according to the iranian ambassador tehran is suing moscow over a shipment of a batch of russia's as three hundred air defense systems to tehran under a deal which was signed back in two thousand and eight but the shipment never went through because in june two thousand and ten the u.n. security council slammed a set of sanctions on iran which you forces a wide range of limitations including those on the sales of various types of forms so russia froze the shipment last year officials said that they are ready to give iran back its down payment which is around two hundred million dollars or they could go on go through with a deal if and when the u.n. security council lifts this set of sanctions tehran says that it has taken this case to the international court of justice but what's interesting is that they see the stamps are not aimed against russia but are actually aimed at giving moscow be a so-called illegal trump as the ambassador said you know order for this shipment to go through but actually talking about the s. three hundred air defense systems we've been in production strictly

tehran have to rely on costly over-land shipments for its exports.ssible to conduct dollar transactions with iran. we were left with the bizarre case last month of china resorting to the barter system to pay iran for $20 billion in oil. the imf has a point. iran is implementing much-needed reforms and as a result the economy is doing better. the irony is it's happening in some part because of american-led sanctions. talk about unintended consequences. we'll be right back. >> and when we talk to the people who are stopped in these plots and say, what got you started? if it's here on u.s. soil, inevitably it was a mouse and a computer screen. i need to think about something else when i run. [ male announcer ] with efficient i.t. solutions from dell, doug can shift up to 50% of his company's technology spend from operating costs to innovation. so his company runs better, and so does doug. dell. the power to do more. matter which position i am in i wake up feeling good. it fits you so perfectly... it fits you. you wake up and you're revived and rejuvenat

of sanctions tehran says that it has taken this case to the international court of justice but what's interesting is that they see these stamps are not aimed against russia but are actually aimed at giving moscow the so-called illegal trump as the ambassador said in order for this shipment to go through but actually talking about the s. three hundred air defense systems we've been in production strictly for export since one thousand nine hundred ninety four but just a few days ago their production was stopped altogether were the more advanced models taking their place. to the world of football now where an unheralded russian team was. breaking records and breaking the bank from russia's republic of biggest on its signing superstar striker samuel eto italian signed into the loan they were announced footballer may cost thirty six million dollars and will pocket a cool twenty nine million dollars a year himself more than any other player on the planet so when he tells them his deal in our special coverage in two hours time. now as this civil war in libya rages many say the country could

nbc's ali arouzi reports tonight from tehran. >> reporter: shane bauer and josh fattal each received eight years in prison for espionage and entering the country illegally. the two men and their friend, sarah shourd, were arrested a little over two years ago along the iran/iraq border. they denied they were spies saying they were hiking and crossed into iran by mistake. sarah shourd was released on bail last september. she flew back to the u.s. and never returned to iran to face trial. >> this could be the final -- >> reporter: she recently spoke with lester holt expressing hope that her friends would soon be released. >> that's what we're praying for. we're praying the time for compassion has finally come. >> reporter: before today's sentencing, many thought bauer and fattal would be freed with time served and as a gesture of islamic compassion. now friends were concerned about the toll a long prison term would take. >> you are a pawn in a game that it's unclear what that game is. it has to be very tough. >> reporter: the case has highlighted differences among the ruling elite in ir

of sanctions tehran says that it has taken this case to the international court of justice but what's interesting is that they see these stamps are not aimed against russia but are actually aimed at giving moscow the so-called illegal trump as the ambassador said in order for this shipment to go through we're actually talking about the s. three hundred air defense systems we've been in production strictly for export since one thousand nine hundred ninety four but just a few days ago their production was stopped altogether more advanced models taking their place. you're going to is going to now iran as we were saying has filed a lawsuit against russia in the international criminal court over its refusal to supply the s. three hundred missiles i guess more details now and talk about talk about this to even talk of military expert thank you for joining me today here so first of all is this lawsuit legitimate and could iran even win this lawsuit. first of all i would like to say that you know the whole issue of those. three hundred is a very complex one so it's not about legal grounds but

