Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Tense call between Trump and Australian leader strains longtime ties
• Uber chief quits Trump advisory group after uproar
• Sold by Islamic State, bought by strangers: Yazidi child reunited with family
• NFL Players Association vows to stand by Muslim members
• Analysis: 2016 was busiest year for targeted refugees
• Yemenis close NYC shops in protest of Trump travel ban
• Trump says his travel ban needed to ensure U.S. religious freedom
• NFL-Players Association vows to stand by Muslim members
• Angelina Jolie slams Trump travel ban, calls for 'compassionate America'
• Tillerson, on first day, addresses dissent and calls Mexico, Canada
• Yemenis pray, protest in NY against Trump travel ban
• Federal judges to hear arguments defending Trump travel ban
• Sold by Islamic State, bought by strangers: Yazidi child reunited with family
• Tillerson calls for unity as he takes helm at State Department
• Trump vows to end prohibition on church political activity
• North Dakota lawmakers mull 'cultural competency training'
• Soccer-US coach Arena joins condemnation of Trump's travel ban
• European agency says Iraqi Airways not removed from blacklist
• Yemeni-Americans shut hundreds of shops in NY City to protest travel ban
• Romanian government stands ground as thousands protest in anti-graft backlash
• US: About 200 civilians mistakenly killed in Iraq, Syria
• Nobel Peace Prize winners critique Trump's immigration policy
• Details of what Trump calls the 'dumb' US-Australia deal
• Trump says his travel ban needed to ensure U.S. religious freedom
• Tense call between Trump and Australian leader strains longtime ties
• 10 Things You Don't Know About Refugees in the U.S
• Starving Mosul zoo animals receive first food in a month
• Jordanian teen caught up in extra scrutiny after travel ban
• UN envoy says IS group will be routed soon in Iraq
• Trump travel ban sparks protest in Rome
• Analysis: US setting up a confrontational approach with Iran
• Evangelical Christians protest Trump refugee ban outside prayer breakfast
• Iraq faces challenge of educating Mosul's displaced children
• US-led coalition admits another 11 civilian deaths
• Iraq faces massive challenge in Mosul offensive: UN envoy
• How Trump's travel ban hurts the fight against ISIS
• Eleven civilians killed in air strikes in Iraq, Syria: U.S. military
• Budweiser’s Super Bowl Message: Immigrants, They Get the Job Done
• Turkey's Erdogan says discussed Syria, Iraq, Aegean Sea with Germany's Merkel
• Syrian army says it will press on against Islamic State near Aleppo

Tense call between Trump and Australian leader strains longtime ties Posted: 02 Feb 2017 05:26 PM PST By Jane Wardell and Roberta Rampton SYDNEY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. ties with staunch ally Australia became strained on Thursday after details about an acrimonious phone call between its leaders emerged and U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal between the two nations on refugee resettlement was "dumb." During a 25-minute phone call last Saturday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump accused Australia of trying to export the "next Boston bombers" under the agreement, the Washington Post reported. The Post, which cited unidentified senior U.S. officials, said that Trump abruptly ended the call and told Turnbull that it was the "worst call by far" he'd had with a foreign leader.

Uber chief quits Trump advisory group after uproar Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:57 PM PST Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick on Thursday quit US President Donald Trump's business advisory group, as a movement grew to dump the ride-sharing service because of his connection to the new administration. Kalanick said in an email to Uber employees that he spoke briefly with Trump about the president's recent executive order restricting immigration, saying he told him he would not be able to participate on his economic council. Trump's advisory group was established last year and includes Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, as well as IBM chief executive Ginni Rometty.

Sold by Islamic State, bought by strangers: Yazidi child reunited with family Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:42 PM PST By Isabel Coles RASHIDIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - His name was Ayman, but the couple who brought the boy home to their Iraqi village after buying him for $500 called him Ahmed. Islamic State militants had killed or enslaved Ayman's parents in their purge of the Yazidi religious minority to which he belongs, then sold the four-year-old to Umm and Abu Ahmed, who are Muslims. For the 18 months he lived with the couple, his relatives assumed he was dead, one of several thousand Yazidis who have been missing since the militants overran their homes in what the United Nations has called genocide.

