Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Vice presidential candidates gear up for US election debate
• The Latest: Prosecutor questions former Albuquerque officer
• International Medical Corps Prepares to Respond in Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew
• Syrian government press in their offensive on Aleppo
• US mulls 'diplomatic and military' options for Syria
• WHY IT MATTERS: Israel
• Rebels fend off Aleppo assault as nations seek to rebuild peace process
• Morocco says foils suicide attack plan for election day
• Iraq PM to Mosul residents: 'victory is near'
• Offensive on Iraq's Mosul may produce a million migrants: Turkey
• British PM to protect soldiers from 'vexatious' legal claims
• Libyan forces reduce Islamic State's grip in Sirte to final few blocks
• Afghan forces flushing Taliban out of stategic city of Kunduz
• Challenging times ahead for Mideast, North Africa: IMF
• WikiLeaks' Assange signals release of documents before U.S. election
• Trumps says US vets with PTSD aren't 'strong.' Will vets still back him?
• Turkey: Battle for Iraq's Mosul could spark sectarian strife
• Iraq begins radio broadcast to Mosul ahead of offensive
• After Asian boost, three-on-three basketball takes Olympic shot
• Turkish PM threatens Kurdish militia in north Syria, warns of Iraq sectarianism
• Exclusive: U.S. helped clinch Iraq oil deal to keep Mosul battle on track
• Belgrade refugees make a break for the Hungarian border
• Morocco says arrests 10 suspected female Islamic State militants
• Biden Slams Donald Trump for PTSD Remarks: "His Ignorance Is So Profound"
• Here's What You Need to Know Before Tuesday's VP Debate
• UN Security Council discusses new Syria resolution
• WikiLeaks marks 10th birthday with vow of key US vote leaks
• 10 countries host half world's refugees: Amnesty
• 'Core Al-Qaida' on the Rise in Syria

Vice presidential candidates gear up for US election debate Posted: 04 Oct 2016 04:50 PM PDT Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's running mates snatched the spotlight for the White House race Tuesday, preparing to face off in their only debate of the campaign with the US elections just five weeks away. Polls show Democrat Clinton gaining in the wake of a punishing week for her Republican rival Trump, who was hammered by controversies over his taxes, his charitable foundation and treatment of women. The candidates' understudies -- Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence -- will take center stage Tuesday evening when they do battle before a national television audience that likely will be the largest to date in their careers.

The Latest: Prosecutor questions former Albuquerque officer Posted: 04 Oct 2016 03:51 PM PDT ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on the trial of two former Albuquerque, New Mexico, police officers charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a homeless man (all times local):

International Medical Corps Prepares to Respond in Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew Posted: 04 Oct 2016 02:56 PM PDT LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hurricane Matthew is pounding Haiti with life-threatening wind, rain, and tidal surges, and the devastating storm is now barreling toward Cuba and the Bahamas. International Medical Corps' team in Haiti is preparing to respond as soon as the storm passes and additional emergency response experts have been deployed to the Bahamas to immediately assess the needs and provide assistance following the storm. "We have pre-positioned our teams so that they will be prepared to immediately travel to the hardest-hit areas once Hurricane Matthew passes," said Chris Skopec, International Medical Corps' Senior Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Syrian government press in their offensive on Aleppo Posted: 04 Oct 2016 01:23 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — Forces backing Syrian President Bashar Assad pressed their offensive Tuesday on Aleppo's rebel-held zone from the south, after capturing areas on other fronts in recent days. As reinforcements arrived, including Shiite fighters from Iraq, the strategy appeared to be to retake rebel-held areas bit by bit, backed by massive Russian airpower, rather than risk a potentially costly all-out ground battle.

US mulls 'diplomatic and military' options for Syria Posted: 04 Oct 2016 01:07 PM PDT Top US security and foreign policy chiefs are to meet Wednesday to review their options to present to US President Barack Obama, after abandoning attempts to work with Russia to impose a truce. State Department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed that some military options might be discussed, but said Secretary of State John Kerry is still working hard to pursue the diplomatic track with allies. "Just because we've temporarily suspended the cooperation that we had bilaterally with Russia on Syria doesn't mean that we've closed any doors on multilateral action," Toner said.

