to the Greek island of Lesbos this week and setting up an office in the city of Mytilene. "Working with local partners, we'll provide essential supplies such as hygiene items to new arrivals there," said Christine Nyirjesy Bragale, director of media relations.

Officials: US to increase number of refugees by 5K next year Posted: 09 Sep 2015 01:34 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is prepared to increase the number of refugees it resettles by at least 5,000 next year as European countries struggle to accommodate tens of thousands of refugees from the Middle East and Africa.

Turkish election 'becoming impossible' because of unrest: pro-Kurdish party Posted: 09 Sep 2015 01:18 PM PDT By Seyhmus Cakan DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Rising violence in southeast Turkey following the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and Kurdish insurgents will make it difficult to hold an election due on Nov. 1, the head of the pro-Kurdish parliamentary opposition said on Wednesday. Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast has seen almost daily clashes between militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and security forces since July. The conflict has shattered a peace process begun by President Tayyip Erdogan in 2012 to end an insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people over three decades.

Latin America joins effort to stem refugee crisis Posted: 09 Sep 2015 01:06 PM PDT As Europe struggles to deal with hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing bloody conflicts in Syria and beyond, far-away Latin America is increasingly stepping up pledges to take in refugees. Far removed from the turmoil driving the exodus from the Middle East, Latin America has so far resettled a relatively small handful of people. In the past two days, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff pledged to welcome Syrian refugees with "open arms," Chile's Michelle Bachelet declared her country's "doors (are) open," and Panama's Juan Carlos Varela said his nation had a "big heart" and would gladly take in fleeing Syrians and Iraqis.

Russia said to get Iran's clearance for Syria-bound flights Posted: 09 Sep 2015 12:54 PM PDT MOSCOW (AP) — Iran has granted permission for Russian planes to fly over its territory en route to Syria, Russian news agencies said Wednesday, a bypass needed after Bulgaria refused overflights amid signs of a Russian military buildup in Syria that has concerned the U.S. and NATO.

Why Russia has boosted its military presence in Syria now Posted: 09 Sep 2015 12:46 PM PDT Mounting evidence suggests Russia is significantly increasing military assistance to the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in what is seen as a bid to solidify Moscow's position in one of few Middle Eastern countries where it still has influence. The reports of a Russian military buildup in northwest Syria have raised alarms in Washington.

Venezuela’s border crackdown: Anti-smuggling operation or political theater? Posted: 09 Sep 2015 12:45 PM PDT On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro closed yet another border crossing into Colombia, escalating a crisis that has left frustrated travelers stranded, wreaked havoc with the regional economy, and sent thousands of Colombian immigrants fleeing before they can be deported. President Maduro calls it a necessary anti-smuggling offensive, but some international critics allege the crisis was "manufactured" to distract Venezuelans from their disastrous economy as elections approach. Maduro has offered several explanations for declaring a state of emergency on August 21, including suspicions of neighboring Colombia and the struggling Venezuelan economy, whose soaring inflation has put basic goods out of most citizens' reach.

A tale of 2 Foxes in TV ratings Posted: 09 Sep 2015 12:36 PM PDT NEW YORK (AP) — The television ratings story was a tale of two Foxes.

The Latest: Hungary secretly settled refugees in 2013-14 Posted: 09 Sep 2015 12:29 PM PDT STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The latest news as countries across Europe cope with the arrival of thousands of migrants and refugees. All times local (CET):

Europe’s migrant challenge Posted: 09 Sep 2015 12:24 PM PDT Europe's greatest migration crisis since World War II is testing the ability of the European Union to find an effective and humane response. Meeting the immediate needs of the people flooding into southern Europe, often from war-torn regions of Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan, remains paramount. The EU is trying to develop a comprehensive policy in which each member state would be alloted a quota of migrants to accept.

Iraq PM removes 123 officials amid reform drive Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:39 AM PDT Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi removed 123 deputy ministers and director generals amid a reform drive aimed at curbing corruption and streamlining the government, his office said Wednesday. The officials were either retired or had their status changed, the statement said, without specifying what that entailed, or how many fell into each category. Parliament has signed off on a reform plan proposed by Abadi as well as additional measures, and the prime minister has begun issuing orders for changes, including cutting 11 cabinet posts and slashing the bloated number of guards for officials.

