MtGox - The Bitcoin Disaster

Last UPDATE included on February 27

One of the biggest Bitcoin exchanges, MtGox, has gone offline. Its CEO Mark Karpelès is not available any longer, his whereabouts being unknown.

Holders of Bitcoin accounts on MtGox are gathering in front of the company's Tokyo main office in protest of the MtGox closure of all transactions for the time being.

The exchange has been hit by technical issues and recently halted all customer withdrawals of the digital currency after it spotted what it called "unusual activity". It seems that hackers succeeded in draining 744.408 Bitcoin token worth between 220 and 370 million Euro (depending on the reference value applied).

The move is a setback for backers of Bitcoin, who have been pushing for greater adoption of the currency. Meanwhile, six other major Bitcoin exchanges issued a joint statement distancing themselves from MtGox.

The move by MtGox to halt withdrawals had resulted in a sharp decline in the value of Bitcoin. Having reached its maximum value of 1000 Euro in November 2013, the rate of exchange for one Bitcoin unit remained stable at 600 Euro in January 2014. In February it dropped to 400 Euro as was reported by other trading platforms for Bitcoin tokens like btc-e.com and bitcoin.de. The exchange rate reported by MtGox at that time was even slightly lower. After alleged hacker activity, that rate finally dropped to yesterday's actual value of 100 Euro.



Above: Strategy timeline for MtGox found on the internet, and some
cryptic statement posted on the MtGox website yesterday afternoon.

The closure of the site did not "reflect the resilience or value of Bitcoin", said a statement from representatives of several other Bitcoin exchanges, including Coinbase and BTC China.

"This tragic violation of the trust of users of MtGox was the result of one company's actions.

"As with any new industry, there are certain bad actors that need to be weeded out, and that is what we are seeing today.

[Sources: BBC (Britain), N-TV (Germany), SINA (China) on February 25 / 26, 2014]

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Here is a short description of how the Bitcoin system is working and which has been provided by BBC business and technology news:

How Bitcoin works

Bitcoin is often referred to as a new kind of currency.

But it may be best to think of its units being virtual tokens rather than physical coins or notes.

However, like all currencies its value is determined by how much people are willing to exchange it for.

To process Bitcoin transactions, a procedure called "mining" must take place, which involves a computer solving a difficult mathematical problem with a 64-digit solution.

For each problem solved, one block of Bitcoins is processed. In addition the miner is rewarded with new Bitcoins.

This provides an incentive for people to provide computer processing power to solve the problems.

To compensate for the growing power of computer chips, the difficulty of the puzzles is adjusted to ensure a steady stream of about 3,600 new Bitcoins a day.

There are currently about 11 million Bitcoins in existence.

To receive a Bitcoin, a user must have a Bitcoin address - a string of 27-34 letters and numbers - which acts as a kind of virtual post-box to and from which the Bitcoins are sent.

Since there is no registry of these addresses, people can use them to protect their anonymity when making a transaction.

These addresses are in turn stored in Bitcoin wallets, which are used to manage savings.

They operate like privately run bank accounts - with the proviso that if the data is lost, so are the Bitcoins owned.

...............................................................

Bitcoin's strength - that it has grown in an organic, slightly anarchic and
devolved way, with no central oversight or control - is also its weakness”

Robert Peston - Business editor for British Broadcasting Corporation BBC



You Better Buy Stamps !

..............................

UPDATE for February 27:

Today, China's People TV channel CCTV 1 comes with the news of a high-ranking meeting of Communist Party leaders dealing with internet security. That meeting should have taken place only some hours ago.



习近平主持召开中央网络安全和信息化领导小组第一次会议强调 总体布局统筹各方创新发展 努力把我国建设成为网络强国 李克强刘云山出席

[While] presiding over the opening of the first conference of a leading group from the [CPC] Central Committee [and which is addressing] Internet Security and informatisation, [CPC chairman] Xi JinPing underlined [that] a general layout of plannings [requires] each side to blaze new trails of development. [It needs] to actively [transform] our country into a powerful internet nation. - [Prime minister] Li KeQiang and Liu Yunshan [a member of the CPC's political bureau] were attending [the meeting].

Editor's Note:

Even though the official bulletin doesn't mention Bitcoins, that item can be expected to establish an important subject in the discussions behind closed doors, even more as a remarkable number of Chinese internet users already adopted that virtual currency. That's why China's government had earlier emphasized the risks of using "Bitbi" when it stated that Bitcoins are not supported by any national currency system. However, the need for some kind of virtual money is not generally rejected by China's authorities.
Taiwan, on the contrary, seems to be much more worried: When the first public automat for money exchange into Bitcoins was installed in Hong Kong some weeks ago, Taiwan's authorities turned down the operating company's request to install a similar device in their country.