, so far the details in tehran.ment right here on msnbc. you know when something's bad -- but you do it anyway? that's me with the blow dryer and the flat iron until i see smoke. so pantene said, "breakage and split ends? no problem." they gave me this pantene called breakage to strength. [ female announcer ] the keratin protection pro-v system helps prevent then repair split ends. zero fear of breakage, 100% more strength. no regrets, just health. i'm not giving up the heat. [ female announcer ] the breakage to strength system from pantene.

it's 5:00 in tehran.ven't heard from the court whether they will answer calls of leniency from america and beyond. on the positive said yesterday iran's foreign minister said he hoped the trial would end in the freedom and immediate release of the hikers. on the other hand, we mustn't lose sight of the fact that relations with the united states are strained and iran isn't in the habit of doing america favors. there is still everything to play for. hopefully we'll find out today or tomorrow what the future is for the two remaining hikers. alex? >> on a positive note, i know there is a celebration of ramadan that's a positive, peaceful, nurturing time. do you think this happening now might be affected because of that? >> reporter: we did initially think that last week. last week was the first day of ramadan. traditionally that's when clemency is granted but nothing happened this week. if they are going to grant clemency, it may fall on the back end of ramadan in three weeks when it's all over. i think we'll

i do not know how many iraqis share tehran's malfeasance goals, i suspect there are a few. i believe most iraqis wish to determine for themselves their own future and to define fors them themselves their own perspectives about the world around them. that's plainliest to me in the willingness of the -- that's plainly evident to me in the willingness of the regime. and it's evident in the stepped-up operations iraqi security forces have been conducting against these militants in concert and coordination with our own forces. as a result we've seen a dramatic reduction in these deadly attacks. the same spirit of corporation was also on display yesterday afternoon as i toured a combined command center in mosul where iraqi security personnel respond to and oversee side by side with their kurdish counterparts all security operations in the province. this was once bloody ground fought over viciously, sacrificed for greatly by iraqis, americans and others in our coalition. and today it is peaceful and prosperous and petroleumed skillfully by citizens of this great country. it is a m

an iranian man has admitted to killing a nuclear scientist in tehran last year and working with israeli intelligence at the trial. said it mossad taught him to carry out terrorist attacks including how to plant a bomb the defendant could now face the death penalty physicist must be was murdered in a bomb attack outside his home in january last year two other scientists were killed shortly afterwards all right i do stay with us here on our team now it's the business news with maria. hello and welcome to business here on russia wants to bring the normally hostile north and south korea's together in the name of business at their summit in siberia admitting to defend kim jong il have agreed to look at building a gas pipeline across north korea says supply the republic in the south but analysts warn that south korea will have a hard time coming to terms with the independence on the store than towns of parts . i think there will be a a large amount of skepticism to overcome in south korea about allowing themselves to become even partially dependent on supplies of gas that are quite across the

of sanctions tehran says that it has taken this case to the international court of justice but what's interesting is that they see these steps are not aimed against russia but are actually aimed at giving must go the so-called illegal trump as the ambassador said you know order for this shipment to go through we're actually talking about the s. three hundred air defense systems we've been in production strictly for export since one thousand nine hundred four but just a few days ago their production was stopped altogether more advanced models taking their place. even if you can are there twenty three minutes past the hour and i'll be back with the some of our main news stories in seven minutes from now the meantime think is next with marina. hello and welcome to business here on artsy point says are rising four times more quickly in russia than they are in the rest of europe although i have five percent for the first seven months of the year inflation is more under control about it has been for the rest of the country's modern history so this is good or bad to find out i'm joined by al

was of course the reason for imposing those sanctions and that led to a sort of a lockdown because tehran buckled down and refused to admit international observers in return the united nations imposed more sanctions so it was kind of a dead end situation for a while but iran is now saying that if the step by step plan is implemented it will be more than happy to allow international observers to come and visit the country to visit the only so far existing nuclear power plant in iran that's the bush era nuclear power plant built by russia to make sure and reassure everyone that it is only interested in creating peaceful nuclear energy to power the country's needs and of course the bush air power plant which is which has been started by germans in the one nine hundred seventy s. and finished by russia just recently is still not fully operational we know that it is already working but it is still not been launched and it's still not producing that peaceful nuclear energy that iran needs but according to the russian side the launch of iran's first ever nuclear power plant is to take place very

