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what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news >> headlines this hour. french approval when but turkish angora as the senate passes a controversial -- turkish anger as the senate passes a controversial new genocide law. >> international criminal court on charges of for your politicians in crimes against humanity, and we have a special report. it is 10:00 in the morning here in singapore. >> broadcasting to viewers on pbs and america and around the

world. welcome. turkey has reacted with fury to the latest moves by french lawmakers to condemn the mass killing of armenians by turks in 1915. the justice minister has called this unjust and lacking respect for his country. the armenian prime minister said this would go down in history as protecting human rights. >> this is the moment friend senators passed along the -- pass along. -- passed the law. anyone who now says the genocide did not happen now faces a year in prison and fines of up to

$50,000. turks living in france are outraged. they feel been charged as a direct assault for them -- they feel this is a direct assault on them. but >> it makes me sick. this is a strong symbolic political act which stigmatize us and revolts us. iraq's supporters say the change in law could not come sooner. -- >> supporters say the change in law could not come sooner. >> it can exist for cambodia and armenia and all the other genocides. >> turkey denies the genocide so plays. it says there was heavy loss of life -- denies the genocide took place. it said there was heavy loss of

life on both sides. france believes the differences can be overcome. >> nobody can ignore the reaction of turkey. turkey is a great country, and we respect its people and leaders. we wish to develop our relationship with turkey. >> the bill needs to be signed into law by nicholas sarcozy, and that could take place by the end of february. >> the pressure on iran has intensified with the european ban on all imports of iranian oil. this was agreed upon. the eu is iran's second-biggest market, and iran has threatened to close the strait if shipments are disruptive. this is an important gateway with almost 17 million barrels

since 2011. that is nearly 20% of all the oil traded worldwide. >> tankers and laden with oil from the gulf heading today towards the narrow point of the street and the open sea beyond. immediately after the eu decision to stop buying iran's will today, some politicians inside iran were threatening to block the gulf of this point. we went out from the port and found these waters are vulnerable. if the weather were a bit better, you could see the mountains of iran and just over there. it is only 18 miles away, yet through this narrow strip of water passes the fifth of all the world's oil supplies. it is not surprising iran has attempted to try to cut off this

artery but no surprise either the western world cannot let it happen. yesterday this ship the uss abraham lincoln, which can embarq as many as 90 aircraft, came through the strait. three weeks ago, iran's navy carried out a 10-day drill in an effort to show it could block off these waters if it shows. that might look likes cutting off its nose to spite its face. if the price of oil shoots up, that would suit iran very nicely. there is more to this confrontation than just oil. the eu's sanctions are intended to head off iran's nuclear ambitions. >> iran continues to ignore the

fire resolutions and enriches uranium to 20% for which there is no possible civilian explanation, so i think it is important to increase peaceful, legitimate pressure on the iranian government. >> whatever happens here, it is hard to see a red and giving up its nuclear program -- to see a round -- to see iran giving up its nuclear program. if it becomes a nuclear power, that would give its strong protection against the west. it is a complex standoff, and it is starting to make the region very nervous. >> what impact will the new sanctions have inside of iran, and how will they affect the political situation in the region? i am joined now from chicago by an editor of the journal-middle east reports and an assistant

editor in chicago. a warm welcome to you. let's talk about inside iran. what did you think iranian people will be thinking when they hear that another round of sanctions has been imposed on their country? by setting the iranian people are under tremendous economic pressure -- i think the iranian people are under tremendous economic pressure of sanctions and misguided state policies. the pressure is on the ordinary iranians in the private sector, and i think they will not welcome this new round of sanctions, and they will probably blame the international forces of sanctions but also their own government. >> it could go to ways, given what you have just said. it could embolden the opposition in iran and actually unite the country against these external

threats like the u.s. and these sanctions put upon it. how do you see it playing out? >> i am skeptical that this would encourage the opposition in iran. ordinary iranians are running for their lives and trying to make ends meet. they are under tremendous economic pressure. the political repression since 2009 alexians has been tremendous in putting out any outward opposition, and i do not think these sanctions would necessarily lead to a political outburst of opposition. if you look at the effect of economic sanctions as they happen in iraq and iran, i think the impact would be one of weakening civil society in the private sector in iran, and i think people would be too exhausted to really have the

