Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Top Asian News 12:24 a.m. GMT
• UAE surprises Japan, Australia beats Iraq in WCup qualifying
• What makes America 'exceptional'? Clinton and Trump trade places
• Exclusive: U.S. set to approve sales of Boeing fighters to Qatar, Kuwait - sources
• Campaigners blame Russia over cluster bomb use in Syria
• Soccer-Australia down Iraq as UAE shock wasteful Japan
• Japan fume over ref howler as Koreans see off China
• Syria rebel gains as UN raps govt evacuation 'strategy'
• U.S. troops in Iraq increasingly active as Mosul battle nears
• Merkel, under pressure, stresses need to deport failed asylum-seekers
• 7 of Hillary Clinton’s Biggest Flip-Flops
• US campaign in Libya enters second month as local forces make IS gains
• Pakistan says it foiled IS bid to expand network in country
• American detained after crossing from Syria into Turkey
• Pakistan says it foiled Islamic State expansion into country
• Luongo, Juric fire Australia past Iraq in World Cup qualifier
• Soccer-Khalil scores twice as UAE down Japan
• Israelis and Palestinians face off, but this time for fun
• Lion of Panjshir's son ready to take up his Afghan destiny
• Soccer-Juric shines as Australia down Iraq in Perth
• Australia outlines tough new measures against Islamic State
• Tired of cheap oil, Saudis eye price boost to drive Aramco IPO
• End Syria's bloodshed, says father of dead toddler Aylan
• Turkish air strikes kill three PKK militants in southeast Turkey: military
• Special Report: In a Lebanese village, civil war scars fade slowly
• Factbox: The deadly legacy of cluster bombs
• Iran says ex-general shot in Syria in coma, not dead
• G20 offers Putin one more stab at Obama on Syria, Ukraine
• Australia to widen scope of targets in IS air war
• Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday, Sept. 1
• Grand jury to mull case of Marine vet charged with murder
• NBC Counters Matt Lauer Clinton Criticism Ahead of Candidate Forum
• NBC Counters Criticism of Matt Lauer's Clinton Ties Ahead of Candidate Forum
• Matt Lauer to Moderate First Trump and Clinton Joint-Candidate Event
• Australia foreshadows expanding role in fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq

Top Asian News 12:24 a.m. GMT Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:24 PM PDT HONG KONG (AP) — Two years after the end of chaotic pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a number of young activists who were politically awakened by the movement hope to keep its spirit alive by running for political office on Sunday. The young radicals hope to ride a rising tide of anti-Beijing sentiment and win seats on the Legislative Council. They're up against both formidable pro-Beijing parties and older pro-democracy ones. At stake is the power to keep the city's pro-Beijing leader and his government in check. The pro-democracy camp currently controls 27 of 70 seats, and must keep at least a third of the seats to retain to veto power.

UAE surprises Japan, Australia beats Iraq in WCup qualifying Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:23 PM PDT PERTH, Australia (AP) — The United Arab Emirates upset Japan 2-1 to pick up a valuable three points away and Australia scored twice in six minutes to hold off Iraq 2-0 to kick off the final round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup.

What makes America 'exceptional'? Clinton and Trump trade places Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:13 PM PDT When Hillary Clinton spoke in front of a group of veterans on Wednesday, she invoked a concept that has long shaped how many conservative Americans have understood their country and its place within the world. "If there is one core belief that has guided and inspired me every step of the way, it is this: The United States is an exceptional nation," Mrs. Clinton told those gathered at the American Legion's national convention in Cincinnati. Such lofty talk of "American exceptionalism" has been woven into the nation's DNA since the time of the Puritans, many scholars say.

Exclusive: U.S. set to approve sales of Boeing fighters to Qatar, Kuwait - sources Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:59 PM PDT DOHA/BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States is poised to sell $7 billion worth of Boeing Co fighter jets to Qatar and Kuwait after years of delays, and it may start notifying U.S. lawmakers as early as next week, four U.S.- and Gulf-based sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The sales had stalled amid concerns raised by Israel, Washington's closest Middle East ally, that equipment sent to equipment sent to Gulf Arab states would be used against it. U.S. officials have criticized Qatar for alleged ties to armed Islamist groups.

Campaigners blame Russia over cluster bomb use in Syria Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:14 PM PDT Evidence is growing that Russia is behind a significant increase in the use of cluster bombs in Syria, campaigners said Thursday. A coalition of NGOs led by Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in an annual study that more than 400 people were killed or maimed by the banned munitions in the world last year. "Since Russia began its joint operation with Syrian forces at the end last September, we have seen an increase in the number of cluster munition attacks on opposition-held areas," Mary Wareham, HRW's arms advocacy director and editor of the report, told a press conference.

