washington strategy in the middle east is about satisfying its own agenda. if we look at just some of these countries yemen is an important american ally but rain is an important american ally i mean if you look at a place like the rain there in the united states houses the headquarters of the u.s. navy's fifth fleet the big question mark for washington of course is iran because it does not have a strong american influence there in these clashes that happened today wednesday a lot of protesters were holding up empty. signs they were they were chanting anti american slogans and the feeling is growing within iran as it has been for some time against the american administration if we look back at what he spied a lot of these events the toppling if one can call it that of president mubarak in egypt the united states was given conflicting messages at the beginning of the demonstrations it seemed to support mubarak the u.s.

had supported for thirty years if they change that support to the demonstrators and by the time the barak was overthrown it clearly put itself of the demonstrators the people here asking the question this doesn't really change the u.s. influence particularly in egypt because now the army is in place and for years the u.s. has been financing with billions of dollars the egyptian army so to some extent the army is really just the other side of mubarak's power to the u.s. watching these developments with increasing concern and needing to balance itself people here criticizing a american involvement and b. their involvement as being of double standards and then of course israel comes to the party as well watching events israel increasingly concerned that it could see islamic republics erupting on its borders so as the tsunami continues to sweep across the middle east the u.s. and israel as well increasingly alarmed. policy reporting that that washington is trying to promote its own model of democracy in the region so as to keep the people under control but according to author and researcher adrian. clearly the united

states will support anything that will promote what they call regina change in get round especially considering that it ran is such a powerful country from the point of view not only of its potential military and also its potential with oil but also its potential as being a theocracy we're in the slamming world of the dollar as based in tehran hold great sway over for literally hundreds of millions of muslims so whatever happens in rand is far more important than he even of what happened with saddam hussein in iraq we have to understand that what the united states now i believe is trying to achieve is a way to promote change in a way that will facilitate things for them the best instrument they have to control the country is so-called democracy because holy war and democracy it is basically a vote counting system handled by the mass media the guy who wins whether it be

a president or prime minister or a senator or a deputy is the one accounting with all the support of the money power whether it be for his counting or for media. and t.v. time and so forth so for example in the country of origin teena democracy is the best way they have to control the country against the people's interest and i think when they hear that they are promoting democracy in egypt i trembled for the egyptians because it was going to be a democracy along the brand as was promoted in argentina or it was sort of throughout latin america it will only help to support the long term objectives of this global power structure operated from europe and from the united states and not the actual interest of we the people to say that in a vertical local and generalized manner. meantime experts say that rising food prices were one reason behind the wave of antigovernment demonstrations across north africa and the middle east but u.n. has warned of impending social upheaval in countries that are quite literally hungry for freedom the issue is also creeping into the u.s.

food stamp programs are being slashed. in food reports. in egypt the revolution took to the streets. but it may have started at the table when food prices begin skyrocketing for the more than forty percent of egyptians living on less than two dollars per day. and it isn't just egypt around the world where there are billion people who are already hungry they spend more than half of their money on so these these kinds of huge world crop price increases can translate in twenty or thirty percent or more increases in their cost of. food prices rapidly rising beyond the levels of the two thousand and eight food prices are forcing americans to make tough decisions at the cash register to vote the price that we have had to learn how to improvise and do things . because they don't know we don't get

a raise. and everything means basic staples like milk the coffee and cereal which rose five percent in the last few months alone this. is going to be every summer going to fifty dollars and i'll get a lot of i mean if i want to. but decisions about who pays and how much aren't made at the register says journalist frederick kaufman imaginary wheat being bought and sold by financial giants is controlling the price of real wheat they're made on wall street by big investment firms who distrust dollars and euros and instead hedge their bets on commodities who's winning you've got it goldman sachs j.p. morgan chase the largest holders alive largest financial dealers in this they're doing very well as the u.s. pushes producers to convert corn crops to ethanol the crisis deepens around the world demand for biofuels has tripled over the past six years and will triple again

by two thousand and twenty growing demand for biofuels. challenge increasing the amount of time we have to produce for people and. farmers are having a tough time keeping up but americans aren't as eager to push frustrations from the grocery store to the streets of america to take hold. you know we have got sick and tired of being sick entire year but then we get that we are doing thirteen point nine billion dollars in cuts to food stamp programs over the next three years means that the average american family all receive fifty nine dollars less per month bringing less food to their tables but it's unclear whether it will also bring them out in the streets in florida part of the washington d.c. . you without seed live from moscow let's let's cross now to live pictures of two russian cosmonauts aboard the i assess they're taking this year's spare second space walk and there will of course frightened. to be treated. they've stepped out

into the open space part of the russian space program because you work outside of the station in a brand new state of the art space suits which have. checked to see that's what we're going to live pictures outside the. orbit and this will show you all to last for at least six hours live pictures from its. people. are staying with dollars the united states we explain to you later this hour how a new budget proposal is making some americans feel even more for the future find out why they claim trillions in federal spending will fall into the wrong hands and will only benefit those in power.

would be soon which brightened if you knew a song from silence to oppression. screams for instance on t.v. don't come. wealthy british style. markets why not come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike's cancer for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune into cars a report on our. world.

