AlJazeera News
0815 PM

Just over two weeks after stating that Turkey's military's presence in Qatar has no relation to an ongoing Gulf crisis, Bahrain's foreign minister appears to have performed a complete u-turn.

Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa on Monday accused Qatar of creating a "military escalation" in the regional diplomatic dispute, in an apparent reference to the long-planned deployment of Turkish troops in Qatar's capital, Doha, in recent days.

"The disagreement with Qatar is a political and security dispute and has never been military," the Bahraini foreign minister said on Twitter.

"But the deployment of foreign troops with their armoured vehicles is a military escalation for which Qatar will bear the consequences."

Yet, these remarks contradicted previous statements made by Khalifa during a visit to Turkey in June 10, three days after Turkey's parliament fast-tracked the approval of a 2016 agreement with Qatar that allowed troops to be deployed to a Turkish military base in the Gulf state.

"This base has been established … to protect the countries in the region from threats that might emerge. It has nothing to do what is going on between us and Qatar," Khalifa said at the time during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, according to Turkey's state-run media.

For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in the news conference that no country in the Gulf region should regard the deal about Turkey's base in Qatar as against itself.

He also stressed that the setting up of the base was aimed at contributing to the security and stability of all Gulf countries - a statement welcomed by Bahrain's foreign minister.

[The Turkish foreign minister] stressed that this base has been set up in order to protect the security and stability of the GCC countries and will not be used against anyone," Khalifa told reporters at the same press briefing. "We are pleased with this statement," he added.

Doha
26 June 2017
(AlJazeera News)
0620 PM

Over two decades ago, Al Jazeera Arabic was launched with a simple mission: To provide reliable information to viewers across the Arab world. Ten years later, in 2006, Al Jazeera English began broadcasting, with the same mission - to provide people around the world with accurate, balanced and impartial information.

When Al Jazeera Arabic went on air in 1996, it was unique in the Arab world. Most media in the region at the time were state controlled and often unchallenged mouthpieces for the different rulers and governments in the region. Al Jazeera was different, a truly independent voice, with a mission to hear and report the human stories that were otherwise ignored; to cover events with balance and integrity; and to hold power to account.

Al Jazeera Arabic quickly gained a huge and loyal audience across the region. The information we provided became a lifeline to millions of people who wanted to know what was really going on around them.

Al Jazeera Arabic has remained the most watched news channel in the Arab world throughout its history. Al Jazeera Arabic channel has more viewers than the combined total of our main competitors.

Al Jazeera English is seen in over 130 countries around the world, and is watched by tens of millions of people who respect our journalism.

The global audiences are loyal to the Al Jazeera brand because of our continuous commitment to journalism; our dedication to covering their stories impartially; and our determination to tell stories with no agenda and with total integrity.

We at Al Jazeera believe in our mission: People have a right to be informed. They have a right to get news that is not controlled by the narrative of authorities.

They have a right to know what is going on in their world. Equally, people have a right to have a voice. To have their stories told when they deserve and need to be heard.

Freedom of speech - and the freedom for journalists to carry out their responsibilities - may be an accepted norm in many parts of the world, but it is a right, which is so often challenged for political gain in parts of the Arab world.

The right to be informed by reliable information is one of the foundations of a healthy society.

'Voice for the voiceless'

Throughout our long history, we have remained resolute in our commitment to storytelling, to balanced journalism, and to finding and covering stories. We have given a voice to the voiceless. We have shone a spotlight on the people and stories that would otherwise have remained in the dark. And we've always done so with responsibility and integrity.

Journalists from all regions of the world have joined Al Jazeera because they believe in the mission of good journalism, and the responsibility that goes with it. Every day we cover stories from around the Arab world, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America.

We have over 3,000 staff, who are among the most talented and diverse in the world. Their commitment makes Al Jazeera what it is today.

We have bureaus in over seventy locations around the globe, including our headquarters in Doha and broadcast centres in London and Washington DC, staffed by journalists whose courage and work ethic is unwavering

They report on events first-hand. They report with integrity. They carry out their jobs with passion, and with responsibility. Their commitment to hear the voices of those caught up in events is available for all to see.

