Al Jazeera World

For years, private armies have provided services to governments around the world. They are often secretive and operate in the shadows. Blackwater - now known as Academi - is one of the most well-known private armies. It has provided troops and other services to the US government in different conflicts, including the Iraq war. But it is not always clear how these private armies are formed, where they operate, or even what their missions consist of. Eeben Barlow is chairman of 'Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection International' - a private army that - according to Barlow - has operated throughout Africa and beyond. He was also behind another similar company that shut down in 1998 - called Executive Outcomes. And while many argue private armies are mercenaries doing the jobs governments do not want to do - Barlow insists his operations are legitimate and follow international law. "We don't see ourselves as mercenaries. We are first of all contracted by a national government. We become part of their armed forces, we wear their uniforms, we follow their procedures and guidelines, we fall under the legal regulations of that country. So, in other words, we serve the country that contracts us. And yes, we get paid for it, but we certainly don't get paid to run around and cause chaos," says Barlow. Some private military contractors have been accused of prolonging conflicts instead of ending them, but Barlow believes that "there is a fine line between moral and immoral". "But that really goes back to the people that are involved ... We've never prolonged a conflict, in fact, we've ended them despite them carrying on for decades and decades. We've ended them in a very short space of time. But I am aware of companies that do not mind if the conflict continues because that's the goose that lays the golden egg, and they certainly don't want to stop it," says Barlow. He stresses the importance of cultural understanding and expertise needed to end conflicts across Africa. "We are after all Africans that work in Africa. But I do think there is a major concern that Africans can actually end African conflicts," says Barlow. "We look at all these private military companies going into Africa, they are just charging, they don't understand the environment they are in, they don't understand the area of operation, they don't understand the people and very quickly, they offend people ... If they are not going to add value and bring about ... stability and peace, then they shouldn't be there. But unfortunately, this has been allowed to drag on." So who makes sure these armies are indeed following international law? How do they operate? And is there accountability? Eeben Barlow provides an insight into the world of private military contractors as he talks to Al Jazeera about his company's role in fighting Boko Haram in Nigeria, the LRA in Uganda and other conflicts across Africa. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

In early 2018, a US-China trade war broke out with the two countries eventually imposing tariffs worth billions of dollars on each others' imports. As tensions between the world's two biggest economies continue, analysts warn of potential harm to the global economy. The IMF predicts that US-China trade tensions will have reduced global GDP by 0.8 percent by the beginning of next year, contributing to slowed global economic growth, which stands at 3 percent for 2019. Huiyao Wang, the founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization, agrees the trade war "certainly is a big deal" for China, calling the situation "unprecedented". "China and the US relations this year is exactly 40 years of diplomatic ties," he says. "China ... largely opened up to the US and actually, for the last four decades, there's bumps, there's up and downs, but not as big a surprise as I expect at this one." Wang claims that the tariffs have not affected business in China so much as possibly undermined confidence. "I don't think there is a lot of economic impact. There could be some psychological impact, people just perhaps withholding from further heavy investing or maybe rolling back a bit of the employment on that. But basically, I think both China and the US are looking towards stability and towards a deal that can be mutually beneficial." Meanwhile, Wang agrees that the effects of the trade war could reach beyond either countries' shores. "The thing about the China-US trade war is that it dampens confidence, it actually makes people reluctant to invest and also ... the value chain is hitted on that. Because China is in the epicentre of the global value chain. You know, a lot of things go through China," he says. "So, if China is really hitted by this trade war, all the other suppliers from other regions, from other countries, will all [be] affected ... So, in return that will have [an] effect on the US, as well. So, I don't see how the world economy will maintain such a strong growth and then them become effective." He says coming to an agreement with the US is critical, noting that recent negotiations have been a step in the right direction. "This partial deal that President Trump and China strike in the last month is absolutely crucial. Because if we do not do that, I mean the two biggest economic powers in the world and then, if they really fight ... all the others will suffer, absolutely. And then, we may drag the world into a recession. And that's quite possible, too, and we may have another financial crisis. Because this is really [an] alarming situation." - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

