[15 Dec 2013] China slams slanderous remarks by Japan PM over its flight...
China has condemned Japan for criticizing its new air identification defense zone amid an escalating war of words between the two neighbors....
China has condemned Japan for criticizing its new air identification defense zone amid an escalating war of words between the two neighbors.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the flight zone over a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea violates the freedom of aviation over the high seas and should be canceled. But China has once again defended the move-- saying Abe is using the situation to QUOTE maliciously slander Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the establishment of the zone is in line with international laws and does not affect aviation freedom. Tensions have been running high between the two Asian powerhouses in the past year over the Japanese-controlled archipelago. Both countries have scrambled jets and carried out patrols in the area.
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[19 Dec 2013] The Debate - israel Immunity - English
The UN is asking for 95 million dollars in food aid for almost a million Gazans, suffering under an Israeli blockade since 2006. Scores of UN...
The UN is asking for 95 million dollars in food aid for almost a million Gazans, suffering under an Israeli blockade since 2006. Scores of UN projects have been shut down and thousands made jobless since Israel refused to allow in construction material in the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinians are facing severe electricity shortages and reeling from devastating floods amid the cold winter weather. Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister has said Tel Aviv will not stop even for a moment settlement construction on occupied Palestinian land despite the fact that U-N Resolution 4-4-6 and a ruling by the International Court of Justice conclude the Israeli settlements violate international law. Is Israel enjoying immunity from prosecution for its violations? On this edition of the Debate, we\'re discussing how a growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign is affecting the global discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian problem.
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[20 Dec 2013] Sons of 3 Turkish ministers, top business leaders among...
Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul have charged eight people with corruption and fraud. The defendants have been placed in pre-trial detention as part...
Turkish prosecutors in Istanbul have charged eight people with corruption and fraud. The defendants have been placed in pre-trial detention as part of a wide graft investigation.
The eight are among 52 people who were arrested in a series of raids on Tuesday. They are accused of offences, including accepting and facilitating bribes for development projects. The sons of three ministers and several top business leaders are among those arrested. In the wake of the raids, several dozen police officers have also been sacked, accused of abusing power. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labeled the corruption investigation a dirty operation aimed at undermining his government. The probe has prompted opposition parties to call for the government\\\'s resignation.
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[20 Dec 2013] Power struggle between Erdogan and Gulenists - English
Turkey\\\'s political establishment has been rocked by a high-profile corruption probe. The investigation has targeted people close to the...
Turkey\\\'s political establishment has been rocked by a high-profile corruption probe. The investigation has targeted people close to the administration of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The premier, however, seems to be determined to hit back. The political crisis is the latest in a series of headaches that Ankara has been suffering from in recent years.
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[22 Dec 2013] Police clash with protesters in Istanbul over urban plans,...
Clashes have broken out between Turkish police and a group of protesters in Istanbul.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the...
Clashes have broken out between Turkish police and a group of protesters in Istanbul.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators. Protesters were angry at the government\\\\\\\'s urban plans and graft allegations involving several top ruling party politicians. Earlier, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to QUOTE break the hands of his opponents if they try to use the case against his government. Erdogan made the remark among his supporters in the north of the country. His ruling party has been in hot waters since twenty-four top officials were arrested as part of the corruption probe. Interior minister Muammar Guler has already tendered his resignation after the arrest of his son due to his involvement in the scandal.
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[24 Dec 2013] Fears of Presidential Vacuum High in Lebanon - English
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is urging rival political factions to ensure the needed quorum in parliament for the election of Lebanon\\\'s...
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is urging rival political factions to ensure the needed quorum in parliament for the election of Lebanon\\\'s next president.Suleiman\\\'s six-year-term expires in May 2014 and is preceded by a two-month constitutional period.
Lebanon\\\'s first man has also kicked off talks with Lebanese rival factions in a bid to help Prime-Minister Designate \\\"Tammam Salam\\\" form a cabinet line-up prior to the two-month constitutional period. The cabinet line-up formation however has been in limbo for the past 9 months namely due to the Saudi-backed March 14 Bloc\\\'s boycott of parliamentary sessions citing Hezbollah\\\'s intervention in Syria as a pretext. The Saudi-backed March 14th Bloc is now calling for a neutral line-up while the Hezbollah-led March 8th is calling for an all-embracing cabinet while rejecting a De-Facto one. The proposal of a neutral cabinet has also been slammed by Lebanese Druze Leader Walid Jumblat who warned it would be a \\\"leap into the unknown\\\". Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement has accused the March 14th Bloc of paving the way for a presidential vacuum through the continued boycott of parliamentary sessions dubbing the movement\\\'s obstruction of government institutions as part of instructions taken from their regional allies pre-Geneva II talks. The Free Patriotic Movement MP also highlighted what he described as an alarming pledge by Riyadh\\\'s ambassador to London who vowed continued military and financial support for the foreign-backed groups fighting in Syria even if Saudi Arabia goes it alone. The MP warned the March 14th Bloc of following their Saudi ally\\\'s footsteps as well. Though Lebanon\\\'s President has vowed a smooth transition of power rebuffing any attempt to extend his mandate, fears of a vacuum at the presidential post are simmering in Beirut for their grave consequences on Lebanon. Lebanese leaders are warning that the presidential vacuum added to the cabinet limbo would tow the country into security, political and constitutional chaos.
