Detecting language using up to the first 30 seconds. Use `--language` to specify the language Detected language: English [00:00.000 --> 00:07.840] London Daily The Guardian has published an interesting article regarding the Malvinas [00:07.840 --> 00:11.400] question which has not gone unnoticed in Argentina. [00:11.400 --> 00:17.320] British writer and historian Richard Gott analyzed Mercosur state members Brazil, Argentina, [00:17.320 --> 00:22.800] Uruguay and Paraguay's recent decision to close their ports to all Malvinas' flagships. [00:22.800 --> 00:27.680] The UK is asleep while South America is growing in strength and increasingly united. [00:27.680 --> 00:31.640] What has changed in recent years is the political climate in Latin America. [00:31.640 --> 00:36.340] New governments have appeared across the continent with a progressive and nationalist agenda. [00:36.340 --> 00:38.920] They do not always see eye to eye with each other. [00:38.920 --> 00:43.500] Their views on economic policy may differ, but they are united in believing their continent [00:43.500 --> 00:49.240] should organize itself for the benefit of its own peoples without outside interference. [00:49.240 --> 00:51.440] Mr Gott wrote in this column. [00:51.440 --> 00:56.480] Former Argentine ambassador to the UN Emilio Cardenas considers Brazil, Uruguay and Chile [00:56.480 --> 01:01.720] Mercosur's associate member will play a strategic role in the sovereignty dispute. [01:01.720 --> 01:06.800] The big countries to watch are Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. [01:06.800 --> 01:15.080] If those three countries take a tough position and do not accept being subject to pressure [01:15.080 --> 01:20.640] by the Brits, then they will have to come to the table on bargaining in good faith. [01:20.640 --> 01:27.680] It is in today's world kind of unacceptable to say I have nothing to talk to you, first [01:27.680 --> 01:28.680] because it isn't true. [01:28.680 --> 01:31.080] You have a lot to talk to me, I have a sovereignty claim. [01:31.080 --> 01:36.640] I was there at some point and I was evicted and then you showed up. [01:36.640 --> 01:41.320] Within a new regional scenario, bridges, natural resources, exploitation purposes in the South [01:41.320 --> 01:45.920] Atlantic, which have refueled tensions between both countries, could also be affected. [01:45.920 --> 01:50.640] If oil is found in commercial quantities, Bridges Foreign Office will be obliged to [01:50.640 --> 01:53.960] awake from its long, self-imposed slumber. [01:53.960 --> 01:56.320] Richard Gott pointed out in his report. [01:56.320 --> 02:01.000] And one has to think about the future. [02:01.000 --> 02:07.200] Can you exploit those discoveries without any kind of coastal support? [02:07.200 --> 02:13.880] If the region tells the islanders can't do that, because basically what you're drilling [02:13.880 --> 02:20.440] for are Argentine resources, which are part of the sovereignty dispute, and therefore [02:20.440 --> 02:27.000] we would not deal with the vessels that you will need to go forward with the hydrocarbon [02:27.000 --> 02:28.000] exploitation. [02:28.000 --> 02:32.480] Common sense, according to the Guardian's article, should take Argentina and the UK [02:32.480 --> 02:37.920] to the negotiating table, as Argentine President Cristina Fernández has constantly requested [02:37.920 --> 02:42.240] following UN's resolutions over the Malvinas diplomatic row. [02:42.240 --> 02:54.280] Constanza Heller, Press TV, Buenos Aires. [02:54.280 --> 02:59.080] Three years have passed since Israel waged an all-out war against the Gaza Strip. [02:59.080 --> 03:05.120] Home to 1.5 million Palestinians, the tiny coastal enclave was bombarded by 100 Israeli [03:05.120 --> 03:06.960] warplanes. [03:06.960 --> 03:13.040] During the three-week onslaught, nearly 1,400 Gazans were killed and thousands more injured. [03:13.040 --> 03:17.800] Israeli forces used white phosphorus shells and other internationally banned weapons during [03:17.800 --> 03:19.340] the war. [03:19.340 --> 03:23.640] During a press conference, Hamas' movement accused Israel of committing genocide against [03:23.640 --> 03:27.640] the Palestinians. [03:27.640 --> 03:32.240] Hamas considers Israeli war crimes in Gaza as another form of Israeli genocide against [03:32.240 --> 03:34.280] the Palestinian people. [03:34.280 --> 03:37.880] Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinians since the occupation of Palestine [03:37.880 --> 03:38.880] in 1948. [03:38.880 --> 03:43.920] Hamas calls on the international community and the free people of the world to recognize [03:43.920 --> 03:48.200] Israeli occupation as the most dangerous form of terrorism in the world. [03:48.200 --> 03:53.440] Paramedics and firefighters from the Gaza civil defense commemorated the third anniversary [03:53.440 --> 03:59.400] of the war by driving their vehicles down Gaza's main street at exactly 11 a.m., which [03:59.400 --> 04:05.360] marked the beginning of the war, which Israel called Operation Cast Lead. [04:05.360 --> 04:13.000] Israel claimed it launched a war to stop the rocket fire from Gaza. [04:13.000 --> 04:16.960] International laws and norms were violated by Israel during the war. [04:16.960 --> 04:21.840] Israeli forces targeted ambulances and fire trucks and killed doctors and paramedics. [04:21.840 --> 04:27.560] They also targeted hospitals and clinics everywhere in Gaza during the course of war. [04:27.560 --> 04:31.720] Israel was able to get away with its crimes because of the international silence, but [04:31.720 --> 04:35.640] we will continue to demand justice for our victims. [04:35.640 --> 04:41.320] The offensive destroyed thousands of houses and devastated a large part of infrastructures [04:41.320 --> 04:46.640] in the blockaded strip, including U.N.-run schools and centers. [04:46.640 --> 04:50.800] Civil society organizations have called on the international community to hold Israel [04:50.800 --> 04:53.800] accountable for its crimes against the Gazans. [04:53.800 --> 04:59.440] On the third anniversary, we are calling on the international community in order to continue [04:59.440 --> 05:08.080] efforts to get to Israel war criminals accountable on their crimes towards the Palestinian civilians [05:08.080 --> 05:14.360] on the same time to pressure Israel to end the illegal siege, to stop all kinds of aggressions [05:14.360 --> 05:16.120] on the Palestinian people. [05:16.120 --> 05:21.440] In recent weeks, Israel has been making threats against the Gaza Strip while Gazans haven't [05:21.440 --> 05:24.040] fully recovered from the last war. [05:24.040 --> 05:28.540] On the third anniversary of Israel's war on Gaza, Palestinians in the tiny coastal enclave [05:28.540 --> 05:33.840] say Israeli leaders must be held accountable for what they did to innocent civilians. [05:33.840 --> 05:49.520] Ashraf Shannon, Press TV Gaza. [05:49.520 --> 05:53.880] The chilly wind of recession has already started to blow on Italy. [05:53.880 --> 05:59.320] This Christmas was the worst of the last 10 years in terms of revenue, the consumer association [05:59.320 --> 06:01.800] Codacons has warned. [06:01.800 --> 06:03.720] Consumption is heavily dropping. [06:03.720 --> 06:08.440] Italians spent 400 million euros less than expected on the days leading to Christmas [06:08.440 --> 06:14.640] Eve and Christmas Day, meaning that each citizen spent about 50 euros less compared to the [06:14.640 --> 06:16.640] same period last year. [06:16.640 --> 06:25.040] Unfortunately, as predicted by all major consumer associations, two Italians out of three are [06:25.040 --> 06:30.840] spending much less compared to last year and all sectors, wholesalers and retailers, have [06:30.840 --> 06:33.440] been heavily affected. [06:33.440 --> 06:38.360] Things will seemingly not improve in the coming days as winter sale expenditure are expected [06:38.360 --> 06:44.600] to drop by 30-40 percent compared to December 2010, according to Codacons. [06:44.600 --> 06:49.840] The Italian Bureau of Statistics has announced that the consumer confidence index failed [06:49.840 --> 06:56.200] significantly in November, while the country's economy has shrunk by 0.2 percent in the three [06:56.200 --> 07:01.240] months prior to October, the first contraction since 2009. [07:01.240 --> 07:06.720] According to most shopkeepers, pressure on Italians is really high, taxes are heavy and [07:06.720 --> 07:13.360] wages too low compared to the cost of living. [07:13.360 --> 07:17.720] It goes without saying that the economic crisis and the recent emergency measures passed by [07:17.720 --> 07:25.840] the parliament have made people decide to spend much less, to be more cautious. [07:25.840 --> 07:30.680] I think most Italians fear hard times ahead, fear the challenges introduced by the government, [07:30.680 --> 07:32.160] the new taxes. [07:32.160 --> 07:36.600] People have not adjusted to the new fiscal regime yet. [07:36.600 --> 07:41.400] Italians seem to be very worried about having to deal with the new tax hikes contained in [07:41.400 --> 07:45.440] the anti-crisis package recently passed by the parliament. [07:45.440 --> 07:51.280] The announced increases in new taxes on petrol, the higher value added tax, as well as the [07:51.280 --> 07:56.560] reintroduction of the real estate tax on the first house, will likely have a huge impact [07:56.560 --> 07:59.560] on their lives. [07:59.560 --> 08:05.840] Unfortunately, the three austerity plans that have been implemented since August this year [08:05.840 --> 08:08.760] have made things really confused. [08:08.760 --> 08:11.440] Investors are extremely disoriented and disappointed. [08:11.440 --> 08:16.480] We need the government to seriously start focusing on the country's economic growth. [08:16.480 --> 08:21.000] Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has announced that phase two of his emergency government's [08:21.000 --> 08:23.720] action would be all about growth. [08:23.720 --> 08:29.040] Monti is determined to take on vested interests and lobbies by opening up the Italian economy [08:29.040 --> 08:30.880] to more competition. [08:30.880 --> 08:36.000] Whether he manages to do so while retaining the political party's support remains to be [08:36.000 --> 08:37.000] seen. [08:37.000 --> 08:48.000] Max Civilli, Press TV, Rome. [08:48.000 --> 08:52.440] The youth revolution of Yemen held a press conference in Sana'a's Liberation Square about [08:52.440 --> 08:57.280] the events which took place in the March of Life demonstration and resulted in the death [08:57.280 --> 08:58.280] of 13 protesters. [08:58.280 --> 09:03.420] The conference also called for the arrest of the U.S. Ambassador Gerald Verstein, who [09:03.420 --> 09:09.320] is said to play a key role in the killing of the March of Life protesters. [09:09.320 --> 09:13.240] Speakers during the press conference called for the U.S. Ambassador to be held accountable [09:13.240 --> 09:18.960] for being behind the killing of peaceful protesters. [09:18.960 --> 09:23.520] We call on the so-called Prime Minister to arrest the Ambassador because he is one of [09:23.520 --> 09:28.680] the first people to give the green light for the killing of innocent protesters. [09:28.680 --> 09:33.200] The presser in Sana'a came after Gerald Verstein said that the March of Life demonstration [09:33.200 --> 09:38.680] started from the city of Taiz with the intention to cause further chaos and to trigger a violent [09:38.680 --> 09:43.680] reaction from regime forces. [09:43.680 --> 09:48.240] His remarks sparked nationwide outrage as youth protesters have taken to the streets [09:48.240 --> 09:56.080] calling on the Ambassador to immediately leave the country or to face prosecution. [09:56.080 --> 10:02.040] We are very surprised at the U.S. Ambassador's latest remarks because he represents a country [10:02.040 --> 10:08.080] which is supposedly the world leader of democracy, free speech and equality. [10:08.080 --> 10:14.440] So how can he accuse this peaceful demonstration of having bad intention and being equipped [10:14.440 --> 10:16.240] with armed weapons? [10:16.240 --> 10:22.840] I was part of the demonstration and it was not equipped with weapons. [10:22.840 --> 10:27.120] U.S. intervention has been strongly condemned throughout the Yemeni uprising as many Yemenis [10:27.120 --> 10:32.080] accuse Washington of having its own agenda aimed at crushing the Islamic awakening, which [10:32.080 --> 10:39.280] they say will one day rid Yemen and the rest of the Muslim world from foreign intervention. [10:39.280 --> 10:43.400] The youth revolution concludes today's conference by reassuring that their peaceful demonstrations [10:43.400 --> 10:48.520] will continue despite the government's continuous attacks and despite the U.S. Ambassador's [10:48.520 --> 10:49.760] latest remarks. [10:49.760 --> 10:54.400] They also say their revolution started off peacefully and will remain peacefully. [10:54.400 --> 10:57.320] Youssef Mawdi, Press TV, Sanaa. [11:54.400 --> 12:10.840] Press TV headlines, Iran's Navy commander tells Press TV about shutting the key oil [12:10.840 --> 12:29.640] transit strait of Hormuz. [12:29.640 --> 12:33.640] The leader revounds Islamic revolution, says the popular movements and revolutions in their [12:33.640 --> 12:44.960] world are anti-U.S. And a senior Israeli military official says Tel Aviv must start another [12:44.960 --> 13:11.680] war against the Gaza Strip. [13:11.680 --> 13:15.920] The commander of Iran's Navy has said the country can easily close the strategic strait [13:15.920 --> 13:22.680] of Hormuz if necessary. [13:22.680 --> 13:30.760] Closing the strait of Hormuz for the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran is [13:30.760 --> 13:32.920] very easy. [13:32.920 --> 13:40.760] It's a capability that has been built initially into our naval forces' abilities. [13:40.760 --> 13:47.800] But today we're not in the Hormuz strait, we are in the Sea of Oman. [13:47.800 --> 13:56.760] And we don't need to close the Hormuz strait, we can just deal with the Sea of Oman today. [13:56.760 --> 14:01.680] Therefore we can control it from right here. [14:01.680 --> 14:05.280] Earlier Iran's Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi warned that not a drop of oil would [14:05.280 --> 14:10.000] be allowed to pass through the strait of Hormuz if sanctions are imposed on Iran's oil. [14:10.000 --> 14:13.720] The comments by the Navy Commander and Vice President come as Iranian naval forces are [14:13.720 --> 14:18.840] midway through their 10 days of exercises in the strait of Hormuz and beyond. [14:18.840 --> 14:22.720] Among the objectives of the Valayat 90 drills is to expand the presence of Iranian armed [14:22.720 --> 14:28.140] forces in international waters and to prepare against piracy, terrorism, or induced disruption [14:28.140 --> 14:32.800] to regional trade. [14:32.800 --> 14:36.040] Khalil of Iran's Islamic Revolution says the uprisings and revolutions in the Middle [14:36.040 --> 14:40.160] East and North Africa are anti-American. [14:40.160 --> 14:42.920] Ayatollah Salli al-Khamenei argues current Arab revolutions differ from those in the [14:42.920 --> 14:48.120] past in that they have been opposed by the U.S. and that people maintain an active presence. [14:48.120 --> 14:53.160] The leader also criticized the U.S. for adopting contradictory stances towards regional countries. [14:53.160 --> 14:57.960] Ayatollah Khamenei said any democratic and patriotic leader to be elected in these countries [14:57.960 --> 15:00.800] will oppose the U.S. and Zionists. [15:00.800 --> 15:05.120] Iran's leader also said the victory of Islamic parties in elections in these countries proves [15:05.120 --> 15:09.960] that the Islamic nature of