Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Text: Mitt Romney speech slamming Donald Trump
• Republican foreign policy veterans rebuke Trump worldview
• US terror update warns of farflung threats, urges vigilance
• The Groups Trying to Stop Donald Trump
• 5 reasons to flee the U.S. for Canada
• Paul Haven named AP news director for Latam and Caribbean
• Tunisia Nobel winners condemn blacklisting of Hezbollah
• What does France and Britain's drone deal mean for their security relationship?
• Could Saudi pressure tip Lebanon's political balance?
• Spanish police seize 20,000 military uniforms bound for jihadists
• EU mulls 'large-scale' migrant deportation scheme
• Lebanon's Hezbollah slams Gulf 'terror' listing
• Panels & topics announced for "Israel's Influence: Good or Bad for America?" conference
• Arrested jihadists planned 'biological' attacks: Morocco
• The Latest: Freight trains resume between Greece, Macedonia
• Tunisia raid on militants foiled attack plot from Libya: PM
• Jordan gets U.S. Black Hawk helicopters to bolster defenses
• France, Britain seal $2 billion drone deal, pressure Russia on Syria
• EU fate at stake on muddy Greek border as migrants trapped
• Germany investigating possible religious motive behind attack on policeman
• After Ukraine, Kazakhstan wary of ethnic Russians broaching autonomy
• US delivers 8 Black Hawks to Jordan for its anti-IS battle
• Europe's 2016 migrant crisis in figures
• Saudi cleric's shooting in Philippines captured on TV
• U.S. leads 29 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq, Syria: U.S. military
• German police arrest doctor suspected of recruiting suicide bomber for IS
• Germany: Doctor arrested for backing suspected IS bomber
• The Photographer Who Was Roughed Up at the Trump Rally

Text: Mitt Romney speech slamming Donald Trump Posted: 03 Mar 2016 04:17 PM PST (Reuters) - The following is the full text of the speech delivered on Thursday by former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 Republican nominee for U.S. president Mitt Romney to the Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. In 1964, days before the presidential election which, incidentally, we lost, Ronald Reagan went on national television and challenged America saying that it was a "Time for Choosing." He saw two paths for America, one that embraced conservative principles dedicated to lifting people out of poverty and helping create opportunity for all, and the other, an oppressive government that would lead America down a darker, less free path. America will remain as it is today, the envy of the world.

Republican foreign policy veterans rebuke Trump worldview Posted: 03 Mar 2016 04:17 PM PST By Warren Strobel, Jonathan Landay and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 90 Republican foreign policy veterans have pledged to oppose Donald Trump, saying his proposals would undermine U.S. security, in the latest sign of fissures between the Republican presidential front-runner and the party establishment. "This is really drawing a bright moral line and saying that if we're going to keep our souls, we can't cross it," said Eliot Cohen, who served as counselor to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and helped spearhead the letter.

US terror update warns of farflung threats, urges vigilance Posted: 03 Mar 2016 03:07 PM PST The United States updated its "Worldwide Caution" to American travelers Thursday, warning that the Islamic State group, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, al-Shebab and other terror groups are plotting attacks. The State Department's warning, which replaces one issued in July, urges US citizens to remain alert in just about any public place, transport link or gathering in most countries around the world, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia. "Recent terrorist attacks, whether by those affiliated with terrorist entities, copycats or individual perpetrators, serve as a reminder that US citizens need to maintain a high level of vigilance," it says.

The Groups Trying to Stop Donald Trump Posted: 03 Mar 2016 03:00 PM PST The 2012 GOP presidential nominee gave a speech in Salt Lake City today taking Trump head on. In the scathing address, Romney called the GOP front-runner a "phony, a fraud. ... His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.

5 reasons to flee the U.S. for Canada Posted: 03 Mar 2016 01:33 PM PST "Move to Canada" searches have reached their highest-ever level on Google.

Paul Haven named AP news director for Latam and Caribbean Posted: 03 Mar 2016 01:15 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Haven, a veteran foreign correspondent and news manager who has led Associated Press bureaus in South Asia, Europe and Latin America, has been named the cooperative's first all-format News Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tunisia Nobel winners condemn blacklisting of Hezbollah Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:55 PM PST Two members of Tunisia's Nobel Peace Prize winning quartet on Thursday condemned the decision of Arab states in the Gulf to blacklist Lebanon's Shiite movement Hezbollah as a "terrorist" organisation. The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), in a statement, said the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah was a "symbol of the (Lebanese) national struggle" against Israel. Wednesday's move against Hezbollah by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), led by Saudi Arabia, formed part of "an offensive by foreign and other regional forces to divide the Arab world and destroy its forces", UGTT said.

What does France and Britain's drone deal mean for their security relationship? Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:45 PM PST A meeting between top French and British officials Thursday cemented the two nations' security relationship and examined the possible United Kingdom exit from the European Union. French President François Hollande and UK Prime Minister David Cameron held a bi-annual international summit in the town of Amiens in northern France, where the two leaders discussed their countries' relationship and commemorated the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The drones "will be the most advanced of [their] kind in Europe," Mr. Cameron said, adding that their development and construction will create significant numbers of jobs in both Britain and France.

