Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• British MP Stephen O'Brien to be new UN humanitarian chief
• US urges Europe to contribute more peacekeepers
• 'Urgent need' for unified anti-jihadist force: Arab League
• Egyptian president pushes U.S. for military aid in Fox News interview
• Woman now in wheelchair testifies at Boston bombing trial
• Prague approves warplanes sale to Iraq to fight jihadists
• UN Security Council to meet on 'persecution' of Mideast Christians
• 'Chappie' tops US weekend box office, 'Sniper' rules 2014
• British MP O'Brien named UN humanitarian aid chief
• What does Boko Haram's pledge to Islamic State really mean?
• France wants U.N. Security Council meeting on minorities in Middle East
• Qaeda in Syria denies plan to break away
• Iraq's divide could strain anti-IS coalition: US
• Kurdish forces attack Islamic State west of Kirkuk
• Sidelined in Tikrit, U.S. says war on Islamic State will be won
• How the oil price drop can lift a 'curse'
• Chad, Niger soldiers killed as Boko Haram loses Nigerian towns
• Yemen Houthis launch 'martyr' videos to raise morale
• Supercomputer-Powered Drones Shut Down Rhino Poaching in This Park—Can They Save Africa’s Elephants Too?
• News Guide: Latest developments on Islamic State group
• Brian Williams Wanted to Host 'Tonight Show' and 7 Revelations From New York Magazine's NBC News Expose
• Iraqi minister: We're comfortable receiving aid from Iran
• Under new king, Saudi interests may diverge from Egypt
• Czech government approves sale of fighter jets to Iraq
• Islamic State infighting in Syria kills nine: monitor
• In IS backlash, Amman cleaners swap orange for turquoise
• Iraqi Kurds say keeping their side of Baghdad oil deal
• Regional troops retake Nigerian town from Boko Haram
• U.S., allies conduct 14 air strikes in Syria, Iraq: statement
• Czech state clears sale of military aircraft to Iraq
• Arab League calls for multinational force to fight militants
• IS beheaded Libyan guards in attack that seized 9 foreigners
• Chad soldiers killed as Boko Haram lose Nigerian towns
• A look at key events in Syria since March 2011
• Syria's 4-year march toward destruction
• Activists reflect on Syria's spiral from protests to horror
• Islamic State: US airstrikes, internal divisions take toll on militants
• German military says worried about Islamists infiltrating to get arms training
• 'American Sniper' becomes top-grossing 2014 release
• Hungary planning to send troops to Iraq to join IS fight

British MP Stephen O'Brien to be new UN humanitarian chief Posted: 09 Mar 2015 04:43 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed British lawmaker Stephen O'Brien as the next U.N. humanitarian chief on Monday in a closely watched move sparked by controversy over whether Britain should keep the high-level post.

US urges Europe to contribute more peacekeepers Posted: 09 Mar 2015 04:42 PM PDT Washington's UN envoy Samantha Power urged European countries on Monday to contribute more troops to UN peacekeeping missions, saying their experience in Afghanistan could prove crucial. US President Barack Obama will bring world leaders together on the sidelines of the next UN Assembly General in New York in September to push them to take part in more peacekeeping missions, Power said in a speech in Brussels. "European countries have drawn back from peacekeeping... It is essential each of us does our fair share," Power told the Friends of Europe think tank in Brussels.

'Urgent need' for unified anti-jihadist force: Arab League Posted: 09 Mar 2015 04:29 PM PDT Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi called on Monday for the creation of a unified Arab force to battle the spread of Islamic extremist groups. "There is an urgent need for the creation of a multi-purpose common Arab military force... able to intervene rapidly to fight terrorism and the activities of terrorist groups," Arabi told a meeting of league foreign ministers in Cairo. Arab League deputy chief Ahmed Ben Helli told reporters last week that the bloc's leaders are expected to focus on the creation of such a common force when they meet for its annual summit on March 28-29 in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has also called for such a force, saying it is needed to confront security threats in a region where the jihadist Islamic State group holds swathes of Syria and Iraq and has gained a foothold in Egypt's neighbour Libya.

