Ukraine in arabic News
Syria conflict: UN report denounces ‘state policy of extermination’
- Title
- Syria conflict: UN report denounces ‘state policy of extermination’
- Runtime
- 1:05
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Detainees held by Syria’s government are dying in such massive numbers according to a new UN report probing war crimes in the country that it denounces “a state policy to attack a civilian population”.
While giving no names, investigators point the finger of blame at Syrian officials in the civilian and military hierarchy responsible for or complicit in deaths, torture and disappearances in custody, saying:
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that the conduct described amounts to extermination as a crime against humanity.”
The UN commission of inquiry, presenting its findings on Monday, called on the Security Council to impose “targeted sanctions” on those deemed “criminally liable”.
- Title
- Thousands of Syrians stranded in ‘desperate situation’ on Turkish border
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Aid agencies warn of a “desperate situation” as tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing a Russian-backed government offensive in Aleppo, head to the Turkish border.
Although Turkey has sworn to help, it has yet to open its frontier at Oncupinar, leaving thousands stranded.
Russian-backed Syrian government forces say they are closing in on Aleppo city and have severed the main supply line used by the country’s mainstream rebels.
Rebel-held parts of the city now face the prospect of a government siege. The tactic has previously had a disastrous effect on former rebel strongholds.
- Title
- Migrant crisis: Turkish police raid factories producing faulty dinghies
- Runtime
- 0:57
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Turkish police have raided three factories producing unlicensed and faulty dinghies, according to local media reports.
Almost 50, deemed to be dangerous, were seized in the western province of Izmir.
Dinghies are the boat of choice for traffickers and migrants trying to get to Greece.
Turkish police have also been cracking down on defective life-jackets in recent months, launching operations in Istanbul and elsewhere.
More than one million refugees and migrants arrived by land and sea in the EU last year, many of them crossing from Turkey to Greece. A further 3,600 died or went missing.
Winter conditions are not deterring all. Hundreds more people have already lost their lives so far this year.
- Title
- Syrian refugees flee to Turkey border as Aleppo assault intensifies
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Around 35,000 Syrian refugees have arrived at the Turkish border, near the southern city of Kilis in the last two days, and are being accommodated on the Syrian side, the governor of Kilis said on Saturday.
Suleyman Tapsiz also said another 70,000 Syrians could be on their way to the border crossing, which lies between Oncupinar in Turkey and Bab al-Salam on the Syrian side.
The refugees have been fleeing an offensive by the Syrian army, backed by Russian air strikes, on rebel-held areas near the northern city of Aleppo.
One refugee said: “We left our village and we were taken hostage by Daesh (Islamic State group). We quickly came to the village of Kafarnoos to cross the border to Turkey.”
“It’s 48 hours that we sleep on the floor and on the sand until they let us cross the border,” explained another.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said on Saturday that Turkey would be maintaining its “open do...
- Title
- Syrians flee to Turkish border as government forces close in on Aleppo
- Runtime
- 0:56
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- At least 15-thousand Syrians have fled an intensifying assault around the city of Aleppo
Crowds of people have been massing at the Bab al-Salam crossing on the Turkish border.
With the frontier gate shut, rights group Amnesty International is calling on Ankara to let in those escaping the latest violence.
Syrian government troops – backed by Russian air power – have encircled the countryside north of opposition-held Aleppo and cut off the main supply route linking the city to Turkey.
Ankara said it suspected the aim was to starve the population into submission.
Russia’s intervention has tipped the war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, reversing gains rebels made last year.
Aleppo would be the biggest strategic prize in years for the Assad government.
- Title
- Diplomatic row at the UN highlights the difficulties for peace in Syria
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- As thousands flee the intense fighting around the Syrian city of Aleppo.
A diplomatic row has broken out at the UN in New York where the French ambassador to the United Nations slammed the Syrian government and its allies for scuppering the Geneva peace talks.
François Delattre, is the French Ambassador to the UN
“The Syrian regime and its allies have made no concessions. Quite the contrary, on the one hand the Syrian regime claims to discuss peace in Geneva, on the other hand it intensifies its military offensive against opposition groups with which it is supposed to discuss.”
Russia then took a swipe at the Syrian opposition groups and their backers.
Vitaly Churkin, is the Russian ambassador to the UN: “Those people who have encouraged the opposition to essentially walk out of the talks, who have been refusing our continued offers for them to arrange practical cooperation between us and them on the situation in Syria, they do not have much...
- Title
- Nizzolo takes Dubai Tour lead as Lobato wins stage three
- Runtime
- 0:51
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Italian Giacomo Nizzolo took control of the Dubai Tour standings on Friday after a second place finish in the penultimate stage three.
