Search Result in All

[25 April 2012] Political ploys? - News Analysis - Presstv - English Egyptian energy companies have canceled the deal to supply Israel with natural gas. They said Israel failure to pay its payments as the reason, but with the election they approaching some see it as a more temporary political move aim that affecting the presidential election. The unpopular gas deal has had a negative image among the Egyptian public. Over the past year the pipeline has been repeatedly blown up, disrupting supply to Israel. Tel-Aviv says that canceled agreement will disrupt and already shake a peace treaty between the two sides and has demanded that Cairo reverse a decision. On this edition of News Analysis we will discuss the situation.

[27 April 2012] Egypt's first post - revolution presidential election - Middle East Today - Presstv - English The Egyptians are only weeks away from electing their new president in the very first election after last year's revolution which led to the fall of the dictator Hosni Mubarak. Despite the fact that many look to the elections as way to enhance true democracy in the state, there is also fear that the military council is working the elections. In this edition of the show we discuss the upcoming Egyptian presidential election with our expert guests.

[02 May 2012] Outside job - News Analysis - Presstv - English Terrorist attacks against Syria are intensifying. Has Kofi Annan peace plan already failed? As speed boats supplied by Turkey attack a Syrian border region, many are asking have some forces already embarked for foreign military intervention. On this edition of News Analysis we will discuss the situation.

[04 May 2012] Egypt on the Edge - News Analysis - English How tense are things in Egypt? Take Wednesday, where protesters were attacked during an anti-military protest near the defense ministry in Cairo: At least 20 were killed, in the politically tense run-up to the first post-revolution presidential election. In this news analysis we will discuss how ready Egypt is for these elections, including the presidential candidates, and their campaign promises, such as ending the Camp David Accord with Israel

[14 May 2012] Palestinian prisoners continue hunger strike - Middle East Today - English An estimated 1,600 to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners began an open-ended hunger strike on April 17. They do this to protest against Israel's administrative detention rules, the use of solitary confinement, maltreatment of sick detainees, and difficulty in securing family visits and strip searches that are imposed on visitors. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh calls on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike to protest their detention. Arab League permanent representatives held an urgent meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to discuss the situation of Palestinian prisoners and hunger-strikers in Israeli jails

A leading religious figure has been assassinated by gunmen in the Syrian capital Damascus. Imam of Ruqayya mosque, Sheikh Abbas al-Laham, was assassinated on Sunday. Several other religious figures have been killed in the country in recent months. Press TV has conducted an interview with Dr. Syed Ali Wasif, president of Society for International Reforms and Research, to further discuss the issue.

[17 May 2012] 'UN must take action on Bahrain' - English The UN Human Rights Council will discuss Bahrain's human rights record in its upcoming Universal Periodic Review on May 21st in Geneva. Interview with Paul Wolf, human rights and international lawyer, Washington

[18 May 2012] PGCC and lack of strategy - Middle East Today - English Arab states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council [PGCC] have failed to make a decision to form a confederation to merge Saudi Arabia with Bahrain. Who is in favor of this union? And will all the sides accept Saudi Arabia as the main player? And how does all of this relate to the events of the region? In this edition of the show we discuss Persian Gulf Cooperation Council's plan for merging Saudi Arabia with Bahrain.