Juncker appeals to Europe on refugees, as more move on Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:37 AM PDT By Alastair Macdonald STRASBOURG (Reuters) - European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker appealed to European countries on Wednesday to share out a wave of refugees crowding in on their frontiers, but at the same time promised tougher border controls to keep unwanted migrants out. As he spoke, disarray across the continent was driven home when police in Hungary, Austria and Denmark closed major highways as groups of migrants, hundreds strong, marched north. Defying Hungary's new border fence and EU asylum rules, tens of thousands are crossing frontiers to reach Germany and Sweden.

Clinton, finally 'sorry' for email scandal, tries to turn page Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:36 AM PDT For Hillary Clinton, sorry seems to be the hardest word. In the 2008 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, one in which she was the frontrunner but ultimately eclipsed by Barack Obama, she steadfastly refused to admit she was wrong to back the war in Iraq. This year, even before she made her second White House run official, Clinton was facing the heat once more -- over revelations that she had used a private email server and address while serving as secretary of state from 2009-2013.

Army awards Indiana company $428M ambulance contract Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:31 AM PDT SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — AM General, which two weeks ago lost out on a major Department of Defense contract, has been awarded a $428 million contract by the Army to build Humvee ambulances for domestic disaster relief efforts by the Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard.

Migrants finding little sympathy in Hungary for their plight Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:30 AM PDT BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A makeshift camp of thousands from the Middle East, Asia and Africa has been dismantled at Budapest's Keleti train station, and its inhabitants have left for Germany. But the loathing of them lingers in Hungary, which hopes to build a border fence strong enough to keep out future waves of asylum seekers.

IS attacks kill 13 Iraqi troops; Syrian oil field retaken Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:23 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Islamic State suicide bombings and clashes between the extremist group and Iraqi troops killed 13 soldiers in Iraq's western Anbar province on Wednesday, while in Syria, government forces retook an oil field recently captured by the militant group.

Hungary dismisses UN fears over new migrant laws Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:05 AM PDT Hungary's justice minister on Wednesday dismissed concerns that a new law criminalising illegal border crossings, part of a raft of tough new anti-migrant laws, could violate the UN Convention on Refugees. "The UN Convention -- Article 31 -- clearly says that illegal border crossing is not allowed if the person is entering from a country where his life is not in danger," Laszlo Trocsanyi told reporters. Since the migrants were crossing from Serbia, he said the convention did not apply.

'Tired but happy': refugees arrive in France from Germany Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:02 AM PDT Champagne-sur-Seine (France) (AFP) - A first group of around 50 refugees arrived in France from Germany on Wednesday as Paris tries to ease pressure on its neighbour, which has received the bulk of the migrants streaming into Europe. Some 53 Syrians and Iraqis left Munich in southern Germany on Tuesday night in a bus sent by Paris, and arrived in the small town of Champagne-sur-Seine to the southeast of Paris.

France carries out second surveillance flight over Syria Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:39 AM PDT France carried out surveillance flights over Syria for a second day on Wednesday as it prepares for possible attacks on Islamic State jihadists, the army said in a statement. The flight was carried out to "acquire intelligence on the terrorist group Daesh," said the statement, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadists who control parts of Syria and Iraq. France has been part of a US-led coalition bombing IS positions in Iraq for the past year, but changed strategy this week in announcing it would join Washington, Canada, Gulf allies and Turkey in also carrying out airstrikes in Syria.

Denmark blocks motorway, rail links with Germany to stop refugee flow Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:13 AM PDT Danish police closed a motorway and rail links with Germany on Wednesday in a bid to stem the flow of refugees heading north to Sweden, as Europe's migrant crisis spreads northward. "We are trying to talk to them and tell them that it is a really bad idea to walk on the motorway," a police spokeswoman said. Police also asked the state-owned railway operator to stop all trains between Germany and Denmark until further notice.

Coalition destroys IS hub in massive blast Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:08 AM PDT The international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group bombed a key jihadist command and supply hub in the area of Ramadi, capital of Iraq's Anbar province, it said Wednesday. A video of the strike on the football stadium showed a massive secondary explosion at the site. "The stadium was a key (IS) command and supply hub in the Ramadi region and was being used to store large amounts of homemade explosives, weapons and ammunition," the coalition said in a statement.

U.S., allies launch 17 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq: statement Posted: 09 Sep 2015 10:05 AM PDT The U.S.-led coalition targeted Islamic State with 17 air strikes in Syria and Iraq on Tuesday, including one that destroyed the militant group's operating base near Ramadi that was a key supply hub, according to the U.S. military. Three other strikes targeted the group in Syria, it said.

