[25 Oct 2013] The Debate - US spying scandal - English
The US spying scandal has spread in scope and geography: The latest: The US National Security Agency has spied on Germans, including Chancellor...
The US spying scandal has spread in scope and geography: The latest: The US National Security Agency has spied on Germans, including Chancellor Angela Merkel. Add to that, French diplomats in Washington and at the UN, not to mention Italy, Brazil, Mexico, and of course, the US itself. All based on leaks from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, through Glen Greenwald, the outgoing Guardian journalist, who is feeding the material from Brazil.
In this debate, we will discuss what the repercussions of this US spying on its allies would be, and try to get to the bottom of how vast this spying has been, and whether the countries involved will do anything about it.
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[27 Oct 2013] Iranian President says political solution is the only way...
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says political solution is the only way to put an end to violence in Syria.
Rouhani also said the international...
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says political solution is the only way to put an end to violence in Syria.
Rouhani also said the international community has reached the conclusion that military intervention is not a solution to the Syrian crisis, and THAT is a good sign. He made the remarks during a meeting with the visiting UN-Arab League Special Envoy for Syria. Lakhdar Brahimi for his part said that he always defends Iran\'s participation in the Geneva 2 talks. The UN-Arab League Special Envoy for Syria said yesterday that Iran\'s participation in the Geneva talks is QUOTE natural, necessary, and fruitful. Brahimi\'s visit to Tehran is part of his Middle East tour to lobby support for the meeting. The Geneva talks has been slated for November 23rd and 24th, to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict.
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[03 Nov 2013] Khan Said is the new leader of the Taliban - English
Khan Sa\'id has been chosen as the new leader of pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan.
The militants\' number-two commander was promoted to the...
Khan Sa\'id has been chosen as the new leader of pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan.
The militants\' number-two commander was promoted to the group\'s leader after former chief, Hakimullah Mehsud, was killed in a US drone strike on Friday. Security officials say Sa\'id was chosen as the new commander at a meeting of the supreme ruling council. However, some commanders are reportedly unhappy with the decision and want more talks. Islamabad accuses Washington of scuttling attempts to bring the Taliban militants to the negotiating table. Pakistan has threatened to review its ties with the US over the latest drone strike.
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[04 Nov 2013] The trial of Egypt ousted president Mohamed Morsi is...
A key trial suspended just minutes after opening. An Egyptian judge has suspended the trial of the country\'s first democratically-elected...
A key trial suspended just minutes after opening. An Egyptian judge has suspended the trial of the country\'s first democratically-elected president, Moahmed Morsi.
The suspension reportedly came after Morsi and 14 other defendants began shouting that they didn\'t recognize the authority of the court. Mohamed Morsi, three of his aides and 11 Muslim Brotherhood members are standing trial for allegedly inciting violence which left 10 protesters dead in December. The Muslim Brotherhood has called the charges fabricated, urging its supporters to pour into the streets in protest. Security is currently tight in Egypt with some 20-thousand policemen deployed to the streets. Brotherhood\'s supporters are demonstrating in several cities and outside the venue of the trial. Reports say at least 20 pro-Morsi protesters have been arrested during clashes in the port city of Alexandria.
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[08 Nov 2013] israel is the prime suspect in the death of Yasser Arafat...
Palestinian investigators accuse israel of being the prime suspect in the mysterious death of former Palestine Liberation Organization leader,...
Palestinian investigators accuse israel of being the prime suspect in the mysterious death of former Palestine Liberation Organization leader, Yasser Arafat.
A Palestinian committee charged with finding the truth has accepted the Swiss and Russian reports that show the former P-L-O leader was poisoned to death. During a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Palestinian investigators said that scientific details show Arafat did not die a natural death. They\\\'ve also pledged to carry out a thorough investigation to confirm all the details and elements of the case. Arafat\\\'s body was exhumed last year to find out the actual cause of his death. During forensic tests, Swiss scientists found a high level of polonium in Arafat\\\'s bones. Arafat died in November 2004, after going onto a coma following symptoms of abdominal pains, diarrhea and vomiting.
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[17 Nov 2013] The Debate - US Afghan Security Pact - English
Afghan president Hamid Karzai has given a thumbs up to extend the presence of US troops beyond 2014. However he has also said that the Loya Jirga...