NFL Players Association vows to stand by Muslim members Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:37 PM PST By Larry Fine HOUSTON (Reuters) - The NFL Players Association vowed on Thursday to stand by their Muslim members a day after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dodged a question on the matter when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban. "Our Muslim brothers that are in our league, we have their backs.

Analysis: 2016 was busiest year for targeted refugees Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:36 PM PST President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning refugees and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries has put a spotlight on those immigrant communities across the country.

Yemenis close NYC shops in protest of Trump travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:35 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of ethnic Yemeni business owners who operate New York City corner bodegas and neighborhood delis closed shop Thursday in protest of President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Trump says his travel ban needed to ensure U.S. religious freedom Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:30 PM PST By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump defended his order to temporarily bar entry to people from seven majority-Muslim nations, which has come under intense criticism at home and abroad, saying on Thursday it was crucial to ensuring religious freedom and tolerance in America. Trump, speaking at a prayer breakfast attended by politicians, faith leaders and guests including Jordan's King Abdullah, said he wanted to prevent a "beachhead of intolerance" from spreading in the United States. Trump's executive order a week ago put a 120-day halt on the U.S. refugee program, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely and imposed a 90-day suspension on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

NFL-Players Association vows to stand by Muslim members Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:29 PM PST By Larry Fine HOUSTON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The NFL Players Association vowed on Thursday to stand by their Muslim members a day after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dodged a question on the matter when asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban. "Our Muslim brothers that are in our league, we have their backs.

Angelina Jolie slams Trump travel ban, calls for 'compassionate America' Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:17 PM PST Actress and human rights advocate Angelina Jolie on Thursday said U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries hurts vulnerable refugees and could fuel extremism. Without directly naming Trump, Jolie, who has served as a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a New York Times opinion piece that discriminating based on religion was "playing with fire." The Oscar-winning actress added that as the mother of six children, "all born in foreign lands and ... proud American citizens," she believed in the need for the nation's safety, but said decisions should be "based on facts, not fear." "I also want to know that refugee children who qualify for asylum will always have a chance to plead their case to a compassionate America.

Tillerson, on first day, addresses dissent and calls Mexico, Canada Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:11 PM PST By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for unity and understanding on his first day at the State Department amid internal dissent over policies of President Donald Trump, which have also antagonized a range of allies. Within hours of starting the job, Tillerson reached out by phone to counterparts from Mexico and Canada, and met with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, department officials said. Hundreds of State Department officials greeted the former Exxon Mobil Corp CEO with applause as he entered the building.

Yemenis pray, protest in NY against Trump travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:05 PM PST Hundreds of Yemeni and Muslim Americans bowed their heads in unison at outdoor prayers in New York on Thursday, closing grocery stores to protest against President Donald Trump's travel ban. Organizers said up to 1,000 Yemeni-owned grocery stores would close across New York's five boroughs from noon to 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Friday) to protest against the travel ban on immigrants from seven Muslim countries. Trump's explosive executive order came into effect last Friday, closing US borders to refugees for 120 days and to visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

Federal judges to hear arguments defending Trump travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:56 PM PST LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal judges on opposite coasts are due Friday to hear legal arguments defending President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The ban is sure to reverberate through the courts on a likely path to an appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court. Here's a look at how the legal issues may play out:

Sold by Islamic State, bought by strangers: Yazidi child reunited with family Posted: 02 Feb 2017 03:55 PM PST By Isabel Coles RASHIDIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - His name was Ayman, but the couple who brought the boy home to their Iraqi village after buying him for $500 called him Ahmed. Islamic State militants had killed or enslaved Ayman's parents in their purge of the Yazidi religious minority to which he belongs, then sold the four-year-old to Umm and Abu Ahmed, who are Muslims. For the 18 months he lived with the couple, his relatives assumed he was dead, one of several thousand Yazidis who have been missing since the militants overran their homes in what the United Nations has called genocide.

