‘Don’t let people die’: Turkish TV show accused of ‘terrorist propaganda’, investigated http://on.rt.com/71md
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‘OK, big brother’: Turkish military cooperate with ISIS on border, telephone calls reveal
‘OK, big brother’: Turkish military cooperate with ISIS on border, telephone calls reveal
Further proof of ties between the Turkish military and Islamic State fighters operating on the Syrian-Turkish border has been revealed in the Cumhuriyet newspaper, which published more transcripts of telephone calls between the jihadists and officers.
The documents are said to come from an ongoing court case on Islamic State at the Ankara 3rd High Criminal Court. The investigation was reportedly prompted after six Turkish citizens reported to police that their relatives had joined the terrorists. At least 19 people came under surveillance as a result and prosecutors then charged 27 individuals. The daily published the first batch in December.
The new transcripts published by the daily Monday are said to be conversations between Turkish officers and Mustafa Demir, a member of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIL/ISIS) who is a leading figure on the Syrian-Turkish border.
“The transcripts and the documents in the investigation revealed that Demir received money… from smugglers at the border and cooperated with the officers as far as [border] crossings are concerned,”Cumhuriyet said.
In the first transcript, translated into English by Today’s Zaman, Demir is talking to a Turkish military officer.
– […] where are you, big brother? At the place where I told you to be?
– Yeah. We also saw you, your men…
– Is it possible for you to arrange that I talk with the commander here, regarding the business here? What if we could establish a contact here as we helped you…
– Okay […] I’ll pass this now. I have two military posts there. If the worst comes to the worst, I’ll tell that to the commander of the station and have him take a look…
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French farmers protest at prices driven down by Russia sanctions
French farmers protest at prices driven down by Russia sanctions
© @RTenfrancais / periscope.tv
A protest by French farmers has taken place in Paris. Large crowds gathered to decry the low prices of agricultural produce. Prices are being driven down by the sanctions exchange with Russia, which has caused domestic produce to flood the French market.
The protest started near the Gare de Lyon railway station, but then moved to the Porte de Vincennes – one of the city gates in Paris.
There were police and fire brigades on the scene, ready to intervene, but it didn’t run to that.
EN DIRECT sur #Periscope : Action des agriculteurs à Paris, suitedu direct !! https://www.periscope.tv/w/aZNDRjFWR2p2T0x5a1JFT2t8MU1ueG5vamJNRFhLT3gjD3HeB5lqkWVn95Ja8Xa1MSR-It4y7Xbfynra4cXq …
RT France on Periscope: “Action des agriculteurs à Paris, suite du direct !!”
RT France (@RTenfrancais) on Periscope. Les actualités de RT en français
periscope.tv
Hundreds of egg crates were fed into a wood cutter, which sprayed them towards a building. Over 100 demonstrators at the spot were waving flags.
Protesters built make-shift barricades out of straw and covered the street with shreds of newspaper that they promised to set on fire.
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Damascus confirms its army targeted by Turkish shelling, complains to UN
Damascus confirms its army targeted by Turkish shelling, complains to UN
The Syrian government has confirmed that its army positions were targeted by Turkish shelling on Saturday, which also hit the positions of the Syrian Kurdish militias in the northern Aleppo province. Turkish shelling reportedly continued Sunday.
Syria’s government has condemned Turkey for shelling Syrian territory, describing the act as direct support for “terrorist” groups, Syrian state media reported on Sunday, citing the letter to the United Nations.
Damascus sent the letter after Turkey shelled areas recently captured by a Kurdish-backed alliance north of Aleppo on Saturday. It demanded that the UN Security council “take responsibility for international peace and security by putting an end to the crimes committed by the Turkish regime.”
“On February 13, 2016, since the afternoon hours, Turkey’s heavy artillery, located on Turkish territory, artillery shelled Syrian territory, targeting Syrian Kurdish positions and the positions of the Syrian Arab Army,” SANA news agency reported after obtaining the letter.
“In addition, Turkish artillery bombarded the towns of Maraanaz, al-Malikiyah, Minagh, Ain Dakna and Bazi Bagh, which are home to the civilian population,” the complaint addressed to UN Secretary General and Un Security Council said.
The letter added that 12 trucks mounted with heavy machine-guns and carrying around a hundred fighters entered Syrian territory from Turkey through the Bab al-Salam checkpoint on Saturday.
“Some of the militants were Turkish Army servicemen and the rest – Turkish mercenaries,” it said.
The Turkish military carried out the artillery strikes in response to the military offensive being conducted by the Syrian Arab Army in the northern part of Aleppo province, the Syrian government stressed.
The shelling is “an attempt to increase the morale of armed terrorist groupings, who are being defeated,” the appeal to the UN added.
