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Amnesty International has accused Bahrain of torturing the children arrested on suspicion of participating in anti-government protests. The rights group says scores of children, some as young as 13, have been detained on suspicion of taking part in protests over the last two years, and have been continually tortured while in custody. Detainees under 15 are also held at the Ministry of Interior\\\'s Juvenile Centre in Manama, where Amnesty says most abuses take place at night when social workers are absent. The body says Bahraini authorities are displaying an appalling level of disregard for human rights. The group has called on Bahrain to review its legislation regarding juveniles to fall in line with international standards. Bahrain is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits torture or use of any other inhuman punishment against children.

Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets of Cairo and elsewhere around the country to denounce what the protesters label \'the coup\'s constitution. On Tuesday, more than a dozen students were injured as Morsi supporters staged protests against the military backed authorities. Police fired tear gas at students protesting outside Assiut University in Assuit province in Upper Egypt. Students held banners in support of Mohamed Morsi as they shouted anti police and army slogans. Such demonstrations are regarded as illegal, since they do not conform to a new law requiring organizers to give three days notice of a protest and to have it approved by the government. On another front, the Anti Coup Alliance said that the coalition will be boycotting the referendum which is set to take place next month. Many are fearful that Egypt would be gripped by another wave of deadly violence ahead of the referendum on what some call a disputed constitution.

In Afghanistan, militants have attacked a US military base in the eastern Nangarhar province. Local sources say the attack took place in the town of Torkham near the Pakistan border. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack and say several American soldiers were killed. Our correspondent in Kabul, Fayez Khorshid says US forces have turned into the Taliban\'s main target in recent weeks.

A new opinion poll shows that most Americans disapprove of their country\'s invasion of Afghanistan. According to the Associated Press poll, 57 percent of Americans said the U-S move was wrong in the first place. 53 percent of the respondents also said the pace of U-S withdrawal from Afghanistan is too slow. The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the nine-eleven attacks of 2001 in New York. At least three-thousand-four-hundred and four foreign troops have so far been killed in the country, nearly 23-hundred of them are American. Other polls have also shown in recent years that the war is one of the most unpopular US military expeditions abroad in American history.

December 20, 2013, During a ceremony in tribute of one of Hezbollah’s top military commanders, Hassan Lakees, who was assassinated near his home early this month, Hezbollah’s secretary General accused Israel of being behind the assassination. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah will settle its score with Israel. Referring to the crisis in Syria and the role of Hezbollah, Nasrallah said that his movement is fighting to protect the whole Middle East region form the threat of extremist groups. The Syrian ambassador to Lebanon says Israel is now using the Takfiris as a tool to try to weaken Syria but to no avail as many in the Arab world are revising their stance with regard to what is going on in the country. The Hezbollah chief also talked about the current political standoff in Lebanon, saying that the deadlock should be resolved through the formation of a national unity government. While Hezbollah has been trying to counter the activities of Saudi-backed takfiri elements in Lebanon and Syria, the secretary general of Hezbollah has stressed that the battle against Israel remains an open battle and that the Lebanese resistance movement will retaliate Israeli moves at the necessary time and place.

Terrorist attacks continue to kill people in Syria. The International Committee of the Red Cross has said in a report that the conflict has left half a million people woudned. The recent defeats suffered by foreign-backed insurgents have apparently prompted their western supporters to try and end the deadlock in syria through diplomacy. But are they serious about ending the war in the first place? We have this report.

Terrorist attacks continue to kill people in Syria. The International Committee of the Red Cross has said in a report that the conflict has left half a million people wounded. The recent defeats suffered by foreign-backed insurgents have apparently prompted their western supporters to try and end the deadlock in syria through diplomacy. But are they serious about ending the war in the first place?

At least eight people have been killed in mortar shell attacks on an Iraqi army base west of the capital Baghdad. Officials say four of the victims were army officers, including a brigade commander. Four soldiers were also killed in the attack, which took place in the Abu Ghraib area. Just two days ago, gunmen killed five senior officers and ten soldiers in the western province of Anbar. Violence has spiked in Iraq in 2013. Based on UN figures, at least eight-thousand people have lost their lives across the country this year alone.

Around the world Shia Muslims are commemorating Arbaeen: the 40th day since the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad and the third Shia Imam. Millions of people from across the globe have gathered in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala, the resting place of Imam Hussein. Officials estimate that some 15 million pilgrims are attending the ceremonies despite deadly violence by extremist groups. Dozens of pilgrims have been killed in recent days in terrorist attacks despite tight security measures across Iraq. Similar ceremonies are held in other Muslim countries including Iran, Lebanon and Pakistan. Imam Hussein and 72 of his companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in the seventh century.

