more than the firemen could handle all but a few of the one hundred houses were totally destroyed. everything even had built up in thirty years living here the family home their daughter's house their cattle even their dogs all lost to the flames but amidst the scenes of utter destruction a glimpse of hope rather. full. just fifteen kilometers away another village lays in the path of the flames its people are worried the same fate awaits them we speak yes but only a certain flamer on our own the man of took a ditch big truck has. we don't know where to expect a fire from that neighbor is informing us about anything but for those whose battle with the fires ended in defeat temporary shelters are being found part of the evacuated were taken here and saw an old school building they say it is received as

often as four times a day although that's still not enough the most basic things are much needed underwear to pillows to warm clothes back in moscow volunteers assemble what help they can they say there's enough supplies the problem is delivering it's a huge problem says transportation because we don't have cars of our own but we've flames already appearing on the highway how sweet to the villages finding and car could prove a lot easier than actually getting there to if they cross party central russia. to be to advent of his sack to string of senior navy officers for failing to prevent wildfires from reaching a military base in the moscow region the president said they were guilty of criminal negligence and a failure of juneteenth the telling of a cover followed his meeting with government officials here in moscow. president came from his summer residence to hold a serious of emergency meetings in kremlin regarding the problem before fighting he

wants to involve as many structures in this far fighting is as possible course during the meeting they discussed how to help people who lost their homes or their lives in this in these forests as well as how to stop the forests around moscow and in washington all right now and of course how to prevent those fires from spreading onto strategic objects in russia such as a military bases or nuclear plants for example you smothered a little but it would look. i've ordered the ministry of defense to fight the fires but the ministry can't always even protect itself a large fires broken out in the most cool region with heavy consequences someone was asleep on the job the fire that was spreading slowly was not contained and the heads of the local military base were nowhere to be found i'm sacking five high ranking officers and ordering the ministry to fire more if anything of this sort takes place again i will take the same steps without any rift. so while talking

about how to help people watching the president has also talked about how to punish those who are responsible for some of the lies that could have been saved but didn't several. locations at all or even filed against those local authorities working on the spots go according to russian president worked in effectively and who could have prevented some fires but didn't and meanwhile here in moscow the situation looks like it's getting worse this night has brought a lot more smog in the city and as you can see behind me right now it is very difficult to even see kremlin because of the city's centuries covered in small. we'll tell you another call for a reporter there in central moscow where those raging blazes have reached the federal nuclear center in the central russian city of sutter all of the head of the country's atomic regulatory body says all explosive and radioactive substances have been removed from the site so the facility is quote absolutely safe.

social the situation is complex but it is completely under control the fire is inside the federal security zone but it doesn't pose any threat to nuclear facilities in the center itself have you quit minton human resources including the army have been mobilized to fight the blazes. more news now today iran is denying president mahmoud ahmadinejad was the target of an assassination attempt the reports claimed a grenade was thrown at his convoy in the west of the country the claims come of the time of increasing pressure on iran just days ago a top u.s. military official said that washington's ready to launch a military strike against the country if needed there's also the sanctions already in place by expanding the black list of the reigning in groups and companies suspected of having terrorist links but authorities report found these latest restrictions one universal support. for the united states treasury department did i

now it's additional sanctions against twenty one iranian entities entities that u.s. officials say and accuse of aiding groups such as hezbollah hamas and the taliban now these u.s. sanctions are targeting iranian companies in the banking insurance investment mining and engineering sector americans or u.s. companies are now in a bid from doing any business from from those entities that are now being sanctioned by the u.s. treasury department and all of this is coming just a few days after the u.s. joint chiefs of staff michael mullen said that the option to strike iran a plan to strike iran is still on the table and it's an option that's ultimately up to u.s. president barack obama on that subject to come up at the united nations when i ambassador vitaly churkin the russian representative to the united nations held

a press conference as russia assumes the presidency of the security. council now why the issue of potential strike didn't come up with discussing iran and the mounting sanctions that have been placed on iran by the international community ambassador churkin also noted that all of the u.n. resolutions that include sanctions against iran do not include any text that allow the use of force to be used against iran under any circumstances let's take a listen when we discuss iranian nuclear issue and we will know the resolutions on this matter as you remember we have very clear language and it is a russian and in the last resolution even clearer than in three previous resolutions. it has nothing to do with any possibility. the use of force against them brazilian president lula da silva was among the first