Spaniard Juan Jose Lobato claimed the victory on the day following a stinging attack to the line in Hatta Dam.
The day’s ride took the bunch over 172 kilometres.
Mark Cavendish’s bad luck continued – after suffering a crash near the end of the previous days stage – the manxman lost a shed load of minutes when he sustained a late puncture and then had to wait for a lagging team car for a replacement.
Despite a handful of attacks throughout the day most of the peloton were together inside the final kilometre.
The climb to the line appeared to take its toll on most, but not on Lobato who powered out in front for a fine victory.
Nizzolo is now two seconds clear of Lobato with one stage remaining.
- Title
- 20,000 Syrian refugees stuck on Turkish border after fleeing Aleppo
- Runtime
- 1:26
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Tens of thousands of people are leaving the Syrian city of Aleppo or the refugee camps on its outskirts and fleeing towards Turkey.
Some 20,000 are reportedly stuck at the border crossing of Kilis, and more are on the way. If Syrian government forces launch a full-blooded assault to oust rebels and militant Islamists, it has been estimated as many as a million people may become refugees.
Aleppo is the anti-Assad rebel Syrians’ major prize. It is Syria’s largest city and business centre. On Wednesday its supply route north to Turkey fell to government forces, which now almost entirely surround the city.
In the last 48 hours, following the stalling of Geneva peace talks, government forces have intensified their ground offensive, while the Russian airforce has flown nearly 1000 sorties in the heaviest air bombardment of the near five-year war.
Since 2012 much of the city has been in rebel hands, but lose it and they face the prospect...
- Title
- Davutoglu promises ‘rose garden’ in Turkey’s Kurdish south-east
- Runtime
- 1:18
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Turkey’s prime minister has travelled to the mainly Kurdish south-east of the country after weeks of an anti-PKK operation that has left some areas badly damaged.
Ahmet Davutoglu said Ankara would pay to repair everything smashed up in the fighting and compensation for those who has suffered losses. Turkey would make the region a “rose garden”, he promised, but woe betide those who resisted the state.
“ISIL exploits the feelings of pious Sunnis while the PKK exploits the Kurds and the DHKP-C expoits Alevis. We will establish public order. Whoever threatens that, for whatever reason will absolutely be stopped and prevented, whether they are like ISIL, the PKK or the outlawed far left DHKP-C, they are all executing terror,” said Davutoglu in the city of Mardin.
The bill for regional reconstruction is likely to be hundreds of millions of euros and locals have heard promises from Ankara before, and have learned how much salt to take with suc...
- Title
- Civilians flee Aleppo as Syrian army and Russian air power lay siege
- Runtime
- 1:21
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Ancient armies fought here, but now modern weapons are beginning to encircle Aleppo, and the city is being hit remorselessly from the air by the Russians, supporting the government’s ground offensive.
Syria’s largest city has been mostly rebel-held since 2012, but the last 24 hours have seen a blitz like no other, and the loss of more outlying villages. Tens of thousands of civilians, fearing the worst, are fleeing towards Turkey.
On Wednesday the rebel’s supply road into Turkey was cut, a major blow. The loss of Aleppo might signal the beginning of the end for the rebellion against Assad.
US pressure on arms suppliers including Turkey and Saudi Arabia to get this week’s stalled peace talks set up have also weakened the rebel forces.
But the suddeness and ferocity of the government attacks, which on the ground are reportedly spearheaded by Iraqi and Afghan shi’ite militias recruited by Iran, lead many rebel leaders to believ...
- Title
- An intimate doc on the Egyptian Revolution
- Runtime
- 2:24
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- ‘I Am The People’ (‘Je Suis le Peuple’) is a shrewd, balanced and engaging documentary film that chronicles the post-Arab Spring tensions in Egypt seen from the eyes of a farmer in the Nile Valley.
Shunning Tahrir Square, French documentary maker Anna Roussillon, who was raised in Cairo, puts down her camera in a small village near Luxor, in the home of Farraj and his family. Over the course of two and a half years, she follows their everyday life, from working the fields in the daytime to evenings spent in front of the TV watching events unfold.
Never seen yet ever-present behind the camera in her dialogue with the protagonists, the director draws an intimate, honest and fascinating portrait of what the Arab Spring meant for millions of ordinary Egyptians.
The film shows how Farraj’s political convictions are eroded over time and how his friendship with Roussillon is put to the test as he criticises the West for wanting to impose what h...