Afghan president Hamid Karzai has given a thumbs up to extend the presence of US troops beyond 2014. However he has also said that the Loya Jirga or the assembly of elders must approve the security pact between Kabul and Washington. Many Afghan citizens want Washington to leave their country. The central issue for the assembly is the issue of immunity for American troops that will remain in the country after the withdrawal of its allies\' forces by the end of 2014. What will this do to Afghanistan? And why does the US want to stay in Afghanistan, when more and more Americans are dissatisfied with the deteriorating socio-economic conditions back home?
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[19 Nov 2013] Exclusive : Syrian soldiers have secured the al-Dweireneh...
The Syrian army forces are pushing ahead with their mop-up operations in the country\'s northwest.
Syrian soldiers have secured the al-Dweireneh...
The Syrian army forces are pushing ahead with their mop-up operations in the country\'s northwest.
Syrian soldiers have secured the al-Dweireneh town, east of the al-Nayrab airport in Aleppo. This is the latest in a series of army advances across the country over the recent weeks. On Tuesday, army units regained full control of the Qara town in the strategic al-Qalamoun area in the countryside of the capital Damascus. They also freed a number of towns there. The Qalamoun region is used by militants to cross into Syria from Lebanon.
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[20 Nov 2013] President Rouhani : Tehran is after a win-win situation...
Iran\'s president says threats of a military option can not derail the process of nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN...
Iran\'s president says threats of a military option can not derail the process of nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Hassan Rouhani said Iran is after a win-win situation in the Geneva talks. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the president added that Iran seeks peace and stability in the Middle East, and that all nations will benefit from successful talks on Iran\'s nuclear program. He said differences over the nuclear program should be resolved through international regulations, adding that Tehran will NOT give up its nuclear rights or cross the red lines set by the Islamic Republic. Regarding the previous round of talks in Geneva, President Rouhani said the two sides had made progress, but unfortunately irrelevant expectations derailed the negotiations, leading to no agreement there.
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[20 Nov 2013] President Rouhani threats of a military option can not...
Iran\'s president says threats of a military option can not derail the process of nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN...
Iran\'s president says threats of a military option can not derail the process of nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Hassan Rouhani said Iran is after a win-win situation in the Geneva talks. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the president added that Iran seeks peace and stability in the Middle East, and that all nations will benefit from successful talks on Iran\'s nuclear program. He said differences over the nuclear program should be resolved through international regulations, adding that Tehran will NOT give up its nuclear rights or cross the red lines set by the Islamic Republic. Regarding the previous round of talks in Geneva, President Rouhani said the two sides had made progress, but unfortunately irrelevant expectations derailed the negotiations, leading to no agreement there.
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[22 Nov 2013] Afghanistan rejects a US demand to sign a bilateral...
Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible.
A spokesman for Afghan...
Afghanistan rejects the U-S demand that Kabul sign a security deal between the two countries as soon as possible.
A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the agreement must wait until after next year\'s presidential election, even if it\'s approved by the Loya Jirga and the parliament. This, after the White House said Karzai\'s failure to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement, or B-S-A, by the end of this year would prevent Washington and its allies from planning for post-20-14 presence in Afghanistan. On Thursday, Karzai said he was willing to delay the signing of the B-S-A until after next year\'s presidential election. However, ordinary Afghans are angry over raids by American and other foreign troops. And they\'ve held protests against the security deal with the U-S.
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[22 Nov 2013] A top UN official urges Israel to end the crippling...
UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get...
UN officials are calling on Israel to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They\'re warning that the situation in the Palestinian territory may get even worse.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says the Israeli blockade has paralyzed Gaza\'s construction industry. Robert Turner also said that the demolition of tunnels used by Gazans to transfer goods and construction materials to the enclave has put U-N projects on hold. This, after Egyptian authorities also stepped up the destruction of the tunnels in recent months. Meanwhile, another U-N official, James Rawley has also waned about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory over a lack of fuel there. Gaza\'s fuel crisis has led to the closure of its main power plant in recent months. Israel imposed its all-out land, aerial, and naval blockade on Gaza in June 2007 after the victory of Hamas in elections there.
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[24 Nov 2013] In Afghanistan, the Loya Jirga endorses a controversial...
The grand assembly of Afghan tribal elders and politicians has endorsed a controversial security pact with the United States.
The Loya Jirga...
