Russian president raises stakes in Ukraine conflict, calling for talks on secession of pro-Moscow regions.
Putin seeks 'statehood' talks on east Ukraine - Europe - Al Jazeera English
Sunday 31 August 2014
Libyan militia storm US embassy in Tripoli
Evacuated embassy compound in the capital raided as fighting rages among rival militias in the North African country.
Libyan militia storm US embassy in Tripoli - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Iraq's Sunnis ready to fight IS group
"Ramadi is a strategic city for us, but we do not have enough elite
troops to achieve a victory there. So we withdrew a third of the troops
from there and redeployed them around Baghdad," the adviser said. The
adviser told Al Jazeera that maintaining control over Ramadi is a
"non-urgent" priority for the Iraqi government at this time.
The Islamic State group has swept through northern Iraq since it took
control of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in June. Islamic State
fighters routed Kurdish Peshmerga troops from towns that bordered the
northern Kurdish autonomous region, and at least 500,000 people have been displaced.
Iraq's Sunnis ready to fight IS group - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Jordan King given further exclusive powers - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Royal decree allowing King Abdullah to choose army and security chiefs raises fears in delay of democratisation efforts.
Jordan King given further exclusive powers - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Somali and AU forces in al-Shabab offensive - Africa - Al Jazeera English
Somali and African Union forces launch "Operation Indian Ocean" to capture remaining ports held by armed group.
Somali and AU forces in al-Shabab offensive - Africa - Al Jazeera English
Iraqi minority vows death before IS capture - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Shia Turkmen in Amerli, besieged by the Islamic State group, vow to kill their families before seeing their subjugation.
Iraqi minority vows death before IS capture - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
US jets target IS positions in Iraq - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Warplanes attack fighters in besieged northern town of Amerli and airdrop humanitarian aid to civilians trapped there.
US jets target IS positions in Iraq - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Thursday 28 August 2014
Islamic State strengthens control in Syria
The seizure of the Tabqa airbase highlights the Islamic State's consolidation of power in eastern Syria, analysts say.
Islamic State strengthens control in Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera EnglishThe battle for Africa - People & Power - Al Jazeera English
People and Power investigates the effects of China's increasing influence in Africa.
The battle for Africa - People & Power - Al Jazeera English
Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria
The Islamic State group has executed 700 members of a tribe it has
been battling in eastern Syria during the past two weeks, the majority
of them civilians, a monitoring group said.
The killing spree happened in several villages inhabited by the
al-Sheitat tribe in Deir Ezzor province, where the tribe are from, the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.
The Observatory said many of the victims, who were Sheitat tribesmen,
were beheaded after they were captured by the Islamic State group.
Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
been battling in eastern Syria during the past two weeks, the majority
of them civilians, a monitoring group said.
The killing spree happened in several villages inhabited by the
al-Sheitat tribe in Deir Ezzor province, where the tribe are from, the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday.
The silence of the international community is unbelievable. There is no excuse for them to keep a blind eye on what is happening in Syria. |
were beheaded after they were captured by the Islamic State group.
Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
UN soldiers seized by rebels in Golan Heights
US blames Nusra Front fighters for capture of 43 Fijians serving in UN observer force in Israeli-occupied area.
UN soldiers seized by rebels in Golan Heights - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Arab Nations Strike in Libya, Surprising U.S.
CAIRO — Twice in the last seven days, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have secretly launched airstrikes against Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli, Libya, four senior American officials said, in a major escalation of a regional power struggle set off by Arab Spring revolts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/world/africa/egypt-and-united-arab-emirates-said-to-have-secretly-carried-out-libya-airstrikes.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=WO_ANS_20140825&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=1#1
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/26/world/africa/egypt-and-united-arab-emirates-said-to-have-secretly-carried-out-libya-airstrikes.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=WO_ANS_20140825&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=1#1
Monday 25 August 2014
Obama 'authorises spy flights over Syria'
Sources say surveillance aircraft would be used by Washington to gather intelligence on the Islamic State group.
Obama 'authorises spy flights over Syria' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Obama 'authorises spy flights over Syria' - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Thursday 21 August 2014
Monday 18 August 2014
U.S. spending millions to blow up captured U.S. materiel in Iraq
U.S. could not blame Saddam for Al-Qaeda
support, now they have a group they label as "Al-Qaeda-ISIL" using U.S.
weapons to build a new middle east!http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2014/08/18/how-much-it-costs-the-u-s-to-blow-up-captured-u-s-military-hardware-in-iraq/?utm_source=Facebook
Sunday 17 August 2014
Egyptian security forces 'planned massacre,' says HRW
The killings of at least
817 people by Egyptian security forces last year probably amount to a
crime against humanity, Human Rights Watch says.
A report by the US-based group says 1,000 or more people probably died in one day around Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. The deaths came during demonstrations broken up by Egyptian security forces.