More than 60,000 people are currently detained in Italy's prisons. Of those, around one in 20 are women, one in 100 are juveniles, and some one in three are foreign prisoners. The jail featured in the documentary on the outskirts of the city of Verona houses several hundred prisoners including many from North Africa - serving sentences for a range of crimes, from drug trafficking to robbery to murder. Filmed entirely inside the jail over three years, Double Exile is the story of three men and a woman from North Africa whose dreams of a new life abroad ended behind bars. With rare access to both inmates and the prison regime, the film focuses on prisoners from Morocco and Tunisia who arrived in Italy hoping for a new life, only to descend into criminal behaviour and incarceration. One Tunisian tells how he began using drugs at the age of 18 in nightclubs. Soon he was selling narcotics to a few friends and before long he was a dealer, extravagantly displaying the trappings of sudden wealth, fast cars and cash aplenty. "I made a lot of money and back in Tunisia, people looked up to me," he says. " I arrived in prison, knowing nothing about it." Now more than two years into his sentence, he is still coming to terms to the daily grind of taking orders from prison guards. "I never imagined I'd have to take orders ... Prison teaches perseverance and dedication," he says. Another Moroccan recalls being smuggled into Spain before travelling to Italy. There he too became a drug dealer and lived the high life - wine, women and song every night - before his inevitable arrest. "Europeans in prisons in Arab countries wouldn't be abandoned by their home countries. But our countries don't care about us. We pay doubly for our mistakes," he says. "The laws here aren't in our favour." Inarguably the most shocking case featured in Double Exile is that of a Moroccan man who disapproved of his 18-year-old daughter dating an Italian man in his 30s. A fight broke out and the father stabbed his daughter, inflicting multiple wounds on the young woman. She died at the scene. Double Exile gives a rare insight into life in an Italian prison, a closeted environment where young North African men and women are jailed whenever their new lives abroad spiral into serious crime. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Since the 1990s, globalisation gave the impression that emerging markets were and could converge with developed nations. The BRICS and Next 11 became the latest investment craze. Hundreds of millions were lifted out of poverty and millions more climbed the social escalator into the middle class. But something has gone wrong. The end of the commodity supercycle and easy money came long before populism and the threat to globalisation. And it can be argued that most emerging market growth was attributable to China and India. To dissect what countries really want from globalisation and more importantly Foreign Direct Investment, our panel at the Doha Forum 2019 is at the cutting edge of policymaking. Panel: Arancha Gonzalez - executive director of the International Trade Centre Murat Emirdag - chief executive of Hepsiburada Ali Alwaleed Al Thani - chief executive of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar Issam Abousleiman - regional director for the GCC at the World Bank - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Filmmaker: Hamza Elamin Every day, somewhere in the world, teams gather to play football. But rarely is "The Beautiful Game" played in the shadow of a bloody conflict that has claimed many thousands of lives. Darfur: Football for Peace follows a football tournament set in a refugee camp in North Darfur where passion for the game is high. Darfur covers a vast area of western Sudan and is synonymous with a conflict that is difficult to comprehend, except for its legacy. The conflict peaked in 2003 and remains largely unresolved. The UN estimates that war, famine and disease have cost some 300,000 lives, though the government of Sudan disputes this figure. An international aid response has brought some stability to Darfur where refugee camps the size of small cities are dotted throughout the region One such place is the Abu Shouk refugee camp. Established in 2004 at a time when the Darfur conflict was at its height, it has now become a home of sorts to a young generation whose only knowledge of their family roots come from stories told by their parents. Many are trapped with no homes to return to as the fighting left many villages in ashes. But despite everything, Abu Shouk is also a place where hope is still very much alive, a place where battle now takes place on a football pitch with young barefoot sporting warriors seeking glory on their own terms. This film features a group of boys hoping to win a locally organised football tournament. They call their team Al-Jabal al-Akhdar or The Green Mountain, named after a small mountain near the