Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Obama denies $400M payment to Iran was ransom
• Obama warns Trump not to spread details of security briefings
• Brazil held to 0-0 draw by South Africa in men's soccer
• Olympics-Boxing-Irish fighter fails dope test ahead of Rio Games
• Pence tries to win over conservatives despite Trump gaffes
• Neymar fails to spark Brazil in South Africa stalemate
• What Black Directors Think of Ava DuVernay’s ‘Wrinkle in Time’ Budget Bonanza
• Olympics-Soccer-Brazil held goalless in exciting opener
• A battered Trump is tested on multiple fronts
• Obama: Islamic State likely to continue to threaten US
• Has anything changed in ​'​Trump country'​?
• Obama vows to crush IS, concerned about Russia in Syria
• Trump conflict overshadows attacks on Clinton foreign policy
• The Latest: Pence endorses all GOP congressional incumbents
• Olympics-Soccer-Brazil vow to improve after 0-0 draw
• Trump, in fierce new broadside, says immigrants pose hidden threat
• The Latest: Obama says commutations help cut poverty cycle
• Amid campaign turmoil, Trump allies urge him to get back on track
• Obama touts progress against Islamic State
• Paul Ryan Reaffirms Support for Trump, Critiques Campaign
• US to keep targeting IS 'aggressively across every front': Obama
• Olympics-Soccer-Men's Group A results
• Trump and Pence Snub GOP Senators, Roiling the Party Yet Again
• The Latest: Animal rights activists interrupt Clinton rally
• Egypt: Leader of Islamic State affiliate killed in Sinai
• US poised to hit Obama's target of 10,000 Syrian refugees
• Investor Wilbur Ross urges Trump not to let his behavior become the issue
• Oil jumps 3 percent as short-covering pushes U.S. crude firmly over $40
• Iraq judiciary bans speaker from travel over graft claims
• Olympics-Soccer-Iraq, Denmark open men's tournament with 0-0 draw
• Trump’s Fundraising Surge Sends an Important Message to the GOP
• US air raids lift morale of Libya anti-IS force on the ground
• A Disease That Is Wiping Out Bats Spreads Across the U.S.
• Will US strikes on IS deepen Libya divisions?
• Obama's $400 Million and Carter's $7.9 Billion - by Dr. Mike Evans
• China joins Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan in security alliance
• Jordan sentences gunman, 22, to death for security complex attack
• Death penalty in fatal attack on Jordan intelligence office
• America seen from abroad: arrogant, nice, tech-savvy, free

Obama denies $400M payment to Iran was ransom Posted: 04 Aug 2016 05:56 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama vigorously denied on Thursday that a $400 million cash payment to Iran was ransom to secure the release of four Americans jailed in Tehran. He defended the transaction as evidence that the nuclear accord with Iran has allowed for progress on other matters.

Obama warns Trump not to spread details of security briefings Posted: 04 Aug 2016 05:39 PM PDT President Barack Obama confirmed on Thursday that Donald Trump will get national security briefings ahead of the November election, but he warned the Republican candidate, whom he has called "unfit" for office, that information from the meetings must be kept secret. Obama, a Democrat who has endorsed his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 White House race, has made clear his dismay over Trump, a New York businessman who has proposed temporarily banning Muslims from entering the United States and building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. On Tuesday Obama questioned why leading Republicans have not withdrawn their support for their presidential nominee.

Brazil held to 0-0 draw by South Africa in men's soccer Posted: 04 Aug 2016 05:25 PM PDT BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil started its quest for an Olympic gold medal in men's soccer with a disappointing 0-0 draw against South Africa, a result that prompted loud jeers by some of the home fans.

Olympics-Boxing-Irish fighter fails dope test ahead of Rio Games Posted: 04 Aug 2016 05:19 PM PDT (Adds details, O'Reilly named in media) By Alan Baldwin RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Irish boxer Michael O'Reilly has been suspended provisionally after failing a dope test carried out before he arrived at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) said in a statement that one of their boxers had tested positive, without giving a name, but Irish media identified him as 23-year-old middleweight O'Reilly. Boxing sources in Rio confirmed that was the case.