bringing you the latest in science and technology from around the world. we've got the future of coverage. culture is that so much of it musically if you need to get a lot of people a very up look at is the world facing the serious and sustained food crisis prices are at an all time highs and tens of millions of people are joining the dinner. party without a life from moscow let's turn our attention now to about of lithuania where disagreeing with the government back and behind bars an opposition party leader faces jail time after blaming his country's authorities for orchestrating a fatal gun battle with soviet troops two decades ago. peter all of a takes a look at both accounts of what happened that day. january nine hundred ninety one fourteen protest is dying out because she is with soviet troops the incident

sparked international support for the demonstrators cause an independent state of lithuania however one local politician now faces a possible jail sentence that disagree with the official version of events and the goddess polanski this is a member of the vilna city council and says soviet soldiers would responsible basing my opinion on the witnesses and on the book which was published by the former head of parliamentary the national security committee chair so he wrote in his book and nobody denied that but from this tower representatives of liftin and all for a case where shooting down into a crowd. and other businesses why no who lived in that area and still live pointed to valves houses here on the roofs of fish houses better people for the shooting and they solve them. fresh opinions on historical events are nothing unusual so

based on newly discovered evidence others merely conspiracy theories what's different is that mr polanski is his argument that it was live in government that were responsible could land him in jail i am facing a charge of. up to two years in prison i mean i have i may receive a fine up to two years in prison i think this is absent from terms of human rights and freedom of opinion absurd or not it's the law in a few way near that was with. the lithuanian penal code provides for criminal responsibility for the public denial of genocide crimes against humanity or war crimes people who belittle these crimes or more victims should be held responsible the nine hundred ninety one aggression against lithuania and its citizens falls under the definition of a war crime you. as an elected official miss the player is

a mune from prosecution however he has waived this right and is prepared to stand trial local historians question plates cases sources and back the official version of events. on the one hand there were civilians who wanted self-determination on the other hand there was military might in my assessment the events of january nine hundred ninety one were an attempt to solve a problem with the use of force it claimed innocent lives. but should questioning history bring with it a criminal investigation. i don't think that this is a reason for a person to be prosecuted it's his personal opinion the authorities have overreacted but it's up to the lawyers to decide it's a provocation but it's based on certain logic lithuanian north or a ts did make attempts to provoke the savior thora t's and compel them to start solving the lithuanian issue. should he be found guilty by the courts in his native

lithuania and gladys polanski's says he will appeal to the european court of human rights an appeal he's convinced would be carried out from a jail cell history may not agree with the opinion of mr polanski when it comes to the events of january one thousand nine hundred one however those same historians are unsure whether it's the role of the legal system to determine who can say what about the circumstances of the deaths of fourteen people here in vilnius peter all over r.t. lithuania. you're with us you live from moscow it's now just turning quarter past the hour let's get to some other international news in brief for you know iraqi defector said saddam hussein had weapons of mass destruction has now admitted that he lied. claims were among those used to justify the u.s. led two thousand and three invasion of the country he said he saw an opportunity to topple the old regime and bring democracy to iraq research group say the war has resulted in over one hundred thousand civilian deaths. pressure system

which developed into a category one cycle and has battled the northern australian city of darwin dozens of homes were deluged on main roads are being cut off high winds and heavy rains lashed the city overnight trees and knocking down power lines schools and the city's airport remain closed and carlos is expected to intensify to a category two as it nears the coast and it will be in seoul friday. of solve the southern sudan has been announced as the name of south sudan i should say new name for the world's newest country south sudan it will come into effect and into existence in july after a referendum last month went overwhelmingly in favor of a split from the north they had been much speculation over the territories name and among suggestions work and the nile republic the separation is hope two decades of conflict between the north and south. north korea is celebrating the birthday of

its leader kim jong il who has turned sixty nine. year old or in pyongyang people climb to the foot of a giant statue of the country's founding leader and kim's father we could festivities. exhibitions ice skating music shows it's widely believed the leaders health is ailing after a stroke in two thousand and eight and his son is being groomed as a replacement. animal rights activists in china are condemning a magic trick with synchronized goldfish they say cruelty was required to make the fish move in unison the act was made famous after being broadcast on state television during the lunar new year celebrations last month in the most watched program of the year the magician responsible says there's no abuse refuses to give away the secret of the trick. for us president barack obama

has unveiled his two thousand and twelve federal budget proposal in which he highlights the country's financial priorities planning clues of budget cuts and tax increases all aimed at reducing the deficit over the next decade and while washington's calling for over three trillion dollars in federal spending experts say regular americans will not benefit. i think we have a political system that is sclerosis and what i mean by that is all the beneficiaries of government spending the companies that get subsidies the military producers who sell goods to the government the working people who get some benefits even if they're small all of them have mobilized to hold on to what they get to make it politically costly for any congressman or woman to go against them those people whose programs will be cut they will be hurt those people whose taxes will be raised they will be heard but these are very small potatoes the basic picture

which republicans and democrats alike support is a budget that's going to be basically of one and a half trillion dollars short the government is going to spend that money the republicans and democrats agree on all of that they're just squabbling over little amount but the larger picture nobody addresses nobody debates and that's an economy that requires a huge amount of government support to keep hobbling along and debts into the future that we will suffer a farm much more than anything being debated by republicans and democrats in washington. that was professor richard wolfe speaking.