Our staff are our "fabric". They ensure our journalism is of the highest quality, is impartial, and has integrity.

Our millions of viewers are a testament to the quality of our work. Every minute of every day, in tens of countries, on every distribution platform, millions of people choose Al Jazeera as their source of information.

If we did not have integrity, if we were not reliable, our audience are intelligent enough to judge and, they would switch us off. And for over 20 years, they have remained loyal to Al Jazeera, and we have always remained loyal to them and true to their demands for information.

We have been accused of bias, of catalysing the Arab Spring, of having an agenda, and of favouring one group over another. We reject these allegations and our screens are a testament to our integrity.

All our coverage is on show online and on TV for anyone to see and scrutinise. By covering events like the Arab Spring, we don't create those events. And as is the role of good journalism, we don't take sides, instead, we hold the powerful to account for the decisions they make.

Muzzling Al Jazeera

We were once accused of bias because Al Jazeera Arabic was the first Arabic channel to have Israeli politicians and commentators on the air. But what we were doing was ensuring we heard and challenged all relevant voices in a quest for good journalism.

We were accused of extremism when we interviewed members of the Taliban, but in fact we were asking the hard questions and ensuring we were challenging all sides of the story.

We defend the freedom of expression and believe in peoples' right to knowledge. We take no sides, we are no one’s messenger or spokesperson and we never have been.

Al Jazeera - like all credible media organisations - has been challenged throughout its history. We have been criticised because our journalism shows what is really going on, and sometimes governments, corporations or individuals don’t want what they are doing to be seen.

Our offices have been closed in the past by certain countries who didn’t want the truth to be seen. Most recently by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

The satellite TV and online signals distributing our channels have been blocked by governments to prevent their people seeing our content.

Al Jazeera's staff have been threatened, locked up, and tragically killed as a consequence of carrying out their duties as journalists. Our colleagues in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere have paid the ultimate price while doing their jobs.

We have also reported about critical and perhaps embarrassing issues in Qatar when they arose, including the plight of workers on construction sites and accusations of rights violations.

We have covered stories that have been attacked by Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia because we showed what was really going on.

Egypt not only attacked Al Jazeera for its coverage, but also, shockingly, imprisoned and sentenced our colleagues, whose only crime was their commitment to great journalism.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE may silence their own media and their own people's freedom to speak out, but because Al Jazeera is watched by so many people in the Arab world, they want us gone.

Reliable journalism

Despite the pressure being exerted on Al Jazeera by these countries, and their calls for our closure, we have covered the region and events with balance and with impartiality, and we will continue to do so.

We are a network, which exists to cover all peoples; to hear human stories from all corners of the world; and to ensure our information stands up to scrutiny in every country and by every person who watches or reads our news.

The attempt to silence Al Jazeera is an attempt to silence independent journalism in the region, and to challenge everyone's freedom to be heard and to be informed. This must not be allowed to happen.

We are deeply proud of our journalism. We respect - and give thanks to - everyone we report about, and everyone we inform.

We remain resolute in carrying out our responsibility of providing reliable information, and giving those we cover a voice.

We are unwavering in our resolve to continue doing so, and we will proceed to tell the stories of the world from Kabul to Caracas and from Mosul to Sydney.

We will continue to do our job with integrity. We will continue to be courageous in the pursuit of the truth. And we will continue to respect people’s rights to be heard.

Manila
24 June 201
(PNA)

President Rodrigo Duterte joined the Muslim community on Sunday in celebrating Eid'l Fitr calling all Filipinos to unite as the country faces pressing challenges.



As Muslims journey towards spiritual purification through a month-long fasting, the President reminded the Muslim Filipino community to thank Allah. 

"On this special day, remember to thank Allah for bestowing upon you the resolve, courage and fortitude to obey His commandments during the blessed month of Ramadhan," Duterte said in his message for the annual Eid'l Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan or the Islamic holy month of fasting.



"May this renewed sense of spiritual accomplishment give you the strength and courage to cultivate our communities. In times when all odds seem stacked against us, it is our willpower and faith that will always see us through," he added.