Egyptian president pushes U.S. for military aid in Fox News interview Posted: 09 Mar 2015 04:21 PM PDT Egypt's president called for increased U.S. military aid and creation of a regional coalition to fight Islamic State in an interview with Fox News that aired on Monday, just days before the United States sends its top diplomat to the country. "It is very important for the United States to understand that our need for the weapons and for the equipment is dire, especially at the time when the Egyptians feel they are fighting terrorism and they would like to feel the United States is standing by them in that fight against terrorism," said President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Sisi after he arrives in Egypt on Thursday for the Egypt Economic Development Conference, the State Department said on Monday. Kerry will also meet with other senior Egyptian leaders to discuss "a range of bilateral and global issues," including efforts against Islamic State militants, Libya and Syria's crisis, according to the department.

Woman now in wheelchair testifies at Boston bombing trial Posted: 09 Mar 2015 04:14 PM PDT BOSTON (AP) — A woman testifying from a wheelchair Monday in the Boston Marathon bombing trial recalled shielding her husband from the sight of his mangled leg, being pushed to the ground by a bystander frantically trying to extinguish the flames on her body and coming to grips with becoming a double amputee.

Prague approves warplanes sale to Iraq to fight jihadists Posted: 09 Mar 2015 03:53 PM PDT The Czech government on Monday approved the sale of 15 combat and training L-159 jets to help Baghdad fight the jihadist Islamic State group, the defence minister told reporters. "We are looking at a total of 15 warplanes, four of which come from the Czech air force, while 11 others come from surplus stock," Martin Stropnicky said. The contract with Baghdad, whose troops have faced a major jihadist onslaught since June, also envisages the sale of ground equipment, weapons and ammunition. Because of budget cuts, the air force has only held on to some 30 jets since.

UN Security Council to meet on 'persecution' of Mideast Christians Posted: 09 Mar 2015 03:38 PM PDT The UN Security Council is to meet on March 27 to oppose the growing persecution of Christians in the Middle East, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday.

'Chappie' tops US weekend box office, 'Sniper' rules 2014 Posted: 09 Mar 2015 03:06 PM PDT Artificial intelligence thriller "Chappie" debuted atop the North American box office over the weekend, while "American Sniper" became the biggest hit of 2014, data showed Monday. Clint Eastwood's Iraq war drama edged ahead of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" for a film released last year, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "Whether you liked 'American Sniper' or not, it's a good thing for the industry having a drama become the biggest box office hit of the year domestically," Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock told AFP. Clint Eastwood, even with all his Oscar glory, has never had a hit like this," he added.

British MP O'Brien named UN humanitarian aid chief Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:27 PM PDT UN chief Ban Ki-moon appointed British lawmaker Stephen O'Brien on Monday as the UN's humanitarian aid chief tasked with leading global relief efforts at a time of worsening conflicts. O'Brien will replace Valerie Amos, who served as under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator for the past four years, earning high praise for her commitment in one of the UN's most demanding posts. The 57-year-old Conservative politician served as Prime Minister David Cameron's envoy for the Sahel since 2012 and was parliamentary under-secretary of state for international development from 2010 to 2012.

What does Boko Haram's pledge to Islamic State really mean? Posted: 09 Mar 2015 01:41 PM PDT The most immediate payoff from Boko Haram's new pledge of allegiance to the self-described Islamic State is likely a propaganda boost: Boko Haram gets an expanded social media presence with the help of skilled IS propagandists, while IS gains the support of its largest affiliate yet. "But the biggest issue with Boko Haram is that it's not a homogeneous group and it behaves as different factions. Since its inception six years ago, Boko Haram has focused its campaign almost exclusively on Borno, a state in the country's isolated northeast. Still, analysts say the potential alliance – IS leaders have yet to formally respond to Boko Haram's pledge – could internationalize a threat that until now has been mostly confined to a single region of Nigeria.

France wants U.N. Security Council meeting on minorities in Middle East Posted: 09 Mar 2015 01:03 PM PDT France is calling for a U.N. Security Council meeting on March 27 to discuss the situation of minorities in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday. Fabius told a news conference in Rabat he would chair the meeting which would discuss the problems of Christians and other minorities in the region. Islamic State militants have killed hundreds of Iraq and Syrian Yazidis and Christians, burying some alive and taking hundreds of women as slaves. Last month, Islamist militants loyal to the Islamic State group released a video that appeared to show the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya.

