it is just about one hundred dollars a barrel two percent on the day brant crude is trading at over one hundred fourteen dollars a barrel up nearly three percent and turning to equities now both in my eyes it's are up but that's because of the heavy dominance of the energy sector defensive gold stocks are also doing well retailers banks and industrials and miners are all down and let's have a look at some individual share most now and we see gas problem among the leaders it's up more than five percent look at this rising around three percent and it's also being helped by news it signed a deal with american bank going to national international to develop two offshore oil fields in romania and go producers there also gaining as prices for the precious metals surge higher produce gold is up over two percent now on u.s. forces all mages and gold miners are providing the relatively few bright spot the pussy is up now although earlier it was down for the fifth day its longest losing streak since july the dax is down over a percent it's heavily weighted with banks and industrials to set two sectors that

are struggling most with uncertainty created in the middle east. that's all for now but join me in less than one hour wall here on business.

the top story. behind the whistle blowing web site wiki leaks should be. politically motivated to get him to where he's wanted for leaking of classified information. led people to own future. condemned the use of force and says he spoke with top european officials.

in. flow of. humanitarian crisis which could see more than a million people flooding the country thousands of refugees from the troubled. have already reached its shores and locals have started complaining about vandalism and theft. all next os he talks to former u.s. national security adviser brant scowcroft about his views on the current revolts across north africa and the middle east as well as america's relationship with russia that's coming up next. mr scowcroft thank you very much for joining altie you belong to the school of foreign policy realists that's what they say they say and you're republican with a career stretching across five american x. administrations so i would like to discuss several foreign policy issues with you in your view what are the consequences for the u.s.

middle east policy after the toppling of mubarak in egypt and ben ali in tunisia you know one is always caught off guard by revolutions. because there are a surprise if there were a surprise to president ben ali and to president mubarak it's hardly unusual it would be a surprise to the united states. the instabilities in the region are of course obvious and have been for a long time they're questioning can they be handled can they be dealt with. in a plot for a sensible way or does it have to involve. unrest and violence and i think. we have to wait and see so far the egyptian crisis has been managed i think quite well gyptian armies behaved i think very well neither

repressing the demonstrations nor encouraging so. it's changes coming to the region but that was that was inevitable as the old leaders. past from the seed so i think we need to be careful but i'm optimistic fundamentally fundamentally our policy should change in our policy is the development of open societies cooperativeness and progressive development for all the countries of the region and that's always been paul iraq president obama has started withdrawing troops from iraq once all the forces including security personnel leave the country in your view is there a danger of iraq slipping back into the civil war i think iraq is in or is in a producer precarious state they're still in fact forming a government months after an election to do so there are sharp divisions inside the

country. and it's hard to say exactly how they will develop i would be more comfortable. with a somewhat longer american presence so that they would be more inclined to solve their problems by discourse rather than strength but we'll have to wait and see but you don't think that. the danger is there oh i think the danger is there i think there are still still many forces tending to pull the country aside indeed one of the reasons for the strength of the dictatorship was to hold the country together but i am hopeful that the people will see the benefits of compromising their differences rather than insist upon them and destroying the state do you think that the nato mission in

afghanistan is doomed just like the british failed in the nineteenth century in the soviet union just thirty years ago no i don't think so because i think we are the united states is there for a different reason which is not to control afghanistan but to make sure that al-qaeda or other terrorist bad don't use afghanistan as a base from which to attack us you anybody else so yeah our our goal is much more limited and i think they're for. one can have more optimism than one did of the previous occupants of afghanistan you yourself i think have been saying that the term war on terror. was compromised it has indeed being compromised how does that marry with the you know with the terrorism

threat that is not going anywhere well terrorism threat is one thing a war is another and terrorism is a technique of combat it is not you can't make war on a technique so. i think war on terrorism was designed to motivate people for a maximum effort terrorist something that we all have to deal with and are going to have to for a long period of time and it's in part a product of the modern age like television like radio people are now politicized by issues that they didn't care about before because they didn't know about and so i think it's a long term struggle against extremists who want to destroy a civilization that they can't cope with it seems that there is no progress in