these revolutions, however, that does not mean they all demand [15:09.960 --> 15:16.040] an Islamic government like that in Iran. [15:16.040 --> 15:20.160] On to Yemen, where a civilian has been shot dead in clashes between forces loyal to outgoing [15:20.160 --> 15:24.400] ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh and opposition fighters in the capital, Sanab. [15:24.400 --> 15:28.480] What is to say the clash broke out after Republican Guard troops tried to remove barriers near [15:28.480 --> 15:33.680] the interior ministry to try to bring normalcy to the capital following the unrest? [15:33.680 --> 15:35.440] We have been injured in the gun battle. [15:35.440 --> 15:39.360] In the meantime, hundreds of government employees have rallied in Sana'a. [15:39.360 --> 15:40.840] They are demanding reforms. [15:40.840 --> 15:45.080] They also want what they call corrupt managers to be expelled. [15:45.080 --> 15:48.240] Rallies also continued demanding Saleh to stand trial. [15:48.240 --> 15:52.560] People hold him responsible for the death of many innocent people in recent months. [15:52.560 --> 16:00.560] Yemen has been the scene of demonstrations since February demanding regime change. [16:00.560 --> 16:04.720] Several supporters of the power transfer deal in Yemen have attacked anti-regime protesters [16:04.720 --> 16:07.400] in Change Square in the capital, Sana'a. [16:07.400 --> 16:10.640] As a result, 35 people have been injured. [16:10.640 --> 16:14.840] Sources close to Houthi movement say about 2,000 members of the al-Islam party attacked [16:14.840 --> 16:19.440] their camps where sit-in continues demanding outgoing ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh to be brought [16:19.440 --> 16:20.920] to justice. [16:20.920 --> 16:25.200] The stone and stick-wielding attackers also dismantled tents, one of which served as a [16:25.200 --> 16:26.200] field hospital. [16:26.200 --> 16:31.400] Al-Islam party supports the power transfer deal brokered by Saudi Arabia last month. [16:31.400 --> 16:39.680] Under the deal, Saleh will quit power in February 2012 without being prosecuted. [16:39.680 --> 16:43.720] Bahraini regime forces have attacked anti-government protesters in several villages across the [16:43.720 --> 17:11.120] country. [17:11.120 --> 17:14.000] Anti-government rallies were held in Sitra, Dar, and Mahmir. [17:14.000 --> 17:18.240] Several protesters were arrested after they were attacked by the Saudi-backed police. [17:18.240 --> 17:21.800] Protesters were chanting slogans against the ruling al-Khalifa regime, calling for its [17:21.800 --> 17:22.800] downfall. [17:22.800 --> 17:26.780] On Tuesday, workers who had been sacked for taking part in anti-regime protests marched [17:26.780 --> 17:29.120] outside the interior ministry in the capital, Manama. [17:29.120 --> 17:32.320] They urged the regime to immediately reinstate them. [17:32.320 --> 17:36.280] Many more people, including teachers and doctors, have lost their jobs as part of the crackdown [17:36.280 --> 17:41.680] on pro-democracy protests. [17:41.680 --> 17:46.000] The crackdown on anti-regime protests continues in Saudi Arabia. [17:46.000 --> 17:50.200] Saudi security forces shot and wounded four protesters in the eastern province. [17:50.200 --> 17:53.640] One of the wounded, a young boy, is in critical condition. [17:53.640 --> 17:57.920] The protesters took to the streets after the Saudi security forces raided homes in Awamiya [17:57.920 --> 17:58.920] district. [17:58.920 --> 18:03.440] The eastern province is a focal point for anti-regime protests in Saudi Arabia. [18:03.440 --> 18:08.160] The demonstrations come as Riyadh has harshly enforced a ban on all anti-government gatherings [18:08.160 --> 18:10.240] across the kingdom. [18:10.240 --> 18:13.640] International rights groups have frequently condemned the Saudi regime for what they call [18:13.640 --> 18:18.840] gross violations of human rights. [18:18.840 --> 18:24.120] Syrian authorities have released 755 prisoners who were involved in unrest in the country. [18:24.120 --> 18:28.240] The state media says the freed inmates were not involved in bloody incidents. [18:28.240 --> 18:33.000] Last month, Damascus released over 1,000 prisoners, citing similar conditions. [18:33.000 --> 18:37.560] The latest release comes as Arab League observers are planning to visit Daraa, Hama, and Idlib [18:37.560 --> 18:41.560] as part of their mission to investigate months of deadly violence. [18:41.560 --> 18:46.240] Releasing prisoners was one of the key conditions of the league's roadmap approved by Syria. [18:46.240 --> 18:49.240] The observers have confirmed Damascus' cooperation with the team. [18:49.240 --> 18:53.360] In the meantime, armed gangs have killed four more Syrian troops and wounded at least a [18:53.360 --> 18:55.640] dozen in an ambush in Daraa. [18:55.640 --> 18:59.840] Earlier in the day, troops also clashed with armed groups and suspected arms smugglers [18:59.840 --> 19:03.280] along the northern border with Turkey. [19:03.280 --> 19:08.560] President Correspondent in Damascus, Mohamed Ali, tells us more about the Arab League's [19:08.560 --> 19:12.040] mission to assess violence hit areas in the country. [19:12.040 --> 19:19.760] We have seen in the images that the satellite TV channels are showing us that the Arab observers [19:19.760 --> 19:22.000] were freely moving in the streets. [19:22.000 --> 19:27.600] They were freely moving and talking to the people there, asking them about the situation, [19:27.600 --> 19:30.680] how it was for the last several months in the city. [19:30.680 --> 19:36.720] We also saw that the residents of Homs were talking to them and telling them that in some [19:36.720 --> 19:42.000] cases without, if it wasn't for the Syrian Arab Army, the situation might have been even [19:42.000 --> 19:43.000] worse. [19:43.000 --> 19:48.480] Now they have seen the destruction of some shops, the destruction of cars, they were [19:48.480 --> 19:49.720] burned. [19:49.720 --> 19:57.000] Also in the buildings, the results of armed terrorist gangs, gunshots, and also some results [19:57.000 --> 19:59.560] of heavy weapons such as RPG missiles. [19:59.560 --> 20:02.120] We know that the observers are still in Homs today. [20:02.120 --> 20:06.680] They also visited a number of other areas and neighborhoods in Homs. [20:06.680 --> 20:13.720] We know that also they will be visiting other cities, Daraa, Al-Sueda, Idlib, and even Damascus [20:13.720 --> 20:20.920] countryside in the coming two or three days also. [20:20.920 --> 20:25.440] Another headline, Israel is threatening to attack Gaza once again. [20:25.440 --> 20:30.160] Israeli General Benny Gantz says attacking the coastal strip is not a matter of choice [20:30.160 --> 20:32.640] but a war of necessity for Tel Aviv. [20:32.640 --> 20:36.920] The general says the war must be initiated by Israel and has to be, quote, swift and [20:36.920 --> 20:37.920] painful. [20:37.920 --> 20:41.760] Gantz added that Tel Aviv is looking for the right time to launch a military offensive against [20:41.760 --> 20:43.200] the Gaza Strip. [20:43.200 --> 20:47.720] The general views the upcoming war as a way to deter Hamas, noting that Tel Aviv is losing [20:47.720 --> 20:50.000] its grip of the coastal strip. [20:50.000 --> 20:54.480] Israeli forces have launched several air and ground attacks on Gazans in recent years, [20:54.480 --> 21:01.280] killing many civilians and injuring scores more. [21:01.280 --> 21:06.200] Earlier we were joined by Haydar Aid, an associate professor in Gaza's Al-Aqsa University. [21:06.200 --> 21:10.800] Well he believes revolutions in Arab countries will force Israel to think twice about launching [21:10.800 --> 21:14.640] a new war on the Gaza Strip. [21:14.640 --> 21:19.080] What is happening right now is that Israel wants to exercise a kind of psychological [21:19.080 --> 21:23.200] warfare