neighborhood. rumors that the u.s. . will leave his post by the end of the year the. report of. u.s. troops. pull all of its forces out of the country by two thousand and fourteen quote. says the u.s. . american occupation of afghanistan

has already exceeded all possible saw that mistake in that country and accomplished even more than that in a negative sense and simultaneously having missed all the positive developments that war triggered and promoted by the soviet union intentionally or not in afghanistan i'm not going to justify the soviet military campaign in afghanistan however i do believe that the current american military campaign in afghanistan provides and ample evidence to exonerate the soviet political economic and military presence in afghanistan from the rays e g u of the united states information agency of propaganda which ruled supreme during the cold war battle you know afghanistan the economic objective was to distribute the farmland to farmers

and that's why the armed forces will fighting the landlords the united states do not try the landlords befriending the landlords and have turned them into the drug lords and the main negative success story for the united states occupation these that have been a stand has been turned deliberately and not into the narco caliphate. meantime former u.n. anti drugs chief you know our blacky says international corruption in afghanistan it's under reported and it accounts for great problems in the country. of forty billion dollars that lived in afghanistan for disobedience. only eight of these forty went through they are forever there is the international the production of national newspapers particularly western news being it was never speak about it and use big piece of

a key phrase because the time about after the production which is there of course but this is most likely. the biggest corruption. or the steel of african people eighty percent there with international aid. and you can watch that interview or this hour it's coming away shortly right here on r.t. but for now let's get the business news with dimitri. thanks very much rory gas promise to join the elephant oil field and libya and in assets what do you with them do you company any the one hundred sixty three million dollar deals expected to be signed during an official visit of russian president dmitry medvedev to italy on wednesday he points of the economic agenda to be discussed during the visit also include

a number of other energy issues among them to continue discussion of the south stream project which is to carry fifty billion cubic tonnes of gas from russia to southern europe across the black sea. meanwhile russia could quit the uber gas oil pipeline project that bypasses turkey's bosphorus straits according to russian media russian partners comprising a trance and after last night gas from the after are about to officially end their financing of the for. checked this what effectively kill off the project that russia bulgaria and greece agreed to three years ago to build almost three hundred kilometers of an oil pipeline to export crude to european countries now have a chance now it has denied this information saying russia doesn't intend to redirect the world in the various other pipelines but some analysts doubt the economic value of the whole project together with the completed one pipeline and together with the plan to be completed next here to pipeline i think currently.

russia has enough expert capacity is probably distribution i mean geographical distribution of rules is not so diversified as russia potentially may want or potentially mean i don't think that. construction of some. extra additional pipelines world is justified economically. take a look at the markets now u.s. markets are up as new home construction in the u.s. came in better than expected we're seeing the dow jones allan nasdaq up one percent european shares are also rising on that positive u.s. opening also french drugmakers out of here the answer is strongly after it agreed to buy its rival genzyme corporation for twenty billion dollars in cash in russia the indices are just the markets are just about to close and positive there's our investors are continue to trade cautiously however the r.t.s.

and the my zero zero point four percent the shares are mixed blue chips that is burbank is gaining the point eight percent the stock is finding it hard to recover after climbing around eight percent over the past couple weeks severstal is also are following reports that make cuts to supplies to car maker after that. french lender sort of vision around said its fourth quarter profit quadrupled due to a turnaround of this russian unit the russian consumer banking business had a thirty million euro profit compared with the loss of fifty eight million years last year russia which is the second largest market by employees may become the biggest contributor to the international retail and ings by twenty fifty. and the possible merger of russia's heavy truck producer come mars with its bella reese rival mars is a step closer to reality. deputy prime minister vladimir echoed russian technologies desire to consolidate the two companies the potential merger would see

come as biomass to create a new company. and it would in return give me as a stake in the company. retail diesel prices in russia by two point four percent over the past week with aviation fuel dropping in price to this came russian prime as they were diminishing criticized all companies for justifiably high prices prices for diesel and aviation fuel in russia rose by fifteen and thirty five percent respectively of the past four months. so for now i'll be back with an update and a one hour's time to go away. to .

some. place. good. morning america. this

is st still keeps its secrets but now it's time to move feel. the soviet farms nikita khrushchev to light the light on see. if. he. oh jeez available in the ground. the ritz carlton hotel motel hotel new millennium hotel in you can see. the venetian hotel. with. the. riviera hotel in the central hotel.

egypt. reform. under the pretense. of global. financial giants are accused of fueling these demonstrations. which forced people to take to the streets and a politician in lithuania jailed for disagreeing with. the local authorities.

troops. prosecution for freedom of speech. more than half of all drugs produced in afghanistan. over thirty thousand people die every year from drug addiction. spoke to former. chief. about a new five year plan. in afghanistan. thank you very much for being with us today.