world leaders to react to u.s. sanctions against iran saying that they will not help but possibly hurt from engaging iran in bringing iran back to the negotiating table specifically what it cost to do with the nuclear fuel swap program that was proposed by turkey and brazil program that is gaining support among the international community and it is something that the president of brazil says that the u.s. could be deterring with these amalgam ting saying that are being done unilaterally outside of the united nations. put nine of them. retired u.s. army colonel she says the statement by washington that it's not ruling out of military action against iran is misjudged and provocative. that type of action military action against iran is inappropriate the united states of america has tremendous military capability but why do you have to go pushing it in the face of an emerging

one that we could do this we could take military action well we know that but all it is is a perfect statement that makes those in iran feel very uneasy that they are truly being targeted again by the united states and by israel and the increased sanctions that we see that the united states is putting on is another layer of occasion in their mind that they are the target we are warning president obama to be very very careful about anything that comes out of israel as far as the they are assessment that military force needs to be used on iran. retired u.s. army colonel turned peace activist right. coming up in the program a report of what's in store next for the parasailing donkey she settles into five star luxury in the kremlin stables to forget nightmare all deal with the same that's coming up the late. being used to teach you go home for adoption treaty

known as start as been stopped for now at least the u.s. senate pushed a vote to ratify the deal back to september the treaty signed by president very different protocol would see each country's nuclear arsenals gradually slashed by a third whoever it won't come into force until ratified by both sides and so far neither has done that moscow says it's ready to put the deal into effect but wants to do so at the same time as washington former u.s. senator and acting chairman of the atlantic council think tank chuck hagel thinks there's more than just bilateral power play at stake. if in fact we we the civilized world especially the nuclear powers and as we know russia the united states but there's about ninety percent of all the nuclear weapons in the world if we are to reduce those if we are to influence other nations to try not to come on line to. be a nuclear weapons power or to start reducing their powers that we must lead the way so this is also i think it is you have some optics of some credibility of some

leadership because if we don't pass this what credibility does the united states have with the rest of the world or russia to say to any other nuclear country or country that wants to possess these weapons no don't do that so there's an awful lot here that goes beyond just the specifics of the treaty for sort of the chairman of the atlantic council think tank chuck hagel with me on. the radio annual international military exercises begun in a stony air it commemorates a reconnaissance group the work with german military intelligence in world war two moscow believes that the exercise is an attempt to glorify a study is clever ation the nazi germany d.n.a. unit was a finish on the formation of the stone and volunteers that spied behind the lines again to be held the night before with teams from around the world taking part but former member of the european parliament glyn ford told me that he thinks of the a small minority of european support events to glorify the nazi past. what concerns

me about this it appears how some support from if you all the officials within the a stone in government and that's what's much more concerning because that indicates if you want a political collaboration with the the people organizing this event it is clearly both offensive and bizarre that while there is a new enthusiasm for extreme sports or you basing it around a nazi collaborating organization. from the second world war out assault that generally across the european union the vast majority of people will be horrified about what's going on there always are a small minority of people who actually sympathize with the nazis but they are extremely small these days and i can't imagine that anywhere would there be very geraghty support for this kind of event. for many people and for in brussels world news now b.p. says it's reached a significant milestone after apparently controlling the oil leak in the gulf of mexico with its latest effort a new operation uses thick mud to push the oil back down into the pipe the u.s.

government says seventy five percent of the spill has now been cleaned up or broken down by nature seven hundred million liters of oils gushed out of the sea since b.p.'s rig exploded in april causing what's being branded america's worst environmental disaster. in parts of pakistan are facing a life threatening food crisis amid the worst floods to hit the country in eighteen years rescuers are struggling to reach far flung villages that have been left without supplies the disaster is already claimed more than a thousand lives and left nearly a million people homeless forecasters say more heavy rain is expected in the coming days. lots of come tonight return to lebanon's border with israel has un peacekeepers have increased their patrols along the divide it comes a day after a fierce firefight between both countries armies left for dead lebanon claimed its troops opened fire after israeli soldiers illegally entered its territory but u.n. peacekeepers have confirmed israel's troops remain on their own side of the border it's the bloodiest incident between the two since the war in two thousand and six.