WHY IT MATTERS: Israel Posted: 04 Oct 2016 11:56 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — THE ISSUE: Support for Israel has been a mainstay of American foreign policy since the Jewish state's creation in 1948. Despite occasionally strong and even pointed differences, successive U.S. administrations of both parties have steadily increased financial, military and diplomatic assistance to Israel over the past six decades. The U.S. now provides Israel with roughly $3 billion every year, making it the largest single recipient of American foreign aid, and the Obama administration boosted that amount to $3.8 billion with a new memorandum of understanding on defense.

Rebels fend off Aleppo assault as nations seek to rebuild peace process Posted: 04 Oct 2016 11:36 AM PDT By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and David Brunnstrom AMMAN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Syrian rebels said on Tuesday they had repelled an army offensive in southern Aleppo as Russian and Syrian warplanes pounded residential areas, while nations spoke of rebuilding a peace process the United States broke off this week. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who announced on Monday that Washington was suspending talks with Moscow due to Russia's role in the offensive, said peace efforts must carry on. Turkey, long one of the main foes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but which has lately repaired its damaged ties with his ally Russia, said it planned to make a proposal to Washington and Moscow to resurrect a ceasefire that collapsed last month.

Morocco says foils suicide attack plan for election day Posted: 04 Oct 2016 10:22 AM PDT By Aziz El Yaakoubi SALE, Morocco (Reuters) - Moroccan authorities said on Tuesday they had foiled a planned suicide attack on Oct. 7 parliamentary elections after the arrest of a suspected Islamic State militant cell of 10 women earlier this week. The Interior Ministry said on Monday that for the first time a group of female suspects had been arrested, the latest in series of militant cells the North African kingdom says it has broken up. Morocco is holding a parliamentary election on Friday in which the Islamist PJD party is favored to win after five years leading the ruling coalition in a constitutional monarchy where the king remains the ultimate authority.

Iraq PM to Mosul residents: 'victory is near' Posted: 04 Oct 2016 08:26 AM PDT Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said "victory is near" as he pledged to recapture Mosul from jihadists, in a radio address to residents of the city on Tuesday. It was the first such address by Abadi, though it was unclear how many residents of Mosul, which was seized by the Islamic State (IS) group in 2014, heard his remarks, as the jihadists have sought to limit communication with the outside world. "Today we are close to you, and you are close to us, and victory is near, with God's help," Abadi said, according to a copy of his remarks distributed by his office.

Offensive on Iraq's Mosul may produce a million migrants: Turkey Posted: 04 Oct 2016 08:05 AM PDT The United States and its allies must think carefully before launching an offensive to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State, Turkey's defense minister said on Tuesday, saying it could trigger an exodus of one million more refugees. Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim described plans for the expected assault on Iraq's second largest city as "not transparent", underscoring what appears to be growing concern from a NATO ally about the operation. Defence Minister Fikri Isik said any refugee flows out of Mosul, a city of more than two million people that has been in the hands of Islamic State since 2014, needed to be contained within Iraq's borders.

British PM to protect soldiers from 'vexatious' legal claims Posted: 04 Oct 2016 07:48 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — Britain's prime minister has announced plans to protect British troops from dubious legal claims made during conflicts.

Libyan forces reduce Islamic State's grip in Sirte to final few blocks Posted: 04 Oct 2016 07:39 AM PDT By Hani Amara SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - Islamic State controls a residential strip less than 1 Km long in their former stronghold in Libya's Sirte, where pro-government forces backed by U.S. air strikes are advancing building by building to finish a five-month-old campaign. Over the past two days, forces led by brigades from Misrata have pressed further into Sirte's neighborhood Number Three as an intensified aerial bombardment and a barrage of tank fire slowly dislodged militant sniper positions. Militants were clinging to an area called Manara, a sub- district that if ceded, Misrata commanders said, would leave them exposed to defeat in what was once the group's main base outside territory controlled in Iraq and Syria.

