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europe's in danger of drowning under a wave of illegal immigrants. north africa and the middle east as many as three hundred. nations around the world. billion dollar democracy package. but many are desperately needed at home people crippling. the state. level corruption and mismanagement. in short supply.

you with a. welcome to the program. three hundred thousand illegal immigrants could arrive in the country as they flee the ongoing bloodshed in libya the italian foreign minister is warning of an exodus of biblical proportions from north africa across the region has already seen thousands of refugees from. they don't call them to do so they get into europe for nothing you see this tiny italian island in the mediterranean is located just around eighteen miles off the coast of north africa and over the past decade many refugees came here looking for a better life and more leaders sent to other european countries nevertheless this place still managed to remain a peaceful isolated world populated mostly by fishermen and holiday makers but just

recently the peace was disturbed after the recent revolution in tunisia in just two weeks the island became flooded with a wave of refugees many spend their entire days this wandering around town there have already been reports of an vandalism and several have been arrested we've been talking to the locals and some of them are even afraid to come out on the streets when it's dark it takes around three days to seal from tunisia to lampedusa and these are some of the actual boats used by the refugees to get here and you can see they're not really that big so it's really hard to believe that sometimes up to three hundred people can cram on each one and actually not all of them even make it to the island some get lost out there in the open sea and some sink dozens of refugees have already died this is the center where many of the refugees are being house you can see it's like a separate itself they're being given out food and water and clothes and the

necessary medical assistance as well all on the state money the problem is it was initially designed to house just around eight hundred fifty people while it had to receive in reality much more than that and another problem is it's really hard to identify all these people and officials say that some of them could be criminals or even terrorists would be easy to foreign and interior ministers finally meeting to discuss the situation a resolution is needed fast because with the violent. protests continuing both in northern africa and in the middle east italy has already warned a new bigger wave of refugees can flood not only this tiny island but the entire continent you've got the skin of. italy. well the libyan leader has vowed to fight until the death and die a martyr in his homeland refusing to step down amid widespread antigovernment protests in his first major speech since the unrest began more market after he

talked of the cowards and traitors responsible for the uprising referring to protesters as rats gadhafi urged his supporters to take to the streets and the opposition who he claimed were bribed drugged and serving the devil the libyan interior minister has defected and joined the protesters calling on the army to follow and support people's demands for change several libyan ambassador said also questioned protest over the use of force on civilians demanding the end of gadhafi decades long rule the country's leader reportedly ordered the army to use airstrikes against the demonstrators something that he denies several hundred have been killed and over four thousand injured and the first week of violence making it the bloodiest so far and one of the arab revolts. france is pressing for the e.u. to cut all economic ties with libya following the violence suppression of opposition protests president sarkozy also says europe should consider adopting

a number of sanctions against tripoli for what he calls a brutal violation of human rights the proposed measures including barring those involved in the crackdown from entering european countries monitoring their financial transactions some experts believe the move could also help to stop the flow of illegal immigration from the region. even before. the prospect of massive immigration has always been europe's wars tonight. in real terms it has never been substantial and we have always been below thirty thousand. possible entries every year. clearly the overthrow of the governments poses a whole different set of issues and one. europe will be able to do it depends on the ability of actually coordinating among some of the governments that are most affected the instruments. of eligible to the international community in the short

term are very limited i mean imagine if in two months time coral gadhafi is not overthrown i mean business cannot proceed as usual after this so something will have to be done and clearly one obvious thing to do or one immediate thing that could be done is a visa ban on the regime if the violence continue at this at this rate. that would at least avoid call prevent colon a gadhafi from traveling europe and put up his tent in several european capitals as he has done over the past few years anything beyond that including the freezing of assets is going to be more complicated but clearly targeted sanctions is the kind of symbolic as well as concrete answer that the international community can get if if the violence continue continues at this rate. now the un has condemned the libyan leader over its crackdown on protesters and called for an end to the

bloodshed u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton also described the violence as completely unacceptable she is gonna check on has more from washington d.c. . the situation in libya has been critical for more than a week now the protests there turn out to be a lot more violent than they were in egypt or anywhere else in the way john but washington's we action as analysts point out has been as slow and cautious as ever only this tuesday did secretary of state hillary clinton come out to the press and call for libya to stop the bloodshed she also called for leaders in bahrain and yemen to show restraint when handling the protests what analysts point out the spite the cautious words of concern expressed by the u.s. administration there is no more of that democracy celebration that we saw over a week ago when obama delivered all those passionate speeches on people of egypt making their voice heard and embracing democracy with analysts say it was easier and safer for the u.s. to root for democracy and support the people because there is the army there which

