to greet the new year. this is r.t. coming to live from moscow i'm marina jascha welcome to the program. violence in syria continues unabated despite the arab league observers mission that start of this week security forces have reportedly opened fire on thousands of protesters with monitors giving conflicting accounts of government snipers involved activists claim dozens were killed in recent clashes in a flashpoint cities all of which are also being visited by the monitors the u.n. says more than five thousand people have died in the ten month long and rest with damascus blaming armed gangs for the violence james carville editor of an independent news website based in japan doubts if the observer mission will bring any plausible results the final report will be a pretty much preordained conclusion that there will be findings that the assad

government is not doing enough to to listen to the concerns of its citizens but personally i'm not sure what is more ridiculous about this story be the idea that the the autocratic suggs of the arab league states are going to presume to pronounce on the democratic you know leanings of that the syrian government to work with the international community is supposed to take what they say with any sort of moral authority but clearly these are not people in a position to be lecturing on this but i think as i say i think the the report has been pretty much preordained and i would be very surprised to see that that it concludes anything other than the fact that that the assad government is to blame for what's going on in syria right now. former libyan rebels are now chanting for syrians to follow their revolutionary past hundreds of mercenaries some of whom are former terrorists are ready to take up arms again to help overthrow president said i guess it's not a boy who reports from tripoli. a butcher my dad me the owner of these people.

shop in tripoli still undecided what's the most fitting term for syria's bashar al assad. jealous of his economics if we get him enough in the world that syria. other syria. you can make it a lot of the people in syria. out of solidarity with their arab brothers the owners of the shop have even put on display the syrian rebels tricolor but they're very firm on where the revolutionary support should be and we don't want syria and its soldiers we have. and our people such as syria these are just life long if this subject we have to have enough but i think yeah we want to leave. in less than three months libyan rebels have gone from being celebrated as liberators to being called occupiers tripoli residents rarely almost every week calling on the armed militia to leave and for some of the young man who looked on

adrenaline and willing to part with their rifles syria it seems like the next logical destination. you'll know what we're all ready to join the syrian revolution and with the help of all along we will make sure that what happened in libya will repeat itself in syria that the home go by libyan man over the portraits of shaky bar i now ubiquitous on the streets of tripoli be some rebels even styling themselves to resemble the famous revolutionary. book with the help of allah we can all belong to give aren't fighting for peace and freedom around the world. and it seems that che guevara's idea of exporting revolutions have gotten a second birth in the middle east the arab spring has created a buoyant marketplace for soldiers of fortune they move from one revolution to another motivated by personal being found by conviction on others by the venture if i put out the vision of freedom and for now at least it's the freedom to live by

the gun. as your mantic and spontaneous as it may appear aiding the syrian uprising with mercenaries may not be such a genuine move video women and children in syria gunned down by snipers are bound on you tube while it's still unclear who is pulling the trigger there are terrorists who are shooting at civilians men women and children blind terrorism random killing simply for the purpose of destabilizing the country or from libya or from afghanistan or pakistan foreign fighters have been brought in here by the cia and the other western services. one man's terrorist could easily be in our man's freedom fighter but with the united states it's now one day hiking but hodge one of the leaders of triple a militia was once on the cia most wanted list and today he's the face of the democratic leader who according to artists or says not

a group of several hundred really been rebels to syria just last month. we can do to support the syrian people because we know they are facing the same situation as before and. who comes to be would. be would have to give i think. the use of soldiers of fortune is hardly new in this troubled region middle eastern rulers hard and for centuries a save cars against their own populations and it now looks like the history of. mercenaries in the middle east has got to this new and no less bloody chapter on the art sea tripoli. u.s. president barack obama has signed a bill imposing new sanctions against iran the measure as targets of the country's central bank animal particularly hit oil revenues. relations between washington and tehran reached a dangerous point this week islamic countries threaten to block

a vital oil supply route in the persian gulf where it's currently holding navy drills to iran promise to not let one drop of oil go through the strait of hormuz if the west goes on with sanctions the u.s. and the e.u. are stepping up pressure over iran's nuclear program tehran is since said it's ready for fresh talks reza marashi of the independent lobby group the national iranian american council says the lack of diplomatic relations between iran and the united states increases the risk of a dangerous outcome. closing the strait of hormuz for the iranian government would be the equivalent of cutting off its nose to spite its face its heavily heavily reliant on its on its income from oil exports the vast majority of which go through the strait that being said just because it's something that the iranian government doesn't want to do it doesn't necessarily mean that it's something that it's won't do if pressure increases to the point where iran is backed into a corner or two governments that haven't been communicating for over three decades and when you don't have direct channels of communication that increases the