- Title
- Camel Trek: In the Footsteps of our Ancestors
- Runtime
- 0:53
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Title
- Italy-Egypt to jointly investigate death of ‘tortured’ student Giulio Regeni
- Runtime
- 1:19
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Italy’s Foreign Minister has confirmed Rome will collaborate with Cairo in an investigation into the death of twenty-eight-year-old student Giulio Regeni.
His half-naked body was found at the side of a road on the outskirts of Cairo. Cigarette burns, cuts and other signs of torture suggesting a ‘slow death’ were evident on his body, a senior Egyptian prosecutor said.
This appears to contradict the findings of a senior Egyptian investigator who has been quoted ruling out foul play in relation to the death, suggesting instead he may have been involved in a road accident.
Regeni disappeared on January 25, 2016, the date of the fifth anniversary of the uprising which ended Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.
Italian media reports the student was collaborating with workers’ movements and independent trade unions in Cairo and had contacts with the Egyptian opposition. He is said to have been sending articles under a pseudonym to Italy...
- Title
- Team Sky’s Viviani wins stage two of Dubai Tour
- Runtime
- 0:46
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Team Sky’s Elia Viviani enjoyed a double victory of sorts on Thursday.
The Italian won a crash-hit stage two of the Dubai Tour and with it took the overall race lead in the four stage event.
Giovanni Visconti of the Movistar Team suffered a minor blip early on in the 188 kilometre trek from Duabi to Palm Jameirah but the biggest crash awaited the bunch as they arrived at the mouth of a tunnel with just over a kilometre to go.
The accident ended the hopes of the pre-stage favourites, Mark Cavendish and stage one winner Marcel Kittel.
Moments later the sprint for glory was on albeit with a reduced number of riders out in front.
After strong leadout from Ben Swift, Viviani blasted his way over the line for his first win of the season.
Sacha Modolo was second and Giacomo Nizzolo third for an Italian clean sweep of the podium.
- Title
- Syria: stakeholders surprised by halt in talks
- Runtime
- 1:32
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Diplomats and opposition members say they were taken by surprised when the UN Special Envoy unexpectedly called a halt to peace talks in Geneva.
Staffan de Mistura also urged both sides to begin ceasefire negotiations.
There has been no official response from the government in Damascus.
The opposition says it will not negotiate unless the government stops bombing civilian areas, lifts blockades on besieged towns and releases detainees.
A senior UN official says Russian escalation was the main reason for the suspension of the Syria peace talks in Geneva.
Little progress has been made in the talks since they began on Monday.
The talks are aimed at bringing peace to Syria after 5 years of conflict.
On Wednesday night, special envoy Staffan de Mistura announced a three-week halt in the UN-mediated negotiations, saying they needed support from the rival sides’ international backers, principally the US and Russia....
- Title
- Missing Italian Giulio Regeni found dead in Cairo with ‘signs of torture’
- Runtime
- 0:51
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Missing Italian student Giulio Regeni has been found dead in Cairo “with signs of torture,” according to a senior Egyptian prosecutor.
The Cambridge PhD student was discovered half naked by the roadside in the outskirts of the capital. Cigarette burns and other signs of torture suggesting a ‘slow death’ were evident on his body.
Security officials say the 28-year-old’s corpse has been taken to a Cairo morgue and an investigation has been opened.
The Egyptian ambassador has been summoned to Italy’s foreign ministry in Rome. It says it expects “maximum collaboration at all levels, in light of the exceptional gravity of what happened.”
Regeni disappeared on January 25, 2016 as he headed downtown to meet a friend. The date marked the fifth anniversary of the uprising which ended Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.
- Title
- Aleppo assault threatens fragile Syrian peace process
- Runtime
- 1:26
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- A Syrian government offensive on rebel-held towns around Aleppo has thrown the UN brokered peace talks into chaos.
The Syrian opposition condemned the “massive acceleration” of government assaults backed by intense Russian air strikes.
Pro-Assad forces appear determined to break the rebel stranglehold around two government held towns and cut rebel supply routes from Turkey to Aleppo.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says blocking arms supply routes is essential if the talks are to succeed.
“A key component for this cease-fire to work is something that is now urgent; that is an end to trafficking across the Turkish-Syrian border, trafficking that provides supplies to the fighters,” he said.
- Title
- Kittel wins opening stage of Dubai Tour
- Runtime
- 0:50
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Marcel Kittel won the opening stage of the Dubai Tour on Wednesday following a powerful sprint finish in Fujairah.
The first stage of the third edition sent the riders raced over 173 kilometres starting from the Dubai International Marine Club.
The challenge took the star-studded peloton right across the width of the United Arab Emirates.
