Turkish soldier killed, 30 injured in Izmir bus attack [Press TV, Iran]

An ambush on a military bus in western Turkey has left one soldier dead and at least 11 others injured. The attack took place as the vehicle was on its way to a military post near a town in Izmir Province. The assailants detonated a roadside bomb before opening fire on the bus. The attackers' identities have yet to be revealed, but officials are pointing their fingers at the dissident Kurdistan Workers' Party, also known as the PKK. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accuses Syria of supplying weapons to the PKK.

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Sectarian violence displaces thousands of Rohingyas in Myanmar [Press TV, Iran]

Muslims in Myanmar are living under extremely conditions. Scores of Rohingya Muslims are being killed in Myanmar's western Rakhine Province; a military crackdown has forced tens of thousands of them out of their homes. Most have left for neighboring countries such as Bangladesh; others are living in camps inside Myanmar. Press TV goes to Yangon to meet with Rohingya activists and with some of the country's Buddhists, who do not recognize the Rohingyas as an ethnic group in Myanmar.

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Indonesians in Jakarta rally against mistreatment of Myanmar's Rohingyas [Press TV, Iran]

In the Indonesian capital Jakarta, crowds of people have gathered in front of Myanmar's embassy expressing anger at the mistreatment of Rohingya Muslims. The organizers of the rally say that they want Myanmar to stop the violence immediately, and to recognize the Rohingyas as official citizens. Protestors also demand the expulsion of Myanmar's ambassador from their country.

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UN: Congo facing 'catastrophic humanitarian crisis' [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo if relief organizations operating there do not receive the necessary support to offer humanitarian aid, such as food and basic services, to residents fleeing the ongoing violence between government forces and the rebels, ongoing since May.

Reporter, Female #1
This child's situation is similar to many other children in Congo, and is among 250,000 people who were displaced due to the violence between government forces and the rebels in the area of Luchero that started in May.

Reporter, Female #1
Kanyaruchinya is one of the camps that residents sought refuge in after fleeing acts of violence and the dangers that threaten their safety. Youths and children are being forced to fight with the rebels, and many women are getting raped.

Reporter, Female #1
The inhabitants of the camp say they are living under bad conditions. A severe food shortage is forcing children to search for leftovers in these containers, and their mothers are forced to beg. UN Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos confirmed that the lack of funding is hindering relief efforts. She warned that if relief organizations operating in the Congo do not receive the necessary funds of 791 million dollars, that the humanitarian crisis will worsen. However, these organizations have not even received half that amount.

Guest, Female #2 (Valerie Amos, UN Relief Coordinator)
The situation is very bad; people want to return to their homes and they want safety. There are many children, and there isn't a suitable shelter for them, or food. We will try to do what we can to reduce the impact of the fighting, but the great number of refugees makes the mission difficult.

Reporter, Female #1
During her visit, Amos is working to bring the attention of the donors to the refugees' suffering in the Congo. These refugees are looking forward to achieving a peace treaty between the government and the rebels so calm can be restored to their country. This would end the humanitarian and political crisis the country is witnessing. Samah Hamdan, BBC.

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Cradle of Tunisian uprising demands Sidi Bouzid's liberation [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
In Tunisia, one person was wounded with a rubber bullet, and four people asphyxiated, when the police dispersed a protest by the opposition in the town of Sidi Bouzid with rubber bullets and tear gas. Protestors were demanding the resignation of the government that is headed by the Islamic Nahda party. Joining us from Tunisia is Mohamed Mazam, a leader in the Tunisian Labor Party. Mr. Mazam, why are there protests in Sidi Bouzid in particular, and what is happening there?

Guest, Male #2 (Mohamed Mazam, Tunisian Labor Party Leader)
The protests in Sidi Bouzid are not new; they did not start today. Many protests have been held recently. The protests are over the continuous power and water outages, and some workers have also been protesting in demand of their rights. Many residents and youths are demanding an improvement to their social conditions. But the government faced these demonstrations with a crackdown and arrests.

Guest, Male #2
Today, the residents of Sidi Bouzid organized a large number of people, through a call by the December 17th front, which is a front that includes a number of parties active in the struggle. The residents organized a demonstration under the banner of "Liberating Sidi Bouzid" to bring attention to the deteriorating situation in the town, and to demand the release of prisoners arrested during protests over water and power outages, and to demand an improvement to their social conditions. The protest was also a rejection of the policies adopted by the local authorities, and the head of the security department in Sidi Bouzid, and also the public prosecutor. Residents in Sidi Bouzid believe these officials are ignoring the demands and rights of the front, while seeking to serve the interests of the ruling party.

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Libya celebrates transfer of power to elected assembly [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
In Libya, the General National Congress held its first session after being elected last month, and received power from the National Transitional Council, which ruled Libya after the fall of the former government. During the session, the president of the National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel al-Jalil, passed the reins to the oldest member of the assembly, chosen to preside over the council in the coming phase.