likelihood of miscalculations and misperceptions and it reinforces a cycle of escalation in conflict and it increases the likelihood that you can you can take actions that might not be in the court and even with your own interests and rather than governments controlling the conflict the conflict begins to control the governments and we end up with an outcome that i think both parties independently would seek to avoid still some of the program life after death we look out the future of north korea after its longtime leader kim jong il was finally laid to rest and. yes you do is the president of a big event he could take the stand today and i'm going to say you know i don't know you know. we find out that it's not only u.s. presidential candidates struggling with their knowledge of the world. the u.s. says it has agreed to hold raids on pro-democracy rights groups earlier this week soldiers and police stormed offices of non-governmental organizations including

some of those funded by washington groups accuse the ruling military of using same tactics of repression as the previous mubarak regime documents and computers have been seized as part of investigations into foreign funding organizations the military took power in the country after an uprising in february which toppled president mubarak author william and dol says washington's initial aim was to flare up violence in the region. i think the military has made a deal with the islamic brotherhood. washington doesn't want stabilization they want to be permanent armies so that they can you know use that as a lever in the entire region there's anger because there's been a little change but also because. it's quite the case that foreign n.g.o.s financed by the u.s. congress and others the national endowment for democracy various other so-called human rights politicized organizations are fanning the protests claiming that

pitting the military against against these human rights n.g.o.s so. the idea is to create as much chaos through the region as possible in order to justify i believe a stronger nato role permanently in the region. in a new year's message north koreans have been urged to make every effort to bring their country to perspire ready and to fan its new leader kim john known to the doubts that's going against hopes in the west that the death of kim john aylward herald a more open country but asia specialist dr tim vale thanks for nations have an interest in keeping things as the are. it's not as we know it was educated in switzerland long see that's going to have the same i don't know but i think goats grossly overestimating is freedom of action. part of the north and system but also mainly in respect to the outside world and immune respect to the americans so it is not north korea and since don't want to see americans and want to keep it.

constrained somewhat like they want to contain china rather different you do differently but it's all part of the same same package so what kim jong un can do is in many respects fairly limited. we will again we'll have to see but i don't really depend so much on the americans. prospects for the struggling european currency remain low in the here as the euro fell sharply at the end of two thousand and eleven dead britain countries are racing to implement more steering measures with spain announcing almost nine billion euros in cuts investment advisor patrick young says he doubts the single currency still has a viable chance of survival unfortunately the prognosis for the new year must be one of a terrible hangover it is absolutely to my mind clear that we are going to have a crushing recession it's a tragedy but the european union has alternately made no effort to resolve its

problems we've had one child after another shower after another shower and they've been spoilt so much and unfortunately there's just nothing at this juncture that gives us any reason to be remotely optimistic apart from the fact that we're going into a new calendar year the year room is living on borrowed time it has been on life support for the last six months it could survive on life support for the next twelve months that is possible but realistically i cannot see how the euro can survive certainly not in its current shape or form i think you will find there will be defaults in other words countries are going to turn round and say you know what we can't afford to pay these debts we're walking away and i think that will happen it will happen in greece and it may happen in other countries in the euro zone as well one morning we're going to wake up the euro will have kids cheer for normally another day we may wake up and there will be no euro whatsoever right now that probability is fifty fifty our best that the euro survives the next twelve months.

the world is welcoming twenty twelve with massive abrasions and fireworks all over the globe north america has become the latest with huge festivities along the east coast any or thousands packed times square for the ceremonial ball dropping at midnight. and this trail you know was among the first countries to open its doors to the new year with glittering fireworks the skies over sydney harbor they picked up the baton with spectacular shows held across the region and by hundreds gathered the world's tallest building to watch a magnificent and illuminating display. and russia also met two thousand and twelve where the band thousands gathered in moscow's red square to toast the new year and millions of dollars also gathered in cities all over europe for the countdown to midnight. now whistle gratian sweeping the globe we remember what

