Anger takes over Arab streets

Demonstrations against Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip have been held for the second day accross the Middle East.

On Sunday, Israel has bombed supply tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip in a second day of intense air raids aimed at forcing Hamas militants to halt rocket fire.

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Stalin third-greatest historical figure

Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, who sent millions to their deaths in the Great Purge of the 1930s, has been voted Russia’s third-greatest historical figure, says a state television network.

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Cheney defends waterboarding

The use of waterboarding on prisoners at Guantanamo Bay has been defended by Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, who said that the prison should remain open until the “war on terror” ends. (photo, from aljazeera.net)

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Cheering crowds welcomed freed Palestinians

Busloads of Palestinians set free from Israeli jails have been welcomed home by jubilant crowds. (photo, from aljazeera.net)

More than 220 Palestinians were released by Israel, which said it was a goodwill gesture towards Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

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Anti-government marches prevented in Russia

Two marches by anti-government demonstrators have been prevented by the police in Moscow and St Petersburg (photo, from cnn.com), detaining at least 100 protesters.

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Gaza-Israel truce extension is uncertain

The ceasefire between Gaza and Israel that started in June is unlikely to be extended, the Palestinian group Hamas has said in a statement attributed to exiled leader Khaled Mashaal.

Earlier reports on Sunday quoting Mr Mashaal as saying there would definitely be no renewal of the truce were inaccurate, Hamas officials told Al Jazeera.

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Australian police killed teenager

A 15-year-old boy has been killed by the police in the southern Australian city of Melbourne, in a skate park after officers said he threatened them with knives.

The boy’s identity has not been released.

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UN official criticises Israel’s ‘crimes’

Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories amount to a crime against humanity, said Richard Falk (photo), the UN special rapporteur on human rights there.

His statement came as Israel has been urged by UN human rights delegates to take nearly 100 measures, such as ending its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

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The release of Palestinian prisoners delayed

The scheduled release by Israel of 230 Palestinian prisoners will be delayed for a week, and each side is saying the other caused the hold-up.

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Dion to step down

Stephane Dion (photo), the head of Canada’s main opposition Liberal party has said he will step down once a replacement is chosen.

He said he would resign after a coalition of opposition parties failed last week to unseat Stephen Harper, the country’s Conservative prime minister, and his government.

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