Could Saudi pressure tip Lebanon's political balance? Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:28 PM PST The Saudis have long had an indulgent attitude toward Lebanon, helping mediate between militias during the civil war years three decades ago, pumping in money and investments to bolster Beirut's teetering economy, and spending lavish vacation time in the mountains and on the beaches of this tiny Mediterranean country. Its motives were partly Saudi munificence but also – as the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran has grown hotter – a regional strategy to keep Lebanon within its ranks. Recommended: How much do you know about Saudi Arabia?

Spanish police seize 20,000 military uniforms bound for jihadists Posted: 03 Mar 2016 12:12 PM PST Spanish police said Thursday they have seized about 20,000 military uniforms, "enough to equip an entire army", which were destined for jihadist groups operating in Syria and Iraq. The uniforms were found in three shipping containers seized in the eastern ports of Valencia and Alicante last month when police uncovered an operation to smuggle arms to jihadists under the guise of humanitarian aid, police said in a statement. Seven people were arrested at the time as part of a probe launched in 2014 into "foreign structures" providing logistical support for both Islamic State and the Al-Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.

EU mulls 'large-scale' migrant deportation scheme Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:17 AM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Turkey is under growing pressure to consider a major escalation in migrant deportations from Greece, a top European Union official said Thursday, amid preparations for a highly anticipated summit of EU and Turkish leaders next week.

Lebanon's Hezbollah slams Gulf 'terror' listing Posted: 03 Mar 2016 11:10 AM PST Lebanon's Hezbollah on Thursday criticised as "irresponsible" a decision by Gulf monarchies to classify the militant group as a "terror" organisation for its role in regional conflicts. "The decision by the Gulf Cooperation Council to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation is irresponsible and hostile and the Saudi regime must face the consequences," Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said after a meeting of the group's parliamentary bloc. The GCC on Wednesday designated the Shiite movement for its "terrorist acts and incitement in Syria, Yemen and in Iraq".

Panels & topics announced for "Israel's Influence: Good or Bad for America?" conference Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:54 AM PST WASHINGTON, March 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This release is released by Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy:Organizers of the March 18 conference "Israel's Influence: Good or Bad for America?" are pleased to announce the following panel topics and keynote addresses:1.0 ISRAEL'S INFLUENCE ON CONGRESS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES—Grant F. Smith, moderator1.1  Grant F. Smith: "Ten ways the Israel lobby 'moves' America." An analysis of the history, size, scope and activities of Israel affinity organizations and their increasingly negative—but little known—impact on all Americans.1. ...

Arrested jihadists planned 'biological' attacks: Morocco Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:22 AM PST Morocco said Thursday that the alleged members of a jihadist cell it arrested in mid-February, including a French national, were plotting to carry out "biological" attacks in the kingdom. "Some of the seized substances (from the suspects) are classified by international organisations which specialise in health issues as falling within the category of biological weapons dangerous for their capacity to paralyse and destroy the nervous system and cause death," the interior ministry said. "Members of the terrorist cell had prepared these deadly substances with a view to using them in their terrorist projects inside the kingdom," it said in a statement.

The Latest: Freight trains resume between Greece, Macedonia Posted: 03 Mar 2016 10:15 AM PST IDOMENI, Greece (AP) — The Latest on the flow of migrants into Europe (all times local):

Tunisia raid on militants foiled attack plot from Libya: PM Posted: 03 Mar 2016 09:03 AM PST Five militants killed by Tunisian forces near the Libyan border had slipped across with the aim of carrying out "terrorist attacks", Prime Minister Habib Essid said Thursday. Essid, in a statement on his official Facebook page, praised the army and national guard units who had eliminated the "terrorist cell sent in from Libya". Explosive vests, improvised grenades and a large quantity of munitions were recovered from the slain militants, the interior ministry said.

Jordan gets U.S. Black Hawk helicopters to bolster defenses Posted: 03 Mar 2016 08:49 AM PST By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - The United States delivered eight Black Hawk helicopters to Jordan on Thursday to help its regional ally defend itself against the threat of Islamic State militants, Jordanian and U.S. officials said. The helicopters are central to a U.S.-funded "Quick Reaction Force" set up by Jordan to counter Islamic State, which controls large swathes of territory in neighboring Iraq and Syria.

France, Britain seal $2 billion drone deal, pressure Russia on Syria Posted: 03 Mar 2016 08:35 AM PST By John Irish and Elizabeth Pineau AMIENS, France (Reuters) - France and Britain agreed on Thursday to a 2 billion euro ($2.11 billion) project to build a drone, as the two allies firmed up military ties amid conflicts in Syria and Libya. President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister David Cameron met in northern France as part of a bi-annual summit commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme in which 600,000 British and French soldiers died. The two leaders also sought to show their unity on the Syria crisis before a conference call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.