Tillerson calls for unity as he takes helm at State Department Posted: 02 Feb 2017 02:40 PM PST By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called for understanding on his first day at the State Department amid internal dissent over policies of President Donald Trump, which have also antagonized a range of allies. Hundreds of State Department officials greeted the former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman with applause as he entered the building. Loud cheers broke out when Tillerson thanked Acting Secretary of State Tom Shannon for standing in after the departure of John Kerry.

Trump vows to end prohibition on church political activity Posted: 02 Feb 2017 02:34 PM PST President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to free churches and other tax-exempt institutions of a 1954 U.S. law banning political activity, drawing fire from critics who accused him of rewarding his evangelical Christian supporters and turning houses of worship into political machines. Speaking to U.S. politicians, religious leaders and guests such as Jordan's King Abdullah at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, Trump used the opening moments of the usually solemn affair to deride actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, his successor on a reality TV show, for his viewership ratings.

North Dakota lawmakers mull 'cultural competency training' Posted: 02 Feb 2017 02:11 PM PST BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — When North Dakota lawmakers return to the state Capitol every other year for session, they attend workshops on everything from legislative procedures to using their state-issued computers and cellphones. An American Indian lawmaker wants to add "cultural competency training" to that list.

Soccer-US coach Arena joins condemnation of Trump's travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:57 PM PST U.S. soccer coach Bruce Arena joined a growing list of high-profile sports figures to blast President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, calling the move "sad" in an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday. Arena's criticism followed similar comments made recently by U.S. soccer captain Michael Bradley and NBA championship-winning coaches Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs.

European agency says Iraqi Airways not removed from blacklist Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:53 PM PST BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The European Aviation Safety Agency denied a report on Iraqi state TV on Thursday that it had lifted a ban on Iraqi Airways entering European airspace. Iraqi State TV had earlier cited Iraq's transport minister Kadhim al-Hamami saying the agency had removed the airline from a European blacklist. "As far as EASA is aware, no update of this list has been performed since last December," a spokesman for the Cologne-based agency said in an email. ...

Yemeni-Americans shut hundreds of shops in NY City to protest travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:38 PM PST Hundreds of New York City bodegas, grocery stores and restaurants owned by Yemeni Americans closed for hours on Thursday in protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies, organizers said. Loyal patrons who rely on the stores for staples of daily life had to look elsewhere for lunch after more than 1,000 locations shut their doors from noon to 8 p.m. in a move coordinated by groups including the Muslim Community Network and the Yemeni American Community. Bodega, a Spanish word meaning wine shop, is New York City slang for small stores selling everything from deli foods to newspapers and cat litter.

Romanian government stands ground as thousands protest in anti-graft backlash Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:21 PM PST By Radu-Sorin Marinas and Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's government on Thursday rejected calls to withdraw a decree that critics say marks a major retreat on anti-corruption reforms, standing its ground as huge nationwide protests entered a third day. After 250,000 people took to the streets on Wednesday evening, cracks in government unity emerged Thursday morning with the resignation of a cabinet minister and a call from a vice-president of the ruling party for the decree to be rescinded. Riot police estimated some 80,000 people were gathered in front of the government's headquarters in Bucharest's biggest square.

US: About 200 civilians mistakenly killed in Iraq, Syria Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:19 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has concluded that 11 civilians were inadvertently killed in airstrikes in Iraq and Syria that targeted Islamic State militants and equipment late last year.

Nobel Peace Prize winners critique Trump's immigration policy Posted: 02 Feb 2017 01:02 PM PST Nobel Peace Prize winners meeting in Colombia criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies on Thursday, accusing him of xenophobia and discrimination. Last week Trump issued an executive order that put a 120-day halt on the U.S. refugee program, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely and imposed a 90-day suspension on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The measure, which Trump says is aimed at protecting the country from terrorist attacks, has drawn protests and legal challenges.

