Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Air strikes hurting IS group in Afghanistan: US
• Putin blasts Panama Papers 'provocation,' soothes crisis-hit Russians
• Top Asian News 11:29 p.m. GMT
• Wounded Veterans Ride Towards Recovery During National Cycling Event
• AFGE: Inside the Koch Brothers' Plot to Sell Out Veterans' Health Care
• Belgian court gives top jihadist recruiter harsher sentence on appeal
• Sanders Has the Wind at His Back in His Improbable Bid for the Nomination
• Clinton, Sanders bring White House race to Brooklyn
• France following 9,000 tips on Islamic extremism
• America wasn’t quite as great as Donald Trump thinks it was
• Despite deep divides over Syria, Turkey rolls out the welcome mat for Iran
• Registration Opens for Wounded Warrior Project Community Rides
• Wounded Veterans Find Camaraderie and Healing During National Cycling Event
• EU approves anti-terror plan to collect air passenger info
• Minnesota man pleads guilty to trying to join Islamic State
• Iraq MPs vote to sack speaker, deepening political turmoil
• In Denmark, Muslim Women Unveil Their Ambitions
• Brazil open Olympic bid against South Africa
• Iraqi parliament cancels vote on proposed cabinet amid protests
• Italian team arrives as part of Mosul Dam repair project
• Brazil vs South Africa to open men's Olympic soccer
• Iraq says town of Heet retaken from IS after weeks of fighting
• UK's long-delayed Iraq war report still months away
• Brazil get South Africa, Denmark, Iraq in Rio draw
• German university starts training plan for refugee teachers
• Iraqi lawmakers attempt to oust Parliament speaker
• Olympics-Brazil get South Africa, Denmark, Iraq in Rio draw
• US: IS group could be emboldening Filipino militants
• This nasty oil rivalry is why a genuine output freeze is a long shot
• Learn German or lose benefits, Berlin tells migrants in new law
• Russia's Putin says U.S. Obama didn't learn lessons from Iraq
• Iraq's Kurds declare independence in cyberspace with .krd domain name
• China blasts US human rights in tit-for-tat report
• China urges U.N. focus on militants using poison gas in Syria
• U.S., allies target Islamic State with 21 strikes in Iraq, Syria
• Swedish prosecutors oppose lifting of Assange arrest warrant
• China lambasts U.S. rights policies after State Department report
• Swiss asylum requests fall again as Balkan states halt transit
• Iraq PM to attend parliament for cabinet vote: speaker
• Philippines rejects Islamic State's claim it killed 100 troops

Air strikes hurting IS group in Afghanistan: US Posted: 14 Apr 2016 04:31 PM PDT The Islamic State's nascent presence in Afghanistan has dwindled after the US military stepped up strikes on the jihadists, a US general said Thursday, but warned they possess the ability to "catch fire" again. In the first three months of the year, the US military conducted "just under" 100 counterterrorism strikes in Afghanistan, 70-80 of which targeted the IS group, Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said. "The capacity of Daesh, we believe, has been lessened," the Kabul-based general told reporters, using an Arabic abbreviation for the IS group, which overran large areas of Syria and Iraq in a brutal offensive and has attempted to make inroads in war-torn Afghanistan too.

Putin blasts Panama Papers 'provocation,' soothes crisis-hit Russians Posted: 14 Apr 2016 04:31 PM PDT By Andrew Osborn and Alexander Winning MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin on Thursday dismissed media reports that billions of dollars in Panama offshore accounts might be linked to him as a U.S.-backed "provocation", as he told ordinary Russians that the country's economic crisis will ease next year. The leak of confidential documents from a Panamanian law firm earlier this month has angered the Kremlin, forcing it to field questions about offshore accounts allegedly belonging to one of Putin's best friends. Speaking during a televised national phone-in, Putin dismissed the leak and subsequent media reports as part of a shadowy U.S.-backed plot designed to discredit Russian politicians ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.