Executive director Kenneth Roth said the deaths were "one of the world's largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history".
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28746899
Syrian jets hammer Islamic State stronghold
Islamic State-controlled city of Raqqa comes under intense air bombardment, ending an undeclared truce between sides.
Syrian jets hammer Islamic State stronghold - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Saturday 16 August 2014
Kurdish rivals unite to fight Islamic State - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
PKK forces have joined the fighting in Iraq, a move some say could boost tension between Turkey and Iraqi Kurds.
Kurdish rivals unite to fight Islamic State - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Khaled Meshaal: 'Not a war of choice' - Talk to Al Jazeera - Al Jazeera English
Although he is not on location, neither in Gaza nor in Cairo, Khaled
Meshaal, Hamas' political leader, is a central protagonist in this
dreadful drama.
He says: "This is a battle that we have not chosen to fight, it was
forced upon us. It was the Israeli occupation that started the
aggression. It brought the events that happened two months ago in the
West Bank to Gaza for its own domestic calculations. It wanted to take
revenge on Hamas and the Palestinian people in Gaza. We have defended
ourselves.
"This is not the first time there is a ceasefire .... We do not wish
to play the game of keeping the calm with the aim of wasting time. We
want serious negotiations that lead to an end of the aggression on Gaza
and granting the Palestinian demands. We want our people in Gaza to feel
that the siege has been actually lifted after eight years of
intolerable suffering."
Khaled Meshaal: 'Not a war of choice' - Talk to Al Jazeera - Al Jazeera English
Making choices over Syria and Iraq? - Inside Syria - Al Jazeera English
The Syrian Coalition accuses the international community of 'double standards' as the US intervenes in Iraq.
Making choices over Syria and Iraq? - Inside Syria - Al Jazeera English
Making choices over Syria and Iraq? - Inside Syria - Al Jazeera English
Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria
Activists say the killings of Sheitat tribesmen, many by beheading, happened over the last two weeks.
Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Maliki gives up Iraq PM job to rival - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Nouri al-Maliki ends bid to hold on to power and endorses Haider al-Abadi's appointment as his successor.
Maliki gives up Iraq PM job to rival - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Hamas: Peace deal must meet people's demands - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
People demands have any connection with the way Hamas manages its budget? Why investing so much in missile industry and expensive tunnels that have only one purpose "military" (no distinction between israeli citizens and soldiers, but don't call it "terror").
Hamas: Peace deal must meet people's demands - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Hamas: Peace deal must meet people's demands - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
BRICS Bank: Can India contain Chinese moves? - Features - Al Jazeera English
"In India we have always been afraid of the Chinese after India's defeat in the 1962 war. In 2000, when import quotas were abolished, there was a fear of invasion of Chinese goods. A 'war room' was set up in the federal trade ministry. The fears were unfounded. Now we fear China will dominate BRICS Bank."
An official with India's Finance Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity because his views do not mesh with the government's official position, told Al Jazeera that the bank appears to be a better fit with China's foreign policy aims.
BRICS Bank: Can India contain Chinese moves? - Features - Al Jazeera English
Court: Poland culpable for CIA secret prisons - Features - Al Jazeera English
The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Poland to pay reparations to two Saudis being held in Guantanamo Bay.
Court: Poland culpable for CIA secret prisons - Features - Al Jazeera English
Friday 15 August 2014
Ukraine 'destroys' Russian military vehicles
Ukrainian security forces have attacked and destroyed military vehicles
that were part of a column that crossed from Russia into eastern
Ukraine, the office of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said in a
statement.
Ukraine 'destroys' Russian military vehicles - Europe - Al Jazeera English
that were part of a column that crossed from Russia into eastern
Ukraine, the office of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said in a
statement.
Ukraine 'destroys' Russian military vehicles - Europe - Al Jazeera English
UN moves to rein in Islamic State group
The United Nations Security Council has taken a tough line against
the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, blacklisting six people
including the group's spokesman and threatening sanctions against
its financiers and weapons suppliers.
The 15-member council unanimously adopted on Friday a resolution that
aims to weaken the Islamic State - an al-Qaeda splinter group that has
seized swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate -
and al-Qaeda's Syrian wing al-Nusra Front.
The Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and
the Levant (ISIL) has long been blacklisted by the Security Council,
while al-Nusra Front was added earlier this year.
UN moves to rein in Islamic State group - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Unlikely saviors: How Germany helped save Palestine’s Jews during WWI - Books Israel News | Haaretz
Unlikely saviors: How Germany helped save Palestine’s Jews during WWI - Books Israel News | Haaretz
With maritime traffic brought to a standstill, the transfer of charitable funds for distribution among members of the Yishuv was cut off. Cancellation of the protective status that had been granted to foreign subjects compromised the legal situation of some 40,000 Jews with Russian citizenship who were living in Palestine, as well as thousands of British- and French-born residents. Approximately half the Jews in Palestine were now considered to be citizens of enemy regimes.