Pence tries to win over conservatives despite Trump gaffes Posted: 04 Aug 2016 05:01 PM PDT NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Mike Pence tried Thursday to smooth over turmoil stirred by Donald Trump's refusal to endorse some prominent Republicans, issuing a blanket endorsement of all GOP congressional incumbents seeking re-election.

Neymar fails to spark Brazil in South Africa stalemate Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:58 PM PDT Barcelona star Neymar failed to provide the flying start Brazil wanted in their quest for a maiden football gold medal as the hosts were held 0-0 by 10-man South Africa in their Olympic opener Thursday. Neymar is by far the biggest name taking part in the football competition and has been tasked with restoring pride to Brazilian football after a catastrophic 7-1 defeat to Germany on home soil at the 2014 World Cup.

What Black Directors Think of Ava DuVernay’s ‘Wrinkle in Time’ Budget Bonanza Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:52 PM PDT Money talks, and in Hollywood there are few things with a louder voice, which is why many in the industry cheered Thursday's announcement that Selma director Ava DuVernay will become the first woman of color to direct a film with a budget over $100 million with Disney's A Wrinkle in Time. DuVernay is only the third woman—ever—to reach the $100 million budget milestone, following Kathryn Bigelow, who directed the 2002 movie K-19: The Widowmaker, and Patty Jenkins, who is slated to direct the new Wonder Woman movie, which will be released in 2017. Some women directors who started working long before DuVernay's debut are only now getting the acclaim they deserve.

Olympics-Soccer-Brazil held goalless in exciting opener Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:46 PM PDT (Updates with later results) By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Brazil failed to make a winning start despite home advantage, a multi-million dollar strike force and a man advantage as they were held 0-0 by South Africa in their opening soccer match at the Rio Olympics on Thursday. Brazil, who have never won the Olympic gold, started with a highly rated front three of Neymar, new Manchester City signing Gabriel Jesus, and 19-year-old Gabriel Barbosa, the Santos striker expected to head to Europe in this transfer window.

A battered Trump is tested on multiple fronts Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:33 PM PDT Donald Trump grappled Thursday with fallout from multiple recent missteps, amid a new round of unfavorable polls and as House Speaker Paul Ryan reiterates that his support for the Republican presidential nominee is not guaranteed. The brash billionaire's ability to stay on message during an intensifying general election campaign has been called into question by members of his own party, with Ryan delivering a pointed critique of Trump's performance 96 days before Americans choose between Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. The Republican flagbearer steered his campaign into the rough in recent days by provoking a clash with the family of a Muslim American soldier killed in action, and then declining to endorse Ryan and Senator John McCain, the party's 2008 nominee, in their congressional re-election campaigns.

Obama: Islamic State likely to continue to threaten US Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:29 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Islamic State group will probably continue to be a threat to the U.S. even after it is ousted from key strongholds in Iraq and Syria, President Barack Obama said Thursday, warning that lone-wolf believers will still be inspired to launch attacks that are harder to detect and prevent.

Has anything changed in ​'​Trump country'​? Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:19 PM PDT One of Donald Trump's ardent supporters, Dee Finley, sits outside a Conyers, Ga., soda fountain and shrugs off a week where the very physics of the presidential campaign seems to have shifted against the seemingly invulnerable New York billionaire. Ms. Finley, who is middle-aged and African-American, knows that Mr. Trump has struggled to pivot from winning the Republican primaries to confronting the national test of cobbling together a winning bloc of diverse Americans. Recommended: What do you know about Donald Trump?