Top Asian News 11:29 p.m. GMT Posted: 14 Apr 2016 04:29 PM PDT TOKYO (AP) — At least nine people were killed and 761 injured by a magnitude-6.5 earthquake Thursday night that knocked down houses and buckled roads in southern Japan, the government's chief spokesman said. Yoshihide Suga said he would visit the area Friday to assess the damage. He said some 1,600 soldiers had been deployed, and TV reports showed some delivering blankets and adult diapers to the thousands of people who took shelter because their homes were wrecked or unsafe. The worst damage was in the town of Mashiki, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Kumamoto city on the island of Kyushu, said Kumamoto prefecture disaster management official Takayuki Matsushita.

Wounded Veterans Ride Towards Recovery During National Cycling Event Posted: 14 Apr 2016 03:13 PM PDT SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Northern California will host Wounded Warrior Project's® (WWP) Soldier Ride® as a group of our nation's heroes begin their journey toward a strong recovery with fellow injured veterans. Throughout the weekend's activities, participants will discover that Soldier Ride is not only a cycling event, it is a life-changing opportunity to heal their bodies and minds. In the spirit of recapturing military bonds, participating injured service members unite to cycle more than 30 miles through the beautiful hills of Northern California. ...

AFGE: Inside the Koch Brothers' Plot to Sell Out Veterans' Health Care Posted: 14 Apr 2016 03:08 PM PDT WASHINGTON, April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When politicians in Washington decide to send our troops into battle overseas, a promise is made. Now, some Koch-backed politicians on Capitol Hill are trying to break that promise to our veterans and sell them out to private, for-profit VA providers. After months of work by veterans' groups and our union, Congress finally agreed to fund the VA and fill the care gap.

Belgian court gives top jihadist recruiter harsher sentence on appeal Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:25 PM PDT A Belgian appeals court on Thursday increased top jihadist recruiter Khalid Zerkani's sentence to 15 years in prison for enlisting dozens of people, including key suspects in the Brussels and Paris attacks. Emerging as a central figure in the jihadist super-cell behind the attacks in both Brussels and Paris, the bearded, balding and pot-bellied jihad recruiter's influence was crucial to a vast terror network. "Zerkani perverted a whole generation", particularly in the troubled Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek, prosecutor Michel told a courtroom in February, when Zerkani and 31 others were sentenced for their ties to terrorism inspired by the Islamic State group.

Sanders Has the Wind at His Back in His Improbable Bid for the Nomination Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:15 PM PDT Sen. Bernie Sanders is trailing in the polls and may not be able to pull out a victory next Tuesday in the New York primary against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. One thing that's safe to say: The self-described democratic socialist has startled the political world with an improbable campaign that has frequently rocked Clinton on her heels and led to victories in seven of the last eight primary and caucus contest. Sanders rallied with striking Verizon communications workers earlier in the day, whose union endorsed Sanders last December.

Clinton, Sanders bring White House race to Brooklyn Posted: 14 Apr 2016 02:00 PM PDT Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders take their increasingly acrimonious battle for the Democratic White House nomination to a debate stage in Brooklyn on Thursday ahead of the key New York primary. The former secretary of state holds a double-digit lead over the Vermont senator in the New York polls and needs a big win in next Tuesday's primary after losing seven of the last eight contests to her leftist rival. The Brooklyn-born Sanders, who calls himself a democratic socialist, is similarly hoping for a shock win in Clinton's adopted home state to keep alive his dream of wresting the nomination from the Democratic frontrunner.

France following 9,000 tips on Islamic extremism Posted: 14 Apr 2016 01:56 PM PDT PARIS (AP) — French authorities have received 9,000 tips related to Islamic extremism through a dedicated hotline and a website, President Francois Hollande said Thursday.

America wasn’t quite as great as Donald Trump thinks it was Posted: 14 Apr 2016 01:43 PM PDT Readers tell Yahoo Finance when America was last great.

Despite deep divides over Syria, Turkey rolls out the welcome mat for Iran Posted: 14 Apr 2016 12:30 PM PDT Just a year ago, Turkey and Iran were deep in a heated exchange over their opposing roles in the Syrian war and sectarian conflicts that are shredding the Middle East. Recommended: How much do you know about Iran?