may two thousand and eleven and was a year of revolts and rallies as millions around the world went out into the streets to demand justice freedom and economic equality argues that he's now he lives back at the protest that shaped the past twelve months. two thousand and eleven could easily go down as the most vengeful year in years the killing of bin laden after a decade long manhunt libya's gadhafi after months of nato bombing and the death of north korea's kim jong il don't even begin to illustrate twenty eleven. time shows the protester as person of the year and although there were different slogan signs and demanded solutions twenty eleven will ultimately be remembered as the year people came out onto the streets the arab spring bloomed into

a european summer which harvested an american auto from cairo to california moscow to madrid to where to occupy global rallies shared common themes but if one thing stood out in the middle east and north africa alone it was protests that lead down one road regime change. tunisia and egypt got rid of their dictators without war but libya was not so lucky nato and allies began a humanitarian mission with a fierce bombing campaign but critics called it a mislabeled invasion to take down gadhafi for benefits the only reason they're interested in with libya is about the oil you hear anybody screaming and yelling about all those people last week that were killed in the ivory coast or whose sudan gadhafi was brutally killed in october as the world watched the graphic video go viral thousands of civilians were killed over months of bombing and that's twenty

twelve neared syria found itself in a similar set up for intervention russia and china fearing a repeat of the situation in libya as civil war intensifies this is a direct effect that direct clash between the u.s. and nato on one side and russia and china on the one you know on the other side much more david was in libya protests continue in egypt libya syria and many more arab countries as the year ends. the battle to save the drowning single currency left to board rooms and banks in twenty eleven and flooded the streets of europe most commonly and violently in athens greek debt became the centerpiece of the euro crisis protests raged against desperate austerity cuts to qualify for i.m.f. bailout germany and france bond for influence in the debt ridden so i think we will

see an exit of greece given the situation in which the greek economy find itself has become really unavoidable draining the economy of big brother germany can't go on forever greece and italy are now led by on a lark to brussels back technocrat leaders who are trying to curb the crisis coming into new year critics say twenty eleven bell outs or bust was the beginning of the end for the single european currency there's every chance the euro is going to crash. london burned for days in the summer of twenty eleven what began as a peaceful protests demanding justice over the death of a twenty nine year old man who was shot by police turned into days of riots and left fardy helpless talks of possibly bringing out the military bars to shops were looted car set on fire and windows smashed across the u.k. the police the job center all the banks everything that's happening the recession

you know there's a lot of anger about that social experts also who of found multicultural programs and racism into the mix you know stop and so. on a sense of place a certain institution. but. probably institutionally racist as well the riots faded but the problems are still passing some say only a spark is needed to set the public off again. occupy wall street became a household name in the u.s. and around the world when the protests began in september if you we're talking about the mainstream media stayed silent until seven hundred people were arrested on the brooklyn bridge and that was truly based in the end of his roots of american politics that crowd is easy since. they are disorganized they look funny what are

they protesting nobody seems to know but negative coverage didn't stop us from spreading from small towns to huge ports occupied was not going anywhere great on campus heavy handed police and burning pepper spray only helped occupy grow and read their message of the need for economic equality and you know end to corporate greed their slogan became we are the ninety nine percent and they are the rich the one percent from oakland to boston the more people occupied the more power talladega became more evident by. what you're doing but you're right. that our police forces have been militarized they're working more in cooperation with the pentagon they're buying and being given military surplus to quit meant that has been kind of designed for use in war

and this is something that leads to treating the public as you would treat an enemy a public that has promised to come out in full force in twenty twelve. mentary elections were the push behind tens of thousands of people coming out onto the streets of moscow after allegations the december duma vote was raped. by. the protest at least fifty thousand strong the largest in recent history call for free and fair elections and remains peaceful ruling party united russia lost popularity in the vote with official results putting their numbers at almost fifty percent but experts say a sixteen percent drop from two thousand and seven should be taken as a warning that i think a lot of people wanted to punish. united russia for having power for so long maybe

not doing everything they could protest organized by vast groups of opposition members are set to continue in two thousand and twelve next year russia along with the u.s. and france holds presidential elections which makes it a safe bet people will be out on the streets in twenty twelve in europe america and around the world and he said no way r.t. moscow. a more insight and analysis on the events that made twenty five an hour on our website r t v dot com also watch our special new year of coverage from the heart of moscow reports from various parts of the world the expert analysis on some of the most significant events of the past year. plus a major stories as seen through the eyes of our correspondents who were in the hot spots of events their testimonies are at r.t. dot com. witnesses. to history in the making. testimony. ten stories that shapes two