At the same time, the President called on Muslim Filipinos to channel their energies towards fostering national unity stressing that dedicating their lives to the betterment of humanity is the best way to demonstrate their devotion to God.

"Together, let us work towards building a society that is grounded on love, mutual respect and understanding. May this special day bring happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone. Eid Mubarak!" he ended.

Meanwhile, a Palace official said the imposition of an eight-hour humanitarian ceasefire to observe Eid’l Fitr in Marawi City is a show of solidarity to all Muslims.


"This humanitarian ceasefire on part of the military and the government underscores our solidarity with our Muslim brethren as they celebrate the end of Ramadan," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.



"It is a sincere gesture which shows respect to the Muslim faith and acknowledges our cultural diversity of our society," he added.

Abella, however, said the ceasefire may be lifted if the terrorists pose danger to government soldiers and civilians.



"The halt in military offensive operations, however, would be lifted if any of these conditions become evident: (1) the security of government forces is in jeopardy; (2) there is threat to the safety of civilians; and (3) if the enemy starts firing and our troops as well as other authorities have no recourse but to exercise the right to self-defense," he said.



The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has declared an eight-hour pause in military operations beginning today, June 25, from 6 a.m. to 2.p.m., in Marawi City in observance of Eid’l Fitr.



Also, Abella said the Philippine Navy has deployed BRP Davao del Sur in Cotabato to aid military operations in the ongoing offensive in Marawi City.



"BRP Davao del Sur will greatly assist in our military operations in quelling the rebellion in Marawi. Apart from delivering military supplies and relief goods, the vessel will be utilized as a back-up floating medical facility to treat the wounded," Abella said.

He added that BRP Davao del Sur is also ready to provide the support required once the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and rebuilding of Marawi begins.

It happened at about 09:14 BST outside Westgate Sports Centre where an event was taking place to celebrate Eid.
One of the children is said to have been critically injured. Northumbria Police said the incident was not believed to be terrorism-related.

A 42-year-old woman was arrested and is in custody, police said.

No-one else was being sought and extra patrols were in the area to reassure communities, police said.
Hundreds of people were at the event to mark the end of Ramadan.

One eyewitness said: "From what I understand, [a woman who had been at prayer] was about to leave in her car and I believe she lost control.

"I ran up straight away because everyone was moving in on all the injured, trying to put water in their mouths.
"The parents of the kids were there, I had to sort of try and calm them down just to tell them the ambulance is there and they will take care of it; they know what they're doing.

'Mounted kerb'

"It caused a lot of panic; everyone was screaming when it happened, it wasn't the best of experiences."
A North East Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We received our first 999 call at 9.15 this morning to report a car that had mounted the kerb.

"We have taken six people to hospital; they have gone to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle; three children and three adults."

Emergency services included six ambulances, two paramedic rapid response vehicles and the air ambulance.

Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, tweeted: "So sad, I was at the prayers earlier & there were so much joy & unity. Thinking of those affected by what I am told was terrible accident."

'Everyone locked arms' - medical student Ahmad Ali

"We were here for Eid. Everyone had just finished praying. The Imam had finished his speech and everyone was talking to their families and getting some food.

"The we heard a commotion and screaming. "I ran up to the hill. A man got out of the passenger side. He seemed distraught. "Someone was trapped under the car and then everyone just pushed the car so they were free.

"They were two children there, one of them - he was a boy about eight - was really badly injured, "There were about five doctors there so he had a lot of medical attention. We checked to see he had a pulse.

"Everyone locked arms so there was a ring of locked arms around the injured people so they had space and the ambulances could get to them.

"Everyone was distraught. I am very grateful it's not an attack. It's very shocking to see a child injured like that. We are all hoping that he is fine, I just want to hear that."

'Heard screaming' - Dr Afsar Madathil

"I was at a car park when I heard screaming so I ran towards the community college just a couple of minutes from me.

"When I went over I saw that there was a very young teenager covered in blood; another very young teenager also looked injured.

"There was a middle-aged man outside the community college with facial injuries and blood all over his face. "The police were already at the scene. I had seen them earlier as they were there watching the prayers. "The police put the driver of the car in the back of the police van...