Registration Opens for Wounded Warrior Project Community Rides Posted: 14 Apr 2016 12:15 PM PDT NEW YORK, April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Registration is now open for the public to participate in Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® Community Rides that will take place this summer across the northeast. Soldier Ride Community Rides are more than just cycling events; they're an experience and provide the opportunity to support by pedaling alongside our nation's bravest men and women.Babylon and The Hamptons will host the Soldier Ride Community Ride in July. Soldier Ride gives our nation's heroes begin their journey toward a strong recovery with fellow injured veterans. ...

Wounded Veterans Find Camaraderie and Healing During National Cycling Event Posted: 14 Apr 2016 12:13 PM PDT ATLANTA, April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The southeast will once again play host to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® as a group of our nation's heroes begin their journey with fellow injured veterans toward a strong recovery. Throughout the cycling event, participants will discover that Soldier Ride is not only a cycling event, it is a life-changing opportunity to heal their bodies and minds. In the spirit of recapturing military bonding, the participating injured service members will come together to ride more than 23 miles around Atlanta. ...

EU approves anti-terror plan to collect air passenger info Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:24 AM PDT BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers approved Thursday a scheme to share airline passenger information that nations hope to use to track foreign fighters travelling to and from conflict areas like Syria and who might pose a danger in Europe.

Minnesota man pleads guilty to trying to join Islamic State Posted: 14 Apr 2016 10:18 AM PDT Adnan Farah, 20, plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office said. More than 80 people have been charged since 2014 in U.S. federal cases related to Islamic State, which has claimed responsibility for the Brussels bombings in March that killed 31 people and the Paris attacks in November that killed 130. Islamic State is also known as ISIS or ISIL and controls territory in Iraq and Syria.

Iraq MPs vote to sack speaker, deepening political turmoil Posted: 14 Apr 2016 10:11 AM PDT Iraqi lawmakers voted Thursday to remove the parliament speaker and his deputies from office, increasing political turmoil as the country battles jihadists and struggles with a financial crisis. The chaos at parliament is a significant setback for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, overshadowing his efforts to replace the current cabinet and preventing nominees from being brought to a vote. The turmoil has escalated over three successive sessions this week: the first ended in a sit-in, the second with a fistfight among lawmakers, and the third with the vote to remove parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi.

In Denmark, Muslim Women Unveil Their Ambitions Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:47 AM PDT Being a girl prevented her from living freely and doing the things she wanted to do while growing up in a Danish immigrant neighborhood. "Danish women with Muslim roots are very successful in Denmark. Mouhoumed is an epitome of young Danish Muslim women who are inspired and to some extent sculpted by Scandinavian gender equality.

Brazil open Olympic bid against South Africa Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:46 AM PDT Hosts Brazil will open their bid for a first Olympic men's football title against South Africa after Thursday's draw was made in the Maracana Stadium. Brazil, three-time runners-up including in 2012, have won every title apart from the Olympics and are drawn in the same Group A as South Africa, Iraq and Denmark. "I'm very confident, I'm sure that Brazil will succeed in the Games," said veteran Ronaldinho, winner of bronze in Beijing 2008, who attended the draw ceremony.

Iraqi parliament cancels vote on proposed cabinet amid protests Posted: 14 Apr 2016 09:33 AM PDT By Saif Hameed and Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament canceled a vote on Thursday on a cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as part of an anti-corruption drive, fueling discontent among MPs who held a mock ballot ousting the assembly's speaker. The dissenting MPs argue that because Abadi drew up his list in consultation with Iraq's main political parties, it upholds the system of ethnic and sectarian quotas instituted after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, which critics say allowed certain groups to amass more wealth and influence than others. Neither speaker Salim al-Jabouri nor Abadi showed up in the main hall of parliament on Thursday, prompting the dissenting MPs to convene a mock session where they removed the speaker.

Italian team arrives as part of Mosul Dam repair project Posted: 14 Apr 2016 11:56 AM PDT MOSUL DAM, Iraq (AP) — A team of Italian specialists arrived Thursday at the site of the Mosul Dam as part of an emergency campaign to repair Iraq's largest dam before it collapses.

Brazil vs South Africa to open men's Olympic soccer Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:47 AM PDT RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil will face South Africa in the opening men's Olympic soccer match, as the five-time World Cup champion tries for its first gold medal.