in kenya the votes are being counted after a referendum was held about a new constitution it seeks to limit the president's powers and in force a bill of rights president michael back here supporting the changes security has been stepped up across the country where more than a thousand people died in clashes following two thousand and seven disputed election polls show the contribution is likely to be passed. at a happy to use now the donkey that was sent parasailing above a russian cruel p.r. stunt that we could to back is these days enjoying the trappings of a new celebrity lifestyle and that it was swamped in worldwide sympathy after her ordeal was rescued by the british tabloid the sun but before heading to pastures new she's been undergoing some high class rehab at the kremlin school of riding near moscow from where tom buck reports. the donkey has learned it russia's notorious four legged fly is finally able to breathe easy not because the donkey

arrived in moscow after days on the road from southern russia and i'm not complaining and she's very sweet wine and everyone fell in love for her and we don't want to give no and up now because strange journey started with her now infamous flight up above a beach on a power sail pulled by a boat a publicity trick by a local water sports company but police found out the owner run away and was only found later. sitting on the beach boys your parachute go i couldn't quite figure it out so i saw four legs narrowed my eyes a donkey the animal's distressed brain also brought simply from around the world celebrities and animal rights activists were hot to trot with their opinions this animal was suffering was captured on videos and photographs and the way it spread through the media is really amazing and i think what the public has done is create a demand you know for animals to be treated better the culprit presented

a vet certificate showing the animal was not physically harmed so is unlikely to face prosecution nevertheless the outcry means anat cohen now spend a month the prestigious kremlin writing school drinking filtered water eating a special diet prepared by nutritionist and being messengers with medical appointments and i'm going to be does it make if we have well equipped stables good for her and a team of professional experts who take care of the horses. and what after office to house and up to have flooded in from all over the world and not all from where you might expect the manager of england's top them hotspur football club harry redknapp has said he would happily put an up go up harry has an ambition to open his own animal sanctuary in the hunt sure area of england and he has perhaps could and i could join him sanctuary and not get here now has her feet planted firmly on the ground so wherever she ends up after this month for the moment she can just relax tom barton party. i was more home page of course r.t.

dot com as well let's take a look at your find there tonight find out in fact which russian football stars uniform has made it into the top five best selling list in england. also moscow's teenagers are risking their lives for a dangerous new hobby although police are hot on their heels. also online tonight russian blogger angry about the management of the wildfires raging across the country gets an expected reply from prime minister putin want to find out more about any of those stories or a whole lot more check out our team took home. a. little . this is our team from moscow charlotte said next the business.

hello and welcome to the business program here on r.t. the global cost of wheat is a record its biggest monthly increase the nearly forty years mostly due to the severe drought here in russia there are concerns the higher prices could push up the cost of food and therefore inflation but according to a leading retailer x. five russia substantial grain reserves should limit the problem but. it is true that due to the lower harvest this year and the ongoing drought signs are pointing to an increase in prices by suppliers simply because there will be a shortage of some goods but ok kill ations with the government support showed that the reserves like the green reserve created in previous years will allow us to get through this tough period and should there be any price increases they will be controlled and not significant. while the impact of the poor harvest might be limited on a national level it may hit some organizations which rely on excess of production best of you head of the index futures group he spoke to us earlier from the chicago

mercantile exchange. it's really changing the entire dynamic importers are becoming exports and exporters are becoming importers i think much of this is really going to play out the real the hurt i think is really going to come from the relief agencies those that were looking to help those in pakistan or in africa those that were looking for access grain remember not only is grain now scarce around the world but capital to be able to go out and buy that grain which is now priced a little higher is scarce so they're probably going to be hurting the most out of this entire equation that both russia and the u.s. have substantial grain was not does the act does this is a price it's absolutely i think that you know you've got a combination of two economies that are very well versed in making sure that their supplies are intact over the course of say the winter months and they're quite frankly i think good the russian economy was prepared for this that the russian

government was prepared for this i know of course here in the u.s. we've been preparing for it but remember grain this specially wheat is much like a weed it doesn't take more than just a few days of rain to get things going again of course this problem is pretty much over and i think that we could write it off but we still have a big report coming here in the states in another week and of course south america is going to report over the course of the next few months let's see how it all turns out. in related news the record temperatures pushed russia's services sector to its lowest price since february orders for industries like banking and transport fell for the first time in four months in july businesses reported that it's become less productive claiming the heat. and foreign direct investment in russia reached twenty one billion dollars in the first half of the year according to vladimir putin prime ministers said the indicators were favorable and that businesses were now going ahead with plans they postponed because of the crisis. let's have

