this is an area where they are active, the p.k.k. it's 30 kilometers from the city and many towns are subject to strict curfews since the two year ceasefire with the p.k.k. collapsed last july. the situation there is very tense, indeed and this, a very vivid illustration of just how much of a threat in security terms the turkish government faces in the aftermath of the attack here in the center of istanbul by islamic state. >>> more than 40,000 people have died since the p.k.k. launch would its insurgency in turkey in the 1980's. >>> this morning, the obama administration is looking into whether 10 u.s. sailors released by iran were treated inappropriately. they had mechanical issues. they were released in less then a day. the sailors exam show they were treated well, but looking closer at videos released by iran to make sure that was the case. >>> the security is considering a case involving $2 billion in iranian funds in the 1983 bombing of u.s. marine barracks in beirut. relatives of hundreds of marines say that money is theirs. ir

on the one hand, turkey, the fight against the p.k.k. especially since the p.k.k. decided to bring the fight into turkey into your ban centers and also there is another fight going on against isis. i think the turkish government is trying to go for a package deal, including both p.k.k. and isis, but the caveat with this is that of the capacity. in the end, the isis is not like p.k.k., which is much more a conventional challenge, where as isis seems to be much more an unconventional challenge. the turkish government and security forces have a significant challenge and given the fact turkey is neighboring one civil war and one failed state, and bolt of these creates security challenges for turkey in a very severe way. >> thank you very much indeed for talking to us. >>> the u.n.'s humanitarian cheech said 400 people must be brought out of ma day. >> immediately for life-saving treatment. he made the call as food and medicines finally reach three besieged towns. an aid convoy arrived monday. supplies have been delivered to the pro government villages. opposition group

all the hallmarks are there, this is an area where they are active, the p.k.k. it's 30km from the city, and many of the towns are subject to strict curfews, sense the ceasefire, the 2-year ceasefire with the p.k.k. collapsed in july. the situation there is tense, and this, a vivid illustration of how much of a threat in security terms the turkish government faces in the aftermath of the attack here in the center of istanbul, by islamic state. >> french fighter jets pounded an i.s.i.l. communication centers in mosul as part of a string of u.s.-led air strikes, a curfew has been imposed in the iraqi city of tikrit after battles between security forces and i.s.i.l. fighters. >>> tunisians are marking five years since the overthrow of the leader ben ali, the first leader to fall in what was knowns as the arab spring. he fled unable to calm fears about unemployment, poverty and corruption. we do no tunis and hashem ahelbarra, and he explains the challenges. >> reporter: this is the square, five years ago it was the focal point of the pro-democracy movement that spread

this is an area where they are active, the p.k.k. it's 30 kilometers from the city and many are subject to strict curfews since the two year ceasefire with the p.k.k. collapsed last july. the situation there is very tense, indeed and this, a very vivid illustration of just how much of a threat in security terms the turkish government faces in the aftermath of the attack here in the center of istanbul by islamic state. >>> the end of the ebola outbreak in liberia, but many live with the after effects. the me men who in 16 rated the bodies are forced together to live. >> this is what you the left of the county, a place that turns to great reluctance. as bodies were piling up in the streets from ebola, they did what few liberians had done before, they set fire to the dead. for four months, they burned close to 2,000 bodies. >> many continue to blame them for cremating the dead. international experts recommended cremation to stop the spread of ebola. in this nation, liberians believe the dead will come back to haunt the living if they are

strong holds, in northern iraq, because at happen point, the p.k.k. s a direct national security threat. daesh was not a direct threat until they started blowing up targets in turkey. turkey is an important part of the coalition against daesh. they are not targeting curds in syria, i have to make that very clear. and they have targeted different positions of p.k.k. in northern iraq. but the majority of the -- hello, can you hear me? >> yes, i can. >> because i have lost -- okay, sorry. but the majority of the flights that are taking off in the coalition air strikes against daesh in h syria, are taking off from the air base. so turkey is part and parcel a a very important part and parcel of this coalition. >> we were hearing from our correspondent earlier this hour, that the turkish authorities suspect that the bomber is a saudi citizen, who actually passed into turkey from syria, and claimed that he was a syrian refuge. now there's been a lot of issuers turkey has a lot of issues the fact that there are so many thousands of syrians camped on the order

