PRESSCAST

The U.S. State Department and Treasury has recently released 39 targets for sanctions, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the bans “the beginning of what will be a sustained campaign of economic and political pressure to deny the Assad regime revenue.”But critics have denounced the latest round of American coercive economic measures against the Arab country, saying the sanctions violate international law and humanitarian principles.

In his address during the 75th UN general assembly, President Donald Trump spoke of abandoning what he called the terrible Iran nuclear deal.The Iranian president touched upon Tehran's role in restoring peace in the Middle East by helping countries fight Daesh terrorists arguing such a nation doesn't deserve sanctions. University Lecturer and Author of the Plot to Attack Iran, Daniel Kovalik (Pittsburgh, PA) and James Jatras (Washington DC) former US Diplomat exchange views on this issue.

This episode is about the chaotic situation in the United States in the run-up to the November presidential election. Netfa Freeman, member of Black Alliance for Peace Coordinating Committee, and Ian Williams, senior analyst and commentator, exchange views on this issue.

Emmanuel Macron returned to Paris after a three-day journey to Beirut and Baghdad during which he played the role of a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia, promising sovereignty to the long-suffering citizens of Lebanon and Iraq. But can he do it alone? Better yet, how does he plan to do it? To discuss this issue with us from Beirut is Mohamad Kleit, journalist and photographer.

This episode is about ongoing racial tensions in the United States. Matthew Fogg, former chief deputy at US Marshals Service, and Robert Patillo, political strategist, and Netfa Freeman, member of coordinating committee of Black Alliance for Peace, exchange views on this issue.

In this episode, Press TV interviews Robert Fantina, author and journalist from Kitchener, Ontario, and Jonathan Fryer author and broadcaster from London, to look at US defeats in its anti-Iran bid, which in turn are successes for Iran, and how the US maximum pressure campaign has failed.

This edition of the program is about the UAE's normalization of ties with Israel. The deal has drawn condemnation from different countries as it revealed betrayal of Palestinian cause.

The majority of Lebanese people are blaming the political elite and their corruption and mismanagement for the disastrous explosion of August 4th.Since only hours after the blast, some politicians in Lebanon have been accusing Hezbollah of having in a role in all this.On this special on Beirut's blast we will discuss whether Hezbollah was really innocent or guilty? and that How the international community should respond to Lebanon's economic crisis and the fallout of the explosion.

Iran has often expressed deep opposition to the U.S. military presence in Western Asia describing it as a source of corruption, and demanded that U.S. troops leave the region. But is Iran the sole nation wanting Americans out of the region or there are other opposing voices?

Iran says two American fighter jets harassed the Mahan Air Flight 1152 that had taken off from Tehran and was en route to the Lebanese capital on Thursday night. The F-15s allegedly harassed the Iranian plane in Lebanon’s sky when it was dropping its altitude to approach the Beirut airport. But CENTCOM said that a single F-15 had made a “visual inspection” of the Iranian airliner “in accordance with international standards ... to ensure the safety of coalition personnel” at the military base in al-Tanf.

Saudi-led military aircraft have carried out fresh deadly strikes in Yemen, this time targeting a residential area in the northern province of al-Jawaf, as part of the Riyadh regime's ongoing aerial bombardment campaign against its crisis-hit southern neighbor.As such, Yemen slammed the United Nations for keeping silent in the face of Saudi war crimes in the country, calling for an end to arms sales to Riyadh.In the meantime, shaky relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq have been simmering for many years as Iraq accused the kingdom on several occasions of financing and providing logistical help to militants and Takfiri terrorists wreaking havoc in Iraq and the region in general.Will Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi be able to mend the disagreements or will the fracture only widen as Daesh re-emerges in Iraq?

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed that Lebanon must explore all options to rescue the country's economy while announcing Hezbollah's new front by saying that the Resistance party has decided to be in the heart of agricultural and industrial battle. Meanwhile, the U.S.-backed Separatists militias of the anti-Damascus Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), has been impeding the delivery of flour to bread facilities in the northeastern province of Hasakah. The militants keep denying Syrian government trucks, carrying flour and other necessities, access to the province. All the while, thirst threatens 1 million people in Hasakah due to cutting water by Turkish forces in Syrian towns on the border with Turkey.

When it comes to colonialism, the African continent and its people have historically been the most likely victims. One of the most notorious colonialist to date, was France. Although French rule in Africa formally ended by 1962, the ties it forged continue to shape relations between France and its former colonial territories throughout the continent. Are we witnessing a new form of French colonialism rule in Africa?

Lebanon's worst economic crisis in decades has already cost thousands of jobs, with unrest stirring again as protesters lashed out at the government’s response.The depreciation in the Lebanese Lira is driving up prices, hitting disposable incomes and forcing many Lebanese to rein in the free-spending lifestyles they'd become accustomed to.