city from where they were displaced. The team's star striker is Eissa Adam, whose only memory is of life in the Abu Shouk refugee camp. Eissa's very survival was due to his mother's quick thinking, having rescued Eissa as a toddler at a time when their village was under attack by armed raiders. "When they attacked our village, I dressed my son like a girl so they wouldn't take him," Khadija Suleiman, Eissa's mother, tells Al Jazeera. Her strength in the face of adversity saved the life of not just her young son Eissa, but also her eldest son captured by the attackers. "To this day, when I think about how brave my mother was, tears run down my face. She saved me from those people," Al-Fatih Adam, Eissa's brother, says. During the holidays when Eissa is not at school, he leaves home early to buy and resell goods like perfumes, air fresheners and paper towels so he can pay his way, balancing his schooling with work. In the evening, Eissa returns to football training where he has gained popularity not just within his team, but throughout his community. "When I walk down the street, people stop and call my name even though I don't know them. It's because of football." - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Lebanon has been engulfed by nationwide anti-government protests which began in October. People are demanding an end to corruption, a change in the political system and better management of the economy. As a result, Prime Minister Saad Hariri handed in his resignation in late October. But protesters say that is not enough and have been calling for a complete overhaul of Lebanon's political system - and its sect-based power-sharing agreement. And as people chant in the streets against politicians, the one name that seems to be singled out often is Gebran Bassil, Lebanon's foreign minister. Bassil is President Michel Aoun's son-in-law and has previously held other ministerial positions without being an elected member of parliament. Many consider him to be one of the most divisive figures in their country. But Bassil says protesters are wrong to single him out and stresses that "the priority is to save the country". "We are paying the price of 30 years of wrong policies and corruption ... The country is at the verge of collapsing ... Our economy has all the ingredients to rise up again. This is the priority right now. And later on, justice will prevail, truth will be apparent to everybody," he says. "Lebanon is a country that is worth to survive. It is a model of diversity, pluralism and tolerance that is worth to preserve. We need Lebanon to be on its feet again to be that model of co-existence. If Lebanon vanishes it can only see extremism and terrorism in our region. So it's worth fighting for." Bassil believes that the one thing Lebanon needs is an efficient government. "We have a failed system but we don't want to have a failed state. The only salvation for Lebanon is a civil state. We are not there yet unfortunately, but we will fight for this first." He explains that they are working on a series of anti-corruption laws and believes that "with the people rising we have an exceptional opportunity to pass these laws". "This (the fight against corruption) is what's uniting us despite our political and religious differences. So we should seize the opportunity and unite all together," says Bassil. "The republic is in danger," he warns. "Lebanon is a country that is paying for the mistakes of everybody around us. And we are paying a lot, but I think Lebanon should be saved by its friends. And the first thing to do is to stop the external interventions in our country, and not to allow the Lebanese to intervene in others' affairs." At the 2019 Doha Forum, Lebanon's Foreign Minister, Gebran Bassil, talks to Al Jazeera about the uprising, the challenges facing Lebanon, his role in government, corruption and the best way to address the protesters' demands. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Mahathir Mohamad served as Malaysia's prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003. But the 94-year-old veteran politician returned to politics a few years back to oppose the political force he was once a part of, the Barisan Nasional coalition, which had ruled Malaysia since its independence from Britain in 1957. During Mahathir's first tenure as Malaysia's prime minister, the country experienced a period of rapid modernisation and economic growth for the country's diverse population. Millions of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians now live side by side in the country. "In order to grow a country, to develop a country the first need is for stability. Ours is a multiracial nation and normally multiracial nations are not stable. So the first job that I had to do was to make sure that all the races were together for the country. That means, of course, that all the different races are represented in the government and they can speak for their own race and also for the nation," he told Al Jazeera. "Because everybody has a fair share in the governance of the country, they feel satisfied that their problems will be taken care of and that leads to stability where development becomes possible." His life achievements were recognised at the opening session of Doha Forum 