now, the turkish government is blaming squarely the p.k.k., the kurdistan workers party. this is a region in the south-east. 30km from. the center for turkish government from the kurds, and now the p.k.k. which had a ceasefire in place in yule, it break apart. it is a burgeoning problem, and a bloodthirsty flight in many areas, and this attack was - appears to be a coordinated - attempt at an accord nation in timing by the p.k.k. on another security force bloc. and media apps. another province, where there were no casualties there, and a prolonged missile attack. rocket attack on the headquarters, and also small arms. >> thank you very much indeed. andrew simmonds reporting from istanbul. >> on to ethiopia, where 140 have been killed on a crack down on anti-government protests, the ruling party doomed with political unrest since it came to power 25 years ago. charles stratford reports >>> this woman's husband was arrested on december 23rdrd. she has not heard or seen from him. >> translation: in the past we have used false evidence. all the charges were false, and the wit

in response, the crowd shouted damn the p.k.k. asingly warlike rhetoric fueling the flames of the decades old conflicts. brent: an update on the huge trove of paintings discovered back in 2012 in a munich apartment, amassed by an art dealer that traded on works seized by the nazis. the commission was tasked with probing the backgrounds. many of them masterpieces. now it says only a handful were looted. >> max leberman's two riders on the beach, one of five art works that experts say were definitely expropriated from jewish owners. it took a special task force two years to gather the proof. >> for all of these artworks, we finalized the basic research. that involved comparing 15,000 databases and about 4,200 art publications. the final report meticulously lists the researchers' findings and the challenges they faced. in 2006, a search revealed than an art dealer had more than 1,000 art works at his house of unclear origin. the task force was then appointed but not able to answer all open questions. >> we have to work on this possibl

the authorities blame the p.k.k., the turkish government two year cease fire with a group fell apartast july. >> i strongly condemn the attack on a police station in our town last night. five civilians were killed and a police officer was martyred in the attack. 35 citizens were wounded including six police officers. >> the prime minister says the commitment to what he called counter terrorism remains steadfast. >> shows what turkey is still up against. and it comes lets than 48 hours after the isil attack right after the heart of the old city. in turkey right now, no one really feels easy. at al jazeera, in istanbul. >> north korea has defended the nuclear program. he told al jazeera that they need a strong nuclear deterrent to protect it against aggresses sos like the united states. conduct this one this time. in the future too, we will strengthen continuously strengthen the lucrative difference. and less the policies against the country. >> athletics world governing body the i.a.a.f. must have been aware of drugs cheating but did nothing to stop it. that's according to the second

we also face the p.k.k. terrorism, and we condition our security operation to fire the p.k.k. and terrorism. and recording this, we need to thank germany for the cooperation. the radical terrorist organization and d.a.e.s.h./i.s.i.l. as well have to be faced. and already arrested around 300 persons who are accused of their relations with terrorism. i need to make it well-known for you, 3,000 persons. 800 are in gaol. most of foreigners. that's why we need, as i said more cooperation with those exporting countries of fighters, we need to have more, to stop it across the borders and stop them arriving or reaching syria. and they say countries have to adopt necessary measures and take necessary steps to stop the terrorists. we thank germany for cooperating with us in this record. >> more than 35,000 people have been stopped because they are suspect, and they are prevented from entering turkey, and they belong to more than 120 countries. there are 387 of these people carry the nation altsy and the citizenship of germany. and we have also deported more than 2,800 person suspected o