The Ottoman regime suspected members of the Yishuv, and particularly the newly arrived Zionists, of disloyalty to the Sublime Porte in Constantinople. On December 17, 1914, Baha al-Din, the governor of Jaffa, issued a general decree of deportation of all foreign subjects who had not yet become Ottomanized. Panic spread throughout Jaffa over fears of an all-out massacre – until the intervention of the government of Germany.
Tuesday 12 August 2014
US sends 130 more military advisers to Iraq
Pentagon says 'this is not a combat boots on the ground' operation as personnel arrive in the Kurdish capital Erbil.
US sends 130 more military advisers to Iraq - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Sunday 10 August 2014
Factbox: Details of food imports sanctioned by Russia
The sanctions affect the 28 European Union members, the United States, Canada, Australia and non-EU member Norway.
They cover all meat, fish, poultry, dairy, fruit and vegetables. Food items that are not covered mostly include commodities such as tea, coffee, sugar, grains and seed oil.
Russia imported about $39 billion worth of food last year from all countries, about $23.5 billion of which was in categories affected by the sanctions. From the countries covered by the sanctions, Russia imported $17.2 billion worth of food, of which $9.2 was in the affected categories.
Food is only a small part of Russia's trade with the West: total imports from countries covered by the ban were $155.3 billion in 2013, according to U.N. data.
The ban is valid from Aug. 7 and will last for one year.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/07/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-sanctions-factb-idUSKBN0G71NJ20140807
McCain says U.S. airstrikes in Iraq can't stop Islamic State: NY Times
Republican U.S. Senator John McCain said on Saturday that President Barack Obama's limited military action against Islamic State militants in northern Iraq showed a "fundamental misunderstanding of the threat," and called for strikes against the group's positions in Syria, The New York Times reported.
McCain, a frequent critic of Obama's foreign policy including his handling of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the airstrikes authorized by the president are not enough to deal with a growing threat to the United States that he called "the richest, most powerful terrorist organization in history," the paper said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/09/us-iraq-security-obama-mccain-idUSKBN0G90O220140809
French foreign minister arrives in Iraq for talks on insurgency
France wants to lead the west...
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius arrived in Baghdad on Sunday for talks with officials on efforts to confront Islamic State militants who have advanced across northern Iraq, state television reported.
Kurdish officials said Fabius would later travel to their regional capital Arbil for further talks.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-iraq-security-france-idUSKBN0GA04V20140810
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius arrived in Baghdad on Sunday for talks with officials on efforts to confront Islamic State militants who have advanced across northern Iraq, state television reported.
Kurdish officials said Fabius would later travel to their regional capital Arbil for further talks.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-iraq-security-france-idUSKBN0GA04V20140810
Palestinians to stay in Cairo for Arab League meeting on Gaza
It seems that "Israel" is the only matter which arab leaders can agree in public (eventhough Egypt and Saudi would be happy to overthrown Hamas)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-mideast-gaza-league-idUSKBN0GA0BY20140810
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-mideast-gaza-league-idUSKBN0GA0BY20140810
Egypt court dissolves Muslim Brotherhood's political wing
The revolution, and the counter-revolution
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-egypt-brotherhood-idUSKBN0G90AM20140810
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-egypt-brotherhood-idUSKBN0G90AM20140810
U.S. strikes Islamic State targets near Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil
air strtikes to protect people??
The United States conducted new air strikes on Islamic State targets near Arbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, the U.S. military's Central Command said on Sunday.
The strikes, launched by drone aircraft and U.S. fighter jets, were aimed at protecting Kurdish Peshmerga forces as they face off against Islamist militants near Arbil, the site of a U.S. consulate and a U.S.-Iraqi joint military operations center, Central Command said in a statement.
"At approximately 2:15 a.m. EDT, U.S. aircraft struck and destroyed an (Islamic State) armed truck that was firing on Kurdish forces located in the approaches to Arbil," Central Command said. Four other strikes on armed trucks and a mortar position followed, it said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-iraq-security-usa-strikes-idUSKBN0GA0NT20140810
The United States conducted new air strikes on Islamic State targets near Arbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, the U.S. military's Central Command said on Sunday.
The strikes, launched by drone aircraft and U.S. fighter jets, were aimed at protecting Kurdish Peshmerga forces as they face off against Islamist militants near Arbil, the site of a U.S. consulate and a U.S.-Iraqi joint military operations center, Central Command said in a statement.