against the Palestinians of Gaza, in particular against the Palestinians in [21:23.200 --> 21:29.120] general because the context within which these statements are taking place is very important. [21:29.120 --> 21:34.840] We need to remember that, you know, one year ago the regime of Hosni Mubarak, which was [21:34.840 --> 21:39.320] considered a strategic asset for Israel, actually was toppled. [21:39.320 --> 21:42.860] And Israel needs to test the water of the new Egyptian regime. [21:42.860 --> 21:49.960] But it also needs to test the water of the other Arab regimes, including, you know, the [21:49.960 --> 21:53.840] new Libyan regime, the Yemenis, and the Tunisians. [21:53.840 --> 21:59.720] We need to remember that the Arab people have actually been fighting for human rights and [21:59.720 --> 22:00.720] democracy. [22:00.720 --> 22:05.220] Human rights and democracy are the essence of the Palestinian cause. [22:05.220 --> 22:10.240] Democracy is also the antithesis of Zionism, judging by what happened to the apartheid [22:10.240 --> 22:17.360] system in 1994 when most South Africans went to the polling stations and exercised their [22:17.360 --> 22:24.360] democratic right and voted for Nelson Mandela as the first black president of South Africa. [22:24.360 --> 22:28.920] That ultimately meant the end of the apartheid system in South Africa. [22:28.920 --> 22:34.280] The same thing might happen here in the Arab world, where democracy will ultimately lead [22:34.280 --> 22:37.940] to the end of the Zionist enterprise in Palestine. [22:37.940 --> 22:43.440] And that is why Israel feels very, very serious about, you know, the loss of the strategic [22:43.440 --> 22:47.800] asset in Egypt, that is to say, the Mubarak regime. [22:47.800 --> 22:50.000] Statements by Haidar, aid there. [22:50.000 --> 22:52.040] Well, another news related to Israel. [22:52.040 --> 22:57.760] Israel has approved the construction of 130 new settlement units in East Jerusalem, Al-Quds. [22:57.760 --> 23:01.480] The new units are scheduled to be built in Gila Settlements just a few kilometers north [23:01.480 --> 23:03.200] of Bethlehem. [23:03.200 --> 23:07.760] Israel has been expanding settlement activities over the past months, despite international [23:07.760 --> 23:08.920] criticism. [23:08.920 --> 23:12.640] The move has been a major stumbling block to direct negotiations between Tel Aviv and [23:12.640 --> 23:14.480] the Palestinian Authority. [23:14.480 --> 23:28.760] The United Nations views the settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territory as illegal. [23:28.760 --> 23:32.260] Egyptian opposition leader Mohammed al-Baladi says the U.S. is in talks with Egypt's military [23:32.260 --> 23:36.080] council to try and preserve the Egypt-Israel peace treaty. [23:36.080 --> 23:40.300] Al-Baladi says secret negotiations between U.S. representatives and the ruling military [23:40.300 --> 23:46.000] council are aimed at ensuring the new government will maintain the 1979 peace treaty. [23:46.000 --> 23:49.480] This is while some political parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice [23:49.480 --> 23:52.600] Party, have questioned the fate of the peace treaty. [23:52.600 --> 23:56.160] Calls for an end to the Cairo-Tel Aviv treaty have grown since the fall of Egypt's former [23:56.160 --> 23:59.080] president Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. [23:59.080 --> 24:03.440] Most Egyptians have demanded an end to all ties with Tel Aviv and want an end to the [24:03.440 --> 24:08.720] treaty. [24:08.720 --> 24:12.120] Even in other headlines, Egypt's Al-Saleed al-Hosni Mubarak has returned to court for [24:12.120 --> 24:14.680] the resumption of his trial after a three-month break. [24:14.680 --> 24:19.200] Mubarak, his two sons, former Interior Minister Habib Al-Adli, and six of his aides took the [24:19.200 --> 24:21.720] stand again at the police academy. [24:21.720 --> 24:25.960] Mubarak is charged with corruption, killing hundreds of protesters in the crackdown against [24:25.960 --> 24:35.120] the massive uprising which ended with his rule on February 11. [24:35.120 --> 24:39.360] Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he is ready for dialogue with the opposition. [24:39.360 --> 24:43.380] Putin says the opposition has failed to reach a common set of demands. [24:43.380 --> 24:47.840] This comes after tens of thousands rallied in Moscow and St. Petersburg to protest against [24:47.840 --> 24:54.640] parliamentary election results on Saturday. [24:54.640 --> 24:59.360] Anti-corporate protesters in the United States say they will expand the rallies as Republican [24:59.360 --> 25:03.440] presidential hopefuls step up their election campaigns. [25:03.440 --> 25:08.280] Protesters have pledged to interrupt candidates at events and camp out at their Iowa campaign [25:08.280 --> 25:14.800] offices. [25:14.800 --> 25:20.480] Thousands of Israelis have demonstrated against ultra-Orthodox violence and gender segregation. [25:20.480 --> 25:24.280] Demonstrators protest the exclusion of women as well as violence against girls and women [25:24.280 --> 25:27.540] by Haredi extremists in the town of Beit Shemesh. [25:27.540 --> 25:34.600] This comes one day after several Orthodox Jews were detained during clashes with police. [25:34.600 --> 25:39.080] Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been diagnosed with cancer and [25:39.080 --> 25:41.800] will undergo an operation in January. [25:41.800 --> 25:47.320] Her government says the cancer is in her thyroid gland and has not spread to other parts of [25:47.320 --> 25:48.320] her body. [25:48.320 --> 25:56.320] Fernandez recently began her second term as president after a landslide election victory. [25:56.320 --> 26:04.280] Coming up later in the Spellerton funeral ceremonies for North Korea's late leader Kim [26:04.280 --> 26:05.280] Jong-il. [26:05.280 --> 26:26.800] Stay with us. [09:53.620 --> 26:50.240] shelter in place. [26:50.240 --> 26:55.480] Sometimes they have like a big old torch out there that goes, you know, it just blows like [26:55.480 --> 27:02.160] that. [27:02.160 --> 27:09.280] Shelter in place is where we ask the public to remain indoors, close all doors, close [27:09.280 --> 27:12.280] all windows. [27:12.280 --> 27:16.280] We would not discount anybody's concerns about living by the refineries. [27:16.280 --> 27:19.360] I think they've been very responsive as an industry. [27:19.360 --> 27:22.560] There's no excuse, no excuse. [27:22.560 --> 27:25.760] You will get your daily dose of toxic chemicals. [27:25.760 --> 27:33.720] How many people know a child with acute asthma? [27:33.720 --> 27:36.720] Hands down. [27:36.720 --> 27:41.800] Hello, welcome back to World News here on Press TV. [27:41.800 --> 27:45.560] Hundreds of activists have demonstrated in front of Cairo's city council to show solidarity [27:45.560 --> 27:50.480] with Samira, a woman who was forced by the army to undergo a virginity test. [27:50.480 --> 27:54.480] The court has recently ordered military prisons to stop such tests. [27:54.480 --> 28:00.640] Karim Gamaladeen has been following that story from Cairo. [28:00.640 --> 28:05.480] An Egyptian court has ordered that forced virginity tests be stopped on female detainees [28:05.480 --> 28:07.120] in military prisons. [28:07.120 --> 28:11.240] The decision was made after a case was brought by a protester, Samira Ibrahim. [28:11.240 --> 28:15.920] She was forced by the army to undergo a virginity test after she was arrested during a protest [28:15.920 --> 28:18.560] in Cairo's Liberation Square in March. [28:18.560 --> 28:23.160] Samira told Press TV that many women have lost their trust in the army, especially after [28:23.160 --> 28:24.840] such brutal acts. [28:24.840 --> 28:28.600] And she also called for the downfall of the country's ruling junta. [28:28.600 --> 28:33.080] You have to