as you know, turkey consider the pyd as the syrian wing of the p.k.k., considered by turkey as a terrorist organization and a separatist organization. on the ordinary hand the russians trying to include the pyd within the syrian opposition delegation. they control the negotiation within syria opposition team. here, because the pyd agenda, and agenda e are completely -- agenda are different issues. it doesn't call for them to step down. >> syria's pain opposition groups have been invited, but have not officially accepted. they say they are seeking clarification from the u.n. on a few points. >> translation: there are new things discussed you discussed all the time. we are not in riyadh to do nothing. we came to assess the issues despite the negative decision. this doesn't mean there's a tendency to go to a positive decision. discussions are ongoing, there's no disagreement with the old invitation which we consider to be negative, there are vague and mysterious points. discusses are ongoing. we shouldn't be quick to take a decision >>> the u.s. special representative for india is insisting o

turkey consider the pyd as the syrian ring of the p.k.k. which is considered as a terrorist organization and separatist organization. on the other hand the russians actually from trying to include the pyd within the syrian opposition delegation, they are trying to control the negotiation within syria opposition because the pyd agenda and the agenda of the others are completely different issues. the pyd doesn't call for bashar al-assad to step down. they have a completely different agenda >>> we understand why the turks wouldn't wanted the pyd to attend, but the syrian opposition as an alcohol, the pyd are, after all, an ally of the americans and are fighting again i.s.i.l. >> the opposition consider also the pyd as an ally of the regime because they fought against the syrian opposition factions on the frowned in north of aleppo and they have been fighting the opposition factions in north aleppo for the past few weeks with the support of russia too. the pyd is not only ally for america but ally for russia and iran and for the syrian regime. t

p.y.d., which is the political party and the y.p.g., which turkey describes as simply being like the p.k.k., which is outlawed in turkey. in syria, of course, they are allies of the u.s., the u.s. is happy to see them armed at the moment, and resisting islamic state. so that's another complication. there is also a situation whereby the opposition, syrian opposition want to see the russian air force stopping its attacks on civilian areas. they want to see the sieges of opposition areas lifted, and they also want to see detainees freed. now syria's mate quite clear it's not going to entertain those issues. really the situation i guess that these are the sort of things that you'd expect to have happen in the perimeter talks in geneva, which would open the sessions up. these issues will be on the table. these issues being discussed with shuttle diplomacy going on between the different groupings this is what they wants to, but getting them there is the big key. what the south carolina, the u.s. secretary of state john kerry has said is that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't force him

the military reports they were all members of the bands kurdistan workers party, or the p.k.k. three soldiers also died in the fighting. nearly 600 people have died since the military launched an offensive in the region a month ago. coming up in the program, the human toll of australia's offshore detention program for asylum seekers. plus south africans drink much more than any others in the nation. find out what the government intends to do about it. >>> >>> welcome back. a quick reminder of the top stories on al jazeera. the u.n. says the number of people living understand siege in syria has-- under siege in syria has increased to nearly half a million. the world food program has accused the regime from stopping aid from reaching the people. gbagbo and his former youth leader are appearing in the icc. 12 refugees have drowned off turkey. their boat sanctioned in the sea. -- sank off an island. many have died after risking the short but dangerous crossing. three more people have been arrested in oregon where armed protesters continued to occupy a refuge. seven were arrested on

absolutely angry about it because, as you know, turkey consider that the pyd as the syrian wing of the p.k.k. which is considered by turkey as a transition and a separatist organization. on the other hand the russians are trying to influence the pyd within the opposition delegation. they are trying to control the negotiation within the syrian opposition too because here, because the pyd agenda and the agenda of the bashar al-assad regime are different. the pyd doesn't call for bashar al-assad to step down >>> 25 iraqi security forces have been killed north of ramadi. i.s.i.l. is believed to have carried out the attack. in the united states five people, including the leader, of an armed militia occupying government property have been arrested. the authorities say shots were fired during the arrest in the state of oregon. at least one person was killed and another was injured. the group has been occupying a wildlife refuge near the city of burns since january 2. the take over the property began in support of two farmers ordered to go to jail for setting fire to government land. it later became