As the traditional attacks unfolded out in front the main contenders bided their time waiting for the expected mad dash for stage one honours – and that’s exactly how it ended.
Kittel took full advantage of a near perfect lead out from his new Etixx – Quick-Step teammates to power to the front and eventually beat Britain’s defending champion Mark Cavendish and Italian Giacomo Nizzolo.
- Title
- Peace talks do not legitimise Syrian rebel groups, says Russia
- Runtime
- 1:16
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Moscow has agreed that two Syrian rebel groups taking part in peace talks are doing so on an individual basis.
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, said their participation in the Geneva negotiations does not mean the two groups are legitimate and, he said, it does not mean they are not terrorists.
Lavrov was in the UAE meeting his Emirati counterpart.
“Their participation on an individual basis in the delegation formed at Riyadh meeting does not mean – and it is acknowledged by everyone including our American colleagues as co-chairs of the Vienna process – does not mean any acknowledgment of Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham as partners in the negotiations,” Lavrov said.
Meanwhile, Syria’s government delegation chief Bashar Jaafari, arrived in Geneva on Tuesday for indirect discussions with the UN Syrian envoy, Staffan de Mistura..
Jaafari said he was still waiting for the UN envoy to provide a list of the o...
- Title
- UK berates Russia ahead of Donors’ Conference on Syria
- Runtime
- 1:25
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Ahead of the London Donors’ Conference on Syria, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.
The conference will focus on the humanitarian needs of those affected by Syria’s five-year civil war. Its neighbour Jordan says it is hosting 1.27 million Syrians:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/37d35b58-c8c3-11e5-a8ef-ea66e967dd44.html#axzz3z10uhp47. The country has a total population of 9.5 million.
Criticism of Russia
Hammond admonished Russia for its air assaults on civilian areas within Syria.
“Until a couple of months ago there was a steady trickle of people returning to their homes in Syria from this camp despite what’s going on in the country. But that has now stopped and a new tide of refugees is heading in this direction because of the Russian bombing,” he said.
“Russia cannot continue to sit at the table as a sponsor of a political process and at the same time be bombing the civil...
- Title
- Internet of Things: cyber crime on the rise
- Runtime
- 4:01
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- More data has been generated in the past two years than in the entire history of mankind.
While for many, there are reasons to celebrate this increasingly connected world, others express growing concern about the risks associated with all that data, an ideal target for cyber crime. Cyber security was one of the hottest topic at the recent CyberTech conference in Tel Aviv.
“Everything is connected to the internet now,” said Yoav Leitersdorf, managing partner at venture capital firm YL Ventures. “I think that in 2015, about 20 percent of cars in the US were shipped connected which means they had a sim card or some other form of connectivity. When you have so many devices connected to the internet, you must secure them.”
Last year, hackers in the US managed to remotely access a Jeep Cherokee SUV through its on-board computer, taking control of its steering, transmission and brakes. Researchers executed a similar hack into the Tesla Model S.
- Title
- Syria peace talks: UN mediator ‘optimistic and determined’
- Runtime
- 1:33
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Syria’s main opposition group met with the UN’s mediator in Geneva for the first time on Sunday but attempts to get talks started to find a solution to the Syrian conflict got off to a shaky start.
The Syrian government’s chief delegate, Bashar al-Jaafari claimed the Damascus blasts confirmed the link between the opposition and terrorism.
“There is a link between terrorism and those who sponsor terrorism from one side and some political groups that pretend to be against terrorism.”
However UN mediator Staffan de Mistura took a positive stance as he emerged from talks with the opposition’s High Negotiation Committee (HNC):
“It was useful, it is up to the HNC to tell you what is their plan but it was a useful meeting.” De Mistura went to to say he was optimistic as it is his profession to be so … “and determined”.
De Mistura is meeting with both sides in separate hotels in so-called ““proximity tal...
- Title
- Death toll rises in Shi’ite shrine blasts in Damascus
- Runtime
- 1:02
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The number of people killed in Sunday’s bomb attacks in the Syrian capital Damascus has risen to 71 with dozens more wounded.
A bus carrying twenty-fire Shia fighters was caught up the blasts.
A car bomb and two suicide bombers caused the explosions which targeted Syria’s holiest Shi’ite shrine of Sayyeda Zeinab.
The holy site houses the grave of the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Taleb, the cousin of Prophet Mohammed whom Shi’ites consider the rightful successor to the prophet. The dispute over the succession led to the major Sunni-Shi’ite schism in Islam.
The attack comes as the government and opposition groups gathered in Geneva in a bid to start talks aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict.