2019. During his acceptance speech, he did not hold back from expressing his views on the modern world. "Today's world is confronted with increased concern over the sustainability of global economic growth in the face of rising political, social, and environmental challenges," Mahathir said. And he initiated a talk about his country's foreign policy and need for global markets, noting that Malaysia lost out on a big market when the United States applied sanctions against Iran. "We don't believe in applying sanctions to force countries to accept certain ideologies and to change governments. It is not only the particular country that will suffer, but all the trading partners also will suffer economically. In a way, it is a form of dictatorship. A dictatorship that is worse than that in a country, it is international," he said. The Malaysian prime minister also discussed the state of the global economy and its interconnectedness. He argued the US is leading the world in the wrong direction when it comes to multilateralism. Commenting on the US-China trade war, Mahathir said, "Trade wars do not solve anything. They only antagonise people and other people not related to the war. There is too much politics involved ... if you follow economic rules ... perhaps you can solve the problem in a much much better way than confrontation and trying to destroy each other." "Becoming very nationalist is good. But not at the expense of other people. Every country should care about itself but that needing to be protective or secure doesn't mean confronting others. It's better if we learn to work together," he told Al Jazeera. "We were going a long way towards multilateralism. But now nationalism seems to affect many countries." For any leader no matter how great a run they have had in the office, one of the issues is when they will leave the political stage and what will happen next. The Malaysian leader suggested he may seek to stay in power beyond 2020 and said he could not guarantee who would succeed him as prime minister. Asked if he would step down in 2020, he said he wanted to fix problems created by the previous government before resigning - with a new economic plan slated to be achieved between 2025 and 2030. "This time around we want everybody to benefit, and not any particular group only," he said. Could the modernisation of Malaysia have happened without Mahathir? Is the Malaysian prime minister going to step down in 2020? And who would he endorse to be his successor? In this special edition of Talk to Al Jazeera at the Doha Forum 2019, Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad discusses his achievements, his vision for Malaysia, and the challenges the country faces. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Sarah Mokhtar, an Egyptian journalist, is struggling to kick start her career but is running out of options and money. "Decent jobs are hard to find in other cities, except in Cairo. That's where I found a job and a place to stay with four women who are just like me. We're all working women, making our own way in life. But later, when all my team was laid off, I lost my job. That's when it got hard," Mokhtar says. But her online friendship with the woman known to her friends as the "Finance Minister of Facebook" presents Mokhtar with an opportunity to visit the ancient city of Luxor, in the heart of Upper Egypt. So begins a journey up the majestic Nile that is set to alter Sarah's perceptions of working, living and saving. Along her journey, Mokhtar meets Sayed Mohammad, a boatman yearning for the times when river cruisers would ferry numerous tourists down the Nile. Tourists still visit the area but not in the same numbers as before. "My job depends a lot on tourists but there just aren't any. We've really been harmed by this," Mohammad says. "I'm no longer able to meet my basic living costs." Mokhtar also meets a weaver, Zaynab Heider, operating in a field some members of her community see as a male domain. "Not just anyone can do this job. It's seen as man's work. My eyes are fixed on the loom even when people visit the workshop. I feel flattered when they admire the rugs and ask who made them," Heider says. Inspired by Heider's tenacity and infectious good humour, Mokhtar follows her to her weaving workshop where she explains her craft. "Each rug tells my story and represents my feelings. If I'm happy and laughing with my friend while I'm weaving then my rug design has happy colours like reds, greens, and yellows," Heider explains. Mokhtar meets another woman, who like Heider, entered a trade once expected to be male-dominated. Nosa Moawad, an automotive painter, was thriving in her work painting vehicles but now, due to a lack of demand, she struggles to raise enough money for her family. "My earnings have gone down. I worked hard to be where I am now. I saved money and started this business, then saved again and bought a house. But now there isn't enough work to make money and save," Moawad says. As Mokhtar travels along the Nile, she documents her encounters with a range of characters and hears their stories. And in doing so meets people who she would never have otherwise met. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Football moves masses and generates billions of dollars around the world. The United Nations is now using the popular sport as a new way of diplomacy. "Football for Peace", an initiative established in 2006 by FIFA and Chilean legend Elias Figueroa, wants to create a better understanding among people, communities, and governments. It was revamped six years ago by Kashif Siddiqi, a British footballer of Ugandan and Pakistani-Indian decent. Siddiqi wants to use his multi-ethnic background and experience to draw the world's attention to a cause dear to his heart: Kashmir - an issue that has pitted India against Pakistan for more than 70 years. "My personal mission is against extremism and terrorism ... For me it's advocating the power of football, Siddiqi says. "As much as I am a footballer playing on the pitch, outside of it I carry a message of peace. And if I can bring that to the youth of Kashmir that need it at such hard times ... I hope that me playing in Kashmir will send a really strong message to everyone." The 33-year-old footballer even decided to leave his team, Oxford United, and join Real Kashmir - carrying a message of peace to a region in conflict. "Many people have asked me over the past couple of weeks. They have said to me: Are you naive? Are you stupid? What are you doing? You know what my answer is: 'anyone who is trying to change the world, is a little bit stupid.'" Footballer Kashif Siddiqi talks to Al Jazeera about his upbringing, his career and the challenges he faced, Football for Peace and his decision to play for Real Kashmir. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Robert Kyagulanyi - a pop star-turned-politician who is known by the stage name Bobi Wine - is recognised as the new face of Uganda's opposition. But his rise to prominence has not been without its challenges. Bobi Wine's popularity is considered a threat to President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in office for more than 30 years. "I have never realistically experienced a Uganda with another president. And it is more than 80 percent of Ugandans that are in the same situation," Bobi Wine tells Al Jazeera. "That really gets us disturbed. We have been denied an opportunity to contribute to our country. We have been excluded as a new generation. And we desire to contribute to building our country, which we know we are going to live in." "Certainly, the people making decisions for us are not going to be there to either benefit or suffer from the decisions - which are evidently wrong - that they are making for us." The Ugandan government has arrested and prosecuted Bobi Wine several times, and the opposition figure has accused security forces of torturing him. But the 37-year-old is not holding back his ambitions. In fact, he is now directly challenging President Museveni in elections expected to be held in 2021. "We know that Museveni is planning to rig the election, he has done it in the past ... But we are banking on overwhelming him because a vote can easily be rigged if it's not overwhelming," says Bobi Wine. "And ultimately, if President Museveni tries to rig the election ... the people of Uganda will rise up and they will stop it ... They are tired of this operation and they are tired and they will not take it any longer." But Wine stresses that he does not believe in violence and that they are using and will continue to use "all legitimate and legal ways of defending our voice." "We are looking at breaking a dictatorship and having Uganda under civilian rule, which has never happened before." So, will his popularity be enough to get him elected? And what are his plans for the way forward? Bobi Wine talks to Al Jazeera. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Filmmaker: Nasser Farghaly Stories of Arab emigration often focus solely on refugees fleeing war and persecution. But this is only part of a much wider story. Over decades, millions of people from the Arab world have emigrated - some driven by conflict and persecution, others for economic and family reasons, settling in Europe, Australia, the Americas and Africa. Al Jazeera World with a series of films titled Arabs Abroad sources emigration success stories from all parts of the world. While each documentary is different, common to all is the effort involved with migration as well as the connection between the diaspora and their Arab roots. The Doctor Dr Pedro Tobias is a Lebanese gynaecologist turned politician in Brazil. Tobias moved from France to Brazil in 1979 to work as a doctor in Bauru, a city northwest of Sao Paulo whose most famous son is legendary footballer Pele. "I haven't yet mastered the language like its native speakers," Tobias says. In addition to being breast cancer specialist, Tobias entered Brazilian politics not, he says, for personal gain but to build a new hospital for his adopted community. "Being a doctor is my life. Anyone can become a politician but not everyone can operate on patients." Tobias has now built three hospitals and is a former regional president of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party. The film charts the choices he faces when supporting a candidate for Brazil's highest office, choices with the potential to alter his life profoundly. The Oilman Iraqi geologist Farouk al-Kasim became a pioneer of the Norwegian