Qaeda in Syria denies plan to break away Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:47 PM PDT Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front on Monday reaffirmed its allegiance to the global extremist network and denied any plan to break away and become a more internationally acceptable rebel force. Al-Nusra "completely denies reports of a break-up with Al-Qaeda," the group said in a statement released on Twitter. It said Al-Nusra "remains the backbone of jihadists" in Syria, "the first into battle, dedicated to unifying the ranks around sharia (Islamic law)... righting injustice and defending the disadvantaged". An official branch of Al-Qaeda since April 2013, the group dominates a swathe of northwest Syria despite months of US-led coalition airstrikes.

Iraq's divide could strain anti-IS coalition: US Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:42 PM PDT The international coalition fighting Islamic State extremists could be jeopardised if the Baghdad government fails to bridge Iraq's sectarian divide, the US military's top officer warned Monday. Iraq's political leaders have yet to deliver on promises to reach out to the Sunni population and have raised concerns in the region by forging closer ties to Shiite-led Iran, General Martin Dempsey said after spending several hours in Baghdad.

Kurdish forces attack Islamic State west of Kirkuk Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:12 PM PDT By Isabel Coles ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Kurdish forces drove Islamic State militants back from the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq on Monday, in an advance backed by heavy air strikes from a U.S.-led coalition. Speaking to a local television channel near the frontline, Kirkuk governor Najmaldin Karim, who was wearing a helmet, said the purpose of the offensive was to secure Kirkuk, which the Kurds have held since last summer. Kurdish fighters retook around 100 square km (40 square miles), including about a dozen villages, from Islamic State to the south and west of Kirkuk, killing some 100 militants, a statement from the region's security council said.

Sidelined in Tikrit, U.S. says war on Islamic State will be won Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:12 PM PDT By Saif Hameed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer said on Monday that Islamic State would be defeated, as he visited Baghdad during an offensive against the radical insurgents which has seen Washington's military role overshadowed by Iran. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey held talks with Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi while Iraqi troops and mainly Shi'ite Muslim militia backed by Iran battled to retake the city of Tikrit from the Islamic State.

How the oil price drop can lift a 'curse' Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:11 PM PDT Is this a moment to finally end the "resource curse"? It's a question many experts are asking as oil-exporting nations from Venezuela to Russia – supposedly "cursed" by an overdependency on easy natural wealth – cope with a deep plunge in oil prices and, more important, the strong possibility of low prices for years. "What we're witnessing in part ... is the failure of the petrostate, where the resource curse has finally reached its logical conclusion," says Edward Morse, head of commodities research at Citibank, who adds that $100 a barrel may not be seen for a very long time.

Chad, Niger soldiers killed as Boko Haram loses Nigerian towns Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:05 PM PDT By Abdoulaye Massalaki and Madjiasra Nako NIAMEY/N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - About 15 soldiers from Chad and Niger died in fighting to take control of two towns in northern Nigeria from Boko Haram, the first gains against the militants in a joint offensive launched at the weekend, military sources said on Monday. About 30 Nigerien and Chadian soldiers were wounded in the clashes over Malam Fatouri and Damasak, a day after thousands of troops crossed the border to seize areas held by the Sunni Islamist group, whose insurgency has forced Nigeria to delay an election and neighbors to mobilize their armies. Two sources with Niger's military told Reuters five of its soldiers were killed in the clashes. There was no official comment from the armies of either Chad or Niger.

Yemen Houthis launch 'martyr' videos to raise morale Posted: 09 Mar 2015 11:24 AM PDT Iranian-allied Houthi militants have released videos made by their fighters before they were killed in action which highlight the sectarian nature of the conflict in Yemen. The Shi'ite Muslim group seized the capital Sanaa and much of the north in September and have since battled Sunni tribesmen backed by al Qaeda militants in Yemen's central mountains, fighting in which dozens of people have been killed every week. Sixteen videos posted online by the Houthi channel al-Masira in an apparent bid to boost morale show bearded fighters in green headbands brandishing rifles, urging obedience to their leader Abdel Malik al-Houthi and praising death in the cause of "holy war". I ask Him to grant us martyrdom for his sake," says Yahya Abdullah al-Thaan, described by a subtitle as a "martyr".

Supercomputer-Powered Drones Shut Down Rhino Poaching in This Park—Can They Save Africa’s Elephants Too? Posted: 09 Mar 2015 11:04 AM PDT Drones deployed in South Africa's Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park have eliminated the killing of endangered rhinoceroses over the past six months, according to Air Shepherd, the nonprofit program that operates the machines. "It works because we can see the animals and the poachers in the dark with our thermal imaging cameras, and we already know where they're both going to be, before they're there," said John Petersen, chairman of the Minnesota-based nonprofit Lindbergh Foundation, which runs Air Shepherd. The drones offer new hope to save Africa's endangered elephants and rhinos, which are being massacred for their ivory and horns. In the last three years, poachers have killed 100,000 African elephants, and last year more than 1,200 rhinos were butchered in South Africa alone.