Here now comes an isolated personal remark published by some Chinese reader who considered the official Chinese bulletin mentioned above. As to Xi JinPing's demand to strengthen China's position on the internet, that reader argues:

网络反垄断搞不好，中国网络就没太大作为。

"The Web isn't too good in opposing a monopoly, China's Web will therefore accomplish next to nothing."

Nigeria - Bloody Trail of Boko Haram

Last Update: February 22

Three days ago, CNN reported about recent activity of "Boko Haram بوكو حرام", a militant Islamic group usually operating in Northern Nigeria, a region dominated by Muslims while the Christian population is mainly living in the southern part of the country.



According to CNN, 106 people should have been killed by Boko Haram in Borno district, North-Eastern Nigeria. [Source: CNN U.S. TV news on February 17, 2014]

Among the bloodiest incidents related to Boko Haram was a shooting spray targeting the living quarters of students that belonged to a center for agricultural studies in the same area. According to China's People's Network, 50 persons should have died on that occasion in September 2013. It is said, the death toll remained rather moderate as most students had already left to attend their lectures when the terrorists came. [Source: People's Network 人民网 on September 30, 2013]



Abuja township in the center of Nigeria is marking the ethnic and religious border between regional tribes that belong to either Muslimic or Christian communities. In the past, Abuja as well experienced terrorist attacks, including the torching of a newspaper office located there. [Source: Al-Jazeera TV الجزيرة]

Further reports on Boko Haram can be found on the Arabic service of Sky News. Their latest news report was published yesterday, February 19.


Above picture: Devastation left after an attack of
Boko Haram on a Nigerian village last January.

نيجيريا.. بوكو حرام تتوعد باستهداف النفط

Nigeria ..... Boko Haram is threatening to [concentrate its efforts] on petrol.

توعد زعيم جماعة بوكو حرام "المتشددة" أبو بكر شيكاو، بشن هجمات على المنطقة النفطية في جنوب نيجيريا، وذلك في شريط مصور، وفق ما ذكرت وكالة "فرانس برس" الأربعاء.ـ

In a video, Boko Haram group's leader "the rigorous" Abu Bakr [Shikawu] threatened to launch an offensive against the oil region in Southern Nigeria. [That video's] adaptation was mentioned by "France Press" agency [i.e. AFP] on Wednesday [i.e. February 19].

[Source: SkyNews Arabic سكاي نيوز عربية on February 19, 2014]


Abu Bakr

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UPDATE for February 22:

According to different reports from ORF, Austria's National TV, Boko Haram should have staged two bloody attacks in Borno state recently. That one already mentioned above and which left 106 villagers dead and another one that took place in Bama township only some days later and resulted in a death toll of actually 60. Public buildings should have been severely damaged during the Bama incident while Nigerian military is quoted having killed numerous insurgents in an air raid that followed the attack.

ORF added that since 2009 thousands of people should have been killed by Boko Haram. Nigeria's federal state of Borno is seen as their main stronghold where civilian rule has been officially replaced by military rule since 2013. Joint forces from Nigeria, Niger and Tchad are actually trying to control that region.

Boko Haram is said to be fighting for about ten years to establish an Islamic emirate in Northern Nigeria by means of terrorist attacks that are directly targeting Christian villagers as well as public installations and Nigerian government authorities.

[Source: ORF on February 17 and 20, 2014]

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Visitors to "blueprint news" who came from Abuja and other parts of Nigeria. Some of them are regular visitors !





Northern Nigeria:
The street gangs of Kano at Kufar Mata Road and the militant Islamists of Abu Bakr in Borno province. Urban dropouts in a traditional Muslimic society and the bloody restoration of Islam by Boko Haram.

A scientific approach on sociological changes in Nigeria can be found here !

Iraq - Business As Usual

تفجيرات في بغداد و اشتباكات في سليمان بيك

Detonations in Baghdad and military engagements in Saliman Bey.



المجلس العسكري العام لثوار العراق يؤكد سيطرة مسلحي العشائر على بلدة سليمان بيك كاملة

The general military council [in charge of] Iraqi rebels confirms total military control over the clans of Saliman Bey community.

