Erstellt am: 7. 1. 2014 - 14:35 Uhr

The Fall and Fall and Fall of Fallujah

Reality Check today: sectarian violence in Iraq, a crackdown on gay rights in Uganda, Turkey in disarray, and a major security clamp down in Sochi

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A Sunni fighter poses as he takes up position in Fallujah city, western Iraq, 05 January 2014

The Fall of Fallujah

It's amazing there's anything left of Fallujah to fall. The strategically key city, 70 kilometers to the west of Baghdad, suffered massive casualties during the Gulf War of 1991 and was at the forefront of death and destruction during the Iraq War. Fallujah is once again a battlefront, as Sunni Muslim militants, Al Qaeda and the Iraqi army wrestle for control over the city.

Reality Check's international security analyst, Shashank Joshi, explains why this latest chapter of devastating violence has emerged.

A Crackdown on Gay Rights in Uganda

International gay rights campaigners are condemning the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was passed in Ugandan parliament on 20th December last year. It is not law yet. Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has declared the vote invalid because it was passed with not enough politicians attending to make it valid. President Yoweri Museveni has also said he will read and consider the bill thoroughly before signing it into law. Considering the President's past declarations pertaining to the Ugandan LGBT community, the bill is fully expected to pass. Eric Bwire gave us his very personal take on these developments.

Turkey in Disarray

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A Turkish protestor wearing a gas mask holds a banner with a portrait of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an anti-government protest in Istanbul, Turkey, 27 December 2013

About 350 Turkish police officers were removed from their posts in Ankara overnight, the largest single purge of the police force since a corruption investigation plunged the government into crisis last month. The dismissals appear to be part of a continuing effort by the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to marginalize those it believes are driving the investigation. ORF Turkey correspondent Christian Schüller gave us his insight into this reshuffling of power in Turkey.

Sochi Security Clamp Down

Russia has launched what is being described as one of the largest security operations in Olympic history with one month to go before the start of the winter games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Our Moscow correspondent Tom Barton tells us more.