[04 Dec 2013] UK police concerned about home-coming British militants...
The UK police express worries about the future home-coming of British militants fighting alongside insurgents in Syria.
The head of New Scotland...
The UK police express worries about the future home-coming of British militants fighting alongside insurgents in Syria.
The head of New Scotland Yard\'s counter-terrorism command says the prospect of battle-hardened extremists returning to Britain with sophisticated training and practical experience has become a grave concern in recent months. Richard Walton also says there are already signs that British militants are coming back from Syria with orders to carry out attacks. According to intelligence sources, British extremists make up the biggest chunk of hundreds of Western militants fighting the Syrian government. This, as France and Australia each have about 2-hundred citizens fighting in Syria, with others coming from countries like the United States and Canada.
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[06 Dc 2013] Mass anti government rally held near Manama - English
Anti-government protesters in Bahrain are trying to make their voices heard as top international officials gather in Manama for a security...
Anti-government protesters in Bahrain are trying to make their voices heard as top international officials gather in Manama for a security conference.
Thousands of people rallied in the village of Sa\'ar near Manama and at some points the demonstrators clashed with regime forces. Police attacked the protesters with tear gas and sound bombs trying to disperse them. Senior officials including those from Britain and the United States are attending the two-day Manama dialog forum. U-S Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will also address the meeting. Bahrain which hosts the U-S Navy\'s fifth fleet has cracked down on protests since the revolution began in 20-11.
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[06 Dec 2013] British foreign secretary warns of growing extremism in...
British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the extremists fighting against the Syrian government pose a threat to Europe. The warning comes as a...
British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the extremists fighting against the Syrian government pose a threat to Europe. The warning comes as a fierce battle is underway between the Syrian army and al-Qaeda affiliated groups, whose ranks have been swollen by an influx of thousands of foreign militants in recent months.
Hague made the remarks at the opening of the Manama Dialog on security, weeks ahead of an international peace conference on Syria. Foreign nationals operating alongside al-Qaeda militants in Syria have stated that the United States and Britain will be their next targets. Ironically, the insurgents have enjoyed logistic and financial support from some Western and regional countries.
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[11 Dec 2013] UK heading for housing crisis - English
Keeping a roof over your head in the UK is becoming more and more expensive, according to the group representing the housing industry in Britain....
Keeping a roof over your head in the UK is becoming more and more expensive, according to the group representing the housing industry in Britain. Because of chronic housing shortages, house prices are set to leap by 35% by 2020, leaving thousands struggling to find a place to live.
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[18 Dec 2013] 11,000 militants from over 70 countries teamed up with...
A new report says nearly eleven thousand militants from over seventy countries have teamed up with al-Qaeda-linked insurgents to fight the Syrian...
A new report says nearly eleven thousand militants from over seventy countries have teamed up with al-Qaeda-linked insurgents to fight the Syrian government.
According to the International Center for the Study of Radicalization, the figure includes those currently on the ground plus the ones have since returned home, or been arrested or killed. The report shows that Arabs and Europeans, mainly from Britain and France, make up the bulk of foreign militants, with eighty percent. Meanwhile, the British media have released a footage of a brigade of fighters in Syria who are all British.
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[11 Jan 2014] Rights activists called for key figures behind the 2003...
Rights activists have repeatedly called for key figures behind the 2003 invasion of Iraq to be put on trial. Britain, along with the US, attacked...
Rights activists have repeatedly called for key figures behind the 2003 invasion of Iraq to be put on trial. Britain, along with the US, attacked Iraq under the pretext that the regime of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. W-M-Ds were never found in Iraq and the war took hundreds of thousands of lives. And now to further show the atrocities committed during the war, the International Criminal Court has been asked to investigate allegations of abuse and torture by British forces in the war-torn country.
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[15 Jan 2014] The Debate - Failing Extremism - English
On the war on Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s...