[Source: Al-Jazeera الجزيرة, Arabic channel, on February 17, 2014]





قوات المالكي تستعيد السيطرة على "سليمان بيك"ـ

Troops of al-Maliki regain control over "Saliman Bey"

أعلن مدير ناحية "سليمان بيك" في محافظة صلاح الدين، طالب البياتي، اليوم الاثنين، أن قوات مشتركة من الجيش والشرطة الاتحادية أحكمت سيطرتها على الناحية بعد اقتحامها من ثلاثة محاور، مشيراً إلى أنها قتلت أكثر من 15 مسلحاً، فيما أوضح أن تلك القوات قطعت الطريق الرئيسي بين بغداد وكركوك.ـ

The [administrator] of "Saliman Bey" district in Salah ad-Din province, ....., declared today, Monday [February 17], that joint forces of military and federal police reestablished control over the district after [their] invasion [from three directions], ..... killing more than 15 armed [persons] while [making clear] that [such armed] force was interrupting the main route between Baghdad and Kirkuk.

[Source: Al-Arabiya - Al-Hadath العربية نت - الحدث on February 17, 2014]

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سلسلة تفجيرات بسيارات ملغمة و عبوات ناسفة تستهدف عددا من أحياء بغداد و تسفر عن مقتل نحو 20 شخصا

A series of detonations from mined cars and explosive charges aiming at a multitude of quarters in Baghdad resulted in the killing of almost 20 people.



التفجيرات وقعت في أحياء أور و الكرادة و العامل و الغزالية و نفذت بسيارات مفخخة و عبوات ناسفة

The detonations took place in ..... [editor's note: four quarters of Baghdad that are marked in the above map] ..... and were executed with mined cars and explosive charges.

[Source: Al-Jazeera الجزيرة, Arabic channel, on February 17, 2014]

Iraqi Rebels - Latest News

The following news are covering the ongoing fight between Islamic militants and government troops in Iraq. For more information, please refer to earlier blogspots on that subject.


Iraq's president Nuri al-Maliki

المالكي: "داعش" جاء إلى العراق عبر ساحات الاعتصام

Al-Maliki: "Daesh" arrived in Iraq via refugee camps.

اعتبر رئيس الحكومة العراقية، نوري المالكي، أن تنظيم "داعش" جاء إلى العراق عبر ساحات الاعتصام، وذلك خلال اجتماعه بشيوخ العشائر في الأنبار.ـ

The chef of Iraq's government, Nuri al-Maliki, is considering that "Daesh" organization has arrived in Iraq via refugee camps at the time it met with clan leaders in Anbar [province].

وجاءت تصريحات المالكي هذه في نهاية اجتماعه بشيوخ عشائر الأنبار، بعد عام من الاعتصام والمطالبات، التي لم تلتفت إليها الحكومة العراقية حتى زيارة المالكي اليوم للمحافظة، برفقة وزير الدفاع ولقائه قيادتها وشيوخ العشائر.ـ

And declarations of al-Maliki appeared [regarding] the ending of [such] meetings with clan leaders from Anbar [province] after a year of seeking refuge and of claims the government of Iraq ignored until today's visit of al-Maliki to the province, when he was accompanied by the minister of defence and received by the [regional] leadership and clan leaders.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on February 16, 2014]

..............................

Background Information:



الجيش العراقي يقتل 40 مسلحا من داعش بالفلوجة

Iraq's army killed 40 armed [rebels] from Daesh in Falluja.

أكدت وزارة الدفاع العراقية، في بيان الخميس، مقتل 40 مسلحا من تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام (داعش)، وتدمير أسلحة، وكذلك 4 من مقرات القيادة والسيطرة للتنظيم بمدينة الفلوجة في محافظة الأنبار.ـ

In a declaration dating from Thursday [i.e. January 30], Iraq's ministry of defence confirmed the killing of 40 armed [rebels] belonging to the organization of an " Islamic Nation in Iraq and Syria / the Levant [ISIS / ISIL / Daesh] ", the destruction of weapons and, as well, of four posts of command and [administration] for the organization in Falluja, Anbar province.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 31, 2014]

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U.S. Politics - China Not Amused

The following excerpt has been taken from an anonymous personal comment broadly published on some kind of patriotic website and that is directly linked to the main page of People's Network, the online edition of China's semi-official People's Daily. Even though the comment is marked as not necessarily representing the opinion of People's Network, I deemed it worth mentioning.



Above: U.S. President Obama and Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe on a ship carrying the flags of both countries. That picture, partly covered by the comment's title, marked the direct link from People's Network.