"When I spoke to people at the scene that had seen what happened they said that she was exiting a car park and suddenly accelerated into a crowd of people.

"I was with a few other doctors that came to help but the police and paramedics were very quick and did not need our help.

"The Mayor of Newcastle was also there earlier for Eid celebrations."

United Kingdom
25 June 2017

Having considered giving up his title, he finally decided he should remain and "work out a role for myself".
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, the prince - who is fifth in line to the throne - said being in the Army was "the best escape I've ever had".

And he said the royals "don't want to be just a bunch of celebrities but instead use our role for good".
Harry, 32, spent 10 years in the Army, serving twice in Afghanistan.

He had to leave when his presence there was revealed by the press in 2007.

"I felt very resentful. Being in the Army was the best escape I've ever had. I felt as though I was really achieving something.

"I have a deep understanding of all sorts of people from different backgrounds and felt I was part of a team."

He has since been closely involved with charity work, including supporting wounded veterans and mental health groups.

"We are incredibly passionate with our charities and they have been chosen because they are on the path shown to me by our mother," he said.

"I love charity stuff and meeting people."Last week Newsweek magazine published an interview with the prince in which he said no one in the Royal Family wanted the throne.

"We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people," he said.

"Is there any one of the Royal Family who wants to be king or queen? I don't think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time."

Harry has also said he has thought about the future direction of the Royal Family.

"We want to make sure the monarchy lasts and are passionate about what it stands for.

"But it can't go on as it has done under the Queen. There will be changes and pressure to get them right.

"Things are moving so fast, especially because of social media, so we are involved in modernising the monarchy."

Istanbul
25 June 2017
(Anadolu News)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday demands by Saudi Arabia and three other nations are "an attack to Qatar's sovereignty right”.

He said Turkey can “appreciate and embrace' Qatar's stance against the 13-article demand by Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

"We consider these demands are against international law," Erdogan told journalists after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Istanbul. "It is a breach of Qatar's sovereignty rights."

Qatar said early Saturday it received the list of demands to be met to end a blockade against the Gulf state but they were "not reasonable" and "actionable".

The demands include the closure of Al Jazeera television network, downgrading ties with Iran and extraditing "terrorists", according to reports.

The four countries have given Doha a 10-day deadline to meet the demands.

Erdogan also rejected a demand from Arab states to shut down its military base in Qatar, saying demanding Turkey's military withdrawal is also "a disrespect" towards the country.

"Should we get permission when we make a defense cooperation agreement with any country? No offense but Turkey is not such an ordinary country [that will ask for permission]," Turkish President said.

On June 23, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik had told a local broadcaster that the base in Qatar supporting the security and stability of Gulf countries, and any call to shut the base acts as interference in Turkey's ties with Qatar.

Earlier in June, Turkey's parliament voted to deploy more troops to the base and approved the training of Qatari forces by Turkish gendarmeries following the cutting of ties with Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen.

The five Arab countries accused it of supporting terrorism.

Doha, for its part, strenuously denies accusations that it supports terrorism, describing the attempts to isolate it as “unjustified”.

Bahawalpur, Pakistan
25 June 2017
Pakistani Media

At least 140 people were burnt alive and dozens injured when an oil tanker caught fire and exploded near Bahawalpur where a large number of people had gathered to collect petrol from the overturned tanker, rescue services said.

According to details, people from nearby areas were collecting fuel from the oil tanker which had skidded off the national highway and overturned in Ahmed Pur Sharqia on Sunday morning. A large number of motorcycles and vehicles can be seen burnt in the huge fire.

The injured were moved to Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital and other health facilities. The death toll may rise as the affected are said to be in critical condition.

Pakistan
23 June 2017
Daily The Nation/
AlJazeera News

At least 10 people were killed when multiple blasts hit Parachinar, political administration of the area said, hours after blast killed 13 in Quetta.

The explosions were reported to have occurred near a densely populated area that also houses markets, Waqt News reported.

Forty people have reportedly been injured in Parachanar.

Earlier this morning, at least 12 people have been killed and 14 wounded in a suicide car bomb attack near the provincial police chief’s office in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, police officials told Al Jazeera. It targeted a police checkpost near a complex that is housing the Balochistan police chief's office, local police officer Muhammad Akbar said.