observers believe the obama administration will continue its backdoor diplomacy to pressure tehran to free butter and fattal. at this point a humanitarian option may be the best hope for the two americans. it's the holy month of ramadan in iran and traditionally prisoners are pardoned during it. >> reporter: they've given these guys a very hef sentence and then -- magnanimous. there's also another point that's being raised here is that there was a question of putting sanctions against iran's central bank. iran was very upset about that and they could be waiting to see what the results of that would be before they decide what to do with the hikers. thomas? >> ali, has there been any news coming out of the fact sarah shourd did not go back to face trial and many people understand her reason yes she would aren't go back, but did people think maybe they got a harsher sentence that they were trying to punish them more so because sarah didn't show up in court? >> reporter: i don't think so. the iranians must have thought about it. they must have known when they let her go she wouldn't come

an iranian man has admitted killing a nuclear scientist in tehran last year i'm working with israeli intelligence at the trial i'll eat jamali fire she said that mossad taught him to carry out terrorist acts including how the part of bomb the defendant could now face the death penalty for that is that must leave the home of marty was murdered in a bomb attack outside his home in january last year or two other scientists were killed shortly afterwards all right time now for the business with maria. hello and welcome to a business here on arts you know russia wants to bring the normally hostile north and south korea's to go there in the name of business are there some lights in siberia and i have agreed to look at building a gas pipeline across north korea to supply the republic in the south but i'm going to swan about south korea will have a hard time coming to terms with the independence on its northern towns apart. i think there will be a eighty eight large amount of skepticism to overcome in some of korea but not allowing themselves to become even partially dependent on supplies of

ali arouzi in tehran for us. ali, thank you. >>> want to move back to the states and talk about the weather, where the cleanup is continuing in wisconsin. the national weather service confirms a tornado touched down in the northern part of the state on friday. one man died in the storm, making it the 57th killer tornado so far this year across the states. rain was the story yesterday in illinois. a heavy shower sent thousands of people looking for shelter at the chicago air and water show. more water than they wanted. and it took until late august, but portland, oregon, finally got some summer heat, temps rising above 90 degrees saturday for the first time there in 2011. so, what is sunday going to look like around the country? the weather channel's alex wallace has the details for us. hi, alex. >> how's it going, thomas? and you know what the big story is? well, our tropical cyclone sitting here in the northeastern caribbean, tropical storm irene, which could have an impact on the u.s. later on next week. look,

>>> sentenced in tehran, two american hikers sentenced to eight years in jail. >>> and the expectations of president obama's plan. will it be a formula for jobs? caught off guard with deadly results. >>> and saving mr. b. a note for help on his collar. welcome. i'm in for alex witt today. it's 11:00 here in the east and 8:00 out west. happening right now, breaking news on two americans in prison in iran. josh fattal and shane bauer were sentenced to eight years in prison. they were hike i along the iran-iraqi border. they have 20 days to appeal their sentence. ali? >> reporter: that's right. they have been given a very heavy sentence. everybody in iran thought that they would be given a heavy sentence. nobody thought that these guys would spend two years in an iranian prison and not be charged with anything. the case is dragging out. we thought we would get a verdict a. ruling on their way home. that hasn't happened. this has dragged out. now the big question is whether they find at the end of the month of aramadon. the two americans could be here for the length of the sentence. >> ali

inflation has dropped from 25% to 12% in the last two years, and tehran has managed to do what everyajor oil exporters can dream of accomplishing, its slashed subsidies on gas and recouped $60 billion, 1/6 of iran's entire gdp. why is this happening? and how can it be happening despite years of economic sanctions? what in the world is going on? some say the imf numbers can't be right. we have no reason to drought their work, they asserted their projections were independent of the iranian government. the real story is iran has actually begun implementing some economic reforms. for decades iran's leaders have tried to wean its people off cheap oil, oil subsidized by the government. it's not sustainable to have these large subsidies. iran knows it and so does every country from saudi arabia to venezuela. in the same way any talk of tax increases in america is considered heresy, people in oil-rich countries believe as an article of faith they deserve cheap oil. how did iran finally cut out the freebies? the back story is a complex game of chess between ahmadinejad and the supreme leader