leave, the scam must step down, leave, leave. [28:33.080 --> 28:37.480] Meanwhile, hundreds of activists demonstrated outside the city council in solidarity with [28:37.480 --> 28:41.920] Samira and all the women who were tortured by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. [28:41.920 --> 28:46.220] They called for the immediate transition of power to an elected civilian authority and [28:46.220 --> 28:50.440] have warned that a second revolution will take place on January 25th. [28:50.440 --> 28:54.920] Ahmed Harara, an activist who has lost sight in both his eyes in clashes with the government [28:54.920 --> 29:00.800] forces, urged them to respond to the demands of the revolution. [29:00.800 --> 29:04.200] The Egyptian blood is expensive and the women of Egypt are a red line. [29:04.200 --> 29:07.880] The SKAF must be held accountable for the violations they have committed. [29:07.880 --> 29:11.640] And we are warning them, they must leave on the 25th of January. [29:11.640 --> 29:16.080] Other activists have expressed their anger and frustration with the military council [29:16.080 --> 29:20.960] and denounced all the violations committed by the SKAF against the Egyptian women and [29:20.960 --> 29:26.800] all the peaceful protesters calling for an end to military rule. [29:26.800 --> 29:31.840] The whole world saw the army brutally crack down on females and this is unacceptable by [29:31.840 --> 29:32.960] all means. [29:32.960 --> 29:37.280] And the only solution to bring an end to all this is immediate transition to power. [29:37.280 --> 29:42.820] We had enough with the army and the only solution to bring an end to all this is immediate transition [29:42.820 --> 29:49.320] of power to elected civilians. [29:49.320 --> 29:53.000] Activists and revolutionary forces have called for an end to the discriminatory and patriarchal [29:53.000 --> 29:57.640] attitudes of the SKAF towards women in Egypt as many believe these acts are standing in [29:57.640 --> 30:01.080] the way of the reform process in post-revolution Egypt. [30:01.080 --> 30:05.680] Karim Gabaldin, Press TV, Cairo. [30:05.680 --> 30:10.160] North Korea has begun two days of funeral ceremonies for its late leader Kim Jong-il [30:10.160 --> 30:12.600] with a huge procession in the capital. [30:12.600 --> 30:16.240] Hundreds of thousands of wailing mourners braved the winter conditions to pay their [30:16.240 --> 30:22.480] respects to the late leader. [30:22.480 --> 30:27.480] Hundreds of thousands of mourners lined the snowy streets of Pyongyang and braved the [30:27.480 --> 30:33.600] freezing temperatures to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying Kim Jong-il's coffin. [30:33.600 --> 30:39.720] A limousine bearing a huge portrait of a smiling Kim led the funeral cortege as crowds wrapped [30:39.720 --> 30:41.640] in the streets. [30:41.640 --> 30:47.000] Kim's son and successor Kim Jong-un and other top military and civilian officials walked [30:47.000 --> 30:51.920] beside the car carrying the coffin. [30:51.920 --> 30:55.000] The snow is endlessly falling like tears. [30:55.000 --> 31:00.840] How could the sky not cry when we have lost our general who was a great man from the heavens? [31:00.840 --> 31:06.840] As we have separated from the general by death, people, mountains and sky are all shedding [31:06.840 --> 31:09.080] tears of blood. [31:09.080 --> 31:13.640] Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack on December 17th. [31:13.640 --> 31:17.200] He had led North Korea for 17 years. [31:17.200 --> 31:22.800] In the weeks since Kim Il died, state media has called Kim Jong-un the great successor [31:22.800 --> 31:26.600] and referred to him as the leader of the military and the party. [31:26.600 --> 31:30.280] Kim Jong-il left behind a nuclear-armed state. [31:30.280 --> 31:35.360] Multinational talks aimed at disarming North Korea have been deadlocked for months. [31:35.360 --> 31:42.640] North Korea conducted two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing tightened UN sanctions. [31:42.640 --> 31:47.920] Although it's yet too early to predict North Korea's political future, one must wait and [31:47.920 --> 31:52.680] see whether a change in the leadership will bring any change whatsoever to the country's [31:52.680 --> 31:53.680] policies. [31:53.680 --> 32:02.120] More than 2,000 candidates have registered for Iran's upcoming parliamentary elections. [32:02.120 --> 32:05.760] The registration process will be wrapped up on Friday, and authorities insist it will [32:05.760 --> 32:07.400] not be extended. [32:07.400 --> 32:09.800] The legislative vote is scheduled for March. [32:09.800 --> 32:13.560] The candidates, among other things, must be committed to Iran's constitution and the [32:13.560 --> 32:22.680] principles of the Islamic establishment. [32:22.680 --> 32:27.480] India's anti-graff campaigner, Anwar Hazara, has called off his plan three-day hunger strike. [32:27.480 --> 32:31.840] The plan aimed to press the government to redraft a key anti-corruption bill. [32:31.840 --> 32:36.280] 74-year-old Hazara has cited health concerns, but says he will continue his fight against [32:36.280 --> 32:37.280] corruption. [32:37.280 --> 32:41.760] Addressing the media at the venue of his fast in Mumbai, Hazara also vowed to step up his [32:41.760 --> 32:44.920] campaign to turn voters against the ruling party. [32:44.920 --> 32:49.440] The warning came as the lower house of parliament passed a controversial Lokpal, or so-called [32:49.440 --> 32:52.360] Ambuktan, bill. [32:52.360 --> 32:56.280] This amid widespread unrest and scandals involving ministers and senior officials. [32:56.280 --> 33:00.800] Hazara and his supporters accused the government of pushing through a weak bill. [33:00.800 --> 33:04.400] Hazara has become the figurehead of the fight against corruption since his 12-day hunger [33:04.400 --> 33:09.760] strike in the capital in August. [33:09.760 --> 33:13.280] Members of the global computer hacking group, Anonymous, say they have obtained thousands [33:13.280 --> 33:18.480] of credit card numbers and personal information from high-profile clients of a leading analytical [33:18.480 --> 33:22.200] intelligence company, all in the name of charity. [33:22.200 --> 33:28.480] Press Secretary Colin Campbell tells us more. [33:28.480 --> 33:33.720] Members say the underground computer hacking group, Anonymous, is engaging in cyber warfare. [33:33.720 --> 33:44.880] We aren't a group, we're an idea, we're an expression of the anger that every person [33:44.880 --> 33:46.200] feels. [33:46.200 --> 33:49.400] Members of the group, Anonymous, say they have stolen credit card information for the [33:49.400 --> 33:51.200] purpose of charity. [33:51.200 --> 33:56.400] About $1 million was reportedly stolen from Stratford in Austin, Texas, a leading provider [33:56.400 --> 34:01.800] of military, economic and political analysis for clients that include Apple and the U.S. [34:01.800 --> 34:02.800] Air Force. [34:02.800 --> 34:06.680] They've released their name, a credit card number, the expiration date. [34:06.680 --> 34:12.840] Anonymous is a network of computer savvy users who engage in hacktivism, computer activism. [34:12.840 --> 34:18.560] An operation began in June 2011 with an attack on the Serious Organized Crime Agency, the [34:18.560 --> 34:21.200] UK's national law enforcement agency. [34:21.200 --> 34:26.920] Since then, Anonymous went after the governments of Brazil, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, NATO and [34:26.920 --> 34:30.960] various U.S. law enforcement websites and even Fox News. [34:30.960 --> 34:36.480] Anonymous has made worldwide headlines for hacks the group claims to have carried out. [34:36.480 --> 34:41.560] Websites such as MasterCard, Visa and PayPal have been targeted, to name a few. [34:41.560 --> 34:44.080] The group posts videos on the Internet. [34:44.080 --> 34:46.200] Sometimes the messages are cryptic. [34:46.200 --> 34:50.200] At other times it discusses the need for sweeping government reforms. [34:50.200 --> 34:55.120] This video criticizes the National Defense Authorization Act and discourages President [34:55.120 --> 34:57.240] Obama from signing it into law. [34:57.240 --> 35:02.800] The entire U.S.A. to be a battleground upon which U.S. military forces can operate with [35:02.800 --> 35:08.200] impunity, overriding policy commentators and granting the military the unchecked power [35:08.200 --> 35:14.440] to arrest, detain, interrogate and even assassinate U.S. citizens with impunity. [35:14.440 --> 35:20.000] It's almost farcical, well it would be farcical if it weren't so frightening. [35:20.000 --> 35:24.560] The group receives widespread criticism but insists it's only acting in the interests [35:24.560 --> 35:28.520] of the underrepresented, sort of like a modern-day Robin Hood. [35:28.520 --> 35:34.120] Anonymous says it will target an entire consumer database from an online military and law enforcement [35:34.120 --> 35:36.120] supply store next. [35:36.120 --> 35:40.880] Colin Campbell, Press TV, Washington. [35:40.880 --> 35:42.080] That's it for World News on Press TV. [35:42.080 --> 35:43.080] Stay tuned. [35:43.080 --> 35:45.920] I'm going to be telling you about the more interesting side of the news momentarily. [35:45.920 --> 35:50.400] Do stay with us. [35:50.400 --> 35:54.280] And coming up in the more interesting side of the news, no more tiring stairs climbing [35:54.280 --> 35:58.200] for the locals of an impoverished neighborhood in Columbia. [35:58.200 --> 36:19.080] An crocodile with a long record of bad behavior goes naughty again. [36:19.080 --> 36:24.760] Jacques Monseur was arrested in the U.S. in August 2009. [36:24.760 --> 36:29.360] He is one of the five biggest illegal arms dealers in the world. [36:29.360 --> 36:36.720] 400 Serbian tanks, 30,000 soldiers, hundreds of cannons and even fighter planes. [36:36.720 --> 36:40.180] The United Nations voted for an arms embargo. [36:40.180 --> 36:42.020] Why was this decision made? [36:42.020 --> 36:46.460] We hoped we could contain the Serbs and that they'd stop their offensive and instead of [36:46.460 --> 36:49.460] dividing people, we'd stop them from attacking each other. [36:49.460 --> 36:52.320] Why didn't you come with an army of a thousand soldiers? [36:52.320 --> 36:53.320] What army? [36:53.320 --> 36:54.320] What soldiers? [36:54.320 --> 36:55.320] 70. [36:55.320 --> 37:01.280] We found one of the end user certificates used by Jacques Monseur to get arms into Croatia. [37:01.280 --> 37:07.080] In reality, he was the one who organized the purchase and the delivery of the weapons. [37:07.080 --> 37:13.000] He was tried again in France in 2008 for arm trafficking in Togo, Congo, Kazakhstan and [37:13.000 --> 37:14.000] Setar. [37:14.000 --> 37:19.520] Hello and welcome back. [37:19.520 --> 37:21.520] Let's take a look at some of those interesting stories. [37:21.520 --> 37:26.560] First off, life has just become a little easier for locals living in a slum on a steep hillside [37:26.560 --> 37:28.520] in a poor Columbia neighborhood. [37:28.520 --> 37:32.920] Authorities in the country's second biggest city, Medellin, have recently inaugurated [37:32.920 --> 37:37.920] what is said to be the world's first outdoor escalator for domestic purposes. [37:37.920 --> 37:42.720] It replaces hundreds of concrete steps locals use to climb up and down every day. [37:42.720 --> 37:47.900] The brand new stairs stretch some 130 meters and are made of state of the art materials [37:47.900 --> 37:50.000] designed to withstand all weather conditions. [37:50.000 --> 37:54.520] They're especially welcomed by the handicapped and the elderly, for whom getting up and down [37:54.520 --> 37:58.560] the hill used to be a major challenge. [37:58.560 --> 38:02.560] Wonderful. [38:02.560 --> 38:06.640] It is a dream come true and I was one of the first ones to use them. [38:06.640 --> 38:09.960] It is wonderful. [38:09.960 --> 38:14.300] Zookeepers who were mowing the lawn at an Australian reptile park in Australia did not [38:14.300 --> 38:18.280] have the slightest idea what was lying in wait for them. [38:18.280 --> 38:24.600] A five meter, 500 kilogram saltwater crocodile lunged out of the blue, grabbing not the man [38:24.600 --> 38:27.640] who was mowing the lawn, but his lawn mower. [38:27.640 --> 38:31.920] The monster croc named Elvis then dragged the mower to a pool from where he'd launched [38:31.920 --> 38:33.280] his ambush. [38:33.280 --> 38:36.280] Elvis lost two teeth in the course of this attack. [38:36.280 --> 38:39.640] The keepers next challenge was to retrieve their instruments as the reptiles spent the [38:39.640 --> 38:47.560] rest of the day guarding the mower. [38:47.560 --> 38:53.200] The plan is to get that mower out firstly and just try and drag it backwards, lure the [38:53.200 --> 38:57.240] croc around the other side because he's dropped two monstrous teeth whilst he attacked the [38:57.240 --> 39:01.520] mower and then we'll get those teeth out. [39:01.520 --> 39:04.760] Officials at the zoo say Elvis has a long history of bad behavior. [39:04.760 --> 39:10.160] The 50 year old crocodile was captured in 2008 after bullying locals in Darwin Harbor [39:10.160 --> 39:17.960] and climbing aboard fishing boats. [39:17.960 --> 39:21.760] The video from a pet African bullfrog has created a frenzy since it was uploaded on [39:21.760 --> 39:23.480] the internet about a week ago. [39:23.480 --> 39:27.000] The video has been viewed more than seven million times so far. [39:27.000 --> 39:31.840] It shows the frog trying to eat ants displayed on the screen of a smartphone. [39:31.840 --> 39:36.780] After several tries, the frustrated amphibian takes his rage out on his teasing owner and [39:36.780 --> 39:38.800] bites down on his thumb. [39:38.800 --> 39:51.520] The moral of the story, don't mess with bullfrogs. [39:51.520 --> 39:54.400] And that was a look at the more interesting side of the news here on Press TV. [39:54.400 --> 40:20.640] Thanks for watching. [24:12.740 --> 41:18.560] a colleague who had recently committed suicide. [41:18.560 --> 41:27.560] I'm going to go to the office with my gun. [41:27.560 --> 41:29.280] I'm going to kill myself. [41:29.280 --> 41:34.720] I would say probably intentionally by France Telecom cause these problems. [41:34.720 --> 41:39.980] The problem is that employees like Vincent, whom the company wanted to quit, felt intimidated [41:39.980 --> 41:42.340] and bullied by the methods used. [41:42.340 --> 41:49.000] They want to push me over the edge. [41:49.000 --> 42:13.080] The problem is that many people didn't leave the depression phase and now they are dead. [42:13.080 --> 42:17.200] The commander of Iran's Navy says Tehran can easily close the strategic Strait of Hormuz [42:17.200 --> 42:21.460] if necessary, Iran earlier warned it would stop the flow of oil through the Strait of [42:21.460 --> 42:22.460] Hormuz. [42:22.460 --> 42:26.900] If foreign sanctions were imposed on his crude exports, Iran is currently holding naval maneuvers [42:26.900 --> 42:32.860] in the Persian Gulf. [42:32.860 --> 42:36.380] The leader of Iran's Islamic revolution says the revolutions in the Middle East and North [42:36.380 --> 42:38.620] Africa are anti-American. [42:38.620 --> 42:42.780] I tell us that that he hominy criticized the U.S. for adopting contradictory stances towards [42:42.780 --> 42:44.380] regional countries. [42:44.380 --> 42:48.900] He added any democratic and patriotic leader to be elected in these countries will oppose [42:48.900 --> 42:53.060] the U.S. and Zionists. [42:53.060 --> 42:56.220] Israel has threatened to attack the Gaza Strip once again. [42:56.220 --> 43:00.100] Israeli General Benny Gantz says attacking the coastal strip is not a matter