EU fate at stake on muddy Greek border as migrants trapped Posted: 03 Mar 2016 07:33 AM PST By Lefteris Papadimas and Renee Maltezou IDOMENI, Greece (Reuters) - In muddy fields straddling the border with Macedonia, a transit camp hosting up to 12,000 homeless migrants in filthy conditions is the most dramatic sign of a new crisis tearing at Greece's frayed ties with Europe and threatening its stability. For the last year, Greece has largely waved through nearly a million migrants who crossed the Aegean Sea from Turkey on their way to wealthier northern Europe. Now, on top of a searing economic crisis that took it close to ejection from the euro zone a year ago, the European Union's most enfeebled state is suddenly being turned into what Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras calls a "warehouse of souls".

Germany investigating possible religious motive behind attack on policeman Posted: 03 Mar 2016 07:30 AM PST A 15-year old girl held over the stabbing of a policeman in Hanover last week may have been driven by political or religious motives, prosecutors said on Thursday, possibly inspired by Islamic State, a magazine added. Germany's Focus magazine, citing sources involved in the investigation, said prosecutors were looking at a possible connection to the militant group that has grabbed large parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria. "Today we set up an investigation group with the police which is mainly following up a suspicion that this could be an act with a political or religious background," prosecutor Thomas Klinge told Reuters.

After Ukraine, Kazakhstan wary of ethnic Russians broaching autonomy Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:45 AM PST By Olzhas Auyezov KOSTANAY, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - In the city of Kostanay in northern Kazakhstan, the ribbon of St George, a black-and-orange symbol of resurgent Russian patriotism that was adopted by separatists in Ukraine, hangs from every second car's rear-view mirror. Most people in this town and the surrounding region are ethnic Russians, distinct from the mainly Muslim ethnic Kazakhs who are in the majority nationwide and control the main levers of power in this oil-producing former Soviet state. Demographically, the region therefore has much in common with Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and the eastern Donbass region, whose majority Russian-speaking populations pulled out of Kiev's orbit with help from Moscow.

US delivers 8 Black Hawks to Jordan for its anti-IS battle Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:40 AM PST AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The United States gave Jordan eight refurbished helicopters on Thursday for the battle against Islamic State extremists along the kingdom's borders.

Europe's 2016 migrant crisis in figures Posted: 03 Mar 2016 06:35 AM PST EU President Donald Tusk sent a stark message Thursday to would-be economic migrants not to come to Europe as the bloc seeks to get a grip on the crisis. Between January 1 and February 29, 2016, 131,724 migrants and refugees crossed the Mediterranean Sea, of whom 122,637 arrived in EU member Greece, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The figure is comparable to the total registered in the first half of 2015, when 147,209 arrived on Europe's shores.

Saudi cleric's shooting in Philippines captured on TV Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:27 AM PST A failed attempt to assassinate a prominent Saudi cleric in the Philippines was caught on television, showing the hooded assailant firing at the preacher from close range. The gunman walked toward Sheikh Aaidh al-Qarni's car on Tuesday night as he was leaving a packed auditorium in the southern port city of Zamboanga, where he had given a lecture. The assailant hid behind a crowd seeking selfies with a smiling Qarni as his vehicle slowly rolled out of the venue, footage on local station Mensahe TV showed.

U.S. leads 29 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq, Syria: U.S. military Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:15 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. and its allies in Iraq and Syria staged 29 strikes against Islamic State on Wednesday, the coalition leading the operations said. In a statement released early Thursday, the Combined Joint Task Force said eight strikes near four cities in Syria hit several tactical units and destroyed buildings, weaponry and communications equipment, among other targets. Separately in Iraq, 21 strikes destroyed vehicles, assembly areas, a supply cache and suppressed a mortar fire position, the statement said. (Reporting by Washington Newsroom)

German police arrest doctor suspected of recruiting suicide bomber for IS Posted: 03 Mar 2016 05:06 AM PST German police on Thursday arrested a doctor in Berlin suspected of convincing a young man to join Islamic State in Iraq, where he carried out a suicide bombing on behalf of the insurgents, prosecutors said. The 24-year-old recruit, who was described in a statement as "mentally unfit", traveled to Islamic State-controlled territory in 2014 and killed at least 12 Iraqi soldiers in a suicide bombing in the city of Baiji in May last year.

Germany: Doctor arrested for backing suspected IS bomber Posted: 03 Mar 2016 04:43 AM PST BERLIN (AP) — German authorities say they have arrested a doctor suspected of radicalizing and financially supporting a man who carried out a suicide bombing in Iraq for the Islamic State group.

The Photographer Who Was Roughed Up at the Trump Rally Posted: 02 Mar 2016 04:53 PM PST Everyone has seen the video of a security agent manhandling a photographer at a Donald Trump rally in Virginia. For those who haven't seen it, details and clips are available from Mother Jones here.

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