iran state-run tv says two american hikers detained in tehran have been sentenced to eight years in prisonjosh fattal and shane bauer were seized by iranian authorities two years ago and charged with spying and illegal entry. reza has been covering the story and joins us now. what more are we learning about these two men and the news they received? >> oftentimes, information coming out of iran is sparse, sketchy and incomplete and it's no different this time. but let's tell you what we do know. iran's revolutionary court has convicted shawn bauer and joshua fattal of trespassing and spying and has sentenced them to eight years in prison. this is obviously very bad news for the parents of joshua fattal and shane bauer who were hoping the ordeal for their sons would be over. i think it's a verdict that's going to surprise people outside the u.s. who were expecting these two individuals to be released after they spent more than two years in prison in iran waiting for this very lengthy case to be completed. but again, the revolutionary courts convicting and sentencing shane bauer and joshua fa

doesn't know when the two will be freed but the associated press reports there is a general feeling in tehran that could happen during ramadan, the holy month began this week. they were detained two years ago after they said they mistakenly crossed into iran hiking along the border with iraq. and. police say a band of thiefs is targeting elderly asian residents on the street of san leandro. and police say victims are confronted by as many as four black males, flashing a pistol in one robbery. they've been seen driving in a black lexus and a white camery z a los gatos mother accused of having sex with her teen-aged son's best friend was acquitted today of two of four charges, convictedded of one misdemeanor charge of molesting or annoying a child and not guilty on two felony charges. the jury could not come to a decision on the third felony charge. the 48-year-old accused of having sex with a son's 16-year-old friend. the boy claimed there was a three and a half long affair. >>> an east bay school received a big donation today to soften some of the budget cut backs. and donated $2000 worth of

fattal and shane bauer will be freed but the "associated press" reports there is a general feeling in tehran it could happen in ramadan. the islamic holy month began this week. they were detained two years ago after they said they mistakenly crossed over to iran. sarah shourd was released last september on humanitarian grounds. >>> san francisco muni officials say they are just weeks away from a plan to fire up to 48 muni drivers who are still working without required commercial driver's license. the san francisco examiner reports that some of the muni operators haven't had a valid license for two years. despite the threat of determination, none of them have been fired so far. the new muni contract imposed in june gives the transit agency more leeway in tissue. of the 48 operators without licenses, some have let them lapse. some of the licenses have been suspended due to off-duty duis. others involve medical clearance issues. >>> starting tonight, men who drive through one oakland neighborhood looking for prostitutes will get a can't-miss me soldier. a billboard will go up later today featur

i've spoken with a western official in tehran directly involved in the case and this official has not beeee officialy of the sentence. it is believed that their lawyer has not been informed yet. that doesn't mean it's not true. it's not being reported, for instance, on the english language state tv. but certainly, the indication is negative. and as you mentioned there have been hopes both here in the u.s. and their families as well as the people working in iran in recent weeks that we might get a good headline. >> and there have been stories in the past that prisoners were held in iran where they were sentenced and subsequently released following a sentence. w much of this could be and could be, operative words, political theater? >> reporter: there certainly could be political theater. roxana the american journalist sentenced to spying, she got eight years. that sentence was quickly reduced to a two-year suspended sentence and she was allowed to leave the country immediately. so it is possible. we don't know. there's so much to predict in the court proceedings in iran. but it is poss

ali arouzi in tehran. good to see you. thanks. >>> tropical depression harvey is drenching central america. the next tropical storm front may pay a dangerous visit up north. current projections show that there is a chance that irene could make landfall on florida as early as friday. irene is currently a tropi chac could be reaching huicane-state status before getting to the states and the weather channel's alex wallace is monitoring the storms from atlanta. bring us up to speed. >>a absolutely. still following irene churning its way through the eastern caribbean. there it is working its way around the leeward islands. current sustained winds and 50 mile per hour winds and that pace should slow down as we work our way through time and here's that projected path of irene and by the time we get into the early morning hours of tomorrow it could be approaching hurricane status and we'll keep an eye on this, but once it works through the islands we'll start see the wind speeds getting ripped apart and by the end of the week, pot

