Yahoo! News: Iraq

---

• Drifter charged with murder over Colorado shooting
• House may move quickly to overhaul visa waiver program
• Iraq blames Iran after thousands of pilgrims storm border crossing
• Suspect in Colorado clinic shooting told he faces murder charge
• Britain to vote on Syria strikes this week, PM confident of support
• Britain set to back Syria air strikes in vote Wednesday
• White House zeroes in on visa waiver program. Will Congress follow suit?
• British leader sets Syria airstrikes debate for Wednesday
• Britain to hold vote on launching Syria air strikes on Wednesday
• U.S. tightens visa waiver program in wake of Paris attacks
• France carries out strikes on IS in Iraq after Paris attacks
• Deadly Kurd-Islamist clashes in northern Syria
• The Latest: Vienna orchestra to buy home for 4 families
• Jewish Kurds hold groundbreaking Iraq commemoration
• Planned Parenthood victim died warning others about gunman
• Iran pilgrims stampede at Iraq border point
• A look at victims of Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting
• Lukoil's 3Q profits fall 61%
• The Latest: Documents sealed in Planned Parenthood attack
• Syria denies using chemical weapons in civil war
• Dialogue Training for Future Religious Peacemakers
• Report: Turkey detains 1,300 migrants in sweep
• Suicide bombing against Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad kills 9
• US-backed rebels, rival insurgents clash in Syria, 20 killed
• Planned Parenthood victims spent final moments helping others
• Hours after EU deal, Turkey rounds up 1,300 migrants bound for Greece
• Germany mulls sending up to 1,200 troops on Syria mission
• UAE says ready to commit troops to fight Syria jihadists
• Iranian general Soleimani denies rumors of his death
• Kerry to back Kosovo reforms on first Balkan trip as U.S. diplomat
• Iraq War veteran killed at Planned Parenthood was trying to save others, his family says
• Iraq: Suicide bombing against Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad kills 9, wounds 21.
• Britain's Labour haunted by ghosts of conflicts past
• Don’t expect Saudi Arabia to back down when OPEC meets
• Iraq War Vet, Mother of 2 Slain in Planned Parenthood Shooting
• U.S., allies conduct 15 air strikes against Islamic State: statement
• Iraq PM says country has sufficient forces to fight IS
• Congress Prepares Huge Tax-Break Giveaways for 2015
• Obama’s Job Now: Fight ISIS All-In as Turkey Plays Both Sides
• GOP's strong words on Muslims incur little political cost

Drifter charged with murder over Colorado shooting Posted: 30 Nov 2015 02:54 PM PST A drifter arrested over a shooting spree that killed three people and wounded nine at a family planning center in Colorado was charged on Monday with first-degree murder. Robert Lewis Dear, 57, made his first court appearance via video link from the El Paso County jail in Colorado Springs, where he is being held, wearing what appeared to be a protective vest. Several relatives of those killed or wounded in last Friday's shooting at the Planned Parenthood clinic watched the proceedings in the courtroom.

House may move quickly to overhaul visa waiver program Posted: 30 Nov 2015 02:13 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress may move quickly to overhaul a program that allows travel to the U.S. with no visa, something that has come under criticism following the Paris terror attacks.

Iraq blames Iran after thousands of pilgrims storm border crossing Posted: 30 Nov 2015 02:04 PM PST Iraq's interior ministry blamed Iranian authorities on Monday for allowing tens of thousands of Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims to storm a border crossing and enter the country without visas, in a rare public confrontation between the two neighbors. The ministry said in a statement that the pilgrims, traveling on foot toward the Shi'ite shrine city of Karbala to take part in the annual Arbaeen religious ritual, overwhelmed security forces on Sunday, pulling down fences and injuring border guards. It accused them of deliberately rushing the border crossing in order to pressure security forces to allow them to enter illegally, and it said the border guards had refrained from exercising their right to use force against them.

Suspect in Colorado clinic shooting told he faces murder charge Posted: 30 Nov 2015 02:02 PM PST By Keith Coffman COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) - The man accused of killing three people and wounding nine in a shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs was told he faces charges including first-degree murder during his first court appearance on Monday. Robert Lewis Dear, 57, appearing by video link from jail, spoke only to tell the judge he had no questions. There was no discussion of the suspect's motives during the brief hearing, and formal charges will be filed at a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 9.

Britain to vote on Syria strikes this week, PM confident of support Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:18 PM PST By William James LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's parliament will vote on bombing Syria on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said, confident he can secure its approval after the opposition Labour Party allowed its members to vote freely on the issue. Cameron believes it is time to join other Western powers in bombing Islamic State militants in Syria, saying Britain could not "subcontract" its security to others after the group claimed responsibility for killing 130 people in Paris this month. By calling the debate this week it was clear the prime minister was sure he had won over some skeptical members in his own ruling Conservative Party and others in the Labour Party, which is deeply divided on launching strikes.