Soccer-Australia down Iraq as UAE shock wasteful Japan Posted: 01 Sep 2016 01:56 PM PDT * Australia dominate Iraq * Japan beaten by UAE (Adds rest of Group B games) PERTH, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Australia made a confident start to the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 victory over Iraq on Thursday, while United Arab Emirates beat Japan 2-1 and a late penalty handed Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win over Thailand in Group B. Tomi Juric created one goal and scored another inside six second-half minutes to give Asian champions Australia a comfortable victory. The Socceroos, aiming for a fourth straight appearance at the finals in Russia in 2018, always looked the stronger side but it was not until just before the hour mark that midfielder Massimo Luongo broke the deadlock at the Perth Oval.

Japan fume over ref howler as Koreans see off China Posted: 01 Sep 2016 01:26 PM PDT Japan were left fuming over a refereeing howler after a shock defeat to UAE rocked their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday, while South Korea held off China. Asian champions Australia overcame a nervy start to beat Iraq 2-0 as Asia's third round of 2018 World Cup qualifying got underway, with 12 teams vying for four automatic berths.

Syria rebel gains as UN raps govt evacuation 'strategy' Posted: 01 Sep 2016 01:05 PM PDT Rebels and jihadists battled pro-government forces in the central Syrian province of Hama Thursday as the country's UN envoy warned that more people could be forcibly evacuated from towns besieged by the regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 25 civilians, including children, were killed in government air strikes as fighting raged in Hama, south of the opposition-held Idlib province. Anti-government groups, which include jihadists and Sunni Islamists, launched an offensive in Hama on Monday aimed at retaking its airport, where regime helicopters fly regular sorties against opposition fighters.

U.S. troops in Iraq increasingly active as Mosul battle nears Posted: 01 Sep 2016 12:53 PM PDT By Stephen Kalin GREAT ZAB RIVER, Iraq (Reuters) - Kurdish Peshmerga forces retook a swath of northern Iraq late last month from Islamic State and days later American forces appeared in the area, the latest sign of increasing U.S. military activity in the country. The U.S. troops, numbering about a dozen, were still there this week and spent Wednesday supervising Iraqi army engineers repairing a bridge to help local forces cross the Great Zab river in their push towards Mosul, the militants' de facto capital in Iraq which Baghdad wants to retake this year.

Merkel, under pressure, stresses need to deport failed asylum-seekers Posted: 01 Sep 2016 11:53 AM PDT By Andreas Rinke and Erik Kirschbaum BERLIN (Reuters) - In a sharp change of tone, Chancellor Angela Merkel wants German authorities to accelerate the deportation of foreigners who are denied asylum, in response to growing public fears over the soaring numbers of migrants, members of parliament told Reuters on Thursday. Facing criticism from the public and within her own conservatives for allowing around a million migrants and refugees to enter the country last year, Merkel told her party's lawmakers that many foreigners were staying on even after their asylum applications had been denied. ...

7 of Hillary Clinton’s Biggest Flip-Flops Posted: 01 Sep 2016 11:45 AM PDT In the 2016 election, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton seems to have switched at least one position after coming under pressure from progressive supporters of primary challenger Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. For almost a decade and as late as 2010, Clinton opposed gay marriage but backed civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, as this video makes clear. Related: Is Trump v. Clinton the Baby Boomers' Last Hurrah?

US campaign in Libya enters second month as local forces make IS gains Posted: 01 Sep 2016 10:23 AM PDT The US air campaign targeting the Islamic State group's former Libyan stronghold entered its second month Thursday, with the steady pace of strikes continuing as local forces advanced on the jihadists' last remaining holdout. The military action follows a request by the UN-supported Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), and the Obama administration has stressed that ongoing US involvement would be framed by the interim Libyan government's needs. "Though operational security precludes us from speculating on a timeline, the US will continue to support the GNA as they look at options for Libya's future once Sirte is liberated," Robyn Mack, a spokeswoman for the US military's Africa Command, told AFP.

Pakistan says it foiled IS bid to expand network in country Posted: 01 Sep 2016 10:15 AM PDT ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has foiled a bid by the Islamic State group to expand its network into this predominantly Muslim country, with the military arresting 309 suspects, including IS members from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, a military spokesman said Thursday.

American detained after crossing from Syria into Turkey Posted: 01 Sep 2016 09:24 AM PDT ISTANBUL (AP) — The U.S. State Department has confirmed that an American woman is being held in a Turkish prison and says consular officers are providing all possible assistance.