Obama vows to crush IS, concerned about Russia in Syria Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:03 PM PDT President Barack Obama on Thursday vowed to continue hammering Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, but acknowledged that pressure on the jihadists was prompting them to lash out beyond their self-proclaimed caliphate. Speaking after meeting security and military officials in the Pentagon, Obama also blasted President Vladimir Putin's policy in Syria, saying he doubted the Russian leader could be trusted to cooperate on helping end the country's bloody civil war.

Trump conflict overshadows attacks on Clinton foreign policy Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:00 PM PDT PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Donald Trump's warning that the November election might be rigged is "ridiculous," President Barack Obama declared on Thursday, wading deeper into the 2016 campaign. Anxious Republicans, meanwhile, struggled to move attention from their own infighting to Democratic foe Hillary Clinton.

The Latest: Pence endorses all GOP congressional incumbents Posted: 04 Aug 2016 03:40 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. presidential campaign (all times local):

Olympics-Soccer-Brazil vow to improve after 0-0 draw Posted: 04 Aug 2016 03:29 PM PDT By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's inability to score against 10-man South Africa was just a bad day at the office and the hosts will work hard to improve before their next game against Iraq, several players said on Thursday. "Today we failed in the goalscoring category so we need to get better," said defender Marquinhos. Brazil, who have never won the Olympic gold, included high profile players such as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos as they try to break that duck.

Trump, in fierce new broadside, says immigrants pose hidden threat Posted: 04 Aug 2016 03:23 PM PDT Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump launched new attacks on immigrants Thursday, telling supporters that Somalis and other refugees from "terrorist nations" should be barred entry to the United States. "We are letting people come in from terrorist nations that shouldn't be allowed because you can't vet them," Trump, who has built his campaign around an anti-immigration platform, said at a rally in Portland, Maine. This could be the great Trojan horse of all time," he said, reprising a warning that terrorists including members of the Islamic State extremist group will sneak into the United States as refugees.

The Latest: Obama says commutations help cut poverty cycle Posted: 04 Aug 2016 03:16 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Barack Obama's news conference at the Pentagon Thursday (all times EDT):

Amid campaign turmoil, Trump allies urge him to get back on track Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:46 PM PDT WASHINGTON/PORTLAND, Me. (Reuters) - Supporters of Republican Donald Trump urged him to get back on message on Thursday after a week of dropping opinion poll numbers and a war of words with ranking Republicans over his U.S. presidential campaign. In response to the criticism, Trump pledged to focus more on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who emerged from last week's Democratic National Convention with a lead in the polls and who has been consistently attacking him as temperamentally unfit for the presidency. At a rally in Portland, Maine, on Thursday, Trump kept his attention on trying to undermine Clinton's candidacy.

Obama touts progress against Islamic State Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:40 PM PDT President Barack Obama on Thursday touted progress the United States and its allies have made in the military campaign against Islamic State, though he said the militant group still has the ability to direct and inspire attacks. While the U.S.-led air and ground campaign against the group's strongholds in Iraq and Syria have cost it territory, IS is adapting by reverting to high-profile attacks and by using the internet to recruit members, train them and encourage "lone wolf" attacks. Islamic State also maintains control of major cities, including Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria.

Paul Ryan Reaffirms Support for Trump, Critiques Campaign Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:15 PM PDT House Speaker Paul Ryan is reaffirming his support for Donald Trump in his first comments since Trump said he wasn't endorsing Ryan in his GOP primary

US to keep targeting IS 'aggressively across every front': Obama Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:10 PM PDT Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said Thursday the United States would keep targeting the Islamic State group "aggressively across every front."