oil industry after he travelled from Iraq to Norway five decades ago. He was seeking specialist medical treatment for his baby son. "I ended up in Norway by chance. When my youngest son was born he needed medical treatment that wasn't available in Iraq. Doctors told me they couldn't treat him and I had to find another way," al-Kasim says. Back in 1968, there were very few foreigners in Norway and he struggled to settle. "Norway was like an island where people weren't used to seeing foreigners in their country." But that changed dramatically with the discovery of vast North Sea oil reserves. Al-Kasim advised the Norwegians on how best to develop their natural resources and 40 years on, they have achieved what many countries have failed to do, using oil to create jobs in a blue-chip industry without damaging the environment. The documentary reveals how a softly spoken Iraqi geologist became a pivotal player in an oil boom that has delivered a trillion-dollar windfall for the people of Norway. As a result, al-Kasim has a place in national history, honoured as a hero of Norway's economic success. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

In October 2019, Turkey launched a military operation in northeast Syria to drive the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) back from its border. Dubbed Operation Peace Spring, Turkey's push was also aimed at establishing a "safe zone" stretching at least 30km (19 miles) into Syria to resettle some of the 3.6 million refugees it currently hosts. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar discusses the operation in northeast Syria, Turkey's cooperation with Russia and Iran and Ankara's strained relations with the United States and NATO following the purchase of the S-400 air defence system from Moscow. The military operation in northeast Syria was condemned by the US, a NATO ally, and members of the international community, but for Ankara it was seen as necessary to ensure national security. The SDF is dominated by the People's Protection Units (YPG), labelled "terrorists" by Ankara because of its ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting the Turkish state for decades. "Our only wish, our only goal, our only effort is towards the security of our country. Who from? The YPG, the PKK, terrorists and Daesh (ISIL, or ISIS). Our goal is to establish the security of our borders and our people," Akar tells Al Jazeera. "This is not an invasion in any way. This is not an attack in any way. It is only an operation launched against terrorists and terrorism." Akar says if a peace corridor is established, it may enable people to voluntarily and safely return to their homes. "Yes, our president has been reiterating this issue for two or three years now," Akar says, referring to Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "He has been making calls on the US and Europe and he articulated many times that the creation of a safe zone is very important, vital for Syrians and that is the most reasonable, rational and humane way." Akar says that with the repatriation of Syrians, "it will be possible for them to start a new life, and this, in return, will significantly contribute to peace, stability and the normalisation of all conditions, I believe." Responding to criticism that civilians were targeted during the military push, Turkey's third in northern Syria, Akar says: "These claims about our operations targeting the civilians are against all facts. This is an unbelievable issue, because it's not the first time we conduct operations, not the first time we fight against terror." He adds: "What we are doing here ... is not arbitrary. We are not acting disrespectfully to any other party's territorial integrity. This is an activity we have been undertaking for the security of our country and to make sure peace is built for the whole region." Asked whether Turkey is still determined to activate the S-400 air defence system, the purchase of which has created a diplomatic crisis with the US and NATO, Akar says Ankara's position has been "very clear" from the onset. "Our president has shared the attitudes, actions and plans by the Republic of Turkey or what we have done or will do, with the rest of the world. "By the end of 1990s, we have started to scrutinise on-air missile systems to enable the air and missile defence of our county and nation, and have exerted efforts to have them procured and supplied. Yet due to various reasons, we have had a delay on these activities. In particular, when the Syrian crisis emerged in 2011, it became a must for us to own air defence missile systems. Following that, we continued with our efforts intensively. However, the talks we held with the US and in Europe and the activities for procurement unfortunately couldn't help make it happen." Akar adds: "Upon experiencing these all, it became apparently more clear that we were in need of a permanent air missile defence system. For this reason, we accelerated our supply-related activities and identified certain criteria. Within the framework of this criteria, we made contacts with Europe, the US and with Russia. The right response for these criteria came from the Russians. Therefore, that is how this started. It was a necessity." He says that the S-400 air defence system will be a "standalone system" that will not be integrated with other NATO systems. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