"At approximately 2:15 a.m. EDT, U.S. aircraft struck and destroyed an (Islamic State) armed truck that was firing on Kurdish forces located in the approaches to Arbil," Central Command said. Four other strikes on armed trucks and a mortar position followed, it said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-iraq-security-usa-strikes-idUSKBN0GA0NT20140810
Pro-Maliki Shi'ite militias step up Baghdad patrols after his speech
Shi'ite militia forces loyal to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki stepped up patrols around Baghdad on Sunday night after he delivered a tough televised speech indicating he would not cave in to pressure to drop a bid for a third term.
Political deadlock has prevented Iraqi politicians from uniting Iraqis against Islamic State militants whose advance in the north has rattled the Baghdad government and its Western allies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-iraq-security-maliki-militias-idUSKBN0GA0X620140810
Iraq says Islamic State killed 500 Yazidis, buried some victims alive
Islamic State militants have killed at least 500 members of Iraq's Yazidi ethnic minority during their offensive in the north, Iraq's human rights minister told Reuters on Sunday.
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the Sunni militants had also buried alive some of their victims, including women and children. Some 300 women were kidnapped as slaves, he added.
"We have striking evidence obtained from Yazidis fleeing Sinjar and some who escaped death, and also crime scene images that show indisputably that the gangs of the Islamic States have executed at least 500 Yazidis after seizing Sinjar," Sudani said in a telephone interview, in his first remarks to the media on the issue.
Sinjar is the ancient home of the Yazidis, one of the towns captured by the Sunni militants who view the community as "devil worshipers" and tell them to convert to Islam or face death.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/10/us-iraq-security-yazidis-killings-idUSKBN0GA0FF20140810
West mobilises Iraq aid as US raids continue
This is so pro-US headline, better focus on aid delivery and take care that no one will film all killing and suffering produced by airforce raids on the ground
"US jets strike Islamic State positions in Iraq's north, as UK and France spearhead aid delivery to stranded civilians."
West mobilises Iraq aid as US raids continue - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
"US jets strike Islamic State positions in Iraq's north, as UK and France spearhead aid delivery to stranded civilians."
West mobilises Iraq aid as US raids continue - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Friday 8 August 2014
Iran vows to hit US bases if Israel strikes
US bases in Qatar, Afghanistan and Bahrain will be targets if Israel attacks Iran, senior military official says.
Iran vows to hit US bases if Israel strikes - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Iran vows to hit US bases if Israel strikes - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Thursday 7 August 2014
Obama authorises air strikes in Iraq
US President Barack Obama has authorised targeted air strikes against
Sunni fighters in Iraq, saying the measure was meant to avert
"genocide" in the country.
"We can act, carefully and responsibly to prevent a potential act of
genocide," Obama said on Thursday, referring to the Yazidis, a religious
minority group besieged by fighters from the so-called Islamic State.
"I therefore authorised targeted air strikes if necessary to help
forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege and protect the
civilians trapped there," he said.
Obama did not, however, confirm or deny whether the US had already
carried out air strikes in Iraq as claimed by a spokesman for the
Kurdish peshmerga force.
Obama authorises air strikes in Iraq - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Russia bans food imports from West
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday said the embargo will
affect "imports of beef, pork, fruit and vegetable produce, poultry,
fish, cheese, milk and dairy products from the European Union, the
United States, Australia, Canada and Norway".
Russia bans food imports from West - Europe - Al Jazeera English
affect "imports of beef, pork, fruit and vegetable produce, poultry,
fish, cheese, milk and dairy products from the European Union, the
United States, Australia, Canada and Norway".
Russia bans food imports from West - Europe - Al Jazeera English
Iraq rocked by attacks across the country
Blasts in Baghdad and Kirkuk kill tens of people as Islamic State captures a dam and a Christian town in the north.
Iraq rocked by attacks across the country - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Iraq rocked by attacks across the country - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Cambodia jails Khmer Rouge leaders for life - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English
They were accused of playing key roles in a regime that oversaw the
deaths of two million people during the "Killing Fields" era from
1975-1979.
Cambodia jails Khmer Rouge leaders for life - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English
deaths of two million people during the "Killing Fields" era from
1975-1979.
Cambodia jails Khmer Rouge leaders for life - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English
Wednesday 6 August 2014
As Africa opens for business, a new rivalry forms
NEARLY 50 African heads of state are gathering in Washington, DC this
week for the first ever US-Africa summit. The focus is financial. Africa
boasts 12 of the top 20 fastest growing countries this year, according
to the IMF. Yet when it comes to trade, America trails in second place
to China, which has long held summits with African leaders and hosted
individual meetings (unlike President Obama). Still, America hands out
about five times more aid to the continent than China, and invests
considerably more too. Meanwhile, European countries still enjoy
colonial ties, as the healthy level of trade, aid and investment
attests. In recent years emerging powers like India and Brazil have
increased their links to the region—but only in terms of commercial
flows, not philanthropic ones. http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2014/08/daily-chart-2?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/dc/intoafrica
Monday 4 August 2014
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