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Russian PM warns US, Saudis against starting ‘permanent war’ with ground intervention in Syria
Russian PM warns US, Saudis against starting ‘permanent war’ with ground intervention in Syria
Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev told German media that sending foreign troops into Syria could unleash “yet another war on Earth.” The warning follows increasingly aggressive statements made by Saudi Arabia and Turkey amid Bashar Assad’s gains in Aleppo.
“All sides must be compelled to sit at the negotiating table, instead of unleashing yet another war on Earth,” Medvedev told Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper. “Any kinds of land operations, as a rule, lead to a permanent war. Look at what’s happened in Afghanistan and a number of other countries. I am not even going to bring up poor Libya.”
The PM was commenting on recent statements from Saudi Arabia claiming that it was ready to send ground troops to Syria, should Washington lead the way.
“The Americans and our Arab partners must think well: do they want a permanent war? Do they think they can really quickly win it? It is impossible, especially in the Arab world. Everyone is fighting against everyone there,” Medvedev added. The interview was published on the eve of the International Syria Support Group meeting in Munich, where the cessation of hostilities in Syria became a top item on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the situation in Syria has been heating up, as Syrian government troops have been making advances in the northern city of Aleppo, half of which is considered to be under the control of anti-government rebel groups. The same region has also been inundated with terrorist groups, such as Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Ahrar al-Sham, and Al-Nusra Front, which are all being targeted by Russian as well as US-led air campaigns.
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War games in Middle East could prepare UK for ‘potential’ Russian war with NATO – report
War games in Middle East could prepare UK for ‘potential’ Russian war with NATO – report
The British Army is to deploy 1,600 troops in Jordan to take part in war games which could be preparation for a potential ‘confrontation’ between Russia and NATO member countries in Eastern Europe, the Daily Telegraph has reported, citing sources.
Army sources told the paper that the exercise, which will simulate an Iraq invasion for the first time in over a decade, is not a prelude to sending ground troops to fight Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL), rather Exercise Shamal Storm could be seen as a practice routine to fight off any potential Russian invasion of Ukraine or Eastern Europe.
“This isn’t a counter-Isil exercise. If anything, this is much more about us being prepared to join the US in Ukraine than it is in Syria,” a source said as cited by the Daily Telegraph, adding, “This is not the sort of kind of force you expect to roll into Aleppo to take on a bunch of jihadists.”
However, the British Ministry of Defence has dismissed claims made by the media that the upcoming drills are connected with preparations to go to war with Russia.
“It is not an exercise about war with Russia,” a Defence Ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti on Monday.
The drills are an annual event testing the army’s capability “to deploy and support an armored force of up to 30,000 troops anywhere in the world,” he said. London is not “preparing to go to war with Russia,” he concluded.
In January, around 80 military vehicles were sent from the UK, bound for the Jordanian port of Aqaba. More than 300 will be used in total. The exercise will be held in the southwestern desert area of the country, while troops from three UK divisions will be taking part.
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WikiLeaks ‘waiting for official confirmation’ after reports UN ruled in Assange’s favor (VIDEO)
WikiLeaks ‘waiting for official confirmation’ after reports UN ruled in Assange’s favor (VIDEO)
© TF1 / AFP
WikiLeaks said it is “waiting for official confirmation” after the Swedish Foreign Ministry and the BBC reported that a UN panel has ruled the arbitrary detention of Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London is illegal.
The UN working group has “made the judgment that Assange has been arbitrarily detained in contravention of international commitments,” a spokeswoman for the Swedish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
Assange earlier said in case of a favorable decision he expects “the immediate return” of his passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest him.
The UN, however, neither confirmed nor denied to RT that the panel has ruled on Assange’s illegal detention.
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New transatlantic data transfer deal sealed with ‘written assurances’ of US spying limitations
New transatlantic data transfer deal sealed with ‘written assurances’ of US spying limitations
The US and the EU have agreed on new rules for sharing personal data across the Atlantic that will allegedly better protect Europeans’ privacy from US intelligence agencies after the previous Safe Harbour mechanism was deemed inadequate.
“We have agreed with our US partners a new framework that will ensure the right checks and balances for our citizens,” said digital commissioner Andrus Ansip at a press conference in Strasbourg. The vital deal, called the ‘Privacy Shield’ was reached months after the so-called Safe Harbour agreement was annulled by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in October last year.
The new “Privacy Shield”, the EU Commission believes, abides by the ECJ requirements to ensure stronger obligations that American companies, such as Facebook and Google, protect the personal data of Europeans. The new framework is expected to be in place in three months.
“The US side has clarified that they do not carry out indiscriminate mass surveillance of Europeans,” said Ansip, claiming that the US intelligence activities underwent “substantial internal reviews.” Furthermore, the American side has provided written assurances ruling out indiscriminate mass surveillance of personal data.
“We have for the first time received detailed written assurances from the United States on the safeguards and limitations applicable to US surveillance programs,” noted Ansip.
