Video: Launch of Soyuz rocket with 6 satellites in French Guiana
RT
December 16, 2011
The Soyuz rocket blasted off from a launch pad at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) launch center near Kourou, French Guiana on December 17. It released a French Earth observation satellite followed by four French micro-satellites. A Chilean Earth observation satellite was the last to detach from the carrier.
Violence Video: Soldiers clash with rock-throwing protesters in Egypt (video)
RT
December 17, 2011
Egyptian soldiers clashed with hundreds of rock-throwing protesters in central Cairo for a second consecutive day on Saturday, in a resurgence of turmoil just days after millions voted in parliamentary elections. Soldiers hurled stones from rooftops and fired water from hoses in a crackdown that has left at least eight people dead. The violence has brought to the fore the simmering tensions between security officers and activists demanding an end to military rule, and threatened to spark a new cycle of fighting after deadly clashes between youth revolutionaries and security forces in November that lasted for days and left more than 40 dead.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies (video)
RT
December 19, 2011
North Korea’s veteran leader Kim Jong-il has died at the age of 69. State media announced he passed away on Saturday, after suffering a heart attack. Kim Jong-il’s youngest son, Kim Jong-un, has been named his successor. Meanwhile, as the news broke, Pyong-yang’s long standing enemy, South Korea put its armed forces on high alert, while the government has declared the situation an emergency. Kim Jong-il’s body is lying in state in a mausoleum in the capital, before a funeral service on December 28th. Until then, a period of mourning has been declared in the country. Anissa Naouai takes a look back at the life of a man, who became a symbol of the reclusive state.
‘Fog of pre-war over Syria’ (video)
RT
December 16, 2011
The UN Security Council is pouring over the details of a new draft resolution on Syria, put forward by Russia. It condemns all sides in the ongoing conflict, calling for violence to stop – but there’s no mention of sanctions. Moscow’s been trying to mediate a peaceful solution for months, but there’s been little let-up in the violence. Over two dozen state security officers were killed in recent clashes by defectors. The Free Syrian Army claims to have more than 25-thousand troops, fighting to bring down President Assad. Western states still don’t acknowledge that anti-regime protesters are armed. For more on this RT talks to Pepe Escobar, columnist and an Asia Times correspondent, joining us from Sao Paulo.
US court claims Iranian 9/11 link (video)
RT
December 16, 2011
A US court has won a default judgement that Iranian officials, including its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, provided help to the 9/11 hijackers behind the worst terror attack on American soil. The lawsuit was filed by the families of the atrocity’s victims. There was no Iranian representation in court. RT talks to Michel Chossudovsky, Director of the Center for Research on Globalization.