- Title
- Blasts close to Damascus’ main Shi’ite shrine kill 60 – monitor
- Runtime
- 0:51
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Dozens of people were killed and scores wounded in Damascus on Sunday (January 31) when three blasts rocked the Sayeda Zeinab district of the capital, home to Syria’s holiest Shi’ite Shrine.
The Sunni militant group calling itself Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Amaq, a news agency that supports the group, said two operations “hit the most important stronghold of Shi’ite militias in Damascus”
Syrian state news agency SANA, quoting an interior ministry source, said a group of militants had detonated a car bomb near a public transport garage. Two suicide bombers then blew themselves up nearby as people were being rescued.
More than 60 people were killed in the attack, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. SANA reported that at least 45 people were killed and 110 wounded.
- Title
- Turkish police recover stolen “Picasso” painting
- Runtime
- 0:21
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Turkish police have recovered what is reported to be an original painting by Pablo Picasso.
The work is believed to be the “Nude Brushing Her Hair” and was picked up in Istanbul when officers posed as buyers.
The painting is said to have been stolen in New York and was being sold for almost six and a half million euros.
In the past, Turkish police have recovered paintings believed to have been originals but that turned out to be fakes.
- Title
- Turkey’s Erdogan threatens ‘consequences’ for Moscow, saying Russian jet violated its airspace
- Runtime
- 1:16
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The Turkish government said on Saturday that a Russian fighter jet had violated its airspace on Friday. Moscow denied the accusation.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the incident as a Russian attempt to “escalate” the crisis in the region.
“If Russia continues to violate Turkey’s sovereignty they will bear the consequences. Such irresponsible behaviour will not contribute to improving relations between NATO and Russia or peace in the region. On the contrary, it will do harm,” Erdogan said.
Russian Defence Ministry spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov denied that any Russian plane had entered Turkish airspace, and called the allegation “pure propaganda.”
Tensions between Ankara and Moscow have been high since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane in November, which it said had violated its airspace. Russia insisted the jet was over Syrian territory when it was hit, had never entered Turkish airspace...
- Title
- Golf: Branden Grace retains Qatar Masters
- Runtime
- 0:51
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- A golden moment for Branden Grace on Saturday as he became the first player to retain the Qatar Masters title.
The South African hit a final round of 69 to bring him in at 14-under overall on a wind-swept day Doha Golf Club.
Grace is a traditionally strong finisher on the tough back nine here and the highlight Saturday was smashing his tee shot 327 yards on the par five 18th, followed by an iron to land him within nine metres and a two-putt birdie.
Denmark’s Thorbjoern Olesen came in joint second for 71, sharing that honour with Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello who picked up three shots on the last three holes to bring him in at 70.
- Title
- Turkey says Russia violated its airspace, Erdogan calls for meeting with Putin
- Runtime
- 0:41
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The Turkish government has announced that a Russian Sukhoi 34 fighter jet violated Turkish airspace on Friday despite several radar warnings.
“We are making a clear call to the Russian Federation not to violate Turkish airspace, which is also NATO airspace,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.”
“We are emphasising once again that the unwanted consequences of such irresponsible behaviour will belong fully to the Russian Federation.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday evening called for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the incident.
NATO has urged Russia to “take all necessary measures” to ensure NATO airspace is not violated.
Russia, which has an airbase near Latakia, started a military intervention in Syria’s civil war in September, following a request from the Syrian government.
Tensions between Ankara and Moscow have been high since Tur...
- Title
- Dozens dead, scores rescued – migrant boat sinks off Turkey coast
- Runtime
- 1:20
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- More than 35 people, including several children, have drowned and 75 have been rescued after a boat carrying migrants and refugees to Greece sank of the coast of Ayvacik, Turkey on Saturday.
Rescue efforts were continuing in the afternoon.
One man was detained by police on suspicion of human trafficking and organising the voyage.
“I swear I didn’t do it. I had six relatives on that boat. I don’t even know whether they are dead or alive. I was also on that boat,” he told media at the scene.
Nearby, further rescues were carried out by the Italian Coast Guard on Friday night. Coast guard cutters picked up 31 people drifting on rafts near Kos, and 15 people stranded on a rock near Samos.
55,528 migrants and refugees have arrived by sea in Europe so far in 2016, according to the latest figures (published 29 January) from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The IOM also reports 244 people de...
- Title
- Emotional plea from UN on eve of Syria talks
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has made a plea to all parties to bring a peaceful resolution to the five-year conflict with talks due to start in Geneva on Friday.