According to justice commissioner Vera Jourova, written assurances would include guarantees from the office of the director of national intelligence in the White House.
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Thousands march to protest state of emergency in France
Thousands march to protest state of emergency in France
Thousands of people marched in 70 French cities, including Paris, to demand immediate action to stop France’s ongoing state of emergency and openly voice outrage over government plans to revoke the French citizenship of dual nationals, many of them Muslims, convicted of terrorism.
Up to 20,000 protesters – many of them members of human rights groups, political parties and trade unions – took part in a peaceful protest in Paris on Saturday, RTL reported the organizers as saying.
According to police estimates, some 5,500 people gathered in the heart of the French capital, between Place de la République and the Palais-Royal, holding banners that read: “State of emergency, police state” and “My France of liberties, where are you?”
“I am here to protest against the state of emergency and against the deprivation of nationality for dual nationals. That’s important because we saw a lot of drifts during the state of emergency, some rallies were prohibited, some people were arrested just for protesting peacefully. That shocks me,” one activist told RT’s Ruptly video agency.
“The state is allowing itself to take absolutely catastrophic decisions for the life and future of liberty of France,” Youssef Boussoumah, member of the Indigenes de la Republique party, said.
One woman at the Paris rally, referring to Islamic State, told RTL: “The state of emergency is until when? The end of Daesh? 10 years? Never?”
Another participant, Grenut Louise, a student, told Le Monde:”They impose this state of emergency on us by pure political calculation, the government has no other card to play, except for the security-related one.”
“It is cynical to play on our fears to impose this state of permanent exception when we already have laws and means to fight terrorism,” she added.
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Austria suspends Schengen agreement, steps up border control, tells EU to sort out migrant crisis
Austria suspends Schengen agreement, steps up border control, tells EU to sort out migrant crisis
Vienna is radically changing its policy towards migrants and refugees, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann told local media. Faymann said that with the new measures introduced at Austria’s borders, the existence of “the whole EU is in question.”
“All refugees must be controlled, economic migrants must be sent to the countries of their origin,” Faymann said in an interview with Austria’s Oesterreich newspaper, to be published on Sunday.
The government is implementing a strict monitoring system for asylum seekers, the chancellor said, adding that, just like in neighboring Germany, its border controls are being tightened, and repatriations of refugees are carried out.
“Anyone who arrives at our border is subject to control,” Faymann said. A valid identity card will now have to be provided to authorities, and those who do not have a right to asylum or have been already rejected by Germany will be denied entry, as will those who don’t intend to apply for refugee status in Austria.
Consequently, the Schengen agreement on open borders is “temporarily cancelled” in Austria, the chancellor said.
“If the EU does not manage to secure the external borders, Schengen as a whole is put into question…Then each country must control its national borders,” Faymann told the newspaper, adding that if the bloc’s external borders are not secured in the near future, “the whole EU [will be] in question.”
“So far, the Schengen agreement does make provision for what they call exceptional measures. So this doesn’t mean that de jure there is yet a complete collapse of the Schengen. What it does mean is that we are seeing the beginning of a de facto collapse,” William Mallinson, a writer and former British diplomat told RT. “If this continues, Schengen will actually die,” he added.
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‘West using Madaya, humanitarian crisis in Syria to undermine peace talks’ – Russian dep envoy to UN
‘West using Madaya, humanitarian crisis in Syria to undermine peace talks’ – Russian dep envoy to UN
The West is attempting to derail the upcoming Syrian peace talks by using the humanitarian blockade of besieged cities as an “unscrupulous tactic,” Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN told the Security Council.
“It looks like that, under the pretext of the deterioration of the situation in besieged cities, attempts are being made to undermine the launch of the inter-Syrian dialogue scheduled for January 25,” Vladimir Safronkov told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
Britain, France and the US requested the urgent talks after reports from Madaya revealed the direness of the situation in the Syrian city of 42,000 following months of blockade.
‘Starvation as a weapon is a war crime’ UN head blasts warring sides in Syria http://on.rt.com/71uy
Chomsky hits back at Erdogan, accuses him of aiding terrorists
Chomsky hits back at Erdogan, accuses him of aiding terrorists
Prominent US linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky has lashed out at Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who has accused him of being “dark” and having “mentality of colonialism” for signing an open letter protesting Ankara’s military op against the Kurds.
The spat was provoked by an open letter to Turkey’s leader signed by some 1,128 Turkish and foreign academics from 89 universities around the world, including Noam Chomsky and Immanuel Wallerstein. It was published last month under the title: “We won’t be a part of this crime.”
The academics’ criticism of Ankara’s military operation in Turkey’s Kurdish southeast infuriated Erdogan, who lashed out at Chomsky in particular.