Iranian tankers reached Venezuela amid US threats and sanctions; how? Give us trouble, and the trouble will be yours. That was Iranian president Rouhani's message to the United States.The US had threatened to stop 5 Iranian oil tankers en route to Venezuela. But the 60 million tonne flotilla continued across the Caribbean and got over 1.5 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate safely to Venezuelan shores, within 10 days between late May and early June. Iran took every legal precaution this time round; with the shipment to Venezuela. It left all 5 Iranian-flagged vessels’ GPS systems on, and paid no heed to bullying. I asked what this showed. And then the Iranian government stressed it would never initiate a conflict. But it has shown it will respond in kind, if attacked.The general Soleimani assassination right after New Year 2020 is fresh in memory, as is Iran’s retaliation to the American act of terror, when Iran showered missiles on major US bases in Iraq. The US is nothing short of bases in West Asia, nor of shipments transiting the Persian Gulf. Add to this the story of the Grace-1 case in Gibraltar.

Local sources in Syria report that a joint convoy for the US forces and the US-backed SDF group was attacked by unidentified gunmen with machine guns and RPG launchers at the roundabout of Rwaished village on the administrative borders between the provinces of Hasaka and Deir Ezzor.

There is overwhelming evidence that the system instituted by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people meets the UN definition of Apartheid. In effect, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory constitute one territorial unit under full Israeli control.Israel carries out various acts that are prohibited by the UN Apartheid Convention including:●    Forcible transfer of Palestinians to make way for illegal Israeli settlements.●    Preventing Palestinians from returning to their homes and lands.●    Systematic and severe deprivation of fundamental human rights of Palestinians based on their identity.●    Denying Palestinians their right to freedom of movement and residence.●    Murder, torture, unlawful imprisonment and other severe deprivation of physical liberty, especially of Palestinians living in Gaza.●    Persecution of Palestinians because of their opposition to Apartheid.

For the past four decades, on the last Friday of Ramadan, protest marches have been held across the world to support Palestinians and denounce Israel. The Indian subcontinent is where many of these gatherings take place annually. But why is that? Listen to this episode as we discuss this question and many more.

International Quds Day has become a global movement in support of Palestinians in their decades of struggle against Israel's colonization of their lands.Quds Day – which takes place on the last Friday of Ramadan – sees annual protests across the world, including in the African continent.Listen to this episode to hear more about this year's rallies and also the similarities underlying Israel's repression of Palestinians and the Africa's apartheid.

The U.S. military under President Donald Trump has conducted more airstrikes in Somalia than it did during all of Barack Obama’s eight years in office. The massive escalation of the undeclared war comes despite repeated appeals by the U.N. for a global ceasefire amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The U.S. says these airstrikes are to assist the government of Somalia in its war against the non-state armed group al-Shabaab and “increase the security of the Somali people as these terrorists indiscriminately attack and extort innocent civilians.” Amnesty International, meanwhile, reported in early April about rising civilian casualties from the US military’s secret air war in Somalia.

The Lebanese pound, the country's currency, is rapidly losing its value against the US dollar adding fuel to the already-violent demonstrations. The Lebanese are angry at the country's worsening economic crisis, which has got even worse by the recent coronavirus lockdown, and demand an overhaul of the entire political system. The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has also criticized the central bank over the pound's drop to record lows and said the bank’s governor was partly responsible.

On this episode we start with news about the month of Ramadan and fasting during the coronavirus lockdown, and then we look at Iran's recent launch of a military satellite as well as renewed tensions with the American forces in the Persian Gulf. We will also look at plummeting oil prices so make sure to listen to the whole episode.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) formally went into effect in May 2019 with the promise of ultimately covering a market of 1.2 billion people and producing around 3 trillion dollars annually. The skeptics, however, continue to criticize the formation of AfCFTA as a mammoth project with little chance of succeeding. Listen to our show as we discuss the issue with our guests.

India like many other countries around the globe is busy battling the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The world's second most populated nation on earth appears to be handling the situation pretty well, or at least this is what the country is trying to project. The critics of the Modi government have cast doubt on the official numbers being announced, accusing officials of downplaying the seriousness of the situation.

The novel coronavirus is still spreading rapidly across the globe and the African continent has not been an exception. In fact, given the circumstances, the outlook for Africa is grim. As of early April, more than half of Africa's 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other measures in a bid to prevent local transmission of the virus. But the trade-off here is obvious. The measures could soon lead to an economic collapse unless financial assistance is provided to the millions of people out of work.

The world's largest democracy, India, has recently been acting as if it were too small for its largest minority population; the Muslims. The Hindu nationalist government of Narendra Modi is supporting a controversial bill that gives sanctuary to anyone fleeing religious persecution except for Muslims. This is seen by critics as part of a BJP agenda to marginalize Muslims.

Some call it the future of money, but others would swear it’s nothing but an elaborate Ponzi Scheme; Cryptocurrency. It is better known by Bitcoin but cryptocurrency is just not limited to bitcoins. In fact, it is far more beyond that. Listen to our podcast to learn more about ‘this thing from the future’.

Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Middle East Peace Plan in late January to become the latest American President that attempts to resolve the decades-long Israeli–Palestinian conflict. And then like his other narcissistic remarks, Trump hailed it as "the deal of the century". But is his "awesome" new plan any different from the many previous proposals put forth by his predecessors? To find out, listen to this week's episode. And if you like it, please share it!