Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Manning appeal seeks reversal of charges or reduced sentence
• Clinton Campaign Slams Donald Trump's Rape Accusation Against Bill Clinton
• Humanitarian aid rises to record $28 billion in 2015
• House approves effort to limit Confederate flag in national cemeteries
• Chelsea Manning seeks to overturn WikiLeaks court-martial conviction
• Turning children of war into children of peace
• NATO may take on new air surveillance role in IS fight
• Meet America's Top 10 Veterinary Professionals And Vote For Your Favorites!
• NATO agrees bigger Mediterranean mission to stop smugglers
• NATO formally invites Montenegro as 29th member
• Iraqi forces push Islamic State out of western Iraqi town
• Clinton grapples with Trump's ability to stay in spotlight
• Here’s How the US Has Been Using Vietnam-Era Warplanes in Iraq
• US widens sanctions on Islamic State, al-Qaida branches
• Iraq reaches deal with IMF for $5.4-billion loan
• Pope Francis to receive Sunni Muslim leader at Vatican
• Top US general arrives in Iraq for update on IS campaign
• IMF announces $5.4B loan over 3 years to Iraq
• Wounded Veterans Experience Training at "The Rock"
• Gazans feel borders closing in as exit options diminish
• Tunisia president says its war on 'terror' has cost $4 bn
• Turkish military says helicopter may have been downed by Kurdish militants
• French security chief warns Islamic State plans wave of attacks in France
• U.S. leads 17 strikes against Islamic State: statement
• Iraq announces recapture of western town from IS
• Iraq says it retakes western town of Rutba from Islamic State
• Jihadists mobilize in Syria as peacemaking unravels
• Are martial arts clubs adding punch to the jihadist cause?
• Libya forces say pushing back Islamic State fighters
• Leicester owners shoot for Thai World Cup entry
• James Gandolfini's Stolen Watch Is "Undervalued," Say Watch Experts
• Magnolia Chief on Boss Mark Cuban, Harvey Weinstein's Wrath and His Hunt for Fringe Films at Cannes
• Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC-US) Lauds House Foreign Affairs Committee's Leadership on Supporting Camp Liberty Residents

Manning appeal seeks reversal of charges or reduced sentence Posted: 19 May 2016 02:32 PM PDT Imprisoned U.S. Army Private Chelsea Manning has asked a military appeals court to reverse her 2013 conviction or reduce her 35-year sentence for sending mountains of classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks while serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, according to a court document released Thursday.

Clinton Campaign Slams Donald Trump's Rape Accusation Against Bill Clinton Posted: 19 May 2016 02:30 PM PDT Hillary Clinton reiterated that she has no intention of directly addressing the accusations raised by Donald Trump relating to her husband. The Democratic presidential front-runner's press secretary released a statement slamming the claim Trump made that Donald Trump's claim that former President Bill Clinton was accused of rape. "Trump is doing what he does best — attacking when he feels wounded and dragging the American people through the mud for his own gain.

Humanitarian aid rises to record $28 billion in 2015 Posted: 19 May 2016 02:03 PM PDT International humanitarian assistance given last year totaled a record $28 billion, new figures show in the run-up to the first World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey next week. Here are some facts and figures on humanitarian aid, prepared annually by Development Initiatives, which is due to release a full report in June: - Total international humanitarian assistance in 2015 was $28 billion, the highest recorded volume and an increase of 12 percent from 2014. - In 2015, U.N.-coordinated appeals - which aim to raise funds from across the donor community to address humanitarian crises but do not capture all global needs or funding flows - experienced their largest shortfall to date of 45 percent.

House approves effort to limit Confederate flag in national cemeteries Posted: 19 May 2016 01:26 PM PDT Congress voted to restrict the use of Confederate flags at national veterans cemeteries on Thursday, a decision that comes as America has increasingly been reassessing its relationship with the controversial symbol. Recommended: So you think you know Congress? "Over 150 years ago, slavery was abolished," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D) of California, who sponsored the amendment.

Chelsea Manning seeks to overturn WikiLeaks court-martial conviction Posted: 19 May 2016 01:16 PM PDT Chelsea Manning, the U.S. soldier imprisoned for handing over classified files to pro-transparency site WikiLeaks, has appealed to an Army court to overturn her court-martial conviction, a court filing released on Thursday said. Lawyers for Manning, 28, filed the motion before the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. "For what PFC (Private First Class) Manning did, the punishment is grossly unfair and unprecedented.