released his statement while in march that's vin yard saying it is slipping quote from the grasp of a tehran. they are asking them to come forward and relink wish power. >>> oil -- relinquish power. >>> the price of oil is likely to fall. crude oil was selling for $84 a barrel when the rebels started fighting in libya and peeked at $110 and has since drifted downward but libya produced 1.5 million barrels of oil a day and most of that oil is sold to europe. >>> well it is also affecting the stock markets and most european markets are up about rebels taking over trip will but stocks fell after worries the u.s. is slipping back into recession. they closed down nearly 2% with japan. many are concerned about export levels. >>> checking on stocks this morning, there are some thoughts that the feds might do something to prevent the u.s. from heading back into a recession but here is where we start the day looking like we could see some more losses this morning we will get a better indication as we get closer to the opening bell but the nasdaq are all slipping on friday. >>> more than 40 people wer

nbc news, tehran. >> as we mentioned, ramadan starts tomorrow. muslims across the middle east are preparing for the holy month. the lighting of the world's largest clock tower in mecca marked the start of ramadan there. muslims traditionally fasts from sundown to sunset. >>> another effort to raise the debt ceiling fell short in the senate this afternoon, but some leaders say a compromise can be worked out behind the scenes as early as today. lawmakers delay the procedural vote on senate majority leader harry reid's plan by 12 hours today so the deal is not signed at this point. but this tentative debt ceiling plan is now pending caucus approval and could be finalized sometime today or tomorrow. >> the arrangement that is being worked on with the republican leader and the administration and others is not there yet. we're hopeful and confident it can be done. >> it's important for everybody in america to know we aren't going to have a default for the first time in our 235-year history. >> this plan would immediately cut spending by about $900 bill

but then i went to tehran and continued my discussions with them and i basically telling iran, listen, you don't have to wait for any goodwill. just let them go. but i believe at some point they were very close to releasing them. >> rick: so what happened? just a few weeks ago we were hearing that as part of the holy month of ramadan that it might be a goodwill gesture to release them during that month, which is so holy on the calendar there and nothing happened. why not? >> well, obviously the executive branch, that is the president of the country, has been in favor of releasing them and, in fact, was helped by ahmadinejab personally. at the moment, unfortunately, mr. ahmadinejab is not in the same strong position that he used to be. so i don't think that he could do much in this particular case. i think the judiciary obviously, which has been in conflict with the executive has taken upon itself to sentence them with a harsher terms, just to tell them that the boss is someone else. >> rick: i'm sorry to interrupt you. we have limited time. why are the iranians or at least the prosecu

of course, this is a case that went worldwide with headlines and ratcheted tensions between tehran and washington. and alina, certainly, this verdict is certainly not going to help those tensions at this point. >> reza sayah live in islamabad, pakistan, reza, thank you very much for that update. our susan candiotti has been in touch with the families of these two men. she joins us now from new york. susan, i know you've been trying to speak to the families of these hikers. have you spoken to them yet? and if so, what have they cede? >> reporter: yeah, not yet. but certainly, we've been in touch with them over the course, consistently, over the past few years, but right now they are remaining quiet. we've reached out in various ways to them. this is not uncommon. initially, they oftentimes, when there is a major development here, they get together, they talk with each other, they get together a united front, and then they issue a statement, sometimes followed by appearing on camera to publicly give reaction. now, the last time, alina, we saw them was just a few weeks ago. and this was a

we'll be hearing live from northbound's ali aru sfwl sxwl i in tehran. american hikers found guilty of spying. we're going to get you more on this developing story. now, at half past the hour, here with your headlines. rebels in libya say they've now captured the oil port after a battle that lasted for more than a week. the rebels are now closing in on tripoli. survivors of last month's massacre have returned to the island where children were gunned down. survivors and families have gone there for a day of remembrance. >>> kim jong il has arriveed in russia and will meet with russia president dmitri medvedev. it is kim's first trip to russia since 2002. >>> in spain world youth day celebrations with tens of thousands of young people cheering pope benedict outside madrid's cathedral. the pope held mass today and will hold a prayer vigil later tonight. back in the states the first lawsuits from last saturday's stage collapse in i should end have been failed. one was found on behalf of one of the six people that died. the other four a survivor, and those ar