of choice [43:00.100 --> 43:02.180] but a war of necessity for Tel Aviv. [43:02.180 --> 43:13.020] He says the war must be initiated by Israel and has to be, quote, swift and painful. [43:13.020 --> 43:18.140] Syria has released 755 prisoners who were involved in unrest in the past few months. [43:18.140 --> 43:21.780] State media say the freed inmates were not involved in acts of violence. [43:21.780 --> 43:26.220] This is the Arab League observers are planning to visit the cities of Der'a, Hama and Idlib [43:26.220 --> 43:33.300] to investigate months of violence. [43:33.300 --> 43:37.740] In Yemen a civilian has been shot dead in clashes between forces loyal to outgoing ruler [43:37.740 --> 43:41.180] Ali Abdullah Saleh and opposition fighters in the capital Sana'a. [43:41.180 --> 43:43.540] Three others have been injured in the gun battle. [43:43.540 --> 43:52.780] Meanwhile protest rallies continue across the Arab country demanding the trial of Saleh. [43:52.780 --> 43:56.620] In Saudi Arabia at least four protesters, including a young boy, have been wounded as [43:56.620 --> 43:59.540] the crackdown on anti-regime protests continues. [43:59.540 --> 44:01.940] The young victim is in critical condition. [44:01.940 --> 44:05.900] Demonstrators were attacked while protesting the raid of homes by Saudi security forces [44:05.900 --> 44:12.860] in the eastern province. [44:12.860 --> 44:16.460] Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he is ready to set a negotiating table with [44:16.460 --> 44:20.820] the opposition to discuss the alleged fraud in the recent parliamentary election. [44:20.820 --> 44:25.060] He'd rejected earlier opposition calls for reviewing the election results which are alleged [44:25.060 --> 44:28.060] to be rigged. [44:28.060 --> 44:37.380] And finally, North Korea is holding a two-day funeral service for its late leader Kim Jong-il. [44:37.380 --> 44:40.220] Thousands are expected to take part in the event in Pyongyang. [44:40.220 --> 44:44.980] The North Korean leader died of a heart attack on December 17th after leaving the state for [44:44.980 --> 45:03.460] 17 years. [45:03.460 --> 45:07.380] The year 2011, what a year it has been. [45:07.380 --> 45:12.420] A year in which the new year was rung in with U.S. assassination drone attacks in Pakistan. [45:12.420 --> 45:18.100] Iran even captured a CIA drone, while the civilian nuclear program pursued by Iran with [45:18.100 --> 45:24.260] the IAEA was yet again questioned by the IAEA, from the financial crisis of the U.S. to [45:24.260 --> 45:28.260] the American awakening. [45:28.260 --> 45:33.940] Europe fared no better with the Eurozone debt crisis and anti-austerity protests such as [45:33.940 --> 45:37.340] in the U.K., the most violent in decades. [45:37.340 --> 45:42.380] Press TV was there, especially with its in-depth look, as presented in press TV news analysis [45:42.380 --> 45:44.540] and its guests. [45:44.540 --> 45:50.580] And press TV programs and roundtable discussions took us through a journey of discovery. [45:50.580 --> 45:57.100] But it was surely the year of the Arab uprising and revolutions. [45:57.100 --> 46:07.620] The Islamic awakening that shaped news for the year 2011. [46:07.620 --> 46:14.020] So join me, Kavitha Hawaii, for Reality Checks, here in Review 2011, at the following times, [46:14.020 --> 46:41.740] only on Press TV. [46:44.020 --> 46:53.740] November 7, 2010. [46:53.740 --> 46:56.980] The first elections in two decades. [46:56.980 --> 47:01.820] It was an occasion that a majority of people in Myanmar and those living overseas had been [47:01.820 --> 47:04.900] waiting with bated breaths. [47:04.900 --> 47:08.300] Could it be a clarion call for the country? [47:08.300 --> 47:17.100] Could it signal the start of a new era where a civilian government would take power? [47:17.100 --> 47:20.580] Free and fair were not the case. [47:20.580 --> 47:22.620] Universal suffrage, even less so. [47:22.620 --> 47:27.300] A chunk of the population was disenfranchised from the voting process. [47:27.300 --> 47:31.740] Many activists in exile called the elections a sham. [47:31.740 --> 47:35.380] Analysts with more moderate views were cautiously optimistic. [47:35.380 --> 47:40.060] Pro-government parties called the event historic and a new chapter that would pave the way [47:40.060 --> 47:42.180] towards democracy. [47:42.180 --> 47:46.940] Days after elections, the country's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from an [47:46.940 --> 47:51.580] on-and-off house arrest that had lasted about two decades. [47:51.580 --> 47:55.340] She is fondly called Do or the Lady amongst her people. [47:55.340 --> 48:01.780] Since her election victory in 1990, when she won over 80% of the popular vote in her subsequent [48:01.780 --> 48:06.220] house arrest, she had turned into an international icon. [48:06.220 --> 48:10.980] November 13, 2010 marked the expiration of her detention. [48:10.980 --> 48:15.540] And it was an event that was greeted with even greater enthusiasm than the elections [48:15.540 --> 48:18.940] by crowds that gathered outside her home in Yangon. [48:18.940 --> 48:23.900] Do Suu Kyi had been freed. [48:23.900 --> 48:28.700] Despite reprimanding from the international community, a government that called itself [48:28.700 --> 48:36.460] civilian was inaugurated on April 14, 2011, claiming an end to five decades of military [48:36.460 --> 48:41.340] rule. [48:41.340 --> 48:45.340] Just over a year since elections, what is the prognosis? [48:45.340 --> 48:51.500] A complex political history and huge divisions between different segments of Myanmar's society [48:51.500 --> 48:56.500] has meant that there's no single yardstick that can effectively measure progressive change. [48:56.500 --> 49:02.540] But there are certain core areas in dire need of justice and reform that must be taken into [49:02.540 --> 49:05.220] account when discussing Myanmar. [49:05.220 --> 49:10.620] These complex issues roughly fall under five categories that I aim to explore. [49:10.620 --> 49:16.500] An evolving political-military structure, free speech, economic progress, peace and [49:16.500 --> 49:21.060] ethnic minority regions, and basic human rights for all. [49:21.060 --> 49:35.340] Military and governments, the two terms have intertwined in Myanmar's political system [49:35.340 --> 49:37.460] since 1962. [49:37.460 --> 49:41.260] But there have been recent reports, such as the one by the International Crisis Group [49:41.260 --> 49:45.180] that claim that major reform is already underway. [49:45.180 --> 49:50.860] The report adds that what it calls a semi-civilian government must be commended for current efforts [49:50.860 --> 49:56.220] in order to energize reformists inside the country to further advocate political and [49:56.220 --> 49:58.420] economic restructuring. [49:58.420 --> 50:03.360] The pertinent question here is if reform in the socio-economic and political spheres can [50:03.360 --> 50:05.460] be implemented in practice. [50:05.460 --> 50:10.740] Ong Neng-Ou, former activist from the 1988 generation who heads the Vahu Development [50:10.740 --> 50:16.740] Institute based in Thailand, is optimistic that Myanmar is headed on a positive track. [50:16.740 --> 50:24.180] We haven't had democracy for so long, since 1962, all we had was military rule. [50:24.180 --> 50:31.020] I mean, even current system, you might want to say it's an indirect military rule. [50:31.020 --> 50:34.940] So it's clear that it's better. [50:34.940 --> 50:39.900] There are still a lot of hotliners within the government. [50:39.900 --> 50:46.820] But what we're seeing is there are also a lot of reformists, people with reformist agendas [50:46.820 --> 50:52.340] who really want to change, including the president. [50:52.340 --> 50:56.220] And I think the military has also taken a step back. [50:56.220 --> 51:01.280] He does point out that as