Iraq says town of Heet retaken from IS after weeks of fighting Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:41 AM PDT Iraqi forces retook the town of Heet from the Islamic State group Thursday after weeks of fighting, the military said, the latest in a series of losses for the jihadists. "Units from the Counter-Terrorism Service completely liberated Heet," Iraq's Joint Operations Command said in a statement. CTS spokesman Sabah al-Noman said the recapture of the town west of Baghdad was completed on Thursday.

UK's long-delayed Iraq war report still months away Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:37 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — The British government says a long-delayed report into the U.K.'s involvement in the Iraq war won't be published before the summer, seven years after the inquiry began.

Brazil get South Africa, Denmark, Iraq in Rio draw Posted: 14 Apr 2016 08:01 AM PDT By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Hosts Brazil were pitted against South Africa, Iraq and Denmark when the draw for the Olympic soccer tournament was made on Thursday. Brazil, who have been world champions at every level bar the Olympics, begin their campaign against South Africa in Brasilia, one of six host cities for the competition. "All the teams will find it difficult but we are very confident and hope Brazil can win the gold medal," said former Barcelona forward Ronaldinho after helping with the draw.

German university starts training plan for refugee teachers Posted: 14 Apr 2016 07:45 AM PDT POTSDAM, Germany (AP) — A German university has launched a program aimed at enabling teachers who fled Syria and other countries to return to the classroom, potentially helping them serve as bridge-builders between German schools and last year's many new arrivals.

Iraqi lawmakers attempt to oust Parliament speaker Posted: 14 Apr 2016 07:29 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi lawmakers attempted to oust the speaker of parliament amid a political crisis roiling the house where dozens of legislators have been holding a sit-in protest for the third consecutive day. The move followed calls for all of the country's top political leadership to step down, including the Prime Minister.

Olympics-Brazil get South Africa, Denmark, Iraq in Rio draw Posted: 14 Apr 2016 07:23 AM PDT By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO, April 14 (Reuters) - Hosts Brazil were pitted against South Africa, Iraq and Denmark when the draw for the Olympic soccer tournament was made on Thursday. Brazil, who have been world champions at every level bar the Olympics, begin their campaign against South Africa in Brasilia, one of six host cities for the competition. "All the teams will find it difficult but we are very confident and hope Brazil can win the gold medal," said former Barcelona forward Ronaldinho after helping with the draw.

US: IS group could be emboldening Filipino militants Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:50 AM PDT MANILA, Philippines (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday that the violent influence of the Islamic State group could be emboldening militants in the southern Philippines who last week killed 18 Filipino troops.

This nasty oil rivalry is why a genuine output freeze is a long shot Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:34 AM PDT Investors awaiting Sunday's meeting of major oil producers in Doha are eyeing signs of a deal that could freeze oil production in a bid to stabilize prices.

Learn German or lose benefits, Berlin tells migrants in new law Posted: 14 Apr 2016 06:23 AM PDT By Thorsten Severin and Holger Hansen BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government agreed on Thursday to require migrants granted residence rights to show willingness to integrate by learning German and seeking work or see their benefits cut. Ending months of disagreement, Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), their conservative Bavarian CSU allies and the Social Democrats (SPD) hammered out a deal in the early morning hours for post-war Germany's first law on integrating immigrants.

Russia's Putin says U.S. Obama didn't learn lessons from Iraq Posted: 14 Apr 2016 05:51 AM PDT MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday U.S. President Barack Obama didn't learn lessons from Iraq when dealing with the conflict in Libya. (Reporting by Alexander Winning and Andrew Osborn; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Maria Kiselyova)

Iraq's Kurds declare independence in cyberspace with .krd domain name Posted: 14 Apr 2016 05:30 AM PDT By Isabel Coles ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Denied their own state in reality, Iraq's Kurds have declared independence in cyberspace with a new domain name that has provoked the ire of a neighbor hostile to their aspirations. The new top-level domain ".krd" gives Kurds a separate space in the virtual world at a time when they are gaining legitimacy on the ground through their alliance with the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. Often described as the world's largest ethnic group without their own state, the Kurds consider themselves victims of a pact that partitioned their homeland between Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq after World War One.