stopping the iranian nuclear program in your view what are the chances that the united states may resort to the military option i think there is still the possibility to avoid a confrontation. i think iran is a case that relative related to the reason that i'm here and that is cooperation between the united states and russia on the whole nuclear fuel cycle. iran has every right. to have nuclear power does not have the right to build nuclear weapons and i think. the extent to which we can cooperate to induce iran to take the opportunities that are available that is nuclear fuel from russia returned the

nuclear fuel not insist on enriching its own uranium or doing things like that and i wouldn't rule out that that we would be successful how much is you know is this the opinion shared in the united states i don't think i'm alone i am i'm not sure but i don't think there's any eagerness. to deal with iran by force and i think the extent the increasing degree of cooperation between the united states and russia on this issue will have a big impact. on iran and what it decides to do but there is also quite strong mood within the government of israel and sort of you know they support in a time on iran well israel has what it considers an existential problem with iran but i think if we can deal with the nuclear problem. then

israel will be reassured by that what is your assessment on has the recent with russia and asked by the obama administration two years ago brought any serious results it's not what could be the reasons i was a little disappointed for a year or so i am now encouraged i think now that we're beginning on a much more positive course. both sides have ratified the new start treaty and that is. a major step forward in terms of renewing a cooperate of sense the. nuclear cooperation agreement the one twenty three agreement as we call it is now in force and i think the the the warmth between the two and the progress we've made together with respect to iran for example and i think even on afghanistan there is

a sense that we both of the we have a common problem there common of the export of terry export of heroin so on those things are. our leading and i feel good about the reset button now why were you disappointed then did you feel that those two little happening yes yes i thought that i thought the language of reset was good but but there didn't seem to be much follow through for a time and now it just took time to catch all but now i feel very good about since he will ready mentions taught what is its political impact on the u.s. russia relations i think what it really does is that is continue the framework that we build up really over fifty years of how to talk and how to deal. with the military nuclear issue that it continues that process and now we can look at ways we still possess over ninety

percent of the world's nuclear weapons so we need to work together to ensure that those weapons are never never need be used and that is to increase the stability of the nuclear bombs so whatever the problem between astaire's no incentive. to use them and i think now the way is clear for us to sit down and have that kind of discussion there's still there's so many nuclear weapons out there but just not just a matter of numbers it's doing the kinds of things that ensure that those weapons are never going to be used and that take that'll take a lot more discussion goshi ation thoughtfulness on both sides. but i'm sure we can make progress now that we've laid the groundwork mr scowcroft thank you very much for this interview they're very welcome.

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headlines on. the london court rules the man behind the whistle blowing web site wiki leaks should be extradited to sweden for questioning over sex crimes. and in the case is politically motivated to get him to the u.s. he's wanted for leaking classified information. let the people decide their own future that's the message sent by prime minister vladimir putin. meddling in international affairs the meeting in brussels also condemned the use of force in the volatile arab region and spoke with top european officials. for a massive flow of migrants calls on the e.u. to rescue it from a humanitarian crisis which could see more than a million people flooding the country thousands of refugees fleeing north africa

have already reached its shores and locals have started complaining about vandalism and theft. and more to come on those stories in about fifteen minutes time for now joins us from the. aurora good so good to see you've got the latest now on the ice hockey playoffs there are three games underway right now and as many expected these playoffs are just as unpredictable as ever and three games are taking place right now i have the latest scores on that plus some more. and i walk into this for an artsy comment see a live from the russian capital with new i'm on call for event let's take a brief look at the stories and there's bullets and. basel have to score twice against parts off in today's europa league clash and they will also have to contend

with freezing temperatures here in moscow. the chase is on plenty of goals and some major upsets in the western conference during the opening day of the cage shell playoffs. high octane thrills top racers from across the motorsport world comes together at a certain amount in moscow. meanwhile spartak moscow are in good positions of propel themselves into the last sixteen of the europa league but at a carpenter's charges with a one goal advantage against basel with the swiss looking for revenge in the return leg at luzhniki spartak seemed down and out last thursday when they conceded two goals in the opening period but second have goals from dimitri come bar of and out of jones you've brought them right back into the fold a john on the needs a strike an exit sign then saw the muscovites complete an impressive comeback it's back to the capsule for sparks og but they want only one of their past seven home games and european competitions and while the cold weather would seem and its vantage for the hosts carp and doesn't underestimate those coming from