authorities blamed the kurdistan workers party, the p.k.k. the turkish government's peace party, but the group fell apart in july. strict curfews are in place in districts, sounds and cities across turkey. >> i strongly condemn the attack on a police station. five civilians were killed and a police officer martyred in the attack. 39 citizens were wounded, including six police officers. the prime minister says the commitment to what it calls counterterrorism is steadfast. the latest devastation in which 40,000 died in the past three decades shows what turkey is up against. and it comes less than 48 hours after the i.s.i.l. attack right at the heart of the old city. in turkey now, no one feels easy >>> president obama is 10 dise tainees -- detainees closer to closing guantanamo. and an attorney that fought to get an inmate released. we talk about the transfer and closure of the detention center. >> and how a bus was hacked and a 7 hour trip for asylum seekers to angela merkel's office was made. . >> 10 guantanamo bay detainees were released and

the authorities blame the workers party, the p.k.k., the turkish government with a group fell apart last july. now strict curfews are in place, in selected districts of towns and cities across the southeast of turkey. >> i strongly condemn the attack on a police station in our town, five civilians were killed and a police officer was martyred in the attack. 39 citizens were wounded including six police officers. >> the prime minister says the commitment to what he called counterterrorism remains steadfast. >> this latest devastation, in which 40,000 people have died in the past three decades shows what turkey is still up against. and it comes less than 48 hours after the isil attack right at the heart of the old city. in turkey right now, no one really feels easy. andrew simmons, al jazeera, in istanbul. >> coming up in this news hour, driving ahead in the opinion polls we meet the women hoping to beat taiwan's first female president. plus. >> i am lee wellings where the second part of an independent report has hit more shame on athletics with russia, at the heart of the doping. real mad

the authorities blame the kurdistan workers party, the p.k.k., the turkish government two year ceaseire that the group fell apart last july. now strict curfews are in place in selected districts of towns and cities across the southeast of turkey. >>ish strongly condemn the attack in our town last night. 39 citizens were wounded including six police officers. the prime minister says the commitment to what he called counter terrorism remains steadfast. >> this latest conflict in which 30,000 people have die misdemeanor the past three decades showed what turkey is still up against. and it comes less than 48 hours after the isil attack right after the heart of the old city. in turkey right now, no one really feels easy. andrew simmons, al jazeera, in istanbul. >> still ahead on the al jazeera news hour, marching in hope, the parents and supporters of more than 200 school girls kidnapped by boko haram in nigeria continue their campaign to find them. the british actor allen griffman who starred in the harry potter filmed has died of cancer, and in sport, despite another stark performance,

is really a party that is allied to terrorism, just as the p.k.k. force here in turkey is outlawed their view of the y.p.g. which is the armed element of the p.y.d. in syria is that it should not be at the table, neither of those entities should be at the table and turkey could not take part, would not recognize these talks at tall if that was the case. the other issue is of course that the determination of the special envoy is that there should be a broad spread of parties invited and there has to be an absolutely priority for these ceasefires. we've got to see humanitarian corridors opens up. there are so many people besieged right now and also referenced in this news conference to a briefing which will take place on tuesday about how crucial it is to get human aid to so many areas. we've heard a lot this past week about the iraqi border up to towards the north. this is where isil has a lot of gains in territory, fighting on the ground with the regime in the city where it has made gains. then of course, the russian air force are fighting back and m

is allied as a separatist state to the kurdish group, the p.k.k. which turkey is involved in a decades long conflict here. authorities long let it be known that we are opposed to the y.p.g. being involved in the talks in syria. however, on the ground in syria, the y.p.g. most affecting fighting force, the u.s., the united states in particular have been working with them for a long time, supplying them small arms, supplying them with logistical systems, helping fight i.s.i.l. the y.p.g. was expecting representation for these talks. >> what would it mean for the talks, and syrian crisis going forward. russia's foreign minister said we cannot achieve the results we want. definitive conclusion, so the russians made their views clear. they lead the pyd. and he says no, we expect to be on the table, to be invited. they haven't seen it. they representatives a large section of syrian society. or a lot of syrian kurds living in country, and they say we'd be representativesed around the tables. if we are not. the geneva three talks fail. two talks that were h

