vladimir putin was very critical of that. whether putin -- he started to assert himself in the foreign policy arena by the fall of 2011. and the russians had vetoed successive attempts by the u.n. security council to face more resolute action might syrian regime. that was the resolution to perfect them, nato and the u.s. used it in an authentic way. also, there is a vibrant tangible spirit. they see the protests that occurred in russia earlier in the year against vladimir putin. they see the hand of the united states and us. that is why they picked up some of the ngo organizations supported by the united states. so vladimir putin sees his position or is similar to that. they don't like change. they feel that u.s. intervention in iraq has failed. and they made the entire middle east worse. they don't want to see it happen again in syria. of course, it protects their own interests. it was one of the last areas in the middle east. but they have to be careful. i mean, the united states stuck with shah and one. and we incurred the

vladimir putin rarely listens to a large circle of people. he gets his information from a very restricted circle of people. he is not a tech-savvy guy the way dimitry medvedev was. if you have had the misfortune of reading this question me as i do, he lives in what may be called an echo chamber of paranoid reflecting each other's paranoia and that. the russian belief that the country is under siege, and i use that term advisedly, from a western effort to undermine the stability of the russian government and replace it, and that the allies of the west, russian democrats feeds into this. that is the first point. democracy threatens russia. there was an essay in the wall street journal making clear democracy was the biggest threat to democracy and is the -- and still is. there's a profound fear on the part of the government of any manifestation by the public. in russia or elsewhere. the middle east is an example that could spread to russia and the russians know it. russia is quite a long or at least was quite alarmed that you would see in centra

president vladimir putin is already voicing his support, giving a very strong indication that it will go ahead. >> bp ben is -- bp is spending #13.1 billion -- 13.1 billion euros. the remaining shareholders have sold their stake to rosneft, reading a new oil giant controlled by the kremlin. russian president vladimir putin has given his blessing to the deal, saying it sent the right signal to markets. "this is a good, large deal that is necessary not only for the russian energy sector, but also for the entire russian economy." but the british company is also hoping to extend its influence within russia, with bp receiving rosneft shares alongside cash in the deal. it will have a chance to be more active in russia. russia is consolidating its position as a global energy power. for years, it has dominated the international gas markets with gazprom. now it is a giant in the oil industry, but it is paying a high price. the takeover has cost the russian state billions, money that russia urgently needs to modernize its outdated industry. >> germany's natural -- the biggest natural gas produc

they besieged the virgin mary to rid russia of vladimir putin. in court today, the defense lawyer argued that her client should be treated more leniently because she had not been given the chance to perform these controversial punk prayers at the christ the cathedral. even before her guitar was taken out of the case, she was taken out of the building. protests were held outside of the courthouse. the female punk group is out of tune with the public opinion. believe that the sentences lenient -- tehe sentence is lenient. yekaterina samutsevich has apologized, but she does not believe she has committed a crime. >> more still to come. could solar storms knocked your navigation way off course -- storms knock your navigation way off course? the teenage active is shot by the taliban in northern pakistan has been visited -- the teenage activist shot by the taliban in northern pakistan has been visited by a general. she became famous after she criticized the taliban for targeting schools like hers. the taliban has warned that even if malala yousafzai sur

>> this russian need for insecurity goes back centuries but vladimir putin is not trying to recreate the warsaw pact. won't invade the baltics. the limited invasion of georgia is all he can muster. russia lacks the military band width to take back central asia. he can forgive loans, he can maneuver around, but swedish banks are very busy in the baltic states. the polish military is developing yet the russians are trying to acquire electricity grids and other infrastructure and banks now that the european union lacks financial capacity to develop places like serbia and ukraine the way they did in the yearly part of the last decade in the 1990s so russia is not coming back as the new soviet union. it is a substantial regional power that can be contained through normal means, through negotiation and arming our allies. why did the poles and romanians bill along with us on missions in iraq and afghanistan and special forces and marine tee placements in sub-saharan africa? not because they support everything we do but because loopholes and romanians and others know that it is not native of