Turning children of war into children of peace Posted: 19 May 2016 01:00 PM PDT An estimated 19 million children have been caught up in world conflicts but perhaps the most famous may be Amina Ali Nkeki . After meeting with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, the 19-year-old was promised assistance in reintegrating back into society. In 2014, for example, the United Nations was able to convince some forces in Yemen's war on a plan to end recruitment of child soldiers.

NATO may take on new air surveillance role in IS fight Posted: 19 May 2016 12:54 PM PDT NATO's secretary general said Thursday that the alliance could expand its support for the US-led fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria with the deployment of sophisticated surveillance aircraft. Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference at NATO's Brussels headquarters that the alliance's AWACS monitoring aircraft could be flown over "NATO territory and international airspace" to help the fight against the jihadist group. AWACS are aircraft with powerful radars that allow them to monitor airspace for hundreds of kilometres around.

Meet America's Top 10 Veterinary Professionals And Vote For Your Favorites! Posted: 19 May 2016 12:34 PM PDT WASHINGTON, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association, the country's first national humane organization, is pleased to announce that voting is now open in the third annual American Humane Association Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Technician Awards™, sponsored by Zoetis. Following the review of nearly 300 nominations from animal lovers across the country, a blue-ribbon judging panel of celebrities, veterinary professionals, and animal care experts has selected 10 of the country's top veterinarians and veterinary technicians as finalists. Pet owners and animal lovers alike are invited to visit www.herovetawards.org every day between now and July 21 to vote for 2016's top American Hero Veterinarian and American Hero Veterinary Technician.

NATO agrees bigger Mediterranean mission to stop smugglers Posted: 19 May 2016 12:10 PM PDT By Robin Emmott and Lesley Wroughton BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO agreed on Thursday to broaden its operations in the Mediterranean to help the European Union stop criminals trafficking refugees from North Africa but will not act until the fate of rescued migrants is cleared up. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a meeting of NATO foreign ministers supported the wider role as Europe struggles with failing states on its fringes and said NATO should link up with the EU's "Sophia" naval mission in the area. This could be a step toward NATO helping stabilize Libya by patrolling coastal waters to uphold a U.N. arms embargo and counter the growing presence of Islamic State, a step that would likely need U.N. Security Council support, diplomats said.

NATO formally invites Montenegro as 29th member Posted: 19 May 2016 11:11 AM PDT BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO invited the Balkan nation of Montenegro to become its 29th member, agreeing Thursday to expand for only the seventh time in its history despite Russia's angry objections.

Iraqi forces push Islamic State out of western Iraqi town Posted: 19 May 2016 11:09 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led coalition aircraft say they have retaken a small town from the Islamic State group in the sprawling western Anbar desert.

Clinton grapples with Trump's ability to stay in spotlight Posted: 19 May 2016 11:00 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump kept himself planted firmly in the political spotlight this week with one headline-grabbing move after another — launching a social media defense of his treatment of women, listing possible Supreme Court nominees, rapidly declaring an Egyptian plane crash an act of terrorism.

Here’s How the US Has Been Using Vietnam-Era Warplanes in Iraq Posted: 19 May 2016 10:44 AM PDT Even decades-old warplanes can have an interesting second act, provided they get the right upgrade. Many military observers were baffled when The Daily Beast reported that the Pentagon had deployed a pair ...

US widens sanctions on Islamic State, al-Qaida branches Posted: 19 May 2016 10:22 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States expanded sanctions Thursday against affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operating across the Middle East and North Africa, reflecting the spreading threat of extremism far beyond the groups' traditional strongholds in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

Iraq reaches deal with IMF for $5.4-billion loan Posted: 19 May 2016 10:04 AM PDT Crisis-hit Iraq reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund Thursday for a $5.4 billion loan that could give donors enough confidence to unlock further financing, a statement said. "Under the arrangement, and subject to the approval of the IMF executive board, Iraq could have access to IMF credit amounting to... about $5.4 billion," the statement said. In a statement issued in Amman, the IMF's Iraq head of mission, Christian Josz, said the deal was justified by the cost of the war on the Islamic State group and the sharp fall in oil prices.