On the war on Syria: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s political and religious ideology is \"a threat to the world\". Has Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists reached such an alarming level that UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki Moon has said it will discuss Saudi support for terrorists in Iraq with UN members? In this edition of the debate, we\'ll discuss how isolated Saudi Arabia and its policy in Syria have become. Turkey, that has long called for the ouster of President Bashar Assad, is now calling for a shift in government policy towards Syria. In addition, we\'ll discuss how the U-S has come to recognize that their support for these insurgents has backfired, and further analyze reports of Western intel. agencies wanting to cooperate with Syria, Iran, and Russia in battling these extremists.
Guests:
- Journalist & Middle East Analyst, Sharif Nashashibi (LONDON).
- Author & Historian, Webster Griffin Tarpley (WASHINGTON).
Subjects:
1. REAX: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned that Saudi Arabia\'s political and religious ideology is \"a threat to the world\".
- He was referring to Wahhabism, an ultra-conservative tradition which is predominant in Saudi Arabia, a key backer of insurgents fighting the Syrian government.
2. Saudi Arabia\'s ambassador to Britain wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled Saudi Arabia Will Go It Alone: with statements like \"Nothing is ruled out in our pursuit of peace in the Arab World... Act independently by rejecting a seat on the UN. The way to prevent the rise of extremism: is to support the champions of moderation: financially, materially and yes, militarily, if necessary. Saudi Arabia will continue on this new track for as long as proves necessary
- This seemed to reiterate the sentiment expressed by Saudi intelligence chief Bandar bin Sultan back in October when he talked of shifting away from the alliance with the U.S.:
3. It appears Saudi support for insurgents from AL Qaeda groups to otherwise, has created havoc in the region: From Syria, to Lebanon, to Iraq: And partly in Jordan, so much so that the UN chief Ban Ki Moon has said it may discuss this with security council members?
4. Turkey, has been a supporter of President Bashar Assad\'s ouster. But now Turkish President Abdullah Gul is now calling for a shift in government policy towards Syria. President Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that \"I am of the opinion that we should recalibrate our diplomacy and security policies given the facts in the south of our country (in Syria).\" What do you make of Gul\'s call for a change in his country\'s policy?
5. MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: The Syrian deputy foreign minister says Western intelligence agencies have been recently visiting Damascus for talks on combating extremist insurgents. Mekdad: Mekdad said that the contacts appeared to show a rift between the political and security authorities in some countries opposed to Assad. Has the US and other Western countries like France and the UK realized that support for these insurgents have now backfired?
6. If Western intel. agencies are cooperating with Syria, which by default will include Iran, then why is the US then insisting Iran not to participate n Geneva 2, or only participate on the sidelines, a precondition that Iran has rejected?
7. United States, the West, Iran, Russia, Syria and the geopolitical shift, which has left Saudi Arabia isolated: Yet the pattern of global terrorism has been sponsored by the US, Israel, and their Arab partners Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Will the US stop its support for terrorists?
8. How far will the US go to counter Saudi Arabia\'s destructive role at least regionally: Are the 2 countries headed for a clash?
22m:34s
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[16 Jan 2014] israeli PM raps EU for summoning envoys over settlement...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the European Union for summoning Israeli envoys over Tel Aviv\\\'s settlement plans....
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the European Union for summoning Israeli envoys over Tel Aviv\\\'s settlement plans.
Netanyahu has slammed the EU\\\'s latest move, saying the bloc should end its quote hypocrisy over condemning Israeli settlements. Earlier in the day, Israel\\\'s ambassadors in Britain, France, Italy and Spain were summoned over Tel Aviv\\\'s latest settlement plans. A senior European diplomat says EU officials have made clear the settlement announcements have negative impacts on the so-called peace talks. The bloc\\\'s urged Israel to refrain from such moves and use the unique opportunity of talks to end the conflict between the two sides. The EU\\\'s latest move follows Tel Aviv\\\'s recent unveiling of a plan for more than 18-thousand new settler units in east Jerusalem al-Quds and the West Bank.
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[20 Jan 2014] UN rescinds Iran invite to Geneva conference on Syria -...
UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon withdraws his invitation to Iran to join the upcoming Geneva two peace conferences on Syria. The UN was under...
UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon withdraws his invitation to Iran to join the upcoming Geneva two peace conferences on Syria. The UN was under intense pressure from the U-S to rescind the invite.
Ban invited Iran to the conference on Monday saying Iran needs to be part of the solution to the Syrian crisis. Tehran also said it was ready to play a constructive role at the talks. But the US, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the foreign backed opposition were strongly opposed to Iran\'s participation. The U-S State Department said the UN must take back its invitation unless Tehran publicly backs the 2012 agreement on a transition government in Syria. And the so-called Syrian National Coalition threatened to withdraw from the Geneva Two conference. However, Russia said it would be an unforgivable mistake to exclude Iran from the talks. Tehran repeated that it would take part without any preconditions.
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[20 Jan 2014] EU to ease part of anti-Iran sanctions - English
The European Union will immediately lift some of its economic sanctions against Iran now that the country has suspended enrichment of uranium to...
The European Union will immediately lift some of its economic sanctions against Iran now that the country has suspended enrichment of uranium to the 20-percent purity level at Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that these measures implemented the first steps of the historic agreement reached between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany last November. The Islamic Republic has also started the process to dilute and oxidize its 196-kilos stockpile of 20-percent-enriched uranium. In exchange, the EU and the United States have agreed they will gradually release blocked funds.
2m:6s
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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.
1m:58s
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[29 Jan 2014] The Debate - Fuelling the Carnage (P.1) - English
As if the Syrian talks in Geneva did not face enough challenges, a new one came into the picture, when US Congress approved continued support for...
As if the Syrian talks in Geneva did not face enough challenges, a new one came into the picture, when US Congress approved continued support for what it called moderate Syrian rebels, raising the question again about a good and a bad terrorist. It also upped the bar on what type of aid: previously from non-lethal like night goggles, to small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets. In this edition of the debate, we\'ll ask doesn\'t this contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks?
Guests:
- National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Brian Becker (WASHINGTON).
- Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Lawrence Korb (WASHINGTON).
Subjects:
1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets.
- Funded by the U-S Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30: THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS.
- Also the issue that arms may fall into the hands of \"bad terrorists\", something US experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Syria.
2. What about the good terrorist/bad terrorist scenario: this differentiation just can\'t apply, especially to the terrorists inside Syria, which the US calls the moderate Syrian rebels?
3. American military aid, now with explicit congressional approval: Doesn\'t it contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Whatever happened to US Sec. of State John Kerry saying repeatedly that there is no military solution?
- Russia is working with the US to find a political solution, and suddenly US arms supplies, which contradicts the initiative
4. On terrorists: John Kerry said during opening of Geneva talks: in reference to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad: \"The Assad regime is a magnet for terrorists. The regime\'s brutality is the source of the violent extremism in Syria today: Is the US completely turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists?
5. Timeline: Beg. Dec.: the US and Britain announced that they had suspended non-lethal aid: Why? Reports that their aid supplies could end up in hostile hands. Then in late December, reversed that decision: Yet US Congress \"secretly\" approved sending small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, also in Dec.: the US was not telling the truth, or given that this was done in secret, did not want it to be made public?
6. On the Syrian talks in Geneva: According to the divided opposition: the Syrian delegation has accepted the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time: Were it true, how what are the chances for the divided opposition to accept the govt. red line: Assad\'s departure?
7. Syria\'s divided opposition criticized a document presented by the Syrian govt which presented a statement of principles, calling for Syria \'s sovereignty to be respected, rejecting \"foreign interference\" and \"terrorism.\"?
8. Are we looking at u-turn from Turkey on Syria: AS we speak, PM Erodogan is in Iran holding talks with Ian\'s leader, its pres. and FM?
9. What may have happened if Iran was present?
11m:0s
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[29 Jan 2014] The Debate - Fuelling the Carnage (P.2) - English
1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as...
