e.u. president in the e.u. presidency well the president of cyprus saying that it was a time in which they the chief significant results and targets strange words considering that it was also a period in which the e.u. went through rising unemployment no agreement on an e.u. budget and in which cyprus continued to ask for a bailout i have to say a bailout which from here in germany many politicians of all across the the bundestag are very reluctant to approve this amid allegations of widespread tax fraud from cypriot banks but what happens next the baton gets passed on of the e.u. presidency gets passed on to the island of course a country that has had its own problems this baton essentially seeming to be passed on in the relay race of the fiscally toxic island of course to receive the e.u. and i.m.f. bailout money they've also had their own problems with unemployment and it's up to them to try and put that right in the next six months which they take over the presidency so obviously the easiest steps into the n

e.u. presidency can be with all the challenges little smith just outlined. the recent conflict in gaza isn't putting israel off planning even more settlements in the occupied palestinian territories despite saber rattling from harassment factor who are vying to rio man defend themselves one means the middle east reporter outlines how this might affect the region's future. if you look at what's happening on the ground israel continues to announce settlement construction and the palestinians continue to say that for as long as these announcements continue they will be no resumption of peace talks it wasn't so long ago that the palestinians were awarded upgraded status at the united nations but you cannot detract from the fact that we still have palestinian faction groups hamas and fatah who always seem to be at each other's throats in less than a month the israelis will go to the polls and by all predict will be prime minister benjamin netanyahu for another term of office and it doesn't seem as if he has an olive branch so certainly the prognosis for any kind

island as soon as the six month presidency of the e.u. facing a wide range of issues from a challenging european agenda with zone ailing finances. and the scene with a new around the globe we digest the highlights at twenty twelve and look at the headlines that could have been if things are different. hello there very good to have you company it's kevin over here at the new center just after one am moscow time now on our top story than the smalling a last minute deal on the american fiscal cliff was passed by the senate in the final hours before the deadline but now as they go to the house of representatives the original deal agreed to raise taxes on americans making more than four hundred fifty thousand dollars per year but the house's perspective on the voting definitely calling for more spending cuts let's talk to lawrence freeman he's editor of the executive review magazine is joining us on the line from maryland now to give us a bit more analysis of what's going on here hi lawrence know that the final decision is being left to the la

sure enough the first country to take on the presidency of the twenty seven nation bloc while being propped up by i.m.f. money so for the next six months the e.u. and systemic problems will be presided over by one of its weakest and most problematic members so what specific challenges faced in europe over the six months of its presidency first the european economy is slowing and the crisis is nowhere near over secondly it must preside over leaders actually agreeing to an e.u. budget for the year two thousand and fourteen to two thousand and twenty something they've spectacularly failed to do so far and thirdly there is a problem coming from right here in london increasing british opposition to brussels and the threat to european cohesion that poses the irish government expects the e.u. presidency to coast in excess of seventy million euros money the country can ill afford and what will it be spent on twenty four million on catering accommodation and transport for example and another twenty million extra government. but during the song spent half a year on the house arrest and the other half holed up in the ecuadorian embassy in london but he s

e.u. presidency to coast in excess of seventy million euros money the country can ill afford and what will it be spent on twenty four million catering accommodation and transport for example and another twenty million extra governments. spend half the year in two thousand and twelve under house arrest and the other half holed up in the ecuadorian embassy in london but he still managed to british a t.v. series talking to the key news makers by the mainstream media our correspondent in london sarah ferguson has been following his ups and downs through the year. a lot of you say wiki leaks and julian started more in a year old t. the most media organizations have done in decades we've really had a front seat view of everything that's been going on we've had him at the beginning of the year of fighting that extradition to sweden we saw his the pill rejected we then saw that dramatic twist in the trial when he went into the i could do it embassy seeking asylum we've been learning julian assange certainly the british media we see a lot of the colonel who quite viciously especially during the cou

ireland assumes that the six month presidency of the e.u. facing a wide range of issues from a challenging european agenda to its own ailing finances it's. an eleventh hour deal looks like it might fall through putting america back on the edge of the fiscal cliff. and it's in with the new around the globe we digest the highlights of two thousand and twelve and look at the headlines that could have been if things had turned out differently. in broadcasting live from our studios in moscow this is r t certainly glad to have you with us. just over two years ago ireland was bankrupt and being bailed out to rescue its failed economy on top of that it's a now the country's turn to take on the next six month presidency of the european council as laura smith reports the celtic tiger has some hard graft ahead of it. it's all changed by the e.u. presidency as takes a six month rotating challenge on the first of january not the ovi choice islands one of the pegs the countries that have the nice stable economies in europe and showed off islands the first