Olympics-Soccer-Men's Group A results Posted: 04 Aug 2016 01:55 PM PDT Aug 4 (Gracenote) - Olympic men's soccer Group A results in Brasilia on Thursday. Brazil 0 South Africa 0 Iraq 0 Denmark 0 STANDINGS P W D L F A Pts 1. South Africa 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1=. Iraq 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1=. Denmark 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1=. Brazil 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 FIXTURES (GMT)Denmark v South Africa (2200) MONDAY, AUGUST 8 FIXTURES (GMT)Brazil v Iraq (0100)

Trump and Pence Snub GOP Senators, Roiling the Party Yet Again Posted: 04 Aug 2016 01:45 PM PDT The good news for the Republican Party is that its presidential and vice presidential nominees finally appear to be on the same script. Since his nomination two weeks ago, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has repeatedly voiced opinions that sounded very different from those expressed by the GOP's presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Saying that he stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Trump in the campaign, Pence insisted that he and the candidate actually see "eye to eye" on the issues that appeared to have them toe-to-toe in recent weeks.

The Latest: Animal rights activists interrupt Clinton rally Posted: 04 Aug 2016 01:41 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. presidential campaign (all times local):

Egypt: Leader of Islamic State affiliate killed in Sinai Posted: 04 Aug 2016 01:40 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's military said on Thursday that the leader of the Islamic State's affiliate has been killed in the Sinai Peninsula, along with several key aides and 45 other members of the extremist group.

US poised to hit Obama's target of 10,000 Syrian refugees Posted: 04 Aug 2016 01:20 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — After a slow start, it appears increasingly likely that the Obama administration will hit its goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States before the end of September.

Investor Wilbur Ross urges Trump not to let his behavior become the issue Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:19 PM PDT Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross stood behind Republican Donald Trump but urged him to stop engaging in exchanges that benefit the Democrats and make the real estate mogul's behavior the issue in the U.S. presidential campaign. "This election is Donald's to lose and so far the Democrats have been clever about baiting him and he generally has bitten," Ross said in an email to Reuters late on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Trump did not respond to requests for comment.

Oil jumps 3 percent as short-covering pushes U.S. crude firmly over $40 Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:12 PM PDT Oil prices rose nearly 3 percent on Thursday, with U.S. crude advancing firmly above the $40-per-barrel mark on short-covering and after a modest stockpile drop at the delivery hub for U.S. crude futures. It was a second straight day of gains for crude futures from April lows below $40, after Wednesday's 3 percent run-up powered by data showing a hefty U.S. gasoline inventory drawdown. Market intelligence firm Genscape reported that stockpiles at the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub for U.S. crude futures fell 89,071 barrels during the week to Aug. 2, traders who saw the data said.

Iraq judiciary bans speaker from travel over graft claims Posted: 04 Aug 2016 12:04 PM PDT Iraq's judiciary has imposed a travel ban on the speaker of parliament, two lawmakers and several other people in connection with corruption allegations, a spokesman said on Thursday. Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi on Monday told parliament that speaker Salim al-Juburi and several lawmakers were corrupt and had sought to blackmail him. The next day, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he had ordered a "temporary travel ban" against those under investigation, but Juburi rejected it, saying only the judiciary had the authority to impose such measures.

Olympics-Soccer-Iraq, Denmark open men's tournament with 0-0 draw Posted: 04 Aug 2016 11:31 AM PDT By Andrew Downie RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Men's soccer got under way at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Thursday when Denmark and Iraq played out a 0-0 draw that was more entertaining than the scoreline suggested. The match, played in front a tiny crowd in Brasilia, preceded the day's other Group A clash between hosts Brazil and South Africa. Both Iraq and Denmark were unperturbed by the 80 degree temperatures and set out to play open and attacking football at the 72,000 capacity National stadium.

Trump’s Fundraising Surge Sends an Important Message to the GOP Posted: 04 Aug 2016 10:44 AM PDT In an otherwise horrific week for Donald Trump, one piece of good news shone through the mire of attacks on grieving parents, terrible poll numbers and rumors of a coming campaign shake-up: Trump's fundraising operation appears to be running extremely well -- to the point of nearly matching the July totals announced by his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. The campaign took in $64 million in direct donations over the course of July, and raised another $16 million at 20 fundraising events held in conjunction with the Republican National Committee. At a time when more and more Republican lawmakers are reconsidering their support for him or even disavowing him completely, the fundraising numbers contain another vital bit of information: A large share of that cash is coming from small-dollar donors who remain sufficiently energized by Trump to write him a check or to go online to donate.