换一个方式去应对中日这几年来的矛盾，美国是在借日本玩弄中国吗？

Headline:
A change of style to answer the contradictions that affected China in recent years.
Is America using Japan as a pretext to play with China ?

这几年，中日之间看似有很多矛盾，在国际舞台上各自展现的时候，看似这种矛盾随时都可能会引起激烈的冲突，甚至是不可控制的冲突。至少我个人认为，这几年来中日之间所发生的重大问题，其最核心的问题，还是因为中美问题而伴随着的。

These years have seen what seems to be a lot of contradictions between China and Japan. On the international stage, each [of them] at the time of its surfacing looked as if such kind of contradiction could probably lead to a sharp conflict at any time and could even get out of control. At least myself is considering the significant problems that emerged between China and Japan during these years, their [essential] key issues, as not being caused by Chinese - American problems but accompanying them.

美国是中日矛盾的主要制造者和幕后推手，最终解决这一重大问题的着眼点，我个人认为，还是应该从出招应对美国那边开始。“解铃还得系铃人”这种处理问题的方式，那就是从矛盾着的真正原因开始。

America is the most important creator of Chinese - Japanese contradictions and promoter behind the scene, the starting point of an ultimate settling of such major problems. And I consider [we] ought [to begin with the provocative answer from] the American side. That one who started the trouble should end such style of handling problems and which is the true cause at the beginning of contradictions.

[Source: People's Network 人民网 — 强国社区 on February 7, 2014]

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The above quoted comment was published shortly before China's Global News came with the following headline and an article based on an earlier report by BBC, London:



美国务卿克里声称将保护日本不受中国攻击

U.S. secretary of state Kerry claims to ensure Japan's protection against Chinese attack.

[Source: Global News 环球网 on February 8, 2014]

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2014 - Year of the Horse

Libya - Abduction of Diplomats

Related UPDATES included on January 26/28.


Photo: Egyptian embassy in Libya.

ليبيا: دبلوماسيين مصريين خطفوا بعد اعتقال زعيم ميليشيا

Libya: Egyptian diplomats kidnapped after the arrest of a militia leader.

خطف أربعة من أفراد البعثة الدبلوماسية بالسفارة المصرية في طرابلس اليوم بعد يوم من خطف دبلوماسي مصري آخر فيما وصفته الحكومة الليبية بانه رد فعل على اعتقال مصر لزعيم ميليشيا ليبية.ـ

Four individuals on a diplomatic mission at the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli were kidnapped one day after the abduction of other Egyptian diplomats in what the Libyan government described as a reaction on the arrest of a Libyan militia leader by Egypt.

There was no declaration about the group responsible for the abductions, however information was spread that a Libyan militia leader should have been arrested in Cairo.

[Source: Ar-Riyadh Net الرياض نت, Saudi Arabia, on January 25, 2014]

..............................

Evening UPDATE on January 26:



عززت السلطات الليبية من وجود قوات الأمن أمام السفارة المصرية بالعاصمة الليبية طرابلس عقب مغادرة البعثة الدبلوماسية المصرية طرابلس بعد قرار الحكومة المصرية بإجلاء كل الدبلوماسيين بالسفارة، جراء اختطاف 5 دبلوماسيين مصريين بالسفارة المصرية، من بينهم الملحق الثقافي الدكتور الهلالي الشربيني والملحق التجاري حمدي غانم. ـ

Libyan authorities increased the presence of security forces in front of the Egyptian embassy in Libya's capital Tripoli which followed the abandoning of Egypt's diplomatic mission [there] after a decision of the Egyptian government to clear the embassy from all diplomats. [When] the abduction of five Egyptian diplomats from the Egyptian embassy took place, the cultural attaché Dr. Hilali ash-Sharbini and the commercial attaché Hamdi Ghanem were among them.

[Source: Al-Ahram الأهرام, Cairo, on January 26, 2014]


Related News on January 26:



伊朗称未证实在也门被绑架外交官遭基地组织斩首

Iran says there is no confirmation that an [Iranian] diplomat abducted in Yemen has been beheaded by al-Qaeda organization.

The official Iranian source contradicts the Yemenite government and its security ministry on this matter and who had already launched the news of a beheading.

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on January 27 local date (!), 2014]


Related News on January 28:

安理会呼吁不向恐怖分子付赎金和做政治让步

[The United Nations] Security Council calls for not paying ransom money and not making political concessions towards terrorists.

This news is quoting an advice given by the United Nations Security Council the day before on January 27. It is referring to incidents of abduction by al-Qaeda and its branches. According to related British statistics, there should have been paid about 105 million U.S.$ of ransom money during the last 3.5 years to such organizations.