The grand assembly of Afghan tribal elders and politicians has endorsed a controversial security pact with the United States.
The Loya Jirga members have called on the Afghan president to sign the deal by the end of the year. But Hamid Karzai says he will only sign the agreement if the US brings peace to Afghanistan. The announcements were made on the final day of intensive talks among tribal elders who were tasked with deciding the fate of the deal. The security deal allows the US to keep thousands of its troops in Afghanistan beyond the 20-14 withdrawal date.
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[24 Nov 2013] In Afghanistan the Loya Jirga endorses a controversial...
The grand assembly of Afghan tribal elders and politicians has endorsed a controversial security pact with the United States.
The Loya Jirga...
The grand assembly of Afghan tribal elders and politicians has endorsed a controversial security pact with the United States.
The Loya Jirga members have called on the Afghan president to sign the deal by the end of the year. But Hamid Karzai says he will only sign the agreement if the US brings peace to Afghanistan. The announcements were made on the final day of intensive talks among tribal elders who were tasked with deciding the fate of the deal. The security deal allows the US to keep thousands of its troops in Afghanistan beyond the 20-14 withdrawal date.
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[24 Nov 2013] President Rouhani says the sanctions against Iran are...
The Leader of Iran\'s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani have both hailed the nuclear deal clenched...
The Leader of Iran\'s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani have both hailed the nuclear deal clenched between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany in Geneva.
Ayatollah Khamenei thanked the Iranian negotiating team, saying they\'ve done a praiseworthy job. The leader described the Geneva deal as a success and called on the Iranian negotiators to resist any excessive demand in the future. Meanwhile, President Rouhani has said that under the deal, Iran can continue to enrich uranium on its soil. The president also said the nuclear deal with the P-five-plus-one will see the sanctions against Iran lifted step by step. Rouhani noted that if the P-five-plus-one group lives up to its obligations, Iran will also abide by the terms of the agreement.
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[26 Nov 2013] Under the Geneva deal the western countries have agreed to...
Under the Geneva deal between Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, the western countries have...
Under the Geneva deal between Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, the western countries have agreed to ease sanctions on Iran in response to Tehran\'s confidence-building move to continue its nuclear energy program at a lower level. But, there are different accounts of the exact timing of the partial sanctions removal.
The U-S says Iran will see up to seven-billion-dollars worth of its frozen assets un-blocked. Out of this amount, Washington is expected to un-freeze some four-point-two billion dollars in oil revenue frozen in foreign banks. But, some remaining 40 billion dollars of Iran\'s oil export money will remain frozen. This is the amount Iran obtained through selling its oil under U-S and E-U sanctions imposed in early 20-12. Iran could also access another four-hundred-million dollars for educational purposes, such as the transfer of university tuition fees. France\'s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says this could happen in December. But British Foreign Secretary William Hague, as well as the spokesman for E-U\'s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, say they expect the sanctions easing to be completed in January.
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[26 Nov 2013] Iran urges reforms in the structure of ECO after almost...
The 21st ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization-ECO!
On Tuesday, the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO was...
The 21st ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization-ECO!
On Tuesday, the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the ECO was held on in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The council accounted for the reports of the ECO and its institutions on progress achieved in the main activity area of the organization that focus, among others, on transport, trade, energy, environment and agriculture. The meeting was started by a short speech by Iran\'s President, Hassan Rouhani who urged some reforms in legal, structural, institutional and planning aspects of the organization after some three decades of activity.
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[01 Dec 2013] Tripoli is still the scene of deadly clashes linked to the...
The Lebanese city of Tripoli is still the scene of deadly clashes linked to the war in neighboring Syria.
Three more people were killed...
The Lebanese city of Tripoli is still the scene of deadly clashes linked to the war in neighboring Syria.
Three more people were killed overnight in fighting between supporters and opponents of the Syrian government. The latest fatalities bring to nine the number of people who\'ve lost their lives in the past 24 hours in Tripoli. Dozens of people have been injured since the battle erupted on Saturday morning. The Lebanese army has intervened, trying to end the violence.
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[01 Dec 2013] Hekmatyar called on President Hamid Karzai to reject the...
The leader of Afghanistan\'s Islamic Party has called on President Hamid Karzai to reject the security pact with the United States.
Gulbuddin...