This is the story of fourteen cargo ships accidentally caught up in the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and stuck in the Suez Canal while it remained closed for eight years. While their crews managed to maintain them, their decks became so covered in sand over time that they gradually merged with the landscape and were nicknamed "The Yellow Fleet". This film tells this unusual story through the eyes of the crews who manned the ships, on and off, for eight years. "I had an experience which I will never ever forget. I was 19 years old at the time. And it was quite a surprise to find myself right in the middle of a war, at the front seat, literally," Peter Richmond, who was on board the Agapenor in 1967, tells Al Jazeera. When the guns fell silent at the end of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Egypt closed the Suez Canal and while passenger ships were allowed to complete their journeys, cargo vessels were forced to remain, drop anchor and simply wait. Geopolitics and war brought together cargo vessels from the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Sweden, France, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the United States into an accidental, international flotilla assembled in a wide section of the Suez Canal known as the Great Bitter Lake. The crews realised that their best option would be to create a spirit of international cooperation, in stark contrast to events in the wider world. So they established a club, the Great Bitter Lake Association, whose remit was to inject some much-needed humour into a difficult situation. The crews began to devise ingenious ways to make life on board less uncomfortable and established their own unofficial, mini-country, with its own traditions, sporting competitions, and even postage stamps. They developed a barter system between ships, trading cargos, meat for fruit and prawns for eggs. They even staged their own Olympic Games. "The idea came mainly from everyone, driven by our desire to do something. We heard about the Olympics so decided we'd do the same on our ships. We had games like weightlifting, high jump, sailing and football. There were prizes and medals for the winners. I kept a silver medal I received for a sailing competition," Uwe Carstens, former sailor on the Nordwind, says. In 1975, the Suez Canal was finally reopened but inertia had caused the engines to seize up and all but two ships had to be towed out of the waterway. Both German vessels started on first try, their turbines turning the propellers and setting them on course for Hamburg. In doing so, they set a record for the longest sea shipping voyage in history: Eight years, 3 months and 5 days. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

He's recognised by many as a symbol of left-wing movements in Latin America. Evo Morales became Bolivia's first indigenous president after his party, Movement for Socialism, won the 2005 election. During his amost 14 years in power Bolivia's economy grew at on of the highest rates in Latin America and poverty was almost halved. For the unity of Bolivia, I withdraw my candidacy. I only ask them to allow us to complete our mandate. Evo Morales, Bolivia's former president Taking advantage of his popularity, Morales decided not to complete his first five-year term and called for an early election in 2009. He easily secured a second victory. Then a new constitution limited presidents to two terms in office. Morales promised not to stand for re-election in 2014, but he successfully ran for a third term after a court ruled that his first election preceded the new constitution. The activist-turned-politician then planned for a fourth term in office, but Bolivians rejected his wish during a 2016 referendum - only to have a court rule against that referendum, saying the laws limiting the re-election of the president violated his political rights. Morales took part in the recent October elections. Results were immediately disputed because of accusations of multiple irregularities. People across Bolivia protested in the tens of thousands, and the crisis escalated when the Organization of American States (OAS) published a report saying the vote had forged signatures and that there had been data manipulation. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Morales insisted there was no fraud in the October election and denounced the report of OAS, accusing it of being politically motivated. "I realised that it (the preliminary report) was politically motivated. I instructed the FM to call the OAS secretary-general to suspend the report's publication because it wsa going to create chaos in the country and more people were going to be killed. And that's wat's happening now. The OAS is also part of the military coup. I told then that the preliminary report was goin to bring us more deaths and create more confrontation, but they published it anyways," Morales said. "I had a lot of trust, or some trust. But now, I don't have any in the OAS. They should be called the Organization of the states of North America, not America. Morales called for a new election, but it