US air raids lift morale of Libya anti-IS force on the ground Posted: 04 Aug 2016 10:18 AM PDT Crouched behind a cement wall to avoid sniper fire, Libyan pro-government fighters say US air strikes on the Islamic State jihadist group in its Sirte bastion have boosted morale. Fighters allied to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) have waged a fierce weeks-long battle to retake the coastal city of Sirte from the jihadists. The air strikes are very good and have targeted sensitive Daesh (IS) positions," Mohamad al-Ahjal told AFP on Thursday as he took cover in the courtyard of an abandoned house.

A Disease That Is Wiping Out Bats Spreads Across the U.S. Posted: 04 Aug 2016 09:52 AM PDT A deadly fungal disease called white-nose syndrome is wreaking havoc on North American bat populations, spreading farther and faster last year than ever before, according to a new report by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center. The result: a severe, accelerated loss of bats in the United States, with populations in some caves falling 90 to 100 percent. "Bats are major predators of insects, and it has been estimated that they provide pest control services to U.S. farmers valued at greater than $3.7 billion per year," said Blehert.

Will US strikes on IS deepen Libya divisions? Posted: 04 Aug 2016 07:32 AM PDT The United States has opened a new front in its campaign against the Islamic State group, launching air strikes to support Libyan forces battling to oust the jihadists from Sirte. Who's fighting IS in Sirte? The forces battling IS in Sirte, halfway along Libya's coastline, are allied with the country's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

Obama's $400 Million and Carter's $7.9 Billion - by Dr. Mike Evans Posted: 04 Aug 2016 05:30 AM PDT NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Shortly after 4:00 A.M. on Inauguration Day, January 20, 1981, the administration of then-President Jimmy Carter relinquished $7.977 billion to the Iranians. When the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran on February 1, 1979 it was with the unbridled determination to launch a revolution. The Iranians were relentless in the pursuit of the Shah's assets numbering in the billions, purported to be stashed in American banks.

China joins Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan in security alliance Posted: 04 Aug 2016 04:53 AM PDT China is to set up an anti-terrorism alliance with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, state media said on Thursday, as it seeks to boost coordination with neighbors to tackle what it says is a growing domestic militant threat. Fang Fenghui, a member of the powerful Central Military Commission which controls China's armed forces, hosted a meeting with his counterparts on Wednesday in Urumqi, capital of the western Xinjiang region, where officials say they are battling Islamist militants. The four countries recognized the serious threat of terrorism and extremism to regional stability, the official Xinhua news agency said, and they agreed to set up a "four-country mechanism" for intelligence sharing and training.

Jordan sentences gunman, 22, to death for security complex attack Posted: 04 Aug 2016 03:33 AM PDT A court in Jordan sentenced a 22-year-old man to death on Thursday for an attack on a security complex that killed five people in June, state news agency Petra said. The state security court found Mohammad Masharfeh guilty of "committing terrorist acts that led to the death of human beings and committing terrorist acts using automatic weapons". Masharfeh pleaded not guilty to the charges at the start of the military-dominated court trial last month.

Death penalty in fatal attack on Jordan intelligence office Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:23 AM PDT AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — An assailant who killed five people in a June shooting attack on a branch of Jordan's intelligence agency was sentenced to death Thursday, a defense lawyer said.

America seen from abroad: arrogant, nice, tech-savvy, free Posted: 04 Aug 2016 02:02 AM PDT BANGKOK (AP) — The rest of the world may think Americans eat a lot of burgers, have huge shopping malls and are ruled by an arrogant government. And yet the "Ugly American," it would seem, isn't all bad. Americans are also seen from afar as generous tippers, friendly, uncomplicated, rich and the standard bearers of freedom, equality, creativity and technological power.

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