The Bahraini regime forces backed by troops from Saudi Arabia have once again attacked protesters in the tiny Persian Gulf littoral state. Security forces on Friday fired teargas and sound grenades at the demonstrating crowds in several towns and villages around the Bahraini capital, Manama. Clashes then erupted between government forces and the pro-democracy protesters demanding the ouster of the Al Khalifa regime. Several people were injured during the demonstrations. The protesters also voiced their anger at the US government for its support of the Manama regime. Anti-American sentiments are high in Bahrain after Washington announced earlier this month that it would resume arms sales to Bahrain. However, Bahraini opposition groups and activists condemned the decision, saying it could encourage further human rights violations in the Persian Gulf country. Press TV has conducted an interview with Kamel Wazni, political analyst, to hear his opinion on this issue. The following is a rough transcription of the interview. Press TV: First of all we are hearing slogans on the streets in Bahrain against the United States now besides those slogans that were against the regime. People it seems are now very strongly and clearly saying that they want the United States to cut its support for the Manama regime, however we are seeing that support continue. Do you think that these slogans are going to be heard by Washington? Wazni: Obviously they will resonate in the White House and on the streets of America because this is the voice of the people and for very long time the Americans felt they are not mentioned on the streets and the Americans know sometimes this hostility that is taking place by the Bahrainis because they continue support of the Americans for the Bahraini regime and the approval of the Americans to sell weapons and arms to the Bahraini regime despite the crackdown that is taking place by the Bahraini regime against the civilian demonstrators of the country. I think there is voice on the streets saying anyone who sided with the criminals who are committing crimes against humanity should be condemned and today because the Bahraini authority, the Bahraini monarchy is committing crime and America being accomplice to this crime, then you see the people are voicing their sentiment and making their voice to be heard across the world. They are not intimidated, they are not afraid. They wanted democratic system and a country, that is the basic principle of human dignity to live free in his own or her own country where will be no discrimination, no crackdown, no torture. This is the basic principle of any human wanted to live in peace and prosperity and the Americans by siding with the Bahraini regime preventing the aspiration of the Bahraini people to make this happen so the Americans should not be shocked by what they are hearing. That is what they actually worked on by helping the Bahraini authority and if Obama is listening and Mrs. Clinton should listen to the human rights when they actually condemn the torture that is taking place by the Bahraini government. The systematic torture that is taking [place] day after day should be heard by the American administration. There are a lot of committees being established by the UN bodies, by even the King and they all indicated there is a huge torture and killing taking place on the streets of Bahrain. So is anybody listening? Press TV: What you referred there to the United Nations also other human rights groups we know for instance that the UN Human Rights Council recently in Geneva started to discuss the situation in Bahrain. We know groups like Amnesty International and other human rights organizations in and outside of Bahrain have been saying they have documents and proved that these violations are taking place but does that mean that they are going to give any support to the Bahraini revolutionaries and do you think without that support on the ground the Bahraini revolution can get anywhere? Wazni: Well obviously the public opinion on the international appeal is important but eventually the legwork has to be done by the people of Bahrain because the people of Bahrain made a pledge and they are determined to carry their own cause despite all the obstacles and all the atrocity that is committed by the Bahraini regime against the civilian in Bahrain. But having the public support of the international community from the UN, from other bodies is actually attested to the reality that is taking place. There is a crime taking place in Bahrain by the monarchy, by the royal family supported by the Americans and somebody has to listen but I do not think the Bahraini people are counting on the West or the Americans because they think the Americans are participant in what is taking place in Bahrain and despite all of that they have the will and the determination to carry their cause to the end. They know the sacrifice and they are willing to take that sacrifice and we hear the leadership of the Bahraini talking, when we hear Sheikh Ghasem say this is the will of the people and they will carry their duty to bring honorable justice to Bahrain despite all the killing and torture [that] is committed by the Bahraini with the help of the Saudis. The people will prevail in the end, will be costly process but you have to trust the people and the people will carry their duties.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood says its candidate Mohamed Morsi will face former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in the country’s presidential run-off election. Morsi is in the lead with 25.3 percent of the vote, followed by Shafiq with 24.9 percent. Official results from the electoral body are expected to be announced on Tuesday. The two candidates will compete in a run-off election on June 16 and 17. Electoral commission officials said that turnout was around 43 percent over the two days of voting on Wednesday and Thursday. Press TV has conducted an interview with Yahia Ghanem, editor at the al-Ahram newspaper, to hear his opinion on this issue. The following is a rough transcription of the interview. Press TV: Trying to understand these results specially Shafiq he did not do that well in his campaigning. How did he come up to this second place, finish at this point which is not really finished, it is unofficial results, what is your reaction to that? Ghanem: Well if you talk, if you ask about the reactions I believe that partly it was a shock for a lot of number of the Egyptians whereas it was a pleasant surprise of course for some others. So I believe that as much as Egypt and the Egyptians have been showing strong signs of being united, a united house in their march towards democracy, when it comes to the results of the first round of the elections they started showing strong signs of a house divided in terms of this splinter between Shafiq which is considered to be a remnant of the former regime and Dr. [Morsi], the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood. Press TV: In terms of who came out to vote we are looking at two large majorities, 60 percent saying to be from the urban areas which are farmers and then of course we are looking at the percentage of the youth in the country which is said to be 50 percent below the age of 30. But it does not seem like these results are indicating that which some are saying the silent majority came out. Do you see it that way? Ghanem: Say it again please. Press TV: The silent majority, do you think they were the ones that came out, tilting some of the voting in terms of the results we are seeing right now? Ghanem: I am not quite sure if I understood your question... Press TV: The silent majority of Egyptians is what I am getting at, did they come out, the ones who did not come out to vote for the parliamentary elections maybe came out this time to vote? Ghanem: Well, I believe that there was a large percentage of absence from the voters because everybody expected actually a higher percentage, everybody expected that the Egyptians would break the record that they scored during the first stage of the last parliamentary elections but unfortunately it did not happen. And I believe that there are reasons behind such absence and such reluctance of that large number of voters to practice and to exercise the right in voting the first civilian elected president but I believe that a large number of the youth who actually participated and spot the revolution, also they were reluctant to participate in these elections and I observed that while I was touring the polling stations, I believe that there were reasons actually behind such reluctance, such as the way the military council ran the whole show during the last 16 months and specially running that presidential election show. Press TV: And of course one of the biggest troubles and challenges Yahia Ghanem is the constitution and the presidential powers. When is that going to be resolved? Ghanem: I believe we still have to go for quite a while after the elections to sort out this issue of the right in constitution and specially that issue of writing the constitution. But personally speaking I believe that this issue have been made an issue by certain parties with interest to complicate things in Egypt because writing constitution is not that problem actually and they complicated the whole thing by inciting all different kinds of society, all the [structure] in society to claim the right of being represented in this committee and to share or to take part in writing the constitution. No constitutions in the world are being written that way. It is up to the specialists, the lawmakers or the professors of constitutional law to write the constitution as in many or in all the countries in the world and then for the establishing committee to discuss and to review that draft constitution but of course it does not make any sense for all representatives of all the sectors of the society and the [structure] of the society to take part in writing the constitution. It is funny and it is not true of course.