The leader of Afghanistan\'s Islamic Party has called on President Hamid Karzai to reject the security pact with the United States.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar says the so-called bilateral security agreement is not in the interest of Afghans and that Karzai should not sign it. The famous warlord has warned that the partnership deal will not end bloodshed in Afghanistan; on the contrary it will cause more troubles. The security deal paves the way for US military presence in the war-torn country beyond the 20-14 withdrawal of foreign forces. Many Afghans believe the pact is a threat to their country\'s sovereignty as it allows American soldiers to carry out unilateral operations while having legal immunity.
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[02 Dec 2013] 18th Conference of organization State parties opens at the...
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has opened its Conference of the States Parties in The Hague.
Top on the agenda is the...
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has opened its Conference of the States Parties in The Hague.
Top on the agenda is the organization\'s mission to get Syrian chemical stockpiles out of the country by the year-end for final destruction. Meanwhile, Iran\'s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham has said that Iran will actively participate in the conference. She added that as a victim of chemical weapons used by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Iran will be influential in the decisions made by the O-P-C-W. Iran\'s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will also make a speech at the conference on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. Press TV\'s Nargess Moballeghi who is currently at the venue of the conference, has sent us this update.
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[02 Dec 2013] The Kurdistan Regional Government says it has reached an...
The prime minister of Iraq\'s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region says Arbil and Ankara have agreed on the final details of an oil export deal....
The prime minister of Iraq\'s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region says Arbil and Ankara have agreed on the final details of an oil export deal.
Nechirvan Barzani says the finalization of such cooperation is a great achievement for Iraq and the Kurdistan region. He said that by signing the deal, the Kurdistan region will for the first time become a net contributor to the Iraqi national income. This, as Iraqi oil minister and his Turkish counterpart yesterday agreed that oil exports from anywhere in Iraq need the central government\'s approval. Baghdad says any independent exports from the region would be illegal but Arbil insists that it has the right to sell the oil independently.
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[04 Dec 2013] Insurgents fighting against the government plan to use a...
Latest media reports from Syria say insurgents fighting against the government plan to use a group of nuns kidnapped from their convent in the town...
Latest media reports from Syria say insurgents fighting against the government plan to use a group of nuns kidnapped from their convent in the town of Ma\'loula as human shields.
The 12 Syrian and Lebanese nuns were kidnapped from a Greek Orthodox convent after the notorious al-Nusra Front militants took over parts of the Christian town. The nuns were then taken to Yabrud - a town under insurgent control north of Damascus. This, as Syrian forces have been deployed to the historic town to restore security there. The militants took over the town on Monday after rolling explosive-filled tires down the hills onto government forces, following three days of intense fighting. The kidnappings have drawn condemnation from the Vatican. Iran has also slammed the assault on the Christian religious site and called for the immediate release of the nuns. It\'s also urged the international community to take immediate action to prevent such criminal acts from taking place in the future.
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[04 Dec 2013] FSA forces ready to join the Syrian army and drive out al...
The head of the so-called Free Syrian Army says his forces are ready to join the Syrian army and drive out al-Qaeda-linked terrorists who have...
The head of the so-called Free Syrian Army says his forces are ready to join the Syrian army and drive out al-Qaeda-linked terrorists who have taken over militant-held areas.
General Salim Idris has described as very dangerous the militant group calling itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or the I-S-I-S. Thousands of foreign militants have in recent months joined its ranks. General Idris also claimed that besides fighting with Syrian forces, the F-S-A forces have fought another war with al-Qaeda at dozens of different locations over the past six months. The so-called Free Syrian Army also says that it has dropped the precondition for President Bashar al-Assad to leave power before the upcoming Geneva peace conference.
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[10 Dec 2013] The commander of IRGC says Iran to limit missiles range at...
A senior Iranian military commander says his country is capable of increasing the range of its missiles, but it will not go beyond two-thousand...
A senior Iranian military commander says his country is capable of increasing the range of its missiles, but it will not go beyond two-thousand kilometers.
The commander of Iran\'s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, the IRGC, Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Ja\'fari, says the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has ordered Iran\'s armed forces not to produce missiles with a range of over two thousand kilometers. Ja\'fari has however said that all of Israel must remain within the reach of Iran\'s missiles. Elsewhere, the I-R-G-C commander has spoken of the situation in Syria. Ja\'fari says Syrian government forces have the upper hand over foreign-backed insurgents across the country. Ja\'fari has added that Iran will continue to support Syria because Damascus is at the frontline of resistance in the Middle East against the Israeli occupation.