Syria\\\'s official news agency, SANA, has lashed out at the US for condemning the government for airstrikes in the northern city of Aleppo. SANA says Washington views the unrest in Syria in a partial, biased way, ignoring crimes committed by militants fighting the government. On Monday, Washington condemned as QUOTE \\\"indiscriminate\\\" the bombings of Aleppo which have reportedly been taking place for the past nine days. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 15 people have been killed in the latest airstrikes, bringing the total death toll to over 360 during the period. The group blames the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the bombings. Damascus has not made any comments yet. Press TV can not independently verify the group\\\'s claims.

Top Iranian computer science and software engineering students have gathered at Tehran\'s famous Sharif University of Technology. Based on 2011 & 12 statistics Iranian students were ranked top 14 in the world in computer engineering. The 2013 CSI International symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Signal Processing (AISP), Computer Networks and Distributing Systems (CNDS) and Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE) has started in the capital. The event was held by Computer Society of Iran and Sharif University of Technology. The three day conference will discuss recent advances in computer algorithms, theoretical computer science and computation, formal programming methods, software engineering, verification and architecture and information systems. The chairman of the symposium talked explained about Iranian student\'s recent advances in this field. These three symposiums in 2013 published 129 papers in Iran of which 27% were published in international computer science and software engineering journals. Last year Iranian student\'s finished 5th place in the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) considered to be one most prestigious computer science competitions in the world, Iran earned 2 gold and 2 silver medals.

Terror attacks in Iraq claim more lives. At least 37 people are killed in separate blasts in the capital Baghdad. More than 50 others were wounded in the bombings that hit Christian areas in southern Baghdad. One of the explosions took place near a church where worshippers were leaving. Two other bombs exploded in a crowded market. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts. There\'s been a surge in terrorist attacks and bombings across Iraq over the past year. Authorities believe that the escalating violence is aimed at creating sectarian strife in the country.

Now the territory\\\'s one-point-seven-million population are once more left to deal with the winter cold. This, after Israel shut down its only crossing to Gaza, known as Kerem Shalom. Gaza\\\'s power plant was on for only 12 days following a seven-week shutdown. The Israeli siege of the enclave has caused a lot of hardships for Palestinians there. The blockade has been in place since 2007 after Hamas took power in a democratic election. Tel Aviv has been defying international calls to lift its blockade, which is seen by many rights groups as illegal.

To Afghanistan, where a car bomb attack has killed at least three U-S-led troops in the capital Kabul. There\\\'s no word yet on the nationalities of the foreign soldiers. But security officials have told Press TV that the blast took place very close to the U-S military base, Camp Phoenix. The bomb went off when a convoy of foreign troops was passing by. Meanwhile, Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack. The latest casualties have pushed to over one-hundred-sixty, the number of US-led troops killed across Afghanistan so far this year. Most of them are American.

Dey 9th in the Iranian calendar or December 30th marks a very special day in the history of Iran\\\'s Islamic Revolution. On that day in 2009, an epic was created by the mass turnout of the nation to show their support for the Islamic establishment following post-election unrest in the country in that year. On December 30, 2009, Iranians took to the streets in the millions to condemn what was called the \\\"seditious movement\\\" and to show anger for the unrest that took place after the June\\\'s presidential election especially on Ashura-- a day Shia Muslims mark the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Muhammad\\\'s grandson, Imam Hussein (PBUH). After the presidential election, supporters of two of the defeated candidates made allegations of vote fraud. But such allegations were dismissed by the country\\\'s election officials. The guardian council -which based on Iran\\\'s constitution, supervises election- concluded there were no irregularities, dismissing election complaints. But the street protests -supported by foreign powers- continued on different occasions for more than six months. Then on December 30th, the nation poured to the streets to show support for the establishment. That day, the Iranians once more proved that if the Islamic establishment is threatened by the western-backed soft war, they are ready to sacrifice. They sent the message of unity to the entire world. The 2009 post-election unrest and the following incidents proved that the nation has enough insight and they firmly stand against foreign threats.

The Lebanese government confirms the arrest of the leader of an al-Qaeda-linked group involved in the recent bombing outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut. Lebanon\\\'s defense minister says Majed al-Majed, who headed the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, was captured by the country\\\'s intelligence service in Beirut. It\\\'s not clear yet when the arrest took place. Majed is a high-profile terrorist wanted by the U-S and other countries. He had earlier traveled to Syria to pledge his allegiance to the notorious al-Nusra Front, which is fighting against the Syrian government. His group claimed responsibility for November\\\'s twin bombings that killed about two dozen people outside the Iranian embassy. The arrest is seen as a major achievement for the Lebanese army, which has seen a series of suspicious bombings and assassinations in the country in recent years.