But there are already signs of the hurdles ahead with the Syrian opposition insisting that they will not attend.
They say they have not received convincing answers to demands including an end to airstrikes and blockades.
“Five years of this conflict have been too much,” said De Mistura in an emotional plea to all sides. “The horror is in front of everyone’s eyes. You must know also that we count on you to raise your voice, to say ‘khalas’, it is enough.
You have seen enough conferences, two have already taken place. This one cannot fail.”
- Title
- Ban Ki Moon dismisses Netanyahu’s “bolstering terrorism” accusation
- Runtime
- 1:09
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has not taken his tongue-lashing from Israel’s leader Bejamin Netanyahu lying down.
Netanyahu said Ban’s statement on Tuesday deploring the continued expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory would “only bolster terrorism”.
“Let me be clear, nothing excuses terror. Nothing justifies the targeting of innocent people. I condemn all such acts categorically. If we hope to see an end to this violence, security measures will not be enough. We must address the underlying frustration and failure to achieve a political solution,” said Ban Ki Moon on Thursday.
Netanyahu went further, saying the UN had “long ago lost its neutrality and moral power”.
The government has just approved the building of 150 new homes near Jericho on fertile agricultural land currently worked by Palestinian farmers. It is the latest in a succession of building projects on land international l...
- Title
- Car Bomb Detonated Outside Yemen President's Palace
- Runtime
- 0:44
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Title
- Cyprus, Israel and Greece talk regional issues
- Runtime
- 0:56
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Following a number of bilateral agreements signed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday between the Israeli and Greek prime ministers, the two men have traveled to Cyprus for trilateral meetings with the Greek Cypriot leader.
Israel’s deals with the Greeks include agreements on innovation, economic co-operation and energy.
One of the biggest deals implicates Cyprus, as a project, the EuroAsia connector, for a high-voltage electric cable connecting Israel with the European mainland runs via the island.
However Cyprus’s President Nicos Anastasiades will be looking beyond euros and cents, and regional issues are vital for the divided island, which is trying to clinch a long drawn-out peace process with the Turkish Cypriots.
Greece, Israel, the Cypriots and Turks all have potential offshore riches in Mediterranean gas ready to extract, but only if the region is at peace.
- Title
- Syrian government forces claim successes but ISIL still rampant
- Runtime
- 2:01
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- ISIL attacked the Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people with a car bomb and explosive belt-wearing terrorist.
A mainly Alawite district was targeted, the same tribe of President Bashar al-Assad.
It is just the latest example of the Muslim extremists’ ability to strike anywhere in Syria, despite the Russians having entered the civil war on al-Assad’s side and their bombing campaign.
The Syrian army is back on the offensive thanks to Moscow’s air support, but the army lacks manpower, and does not seem to be winning back much territory, despite recent successes. The towns and villages it has retaken had been held by anti-Assad rebels.
A few days ago government forces retook Rabia in the northwest, in rebel hands since 2012. It is an important prize in Latakia province, the Assad family birthplace, and opens up the road to the north.
Salma also fell, and then notably Al dar al-Kabirah. All are neede...
- Title
- ISIL claims responsiblity for twin bomb attacks in Homs – dozens dead
- Runtime
- 0:36
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The Islamic State (ISIL) militant group has claimed responsibility for twin bomb blasts in the Syrian city of Homs on Tuesday, which reportedly killed dozens of people.
The governor of Homs, which is controlled by the Syrian government, said that there were two attacks: a car bomb targeting a security checkpoint, followed by the detonation of an explosive belt by a suicide bomber.
Syrian media was reporting that at least 22 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in the attacks.
The Islamic State group, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq, said in an online statement that it carried out the blasts – and that more than 30 people were killed.
- Title
- EU reassures Turkey that promised aid will be delivered to help with refugees
- Runtime
- 1:04
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has reassured Turkey that it will get the financial aid promised from the EU to help cope with millions of Syrian refugees.
Last month the bloc agreed on 3 billion euros as part of a package of measures intended to persuade the refugees to remain in Turkey. However Italy has objected saying it needs to know how the money is to be spent.
- Title
- Egypt: 5 years on from revolution – how much has changed?
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Egypt is marking five years since the uprising that toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.
On the eve of the anniversary, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi paid tribute to the events of 2011, which ended Mubarak’s 30-year reign.
“Egypt today is not the Egypt of yesterday. We are building together a modern developed civilian state that upholds the values of democracy and freedom,” el-Sissi said in televised comments.
The protesters behind the 2011 uprising had hoped for a new era of reform and an end to repression. But some believe that the hopes of the revolution are now long gone.