Reporter, Male #2
This day will go down in the history of the Libyan people. Following the ousting of the previous regime, the new Libya is taking an important step toward democracy. Many observers have described this step as symbolic, but it is a peaceful transition of power that Tripoli has not experienced for four decades. Here, in a luxury hotel in the Libyan capital, the conference hall was packed with representatives of diplomatic missions, members of the National Transitional Council, government officials, and the heads of political parties. They are here to witness the handover of power from the National Transitional Council to the General National Congress that was elected last month.

Guest, Male #3 (Mustafa Abdel al-Jalil, Libyan National Transitional Council Head)
The National Transitional Council hands over the constitutional duties for leading the state to the general national congress, which from this historical moment on is the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

Reporter, Male #2
So this is how the official legitimacy of an unelected council, that led a political and diplomatic revolt on the Gaddafi regime, is transferred. The council had led the affairs of the country during the months of the transitional phase, and now another phase is starting. The General National Congress will choose a new government, and lead the country toward new elections on the basis of a new constitution.

Reporter, Male #2
As for the people who have long waited for this moment, alongside other important moments that brought an end to the Gaddafi rule, they filled Martyrs' Square; the square that was known as Green Square during the rule of the Libyan colonel. The Libyan people held their own celebrations, away from the official ceremony attended by political and diplomatic figures.

Guest, Male #4
What a beautiful feeling, the feeling of a free Libya. Today is a very happy occasion.

Guest, Female #1
Today I took my vengeance. They took the dearest people away from me. This is the best thing that has happened!

Reporter, Male #2
This time, the transfer of power was peaceful, unlike the events of last year. So the Libyan people are hopeful that things will be better in the coming months of the recently-elected assembly's rule, but the challenges toward democracy are still difficult. Security issues are arising in the large Libyan cities from time to time, forcing the security services to deploy a large number of their forces in the capital Tripoli.

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Syrian rebels retreat from Aleppo under fire, as Assad appoints new prime minister [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the killing of over 80 people today by the gunfire of Assad's brigades. Most of them died in Aleppo, where the Free Syrian Army reported the killing of General Issam Zahr Iddin, the local commander of the regime forces in the neighborhood of Salaheddin.

Guest, Male #1
Bashar, oh Bashar, we are coming to your house, Bashar.

Reporter, Male #2
Aleppines never imagined that the regime's planes would shell their densely populated neighborhood, destroying it and turning it to rubble.

Guest, Male #3
Signs of indiscriminate shelling by Assad's murderous gangs.

Reporter, Male #2
After it ran out of ammunition following fierce clashes with al-Assad's brigades, the Free Syrian Army carried out a tactical withdrawal from the neighborhood of Salaheddin. It was then redeployed to attack government forces. Meanwhile, al-Assad's brigades used their artillery and planes to shell the neighborhoods of al-Safour, Saif al-Dawla, al-Shaar, Haidariya, and Masaken Hanano.

Reporter, Male #2
The Reuters news agency published photos of the massive destruction caused by MiG fighter jets in Tal-Rifaat in the countryside of Aleppo that led to the killing and injury of dozens of people. Some areas of the capital sustained heavy indiscriminate shelling, particularly the neighborhoods of al-Kadam and al-Asali.

Reporter, Male #2
In Homs, smoke and flames could be seen rising from burning homes in al-Sultaniya and Jouret al-Shayyah, the result of the violent shelling. Clashes between the Free Syrian Army and Assad's brigades continued in Idlib, Deir az-Zour, and Daraa, where the rebels were able to cut off the army's supply routes. Meanwhile, the opposition is organizing its supporters to participate in protests on Friday under the slogan, "Arm us with anti-aircraft weapons".

Presenter, Male #4
In Tehran, Iran's foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, said at the opening of a "consultative" conference on Syria that the only path to reconciliation in Syria passes through comprehensive dialogue between the government and the opposition. He also reiterated his country's objection to any foreign or military intervention in Syria.

Presenter, Female #1
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad assigned Health Minister Wael Nader al-Halki as the new prime minister. He is replacing Riad Hjab, who announced his defection last Monday and left the Syrian territories. Al-Halki hails from the Daraa region, known as the birthplace of the Syrian revolution. He will replace Omar Ghalawanji, who was tasked with running the government hours after Hijab's defection.

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Kurdistan Region creates negotiations council to resolve Baghdad disputes [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
In the northern Iraqi region of Erbil, Kurdish parties are continuing to hold marathon sessions with the aim of forming a supreme council to negotiate and resolve all outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.

Presenter, Male #1
The supreme council includes political blocs representing the authorities, the opposition, and civil society organizations.

Reporter, Male #2
It's rare for the opposition to agree with the authorities in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. However, this agreement comes after all sides realized the dangerous nature of the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil. Under the terms of the agreement, a supreme council will be formed to oversee the negotiation and monitor its results with regard to all outstanding issues, which the Kurdish side says are essential to preserving the interests of the region.