1. From non-lethal aid, like nigh vision goggles and army uniforms, to a variety of small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets.
- Funded by the U-S Congress, in votes behind closed doors, through the end of government fiscal year 2014, which ends on September 30: THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT 8 MONTHS.
- Also the issue that arms may fall into the hands of \"bad terrorists\", something US experienced in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Syria.
2. What about the good terrorist/bad terrorist scenario: this differentiation just can\'t apply, especially to the terrorists inside Syria, which the US calls the moderate Syrian rebels?
3. American military aid, now with explicit congressional approval: Doesn\'t it contradict the United States\' role as a sponsor of the peace talks? Whatever happened to US Sec. of State John Kerry saying repeatedly that there is no military solution?
- Russia is working with the US to find a political solution, and suddenly US arms supplies, which contradicts the initiative
4. On terrorists: John Kerry said during opening of Geneva talks: in reference to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad: \"The Assad regime is a magnet for terrorists. The regime\'s brutality is the source of the violent extremism in Syria today: Is the US completely turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia\'s support for terrorists?
5. Timeline: Beg. Dec.: the US and Britain announced that they had suspended non-lethal aid: Why? Reports that their aid supplies could end up in hostile hands. Then in late December, reversed that decision: Yet US Congress \"secretly\" approved sending small arms, as well as some more powerful weapons, such as anti-tank rockets, also in Dec.: the US was not telling the truth, or given that this was done in secret, did not want it to be made public?
6. On the Syrian talks in Geneva: According to the divided opposition: the Syrian delegation has accepted the establishment of a transitional government body for the first time: Were it true, how what are the chances for the divided opposition to accept the govt. red line: Assad\'s departure?
7. Syria\'s divided opposition criticized a document presented by the Syrian govt which presented a statement of principles, calling for Syria \'s sovereignty to be respected, rejecting \"foreign interference\" and \"terrorism.\"?
8. Are we looking at u-turn from Turkey on Syria: AS we speak, PM Erodogan is in Iran holding talks with Ian\'s leader, its pres. and FM?
9. What may have happened if Iran was present?
11m:26s
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[05 Feb 2014] Syria is committed to destroying its chemical weapons...
Syria says it\'s committed to destroying its chemical weapons despite difficulties caused by the ongoing fighting with foreign-backed militants....
Syria says it\'s committed to destroying its chemical weapons despite difficulties caused by the ongoing fighting with foreign-backed militants.
Deputy foreign minister, Faisal Meqdad says the difficulties may at times prevent Damascus from implementing some of its commitments. However, he says the government will fully turn over its chemical weapons by June, as required by the deal brokered by the US and Russia last year. Damascus has already met several deadlines in the process of destroying its chemical weapons so far. But, it has reportedly delayed the work twice. The US and Britain have criticized Syria for that, with Washington accusing Damascus of having a slow pace in moving the weapons abroad. Syria has rejected such claims and blamed the U-S for the delays because of its support for militants.
0m:47s
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[17 Feb 2014] Deep mistrust in Iran with US, talks chance to regain it -...
As International diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear program enters the next phase, Iranians talk of their demands from the six world powers for...
As International diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear program enters the next phase, Iranians talk of their demands from the six world powers for the upcoming talks in Vienna.
Iranians on the streets told us of their concerns and the mistrust that has been built from the actions of the West, especially the US. Just three months ago in Geneva, optimism followed the interim deal between Iran and the so-called 5p+1, Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S., plus Germany.
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[17 Feb 2014] Iran, P5 1 resume nuclear talks - English
Iran\'s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the resumed talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council which...
Iran\'s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the resumed talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council which include the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China plus Germany will start in good faith.
He met with the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the P5+1 group of countries, in Vienna a day ahead of the negotiations that will take place in the city over next three days. The two sides agreed on a landmark interim deal last November in Geneva. The initial deal, which took effect in January, saw Iran curbing some of its nuclear activities in exchange for easing parts of nuclear-related sanctions.
1m:41s
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