ireland assumes the six month presidency of the e.u. facing a wide range of issues from a challenging it european agenda to its own ailing finances. and it's in that with the new around the globe we digested the highlights of two thousand and twelve and look at the headlines that could have been if things had turned down just a bit differently. and a lot from our brand new studios in moscow this is r.t. certainly glad to have you with us a last minute deal on the american fiscal cliff was passed by the senate in the final hours before the deadline but it has to go before the house of representatives now the original deal agreed to raise taxes on americans making more than four hundred fifty thousand dollars per year but the house has postponed of the vote indefinitely calling for more spending cuts lawrence freeman editor at the executive intelligence review magazine says nothing can save the u.s. economy from crashing over the fiscal cliff. and anyway this whole operation have been a manipulation. and a farce to work over the minds of

island's banking debt the news comes as the president of the european council have men from drum paul held top level talks in dublin after the country took over the e.u. rotating presidency and some experts believe the island to must get their own house in order before taking up the challenge of pulling the european union out of the financial district. island has its own economic problems which are continuing of course as the economic problems which have been happening ever since the euro which created high inflation there and then of course exacerbated the faster they had ready to take on the presidency of the european council is of course a very large piece of work not just for the senior politicians in the government but also for many of the civil servants and they would be better off spending their time really trying to address arlen's economic difficulties rather than trying to solve the problems within the european union which are very great indeed of course unemployment now in the you is alarmingly high and of course the thing is that arlen when he says island is the reason the island supposed to for austerity means that the irish people are n

e.u. presidency to coast. seven see million. money the country can ill afford and what will it be spent on twenty four million catering accommodation and transport for example and another twenty million extra governments. for the recent conflict in gaza putting israel off planning even more settlements in occupied palestinian territories despite saber rattling from hamas and fatah vying to rearm and defend themselves by all means a middle east reporter. how this might affect the region's future. you look at what's happening on the ground israel continues to announce settlement construction and the palestinians continue to say that for as long as these announcements continue they will be no resumption of peace talks it wasn't so long ago that the palestinians were awarded upgraded status after united nations but you cannot detract from the fact that we still have palestinian faction groups hamas and fatah who are we same to meet at each other's throats in less than a month the israelis will go to the polls and by all predictions

e.u. presidency as well at this stage. well yes it does have a great deal of challenges in the you of course the budget situation in europe in the european union isn't sorted out yet the whole situation regarding britain's membership is coming to the fore britain of course maybe will be having a referendum at some point on britain's terms of membership all these issues need to be discussed and agreed in the forthcoming year and so on and the taking on the presidency for the first six months has a key role to play but of course they've got their own challenges to face and it's a very difficult task now the presidency of the european union has in some ways been downgraded in terms of the influence it has because now the council of view of the european heads of state the council of ministers have their own. poi's as the president and fall in the foreign affairs is run by the high representative but of course arland must still be driving forward the agenda but of course they've got their own difficulties and they don't issues

e.u. presidency gets passed on to the island of course the country has had its own problems this baton essentially saving to be passed on in the relay race of the fiscally toxic island of course had to receive the e.u. and i.m.f. bailout money they've also had their own problems with unemployment and it's up to them to try and put that right in the next six months which they take over the presidency. he's put a lot of reporting right now france says it is tripling the number of troops deployed to mali to two thousand five hundred all of this as part of the preparation for a land assault it wants to dislodge islamist extremists occupying large swaths of the country now despite a six day campaign of french aerial bombardments mali rebels have extended their reach and the us is also assisting paris in its operation but many of those who are now fighting the mali government on the western forces were reportedly trained by american agents as part of a costly program to combat terrorism africa lawrence freeman explain to us what's gone wrong as well as how he thinks the mali crisis resulted from western

e.u. as a whole which is why i think there's a lot of hype and spin over the current presidency which is also costing by the way the taxpayer a huge amount. as people across europe struggle through tough cuts and tax hikes the banks are making sure they are left on harmed coming up we explore why the secrecy behind banking or galatians is robbing people of their trust in the financial system. america's military future in afghanistan afghan leader hamid karzai is to meet president obama with washington still mulling the number of u.s. troops that will remain in the country after twenty fourteen more of that in just a few minutes stay with us. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so please you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear or see some other part of it and realize everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm charged welcome to the big picture. the mission of free cretaceous free in-store charges free. range month free. three stooges free. download free broadcast quality video for your media projects a free media dog r.t. dot com. t.v. . tha