“The 25 January revolution was a wonderful dream that we’ve sadly lost. We dreamt that Egypt would be better.@
“I used to work in Aswan before the revolution and tourism was great back then. But after the revolution, everything changed and there was no work, so I came to Cairo to find work,” said boat owner Mazid Mohamed.
- Title
- Former Israel PM Shimon Peres back in hospital with chest pains
- Runtime
- 0:21
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres was admitted to hospital on Sunday for the second time in as many weeks.
His doctor said the 92-year-old had been complaining of chest pains.
Peres, who was released from hospital last week after suffering a mild heart attack on January 14, was conscious and the hospitalisation was a precautionary measure, Peres’s personal physician, Rafi Walden, told reporters.
“This evening he felt a slight discomfort and we diagnosed that he has some difficulty with the rhythm of the heart which is called atrial fibrillation. He was taken to hospital … and this is over already spontaneously without even the need for any treatment,” said Rafi Walden, who is also Peres’s son-in-law.
- Title
- ISIL’posts UK video threat’
- Runtime
- 1:01
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The Islamist extremist group ISIL has posted a video on the internet making an apparent threat to attack Britain. The unverified footage contains images of UK MPs backing airstrikes in Syria.
The package also purports to show the last statements of nine of the people who took part in the Paris attacks in November. There are also shots of the locations targeted in the French capital where 130 died.
One of the images shows a man closely resembling Abdel hamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the attacks.
Abaaoud, a Belgian national, died in a police raid on a flat in Saint-Denis, near Paris, days after the attacks.
Nine suspected attackers died on November 13 or in the days after, and two more are on the run.
- Title
- Combating ISIS
- Runtime
- 3:01
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Former intelligence and diplomatic officials offered policy recommendations at a hearing on combating ISIS* in Iraq and Syria. Former acting CIA Director Michael Morell told committee members, “ISIS poses a significant strategic and lethal threat to the United States of America.” He outlined the the dual-threat of ISIS in carrying out directed attacks and lone wolf attacks on the homeland. Other witnesses included former Defense Undersecretary for Intelligence Michael Vickers and former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford.
- Title
- Egypt: Eight to face trial over botched repair of King Tut’s beard
- Runtime
- 0:21
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Eight Egyptians are facing legal action for gross negligence after a botched repair job of the mask of King Tutankhamun.
The beard on the more than 3,300 year old mask was crudely glued back on after accidentally becoming detached in 2014.
The tomb of King Tut, an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, was discovered in 1922, sparking worldwide interest in excavation of ancient Egypt.
The mask, displayed at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, is a major tourist attraction.
“The accused violated the scientific and professional rules in dealing with the relic although they presumably know its value and importance goes beyond the local borders,” said the prosecutor’s statement, adding too much glue had been used in the botched attempt, leaving a visible crust.
“Ignoring all scientific methods of restoration, the suspects tried to conceal their crime by using sharp metal tools to remove parts of the glue that became visible, th...
- Title
- Syria: Pro-Assad forces hail recapture of key rebel-held town
- Runtime
- 1:03
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Syria’s pro-government forces are hailing a key victory over rebels, ahead of planned peace talks that look
increasingly likely to stall.
The recapture of the town of Rabiya, described as the last rebel stronghold in western Latakia province, was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and confirmed by Syrian state TV.
Regime forces, supported by Russian officers and Hezbollah militants, then took control of local villages, the Observatory says, amid violent clashes with Islamist fighters, notably from the al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Nusra.
Syrian and Russian airstrikes are said to have played a part.
But the monitoring group says warplanes from the two nations have also killed 164 civilians – including dozens of children – in the last three days in eastern Deir Ezzor province.
A huge question mark surrounds peace talks scheduled for Monday in Geneva amid a row over who should represent the S...
- Title
- US: Joe Biden slams Turkey for ‘poor example’ of freedom of expression
- Runtime
- 0:46
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- US Vice President Joe Biden has criticised Turkey for “setting a poor example” in the region concerning freedom of expression.
The damning comments came at the start of a two-day visit to the NATO ally, which will see Biden meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
Pre-presidency, during Erdogan’s early years as Prime Minister of Turkey, the US highlighted the country as an example of a functioning Islamic State.
Earlier reforms have since faltered, with Erdogan adopting a more authoritarian political style.
- Title
- Egypt: at least nine dead in bomb blast on road to Giza pyramids
- Runtime
- 0:47
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- A bomb blast in a residential building in Giza, Egypt, has killed at least nine people, including six police officers.
The bomb site lies on the road to the Giza pyramids.