[Source: China News Network 中国新闻网 on January 28, 2014]

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Syria - Voice from the Underground

At the very beginning of a 'Geneva 2' conference on Syria, two sides involved in the problem, however not present at the negotiating table, make themthelves heard. One side is the Iranian president Rouhani who proposes general elections in Syria as a means to solve the problem. The other side involved is al-Qaeda, the " parent organization of Islamic terrorism ", represented by its actual leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.



الظواهري يدعو لوقف القتال بين الفصائل الإسلامية بسوريا

Headline:
Al-Zawahiri calls for an ending of the battle between Islamic troops in Syria.

دعا زعيم تنظيم القاعدة أيمن الظواهري، في رسالة صوتية نشرت على الإنترنت، إلى وقف القتال بين "أخوة الجهاد والإسلام" في سوريا.ـ

In an acoustic message distributed on the internet, the leader of al-Qaeda organization Ayman al-Zawahiri called for an ending of the battle within " the brotherhood of Jihad and Islam " in Syria.

ووجه الظواهري في رسالته التي تتزامن مع انطلاق مؤتمر جنيف 2، نداءً إلى "كل المجموعات الجهادية وكل حر في الشام يسعى لإسقاط حكم الأسد"، وقال "ندعوهم جميعا لأن يسعوا إلى إيقاف القتال بين أخوة الجهاد والإسلام فورًا".ـ

And in his message which came simultaneously with the beginning of a 'Geneva 2' conference, al-Zawahiri addressed " all militant groups and all [liberal ones] in Syria to engage in overthrowing the regime of al-Assad ". And he said " we call them all to engage immediately in ending the battle within the brotherhood of Jihad and Islam ".

[Source: EGY News , Cairo, on January 23, 2014]

Syria Conference - First Difficulties

An international conference to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria is set to begin in Switzerland today, January 22.

For months, UN, US and Russian diplomats have struggled to persuade both sides to attend what has become known as "Geneva II".

The UN's Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has said it would be "unforgivable not to seize this opportunity" to end a conflict that has left more than 100,000 people dead and driven 9.5 million from their homes.

[Source: BBC on January 21, 2014]


التلفزيون السوري: طائرة وفد المحادثات منعت من التزود بالوقود في اثينا

Headline:
Syrian TV: The airplane [carrying] a delegation for negotiations was refused refuelling in Athens.

قال التلفزيون السوري الحكومي ان الطائرة التي [تنقل] الوفد الذي سيشارك في محادثات السلام الدولية التي ستجري في سويسرا منعت من التزود بالوقود يوم الثلاثاء بعد ان هبطت في مطار أثينا.ـ

[According to] Syrian state TV, the aircraft carrying the delegation that will participate in international peace talks to take place in Switzerland was refused refuelling after landing on Athens airport.

واضاف ان الطائرة حصلت على اذن بالمرور في المجال الجوي المعني والهبوط في اثينا للتزود بالوقود.ـ

And it was added the aircraft had received a [traffic/transit] permission for the [requested] airspace [including] landing in Athens for refuelling.

[Source: Reuters - Arabic News رويترز on January 21, 2014]




وليد المعلم قبيل وصوله جنيف: الأسد خط أحمر

Walid al-Muallem shortly before his arrival in Geneva : Assad's "red line".

[Editor's Note: Walid al-Muallem (photo above) is Syria's minister of foreign affairs. His recent activity came only days after a defected member of Assad's state security presented photos proving cruel torture on a large scale in Syrian prisons.]

اعتبر أن مشاركة وفد النظام تهدف لبدء حوار سوري - سوري

It was considered that a participation of the regime's delegation [would be] aiming at the beginning of a Syrian-Syrian dialogue.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 22, 2014]

Iraq - Army Fighting Rebels in Ramadi

After shelling militant Islamic groups in Falluja, the Iraqi army is now launching an attack on similar groups in Ramadi township.



الجيش العراقي يشن عملية عسكرية ضد "داعش" في الرمادي

The Iraqi army is launching a military operation against "Daesh" in Ramadi.

According to General Mahmud al-Eskari, the spokesman for Iraq's ministry of defense (photo below), that operation is directed against " followers of 'Daesh' (Islamic Nation of Iraq and Syria/ the Levant, ISIS/ISIL), members of al-Qaeda and other terrorists ".