. >> to russia now, and president vladimir putin is looking to consolidate national control over the country's oil industry. >> the state-controlled oil giant is looking to expand. >> from what we're hearing, they're offering a stock and cash offer worth about $25 billion. bp is remaining tight-lipped about any possible deal. >> the headquarters of the world's biggest oil producer could be -- could soon be a stone's throw from the kremlin. they want to buy bp's 50% stake and its joint venture. >> that means that the country's third largest oil company is based imaging being taken over by the biggest one pier that would create a new giant that produces about 40% of russian oil. >> president vladimir putin is backing the deal. the future of bp and russia was discussed a few years ago. some analysts believe the acquisition is not in the industry's best interests. >> obviously, if i instead of -- if instead of two major players you have only one, that is not likely to stimulate competition, regardless of what the antitrust authority may say. competition will suffer. >> but bp is not plan

the side of their ally turkey well we are hearing as well the president vladimir putin could be said to cancel or postpone a potential visit to turkey in the wake of the increasing tensions between ankara and damascus now russia and iraq are working very closely to still closer ties in other areas as well where exactly would those be well the delegations been in town for a few days and it really is one of these it one of these visits which is there to to strengthen relations between the two countries and one of the ways that they've set about doing that is by signing a multi-billion dollar defense deals russia going to provide arms to iraq in the future now there has been warm relations between iraq and russia and iraq has turned to russia for its future defense needs after the united states has said that they were going to pull support military support to iraq a military trade to iraq now that after baghdad refused to intercept a a rainy and cargo plane that was bound for syria carrying military supplies for the troops loyal to the assad government so that tension in same setting up

vladimir putin rarely listens to a large circle of people. he gets his information from a very restricted circle of people. he is not a tech-savvy guy the way dimitry medvedev was. if you have had the misfortune of reading this question me as i do, he lives in what may be called an echo chamber of paranoid reflecting each other's paranoia and that. the russian belief that the country is under siege, and i use that term advisedly, from a western effort to undermine the stability of the russian government and replace it, and that the allies of the west, russian democrats feeds into this. that is the first point. democracy threatens russia. there was an essay in the wall street journal making clear democracy was the biggest threat to democracy and is the -- and still is. there's a profound fear on the part of the government of any manifestation by the public. in russia or elsewhere. the middle east is an example that could spread to russia and the russians know it. russia is quite a long or at least was quite alarmed that you would see in centra

putin however during the trial the court found no political motive to the stunt that took place back in february in the christ the savior of the jail in moscow they said it was in fact hooliganism motivated by religious hatred now today speculation has been mounting over a growing rift among the prissy right clan because we saw this one band member switched defense teams today and the new lawyers they took up a new line of defense changing her defense slightly backtracking almost saying that in fact she didn't take part in the protests to change because she was distorted by guards outside of the main cathedral during this punk prayer protest and the media speculation that's been so big and what's made this story started huge has led lots of people to say that kristie riot is now a wild wide brand pussy riot feminist punk rock has registered trademark a brand new global one major russian concert organizer says they've been flooded with calls from foreign promote has offering to organize a pussy riot world tour that could fetch up to six hundred million euros. it was on last year's red

putin could delay a proposed visits to turkey. that russia and iraq are working to seal closer ties and order and to other areas as well where exactly are those peter. the delegations been in town for a few days now and as you say the and the purpose of this mission is to to strengthen ties between moscow and by one of the ways in which they've done not is the signing of a multi-billion dollar defense deal which will see russia provide alms to a ruck now one of the reasons which iraq is turning towards russia for its defense needs in the wake of comments from a seat from senior u.s. politician john terry who said that the united states should cease all arms deals with iraq now this comes after if i refused to intercept a arabian cargo plane that was carrying military supplies to syria to aid the syrian army then so it seems that bike that attending to moscow in the future for its military its all its defense needs all right a lot from moscow artie's peter all of our thank you. well turkey is not the only syrian neighbor at risk of