e.u. presidency while experts question whether the debt in country will live up to the task of pulling the block out of a financial crisis. plaxo walls closing in on residential areas in russia's republican difficulty of forcing authorities to declare war deadly predators. well over a good evening for me kevin owen if you just joined us your staff to rate now here at the new center not top story them from moscow tonight the perspire most of the inauguration date for venezuelan president hugo chavez is legal according to the country's supreme court meanwhile the country's vice president's call for people to gather in front of the presidential palace to honor the ailing leader who's said to be recovering from cancer surgery in cuba lawyer told me the country's opposition could use the president's protracted absence to destabilize the country though. article two thirty one of the venezuelan constitution does leave open to interpretation the issue of inauguration when the elected president cannot meet the date of january tenth before the national assembly which is the parliament what the artic

e.u. presidency with plans to bring bad growth and create jobs but some alice say double and show a better focus on its own problems. island has its own economic problems which are continuing it course has the economic problems which have been happening ever since the euro which created high inflation there and then of course exacerbated the faster they had ready to take on the presidency of the european council is of course a very large piece of work not just for the senior politicians in the government but also for many of the civil servants and they would be better off spending their time really trying to address arlen's economic difficulties rather than trying to solve the problems within the european union which are very great indeed of course unemployment now in the e.u. is alarmingly high and of course the thing is that arlen when he says arlen this is the reason that on and supposed to boil for austerity it means that the irish people are not protesting and taking up their voyage to protest as people in spain and greece have done because we know that austerity at this time point ac

e.u. presidency proper tissue of the support of a backhanded compliment i know but our lives being held up as a bit of a leading light of all the countries of the masses and i way forward islands but interested now in. china it's like the for light pull the out of the financial ditch while it struggles going to zone house in order and what can i bring to the party albeit i know what you think about the e.u. but what can i do know can it help for the europeans. well i suppose one of the things about the irish government successive governments is that they've also always gone out in the lead and to facilitate their partners and as you say ireland has been held up as a shining light but it's not some years ago ireland we've been held up as a shining light to encourage other countries to join the european union saying i remember this and some of that her eastern european countries that you know they should join the e.u. look at ireland but with an economic basket basket case before join the e.u. another look at it than economy this is don't forget the good times but when i don't and can't to t

and fresh rebel of arlin assumes presidency of the e.u. now and is charged with leading get your of out of the economic crisis look at what's in store for dublin coming up as well. social networking in kuwait has landed too many jail or courts given each of them a two year sentence claiming they defamed the emea with the tweets the uprising in the countries about the market second anniversary with a government accused of resorting to any means necessary to gag dissenting voices or journalists i should return see told me kuwait is just another u.s. backed dictatorship. it's obvious that the united states and nato countries desire to keep their thousands of troops in kuwait and as we've seen of course there been demonstrations in bahrain and of course saudi arabia which are not being covered on any corporate media it's very difficult to cover the brutal suppression of human rights in these nato and u.s. backed dictatorships human rights groups themselves or in the sense of a different subject because some of them are being knobbled by u.s. a

now to assume the six month presidency of the e.u. and face a wide range of issues from a challenging european agenda to its own finances being one of the weakest economies in the block it will now lead the push to adopt the controversial e.u. budget for the next seven years. coming up its cross talk with host peter lavelle right here on r.t. . we think. this is. a low and welcome to cross talk on peter lavelle out with the old in with the new with the arrival of two thousand and thirteen what can we expect will the global economy continue on its slow pace of recovery or is there another crisis in the cards well western powers in israel finally decide to attack iran will the world come together to deal with extreme weather and will america see another horrific year of mass murders. across our predictions for two thousand and thirteen i'm joined by john glaser in washington he's an assistant editor and blogger for antiwar dot com in san francisco we have will durst he is a political comic and syndicated columnist and in paris we cross

them a bit earlier on the expanding and more coming up pressure a bailout ireland assumes presidency of the e.u. and is now been tasked with leading debt ridden you rip's charges of economic crisis we look at what's in store for dublin coming up. next social networking kuwait's landed two men in jail a court each of them a two year sentence claiming they defamed the with the tweets the uprising in the countries about the markets second anniversary with the government accused of resorting to any means necessary to gag dissenting voices or journalists i should returns he told me coates just another us back to the ship. it's obvious that the united states and nato countries desire to keep their thousands of troops in kuwait and as we've seen of course there are demonstrations in bahrain and of course saudi arabia where i'm not being covered on any corporate media it's very difficult to cover the brutal suppression of human rights in the nato and u.s. backed dictatorships human rights groups themselves are in a sense a different subject because some of them are being normal day by u.s. authorities