wiemar the winner of monday's one hundred meter hurdles has been denied his world championship gold tehran roadless disqualified following a protest from louisiana who came third the pair were in adjoining lanes in the final they are both been great in the sense of their enjoying says roadless held him back in the closing stages where now landslide victory was disqualified and it means american jason richardson who is the runner up has been awarded be cold shang gets the silver and then return of great britain the broad i knew you could grab in dracula you. take your life almost weekly you. know we're not going you know we're going to be out in the world you david. dr steve martin why are you. going i'm so grateful for my. russia's best hockey players are set to face off against each other for a noble cause. to pick their teams for a charity match on wednesday the game being hosted for the second straight year after the success of last year's match in moscow and proceeds will go to disabled children in the moscow region town is a sad presidential authority both of it instrumental in bringi

fattal and shane bauer will be freed but the "associated press" reports there is a general feeling in tehran it could happen in ramadan. the islamic holy month began this week. they were detained two years ago after they said they mistakenly crossed over to iran. sarah shourd was released last september on humanitarian grounds. >>> san francisco muni officials say they are just weeks away from a plan to fire up to 48 muni drivers who are still working without required commercial driver's license. the san francisco examiner reports that some of the muni operators haven't had a valid license for two years. despite the threat of determination, none of them have been fired so far. the new muni contract imposed in june gives the transit agency more leeway in tissue. of the 48 operators without licenses, some have let them lapse. some of the licenses have been suspended due to off-duty duis. others involve medical clearance issues. >>> starting tonight, men who drive through one oakland neighborhood looking for prostitutes will get a can't-miss me soldier. a billboard will go up later today featur

we will speak to an iranian journalist in tehran about the court's decision. that in four minutes.ed driver... sir, can you hear me? just hold the bag. we need a portable x-ray, please! [ nurse ] i'm a nurse. i believe in the power of science and medicine. but i'm also human. and i believe in stacking the deck. [ martin luther king jr. ] i still have a dream that one day on the red hills of georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. i have a dream today! [ male announcer ] chevrolet is honored to celebrate the unveiling of the washington, d.c., martin luther king jr. memorial. take your seat at the table on august 28th. for red lobster we can find. [ male announcer ] hurry into crabfest at red lobster and savor 3 crab entrees under $20 like our crab and seafood bake... or our snow crab and crab butter shrimp. my name's jon forsythe and i sea food differently. or our snow crab and crab butter shrimp. you don't have an ipod in your if you don'phone. an iphone, with your music.. and your playlis

embassy in tehran, happened, and there was also the year of the overthrow of the shah and what broughtundamentalist islamic state into the country. so what they're looking at right now is a scenario where a player would be an american iranian translator looking to get in to tehran to try and free the hostages. and once they're in there, it's kind of like a game of diplomacy and political science, and the cinematic director said this is going to be one in a series of franchises in which cia operations had in various countries such as in panama with manuel noriega. even in libya in the '70s and '80s with moammar gadhafi. some could say, ali, they could potentially do something about that in libya right now. >> all right, monita, thanks very much for joining us. good to see you. >>> the security lines at the airport is about to get shorter. the new program that's taking off across the nation. it's already being rolled out in one city. we'll fill you in about it after the break. 26 minutes after the hour. [ female announcer ] now, give dry, damaged hair a whole new life! with aveeno nouris

in iran the leader of islamic revolution led prayers in tehran. billions of people visited mosques to pray and greet relatives and friends. in malaysia, the prime minister hosted a huge party to celebrate eid. nearly 100,000 people participated including cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats. a variety of malaysian delicacies were served, and a host of artists entertained the guests. >>> a 50-year-old water agreement between singapore and malaysia ended on wednesday with the transfer of four water treatment plants to malaysia. constructing the southern malaysian stay of johor, the plants produce about 50 million gallons of water per day or about 5% of singapore's total water supply. singapore's minister for environment and water resources said the return of the plants to malaysia today will not affect the state's water supply. >>> the governor a cambodian province visited a thailand province on tuesday to ease border tension between the neighbors. both countries claim sovereignty over the temple on their border. the governor welcomed the cambodi