energy and the ability to not work and create an opposition to the regime. >> that is painting a bleak picture for the iranian people. what chance do they have seven? is there any chance of support for this nuclear research project we keep hearing so much about? >> the nuclear program is a taboo subjects. we cannot speak about it. it cannot be criticized, so this is a matter of widespread state propaganda, but the iranian population is fairly well informed. they have had 35 years of tangling with very intense political atmosphere. they are not necessarily do it easily. the regime claims the population

supports the nuclear program. i am a very skeptical. people are very pragmatic about these issues. obviously they do not want to be dictators, but on the other hiand they have an attitude that is problematic. they have a history of attempting to establish a large scale projects, often white elephants, so there is this kind of symbolic political dimension to it, but i do not think people are supporting the nuclear program at all. i think they are more interested in leaving ordinary lives, living in a more secure environment, and i think they're very skeptical about the regime's attitude about hard- headed confrontational, but they are also worried about these sanctions which are affecting their lives.

>> it is good to talk to you. we appreciate your insight and the insights regarding the iranian people. now to kenya, where criminal charges have been filed against four high-profile kenyans. you have more details about what is going on there. >> the president of kenya is appealing for calm after the international court ordered these people to stand trial for crimes against humanity. the violence erupted after the dispute of the 2007 election, and more than 1000 people were killed, but our ruling is complicated because two people charged were actually running for president. >> a decision which has major political the judges ruled that four of the six suspects are to stand trial for this.

four years ago can no was shaken following a disputed election. 1000 were killed and half a million displaced. amongst those now due to stand trial for crimes against humanity are two prominent politicians with ambitions. the former prime minister said the deputy prime minister and they both see nothing wrong with buying for the presidency and standing trial at the same time. >> there is nothing in the rules the bars me from continuing with my political agenda in kenya. >> there has never been any justice ohone. rather than pursue justice, politicians tend to focus on entrenching themselves in power, but there are calls to the end of this impunity.

>> it does not make sense to have four people standing trial at the hague and then every day you are seeing your neighbor who killed your child, who evicted you from your land, and they are going about their business. >> many are hoping the trials are going to help ensure that future elections are more peaceful. the upcoming election is already controversial because now we know that two of the man who want to be president are about to stand trial for crimes against humanity. >> you are watching news today. still to come, the search a continues. efforts to pump oil out of the ship may begin tuesday. >> of the country celebrates the lunar new year, we have a

special report from china. the chairman of the bbc trust has said politicians in the past have been guilty of allowing newspaper owners and editors to have too much influence. we listened to the exchanges. been chairman of the bbc trust for nearly a year now. back in the 1980 costs, he was government minister and conservative party chairman. in the 1990's, he was britain's last governor of hong kong. in 2003 he was appointed chancellor of oxford university. he brought his experience to the inquiry. his first targets, party leaders for their cozy relationships with media executives. >> i think political parties and their leaders over the past 20 or 25 years have often demean

themselves with the extent to which they have paid court on their proprietors and editors. i am in favor of talking to editors and journalists, but i am not in favor of a groveling. >> the central question of regulation. lord capt. said newspapers should be left to sort out their own problems without new laws from parliament. >> i think it's possible politicians should be kept out of these areas. if the press can come up with a convincing scheme, we will presumably be drawn into that direction. >> those comments will add weight into the effort to buy the newspaper group's to resist any form of statutory control. the director-general mark thompson told the inquiry there was no evidence of phone hacking at the bbc.

>> this is tuesday on the bbc. by the headlines for you, turkey condemns the passing of a bill in france making it a criminal offense to deny genocide was carried out bagainst armenians. >> the pressure has intensified for the european union to ban imports of foreign oil. >> i just want to bring you breaking news from reuters news agency. this is regarding our story on iran following the european ban on all imports of iranian oil. president barack obama has spoken, saying the fresh sea use sanctions against iran underlined the strength of the international -- of fresh