During the last ten days of the lunar month of Safar, millions of Shia Muslims travel o the holy city of Mashhad in the north east of Iran. In these days, the mourners hold magnificent ceremonies for the departure anniversary of Prophet Mohammad and the martyrdom anniversary of the second Imam of the Shias, Imam Hassan Mujtaba peace be upon them. But the mourning ceremonies reach their peaks on the last day of the lunar month. Iranian Shia Muslims love all their Imams, but they have a special devotion to Imam Reza. On Thursday, the cold weather didn\\\\\\\'t prevent the lovers to go to Mashhad for offering their sincerity. An estimated three million of pilgrims were in his holy shrine to condole these tragic days to the holy presence of Imam Reza. Different ceremonies were held such as chest beating. But those who could not travel to Mashhad, gathered at local mosques and other religious centers in their own cities in commemoration of the event. In Tehran, Imam zadeh Saleh\\\\\\\'s shrine were full of mourners on a snowy day. People from across the capital went to north of Tehran to attend the ceremony. The eighth Imam of Shia Islam, Imam Reza was martyred after being poisoned by the Abbasid Caliph Ma\\\\\\\'mun in the year 818 AD and his holy body was buried in an area, today, known as Mashhad-o-Reza dubbed the place where Reza was martyred.

Iraqi security forces backed by local tribesmen have killed at least 71 al-Qaeda-linked militants in the western province of Anbar. A tribal leader says the militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant were killed during clashes in and near Ramadi. Clashes also took place in the nearby city of Fallujah. Officials say 32 civilians also died during battles in both cities in Anbar province. The security forces have managed to take control of more areas which had earlier fallen into the hands of militants. The unrest came after the removal of an anti-government protest camp in Ramadi on Monday. Authorities said the camp had been used by al-Qaeda-affiliated militants.

Beirut has filed a complaint to the United Nations against Israel over its spying on Lebanon. If Israel\'s spying, along with its violation of Lebanese airspace, \"constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and continuous aggression on Lebanese lands, Lebanese people, the military, security, and civilian institutions, then why hasn\'t the UN done anything about it? That\'s one of the questions we\'ll be asking in this edition of the debate. We\'ll also discuss the row over gas between Israel and Lebanon, and see what the chances are of a clash between Israel and Hezbollah. Guests: - Historian & Political Adviser, Geoffrey Alderman, (LONDON). - Prof., Notre Dame University, George Labaki (BEIRUT). Subjects: 1) Lebanon\'s caretaker Fm has not only filed a complaint to the UN: He has sent similar letters to foreign ministers of nations belonging to the 15-member Security Council, as well as to the Arab League, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement Iranian President Hassan Rouhani: Will any action be taken against Israel that will change Israel\'s behavior? - \"Israel\'s continuous aggression constitutes a violation of international law and relevant international resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701 2) On Israel\'s illegal spying activities: the Dangers of the Israeli Telecomm Towers in Lebanese Territory, along with the Telecommunications Ministry announcement that Israel had installed surveillance posts along the border with Lebanon capable of monitoring the entire country: Why such interest in spying on such a vast scale over Lebanon? 3) REAX: \"Israel\'s next war must start in Lebanon\": Headline a few days of the Jewish Press: The next confrontation must start with heavy bombing attacks that would minimize later damage to Israeli cities like Kiryat Shmona, Tzfat, Nahariya and Tveria. - Israel air attacks inside Syria took place 5 times in 2013: Israel said to stop transfer of weapons to Hezbollah: Yet, other reports indicate most of the long-range surface to surface missiles has reached Hezbolah: Why has Israel not attacked Lebanon, or Hezbollah strongholds? - Syria spillover increasing chances of Israel attacking Lebanon: Two rockets fired from Lebanon landed close to the northern Israel: Israel responded to the attack immediately by shelling the area from which the attack originated. Possibility: that a Jihad group launched the attack in order to get Israel to attack Hezbollah and to force Hezbollah to divert some of its troops from Syria back to Lebanon. 4) The United States and Hezbollah are in secret talks to deal with the fight against al-Qaida, regional stability, and Lebanese political issues? - Talks, brokered by the UK, \"are aimed at keeping tabs on the changes in the region and the world, and prepare for the upcoming return of Iran to the international community 5) The Eastern Mediterranean\'s Oil And Gas: Israel and Lebanon have been at odds over their maritime borders for decades, and recent discoveries in what\'s called the Levant Basin could create more conflict? 6) Israel has found comfort in one of its enemies: Saudi Arabia (who has just given 3 billion in military aid to Lebanon): how do u view this alliance vis-à-vis Lebanon? 7) Terrorist attacks inside Lebanon have been on the rise recently, one twin bombings claiming the life of an Iranian diplomat: Do you agree with the Iranian ambassador to Beirut says all recent terrorist attacks in Lebanon were carried out to serve the interests of the Israeli regime?