News Guide: Latest developments on Islamic State group Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:45 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The international fight against the Islamic State group flared on several fronts over the past 24 hours, with reports emerging from Syria of a German woman killed fighting against the militants and an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition destroying an oil refinery in IS-controlled territory.

Brian Williams Wanted to Host 'Tonight Show' and 7 Revelations From New York Magazine's NBC News Expose Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:31 AM PDT NBC News president Deborah Turness gave Williams a writing table once owned by Edward R. Murrow to convince him to stay at the division and once accused Chuck Todd's agent of creating bad press about David Gregory.

Iraqi minister: We're comfortable receiving aid from Iran Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:25 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — The top US military official said Monday he is "a bit concerned" about whether the international coalition fighting the Islamic State is sustainable for the longer-term challenge of confronting extremists in other regions.

Under new king, Saudi interests may diverge from Egypt Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:52 AM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Under its new monarch, Saudi Arabia appears to be moving to improve relations with Turkey and Qatar and soften its stance against the Muslim Brotherhood with the aim of weakening Iran. The shift could lead to pressure on its ally Egypt to reconcile with them as well.

Czech government approves sale of fighter jets to Iraq Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PDT The Czech government has approved a sale of 15 subsonic fighter planes to Iraq, the defense minister said on Monday, following the failure of a previous attempt to offload surplus stock to Baghdad. The Czech military has a surplus of the L-159 fighters, made by Czech firm Aero Vodochody and used as training or light combat aircraft, and has been looking for a buyer. "Let's believe ... we can get rid of all the surplus planes in two to three years," Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky told journalists after a regular cabinet meeting. Four of the planes are currently being used by the Czech air force, while the remaining 11 are stored by the plane maker.

Islamic State infighting in Syria kills nine: monitor Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:05 AM PDT At least nine members of Islamic State were killed during infighting in northwestern Syria after some of them tried to flee over the Turkish border, a group monitoring the conflict said on Monday. The fighters clashed on Saturday near the town of al-Bab, 30 km (20 miles) south of the Turkish frontier, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Those trying to escape included one Tunisian and nine European fighters, the Observatory's Rami Abdulrahman said, adding it was not clear exactly which members of that group had been killed. It is not the first time that Islamic State, which controls tracts of Syria and Iraq, has killed its own members.

In IS backlash, Amman cleaners swap orange for turquoise Posted: 09 Mar 2015 08:59 AM PDT AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Turquoise is the new orange — for Amman's 5,000 sanitation workers.

Iraqi Kurds say keeping their side of Baghdad oil deal Posted: 09 Mar 2015 08:33 AM PDT By Isabel Coles ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Kurdistan said Monday it is on course to keep its side of an oil export deal reached with Baghdad in December, as loadings from the region reached the highest since it was struck. By the end of February, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had supplied almost 97 percent of the crude oil it agreed to hand over to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) during that period, according to a statement from the Kurdish Ministry of Natural Resources. Loading data from the Turkish port of Ceyhan on Monday showed exports from northern Iraq are set to reach 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the first time since the agreement was struck, from an average of 350,000 bpd over the past week and some 275,000-300,000 in February and January.

Regional troops retake Nigerian town from Boko Haram Posted: 09 Mar 2015 08:28 AM PDT N'Djamena (AFP) - Troops from Chad and Niger have retaken the northeastern Nigerian town of Damasak from Boko Haram as part of a regional offensive to combat the militants who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Boko Haram had held the town near the Niger border since November, part of a swathe of territory it had seized in Nigeria's northeast, where the group's six-year insurgency has been based. According to the source, some 200 Boko Haram fighters were left dead in the offensive that began Sunday, while 10 Chadian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded. A hospital source in Niger's Diffa, across the border from Damasak, spoke of 33 soldiers wounded, without providing their nationalities.