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[26 Dec 2013] PLO slams israel plans new settlement push - English
Israel has made an announcement that they produce tenders for a further 2000 new illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al...
Israel has made an announcement that they produce tenders for a further 2000 new illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al Quds.
Israeli prime minister made the announcement just one week before the Israelis are set to release 24 Palestinian prisoners who have been held in Israeli jails since before the Oslo agreement in 1993. Members of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation slammed the Israeli authorities for defying calls from both the EU and the US to halt settlement expansion and further stated that this move could seriously jeopardize the US brokered Palestinian Israeli negotiations.
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[29 Dec 2013] In Turkey People protest against government calling for...
In Turkey, a high-level bribery and corruption investigation involving high-ranking officials has led to another outpouring of anger toward the...
In Turkey, a high-level bribery and corruption investigation involving high-ranking officials has led to another outpouring of anger toward the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A new wave of anti-government demonstrations has already begun, with protesters calling for Erdogan\\\'s ouster. Here\\\'s more:
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[29 Dec 2013] An anti government protester killed in a gun attack in...
An anti-government protester has been killed and three others injured in a gun attack in Thailand.
Officials say the incident happened after an...
An anti-government protester has been killed and three others injured in a gun attack in Thailand.
Officials say the incident happened after an unidentified gunman opened fire at a rally site near government headquarters in the capital Bangkok. It\\\'s still not yet clear who was behind the attack. The shooting comes against the backdrop of mass rallies against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawat. Protesters accuse Yingluck of being a puppet in the hands of her ousted powerful brother Thaksin Shinawat.
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[29 Dec 2013] Initial probe points to al-Qaeda role in Lebanon blast -...
Initial inquiry into the assassination of senior politician Mohamad Shatah published by Lebanese Daily As-safir, clears Hezbollah from accusations...
Initial inquiry into the assassination of senior politician Mohamad Shatah published by Lebanese Daily As-safir, clears Hezbollah from accusations of involvement in the attack.
Security sources now say that two arrested men, have confessed that they stole a car and handed it to one of the leaders of the al-Qaeda-linked group Fatah al-Islam in Sidon months ago. After meeting with the Higher Defense Council, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati called for an immediate formation of the unity government. Although the final report has yet to be released, analysts confirm that its findings reject March 14th\'s accusations against Hezbollah.
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[30 Dec 2013] Protester killed in fresh clashes in Anbar Province in...
At least one demonstrator has been killed in fresh clashes between Iraqi security forces and anti-government protesters in the western Anbar...
At least one demonstrator has been killed in fresh clashes between Iraqi security forces and anti-government protesters in the western Anbar province.
The clashes were triggered after local police moved in to dismantle the main anti-government protest site in the city of Ramadi. The operation follows a deal with religious leaders and tribal sheikhs. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki earlier referred to the protest site as the headquarters of the al-Qaeda leadership. Sunni Muslim protesters have been campaigning against the government since last December. They claim they\\\'re facing a second-class treatment at the hands of the Shia majority. 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.
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[30 Dec 2013] Deadly clashes erupt in Bangladesh as police prevent...
Fresh political violence in Bangladesh. Supporters and opponents of the government have clashed in the capital Dhaka.
No casualties have been...
Fresh political violence in Bangladesh. Supporters and opponents of the government have clashed in the capital Dhaka.
No casualties have been reported yet. The violence erupted on Sunday after police barred opposition leader Khaleda Zia from leaving her home to lead an anti-government rally. She was supposed to address the rally aimed at pressuring the government to scrap the January 5 elections and hand over power to a caretaker government to oversee the vote. At least one opposition activist was killed in clashes with security forces yesterday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has pledged to go ahead with the elections despite the opposition boycott, to avoid a constitutional crisis.
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[30 Dec 2013] Fighting between Iraqi police, gunmen leaved over a dozen...
Clashes between police and gunmen at an anti-government protest camp in central Iraq have left over a dozen people dead.
The violence came after...
Clashes between police and gunmen at an anti-government protest camp in central Iraq have left over a dozen people dead.