significant steps internal to iraq and as i said in my opening comments, they have addressed it in tehran. we have seen a pretty dramatic drop. what one of the points i emphasize is that drop needs to be sustained. the united states will take whatever steps we need to to protect our people. and i appreciate the fact that president maliki has intervened in that regard, very positive short-term results that needs to be extended to the long term. >> "washington post." i want to turn to a domestic matter. a year ago, you said the biggest threat to national security was the national debt. i wonder the votes that were taken yesterday and those that will be taken today, americans are safer. and still talking about hundreds of billions in the pentagon budget and are you concerned and what would you tell lawmakers to think about as they proceed in the coming weeks and months. >> i don't do very well counseling lawmakers. [laughter] >> the recent debate and resolution for the near term i think are important steps. but it's really up to the congressmen and president to figure out how to move ahead w

while we're on the subject i think our policy ought to be overthrow the regime in tehran, too. but the administration knows that if it takes on iran directly it can probably kiss goodbye forever the possibility of that open hand from iran that president obama sought in his inaugural address back in 2009. i think that is what has inhibited the administration more than anything else. i think it was a mistake to begin with or be inhibited now. the sooner we junk that idea the better off we'd be. the better chance we would have and syrian opposition would have in over throwing hassad. >> do you think they will stay or go? >> i'd have to bet at this point he'll stay. there's no evidence yet that the syrian military has begun to fragment or turn against hassad i think that's a possibility given complex internal politics of sear california but atelier's as far as i can tell there's no evidence yet military has begun to break. >> all right. u.s. ambassador with his prediction. always good to see you. >> john edwards is back in the news. time for him to break out his checkbook. former p

regime, of course, seems intent on playing the prospects of sectarian strife, has sought the aid of tehran as a means to hold on to power. we must explore ways to work with our allies to present a clear and unequivocal message to the president and those around him that the violence must stop and a credible political transition of reform must begin immediately. i note the government of turkey has taken a strong stance in this regard given the potential for increasing refugee flows. syria's government and business elite must understand the current path will only deepen their isolation and consequences for the regime and its leaders. i look forward with the discussion with the nominees on these issues and others they will bring forward from their vast experience in american diplomacy. i thank you. >> thank you very much, senator lugar. and senator lieberman, we're delighted to have you with us to introduce mr. eisen. >> n.s.a. very much, madam chair, and senator luge a it's an honor to be here. i should express my appreciation to you on behalf of the nominees that you did not join the herd le

three hundred of mobile and missile systems tehran says they don't fall under a u.n. resolution preventing weapons imports. time russian investigators say they now know who ordered the murder of investigative journalist anna politkovskaya it follows the rest of a former senior russian a police officer suspected of organizing the crime. and sports is next with kate. hello on the wednesday afternoon sports updates and these are the talk still is. heading to russia cameron strike a sunny lots are you prepared to join jamie after the premier league club agrees to transpose in samoa. last hour in trento top level and i am spain's thirteen months reign as the world's best football team. and to the hilt the russian cycling team got to celebrate success at the tour explained the mother i know with stage four in the mountains refers to football and some us who will undergo a medical this wednesday as he prepares to join russian premier league side andre the darkest on top have agreed to buy the current striker from him to milan for a fee of thirty six million dollars if the th

and has confessed to killing a nuclear scientist in tehran last year and says he had connections with israeli intelligence during a trial session. she. taught him how to carry out terrorist acts including how to plant a bomb if found guilty of the defendant could face a death penalty physicist. was assassinated in a bomb attack outside his home in january last year other scientists were also killed shortly afterwards. one of the strongest earthquakes on record has shaken the east coast of the united states. has forced the evacuation of parts of washington including the white house and pentagon where the quake was also felt in new york office workers had to leave buildings officials say that no one was seriously injured but many have suffered damage. after months of scandalous headlines and slanderous whispers criminal charges against dominique strauss kahn have been dropped the former head of the i.m.f. was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid in new york. and now has the latest. a manhattan supreme court judge delivered that ruling on tuesday after prosecutors in the case say