is very powerful and is largely supported and financed by the united states and is now in control of egypt but in other countries in libya for example the u.s. doesn't have that same leverage libya has the richest proven oil reserves in africa it is the twelve largest oil exporter in the world experts say it is very hard to predict who will take power if gadhafi is apps that washington's biggest fear is that those uprisings in the region could bring about leaders who will be hostile to the united states market off he never was their favorite leader that's for sure but seven years ago he agreed to open up a leave us all or oil riches to the west and let them invest in oil production so they kind of left him alone but now with protests spreading like wildfire is across the region the u.s. seems to have little control over what's going to happen next there also the u.s. is very sensitive about bahrain they have their fleet there to protect all the swears come out i'm. major oil shipping lanes and keep an eye on iran and they have good relations with the king of bahrain and all that political unrest could really

undermine the u.s. presence in the gulf so they're very cautious calling for democracy there or in yemen for that matter where anti-government protests are also going on the u.s. sponsors the yemeni government in exchange for their full cooperation in chasing down terrorist suspects experts say the under arrest there is very dangerous for the united states as for the stark there for the same rhetoric that we've seen here in washington many allen analysts say for the u.s. it's not really about supporting democracy in those countries it's about securing their interests. well meanwhile in yemen two anti-government protesters have been killed and dozens injured after supporters of the country's president opened fire university in the capital. tens of thousands of rather across the country for two weeks now demanding the resignation of. the president who has been in power for over thirty years has refused to leave office saying he will step down only after national elections in two thousand and thirteen.

are now more on the global impact of the unrest in the middle east and north africa coming your way shortly but first let's have a look at what's ahead at this hour here on r.t. and accusation. positive patients in ukraine of pointing the finger at the government as they suffer from a shortage of vital medication. and a moscow football team secures a place in the last sixteen of the europa league becoming the first russian this season that's coming up in our sport and you can find that here on our t.v. just a little bit later this hour. right now more on the libyan crisis and as the rest of the shows no sign of abating oil prices around the world continue to spike let's. get some more details on this and so i suppose one of the questions on the minds of many now would be are we going to see

a spike in the all prices in the near future what's what's your forecast. i. believe we are so you know i'm terribly sorry we're having some technical difficulties so we'll have to catch up with you with the business bulletin that's coming your way in about eight or nine minutes we'll see you then all right now western nations are debating the multi billion dollar a deals for democratic and economic transformation in north africa and the middle east but while politicians in europe and the u.s. say the west show. show the region the tangible fruits of freedom many believe the timing just couldn't be worse lauren explains. in the battle for hearts and minds in the middle east a new front has opened up influential voices from the heart of europe to washington are urging western politicians to take advantage of our rest by pumping in fast sums of money in aid to show the new liberated people of the region that democracy

does carry rewards but it's cash that many europeans don't feel they have regular search over with so i give it a broader window so it's i think we should be close to. the football i mean obviously he did save some money for helping to save but we need to be cancerous arse frizzy should probably try to look after us but on a world first before you try to make intransigence also reading at this moment our country is going through these big cuts and that money i think could be used for. the aid package being proposed by e.u. and us leaders is potentially debate since the end of the second world war it's being dubbed the new marshall plan after the money that america gave to europe after the war to help rebuild the decimated economy and create jobs but robert oulds from the british group says we should be concentrating on trade not eight

countries such as egypt and tunisia and other countries developing nations are hurt their agricultural policies are damaged as a result of the european union's policies we need to have trade policies which stop hurting the third world which stop hurting developing nations and that that will be the better way of securing a long term perspective parity for countries that are these emerging democracies instead of europe in the u.s. are talking about handing over billions of dollars. to the middle eastern mediterranean to countries torn apart by revolution and on rest and despite the opposition in the u.k. there are also you saw him he believe it's the duty of developed countries to help those in trouble with lucky to have a democracy. democracy throughout the world i think the middle east needs our help it's going to. question transition that's the moment. to