Turkey blockades Syrian Kurdish areas surrounded by ISIS (EXCLUSIVE) http://on.rt.com/71pl @MuradoRT
“Let our ambassador from the United States invite Chomsky, who has made statements about Turkey’s operations against the terrorist organization,” Erdogan said at the 8th annual conference of the Turkish ambassadors that started on Monday. He offered to “host” Chomsky in the Kurdish region.
“If I decide to go to Turkey, it will not be on his invitation, but as frequently before at the invitation of the many courageous dissidents, including Kurds who have been under severe attack for many years,” Chomsky told the Guardian via e-mail in response to Erdogan’s proposal.
The philosopher also accused the Turkish leader of hypocrisy and applying double standards to terrorism, as well as openly aiding terrorist organizations.
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‘We can’t close, people need bread’: Syrians tell RT how they cope with Damascus blackouts
‘We can’t close, people need bread’: Syrians tell RT how they cope with Damascus blackouts
In the grip of war, Syrians have been coming up with ways to power the country. Damascus has been rationing electricity, while residents must resort to additional tricks to make it last, as RT’s Murad Gazdiev found out.
Without items such as truck battery packs and other tricks, people would have to choose between lighting the Christmas tree, watching television and heating a meal.
Generators also prove a lifesaver during lengthy blackouts, when an entire part of the Syrian capital has to go without electricity as they wait their turn. “We get power for two hours, then it’s cut for four,”Eva, a Damascus resident, told RT.
“We heard the rebels blew up gas and oil pipelines to power plants, which explains the electricity shortage,” she added.
Although the cuts are scheduled, there is no guarantee things will work like clockwork.
The loud roar of generators can be heard practically all over Damascus, as businesses continue working so life can go on as normal. But not everyone has access to a costly generator, which requires fuel, oil and other items.
However, as business owner Ibrahim says, “We can’t close. We have to feed the people, to make bread and other things. You have to continue to work, you can’t stop!”
Syria has been torn apart by the violent conflict for almost five years, with more than 250,000 people killed, according to UN estimates. The humanitarian crisis has internally displaced more than 6.5 million Syrians and forced 4.3 million to flee the country. They have sought refuge in neighboring countries and Europe.
Belgian nuclear plant’s reactor shuts down days after reboot
Belgian nuclear plant’s reactor shuts down days after reboot
Belgium’s Doel nuclear reactor went offline on Saturday, after it was restarted just three days ago, the plant’s spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Germany has stepped up criticism on operational safety of its neighbor’s aging nuclear facilities.
Doel 1 nuclear reactor, located in northern Belgium, was taken offline automatically, RTL broadcaster quoted the communications manager Els De Clercq as saying.
At this point there is no safety risk, AFP reported, citing power utility company Electrabel, which operates the plant.
“Doel 1 automatically shut down at 6:00 pm,” AFP reported a spokeswoman for Electrabel as saying. “Everything went according to procedure. There was no impact on safety, and no impact on staff, local residents and the environment.”
Electrabel added that the reactor went offline due to “normal safety mechanism,” so it can restart safely.
The Doel 1 reactor was rebooted Wednesday, after getting shut down in February, as the country tried to cut its reliance on nuclear power.
Belgium decided to extend the lives of the aging Doel 1 and Doel 2 reactors until 2025, both of which are 40 years old. Widespread power blackouts was one of the main reason behind the extension.
READ MORE: Belgium’s nuclear power plants ‘falling to bits’ – German officials
Meanwhile, Germany, which is also eliminating the use of nuclear power, has been raising red flags over possible environmental consequences, arguing that it is too dangerous to keep the Doel reactors going.
The German government said it is preparing “critical questions” to the Belgian authorities on operational safety at the nation’s two active nuclear power plants. German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks has demanded Brussels scrap its nuclear energy program altogether.
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ISIS oil trucks cross into Turkey every day, captured terrorist admits
ISIS oil trucks cross into Turkey every day, captured terrorist admits
A captured Islamic State militant who spoke to Sputnik news agency has bolstered claims that Turkey is involved in illegal oil deals with the jihadist group up to the hilt.
24-year-old Mahmud Ghazi Tatar says he joined Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) from the Turkish city of Adiyaman. Together with other recruits, he was transported over the border into Syria where he received terrorist training.
Having taken part in the civil war in Syria, he was captured by Kurdish forces last June and is now imprisoned.
RT obtained interview footage with the captive from Sputnik news agency. In it, the former IS fighter reveals details about Turkey’s alleged oil links to the terror group.
“At the training camp in May 2015, our commander told us that the group sells fuel to Turkey. That income covers Islamic State’s costs. The oil trucks crossing into Turkey every day carry crude oil, as well as petrol,” Tatar said, adding that the Islamic group has “enough oil to last them a long time.”
URGENT: Russian intel spots 12,000 oil tankers & trucks on Turkey-Iraq border- General Staff http://on.rt.com/70d3