thousand and eleven on our t.v. . and now let's take a look at some other stories from around the world u.s. president barack obama has signed the fans' bill with a price tag of six hundred sixty two billion dollars despite serious reservations by critics over how terror suspects will be handled under its provisions the new law means any person can be detained without charge opponents also say the legislation gives more authority to the military to detain and interrogate people denying them constitutional rights. thank you and president goodluck jonathan has declared a state of emergency in response to the wave of violence had spies lama sex. in a state address on saturday he vowed to crush the terrorist group and condemn the christmas bomb blast that killed more than forty people following the announcement of racial clashes erupted in the east leaving dozens dead tens of thousands have fled their homes across the country in the wake of recent violence. in the south

sudanese state jungle a thousands of fighters from the loonier tribe have laid siege to a town of one of their rivals members of the tribe storm people or torching buildings stealing livestock and forcing scores from their homes un troops deployed in the town were unable to prevent the attack this latest spate of violence comes as the governor of the state and the vice president attempt to mediate talks between the tribes. and chinese boss driver has died in the first reported case of bird flu in the country you know were eighteen months the man who was hospitalized with pneumonia but later tested positive for the deadly virus according to health authorities he had no contact with poultry a positive cast on a dead chicken at a market just outside of hong kong last week prompted an immediate import ban on poultry to control the epidemic. in the new year americans will choose

who leaves their country for the next four years but are the potential candidates as well versed in global paul. and what's going on at home. has been finding out. it's three agencies of government when i get there that are gone commerce education and the what's the third one there let's see if he's looking to to actually fire tens of thousands of federal workers and eliminate an entire cabinet level position and he can even remember its name asked me who is the president of you beki beki beki beki stan stan i'm going to say you know i don't know do you know it's not the fact that he doesn't know it's the fact that he doesn't think he should look it up so you agree with president obama live you. know. the basic knowledge of those attempting to spearhead a country can leave much to be desired would be this leave americans choosing their

politicians and their country's potential future let's find out. what spec is heard of it. for some reason i don't know anything about libya do you know what is the pakistanis know i do not know what the pakistan is pakistan. no do you know the us is an airbase there. nor do we know about libya. you know dispel libya yes yes do you know the united states was involved in a war with libya. ok. you know why. i know absolutely nothing about but honestly what about new mexico is that a state or a country what is that i say you don't really think that we don't like you know. it's the old man under bush. while actually.

come on it was not that long ago you follow cheney who is the vice president of the us. you know i have no idea. i know it's. the vice president. cheney so with secretary of state that kind lisa rice stella that we would be fools and nice to ignore their purpose and their plan some countries are at the top of politicians list to attack her believe i am literally but how much do people really know about those faraway places. with her. it's her idea was the president. of the music that you know the president of iran is no capital capital of iran do you know the capital city of iran. negative do you guys know what iran is oh yes yes yes what's the capital of iraq cares was the president. the president he just died but the capitol grounds the capitol yes i do what is it

you're asking me i can't tell you that either top secret come on a little boy is caught in the. snow will be a rich text or anything he guesses. if the president of iraq iran iraq they are right you know his name but a jet a giraffe or something when it comes to picking a future for the you was choosing what comes next may be tough without the knowledge of what has gone on in the past and even the very present it is the situation on the fourteenth he or bush shortly russia's ambassador to the u.n. shares with r.t. his views on some of the most pivotal issues before that there will be back with our top stories.

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on our team. the close up team has been to dock you stuck birthplace to the most ambitious football club in the world. now our g. goes to the far east where the timber industry affects the legendary siberian tigers where the ancient native community loses its way in the modern world. and where the country's mineral wealth starts its way across the ocean. and well come to the bars creature russia close up on archie.

back here with r t let's take a look at today's news and the week's top stories fresh clashes flare up in syria with dozens reported killed despite the arab league observers mission there while levy is victorious rebels are taking their revolution to president assad's doorstep . president obama slaps new sanctions on iran over its atomic ambitions despite iran saying it's ready for fresh talks to iran threaten to close off a key world supply route in the persian gulf.