despise our problems are told we can't just close up we have to look at the words this place we live in but it may not be as simple as that unlike europe after the second world war egypt and own tool toward developing economies going through revolution and it's very unclear at this point who is going to end up in charge and who would take receipt of any aid package the governments made extensive attempts to build relations build up regimes which now being destroyed by revolutions whether we're looking at over the years to egypt who are looking out for big deals tony blair was shaking hands on just a few years ago in libya was gadhafi so we need to be really careful particularly when we don't know what the road for the final government will be that we don't wind up with resources when they have done so if the muslim brotherhood takes over in egypt do we want them to be taking over with institutions which we've built up

with western taxpayers money westminster has been the scene of ugly demonstrations against government proposals to cut funds to some of the u.k.'s most vital services while some undoubtedly believe it would be a sad day when western countries refused to help build democracy others say it's the wrong help potentially going to the wrong people at the wrong target for a cash strapped to your average forty. russia is no sign of abating in libya and other regions are people concerned. prices of oil across the world could continue to spike that's now are going to forecast on the news business of the year part of a good to see you your so certainly a big concern for many motorists around the world are we going to see a spike in oil prices a possible record cost in oil what's your forecast. is have been particularly volatile and recent years and we saw them reaching one hundred forty seven dollars a barrel in july two thousand and eight before plummeting to thirty two dollars

a barrel that december the financial crisis so and the same we may see them rise up to one hundred fifty dollars a barrel again but all supplies are still moving relatively freely and openly say that it's ready to meet any shortage of supply when it happens but some says is definitely impacted surging oil prices are a big challenge for airliners for example energy prices could turn what could have been a very profitable year into a very complicated here for air carrier i would say the transportation has always been particularly vulnerable to rising oil prices with all sorts of businesses affected from supermarkets to manufacturers and fortunately high oil is likely to his ordinary consumers while it's true let's listen to what analysts say. because all prices have a knock on effect to the cost of. most items because of course you need

energy to. to make products and deliver them to shop so. if prices continue to stay say high that will have significant inflation pressures. on europe and and the world well gloria the calculation here is really very simple rising oil prices act like a tax on consumers which will force many individuals to pay more at the pump to fill their tanks and they will have let's money. disposable income and money to buy other stop so high oil prices may lead to soaring costs for food heating and travel and definitely deplete consumer spending power we'll have more in business in less than ten minutes time because you know we will see you about some of the time that thanks very much. also ahead for you here on r.g.p. and his cross told us debate whether the best way to achieve democracy in the

middle east and north africa is for the western world to put its faith in the people on the ground. and i think the west should be much more forceful in making it clear that we've had it with more market duffy i think it was a major strategic mistake in the previous administration to sort of lead khadafi off the hook just because he came clean on his weapons of mass destruction ok reed and i to go over to you in brussels we hear things coming out of the obama administration some of the things about hillary clinton is that state department. what kind when they say they want to help the people in the arab world towards their democratic aspirations the usual rhetoric here i mean do you think what you think most people in the region to say thanks but no thanks i think the causes of these revolutions are indigenous and the answers are indigenous you know i think our our role of the role of the west should be to support civil society to support

those people who are fighting for their freedom but to do it in a supportive way in a backup way. and you can follow that debate about the fate of democracy in the arab and middle east in cross talk your way in just over an hour's time right here on out. of russia as marking the defender of the fatherland paying tribute to the nation's armies and war veterans people are laying flowers out of war monuments all across the. country president dmitri medvedev has placed a wreath of birth to move the unknown soldier at the kremlin war here in moscow the holiday years also seen as the unofficial day here in russia major fireworks displays will also be taking place in moscow and other cities throughout this evening. while hundreds of thousands of people living with hiv fighting for their lives in ukraine as the government stands accused of delaying the supply of vital

drugs and made claims of state corruption patients have been forced to jeopardize their health in a bid just to stay alive. he has this story. ever since you and the learned she was a child positive her life has been a nightmare and the last few months have made matters even worse a local aid center which had been providing iliana with medication told her that they no longer had even a logical serum for her three year old son dre also infected with a deadly virus when. they told me that i have to give my adult ones two hundred eighty and that i have to split each peel into three how can i split it into exactly three parts and how do i know if his body will accept these pills late last year several ukrainian regents reported a shortage of immune strengthening drugs used by hiv positive patients experts point the finger at the country's health ministry was that then that of official