(laughter) next up, back in 2007, vladimir putin sent a robot submersible to plant the russian flag on the sea floor. it was the safest way to claim the north pole, because we all know what happens when you lick it. (screaming) (laughter) true story. but now the russians have gone too far, sending a russian orthodox bishop who lowered a holy memorial capsule into the sea, consecrating the north pole to the russians. it was bad enough when they were godless commies, folks. but now they're godly commies. (laughter) sorry, ruskies, everybody knows god gave north pole to america because that's where santa lives. (cheers and applause) and he is a salaried employee of the coca-cola company! (laughter) read your contract, crinkle. we need those coke-drinking polar bears to disappear and we can do the same thing to you, chris. folks, we must fight this russian orthodox religious nationalism with our own american orthodox religious nationalism. i say we slap a fur hat on pat robertson and push him out on an ice floe. (cheers and applause) he can consecrate the arctic circle for america! and may

. >>> meanwhile, russian president vladimir putin is getting some love. they starred in a video all to honor his 60th birthday. >>> and now here's an early look at how wall street's going to kick off the day. the dow close the at 13 j. 344 after slipping 128 points yesterday. the s&p fell 8. the nasdaq lost 13. taking a look at overseas trading this morning, in tokyo the nikkei was down 49 points but in hong kong the hang seng gained 79. >>> wall street is all about earnings right now, and wednesday caution from alcoa and a late-day warning from chevron dragged earnings lower. >>> walmart was another bright spot hitting an all-time high on this season's lay away success and plans for more small scale stores. >>> jpmorgan chase's cfo is reportedly stepping down at the end of the year. the bank's ceo, jamie dimon, made headlines yesterday backing democrats on the tax cut debate saying he's willing to pay a higher individual rate. >>> meanwhile, westgate resort mogul david siegel best known for his 90,000 square foot home warned his 65,000 employees if presi

vladimir putin is the consummate kremlin conjuror. he has erased the memory of medvedev's presidency. he has made many of his predecessors reforms disappear even without a magic wand. there are plenty of examples. medvedev had been decriminalized slander. putin has reversed that. medvedev ipad reset ties with america. under putin, sons of a thaw have vanished. medvedev's decision to keep russian clocks an hour ahead is now under review. it all makes medvedev look weak. >> putin would like things to be written in marble, just no one but him. >> dmitry medvedev has not disappeared completely. he is still the prime minister and leader of the ruling party. it is his record as president that is being erased and with its his reputation as a political player. today prime minister medvedev's decision not to run for president again left many liberals feeling betrayed. they had been counting on him to make russia more western, more democratic. was that realistic? >> you cannot degree democracy by waving a wand. now we shall have democracy, no.

putin. yekaterina samutsevich was released on wednesday after lawyers argued she played less of a role in the protests because she was ejected from the cathedral before she could remove her guitar from its case. at a court hearing, yekaterina samutsevich apologized to church members offended by the actions in the intended target had been vladimir putin and russian elites. >> dear believers, we did not want to insult you. we never had such intentions. we went to the cathedral to voice our protest against the political elite of our country. >> the two other members to remain behind bars will be jailed for another two years. a federal appeals court has reinstated a montana law limiting donations to political campaigns. it was among several that have been struck down in montana the decision citing the supreme court's landmark citizens united ruling that allowed unlimited corporate spending on elections. this week, the ninth u.s. circuit court of appeals reversed an earlier challenge saying the j

we would not be outsourcing foriegn policy to the united nations coming giving vladimir putin veto power over us. >> lively stuff, but spectators seemed divided. neither man stumbled. either lost. the pressure is still on. the president needs to put in a flawless performance in the next debate to redeem his reputation as the front runner. bbc news, kentucky. >> all eyes are on tuesday's presidential debates. it was a dangerous showdown that gripped the united states 50 years ago. it was october 28, 1962 when the cuban missile crisis threatened to turn the cold war into a hot one. the bbc has gained exclusive access to new information that shows there was the second stage to the crisis. >> the cuban missile crisis did not end on october 28, 1962. cuba was going to become a nuclear power right under the nose of the united states, 90 miles from florida. >> there was a lot of attention for at least another three weeks and until that moment, we were at the highest state of alert short of nuclear war. >> i call upon chairman khrushchev. he has the opportunity to world the world back from the a