Damascus says it holds "armed groups" responsible for the recent deadly clashes in the western town of Houla that killed 108 people, including at least 49 children. The fighting between Syrian forces and armed groups in Houla comes despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 12. The UK foreign secretary said there could be "chaos and civil war" if the peace plan is not implemented. Press TV has conducted an interview with Mimi al-Laham, Syrian activist from Dubai, to further discuss the issue.

[28 May 2012] \'West loses credibility on Syria\' - English Syria slams the wording of a United Nations Security Council statement on the recent massacre of civilians in the central town of Houla. Ja\'afari said the 15-nation council misinterpreted the words of the head of the UN mission in Syria, General Robert Mood. He was referring to a part in the statement that condemned the Syrian government for the artillery and tank shelling of a residential neighborhood in Houla. Ja\'afari said it was an interpretation of Western states such as Germany and the UK. He added that General Mood had said it was unclear how the mass killings had taken place and that the events needed to be investigated. The Security Council released the statement after an emergency session to discuss the Houla killings. Over one-hundred people were killed and three-hundred others wounded in the town on Friday.

[31 May 2012] Euro-crisis to deepen due to bad banking - English The EU's Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn says eurozone leaders must anchor their actions in more austerity if the eurozone is to avoid "disintegration" amid the economic crisis. Rehn believes that "default or disintegration" would likely cause much greater pain for Europe's citizens than further unpopular austerity and reforms, as it "would lead to terrible depression in Europe and around the world." His remarks come as EU leaders have been struggling to ease the Europe economic crisis and amid concerns over a Greek exit from the debt-stricken eurozone. Press TV has conducted an interview with Rodney Shakespeare, professor of binary economics from London, to further discuss the issue.

[03 June 2012] Iran hosts international confab on Imam Khomeini - English Thinkers and scholars from 60 world countries have taken part in the conference. Iran has hosted an international conference to discuss ethics and politics from the viewpoint of the late Imam Khomeini. The conference comes as Iran is preparing to mark the 23rd anniversary of the demise of late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini on June 3. Thinkers and scholars from different world countries have already arrived in Tehran to commemorate the occasion. Thinkers believe that the teachings of Imam Khomeini will continue to inspire Muslims around the world in the years to come. Imam Khomeini, who overthrew the Shah regime back in 1979 and established the Islamic Republic believed that the keys to the victory of the Islamic revolution were the faith in God, reliance on the people and unity in words and action. Imam Khomeini died on June 3, 1989.