Afghan forces flushing Taliban out of stategic city of Kunduz Posted: 04 Oct 2016 07:02 AM PDT Fighting continued on the outskirts of Kunduz Tuesday as some frightened residents fled the city a day after the Taliban launched an hours-long assault that was repelled by Afghan forces backed by NATO. Helicopters hovered over the strategic provincial capital and commandoes were stationed in the main square, an AFP correspondent there said, as Afghan forces conducted a clearing operation warning that militants were hiding in civilian homes. "The situation is uncertain, if the Taliban find out about it they may kill us.

Challenging times ahead for Mideast, North Africa: IMF Posted: 04 Oct 2016 06:59 AM PDT The Middle East and North Africa region is facing challenging times because of lower oil prices, the fallout from regional tensions and civil conflict, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday. The IMF said in its World Economic Outlook report that a modest recovery in oil prices was likely to have little impact on growth in MENA oil-exporting countries. After hitting a 10-year low in January, oil prices rallied by 50 percent to $45 in August, mostly due to involuntary production outages that brought balance to the oil market, the IMF said.

WikiLeaks' Assange signals release of documents before U.S. election Posted: 04 Oct 2016 06:50 AM PDT WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Tuesday the group would publish about one million documents related to the U.S. election and three governments in coming weeks, but denied the release was aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton. Assange, speaking via a video link, said the documents would be released before the end of the year, starting with an initial batch in the coming week. Assange, 45, who remains at the Ecuadoran embassy in London where he sought refuge in 2012 to avoid possible extradition to Sweden, said the election material was "significant" and would come out before the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election.

Trumps says US vets with PTSD aren't 'strong.' Will vets still back him? Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:55 AM PDT Despite making a comment that implied those who struggle with mental health issues after serving the country in combat are weaker than those who don't have a diagnosis, Donald Trump doesn't seem to be losing significant support from veterans. Speaking at an event in Herndon, Va., organized by the Retired American Warriors political action committee Monday, Mr. Trump responded to a question about faith-based programs intended to help soldiers struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), brain injuries, and other issues as a result of their service. "When you talk about the mental health problems – when people come back from war and combat, and they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over, and you're strong and you can handle it.

Turkey: Battle for Iraq's Mosul could spark sectarian strife Posted: 04 Oct 2016 04:21 AM PDT ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is warning that the planned offensive in Iraq to retake that country's second-largest city of Mosul from the Islamic State group could spark Shiite-Sunni sectarian tensions.

Iraq begins radio broadcast to Mosul ahead of offensive Posted: 04 Oct 2016 04:09 AM PDT Iraq launched a radio station on Tuesday to help Mosul residents stay safe during the upcoming military offensive to dislodge Islamic State from the largest city under its control, state TV said. The Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul is based in the town of Qayyara, 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of Mosul and home to an airbase which will serve as a hub for the U.S.-led coalition supporting Iraqi military units. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi wants to capture Mosul this year and the push on the city could start as soon as this month, according to local military commanders.

After Asian boost, three-on-three basketball takes Olympic shot Posted: 04 Oct 2016 04:02 AM PDT Asia's growing fascination with three-on-three basketball, the game's half-court version which is already hugely popular in streets and backyards the world over, has given the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) fresh hope that it can get the sport into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. FIBA's previous attempts to win Olympic status for the abbreviated format have failed, but the governing body is more optimistic than ever before because of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) stated desire to include more sports that appeal to younger generations. Although three-on-three basketball fits that criteria and has its own roots in urban America, Asia has been the driving force behind the inclusion of the high-speed game in major multi-sports events.

Turkish PM threatens Kurdish militia in north Syria, warns of Iraq sectarianism Posted: 04 Oct 2016 03:23 AM PDT Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday Turkey's military was capable of removing the Kurdish YPG militia from northern Syria "just as it did Islamic State", and warned of new sectarian clashes in Iraq after a planned offensive on Mosul. Speaking in parliament, Yildirim said Turkey's operations in Syria would continue until "all terrorist groups" around the city of Al-Bab were eradicated and said the Kurdish militia was filling a vacuum left by Islamic State.