Details of what Trump calls the 'dumb' US-Australia deal Posted: 02 Feb 2017 12:57 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump tweeted that a plan for the U.S. to admit some asylum seekers now held near Australia is a "dumb deal."

Trump says his travel ban needed to ensure U.S. religious freedom Posted: 02 Feb 2017 12:53 PM PST By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump defended his order to temporarily bar entry to people from seven majority-Muslim nations, which has come under intense criticism at home and abroad, saying on Thursday it was crucial to ensuring religious freedom and tolerance in America. Trump, speaking at a prayer breakfast attended by politicians, faith leaders and guests including Jordan's King Abdullah, said he wanted to prevent a "beachhead of intolerance" from spreading in the United States. Trump's executive order a week ago put a 120-day halt on the U.S. refugee program, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely and imposed a 90-day suspension on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Tense call between Trump and Australian leader strains longtime ties Posted: 02 Feb 2017 12:45 PM PST By Jane Wardell and Roberta Rampton SYDNEY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. ties with staunch ally Australia became strained on Thursday after details about an acrimonious phone call between its leaders emerged and U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal between the two nations on refugee resettlement was "dumb." During a 25-minute phone call last Saturday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump accused Australia of trying to export the "next Boston bombers" under the agreement, the Washington Post reported. The Post, which cited unidentified senior U.S. officials, said that Trump abruptly ended the call and told Turnbull that it was the "worst call by far" he'd had with a foreign leader.

10 Things You Don't Know About Refugees in the U.S Posted: 02 Feb 2017 12:07 PM PST 1. The United States' resettlement program is the largest in the world, according to the United Nations refugee agency. 2. An October 2016 poll by the Pew Research Center found 54 percent of Americans believed the U.S. did not have a responsibility to accept refugees from Syria. 3. On a similar note, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found more Americans support President Donald Trump's recent travel ban than disapprove of it.

Starving Mosul zoo animals receive first food in a month Posted: 02 Feb 2017 12:03 PM PST When military advances began in Mosul, Nour Park was turned from a home for monkeys, horses and other animals into a staging ground for Islamic State. There was a guard that used to come and feed them," the park's owner, who gave his name only as Abu Omar, told Reuters. Volunteers sent by the Kurdistan Organization for Animal Rights Protection brought the first substantial amounts of food to the former zoo in a month.

Jordanian teen caught up in extra scrutiny after travel ban Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:51 AM PST HOUSTON (AP) — A Jordanian teenager who has been held for five days after flying to Houston might have been detained due to heightened scrutiny following President Donald Trump's executive order to curb immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, according to attorneys.

UN envoy says IS group will be routed soon in Iraq Posted: 02 Feb 2017 11:24 AM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Military operations to liberate Iraq from the Islamic State extremist group will be coming to an end "in the rather short foreseeable future," the U.N. envoy for Iraq said Thursday.

Trump travel ban sparks protest in Rome Posted: 02 Feb 2017 10:35 AM PST Protesters chanted outside the U.S. embassy in Rome on Thursday against President Donald Trump's order to restrict entry into the United States for refugees and citizens of seven Muslim countries. Last week's executive order blocked citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and placed an indefinite hold on Syrian refugees. "I fear the worst is yet to come," said Fouad Roueiha, 37, who was born in Syria and raised in Italy.

Analysis: US setting up a confrontational approach with Iran Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:57 AM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — By putting Iran "on notice," the new U.S. administration is laying the groundwork for a more confrontational approach toward the Islamic Republic.

Evangelical Christians protest Trump refugee ban outside prayer breakfast Posted: 02 Feb 2017 09:05 AM PST Thursday morning, as President Trump spoke to the National Prayer Breakfast, evangelicals and others gathered outside to protest his order restricting entry into the U.S. by people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

Iraq faces challenge of educating Mosul's displaced children Posted: 02 Feb 2017 08:55 AM PST By Ayat Basma MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Yousef, 14, pushes a wheelbarrow through a sprawling camp in Iraq running errands for pennies, the only source of income for his family of 11. On a good day, he makes 2,000 dinars ($1.70) but if business is slow he scrambles to find leftover bread and food to sell to sheep owners in the crowded Khazer camp, near Mosul, home to Iraqis displaced by the fight against Islamic State. Like millions of children in the country, Yousef's hopes of an education ended when Islamic State swept through northern Iraq in 2014.