. >> last month, vladimir putin endorsed president obama's reelection campaign. i'm sure the campaign was thrilled by it. he got another interesting endorsement from hugo chavez. he said if i were american i would vote for obama. and if he was in venezuela election, he would vote for chavez. >> this is north dakota for reminding us you can have fabulous economic success if government gets out of the way. they had a mindboggling piece, the heart of north dakota oil fracking boom has doubled the average income over the last five years making it the top hundred richest counties in the countries. they quoted an excerpt saying that right now, north dakota is using 2,000 new millionaires a year. >> paul: this is the hit to the country not to the state of georgia but they held elections. for the first time is going to see a new opposition government come in democratically. >> paul: that is it for this edition.

also, russian president vladimir putin celebrates a big birthday and why some people are marking his birthday by going to jail. and it's 12 years till the day since the start of the afghan war. we'll go live to afghanistan to hear what inspires our brave warriors to risk their lives there every day. stay with us. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 let's talk about that 401(k) you picked up back in the '80s. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 like a lot of things, the market has changed, tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and your plans probably have too. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 at charles schwab, we'll give you personalized recommendations tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 on how to reinvest that old 401(k). tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 so talk to chuck tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and bring your old 401(k) tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 into the 21st century. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 rollover your old 401(k) tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 to a schwab ira tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 and you can receive up to $600. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 see schwab.com tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 for terms and conditions. i have a great fit with my dentures. i love kiwis. i've always had that issue with the seeds

. >> criminal proceedings have started against a key opponent of president vladimir putin. >> he has been a prominent leader of protests against the president, and authorities claim that a documentary on a pro- kremlin tv channel shows evidence that he plotted mass disorder. >> civil rights groups and critics say it is part of a broader clampdown from russia. >> police raided his apartment in the early hours of wednesday and arrested him. officials accused the russian opposition leader of plotting a coup and planning violent attacks against the state. >> for those who think they can with impunity organize riots, plan and prepare terrorist attacks and other acts that threaten the lives of russians, you underestimate the russian special services' professionalism. >> prosecutors base their accusations on what they say are secret recordings, said to show an anti-government activist who has organized mass street protests against president putin. his supporters were dismayed by the arrest. >> this is another step in suppressing the opposition. it is worsening every day. i do not know where

and it vladimir putin is the consummate conjurer. since becoming president again, he has begun to wave away the memory of dmitri medvedev's presidency. he has made many of his predecessors reforms and disappear. there are plenty of examples prepare. medvedev had decriminalized slander. putin has read criminalize it. even medvedev's decision to scrap wintertime and keep russian clocks an hour ahead is all under review. it makes him look weak. >> he was and he's gone. putin with light -- prudent would like things to be written in marble. no one but him. >> he has not been able to get rid of him completely. he is still precious prime minister and head of the ruling party. he with a proven's actions, is seen as weaker. his decision not to run for president again men -- made many russian liberals feel betrayed. they were counting on him to lead them into something more democratic. was that a mistake? >> no magician has been able to wave a wand and now we shall have democracy. you cannot just change the way people think. >> and perhaps mr.

some suspect him even of being a stooge about -- vladimir putin. he denies all of this. he says that he sold his businesses in russia and portrays himself as a crowd georgian. it must be said that even though he wants to keep the pro- western, pro-nato course i and georgia, he says at the same time he wants to reestablish links with russia. four years ago they avoided a war. he says he wants to really reestablish links together again with moscow, which many georgians support. they think it just makes sense. from a western perspective, it is difficult to see how you rely on both, wanting to join nato, taking part in missions, but that might be a difficult bridge to combine. the other problem is that there are members of the opposition coalition who do have anti- western, anti-coalition views. >> thank you very much, damien. the high court in london, lawyers are challenging the extradition to the united states on health grounds. it is being seen as a last ditch attempt to avoid being sent to the u.s., where he faces accusations of kidnapping. the bbc for the spares -- for

they were sentenced to two years in prison for singing a song that mocked vladimir putin. they say they doubt their conviction will be overturned because the case is part of a wider crackdown on critics of the russian president. fiercely contested parliamentary elections in georgia, there has already been in -- already been numerous incidents of violence. damian mcginnis is in tbilisi. >> this is the first time in a decade that the ruling party has been seriously challenged. since coming to power in 2004, his pro-western government has ruled without any serious opposition. he says the country will be thrown back to the crime and chaos of the 1990's if the ruling party is ousted. >> a lot of things are being decided right now in our country. for the future development of our country, for what happens to the european people in this part of the world and what happens to the idea of democracy in this part of the world. >> these are the most unpredictable elections they have known since their on attendance. on the one hand, you have the president's ruling party credited with sa