[02 June 2012] West after military intervention in Syria: Webster Tarpley - English A Syrian government investigation into the Houla massacre has shown that anti-Damascus armed groups were responsible for the killings in the Syrian town. The leader of Russia's Communist Party says the massacre in Houla, which killed over 100 people, is an intelligence plot concocted by Western politicians. Press TV has conducted an interview with Dr. Webster Griffin Tarpley, an author and historian from Washington, to further discuss the issue.

[01 June 2012] Complications in Egypt's presidential election - Middle East Today - English In Egypt there is growing fear among many that the unexpected results of the first round of presidential election could lead to an even more complicated situation in the run-off between Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq. There are also reports of money being pumped into the election process while the revolutionaries blame the military council for having purposefully disqualified significant revolutionary figures from the presidential race. In this edition of the show we discuss the complications in Egypt's presidential election with our expert guests.

[04 June 2012] 'Pakistan under pressure to give into US demand' - English Washington has been using drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia and claims that it is targeting militants, but civilians are the main victims of the attacks. Figures show that the American drone strikes killed at least 212 people in Yemen and Pakistan in the month of May. The aerial attacks were initiated by former US President George W. Bush but have escalated under President Barack Obama. Press TV has conducted an interview with Naveed Ahmad, defense and diplomacy analyst from Islamabad, to further discuss the issue.

[04 June 2012] Invasion imminent?-News Analysis - English In Syria the armed opposition says that it no longer recognizes Kofi Anan's seize fire plan. But it still is not clear who is responsible for violating it. Is Syria headed to civil war? And will there be a foreign military intervention? In another development a British newspaper has revealed that British Special Forces and the MI6 agents have set up camps on Syrian soil. But what is the real reason for presence on another countries soil? Why are there so many unanswered questions when it comes to the Syrian crisis? In this edition of News Analysis we will discuss the situation.

[07 June 2012] Intl. Iranian Languages & Dialects Conference kicks off in Tehran - English 1st Intl. Conference on Iranian Languages and Dialects. Scholars, linguists and researchers from around the world gathered to discuss issues concerning Iranian languages and dialects in this two day conference in Tehran. There were more than ten foreign experts on the subject from Germany, Italy, Georgia, Tajikistan and Austria. The secretary of the conference told us about the aim of this event.

[07 June 2012] 'Russia, China back Iran nuclear rights' - English Moscow has issued a statement supporting Tehran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and will shore up its efforts to ensure the international recognition of Iran's right. Foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov noted that the issue will also be discussed during a Thursday meeting of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Beijing. Press TV has conducted an interview with Christopher Walker, political analyst from London, to further discuss the issue.

[11 June 2012] Al Khalifa will not survive by brutal crackdown: Analyst - English Bahraini regime forces have raided the house of Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of the country's main opposition group, al-Wefaq, in a village near the capital, Manama. The incident took place as thousands of Bahraini protesters were holding an anti-regime demonstration outside Salman's house. The exact date of the incident, however, has not been announced. Al-Wefaq has organized many anti-government demonstrations in Bahrain since the beginning of the revolution in February 2011. Press TV talks with Jamal Wakim, a professor at the Lebanese International University, to further discuss the issue.

[11 June 2012] Israel has long history of racial discrimination - English African migrants have been the target of violent attacks by Israeli protesters in the past few weeks, while new legislation allows for the detention of migrants without charge. On June 3, Tel Aviv announced that migrants who illegally crossed into Israel could face a detention of up to three years. According to the Israeli interior ministry statistics, about 60,000 African immigrants, mainly from Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea, have entered Israel illegally. Press TV has conducted an interview with Abayomi Azikiwe, director of Pan-African News Wire, to further discuss the issue.