At least six police officers were among those killed, Ali Mardan, a senior police officer, told Al Jazeera.

Initial reports indicated a vehicle approached the checkpost and explosives were set off when the driver of the vehicle was stopped by the police, provincial government spokesperson Anwar ul Haq Kakar told local television channel Geo News.

"At 8:45am (03:45 GMT), there was an old car, a Toyota Corolla ... that came here near the [police chief’s] office and it was stopped by the police personnel. That is when the blast took place," he said.

"There was no exchange of fire, but it's possible that law-enforcement personnel may have fired into the air."

Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistan Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement sent out its spokesperson Asad Mansoor.

Altaf Hussain, local police official, said: "Some of the wounded are still in critical condition. Most are police personnel, as well as a traffic warden."

"It was a suicide attack. They came to the intersection and then blew themselves up there," said Hussain.

Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said the IG's office was the likely target of the attack.

"The attack took place in the red zone, close to the IG's office as well as the State Bank of Pakistan," he said.

"Authorities are saying the IG's office could've been the target."

23 June 2017
Reuters

Eight Emirati princesses were convicted of human trafficking by a Belgian court on Friday and were given suspended jail terms and fines in a case stemming from their treatment of servants at a Brussels luxury hotel nearly 10 years ago, their lawyer said.

The Brussels criminal court handed the eight women from Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family 15-month suspended sentences for human trafficking and degrading treatment, the lawyer, Stephen Monod, said.

He said the defense was pleased the case was finally resolved after nearly a decade.

"Belgian justice has appropriately assessed this case which has generated many misconceptions," he said in a statement.

The defendants were acquitted of the more serious charge of inhuman treatment but also ordered to pay a fine of 165,000 euros ($184,000), with half the sum suspended.

The eight accused did not appear in court throughout the proceedings.

The case was brought after a servant of the family slipped out of the hotel where the women stayed for several months in 2007 and 2008 and complained to Belgian police.

Istanbul, Turkey
23 June 2017
Reuters

Turkey rejected a call from four Arab states on Friday to shut down its military base in Qatar, saying the base was a guarantor of security in the Gulf and demands for its closure represented interference in its ties with Doha.

Defense Minister Fikri Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV that he had not yet seen a request for the closure of the base, but made clear Ankara had no plans to review a 2014 agreement with Qatar which led to it being set up.

He was speaking after an official from one of the four Arab states boycotting Qatar over alleged support for terrorism said they had sent Doha a list of 13 demands including closing down the military installation.

"If there is such a demand, it will mean interference in bilateral ties," Isik said, suggesting instead that Turkey might continue to bolster its presence in Qatar.

Five armored vehicles and 23 military personnel arrived in Doha on Thursday in a deployment Turkey's armed forces said was part of a military training and cooperation deal. Some 88 Turkish soldiers were already in Qatar, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.

The newspaper said a joint exercise by Turkish and Qatari forces was expected following the Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday which starts on Sunday, and the number of Turkish soldiers sent to the Gulf state could eventually reach 1,000. An air force contingent was also envisaged, it said.

"The strengthening of the Turkish base would be a positive step in terms of the Gulf's security," Isik said. "Re-evaluating the base agreement with Qatar is not on our agenda."

Turkey, which has long tried to play the role of regional mediator, is also wary of upsetting its other allies in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, and Isik said Ankara had hoped that tensions over Qatar could be resolved without a crisis.

Isik said Turkey's presence in Qatar should be seen as a benefit for the whole Gulf. "The base in Qatar is both a Turkish base and one that will preserve the security of Qatar and the region," he said.

Turkey's military support for Qatar has been matched by stepped up commercial links.

Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said Turkish exports to Qatar have tripled since the four Arab countries began boycotting the Gulf state earlier this month.

"Since June 5 exports to Qatar have amounted to $32.5 million. Of this $12.5 million is food. This figure is three times the normal level," Tufenkci told reporters at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner on Thursday evening.

Turkey has sent more than 100 cargo planes of supplies to Qatar but Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has said it was not sustainable to maintain supplies through an air lift.