a look at the markets now russian stocks were founded late on wednesday to raise previous losses markets of basij by reports in the euro. yes it showed the country added more worthless in july than this full cost rolls nuff said with solid spare found where among the main game is the spare bank putting on forty percent of them i say. b.p.'s new chief executive robert dudley is the most scary for talks the deputy prime minister equal suchan but discussions include possible asset sales to cover the cost of b.p.'s gulf of mexico oil spill well the b.p. is saying its interests in russia a not on the table instead says maybe in south america all central europe dudley's joined by tony hayward the outgoing chief is b.p. who will take up a non-executive role in the board of russian joint venture b.p. and in separate news from the company it says this is succeeded in the static kill of its leaking well in the gulf of mexico and the oil is no longer leaking into the sea. the construction of the north stream gas pipeline is reach an important

milestone with a second branch of the pipe finally coming ashore in russia projects will provide gas to millions of european homes when it's completed which is due in two thousand and twelve. here at the bay in the baltic sea the construction of the north pipeline project is only progressing now which you see behind my back at two pipelines the first one was a pulled out of the water just a week ago in july the twenty eighth and what happened just a couple of hours ago is that the second finally reached the russian soil now you see that both pipelines are lying in a special train that will be back filled up to the initial seabed a level one of the construction is over but now this train to protect the both pipelines from a different external impacts when in two thousand and eleven the pipeline will start its open ration it will have a capacity over twenty seven billion cubic meters of gas annually and in two thousand and twelve it is planned that both will start their operations with

a capacity over fifty five billion cubic meters of gas annually the gas will reach him the pipelines hand near the finish border and a van it will be delivered to the european customers to and will reach you were up on the north end coast of germany. for now but you can always buy most henri's on our website dot com slash business.

vote for bush. always adds by one vote for kerry vote for kerry so the people that are going to be validating this machine can stand there all day long and vote for somebody and it will be right every time but the guy can walk up here and if he hits the right button. he can flip the boat that he. sure is that so much about taxpayers and i mean to say she made

a lot of people and reality t.v. wonderfully popular in commercially lucrative but just how realistic are these programs are the ultimate. for the full story. the biggest issues get. face to face with the news maker.

in. bangkok. the imperial. hotel. cruise hotel but. the sea.

in israel. thirty pm moscow time let me take you through the top stories from r.t. relentless fires across russia have claimed at least forty eight lives as temperatures continue to break records a state of emergency has been declared in seven regions entire villages have been wiped out and thousands of people have been left homeless. russian emergency crews have stepped up their efforts to put out the fires in neighboring countries have joined the operation sending aircraft to help in the most devastated regions present valid was fired five high ranking officials for their lack of action in

dealing with the crisis. and in other news tonight tightening the grip on washington imposes new sanctions severing ties with a rein in groups thought to be aiding terrorists president mahmoud ahmadinejad says that he couldn't care less about the new restrictions but ones other countries not to follow suit. next night people are volunteers guests look at the surge of reality t.v. in the twenty first century and discuss whether it has a role beyond simple entertainment peter stars there's a very old reality t.v. show then just thirty seconds from now. hungry for the full story we've gone to. the biggest issues get a human voice face to face with the news makers on the. wealthy british science.

markets why not scandal. find out what's really happening to the global economy in the kinds of reports on r.t. . and you can. still get. a low end welcome to cross talk i'm peter lavelle reality t.v. wonderfully popular in commercially lucrative but just how realistic are these programs are they are the ultimate form of spontaneous expression or are they merely evidence of how modern values are centered on the most banal common denominators. can. you discuss modern t.v. i'm joined by stephen reese and columbus he's the executive director of the world

society of motivation scientists and professionals in glasgow we go to brian mcknight our he's a professor of journalism and communication at the university of strathclyde and we go to london to study malique she's a lecturer of media and communications a bernal university and another member of our cross talk team on the hunger all right folks cross talk rules in effect but first i'd like to make a few comments about some of the research i did making this program because i am i do not actually watch reality t.v. programs quote this is what i found some my research reality t.v. makes us feel dirty and cheap and if we didn't we probably wouldn't bother. turning turn tuning into it never have so many watch t.v. with so little good to say about it and also critics call it gutter t.v. and humiliation t.v. reflects a culture that worships vanity and wealth rather than virtue and humility so if i go to you brian why do people watch reality t.v. programs i think that reality t.v.

gives people and say and to you.