and ireland assumes the six month presidency of the e.u. facing a wide range of issues from a challenging european agenda to its own ailing finances. and after new year's celebrations many may be nursing a sore head right now but max and stacy are as sharp as ever and they're here on r t with the kaiser report next. i'm max foster welcome to the kaiser report and welcome to tory thirteen you know more than one hundred thirty years ago the outlaw jesse james when robbing a train you to tell the passengers and i quote we're not ordinary thing we're bold robbers the victims loved it and almost every single one of the victims you killed was unarmed yes the population adored it today and the likes of jamie diamond and lloyd blankfein similarly enjoy celebrity status as pulled robbers of an armed you know it's a palace and pension funds across the world cheeky jamie lovable lloyd are heroes to many a young hoping to be derivative slinging financial murderers in the high frequency trading in dark pools is twenty thirteen the year however of the ba

e.u. . the way. thank . you live from moscow president obama said u.s. forces will end almost cold but operations in afghanistan by the spring and swished a mainly support role as a meeting in washington between the president and afghan leader hamid karzai it was a grace that in this new capacity american forces could remain beyond the twenty fourteen pullout hillary mann leverage was working who worked extensively with the u.s. diplomats in the middle east and asia believes president karzai is in a no win situation. i think these talks are for the president and his national security principals to let afghanistan's president karzai down as softly as they can to let him know that unfortunately they're not going to make good on their promise to completely train. the afghan military and police before u.s. troops leave i think this this visit is about trying to parse i know was as nicely as they can that they're not going to make good on their promise to continue to defend afghanistan and train up afghanistan's military i think part of it is president obama

egypt opposition calls for an urgent meeting with president morsi to end the week long deadly violence while the leader himself heads to the e.u. seeking to convince the bloc of his democratic credentials and ask for investment. but israel says the president snubbing the u.n. human rights watchdog while fencing off even more from its closest neighbors. and the u.s. office working to close guantanamo bay prison is disbanded become some of the nine eleven trial at the bases military tribunals and while the defense lawyers demand transparency on the cia's secret jails the probe into one of them based in poland drags on. it's three pm here in moscow seven am in washington you're watching r t with me and he said now our top story this hour the u.s. senate has overwhelmingly approved president obama's nomination of john kerry as the next secretary of state the sixty nine year old democrat will succeed hellary clinton taking over washington's diplomacy amid deepening turmoil in the mideast raging conflicts in africa and complicated relations with russia are jews going to can look said kerry's past foreign policy decisions and what it

e.u. exit is not in america's interest that's according to president obama's assistant secretary on european and your asian affairs that statement that has caused further divisions within britain's coalition government it comes as prime minister david cameron proposed to make a speech on the future of european policy later this month as. this one apart a bit an unusual step from the now. it is on usual what's not unusual about it is the fact that we've always known that the u.s. prefers that the u.k. has a close relationship with the e.u. because when it wants something done it's britain that it calls this kind of direct challenge to the government over europe sort of involving itself in internal bush in fact is something a little bit new the u.s. is warned of the dangers of holding a referendum on europe for the u.k. but it is timely as you say they become and supposed to be delivering this speech later this month which he's expected to promise a renegotiation of the terms of the u.k.'s membership of the european union and then promise to put those terms to a referendum and now of course th

well island has taken on the six month presidency of the european council marking forty years of its e.u. membership prime minister enda kenny has pledged to bring the republic's vast experience of coping with financial difficulties to the table or focusing on the e.u. is economic recovery earlier i spoke to analyst robert oulds told me it may prove to be a tough task for the celtic tiger one of the key challenges facing many countries in europe is of course the economic difficulties and ireland is of course rigidly sticking to the austerity drive which the european union wants which it mandating arlan to do it's effectively running its budget policies in many different areas amount of money that it can be can spend to deal with the deficit but of course arlen's medicine that they're taking and partly suffering from but they're getting on with it isn't really vital for the rest of europe so if they're going to be driving forward the agenda in the european union for the next six months that's not the. economic problems but let me ask you this i mean this coming year twenty thirty you know