we just don't get along with the p.k.k. he will be assertive about that. >> but the kurds in question are the y.p.g. in southern syria, and they are affiliated with the p.k.k. so it is a problem. at is why i have advocated a re-invigorated u.s. engagement with traditional allies and partners. we have differences with riad. what i am concerned about is we are not talking about the differences as friends and allies with the view to developing del monte ground, common understandings and a common strategy. without that, any notion of regional forces intervening in syria against islamic state is fancyful. they are not going to do it. >> so you are recommending more engagement. we take a codal of eight senators. meeting with saudi defense forces, they were grateful for all our intelligence efforts. they wanted to amplify everything we were doing together. from some of the more anecdotal conversations, they are looking for more engagement, not less. the same thing with turkey. they want to increase trade. he has taken two million r

we just don't get along with the p.k.k. he will be assertive about that. >> but the kurds in question are the y.p.g. in southern syria, and they are affiliated with the p.k.k. so it is a problem. at is why i have advocated a re-invigorated u.s. engagement with traditional allies and partners. we have differences with riad. what i am concerned about is we are not talking about the differences as friends and allies with the view to developing del monte ground, common understandings and a common strategy. without that, any notion of regional forces intervening in syria against islamic state is fancyful. they are not going to do it. >> so you are recommending more engagement. we take a codal of eight senators. meeting with saudi defense forces, they were grateful for all our intelligence efforts. they wanted to amplify everything we were doing together. from some of the more anecdotal conversations, they are looking for more engagement, not less. the same thing with turkey. they want to increase trade. he has taken two million r

more than 300 have been killed over the last six months, as well as hundreds of p.k.k. > president obama is expected to talk about the fight against isil in his state of the union address. he'll talk about keeping america safe here at home. we are live in washington. today's attack just highlighting the importance of the president's foreign policy and fight against isil. how much of that strategy do you think he'll outline in tonight's address? >> it's his last year in offers and whether the strategy kill change for can be adapted in the last year is very unlikely. the president will have to assuage the fears of americans. polls show that the fear of terrorism in the united states is higher and at its greatest number among people. since the week after 9/11, president obama has called isil before the j.d. team of terrorism. even after san bernardino and the terrorist attacks, he said the threat has been contained. that's not necessarily true. he's going to have to balance the reality on the ground in the u.s., where statistically a terrorism attack is unlikely with the op

turkey says 20 fighters have been killed after they attacked the army in the southern cities in diyarbakir and another. they were 20 p.k.k. fighters. thousands of people have left the area, which is mainly kurdish, because of an extended curfew. nearly 600 people have died after the military launched an offensive in the region a month ago. heavy rain has caused widespread flooding in the occupied west bank in gaza. many had to be rescued from their flooded homes. flash floods have spread through geelong in australia. there will be a keen up in millions of dollars. more than 150 houses have been flooded and dozens of cars submerged. the australian bureau of metrology described it as a one in 50 year event. the system of processing refugees in offshore detention centers need rethinking as it has left refugees open to abuse in australia. that's the conclusion of human rights watch for its report of 2016. it reveals by october 2015 over 900 asylum seekers were detained on manos island. 600 were on nauru without a single person being resettled. 33 seekers say they were raped or sexually assaulted there. australia's human righ

the blue mosque. some in turkey had been expecting attacks since turkish forces launched an offensive against isil, as well as kurdish p.k.k. fighters. in october, at least 102 people were killed in a double suicide blast on a peace rally in the capitol, ankara. >> i strongly condemn this attack, this apparent terrorist attack caused by a suicide bomber. i'd like to offer condolences to those who host loved ones and prayers for those who lost the lives. it's important to be united in the face of terrorism. turkeys resolute stance against terrorism will continue. >> the district is now locked down. its people left bewildered that a suicide bomb blast has torn through their beloved and historic city. al jazeera. >> we are joined live from the site of the bombing in istanbul. what has the international reaction been to the attack? >> shortly after the attack, we heard from the u.s. ambassador to turkey, john brass, saying that they were closely monitoring reports of the explosion that was shortly after the explosion. we haven't heard from the u.s. embassy since then. however, in the following hours, we've just heard from the