The violence came after security forces were deployed to dismantle the camp in the city of Ramadi in Anbar province. Police sources say the clashes broke out when gunmen opened fire on security forces. At least ten gunmen and three policemen were killed. The defense ministry says the decision to remove the protest camp came after a deal reached between the ministry, tribal leaders and local government. Now, there are also reports of heavy gunfire in the city of Falouja in the same province. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had repeatedly vowed to remove the one-year-old camp accusing protesters of stirring strife and sheltering al-Qaeda-linked militants.
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[31 Dec 2013] Anti govt protests held at Istanbul Ankara metro stations...
An underground protest in Turkey. Crowds of people have held an anti-government demonstration in the underground station at Istanbul\\\'s Taksim...
An underground protest in Turkey. Crowds of people have held an anti-government demonstration in the underground station at Istanbul\\\'s Taksim Square.
The demonstration was held a day after the station\\\'s security guard beat a homeless man, sending him to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage. The 20-year-old man had reportedly jumped over the turnstile to board a train without paying. The guard\\\'s brutality sparked underground protests at metro stations in Istanbul and Ankara. Local media outlets say one person has been injured in the Ankara protest. In Istanbul, anti-government activists held up pictures of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan\\\'s son Bilal and shouted slogans against the government and condemning the latest corruption scandal.
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[14 Jan 2014] Washington reacted to israeli minister comments who...
Washington has reacted to comments by an israeli minister who insulted the US secretary of state a little earlier.
This, after the Israeli...
Washington has reacted to comments by an israeli minister who insulted the US secretary of state a little earlier.
This, after the Israeli minister of military affairs said that John Kerry\'s plan for the so-called peace talks between Tel Aviv and the Palestinians Authority was not worth the paper it was written on. Now the US State Department says that Moshe Yaalon\'s comments are offensive and inappropriate. According to Israeli media reports, Yaalon has also, during private conversations, implied that Kerry is a nuisance, by saying that he should take his Nobel prize and leave us alone. The remarks have drawn angry reactions from Israeli officials and the opposition, who say such tongue-lashing comments could destroy Tel-Aviv\'s relations with Washington. Israel\'s Environmental Protection minister has gone beyond that by calling on the prime minister to fire Yaalon and ministers who are in line with him. Kerry\'s proposal for the so-called peace process include a security plan for the Jordan Valley in the West Bank. Under the plan, Israeli forces must withdraw from the Valley - - a proposal Tel Aviv is opposed to.
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[14 Jan 2014] UNSC to discuss Saudi Arabia financial support for...
Russian media reports suggest the UN Secretary General is planning to discuss reports of Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorist groups in Iraq with...
Russian media reports suggest the UN Secretary General is planning to discuss reports of Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorist groups in Iraq with Security Council members.
According to Russia\'s Arabic-language TV channel Russia al-Yaum, Ban-ki Moon touched on the issue during his recent talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. He also expressed concern over the rising violence in Iraq\'s western Anbar province. The UN chief urged Iraqi leaders to address the root causes of a surge in bloodshed in the violence-hit province. According to Iraqi media reports, one of the terrorist elements arrested in the country has confessed that Saudi Arabia is providing financial aid to al-Qaeda-linked militants fighting the Iraqi army.
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[15 Jan 2014] Iran FM ends regional tour in Syria - English
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamad Jawad Zarif in Damascus and discussed preparations made for the upcoming...
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamad Jawad Zarif in Damascus and discussed preparations made for the upcoming Geneva 2 conference on Syria.
During the meeting, Assad warned against the dangers of the Wahabi extremist ideology, saying it threatens the entire world. Zarif, on his part, expressed his country\'s support to the Syrian leadership and people. He also stressed that only the Syrians have the right to shape their future. Zarif also held talks with Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi. They discussed economic relations and means of developing them especially in the fields of oil, electricity, trade and health.
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[20 Jan 2014] Lebanon President raises hope that new govt. could be...
Lebanon\'s President Michel Sleiman has raised hopes that a new government could soon see the light of day.
Speaking to diplomats at the...
Lebanon\'s President Michel Sleiman has raised hopes that a new government could soon see the light of day.
Speaking to diplomats at the Presidential Palace in Beirut, Sleiman said all major obstacles had been overcome, and that he was putting the final touches on the new cabinet. He added that this weekend would be decisive. Sleiman\'s remarks are the strongest signal yet of an end to the 10-months political deadlock in Lebanon. The country has been reeling from the political turmoil since the March 2013 resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati. President Sleiman\'s mandate runs out on May 25.
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[20 Jan 2014] Pakistan prepares new security policy to end violence -...
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...
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
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[27 Jan 2014] UK working on Syria refugee plan - English
As both sides try and thrash out an agreement on the future of Syria, in the UK, the country\'s Foreign Secretary has announced plans to host...