Security sources said Egyptian forces were conducting a raid on a militant hideout. They discovered the building was booby trapped and the device exploded during an attempt to defuse it.
At least thirteen people were wounded.
Local man Mahmoud Abu Bakr described the immediate aftermath:
“We heard the sound of an explosion and when we ran outside all we could see for around half an hour was a dense cloud of dust and fumes. After about 30 to 45 minutes, the dust cleared and we could see the damage. But none of us knows what happened.”
Egypt’s Interior Ministry says the bomb was planted by militants in the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
- Title
- West Bank: Palestinians to go to the UN over Israel’s land plan
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Israel has announced plans to develop a large tract of agricultural land in the occupied West Bank.
The 154 hectares are in the fertile Jordan Valley close to Jericho.
Israel already has many settlement farms built on land Palestinians have earmarked for their own state.
- Title
- Syria: Turkey accuses Moscow and Damascus of jeopardising Geneva talks
- Runtime
- 1:17
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- The Turkish Prime Minister has blamed Damascus and Moscow for delaying peace talks on Syria planned for Geneva next week.
Ahmet Davutoglu has backed calls to exclude militant organisations like the Kurdish YPG militia on the opposition side.
The Syrian Opposition Council is refusing to attend if a third party takes part.
Davotoglu told an audience in Davos that Damascus and Moscow are to blame.
“We are supporting moderate opposition forces in Syria who are fighting against Daesh positions, especially in the last two weeks, close to our border. Meanwhile, Syrian regime and Russian airplanes are attacking the moderate opposition. They are putting some other elements in the opposition side, like the YPG, which has been collaborating with the regime and attacking the moderate opposition.”
“Turkey will be supporting any initiative for a political solution in Syria. The only thing we want is that the moderate opposition should b...
- Title
- China’s President Xi offers financial and political support to Egypt’s Sisi
- Runtime
- 0:36
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- China and Egypt have signed investment and aid deals worth billions during a visit to Cairo by President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese leader also expressed support for Cairo’s efforts to maintain stability, which have included a tough crackdown on dissent.
He is on a Middle East tour that signals his country’s push for greater influence in a region that provides vital oil supplies.
Xi praised Egypt’s efforts to strengthen its economy during talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The deals include electricity, infrastructure and transport project with investments that could total close to 14 billion euros as well as substantial loans and financing agreements with Egyptian banks.
Xi arrived in Egypt from Saudi Arabia and was due to head to Iran.
- Title
- Syria: ISIL frees hundreds of hostages held in Deir-al-Zour
- Runtime
- 1:16
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- ISIL has released 270 civilians held hostage since the weekend assault on the Syrian government held city of Deir-al-Zour.
The conurbation in eastern Syria has been the backdrop to fierce fighting between militants and forces loyal to President Basher al-Assad.
Scores of people on both sides have been killed with the massacre of civilians reported.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights most of those released are women, children and the elderly.
The rights group says that another 50 men have been detained and are being interrogated.
- Title
- Russia airdrops 22 tonnes of aid around Syrian town of Deir al-Zor
- Runtime
- 1:14
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Russia has launched a humanitarian operation in Syria.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights said a Russian cargo plane accompanied by several war planes has already airdropped supplies to several government-held neighbourhoods in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor.
It will be distributed by local authorities.
“Currently the bulk of the aid is being delivered to the city of Deir ez-Zor which has long been under siege by ISIL terrorists,” Russian defence ministry spokesman Sergeu Rudskoy said in a televised briefing. “Today Syrian military cargo IL-76 jets equipped with Russian parachutable pallets delivered 22 tonnes of humanitarian cargo into Deir ez-Zor.”
- Title
- Turkey’s twin fight against ISIL and the PKK
- Runtime
- 4:33
- Date posted
- 11 years ago
- Description
- Last Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Sulthanahmet in Istanbul could amplify alarm within the Turkish government, which currently faces two different and equally challenging threats. Observers speculate that Ankara may have been tolerating the radical Islamic State movement ISIL because it counterbalanced Kurdish resurgence in northern Syria, and diverted the PKK Kurdish rebels and possible sympathisers within Turkey. Before Sulthanahmet, ISIL’s targets were politically removed from the government.
The attack in Diyarbakir in the southeast, in the run-up to the June 7th general election, targeted the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party, killing four supporters and wounding more than 100.
In Suruç, on July 20th, 33 Kurdish and Turkish university students were killed while raising awareness about Kurdish-versus-ISIL battles in Kobani in Syria.
In Ankara, on October 10th, trade unionists and peace activists in an anti-war protest and als...