U.S., allies conduct 14 air strikes in Syria, Iraq: statement Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:37 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. and coalition forces conducted five air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Syria and nine in Iraq since early Sunday, the U.S. military said on Monday. In Syria, the strikes near Kobani hit a tactical unit and an oil refinery, and also destroyed seven fighting positions and a vehicle, the military said in a statement. In Iraq, strikes hit tactical units, vehicles, a storage facility and a bunker near Kirkuk, Tal Afar, Al Qaim, Fallujah and Haditha, the statement said. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)

Czech state clears sale of military aircraft to Iraq Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:36 AM PDT The Czech Republic's government says it has approved a deal to deliver 15 Czech-made light combat planes to Iraq. Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky says the military will sell the subsonic L-159 planes ...

Arab League calls for multinational force to fight militants Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:23 AM PDT The Arab League called for the creation of a regional force to combat militants as countries face a growing threat from Islamic State and other groups. The ultra-radical group has taken over swathes of Iraq and Syria and splinter groups in other countries like Egypt and Libya have pledged allegiance to it. The United States leads a coalition that is fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

IS beheaded Libyan guards in attack that seized 9 foreigners Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:09 AM PDT TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Militants from Libya's Islamic State affiliate beheaded eight Libyan guards in an attack on a central oil field last week during which the extremists abducted nine foreigners, a Libyan spokesman said Monday.

Chad soldiers killed as Boko Haram lose Nigerian towns Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:49 AM PDT By Abdoulaye Massalaki and Madjiasra Nako NIAMEY/N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - About ten Chadian soldiers died in fighting to free two towns in northern Nigeria previously held by Boko Haram, the first gains against the militants made in a joint offensive launched with Niger at the weekend, military sources said on Monday. About 30 Nigerien and Chadian soldiers were wounded in clashes over Malam Fatouri and Damasak, a day after thousands of troops crossed the border to retake areas held by the Sunni Islamist group, whose insurgency has forced Nigeria to delay an election and neighbours to mobilise their armies. "We have kicked the enemy out of these areas and they are now under our control," one of the Niger military sources said. Damasak, the town furthest into Nigeria, is 10 km (6 miles) south of the Niger border, where Niger and Chadian troops have been massing in recent weeks ahead of the offensive.

A look at key events in Syria since March 2011 Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:48 AM PDT As the Syrian crisis ends its fourth year, here are some of the key events since the uprising against President Bashar Assad began:

Syria's 4-year march toward destruction Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:12 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — It began in March 2011 with a few words spray-painted on a schoolyard wall: "Your turn is coming, doctor." The doctor in question was Syrian President Bashar Assad, a trained ophthalmologist whose family has ruled the country for more than 40 years.

Activists reflect on Syria's spiral from protests to horror Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:04 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Abed Hakawati spends his days in a devastated, rebel-held neighborhood of Aleppo, writing graffiti on the walls to remind residents and rebels alike of the original goals of the uprising that erupted four years ago: "Freedom, dignity and social equality."

Islamic State: US airstrikes, internal divisions take toll on militants Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:01 AM PDT Reports of new attacks in territory held by the self-declared Islamic State suggest that the jihadist group may be struggling to maintain its infrastructure and that its supply of volunteer fighters could be starting to thin.

German military says worried about Islamists infiltrating to get arms training Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:32 AM PDT The head of Germany's military intelligence says he fears its armed forces could be infiltrated by Islamist militants to obtain weapons training for use in fighting in Syria and Iraq for insurgent groups like Islamic State. "If a moderately intelligent Islamist turns up who conceals the motives for his interest, it would be difficult to prevent him from being recruited," Christof Gramm, head of the intelligence service known by its acronym MAD, told the German daily Die Welt in an interview. No serving members of the Bundeswehr armed forces are among the estimated 600 German citizens who have joined the jihadists, Gramm said, "but we have identified over 20 former German soldiers who are known to have traveled to the conflict zone". The MAD chief said he wants to introduce background checks on potential recruits, adding that it was routine for people who are going to work with secret documents or in sensitive areas of the economic infrastructure, "but for people who are going to be trained in weapons of war, there are no prior checks".

'American Sniper' becomes top-grossing 2014 release Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:14 AM PDT Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" has become the highest grossing war-themed flick of all time, as the film, which portrays the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle played by Bradley Cooper, achieved two major milestones over the weekend. The film emerged as North America's top-earning release of 2014 and jumped the $500 million mark globally.

Hungary planning to send troops to Iraq to join IS fight Posted: 09 Mar 2015 04:50 AM PDT BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's prime minister says his government will ask parliament to authorize sending Hungarian troops to join its western allies in the fight against the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq.

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