[Source: Al-Hayat الحياة on January 19, 2014]

Further information on "Daesh" is available on another blogspot of mine published earlier this month.

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A map of the region showing Ramadi and Falluja as key locations
on a main road that stretches from Baghdad to the Syrian border.

Iran - Official Voices

"Technical differences" between the United States and Iran regarding part of the nuclear deal reached between Iran and an international group of nations, the so-called 5+1 group, have been stated in a recent declaration from Washington. Here now the offical answer from Tehran:



طهران تعتبر بيان واشنطن حول اتفاقية النووي منحازاً

Headline:
Tehran is considering Washington's declaration as being partial [with regard to] the nuclear treaty.

أفخم: هذا ليس معياراً للحكم على الطريقة التي سيتم بها تطبيق الاتفاق

Headline:
Afkham: This is not a criterion for judging the procedure that will [lead to] the treaty's application.

أعلنت إيران، الجمعة، أن الملخص الذي نشره البيت الأبيض لشروط تطبيق الاتفاق المرحلي حول البرنامج النووي الإيراني "قراءة أحادية الجانب ومنحازة".ـ

On Friday, Iran declared the summary published by the White House of practical step-by-step conditions for the treaty on Iran's nuclear program as being a " unilateral and partial reading matter ".

وصرحت المتحدثة باسم وزارة الخارجية الإيرانية، مرضية أفخم، بأن بيان البيت الأبيض قراءة أحادية الجانب ومنحازة للاتفاق غير الرسمي بين إيران ومجموعة 5+1 (الصين والولايات المتحدة وفرنسا وبريطانيا وروسيا إضافة إلى المانيا)، كما نقلت عنها وكالة "إيرنا".ـ

Marzieh Afkham, the spokeswoman for Iran's ministry of foreign affairs made clear that a declaration from the White House is [some kind of] unilateral and partial reading matter [regarding] the treaty [and which] is not official between Iran and the 5+1 group (China, United States, France, Britain, Russia and, in addition, Germany), as has been communicated by "IRNA" [press] agency.

وأضافت أفخم "هذا ليس أبداً معياراً للتقييم أو للحكم على الطريقة التي سيتم بها تطبيق الاتفاق".ـ

Afkham added: " This is not at all a criterion for appreciating or for judging the procedure that will [lead to] the treaty's application. "

.....
ويحدد النص "ذو الطابع التقني"، الذي نشره البيت الأبيض، الخميس، مهلاً لعمليات تفتيش المنشآت النووية الإيرانية من قبل وكالة الطاقة.ـ

.....
The definition of a clause " having [mere] technical character " and which the White House has published on Thursday, [is regarding] a delay of inspection procedures by the agency for [nuclear] energy on the origins of Iran's nuclear [material].

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 18, 2014]


Only some weeks earlier, in December 2013, the Iranian minister of foreign affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, was quoted with the following words:



ظريف: المفاوضات النووية مستمرة رغم عقوبات واشنطن

Zarif: [There are] negotiations [on the nuclear issue] despite of sanctions from Washington.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on December 15, 2013]


While the U.S. are pressing Iran's leadership on one side, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has to cope as well with internal differences on the other side:



روحاني: مسؤولون إيرانيون يستغلون الحظر لمصالح شخصية

Headline:
Rouhani: Those responsible in Iran are using the embargo for personal interests.

عبر عن دعمه للمفاوضين النوويين الذين وصفهم بأنهم من أقوى المسؤولين

Headline:
He expressed his support for those who negotiate the nuclear issue, describing them as energetic responsible persons.

اتهم الرئيس الإيراني، حسن روحاني، مسؤولين في طهران بعرقلة إزالة العقوبات الدولية ،المفروضة على بلاده، بسبب مصالحهم الشخصية، مهدداً بالكشف عنهم لكن في الوقت المناسب، حسب تعبيره.ـ

Iran's president Hassan Rouhani accused responsible persons in Tehran for obstructing the elimination of international sanctions, imposed on his country, as a consequence of personal benefits to them. [He] threatened to [convict them], however at the appropriate moment.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 16, 2014]

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Saudi Arabia - Shooting Targeting Diplomats

An "enlightening" UPDATE was added on January 15.



سيارة دبلوماسية ألمانية تتعرض لاعتداء بالعوامية

German diplomat's car [became the target] of an attack in al-Awamia.

راكباها الألمانيان يحملان الصفة الدبلوماسية ونجيا بمساعدة أحد المواطنين

[The car] was driven by two Germans [with diplomatic status] and [who] fled with the help of some compatriots.