Pope Francis to receive Sunni Muslim leader at Vatican Posted: 19 May 2016 09:51 AM PDT Pope Francis is to meet the grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar at the Vatican on Monday in an unprecedented encounter between the leader of the world's Catholics and the highest authority in Sunni Islam. Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, who heads the mosque and seat of learning considered the most prestigious institution in the main branch of Islam, will have an audience with the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP. The hugely symbolic visit comes against the backdrop of a recent improvement in relations between the two faiths after serious tensions during the time of Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI.

Top US general arrives in Iraq for update on IS campaign Posted: 19 May 2016 09:01 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — The top U.S. general for the Middle East has arrived unannounced in the Iraqi capital to meet with commanders and get an update on the military campaign against the Islamic State.

IMF announces $5.4B loan over 3 years to Iraq Posted: 19 May 2016 07:22 AM PDT AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The International Monetary Fund said Thursday that it is lending $5.4 billion over three years to cash-strapped Iraq, which has been hit hard by a sharp drop in oil prices.

Wounded Veterans Experience Training at "The Rock" Posted: 19 May 2016 07:01 AM PDT NEW YORK, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An 18-week training program for the New York Fire Department's (FDNY) probationary firefighters was cut into five heart-pounding simulated teaching scenarios for wounded military veterans and their guests at the Fire Academy on Randalls Island, also known as "The Rock." The event was a joint effort between the FDNY and Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. "I've always had an interest in the fire department," said U.S. Army wounded veteran and WWP Alumnus Ethan Newago.

Gazans feel borders closing in as exit options diminish Posted: 19 May 2016 06:57 AM PDT By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Abu Abdallah, the owner of a women's fashion store in Gaza, traveled to Jordan seven times last year so he could fly on to Turkey and Egypt looking for new stock. For a decade, Israel has maintained tight restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, largely in an effort to put the squeeze on Hamas, the Islamist movement that seized control of the territory in 2007. Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt has applied even stricter measures since 2013, barely ever opening its border with Gaza at Rafah and flooding a network of tunnels along the frontier to stop smuggling.

Tunisia president says its war on 'terror' has cost $4 bn Posted: 19 May 2016 06:11 AM PDT Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi said in Doha on Thursday that his country's battle to fight "terrorism" has cost it around $4 billion diverted away from the country's economy. "The war against terrorism has cost Tunisia a lot, about $4 billion," Essebsi told reporters in Qatar, at the end of an official three-day visit to the Gulf country. Essebsi added that there was "no future" for political Islam in the country.

Turkish military says helicopter may have been downed by Kurdish militants Posted: 19 May 2016 06:10 AM PDT Turkey's armed forces said on Thursday that a military helicopter that crashed a week ago during clashes that killed eight soldiers including two pilots, may have been brought down by Kurdish militants with a ground-to-air missile. If confirmed, it would be the first known usage in recent years of such weaponry by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, who have been waging an insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey's southeast for more than three decades. The armed forces initially said the helicopter had crashed last Friday due to a technical fault during air operations against PKK fighters in the province of Hakkari near the border with Iraq.

French security chief warns Islamic State plans wave of attacks in France Posted: 19 May 2016 05:12 AM PDT By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Islamic State militants are gearing up for a campaign of bomb attacks on large crowds in France, host to next month's Euro 2016 soccer championships, its spy chief has said. Rare remarks by Patrick Calvar, the head of France's DGSI internal intelligence agency, to the parliament's defense committee spelled out "a new form of attack ... characterized by placing explosive devices in places where there are large crowds and repeating this type of action to create a climate of maximum panic. "Clearly, France is the most threatened and we know that Daesh (Islamic State) is planning new attacks," Calvar told the committee on May 10, according to a transcript of his testimony released to the media on Thursday.

U.S. leads 17 strikes against Islamic State: statement Posted: 19 May 2016 05:05 AM PDT The United States and its allies staged 17 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday in their latest daily attacks against the militant group, the coalition leading the operations said. In a statement released on Thursday, the Combined Joint Task Force said 14 strikes in Iraq hit targets near nine cities, including Mosul, Kisik and Falluja, among others. In Syria, three strikes near Manbij hit an Islamic State tactical unit, two fighting positions and a mortar system, according to the statement said.

