Week in Review: Dubai assassination, Afghanistan offensive
In our weekly wrap-up of the week's top stories, James Rubin, an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, joins Martin Savidge to discuss the implications of the killing in Dubai and the NATO offensive in Afghanistan.
Providing hope for troubled youth in Israel
Worldfocus associate producer Mohammad Al-Kassim traveled to Israel last December. He filmed at the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village, where he found a diverse group of at-risk young people reinventing themselves through their studies.
More allegations emerge about 26 suspects in Hamas hit
Australia's foreign minister has summoned Israel's ambassador, expressing concern about the alleged use of Australian passports by several of the 26 suspects identified by Dubai officials as being part of the ring that carried out the assassination of a Hamas militant last month.
Turkish government arrests alleged coup conspirators
On Monday, the Turkish government arrested 51 high ranking military officers who were allegedly part of a plot to overthrow the democratically elected, Islamist-leaning government. Martin Savidge speaks with Dr. Ömer Taşpınar, the director of the Turkey Project at the Brookings Institution, for insight into the issue.
The Turkish military under the ‘sledgehammer’
Worldfocus producer Gizem Yarbil, who grew up in Turkey, shares her opinion about the recent detention of several high-profile Turkish military commanders. She argues it raises troubling questions about the role of the military in Turkey.
Shopping for Syrian merchandise in Damascene bazaars
Cari Machet is a multimedia producer who has traveled extensively in the Middle East. Look at a slideshow of what she found on a recent trip to bazaars in Syria's capital city, including political merchandise that makes U.S. politicians look restrained.
Weekly W. Bank protest in Bil’in celebrates 5th anniversary
Every Friday since 2005, Palestinian protesters have rallied in the town of Bil’in against the barrier erected by the Israeli government that effectively cuts off Palestinians there from their agricultural land. Last Friday, the fifth anniversary of the Bil'in demonstrations, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad joined 1,000 marchers. Read different perspectives on the protests.
New info surfaces about Iran nukes and dissent crackdown
Citing intelligence from the U.S., Israel and other countries, the IAEA said new information "raises concerns." France and Germany have threatened new sanctions against Iran. In recent months, Iran has been strongly criticized for a growing dissent crackdown. For more on where Iran is headed, Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Karim Sadjadpour.
NATO’s new Afghanistan strategy focuses on Marjah
This week, NATO launched a large operation to take the Taliban-controlled town of Marjah, as part of its new counter-insurgency strategy. NATO hopes to wipe out the Taliban presence in this part of Helmand province, clearing the way for the Afghan government to take control. Daljit Dhaliwal interviews Marvin Weinbaum, and James Bays of Al Jazeera English has more.
Mahmoud al-Mabhouh assassins leave trail of clues
There remains considerable mystery over why the Palestinian militant was targeted and over Mossad's alleged involvement. The traces left an uncharacteristically amateurish trail for a killing by the Israeli intelligence service. For more, Daljit Dhaliwal interviews David Schenker, director of the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
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