president ahmadinejad praised the initiative at a meeting with russia's chief security official in tehran iran is a logger heads with world powers over its nuclear aspirations the latest round of toil to stop the talks stalled in january without agreements well ways to renew the negotiations will also be on the table when russia's foreign minister meets is iranian counterpart in moscow later on wednesday now syrian security forces have reportedly opened fire on thousands who gathered in various cities calling for president assad to go of human rights activists claim that over eighteen hundred people have been killed since the uprising erupted in march but as many of the national reports the problems aren't as black and white as they're made out to be. residents of the eastern city of theirs or have taken to the streets to thank the army for saving them. they claim that a month ago an unknown armed group took control of the town and they found themselves trapped in their own homes and in my family's. bandits block their rights to talk eric hates it became apparent city were hiding their ri

now iran launches a legal misdialed against moscow by filing a lawsuit in the international court tehran says the russian rockets it wants don't fall under the u.n. security council resolution. a group of topless and fierce ukrainian activists protest for freedom in the country by tearing up the lawn in front of a government building. a mysterious cabin identical to the famous hut on a chicken leg from a notorious slavic fairytale pit in a forest in latvia locals are puzzled tourists are flocking there. will be doing a recap our top story short the dots are right after the business news with marina next right here on out. hello and welcome to business here and i see we start with gold of course which has suffered the biggest drop since late two thousand and eight and that was after hitting a record peak of nineteen hundred dollars earlier this week the precious metal lost some shine as the climax extends race trading margins by the most in over two and a half years it's a curveball it's a let's see but some mccutcheon from gold says losing two hundred dollars and forty eight hours doesn'

not to take part in protests for their own safety meanwhile iran's foreign minister has reaffirmed tehran's support for the assad regime but said the syrian president should also the legitimate demands of his people the u.n. estimates that twenty two hundred have died in five months of protests. fifty two people murdered in a casino by gangsters are being buried in the mexican city of monterrey gunmen burst into they consumed over yonder on friday downstate flammable liquid and started a fire that trapped people inside officials suspect organized crime was behind that time one of the dead that since two thousand and six during an ongoing government with drug gangs mexican president felipe calderon has declared three days of mourning on friday for the victims of the plot. and right now we continue to explore russia in the latest in our close up series looking up live across the biggest country in the world. and this time we're all one thousand kilometers from moscow to visit the kirov region it's a place full of community spirit while family bones are strong so much so that ninety eight perc

completion has been a contentious issue for years now it's caused unprecedented divisions between tehran and the west sick with mistrust and mutual suspicion well tonight on r.t. we have an exclusive opportunity to discuss the issue with president mahmoud ahmadinejad himself and make sure you don't miss it the iranian president joining us live at about five o'clock g.m.t. . close to the controversy. as on the rest groups hour before. getting the fail on iran's opposition. excuse launching. two american private security contractors have been given the go ahead by a u.s. court to press charges against former defense secretary donald rumsfeld for his role in their alleged illegal imprisonment and torture while working in iraq the two men to publicly claim that it was involved in a massive corruption and soon after they were arrested by the army and detained at a military complex spend nine months allegedly enduring beatings and torture with no reasons given the earlier efforts to bring rumsfeld to court were rejected by judges highlighting the difficulty of prosecuting senior officials who

president ahmadinejad appraise the initiative at a meeting with russia's chief security official in tehran well iran is out loggerheads with world powers over its nuclear aspirations the latest round of talks stalled in january without agreement and ways to renew the negotiations will also be on the table when russia's foreign minister meets his rainy and counterpart in moscow later on wednesday. but the oil firm shell is struggling to plug a second leak at one of its north sea platforms the company was forced to admit it's responsible for the worst spill in british waters for more than a decade about thirteen hundred barrels have leaked so far well the company says the first piper upcher is now under control and the flow of oil into the sea is now down to two barrels a day green groups sounded the alarm that there will be big consequences for the environment shell that eventually came clean. as an energy analyst environmental or from the environmental organization bought for says that a lack of transparency calls into question the seriousness with which the company is treating the inciden