In Syria, more than one-thousand militants have been killed in fierce clashes among militant groups over the past days. The battles are the latest in fighting that has raged among insurgent groups opposed to the Syrian government in recent months. This comes ahead of the much-expected international peace conference, the Geneva-two, which is due to take place next week.

A bomb explosion has left at least nine people dead in northwest Pakistan. Scores of others have been injured. The blast took place on the rooftop of a religious center in Peshawar. That\\\'s the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on the border with Afghanistan. It came as more than 8-hundred people had gathered for evening prayers. According to a bomb disposal squad, around five kilograms of explosives were used in the attack. Elsewhere in Nowshera city in the same province, police defused another bomb also near a religious center. No person or group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but pro-Taliban militants have led a bloody campaign against the Pakistani state in recent years.

At least seven militants have been killed in a stand-off with Russian Special Forces in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan. Russia\'s anti-terrorist committee has said that five officers were also injured during the operation. The late-night clashes took place after a bomb went off outside a restaurant in the city of Makhach-kala. At least 16 people were injured in that blast. Two days ago three soldiers and four gunmen were killed in another attack. Security has been tight in Russia\'s North Caucasus after two blasts killed 34 people in Volgograd last month. The blasts were carried out by separatist militants as a warning ahead of the 20-14 Sochi Winter Olympics. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to fight the militants.

The European Union and the US have decided to lift some economic sanctions on Iran after Tehran stopped its production of 20-percent enriched uranium. EU officials say the decision is part of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and the permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. American authorities also say that the US secretary of state has approved Iran\'s sanctions relief waiver. The White House, however, says the US will continue its aggressive enforcement of sanction measures that remain in place against Iran.

This is the aftermath of the latest attack in Pakistan\'s garrison city of Rawalpindi.The violence carried out by pro-Taliban militants has left over a dozen people dead including a number of security officials. This was the second deadly attack in as many days.The unrest took place just hours before the country\'s federal cabinet met to discuss the new national security policy for dealing with the growing violence. Chairing a special cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the series of attacks targeting security forces. He says the country is facing an extra ordinary situation which calls for extra ordinary steps

The European Union and the US have decided to lift some economic sanctions on Iran after Tehran stopped its production of 20-percent enriched uranium. EU officials say the decision is part of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and the permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. A statement by the European bloc says the suspension is for a period of six months. Meanwhile, American authorities also say that the US secretary of state has approved Iran\'s sanctions relief waiver. The White House, however, says the US will continue its QUOTE aggressive enforcement of sanction measures that remain in place against Iran. This comes after it was confirmed that Tehran has carried out its part of the Geneva agreement.

Israeli forces open fire on a Palestinian teenager and kill him near the West Bank city of Ramallah. The shooting took place just north of the Israeli settlement of Ofra. Palestinian medical and security officials say the victim is 18-year-old Mohammad Mubarak, who lived in the Jalazone refugee camp. Palestinian sources said Mubarak was a laborer on a US-aid project in the area. Israeli officials have confirmed the deadly shooting. However, they claimed that Mohammad was a \"terrorist\" who was shot dead after opening fire on Israeli forces. Many Palestinians including women and children get killed or maimed by Israeli forces despite repeated outcries by human rights groups.

Syrian people have held rallies to show solidarity with president Bashar al-Assad. The rallies were held in the capital Damascus and the town of Nabak. Similar demonstrations have frequently taken place during the past couple of years. Foreign-backed insurgents have repeatedly fired mortar shells and carried out bombings in urban and rural areas where they suspect people support the Damascus government. The attacks have caused heavy casualties.

Iran is taking a government-owned British company to the High Court over purchased weaponry that was never delivered. According to a report by The Independent, Tehran is pushing for six hundred fifty seven million dollars in compensation. The dispute goes back to 35 years ago when the deposed Shah of Iran paid the International Military Services 1 billion dollars for Chieftain battle tanks and repair vehicles. The arsenal was, however, not fully delivered, as a result of the 19-79 Islamic Revolution. A spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense has said that they hope a settlement could be reached before legal proceedings begin. He also said no money will be paid to Iran while the EU sanctions remain in place. The European Union Council has already suspended part of the sanctions following the interim nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in November 2013.