PSG become latest club to offer refugee aid Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:55 AM PDT French champions Paris Saint-Germain will donate one million euros ($1.12m) to two associations, through their foundation, put into place to help the influx of refugees across Europe, the club announced on Wednesday. "The Foundation will commit to long term assistance alongside French Popular Relief and the UNHCR with the goal of creating solidarity projects in France and internationally," said the club in a statement. The announcement on Wednesday follows a series of donations and projects put into place by top clubs around the world such as Real Madrid, Roma and Bayern Munich after the arrival of thousands of refugees, many from war-ravaged Syria, into Europe over the past weeks.

Iraq's Abadi dismisses 123 senior officials as part of reforms: statement Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:48 AM PDT Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Wednesday he had dismissed 123 deputy ministers and general managers as part of a reform push aimed at reducing corruption and mismanagement which has made the country nearly impossible to govern. Backed by street protests demanding better services and a call for bold action by Iraq's most senior Shi'ite cleric, Abadi has rolled out the largest shakeup of the country's governing system since the U.S. occupation. Abadi did not mention which ministries would be affected by Wednesday's decision, but said in a statement that the senior officials would be sent into retirement or have their administrative status "adjusted".

UAE rejects criticism over Syrian refugee intake Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:30 AM PDT The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday defended its record on helping refugees after criticism of rich Arab countries, saying it has welcomed more than 100,000 Syrians since 2011. The total number of Syrians living in the oil-rich Gulf state now stands at about 250,000, a UAE official told AFP. "Since the crisis began in 2011, the UAE has welcomed more than 100,000 Syrians and granted them residency permits," the official said.

NATO's new force could have wider crisis role: French commander Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:17 AM PDT By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO's new rapid reaction force must be able to respond to crises on the alliance's southern flank, a top military commander said on Wednesday, in a caution to eastern European nations who see it only as a tool against any Russian threat. As Europe's migration crisis renews pressure on governments to act in Syria and Libya, NATO nations are divided over whether its new spearhead force - which could deploy several thousand troops in as little as two days - should be for defending the alliance or if it could do more in the Middle East. The spearhead force "is designed to answer to the full level of NATO's ambitions ... not only collective defense but crisis management," said French General Jean-Paul Palomeros, who is responsible for adapting NATO to future threats and in reference to NATO operations outside the 28-nation alliance.

Al Qaeda calls Islamic State illegitimate but suggests cooperation Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:04 AM PDT By Omar Fahmy CAIRO (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri dismissed Islamic State and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as illegitimate but said his followers would join them in fighting the Western-led coalition in Iraq and Syria if possible. In an audiotape on the internet, Zawahri said: "We don't recognize this caliphate." It was not clear when the recording was made but references to events suggest it was made at least eight months ago. Islamic State has declared a caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria under its control and sought to expand its power in the Middle East, becoming a greater security threat than al Qaeda in the strategic oil-producing region.

Russia: Approval coming on new body to probe Syria attacks Posted: 09 Sep 2015 09:04 AM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council's approval in establishing a new international body to assign blame for chemical attacks in Syria for the first time will be finalized and sent to Ban Ki-moon Thursday, Russia said Wednesday.

How the EU plans to share 120,000 more refugees Posted: 09 Sep 2015 08:59 AM PDT BRUSSELS (AP) — The President of the European Union's executive on Wednesday called for the emergency relocation of 120,000 people in need of international protection who have entered the EU through Italy, Greece and Hungary to 22 of the EU's 28 nations. Britain, Denmark and Ireland are not legally obliged to take part, but may choose to; Italy, Greece and Hungary are excluded because of the numbers of migrants already in those countries.

Iraqi family's dream of Europe ends in terror, loss Posted: 09 Sep 2015 08:56 AM PDT An Iraqi family's dream of reaching Europe ended in darkness, terror and loss when two of their children drowned in the same boat accident that killed Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi. Zainab Abbas, her husband and their three children left Iraq, travelled to Istanbul and then made their way to Bodrum, on the coast, trying for almost two weeks to make the boat trip to Greece.

Al-Qaida, other groups take last army base in Syria's Idlib Posted: 09 Sep 2015 08:29 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — After a two-year siege, al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria and other insurgents on Wednesday captured the one remaining Syrian army air base in Idlib province, a development that activists said effectively expelled the last of President Bashar Assad's military from the northwestern province.

You are subscribed to email updates from Iraq News Headlines - Yahoo! News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States