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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's prime minister says the country will help arm Kurds as they fight militants from the Islamic State group in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his government would join the United States, Britain, Canada, France and Italy in delivering rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and assault rifle ammunition at the request of the U.S. and Iraqi governments.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. launched airstrikes on Islamic State group positions to support a humanitarian mission to the beleaguered Iraqi town of Amirli. Aircraft from the United States, Australia, France and Britain dropped food and water on the town, which has been under siege for nearly two months. Thousands of Shiite Turkmen are stranded in the farming community about 105 miles north of Baghdad.
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's domestic intelligence chief says he's expecting trouble at home from Islamic extremists when they return from battles in Syria and Iraq. Hans-Georg Maassen tells a German radio broadcaster there is an "increased abstract threat" of attacks in Germany. Unlike Britain, Germany hasn't raised its national threat level.
HAPPY CAMP, Calif. (AP) — Far Northern California is under threat from two wildfires sparked by lightning nearly three weeks ago which have now merged, threatening as many as 250 homes. Low humidity and warm weather didn't help fire crews any. The fires are burning in the Klamath National Forest, a mile east of the gold mining and logging town of Happy Camp.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The downsizing of Atlantic City continues today with the closing of the Showboat Casino Hotel after 27 years. The Mardi Gras-themed casino is still profitable but owner Caesars Entertainment wants to reduce the number of casinos in Atlantic City, which has been struggling with plunging revenue and increased competition. Caesars will still own three other casinos in Atlantic City. The seaside gambling resort will be down from 12 casinos to eight by summer's end.
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