As both sides try and thrash out an agreement on the future of Syria, in the UK, the country\'s Foreign Secretary has announced plans to host refugees from the conflict area. Whilst William Hague has yet to set out how many refugees or the qualifying criteria, critics argue the UK\'s role in the issue should not be understated.
Chris Bambery has recently returned from a visit to a refugee camp in Lebanon. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has previously stated that Britain has already taken in around 1000 Syrians fleeing the crisis in the region.
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[08 Feb 2014] Thousands in Jordan protest against US-backed - English
Thousands of people have staged a rally in the streets of the Jordanian capital Amman to protest against a planned visit by the US Secretary of...
Thousands of people have staged a rally in the streets of the Jordanian capital Amman to protest against a planned visit by the US Secretary of State. The protesters also expressed anger at the so-called peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The protesters came from Arab nationalist groups and Jordanian tribes. They chanted anti-US slogans and called on Palestinian groups to reject the so-called peace process. They demanded Jordan\'s king Abdullah to annul the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. The protest comes as the US Secretary of State has been trying to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas to accept a deal over occupied territories.
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[16 Feb 2014] Hamas rules out presence of intl. force in future...
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it will not allow the presence of an international force in a future Palestinian state.
Hamas...
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says it will not allow the presence of an international force in a future Palestinian state.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri has said in a statement that the presence of an international force under a peace deal with Israel would be no different from the Israeli occupation. He urged the United States to revise its position since Hamas won\'t allow anyone to undermine its rights. Abu Zuhri also called for a united front of factions to reject the so-called peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and their outcome. He further said that the Kerry plan was put together by Americans and the Zionist entity to eradicate the Palestinian cause. Earlier, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh slammed the talks, saying the resistance movement would not be bound by any deal with Israel.
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[17 Feb 2014] Saudi Arabia seeks Pakistan\'s help on Syria - English
Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is in Pakistan to discuss important regional issues including the Syrian crises.Salman, who is...
Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud is in Pakistan to discuss important regional issues including the Syrian crises.Salman, who is also Saudi deputy Prime Minister as well as minister of defense, is the second highest-ranking official to travel to Islamabad following a trip by Saudi Arabia\'s Foreign Minister last month.The flurry of visits by top Saudi officials has led to speculations that Riyadh is seeking Pakistan\'s help on Syria.
Some US media reports claim that Saudi Arabia after having lost faith in the Obama Administration to oust Syrian President Bashar al Assad\'s government, is now looking to Pakistan for training the insurgents in Syria.
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[23 Feb 2014] Baghdad blocks Kurdish wages amid oil row - English
Officials in Iraq\'s Kurdistan Region say the central government in Baghdad is blocking wages for hundreds of thousands of Kurdish workers. Iraq\'s...
Officials in Iraq\'s Kurdistan Region say the central government in Baghdad is blocking wages for hundreds of thousands of Kurdish workers. Iraq\'s Kurdish Deputy Prime Minister Roj Nuri Shawais has called on Kurdish members of the Baghdad cabinet to resign if the problem continues.
Kurdistan\'s government says it\'s cutting costs and even salaries of senior officials to help pay for monthly wages of more than $700m. MPs in Baghdad say the money has been withheld because Kurdistan is starting independent oil exports via Turkey.
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[23 Feb 2014] The Debate - Israel Supporting The Syrian Militants...
What makes the head of a regime that kill and marginalize Arabs regularly, go and visit wounded Arabs? Israel\'s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...
What makes the head of a regime that kill and marginalize Arabs regularly, go and visit wounded Arabs? Israel\'s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited militants fighting against the Syrian government who have been wounded. Israel has regularly Given insurgents medical treatment during the 3 years of conflict. The question is why?
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[25 Feb 2014] Media outlets have reported an Israeli airstrike on the...
Media outlets have reported an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese-Syrian border area for which Tel Aviv has not denied responsibilty. Prime Minister...
Media outlets have reported an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese-Syrian border area for which Tel Aviv has not denied responsibilty. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will do what it takes to protect Israel\'s safety.
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[26 Feb 2014] Iran parliamentary delegation concludes Syria visit - English
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received in Damascus an Iranian delegation headed by top Iranian lawmaker Alaedin Boroujerdi.The Syrian president...
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received in Damascus an Iranian delegation headed by top Iranian lawmaker Alaedin Boroujerdi.The Syrian president underlined the necessity of cooperation among regional countries to deal with the menace of terrorism and extremism. He also noted the importance of coordination among parliaments in a way that unites stances in fighting the Wahhabi ideology. Boroujerdi, on his part, asserted that only the Syrians have the right to determine their future.
The Iranian parliamentary delegation also met with Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi. The two sides discussed bilateral economic ties and means to boost it further.Boroujerdi, in a separate meeting with foreign minister Waleed al-Moallem, exchanged views on Geneva 2 peace conference.
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