was too late. The military urged him to step down to restore peace and stability. Morales announced his departure on Twitter writing: "It hurts to leave the country for political reasons, but I will stay in touch ... Soon I will return with more strength and energy." Morales has been granted asylum in Mexico. But what is his plan moving forward? Will he remain in Mexico, or return to Bolivia? "One can't stay outside of his own country. I'm used to being alongside the people as a union leader, president, doing work," said Morales, who has accused his opponents of conspiring against his government. "I miss helping them. I'm looking for legal backing to return to Bolivia, and I am sure, we will be back... I am not afraid. I have the right to return to Bolivia and defend myself and the people of Bolivia ... We will be back and join the fight to strengthen our social forces." The former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, talks to Al Jazeera. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Catalonia is a region in the northeast of Spain that is partially autonomous, but in recent years, independence sentiments have risen among Catalans. Two years ago, Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of the regional government, challenged Madrid and called for a referendum. The unofficial referendum went ahead on October 1, 2017, and the conflict escalated. There was a violent police crackdown with batons and rubber bullets used against voters. But when the ballots were counted Puigdemont claimed an overwhelming victory for secession. Puigdemont announced Catalonia's independence from Spain on October 27, 2017, but the declaration was suspended just eight seconds later, and instead he invited Madrid for dialogue. The invitation was not accepted as Madrid considered the referendum illegal and the then-Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy invoked constitutional powers and fired Puigdemont and his Cabinet. The deposed Catalan president fled to Belgium. Members of his government were taken into custody, including Puigdemont's number two, Oriol Junqueras. He was sentenced to 13 years for sedition and misuse of public funds. In May 2018, Catalonia's parliament elected Quim Torra, a close ally of Puigdemont, as the new Catalan president. Torra has continued with the pro-independence agenda. The Spanish electoral authority demanded he take down all separatist symbols from the government's headquarters. He did so but only after a court deadline had expired. Torra is now expected to be tried for disobedience on November 18. While most of the pro-independence protests have been non-violent, there were scenes of violence following the sentencing of the nine Catalan leaders in October which enraged many people. Torra has been criticised for being slow in condemning violent pro-independence protests, but he says it's just an argument used by the opposition. "The violence is not compatible with the independence process of Catalonia. It doesn't represent us," Torra tells Al Jazeera. "The situation now is very complicated ... People are angry because of the sentence against our colleagues ... We have to come back to what is the essence of the conflict of Catalonia. We have to find a political solution for this political issue that the Catalans want to decide for themselves their own future." Torra says he is trying to talk to Spanish prime minister Sanchez every day to suggest serious negotiations about the future of Catalonia. "From the Catalan government side, we are going to put on the table what we think could be the solution to the conflict. That is an agreed referendum, internationally validated, in order to give to the Catalan people to say if they want to be independent or not." Torra says. "And we strongly encourage the government of Spain to put their solution on this table of negotiations. That way, negotiations can start ... What is Spain offering to Catalonia?" While pro-independence protests continue in the region of Catalonia, Spain held a general election last week. The political crisis in Catalonia was one of the focal points for all candidates. Pedro Sanchez's Socialists emerged the winner, but far-right Vox party also made substantial gains. "This is maybe the worst problem that Spain has now, the rise of fascism in Spain. When you see the results of the general elections ... you see how important Vox is in Spain, but how unimportant Vox is in Catalonia. So who has the problem with Vox? ... We will urge the political parties in Spain to find a solution for this very critical issue," says Torra. So, what does this all mean for Catalonia on the way forward? And what does the future hold in store for President Torra after his upcoming appearance in court? "The independence of Catalonia will come. It's something that nobody will stop ... We are going to exercise the right of self-determination again. But we have learned something from the previous year ... The idea is, let's be stronger, let's build this great consensus between all of us, and let's go then with this horizon of exercising our right of self-determination," Torra says. The president of the regional government of Catalonia, Quim Torra, talks to Al Jazeera. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/