Iraq announces recapture of western town from IS Posted: 19 May 2016 04:59 AM PDT Iraq announced Thursday that its forces have recaptured the western town of Rutba which had been held by the Islamic State jihadist group since 2014. "The Joint Operations Command announces the complete liberation of the Rutba district," it said in a statement. Special forces, soldiers and police took part in the operation, the statement said.

Iraq says it retakes western town of Rutba from Islamic State Posted: 19 May 2016 04:38 AM PDT Iraq's military said on Thursday it had retaken the remote western town of Rutba from Islamic State in an operation launched this week to cut off the militants' supply route to neighboring Syria. The military's joint operations command said in a statement the district, 360 km (225 miles) west of Baghdad, had been "completely liberated" without clarifying what that meant. In addition to its linkage to Syria, Rutba was considered an important "support zone" which Islamic State was using to stage operations into battle areas further north and east.

Jihadists mobilize in Syria as peacemaking unravels Posted: 19 May 2016 04:05 AM PDT By Tom Perry and Suleiman Al-Khalidi BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) - Jihadi militants in Syria including al Qaeda are mobilizing again for all-out war against President Bashar al-Assad, taking advantage of the collapse of peace talks to eclipse nationalist rival insurgents that signed on to a faltering truce. Al Qaeda's Syrian branch, the Nusra Front, was excluded from a ceasefire put in place in February and from peace talks that followed. The talks broke up last month, with Assad's government and foes blaming each other for military escalation.

Are martial arts clubs adding punch to the jihadist cause? Posted: 19 May 2016 02:48 AM PDT Combat sports are booming around the world but in France increasingly draw the attention of intelligence services hunting potential jihadists. Long concentrated in poor suburbs and with no real organisation watching over their activities, critics say the mixed martial arts, judo, kick boxing and other clubs are ideal for fomenting radicalisation and jihadist training. Mederic Chapitaux, who has written a book, "Sport, The Fault In State Security", about the phenomenon, believes France should not be alone in worrying.

Libya forces say pushing back Islamic State fighters Posted: 18 May 2016 11:29 PM PDT By Ayman al-Sahli MISRATA, Libya (Reuters) - Forces loyal to Libya's U.N.-backed unity government pushed Islamic State fighters back towards their stronghold of Sirte on Wednesday but lost more than 30 men, including seven killed in a car bombing, officials said. In a televised statement from the streets of Abu Grain, military spokesman Mohamed al-Gasri said the forces had "liberated" the small town and two nearby villages after heavy fighting. Western powers are counting on the new government to unify Libya's political and armed factions to take on Islamic State.

Leicester owners shoot for Thai World Cup entry Posted: 18 May 2016 10:26 PM PDT Leicester City's billionaire owners say they hope to use the Premier League winners to nurture young football talent with the aim of Thailand qualifying for the World Cup within a decade. The newly crowned English champions are on a celebratory post-season tour of Thailand, home of publicity-shy billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and his son Aiyawatt -- better known as 'Top'. The two men, alongside manager Claudio Ranieri, are credited with steering the club to one of football's greatest fairytale wins.

James Gandolfini's Stolen Watch Is "Undervalued," Say Watch Experts Posted: 18 May 2016 09:00 PM PDT Three years after the 'Sopranos' star's death, one of the paramedics who treated him is headed to trial for allegedly stealing the late actor's Rolex Submariner Date timepiece, which has been valued at $3,000.

Magnolia Chief on Boss Mark Cuban, Harvey Weinstein's Wrath and His Hunt for Fringe Films at Cannes Posted: 18 May 2016 09:00 PM PDT Eamonn Bowles, president of one of the last indie distribution houses dedicated to art house fare, opens up about why controversy pays off and how Lars von Trier got a bum rap at the festival.

Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC-US) Lauds House Foreign Affairs Committee's Leadership on Supporting Camp Liberty Residents Posted: 18 May 2016 06:00 PM PDT WASHINGTON, May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a Markup hearing today, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs unanimously approved and referred to the House Floor, H.Res.650 titled, "Providing for the safety and security of the Iranian dissidents living in Camp Liberty/Hurriya in Iraq and awaiting resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and permitting use of their own assets to assist in their resettlement. ...

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