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[11 Dec 2013] Rouhani says Tehran wants to enrich uranium within the...
Iran\'s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran wants to enrich uranium on its soil within the framework of the recent nuclear deal with the...
Iran\'s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran wants to enrich uranium on its soil within the framework of the recent nuclear deal with the P-five-plus-one countries. He says Iran is committed to its peaceful nuclear program.
During a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, President Rouhani also said the Geneva agreement recognizes all Iran\'s rights including the right to enrich uranium. He added efforts by some countries to interpret the agreeement in other ways would damage efforts aimed at building mutual trust. The Iranian president also discussed Tehran\'s cooperation with Moscow on a range of issues, mainly regional peace and security, fight against terrorism, and the Syrian crisis. Lavrov, in turn, said that under international law all countries should have access to a peaceful nuclear program including uranium enrichment. He said Iran and Russia have a similar take on the nuclear deal struch in Geneva. Earlier, the top Russian diplomat held separate talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif over the conflict in Syria and Iran\'s nuclear program.
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[13 Dec 2013] The Debate - New Iran Sanctions Despite Deal - English
Under the Geneva deal reached between Iran and the world powers, Washington had agreed to refrain from slapping new sanctions on Iran. So why has...
Under the Geneva deal reached between Iran and the world powers, Washington had agreed to refrain from slapping new sanctions on Iran. So why has Washington decided to blacklist Iranian individuals and companies?
The US response: We carried out the new sanctions within the framework of the existing sanctions regime which had forced Tehran to the negotiating table and did not constitute new measures. But the US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman, insists that Congress could theoretically keep imposing new sanctions on Iran as long as they do not make it about their nuclear program. Sherman said \"the only commitment we have made in this agreement is no new nuclear-related sanctions.\" What does Sherman\'s remark signify?
Is there a disparity and division between the US Congress and the Obama administration, Israel\'s continued efforts to sabotage the nuclear deal, and the chances of this nuclear deal falling apart.
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[13 Dec 2013] Iran dissatisfied with the slow pace of nuclear talks in...
Iran says it is dissatisfied with the slow pace of progress of the talks over the country\'s nuclear energy program in Vienna.
Iranian Deputy...
Iran says it is dissatisfied with the slow pace of progress of the talks over the country\'s nuclear energy program in Vienna.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also referred to the new US sanctions imposed on a number of Iranian companies and individuals, saying the measures prompted the Iranian expert team to return home for more consultation. Araqchi also said the sanctions violate the spirit of the recent deal on Iran\'s nuclear energy program. Washington has denied that the new punitive measures has violated the deal. Under the Geneva agreement, new sanctions will have to be stopped for a six-month period and previous sanctions partially eased.
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[18 Dec 2013] The UN says nearly a million Palestinians are expected to...
The U-N says nearly a million Palestinians are expected to need food aid in the Gaza Strip next year.
About 800-thousand Palestinian refugees...
The U-N says nearly a million Palestinians are expected to need food aid in the Gaza Strip next year.
About 800-thousand Palestinian refugees are currently receiving food aid from the U-N Relief and Works Agency-- UNRWA-- but the organization expects a 10 to 20 percent rise in demand in 20-14. The U-N\'s Gaza director of operations says the main reason for the increase is Egypt\'s closure of Gaza tunnels-- a measure which has deprived thousands of Palestinians of basic goods, halted construction projects, and led to job losses. The tunnels were the only lifeline for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The coastal enclave has been under the Israeli regime\'s blockade since 2007.
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[18 Dec 2013] Anti US sentiments grow in India over the arrest of a...
Indians take to streets to vent their anger at the U-S. They\'re protesting the arrest and strip-search of a female Indian diplomat in New York....
Indians take to streets to vent their anger at the U-S. They\'re protesting the arrest and strip-search of a female Indian diplomat in New York.
The venue of the protests is outside the U-S embassy compound in New Delhi. The building has no barricades now to protect it from possible attacks. Earlier in the day, New Delhi police used tow trucks to remove the barrier along the embassy in retaliation. India is furious after its consul in New York was arrested and strip-searched by U-S police. The diplomat says she broke down after repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches. Lawmakers at the Indian parliament are urging the government to take the issue very seriously.
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