Guest, Male #3 (Karud Mohammed, Head of Change Bloc in Kurdistan Parliament)
Any decision taken by this council will be national, which all parties agree on. The parliament will remain a reference point, which will help us adopt resolutions that will serve the people's interests.

Reporter, Male #2
The formation of this council will likely spare the regional authority from taking the blame over the failure to reach a resolution with regard to its outstanding issues with Baghdad.

Guest, Male #4 (Dr. Mohammed Ihsan, Kurdistan Regional Government's Envoy to Baghdad)
This will clearly help unify the positions of all sides of the political equation in Kurdistan. With this, no groups will be singled out, or held entirely responsible for the implications and disagreements between Erbil and Baghdad.

Reporter, Male #2
Observers believe that the formation of this council will not serve as a magic wand to resolve the issues between Baghdad and Erbil unless both sides show a strong will to end their dispute.

Guest, Male #5 (Dr. Shirzad al-Najar, Professor of International Law, Salaheddin University)
The important question is: Does the central government have a sincere intention to resolve these problems? And if not, will it continue to fuel these problems, under the pretext that one crisis leads to another, and one problem leads to another? And, in the end, they will say they have no solutions.

Reporter, Male #2
The Iraqi Kurdistan Region's formation of a council to negotiate with Baghdad, with the participation of the opposition, is a move intended to unify the positions of the Kurdish political parties in a bid to deal with, or perhaps resolve, all outstanding issues with Baghdad. Ahmed al-Zawouti, Al Jazeera, Erbil.

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Shin Bet captures suspects in 2000 lynching of IDF reservists [IBA, Israel]

The Shin Bet security service and the Judea and Samaria district police announced the arrest of two men who reportedly confessed to having taken part in the brutal October 2000 lynching of two IDF reservists, Yossi Avrahami and Vadim Nurzhitz, in Ramallah. The arrests came after Hamas operatives in Ramallah and the Binyamin region were uncovered. Two other Hamas operatives are also in custody.

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Ehud Barak: US intelligence on Iran nuclear program 'closer to Israel's appraisal than ever' [IBA, Israel]

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the latest US intelligence assessment regarding Iran's nuclear program is closer to Israel's appraisal than ever before. In addition, given the possibility of an Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, Saudi Arabia has reportedly warned that it would shoot down any Israeli warplanes that penetrate its airspace.

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Drive-by shooting takes Egyptian police station in northern Sinai by surprise [IBA, Israel]

Egyptian police clashed with armed men in the city of el-Arish in the northern Sinai after authorities stepped up efforts to crush a surge in Islamist militants in the region. Reports say that Egyptian officers were taken by surprise when gunmen fired at their police station from a moving vehicle. These developments come after President Mohamed Morsi appointed a new national intelligence chief following a round of firings in the aftermath of the Egyptian border guard attack that killed 16 earlier this week.

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Birzeit University students start hunger strike to protest tuition hike [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
The student union at Birzeit University announced the start of an open-ended hunger strike following the university's decision to raise the academic tuition and fees.

Reporter, Male #2
One hundred ten days have passed, and the doors of Birzeit University remain closed to its students. This is the result of the university's decision to raise tuition and fees. Students say they will have to incur heavy costs. In addition, the university announced the cancellation of the summer session.

Guest, Male #3 (Kamal Assaf, President of Birzeit University Student Union)
The interests and rights of the students must be taken into consideration. The irresponsible decision to cancel the summer session reflects a mindset that is unaware of the interests of the students, and the university. This arbitrary decision poses dangers to the university because it raises the university's financial burden, and in turn will intensify the crisis.

Reporter, Male #2
Many meetings and consultations were held between the university's administration and the student union, but they did not lead to a positive outcome for the next academic year.

Guest, Male #4
We lost the hope that Birzeit University really carries a nationalist educational message. Birzeit is a charitable organization with a nationalist message, so it must commit to its moral obligation to the students. This moral obligation does not allow it to obstruct this prestigious institution.

Reporter, Male #2
To protest the university's decision, the student union and the student movement announced, during a press conference held at the entrance of the university, a series of escalating steps, most notably the start of an open-ended hunger strike until the tuition hike is canceled.

Guest, Male #3
After using all available means to pressure the university's administration to cancel its irresponsible decision to increase the tuition, and to confirm our absolute alignment with the poor classes, and because of our faith in the principle that education is a right to all, we are announcing that some of the protestors will begin an open-ended hunger strike. And we will not retreat until our legitimate rights are fulfilled.

Reporter, Male #2
Amid the financial crisis endured by the national authority, and the Ministry of Education's inability to fulfill its monitory obligations to the universities, students are left with a burden they had no responsibility for. Khaled Motawea, Palestine TV.