say this happened because the beating for the purchase of drugs happened too late not in the summer but in the winter they received funding too late this whole system of buying drugs by tender is corrupt through and through. following this delay in supplies some hiv patients have had to alter their treatment and find alternative medication doctors say they had no choice but such changes can pose a grave danger to gray's health ministry reports of at least one hundred thousand h.i.v. positive people in the country however experts say this number is diminished and the real amount of the infected may go to three hundred and fifty thousand people. official say for the present the supply crisis has been dealt with is a need for now all regions have received the required medication the only drugs which are still on their way to children's pills but when to stand there will be delivered within a few days but doctors say within six months the hiv positive may feel the damaging

effects of the recent halt in supplies and roundabout that sign they are expecting another shortage of anti-viral. you know hopes she and her son will be able to make it through all this once more. see reporting from key of. ukraine. you can always keep up to date on our website that's r.t. dot com he's a taste of what's waiting for you online right now and a memoir from sarah palin's aide is set to focus on the politicians obsession with her image in the media it alleges paling wrote letters to editors praising her own actions under various names. and moscow comes up with a new proposal to ease severely congested roads by building new ones as well as putting carriages on the outskirts of the city but an article called to find out why not everyone is confident the plan will work. just not turning out twenty three

minutes past the hour here in moscow with r.t. time to check out some of the international headlines now and major operation is underway to pull survivors from buildings following the devastating earthquake in new zealand on choose day that killed seventy five dozens have been rescued from collapsed buildings in the country's second largest city of christ church there are grave concerns some three hundred believed to be still missing disasters tremors struck at lunchtime with falling structures raining debris down on the city's recent streets. to iranian warships have passed through the suez canal for the first time in more than three decades the vessels are on route to the mediterranean sea for a training mission with syria iran has stated there is no military equipment or nuclear materials on board the ships the prime minister of israel who considers both countries hostile denounce the move as a provocation. pirates killed four americans taken captive aboard

a yacht on the coast off the coast rather of oman the victims a husband and wife and two friends were attempting to do so. around the world u.s. military forces training the vessel had tried to negotiate with the hijackers they stormed the yacht in response to sounds of gunfire and killed two pirates while securing the boat three of the hostages were found dead and the fourth died later from the when it's. ok let's get the latest from the world of business unions here . hello and a very warm welcome to the business update the shop rising that oil prices due to the unrest in the middle east has raised fears the global recovery might be stopped in its tracks economists argue the high energy costs will drag on for a job the column is still struggling to emerge from the financial crisis but by dimitroff joining from us created believes the fears abhi plate especially since

oil supplies are still moving relatively freely we need to take into account the global economic developments they take considerable time so assuming that the situation in the middle east doesn't escalate further significantly we should rather concede there is like a short term problem i should emphasize that so far we haven't seen any even minor disruptions to all supplies to major markets including europe. we had problems in egypt. not withstanding oil shipments through the suez canal were unaffected what we currently see in libya while and. just actually hasn't produced any material impact on the crude supply. but i'm got stocks have had the best of the week here in russia and they have benefited not just from the rising oil price

but also from speculation in the media that upcoming tax reforms could see them operating under a more favorable regime. there's a secular theme in russia of the tax reform which seems to be finding support even in this difficult environment. of the market sell off and we think that all names that are exposed to the good export such as you have to. look well could be out the farmers in the market towards the end of the week. the exploration deal signed between ross nafta and b.p. has raised the possibility of tapping into russia's arctic energy resources but even if the difficulties surrounding that deal can be overcome there still remains the challenge of extracting the oil and gas from the frozen region the president of the russian union of oil and gas groups believes drilling will only become economically viable when the oil price hits one hundred fifty dollars per barrel.

it's very expensive to develop the arctic show i'm not saying we shouldn't develop this area but we still don't have enough experience to deal with it i believe we should stop the development when the price of oil reaches one hundred fifty dollars per barrel and beyond for example to drill one meter of the arctic shelf could cost up to one million rubles so we should calculate accordingly. a look at the markets now here in russia it's a national holiday so they'll be no trading but the rest of the world is going to work starting from asia the stock markets aged down by wall street's sharp losses on tuesday and the continued political turmoil in libya japan's nikkei last point eight percent and saying it was down point three percent. european stocks are following the negative trend a major unrest in the middle east banks provided to broad support helped by well received results from commerce back in texas in the u.k. barclay rose.