Britain set to back Syria air strikes in vote Wednesday Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:17 PM PST Britain looks poised to join air strikes on Islamic State (IS) group targets in Syria this week after Prime Minister David Cameron announced Monday that a vote would be held in parliament Wednesday. The announcement came after the main opposition Labour party decided to let its MPs vote with their individual consciences rather than trying to force them to oppose military action, meaning Cameron is set to get the clear majority he wanted. "I can announce that I will be recommending to Cabinet tomorrow that we hold a debate and a vote in the House of Commons to extend the air strikes," Cameron said in a televised statement.

White House zeroes in on visa waiver program. Will Congress follow suit? Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:08 PM PST In an effort to respond to security concerns after the Paris attacks, the Obama administration on Monday announced changes to the US program that lets tourists from nearly 40 countries into the country without a visa. The announcement comes as lawmakers from both parties point out that the "visa waiver" program could pose a greater security threat than the more hot-button issue of resettling Syrian refugees across the nation. The current program permits passport holders from 38 countries, including Belgium and France, to enter the United States without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.

British leader sets Syria airstrikes debate for Wednesday Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:48 PM PST LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister David Cameron called for a debate and vote in Parliament on Wednesday on whether Britain should launch airstrikes against militants in Syria, arguing that the nation must stand with its allies in confronting extremism.

Britain to hold vote on launching Syria air strikes on Wednesday Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:45 PM PST Prime Minister David Cameron said he would hold a debate and vote in parliament on Wednesday to decide whether to launch air strikes against Islamic State in Syria. "I will be recommending to Cabinet tomorrow that we hold a debate and a vote in the House of Commons to extend the air strikes that we've carried out against ISIL in Iraq, that we extend that to Syria," he said in a televised statement.

U.S. tightens visa waiver program in wake of Paris attacks Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:38 PM PST By Roberta Rampton and Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House announced changes to the U.S. visa waiver program on Monday so that security officials can more closely screen travelers from 38 countries allowed to enter the United States without obtaining visas before they travel. Under the new measures, which were prompted by the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris by Islamic State militants, the Department of Homeland Security would immediately start to collect more information from travelers about past visits to countries such as Syria and Iraq, the White House said.

France carries out strikes on IS in Iraq after Paris attacks Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:24 PM PST PARIS (AP) — France says it has carried out five airstrikes in northern Iraq as part of stepped-up military operations against Islamic State militants.

Deadly Kurd-Islamist clashes in northern Syria Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:15 PM PST Islamists and a US-backed alliance of Kurds and Arabs have fought deadly clashes in Syria, a monitor said Monday, as the almost five-year-old conflict draws in more local and international players. At least 23 fighters were killed in the fighting between the Kurdish-led alliance and the Islamist rebels who include Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Fifteen fighters from Al-Nusra and its allies were killed Sunday, along with at least eight members of the Syrian Democratic Forces dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

The Latest: Vienna orchestra to buy home for 4 families Posted: 30 Nov 2015 11:44 AM PST BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The latest on the mass movement of asylum-seekers and others seeking refuge in Europe. All times local:

Jewish Kurds hold groundbreaking Iraq commemoration Posted: 30 Nov 2015 11:41 AM PST A ceremony marking the deportation of Jews from Iraq seven decades ago was held for the first time on Monday in the country's autonomous Kurdish region. It also marked the beginning of Jewish representation in the Kurdistan region's religious-affairs ministry as a result of a law passed in May to promote minority rights. "The law says that if there was one person from the followers of any religion, his rights are preserved," said Sherzad Omar Mamsani, the Jewish representative at the Kurdish regional ministry.

Planned Parenthood victim died warning others about gunman Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:20 AM PST After being shot outside the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic Friday, Iraq War veteran Ke'Arre Stewart ran inside to warn the others.. With his last breaths, his brother said in an interview with NBC, the father of two tried to save the lives of those still in the clinic. Calling his brother a hero, Leyonte Chandler recounted Mr. Stewart's involvement in the five-hour standoff.

Iran pilgrims stampede at Iraq border point Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:12 AM PST A mass of Iranian pilgrims heading to Iraq for religious rites broke down fences and injured border guards in a stampede, the interior ministry said on Monday, blaming Tehran. Iranian officials said measures were taken to control the flow of pilgrims at the border while the security forces said they foiled two suicide attacks in Baghdad against the Shiite pilgrims. The Zurbattiyah border point has seen heavy traffic as the pilgrims cross from Iran to take part in mourning rituals for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who is buried in Iraq.