Pakistan says it foiled Islamic State expansion into country Posted: 01 Sep 2016 08:18 AM PDT By Kay Johnson and Asad Hashim RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan's military on Thursday said it has halted Islamic State's attempts to expand there, arresting more than 300 people, including some Syrians, who were involved in plotting attacks on government, diplomatic and civilian targets. The comments were rare acknowledgment by a senior Pakistani official that Islamic State, mainly based in Syria and Iraq, has had any active presence in a country that is home to myriad militant groups including the Afghan and Pakistan Taliban, al Qaeda and the Haqqani network. Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, the military's top spokesman, also rejected U.S. complaints that it was not acting against the Haqqani network, suspected of carrying out suicide bomb attacks in Kabul, saying Pakistan was pursuing an "indiscriminate operation" against all militants.

Luongo, Juric fire Australia past Iraq in World Cup qualifier Posted: 01 Sep 2016 07:12 AM PDT Hotshots Massimo Luongo and Tomi Juric were both on target as Australia overcame a dogged Iraq outfit to win 2-0 in their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday. The home side were strong favourites but they didn't have it all their own way until QPR's Luongo and FC Luzern striker Juric scored in a seven-minute, second-half burst. "It was a great way to come back today," said Juric, who was recalled by coach Ange Postecoglou after missing Australia's friendlies against Greece in June.

Soccer-Khalil scores twice as UAE down Japan Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:41 AM PDT Ahmed Khalil scored twice as United Arab Emirates punished Japan for missing a host of chances by winning 2-1 at the Saitama Stadium in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup on Thursday. The hosts made a strong start when an unmarked Keisuke Honda headed in Hiroshi Kiyotake's free kick in the 11th minute to give the four-times Asian champions a 1-0 lead in a Group B match played in front of a sellout crowd of 65,000. The Emiratis, who beat the Blue Samurais in last year's Asian Cup quarter-finals in a penalty shootout, equalised nine minutes later when Khalil, the Asian player of the year, netted.

Israelis and Palestinians face off, but this time for fun Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:39 AM PDT The Israelis and Palestinians were facing off in Jerusalem again -- but this time they actually seemed to be enjoying each other's company. Dozens of Israelis and Palestinians, some dressed in yarmulkes on their head or headscarves, gathered at a historic former train station in the divided city on Wednesday night for a backgammon tournament. "I remember the time when I spent nights here, in Tel Aviv or in Haifa," said Abud, a Palestinian Christian in his 50s from Bethlehem who declined to give his last name.

Lion of Panjshir's son ready to take up his Afghan destiny Posted: 01 Sep 2016 06:08 AM PDT His first public appearance was at the tender age of 12, a tiny figure walking, head down in grief, beside his legendary father's coffin. Fifteen years later, Ahmad Massoud, son of Ahmad Shah Massoud -- the charismatic, French-speaking mujahedeen commander who held the Soviets at bay and was Afghanistan's last bulwark against the Taliban -- is ready to step into the spotlight once more. Dubbed the "Lion of Panjshir", Massoud the elder was commander of a mujahedeen force that battered one of the world's two superpowers into submission, and later of the Northern Alliance formed to fight the Taliban.

Soccer-Juric shines as Australia down Iraq in Perth Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:41 AM PDT Tomi Juric created one goal and scored another inside six second-half minutes as Australia made a confident start to the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying with a 2-0 victory over Iraq on Thursday. The Asian champions, aiming for a fourth straight appearance at the finals in Russia in 2018, always looked the stronger side but it was not until just before the hour mark that midfielder Massimo Luongo broke the deadlock at the Perth Oval. There were signs that the breakthrough was coming when Aaron Mooy hit the crossbar from the edge of the area and Juric almost immediately contrived to miss an open goal from close range.

Australia outlines tough new measures against Islamic State Posted: 01 Sep 2016 05:32 AM PDT CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's prime minister warned Thursday against fomenting distrust of Muslims as he outlined tougher measures against supporters of the Islamic State movement.

Tired of cheap oil, Saudis eye price boost to drive Aramco IPO Posted: 01 Sep 2016 04:31 AM PDT By Rania El Gamal and Alex Lawler DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Two years after triggering an oil price war, Saudi Arabia has seemingly had enough of cheap crude amid budget pressures, fear of a future supply shortage, and as it seeks to offload a stake in state-owned producer Aramco. The change in tone comes as OPEC and other producers such as Russia may resume talks on stabilizing output when they meet in Algeria later this month, after a similar effort to boost oil prices collapsed in April due to Saudi-Iranian tensions. "More and more ministers are now talking among themselves to evaluate their production position." OPEC in November 2014 made a landmark policy shift, led by Saudi Arabia, refusing to cut production by itself in the hope that lower prices would discourage higher-cost competitors that had eroded the group's market share.

End Syria's bloodshed, says father of dead toddler Aylan Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:36 AM PDT The father of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian refugee boy whose body washed ashore on a Turkish beach a year ago, on Thursday denounced the world's failure to stop the bloodshed in his home country. "The politicians said after the deaths in my family: Never again!" the bereaved father, Abdullah Kurdi, 41, told Germany's Bild daily. Kurdi was speaking on the eve of the anniversary of the tragedy in the Mediterranean, in which he also lost his wife Rehab, 35, and their other son, five-year-old Galip.