تعرضت سيارة دبلوماسية تابعة للسفارة الألمانية في السعودية، لإطلاق نار من مجهولين أثناء تواجدها ببلدة العوامية بالمنطقة الشرقية.ـ

A diplomat's car [belonging] to the German embassy in Saudi Arabia became the target of a shooting from unknown [side] while passing the community of al-Awamia in ash-Sharqia province on Monday [January 13].

Editor's Note: The Saudi Arabian province of ash-Sharqia is situated in the Eastern part of the country. The community of al-Awamia is known for its sometimes rebellious Shia population.




Al-Awamia is not a desert village but belongs to an agglomeration of urban communities stretching along the coastal line of the Persian Gulf. It hosts different education centers, a police station and a medical center. Al-Awamia belongs to the administration district of al-Qatif township.

وأوضح الناطق الإعلامي بشرطة المنطقة الشرقية أن الحادث أسفر عن احتراق السيارة ونجاة راكبيها الألمانيين اللذين يحملان الصفة الدبلوماسية، وذلك بمساعدة أحد المواطنين.ـ

The spokesman for ash-Sharqia province police made clear the incident presented itself as a car catching fire and the rescue of both German passengers who carried diplomatic passports. [Rescue] happened with the help of some compatriots.

وأكد الناطق الإعلامي أن الجهات الأمنية المختصة تتولى حالياً متابعة هذا الاعتداء لتحديد المسؤولين عنه.ـ

And the spokesman assured that special security services will handle the case in succession to that attack [until] the determination of those responsible for it.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 14, 2014]


A Saudi-Arabian news service had the information some hours earlier than Dubai based Al-Arabiya Net:

صرح الناطق الإعلامي بشرطة المنطقة الشرقية بأنه عند الساعة السادسة من مساء اليوم الإثنين الموافق 12 ربيع الأول 1435هـ، تلقت شرطة محافظة القطيف بلاغاً عن تعرض سيارة دبلوماسية، للسفارة الألمانية بالمملكة، أثناء وجودها ببلدة العوامية لإطلاق نار من مجهولين مما أسفر عن احتراقها ونجاة راكبيها الألمانيين اللذين يحملان الصفة الدبلوماسية وذلك بمساعدة أحد المواطنين.ـ

The spokesman for ash-Sharqia province police declared that today, Monday [January 13], at about six o'clock in the evening, the police of al-Qatif district received a message [saying] that a diplomat's car from the German embassy to the Kingdom, was affected by a shooting from unknown [persons] while being in the community of al-Awamia. [That shooting] resulted in [the car's] burning and the rescue of both German passengers who [had diplomatic status] with the help of some compatriots.

Editor's Note: The Arabic text uses the Islamic date of the day the incident happened.

[Source: Al-Mowaten Net المواطن نت on January 13, 2014]


And here is the end of the story as far as I will tell it:



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Visitors to "blueprint news" coming from Saudi Arabia on
Jan. 15 and who are interested in the al-Awamia incident.


Iraqi visitor referring to my blogspot on militant Islamic groups.

Islamic Rebels in Iraq and Syria

UPDATES added on January 10 and 12.

Increasing influence of Islamic fundamentalists in the Falluja region of Southern Iraq is the subject of today's news from Al-Arabiya. It is all about some organization named "Daesh".

"Daesh" is the Arabic abbreviation for an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)" and which uses a synonym for Syria in its name that can be interpreted as well as "the Levant". Hence, the organization is as well known under the name "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)". Their actual leader should be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
ـ"الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام" (داعش)ـ Here are the headlines:



ـ"داعش" يسعى لتأسيس دولة على حدود سوريا والعراق

"Daesh" is trying to install a state at the border between Syria and Iraq.

يخوض معارك شرسة في محافظتين سوريتين وأخريين على الجانب العراقي

It is taking part in fierce battles in two districts, one in Syria the other at one side of Iraq.




إقالة قائد شرطة الأنبار.. و"داعش" يسيطر على الفلوجة

Dismissal of the chief of police for Anbar [province] ..... and "Daesh" in control of Falluja [township].

تضارب كبير حول مصير مدينة المساجد وخطة المالكي الأمنية تواجه الفشل

Great battle for the destiny of the town of mosques [while] al-Maliki's [security] plan is facing failure.

Editor's Note: Kamil Muhammed Hasan al-Maliki is the president of Iraq since 2006.