China blasts US human rights in tit-for-tat report Posted: 14 Apr 2016 05:25 AM PDT BEIJING (AP) — China on Thursday blasted U.S. human rights record in its annual tit-for-tat report, saying money and family connections are corrupting politics and calling U.S. airstrikes in Syria and Iraq a "gross violation of other countries' human rights."

China urges U.N. focus on militants using poison gas in Syria Posted: 14 Apr 2016 05:13 AM PDT China on Thursday urged U.N. Security Council members to back a draft resolution demanding states report when militants are developing chemical weapons in Syria. Some diplomats have dismissed the proposed resolution as a bid to distract from accusations the Syrian government uses such weapons. Russia and China circulated a draft resolution to the 15-member body on Wednesday, which Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said could serve as a deterrent to "terrorist" groups such as Islamic State from using chemical weapons.

U.S., allies target Islamic State with 21 strikes in Iraq, Syria Posted: 14 Apr 2016 04:39 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led coalition staged 21 strikes on Wednesday against the Islamic State militant group, according to the coalition leading the operations in Iraq and Syria. In a statement released on Thursday, the Combined Joint Task Force said it conducted 17 strikes near seven Iraqi cities, including Hit, Mosul and Sinjar. Altogether, the strikes hit nine tactical units as well as a headquarters and a financial headquarters used by the militants, among other targets. ...

Swedish prosecutors oppose lifting of Assange arrest warrant Posted: 14 Apr 2016 03:24 AM PDT Swedish prosecutors said Thursday they were opposed to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's defense lawyers' request to lift a European arrest warrant against him over a 2010 rape allegation. Assange's lawyers requested his release after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a non-binding legal opinion on February 5 saying his confinement in the Ecuadorian embassy amounted to arbitrary detention by Sweden and Britain. Both Britain and Sweden have angrily disputed the group's findings.

China lambasts U.S. rights policies after State Department report Posted: 14 Apr 2016 01:54 AM PDT U.S. rights policies have gone from bad to worse, China said on Thursday, in its annual rebuttal of a State Department report on human rights around the world that criticized China's "severe" crackdown on lawyers. The U.S. "wantonly infringed upon" civil rights and faced "rampant gun-related crime", said the lengthy report, issued by China's State Council, or cabinet, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Human rights have long been a source of tension between the world's two largest economies, especially since 1989, when the United States imposed sanctions on China after a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Swiss asylum requests fall again as Balkan states halt transit Posted: 14 Apr 2016 01:49 AM PDT The number of people seeking asylum in Switzerland fell for a fourth month in March, mirroring declines in neighboring Germany as Europe seeks to discourage people from making the journey from countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Switzerland registered 1,992 asylum requests, roughly 25 percent fewer than in February. Asylum requests have dropped since November 2015.

Iraq PM to attend parliament for cabinet vote: speaker Posted: 14 Apr 2016 12:47 AM PDT Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will attend parliament on Thursday for a vote on a new cabinet lineup, after two previous sessions ended in chaos, the speaker's office said. The political row comes at a critical time for Iraq, which is battling to regain more ground from the Islamic State jihadist group, while also facing a major financial crisis. Juburi, political bloc leaders and Abadi agreed "on the prime minister's attendance of the scheduled parliament session (Thursday) to present final adjustments to the ministerial cabinet and put the candidates to a vote," the speaker's office said in a statement.

Philippines rejects Islamic State's claim it killed 100 troops Posted: 13 Apr 2016 10:33 PM PDT By Manuel Mogato MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines has dismissed as "purely propaganda" Islamic State's claim that its militants killed scores of government troops in ambushes and said there was no evidence directly linking southern Muslim rebels to the group. The Philippines has reported 46 people killed in battles this week between troops and rebels from a group known as Abu Sayyaf on the island of Basilan. SITE Intelligence, a U.S.-based group that tracks online activity of jihadi organizations, reported Islamic State had claimed responsibility for killing nearly 100 Philippine soldiers and had blown up seven trucks transporting them.

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