A look at victims of Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting Posted: 30 Nov 2015 10:08 AM PST COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A gunman killed three people at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, including a police officer and two people accompanying friends to the clinic Friday.

Lukoil's 3Q profits fall 61% Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:56 AM PST Russia's largest private oil firm Lukoil said Monday its profits dropped 61 percent in the third quarter compared with a year earlier due to the slide in oil prices. Analysts interviewed by Interfax news agency had estimated net profits at $795 million. Lukoil's revenues slightly exceeded analysts' expectations, even though they dropped 39 percent to $23.4 billion in the third quarter compared with the same period last year.

The Latest: Documents sealed in Planned Parenthood attack Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:44 AM PST COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The latest on the shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic (all times local):

Syria denies using chemical weapons in civil war Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:23 AM PST Syria on Monday denied ever using chemical weapons in its four-year-old civil war, telling a global watchdog it was cooperating fully with the destruction of its toxic stockpile. Damascus's rebuttal comes amid growing accusations it is not being transparent with the world's chemical watchdog and as United Nations efforts are stepped up to track down the perpetrators of deadly chlorine gas attacks in the war-torn country last year. "We wish here to state categorically that we have never used chlorine or any other toxic chemicals during any incidents or any other operations in the Syrian Arab Republic since the beginning of the crisis and up to this very day," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Moqdad told the annual meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Dialogue Training for Future Religious Peacemakers Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:15 AM PST VIENNA, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty religious educators and scholars from around the world have been accepted into the second KAICIID Fellows Programme, a year-long programme of training in conflict resolution, and social cohesion, the Vienna-based intergovernmental organization announced today. Almost half of them come from countries which are currently undergoing periods of violent conflict with religion as a factor, such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nigeria and Iraq. The training programme aims to equip educators from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim training institutions with the skills to train a new generation of religious leaders in conflict prevention, interreligious dialogue and social cohesion, so that they, in turn, can be active peacemakers in their communities.

Report: Turkey detains 1,300 migrants in sweep Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:58 AM PST ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Authorities in northwestern Turkey on Monday rounded up some 1,300 asylum seekers and migrants allegedly preparing to make their way into Greece, Turkey's state-run news agency reported.

Suicide bombing against Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad kills 9 Posted: 30 Nov 2015 08:38 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber targeted Shiite Muslims taking part in an annual pilgrimage in Baghdad on Monday, killing nine people and wounding another 21, Iraqi security officials said.

US-backed rebels, rival insurgents clash in Syria, 20 killed Posted: 30 Nov 2015 07:50 AM PST BEIRUT (AP) — Fighting between U.S.-backed Syrian rebels and rival militants has killed more than 20 people in northern Syria over the past two days, opposition activists said on Monday.

Planned Parenthood victims spent final moments helping others Posted: 30 Nov 2015 07:39 AM PST In the days after a shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood on Friday left three people dead and nine injured, details are starting to emerge about the victims. Ke'Arre Stewart, was a veteran and father of two girls, "the most sincere person," a lifelong friend said she had ever met. Jennifer Markovsky was a 35-year-old married mother of two, originally from Hawaii.

Hours after EU deal, Turkey rounds up 1,300 migrants bound for Greece Posted: 30 Nov 2015 07:37 AM PST Turkish authorities rounded up some 1,300 migrants on Monday that they said were planning to sail to Greece from hideouts near secluded Aegean beaches and forests, hours after striking a deal with the European Union on stemming refugee flows. In the largest operation of its kind in recent months, the migrants were sent to a repatriation center where some could face deportation, the officials said. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday struck a deal with EU leaders to prevent migrants from traveling to Europe in return for 3 billion euros (dollars) in cash, a deal on visas and renewed talks on joining the 28-nation bloc.

Germany mulls sending up to 1,200 troops on Syria mission Posted: 30 Nov 2015 07:03 AM PST BERLIN (AP) — Germany is planning to send up to 1,200 troops to support the international coalition fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria, officials said Monday.

UAE says ready to commit troops to fight Syria jihadists Posted: 30 Nov 2015 06:59 AM PST The United Arab Emirates has said it is ready to commit ground troops against jihadists in Syria and described Russian air strikes in the country as attacks on a "common enemy". Quoted by the official WAM news agency on Monday, Emirati State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said the UAE would "participate in any international effort demanding a ground intervention to fight terrorism". "Regional countries must bear part of the burden" of such an intervention, he said during a Sunday discussion on Syria.

Iranian general Soleimani denies rumors of his death Posted: 30 Nov 2015 06:55 AM PST The commander of foreign operations by Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards has shrugged off reports of his death or injury in fighting in Syria, an Iranian news agency said on Monday. Suggestions that General Qassem Soleimani had been hurt or killed were widespread in recent weeks. The Guards denied them repeatedly and said they were part of a "psychological war".