with any transition, the future months will be fraught with risks [51:01.280 --> 51:07.460] and uncertainties, but that changes have taken place in mentality of leaders and institutions [51:07.460 --> 51:08.920] of governance. [51:08.920 --> 51:14.540] With the new constitution, I mean, it's just like a bit like an experiment. [51:14.540 --> 51:21.620] We are a bit groping in the dark, but we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, [51:21.620 --> 51:27.780] the creation of new institutions like elections, the parliaments, the various ministry, new [51:27.780 --> 51:33.280] ministry, for instance, like we have a ministry of environment, something we didn't have before. [51:33.280 --> 51:40.260] So there is a very healthy kind of debate going on. [51:40.260 --> 51:44.940] David Matheson is senior researcher at Human Rights Watch and has observed the dynamics [51:44.940 --> 51:50.120] between the military and ethnic minority communities for the past many years. [51:50.120 --> 51:55.060] And his primary concern amidst the current climate is a continuing iron grip of the military [51:55.060 --> 51:58.540] over Myanmar and its ethnic minorities. [51:58.540 --> 52:03.900] The biggest issue I think facing the military and the government, and let's face it, they're [52:03.900 --> 52:07.980] one and the same pretty much, is military reform. [52:07.980 --> 52:16.140] I think that's the big lurking issue that no one's really talking about. [52:16.140 --> 52:21.140] And in some ways, it's an interesting dilemma for them because they're all former military [52:21.140 --> 52:22.140] officers. [52:22.140 --> 52:23.540] So they come from that culture of impunity. [52:23.540 --> 52:28.140] The government's laid out a fairly ambitious set of priorities, economic reform, counter [52:28.140 --> 52:35.620] corruption, a legislative agenda that includes a trade union law, freedom of assembly bills. [52:35.620 --> 52:38.940] All this stuff is great stuff in theory. [52:38.940 --> 52:48.060] And we hope that they're actually very sincere about it. [52:48.060 --> 52:53.420] Closed country, the worst country to be a blogger, amongst the lowest in the press freedom [52:53.420 --> 52:54.580] index. [52:54.580 --> 53:00.140] These are labels often associated with Myanmar due to a highly restricted environment for [53:00.140 --> 53:05.100] journalists, activists, labor unions, and protests of most kinds. [53:05.100 --> 53:10.620] Over 1,900 political prisoners are purportedly serving decades-long sentences in prisons [53:10.620 --> 53:12.460] across the country. [53:12.460 --> 53:16.300] But there has been visible movement from the government over the past few months in the [53:16.300 --> 53:19.940] areas of freedom of speech and association. [53:19.940 --> 53:25.340] The lifting of the ban on international media outlets such as BBC and exile media such as [53:25.340 --> 53:30.420] Democratic Voice of Burma, the publishing of an exile editor's interview including [53:30.420 --> 53:36.220] controversial topics such as political prisoners, and the unprecedented coverage of protests [53:36.220 --> 53:38.260] inside the country. [53:38.260 --> 53:42.440] These might seem like insignificant moves to a majority of the world. [53:42.440 --> 53:47.300] But one has to retrace events to just a few years ago in Myanmar where such acts were [53:47.300 --> 53:48.300] unthinkable. [53:48.300 --> 54:04.100] It was the first time many across the world witnessed a people's revolution in Myanmar [54:04.100 --> 54:08.620] led by its spiritual leaders on their television screens. [54:08.620 --> 54:13.180] When hundreds of thousands of Buddhist monks took to the streets in defiance of the then-ruling [54:13.180 --> 54:20.260] junta on August 15, 2007, the world watched with trepidation. [54:20.260 --> 54:25.580] The regime's use of mass arrests, murder, torture, and imprisonment has failed to distinguish [54:25.580 --> 54:30.300] our desire for freedom that was stolen from us many years ago. [54:30.300 --> 54:32.380] We have taken their best punch. [54:32.380 --> 54:35.780] Burma's saffron revolution is just beginning. [54:35.780 --> 54:40.580] Gambira, who is a prime figure in organising the protests, bravely wrote, [54:40.580 --> 54:46.580] At age 35 and four years after protests, he remains behind bars in Myanmar, a prisoner [54:46.580 --> 54:51.620] of conscience with rapidly deteriorating health due to torture he suffered at the hands of [54:51.620 --> 54:52.860] prison guards. [54:52.860 --> 54:57.340] Bochi knows the hardships of being in prison from his own experience. [54:57.340 --> 55:01.740] He served more than seven years in Myanmar's notorious prison system before fleeing to [55:01.740 --> 55:07.540] the border, where he heads the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. [55:07.540 --> 55:11.940] Seven years in prison, it must have been a very testing period. [55:11.940 --> 55:14.620] I was arrested for two times. [55:14.620 --> 55:18.540] For the first time was from 1990 to 1993. [55:18.540 --> 55:22.900] At that time I was arrested because I did a demonstration calling for the release of [55:22.900 --> 55:25.140] all students detainees from prison. [55:25.140 --> 55:29.940] Intelligence or military officers said to me, three years imprisonment is not enough for [55:29.940 --> 55:30.940] me. [55:30.940 --> 55:32.740] Therefore I was re-arrested again. [55:32.740 --> 55:37.100] The state of Myanmar officially denies the existence of political prisoners, and they've [55:37.100 --> 55:42.100] been staunchly juxtaposed against AAPP's broad definitions. [55:42.100 --> 55:49.620] Our division is those who involve in non-violent action or resistant means are political prisoners. [55:49.620 --> 55:55.260] AAPP's efforts were partly rewarded with the release of about 235 political prisoners [55:55.260 --> 56:00.180] in October, as part of a general amnesty granted by the president. [56:00.180 --> 56:05.060] Benjamin Zawaki at Amnesty International is the lead researcher on Myanmar. [56:05.060 --> 56:09.860] He points out that given the array of recent developments, it is no longer feasible to [56:09.860 --> 56:13.060] assess Myanmar through a black and white lens. [56:13.060 --> 56:16.940] Purpose of the paper that I wrote was to say that, look, neither one of these two camps [56:16.940 --> 56:19.420] is exclusively correct. [56:19.420 --> 56:24.060] There has been for decades reasons for real pessimism in the country, and most of those [56:24.060 --> 56:26.020] reasons still exist. [56:26.020 --> 56:30.980] But the optimists have a point as well in pointing to certain changes that happened [56:30.980 --> 56:34.300] this year that would have been simply inconceivable a year ago. [56:34.300 --> 56:39.220] Bold statements by Tin Sui, director of the censorship board on the inevitability of free [56:39.220 --> 56:45.500] media for Myanmar, continue to make headlines, triggering heated discussion amongst analysts [56:45.500 --> 56:46.500] across the spectrum. [56:46.500 --> 56:51.980] At times it has decreased, and at times we've seen incidents where it seems to be on the [56:51.980 --> 56:52.980] rise again. [56:52.980 --> 56:57.660] But by and large, we can say throughout 2011, the degree of censorship in the country has [56:57.660 --> 56:58.660] decreased. [56:58.660 --> 57:02.100] Aung San Suu Kyi is now frequently written about in the press. [57:02.100 --> 57:06.740] She was, of course, persona non grata in the press for years, if not decades. [57:06.740 --> 57:11.660] She herself has been allowed to publish a piece on the front page of a publication. [57:11.660 --> 57:16.380] Another sector that has experienced tangible progress, largely due to successful efforts [57:16.380 --> 57:21.940] by the International Labour Organization, is the formation of labour unions. [57:21.940 --> 57:38.900] Have there been any legal changes, and how has that changed?