US-led coalition admits another 11 civilian deaths Posted: 02 Feb 2017 08:19 AM PST Eleven civilians died in coalition air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria late last year, officials said Thursday. A statement from the coalition said investigators had probed a series of reports alleging civilian deaths from air strikes. "Although the coalition makes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimizes the risk of civilian casualties, in some cases casualties are unavoidable," the coalition statement read.

Iraq faces massive challenge in Mosul offensive: UN envoy Posted: 02 Feb 2017 08:08 AM PST Iraqi forces face a massive challenge as they press on to retake western Mosul, but the days of the Islamic State group are numbered, a UN envoy said Thursday. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared on January 24 that his forces had retaken east Mosul and the battle was now moving to the other side of the Tigris River. "This steady progress should not conceal that fighting has been and will be a massive challenge, in particular inside the old city in western Mosul," UN envoy Jan Kubis told the Security Council.

How Trump's travel ban hurts the fight against ISIS Posted: 02 Feb 2017 07:21 AM PST President Trump's imposition of a temporary travel ban on seven Muslim countries is hurting the fight against the self-declared Islamic State, undoing two years of work on and off the battlefield, experts say. From Iraq to Syria to Libya, and beyond, Muslim leaders and fighters who have risked their lives to join the US-led coalition against IS are increasingly incensed by a policy they regard as an insult, devaluing their sacrifice and punishing them individually and collectively. Across the Muslim world, the policy also threatens to erode the mutual trust that allows the sharing of vital intelligence.

Eleven civilians killed in air strikes in Iraq, Syria: U.S. military Posted: 02 Feb 2017 07:03 AM PST Eleven civilians were killed in four separate air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria between Oct. 25 and Dec. 9, the U.S. military said on Thursday. "Although the Coalition takes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimizes the risk to civilian casualties, in some incidents casualties are unavoidable," the military said in a statement. In an incident on Dec. 7, near Raqqa, Syria, the military said seven civilians were killed in an air strike on a building where Islamic State fighters were present.

Budweiser’s Super Bowl Message: Immigrants, They Get the Job Done Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:53 AM PST The company that makes Budweiser — the popular brew that rebranded itself as "America" last summer — appears to be wading into the nation's immigration debate in the wake of President Trump's travel ban last week. Anheuser-Busch InBev on Wednesday released a 60-second Super Bowl commercial focused on the company's founder, German immigrant Adolphus Busch. The ad follows Busch as he travels from his native country to St. Louis, where he fatefully meets his future father-in-law Eberhard Anheuser — also German-born, and the eventual co-founder of the iconic brewing company.

Turkey's Erdogan says discussed Syria, Iraq, Aegean Sea with Germany's Merkel Posted: 02 Feb 2017 06:08 AM PST ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel mainly discussed developments in Syria, Iraq and the Aegean Sea at a meeting on Thursday, Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Merkel following their discussion in Ankara. Erdogan said he discussed cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the refugee crisis and possible mutual steps in Syria with Merkel. (Reporting by Tulay Karadeniz; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by David Dolan)

Syrian army says it will press on against Islamic State near Aleppo Posted: 02 Feb 2017 04:39 AM PST By John Davison and Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army signaled on Thursday it would press on with operations against Islamic State northeast of Aleppo, in a veiled warning to Turkey which backs a separate military campaign in northern Syria. Syrian government forces have rapidly driven Islamic State back in the last two weeks, advancing to within 6 km (4 miles) of the city of al-Bab that the jihadists are fighting to hold. The army's gains risk sparking a confrontation with Turkey, which has sent tanks and warplanes across the border to support Syrian insurgents who are trying to seize al-Bab in a separate offensive.

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