Exclusive: U.S. helped clinch Iraq oil deal to keep Mosul battle on track Posted: 04 Oct 2016 03:01 AM PDT By Stephen Kalin and Dmitry Zhdannikov BAGHDAD/LONDON (Reuters) - Shuttle diplomacy by the United States' envoy to the anti-Islamic State coalition brokered an oil deal between Iraq and its Kurdish region vital to a climactic battle with the jihadists, diplomats, officials and oil men say.  The oil revenue-sharing deal sealed in August was critical to getting the central and regional governments to coordinate planning for a push on the Islamic State stronghold Mosul, which Kurdish peshmerga forces surround on three sides, as soon as this month, the sources said. Brett McGurk shuttled from Iraqi Kurdistan capital Erbil to Baghdad and back again from the first half of April, culminating in a June 19 meeting in Erbil with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Massoud Barzani and Iraqi National Security Advisor Falah Fayad.

Belgrade refugees make a break for the Hungarian border Posted: 04 Oct 2016 02:46 AM PDT By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Several hundred refugees set off from central Belgrade on Tuesday morning and headed for the Hungarian border, holding handwritten banners and chanting demands for open borders, Reuters witnesses said. Some 7,000 migrants, most fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere, are trapped in Serbia, prevented from continuing further into Europe by fences now running the length of the Hungarian-Serbian border. "We will walk to border with Hungary," said Sadaqat Khan, a Pakistani in his 20s from Qetta.

Morocco says arrests 10 suspected female Islamic State militants Posted: 04 Oct 2016 12:09 AM PDT Morocco has dismantled a suspected Islamic State militant cell and arrested 10 women believed to be planning attacks in the North African kingdom, the Interior Ministry said on Monday. It was the latest in a series of militant cells Morocco says it has broken up, but it is the first time authorities have arrested a group of female suspects. An Interior Ministry statement said the cell was operating in several regions including the cities of Kenitra and Tangier.

Biden Slams Donald Trump for PTSD Remarks: "His Ignorance Is So Profound" Posted: 03 Oct 2016 09:00 PM PDT "He is just so thoroughly, completely uninformed," the vice president said in a passionate speech.

Here's What You Need to Know Before Tuesday's VP Debate Posted: 03 Oct 2016 09:00 PM PDT Mike Pence and Tim Kaine take center stage as they prepare for their first battle in a public forum.

UN Security Council discusses new Syria resolution Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:14 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council began negotiations Monday on a draft resolution seeking an immediate truce in Aleppo and calling for an end to all military flights over the Syrian city, where over a quarter million people in rebel-held areas are besieged by Syrian forces.

WikiLeaks marks 10th birthday with vow of key US vote leaks Posted: 03 Oct 2016 05:21 PM PDT WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange vowed Tuesday to publish new "significant" documents related to the US presidential election ahead of the November 8 vote, as the online leaking platform celebrated its 10th birthday in defiant mood. Taking aim at critics accusing him and his organisation of manipulation, Assange pledged he would not be muzzled as he sought to raise "an army" of supporters to join in the defence of WikiLeaks.

10 countries host half world's refugees: Amnesty Posted: 03 Oct 2016 05:19 PM PDT Ten countries accounting for 2.5 percent of world GDP are hosting more than half the world's refugees, Amnesty International said Tuesday as it slammed what it called the selfishness of wealthy nations. In a report on the plight faced by the world's 21 million refugees, the London-based human rights body lamented that countries immediately neighbouring crisis zones bear the brunt of the global refugee problem. Fifty-six percent of refugees are being sheltered in 10 countries, according to the report, in which Amnesty proposed a solution whereby the world's countries find a home for 10 percent of the planet's refugees every year.

'Core Al-Qaida' on the Rise in Syria Posted: 03 Oct 2016 02:26 PM PDT The group that launched the Sept. 11 attacks, waged insurgent war against U.S. forces in Afghanistan, catalyzed extremist movements in places like Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and North Africa, and was supposed to have been all but "decimated" and hiding in Pakistan's tribal regions has found new life in the conflict in Syria, and according to the Defense Department is on the rise there. The U.S. conducted an airstrike in Syria on Monday morning against an operative in what Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis described as "core al-Qaida." Davis wouldn't confirm the effect of the strike or even the target itself, though local media reported it was Abu Farag al-Masri, an Egyptian and senior commander of an al-Qaida affiliate.

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