Kerry to back Kosovo reforms on first Balkan trip as U.S. diplomat Posted: 30 Nov 2015 06:52 AM PST By Arshad Mohammed and Fatos Bytyci PARIS/PRISTINA (Reuters) - John Kerry, on his first trip to the Balkans as U.S. secretary of state, visits Kosovo on Wednesday to underscore Western concern over the slow pace of progress 16 years after a U.S.-led air war set it on the road to independence. Kosovo faces a deepening political crisis over relations with former master Serbia, against a backdrop of widespread frustration over a lack of progress on democracy, corruption and Western integration. The country of 1.8 million people, the majority ethnic Albanians, broke away from Serbia in 1999 when the United States led an 11-week NATO bombing campaign to halt the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanian civilians by Serbian security forces fighting a two-year counter-insurgency war.

Iraq War veteran killed at Planned Parenthood was trying to save others, his family says Posted: 30 Nov 2015 06:40 AM PST Ke'Arre Stewart had stepped outside the building to get cellphone service when he was shot, his brother told NBC News. The 29-year-old then ran back inside, telling people inside the clinic to take cover.

Iraq: Suicide bombing against Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad kills 9, wounds 21. Posted: 30 Nov 2015 06:20 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq: Suicide bombing against Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad kills 9, wounds 21.

Britain's Labour haunted by ghosts of conflicts past Posted: 30 Nov 2015 06:07 AM PST The leader of Britain's opposition Labour party faces a critical dilemma on Monday -- allow his MPs a free vote on joining Syria air strikes and weaken his leadership or order them to vote against and risk rebellion. The row within the country's main opposition party on whether to bomb Syria has deepened splits over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, while reviving uncomfortable memories over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to call a vote this week on joining the international coalition targeting Islamic State jihadists, but needs support from some Labour MPs to secure a majority.

Don’t expect Saudi Arabia to back down when OPEC meets Posted: 30 Nov 2015 04:35 AM PST The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will hold their final meeting of the year on Friday, with oil prices down by nearly 30% since the last summit.

Iraq War Vet, Mother of 2 Slain in Planned Parenthood Shooting Posted: 30 Nov 2015 04:32 AM PST The victims were identified as Jennifer Markovsky and Ke'Arre Stewart.

U.S., allies conduct 15 air strikes against Islamic State: statement Posted: 30 Nov 2015 04:26 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies have conducted 15 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement Monday. In Iraq, 12 air strikes near seven cities, including five near Ramadi, struck six of the militant group's tactical units as well as several fighting positions and vehicles, the Combined Joint Task Force's statement said. Three strikes near Dayr Az Zawr and Al Hawl in Syria hit another tactical unit and destroyed an Islamic State checkpoint as well as several pieces of equipment used by the ...

Iraq PM says country has sufficient forces to fight IS Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:44 AM PST Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Monday that Iraq has sufficient forces to fight the Islamic State group, after American senators called for more US troops to deployed to the country. "The Iraqi government welcomes an increase in support in weapons and training and (air) support from international partners in our war against Daesh," Abadi said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Abadi's remarks came a day after American senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham advocated an increase in US forces in Iraq to around 10,000 from the current cap of 3,550.

Congress Prepares Huge Tax-Break Giveaways for 2015 Posted: 30 Nov 2015 03:30 AM PST With the holiday season upon us, Congress and the White House are once again engaging in the ritual of parceling out tens of billions of dollars in tax breaks and other goodies to just about every conceivable interest group – from well-heeled corporate executives and film producers to rum makers, horse breeders and just plain Americans looking for a tax break or two. Instead, lawmakers and the administration will be wrestling with decisions on the fate of 55 or so highly obscure but often extraordinarily costly tax breaks that lapsed at the end of 2014 and must be reauthorized retroactively for the 2015 tax year. GOP House and Senate leaders will make a big push soon to try to work out a two-year compromise with the White House before the Christmas recess.

Obama’s Job Now: Fight ISIS All-In as Turkey Plays Both Sides Posted: 30 Nov 2015 02:30 AM PST Turkey's stunningly rash decision last week to down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet flying an anti-terrorist mission near the Turkish-Syrian border alters the calculus in the Syria crisis at least as much as the ISIS 's November 13 attacks in Paris did. It's time to hold the government of Recip Tayyip Erdoğan up to the light and see it as it is. The blunt, ugly truth is that Turkey is part of the problem in Syria, not the solution.

GOP's strong words on Muslims incur little political cost Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:52 AM PST Some leading Republican presidential candidates seem to view Muslims as fair game for increasingly harsh words they might use with more caution against any other group for fear of the political cost. So far, that strategy is winning support from conservatives influential in picking the nominee.

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