sanctions against iran underlined the strength of the international efforts against the nuclear program. he went on to say the united states would continue to impose new sanctions to increase pressure on iran. a statement coming from president obama regarding the latest sanctions against iran. we will keep you updated on further developments. violence has continued in syria after the government rejected a plan by the arab league. there were more deaths in the city that has seen some of the fiercest fighting. our report contains some graphic images. >> the regime was burying its dead. three soldiers who officials said died in an ambush that killed 11. in almost a year of rebellion, the regime says 2000 of its

people have been killed. the president claimed last spring without convincing evidence that he faced a violent uprising. 2012 feels very different already. on the edge of damascus, more funerals of 11 demonstrators. the u.n. says more than 5000 protesters have been killed by the regime and many more wounded. the regime cause casualties were coming into the military hospital. three dead soldiers as well. the damage is being inflicted by these men, defectors from the regime's forces. they were killed an hour ago during a fight with armed men from terrorists. it is not a war in syria, but in

places it is starting to look like we believe it takes time. >> a lot of shooting here. >> yes, we got through that. >> what did you think about mr. assaad? >> i want to finish my life with my family. im.not ask me about ha >> he feels exhausted and despairing. the violence is part of the uprising protesters say is a backlash against civilian deaths. >> there is a terrible example just a few hours from here of what can go wrong. in the 1970's and the 1980's, the country was torn apart a civil war, and the fear is

something like that could happen here. >> the challenge now? find a way to stop the slide into a future no one wants. >> italian authorities say they are prepared to start pumping fuel from the wreck of the cruise ship. the bodies of two women have been recovered. at least seven more are still missing. >> 10 days after she struck a rock, rescue workers have set up an oil barrier. part of it is absorbed and so it can soak up anything seeping from the vessel. they have been afraid of a possible oil leak, but with the ship declared stable, it can get under way and start siphoning it off. >> the scientific committee concluded a rescue effort and pumping operations are compatible, which means we have

given authorization for tool pumping into began. >> there were more destinations. they are doing all they can to get inside. the search for those missing continues. the bodies of two women were found monday close to what was the internet cafe. others clear away the debris from a party that had barely gotten going. on the nearby island, a man steps the new land mark. the striking images have been released by the italian coast guard. they show what appears to be a crumbled part of a come korea, which buckled under the sheer force of the -- crumble part of the ship which buckled under the sheer force of the collision. >> china is celebrating the new

year of the dragon, considered the lucky is. the country is writing an economic wave which is the envy of the world, so the critical question is can it all at last. >> liu jing is trying to tell his country's past in comic book form. the hardest thing to appreciate how long the perspective is. "rise and fall" a history of cycle but last thousands of years, so where are we now? >> there is a strong central government, and there is an overall stability in society, and people believe the standards are improving, so according to that point of view, this is a textbook of the golden age. >> the old summer palace of the

chinese emperors took generations to construct. then in this supposed lid earthly paradise, a chinese emperor had the temerity to seize and torture two and british envoys. if you ask the average british citizen what britain did in china 150 years ago the chances are he or she could not tell you. in fact when britain and france did was this. they took the emperor's summer palace, and they destroyed it because the emperor would not agree to the demands of western capitalism. the british may have forgotten that, but the chinese certainly have not. >> forgive but not forget. china is becoming stronger and stronger, especially the economy. maybe some people in the west fear that china will lead them, and the chinese do not think so.

>> do you think china will become a super power? >> probably. i would like to see. >> you would like to see china as a superpower democrats it means more responsibility, more influence in -- as a superpower? >> it means more responsibility, more influence. >> maleki once lived a life of unequivocal mundanity the ambitions are grand that china becomes a global center for commerce and design and also power and influence, but you can have -- can you have the freedom to create without the freedom to compete? >> my internet access is only limited to the websites which the chinese government allows to visit. >> in the revolution, he was said to be reeducated in the countryside and almost starved to death. great namehares the

-- the name of the great leader, but he has been named as a means for writing a book criticizing chairman mao. >> do you think china will become a superpower in the sense the united states? >> i do not think so. china does not provide any hope for ordinary people in the world. people want to migrate to europe or canada or australia or the united states. it does not have any attraction, so i do not think china can be a superpower. have been watching news

today. >> stay with us. headlines are next. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to know your business. offering specialized solutions and capital to help you meet your growth objectives. we offer expertise and tailor

solutions for small businesses and major corporations. you? can we do for eua >> "bb