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on late evening of January 5 and 6, 2014]

Information given above is fitting with U.S. reports saying that in January 2014, during the clashes in Iraq's Anbar province, ISIS militants took control of the city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi while Islamic rebels in Syria affiliated with the Islamic Front. As a consequence, the Free Syrian Army launched an offensive against ISIS militants in and around Aleppo. Sources quoted on this item are U.S.A. Today and the New York Times from January 4, 2014.

[Please note that seemingly contradictory dates are usually subject to differing degrees of longitude between countries far away from each other, especially when it comes to editions published close to midnight.]

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Today's news report from People's Network, Beijing, stresses the fact of Al-Qaeda provoking the U.S. leadership by taking over Falluja, a stronghold of the new Iraqi state which owed its existence to America after U.S. invasion in 2003:

基地组织攻下伊拉克重镇　挑衅美国称公开建国
“基地组织正在以暴力接管伊拉克!”在一伙极端分子占领伊拉克城市费卢杰，并公开宣布建立“伊斯兰酋长国”之后，西方媒体5日一片惊呼声。自2003年美国入侵伊拉克以来，与“基地”组织有关联的武装分子还是首次对重要城市如此公开地控制，这无疑是对美国主导的中东秩序的严重挑衅。

"Al-Qaeda is using force to bring Iraq under its control !", that is what Western media cried out in alarm on [January] 5, when a group of extremists seized the Iraqi town of Falluja and officially proclaimed the foundation of an "Islamic Emirate".

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UPDATE for January 10:



أوغلو: العلاقة بين داعش ونظام الأسد أصبحت علنية

[Davutoğlu]: A relation between Daesh and the Assad regime has become public.

Ahmet Davutoğlu ( أحمد داوود أوغلو ), Turkish minister of foreign affairs.

الجيش الحر يتهم دولة العراق والشام بالعمل لحماية النظام

The Free [Syrian] Army accuses the "State of Iraq and Syria/Levant" [i.e. ISIS/ISIL] of operating for the protection of the regime.

تأتي ملاحقة "داعش" من قبل كتائب الجيش الحر بعد سلسلة اتهامات سابقة لعلاقة مشبوهة بين نظام الأسد وهذا التنظيم كانت فرنسا وبريطانيا ألمحت إليها سابقاً.ـ

Units of the Free Army have started chasing "Daesh" after a preceding series of accusations regarding a suspected relation between the regime of Assad and that organization [which France and Britain had found out earlier].

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 10, 2014]

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UPDATE for January 12:



برزاني ينتقد تدخل المالكي العسكري في محافظة الأنبار

Barzani criticizes the military intervention of [Iraq's president] Maliki in Anbar province.

Editor's Note: Masud Barzani is president of the Kurdish territory
in Iraq (photo above). رئيس إقليم كردستان مسعود بارزاني

الجيش العراقي يحاصر الفلوجة والرمادي ويمطرهما بالقذائف والقصف العشوائي

The Iraqi army besieges Falluja and Ramadi with a shower of grenades in an arbitrary bombardment.


Further News of the Day:

قتل 8 أشخاص على الأقل وأصيب نحو 12 آخرين بجروح في انفجار سيارة مفخخة استهدفت، الأحد، متطوعين للجيش في بغداد، حسبما أفادت مصادر أمنية وطبية.ـ

At least 8 persons died and about 12 others were wounded in the explosion of a [mined] car targeting volunteers of the Iraqi army in Baghdad according to information from security and medical sources.



والهجوم هو الثاني ضد متطوعين في الجيش، بعد سقوط 23 قتيلا و30 جريحا في تفجير انتحاري استهدفهم الخميس الماضي، قرب المركز ذاته.ـ

That attack was the second one [directed] against volunteers in the army after 23 died and 30 were wounded in a suicide bombing targeting them near [their quarters] last Thursday.

وفتحت السلطات الحكومية باب التطوع للانضمام إلى الجيش العراقي تزامنا مع انطلاق عمليات عسكرية في محافظة الأنبار لمطاردة عناصر تنظيم دولة العراق الإسلامية في العراق والشام (داعش).ـ

Government authorities had opened the door to a registration for joining the Iraqi army simultaneously with starting military operations in Anbar province [in order to] chase elements from ISIS/ISIL organization ("Daesh").

[Source: Al-Arabiya العربية on January 12, 2014]

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Visitor to "blueprint news" coming from the University of Cambridge.


Choice of localized visitors to "blueprint news" who came on January 10/11, 2014.


Australian visitor coming from the neighbourhood of Sydney's Olympic Park.


Choice of localized visitors who recently came from the Russian Federation.