they staged a protest against vladimir putin earlier this year. >> the women from pussy riot came to the appeal hearing without any great expectations that they would be released, but what came next was surely a shock. one of the trio had decided to break with the defense team. >> i do not exactly know what has happened. we met of three women on friday. one of them confirmed we would continue to work together. something must have happened over the weekend. >> the lawyers believe someone may have pressured her to create discord between the women and their legal representatives. sticking by their story that they did not commit a crime when they staged a protest in the moscow cathedral. >> my client as already stated it was an ethical mistake to stage a protest at the cathedral of christ the savior. i think those apologies should have been accepted. >> but apologies are not enough for radical members of the russian orthodox church. they staged a protest outside of the court demanding a higher penalty for pless-- for pussy riot. >> syria's for and -- foreign minister. >> addressing the u

putin. >> the case sparked an inte with westerners condemning the sentences as disproportionate. >> it was rewarded with a suspended sentence. but the judge told her she must be in good behavior until 2014. "do you understand that if you commit a crime or do not carry out your obligations, your suspended sentence will be turned into a prison sentence?" >> the other two women were told their jail sentences had been upheld. their only hope is to appeal again. the member who was released was released because she did not take part in the so-called punk prayer in moscow cathedral. she was stopped outside before she could come in. the then insisted it was not politically motivated. "they probably want to make it clear that actions like this will not be tolerated by courts and that it is better not to criticize those in power." she was greeted by supporters in front of the court, but some demonstrated against her release. they want the band to show regret for what they did. >> all three women's convictions still stand, and it looks like the kremlin's strategy has worked. many russians have

. >> rose: so your friend vladimir putin, is he responsive to that? >> i think he supports, first i see him often, maybe three, four times a year, i have known him for 20 years, long before he was the president. >> rose: in st. petersburg. >> st. petersburg and i was already known them because i lead such an institution, mariinsky, in a way is a face of the country, so you get rather famous if you are on the top of the institutions, leadership you are present immediately a lot, even if you don't deserve it yet, you already represent 230 years of tradition, but the good quality of today is he understands that the treasure of national culture and you don't take it -- just another icon. i think we are building a new opera house, it is important for us to have such an incredible opportunity, a platform where we perform open prarks ballet, symphonic music, educational projects will go up immediately because of all of the schools in st. petersburg it is a city of 5 million people, you perform the nutcracker, 20 times a year and perform 50 times a year each

a russian activist has been charged with planning mass riots against president vladimir putin. mr. udaltsov could face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty but he denies the charges. the owners of a cargo ship that ran aground on a new zealand reef, called the countries worst maritime environmental disaster, have pleaded guilty to distributing carpal substances. tons of oil into the sea, killing 2000 sea birds. hurricane sandy continues to head towards the east coast of the united states, having killed some 20 people in cuba, haiti, and jamaica. it is currently sweeping across the bahamas, where schools and offices and airports are closed. and the storm could pose a major threat to the coast as it moves northward, potentially reaching as far as new york city over the next week, bringing 90-mile-an- hour winds and torrential rains. at florida is under a tropical storm warning already. joining me from miami beach in gingera is abc news' zee. >> the rain has been on and off but it is pounding at times. we will see 40 to 60 miles per hour gusts. the churning wave action is not normal

so does he think vladimir putin is behind his troubles? >> i have the impression if we talked to him, he would say, i am not this character. you have a war with them. why should i interfere? i mean, these are separate institutions. my objection, no institutions here. just one institution which is the president. he runs everything. i mean, with the tip of his fingers, rather, than anything else. it's like believing that stalin never knew about the other. >> he is being charged with the same thing that a group of girls are being charged with. the three prisoners were back in court appealing their two-year sentences. but the case was postponed for 10 days. daniel, bbc news, moscow. >> you're watching "bbc world news america." still to congressional tonight's program -- the first african-american to attend university explains why race remains a crucial issue in the united states. >> south korean pop star has a u.k. number one. if you haven't heard it, hear this. >> the ridiculously catchy tune with its overtop video has become a global phenome