Turkish air strikes kill three PKK militants in southeast Turkey: military Posted: 01 Sep 2016 03:31 AM PDT Turkish jets killed three Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in southeastern Turkey near the border with Iraq in air strikes on Thursday, the military said. The strikes near the town of Cukurca in a mountainous part of the border province of Hakkari come after a series of attacks launched by the PKK, which has fought a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey.

Special Report: In a Lebanese village, civil war scars fade slowly Posted: 01 Sep 2016 02:00 AM PDT Nestled among fruit trees and olive groves in a rugged valley, Brih was populated for generations by both Christians and Druze – adherents to a small but influential offshoot of Islam that emerged in the 11th century. Then last November, Georges Chalhoub, a 56-year-old shopkeeper whose forefathers had come from Brih but who had lived near Beirut for much of his life, was killed in a car accident. Chalhoub had dreamed of moving back to his ancestral village and so his family decided to bury him there.

Factbox: The deadly legacy of cluster bombs Posted: 01 Sep 2016 01:05 AM PDT More than 400 people were killed by cluster bombs in 2015, most of them in conflict-hit Syria, Yemen and Ukraine, according to the Cluster Munition Coalition. Over the past year seven nations have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions banning them. Here are some facts about cluster munitions and efforts to end their use around the world: * Cluster munitions, usually called cluster bombs, weredeployed for the first time in 1943 by Soviet and German forces.Since then, over 200 types of these munitions have beendeveloped.

Iran says ex-general shot in Syria in coma, not dead Posted: 01 Sep 2016 12:55 AM PDT Iran denied on Thursday that a retired general had been killed in Syria, saying he was still in a coma after being shot in the head. "According to latest news received on the brave commander... brother Brigadier Haj Ahmad Gholami is in a coma and therefore we request all dear ones and fighters to pray for his health," said a letter from his brigade published by Iran's Mizanonline news agency. Gholami, an ex-general who served as a senior Revolutionary Guards commander in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, was reported dead by Iranian media on Wednesday after being shot in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

G20 offers Putin one more stab at Obama on Syria, Ukraine Posted: 01 Sep 2016 12:04 AM PDT The G20 summit starting in China on Sunday gives Russian President Vladimir Putin one more chance to try to strongarm US leader Barack Obama over Syria and Ukraine as their fraught relationship nears an end. In recent years the two world leaders have barely been able to hide their disdain for each other as ties between Washington and Moscow fell to their lowest level since the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine. Now with elections for a new US president just over two months away, Russian analysts say an emboldened Putin could see the G20 as an opportunity to press for concessions from Obama, particularly on Syria if he wants to make progress on the war before leaving office.

Australia to widen scope of targets in IS air war Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:11 PM PDT Australia is to start targeting jihadist support and logistics resources in Iraq and Syria, as it broadens the scope of its air war on the Islamic State group, officials said Thursday. The staunch US ally has some 780 defence personnel in the Middle East supporting its operation against IS and has been active in Iraq for months. Many are based in Iraq with 400 attached to the Air Task Group flying six F/A-18 Hornets on bombing missions.

Reuters Sports Schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday, Sept. 1 Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:00 PM PDT Reuters sports schedule at 0600 GMT on Thursday (times GMT): TENNIS U.S. Open, New York (to Sept. 11) Murray, Serena try to secure passage to third round NEW YORK - Second seed Andy Murray, two-time grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka, women's top seed Serena Williams and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska are among the top players in action looking to punch their tickets into the third round during Day Four action at Flushing Meadows. ...

Grand jury to mull case of Marine vet charged with murder Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:07 PM PDT SOLON, Ohio (AP) — A grand jury will consider the case of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a woman following a traffic accident near Cleveland.

NBC Counters Matt Lauer Clinton Criticism Ahead of Candidate Forum Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:00 PM PDT The 'Today' anchor is set to host the first joint candidate event of the general election with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

NBC Counters Criticism of Matt Lauer's Clinton Ties Ahead of Candidate Forum Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:00 PM PDT The 'Today' anchor is set to host the first joint candidate event of the general election with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Matt Lauer to Moderate First Trump and Clinton Joint-Candidate Event Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:00 PM PDT The event will take place on the Intrepid aircraft carrier in New York harbor.

Australia foreshadows expanding role in fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:23 PM PDT By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will expand its military action against the Islamic State militant group in Syria and Iraq after amending its domestic laws, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday. Australia joined the U.S-backed coalition against Islamic State in September 2014, and has steadily increased its military participation against the group that has repeatedly called for attacks against the United States and other Western countries.

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