[13 June 2012] Russia FM visits Iran - English Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran With less than a week to the scheduled comprehensive talks between Iran and the p5+1group, that includes also Russia, Russia's Foreign minister has made an official visit to Tehran to discuss issues ranging from bilateral ties to the Moscow talks and the developments in Syria.During his meeting with a number of Iranian officials including Secretary of Iran's Supreme National security council Saeed Jalili and his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi, in which both sides called for an increase in the volume of bilateral trade which currently stands at 3 billion dollars annually. Right after the meeting the two ministers held a joint press conference, both sides said they hold similar views regarding the situation in Syria. Meanwhile Iran's foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi referring to the upcoming talks between Iran and the p5+1 group due in Moscow noted that the results of the negotiations would be fruitful if they're based on cooperation. Lavrov for his part said that Moscow is to invite around 15 countries, including Iran, for an international meeting on Syria. He further noted that said the conference would call for the implementation of the plan by UN-Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan. Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan for Syria launched in February 2012 is considered as the most serious international attempt to resolve the Syrian unrest. Lavrov's official visit to Tehran comes only days after the Presidents of Iran and Russia met on the sideline of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China. The two presidents had agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in different fields

[13 June 2012] West seeks to sabotage P5+1 Iran talks Jeff Steinberg - English EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says the group of six major world powers (P5+1) is ready to hold talks on Tehran's 5-point proposal in the forthcoming negotiations with Iran in Moscow. In a phone conversation with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili on Monday, Ashton said the P5+1 - comprising of Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany - is ready to discuss Tehran's proposal. Stressing the necessity of achieving success in the upcoming talks in the Russian capital, Ashton expressed hope that both sides could find common grounds based on Iran's proposal and the P5+1 package. Press TV has conducted an interview with Jeff Steinberg, from the Executive Intelligence Review, to hear his opinions on this issue.

[14 June 2012] Chomsky European states follow US lead in supporting Israel impunity - English US President Barack Obama once again has voiced unwavering support for Tel Aviv, reiterating that Washington is "decidedly more attentive" to Israel than it is to the Palestinians. Obama made the remarks at meeting with a visiting delegation of the US Orthodox Jewish community. He also called on the audience not to cast doubts on his loyalty to his Israeli allies. Press TV has conducted an interview with Noam Chomsky, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to further discuss the issue.

[19 June 2012] Russia supports Iran is nuclear program - English A spokesman for the European Union's chief negotiator, Catherine Ashton, says multifaceted talks between Iran and the world powers in Moscow are progressing in a calm and positive atmosphere. Michael Mann noted that today's talks between Iran and the P5+1 -- the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany -- are progressing in a calm and positive atmosphere and there is easy interaction between the two sides. Iran and the P5+1 launched the third round of their new series of talks in the Russian capital of Moscow on Monday. The two sides held three sessions of plenary talks in Baghdad in late May after an earlier round of negotiations in the Turkish city of Istanbul in mid-April. Press TV has conducted an interview with Vladimir Sotnikov, senior researcher at the institute of oriental studies, Russian Academy of Science, from Moscow, to further discuss the issue.

[20 June 2012] Egypt junta seeks to usurp power - English An Egyptian NGO known as Judges for Egypt says that Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi has won the country's presidential run-off election. The Egyptian judges association announced Morsi as the winner on Wednesday, saying it has obtained the results without interference from either candidate's campaigns. Egyptians cast their ballots in a two-day presidential run-off election on June 16 and 17, which pitted the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, Mohammed Morsi, against former Prime Minister Ahmad Shafiq. Both candidates in Egypt's presidential election are claiming victory. Press TV has conducted an interview with Zayd al-Isa, Middle East expert and political commentator from London, to further discuss the issue.

[03 July 2012] Saudi Arabia invested in Syria crisis - English UN human rights chief Navi Pillay says the flow of arms into Syria is "fueling the violence" in the Arab country, calling for an end to the militarization of the ongoing conflict. Pillay did not specify where the arms are coming from, but UN diplomats believe that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been supplying weapons to the armed Syrian rebels. The UN official claimed that the situation in Syria is "a non-international internal armed conflict," the legal term for a civil war, saying "there is a risk of escalation." While the West and the Syrian opposition say the government is responsible for the killings, Damascus blames "outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups" for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad. Press TV has conducted an interview with Hisham Jaber, director, Middle East Studies Center, to further discuss the issue.