a warmer climate you could also play the match will take place regardless of the with so thorough preparation is key we saw how will teams from woman climates complain these conditions during the c.s. compound match and we already found out what bowser is capable of back in switzerland basel will need to score at least twice in moscow later today to have any chance of progressing richard now has the latest from the swiss team who braved subzero temperatures in the russian capital preparing for this match. things could have been so much better for bars old a week ago ballots pontac to nil over an hour of the first leg gone however they imploded of an expert in minutes as visitors struck three times to get ben the edge going into first his return leg imus was science head coach knows his team will be up against it you have been shmuley golf of course we've got a tough task ahead of us after losing the first leg three two that said we have got absolutely nothing to lose and i think my team will take to the pitch on thursday

in a completely relaxed frame of mind we're missing a few players through injury but we'll be looking to put out our best possible side against spartak. the weather wasn't very welcoming for the visitors eva the temperature pitch side when they trained was well below freezing around a minus fifteen mark or judging by what the players were wearing it seemed they were preparing for a polar expedition rather than for a football match but said it isn't exactly warm up moments and basel and fing doesn't believe it will be hard for his team to adjust this is closely to my we haven't undertaken any particularly preparations to combat the cold ahead of this match we will just dress a warmer than usual and will drink more by this i mean we won't be drinking beer of course but water and of course it's important that the players constantly keep moving when they're on the pitch. basel currently said four points clear at the top of a domestic championship a swiss league resume following this winter break to start

a favor and basel have won all three domestic matches what is the reason to keep secret because all we knew were good enough to get a result against spurs well the same time we mustn't forget about this was league we have got some very important games coming up and have a good chance of being crowned champions so have definitely got to keep one eye on our domestic championship whose point. buzzers head coach thorsten fink knows more than a thing or two about playing an illusion in the stadium and play. spots. as the midfielder came up against the red and whites four times while playing for buy in munich around the turn of a century and he expects a tough evening when the match gets underway you know this movie. russian football is improving all the time i know at the moment there are four teams from the country involved in european competitions spartak have an artificial pitch in a very strong home support which i believe is the best in russia they'll have their

fans behind them and we must make sure we concentrate which is certainly what we didn't do in the first leg. sponsored our favorites going into the second leg falling best second half and roic since switzerland last week have a boss who will be hoping to spring a surprise and continue their run in this season's europa league if the possible be absolute kicking themselves out of throwing away a two goal lead last week in switzerland in the first leg a sponsor came back to win by three goals to two what are some things men are going to provide result behind them and they'll need to score at least twice a month from history and absolutely freezing nights in the russian capital any chance of progressing to the last sixteen of i don't see. both the beasts of the east and the best of the west will be going head to head on the second day of the case shell play off the western conference teams playing in that sebag games out for wednesday's opener as well things are only getting started on the other side of the bracket some dogs out of order were surprisingly defeated by fifteenth ranks

need to make an overtime money savors can you grow up proved to be a good match up there all tied in third league runners up celebrity alive out thrashing player for it you see here at the moment and like a machine were taken to the limit in the seven four win over the number minsk in the west the men from the hole to have enough left in the tank for game three against the bill of russians to move in on the boers have won all two gharri cups contested they start the playoffs against fellow snow leopards baris from kazakhstan sky and atlanta hoping to go up to. and their games against parts. respectively in emery got back on the list nicky ice after escaping with it since i went against their namesakes in moscow. that game for us. tension raced miles higher with the big game the kitchell playoffs having started on wednesday even more so when it comes to name six deliberate dinamo school and in america star their best of seven series in the russian capital pre-season favorites the blue and

was were quick to put the lock ins under heavy pressure here is denise a glare of dribbling through rigorous difference in style early in the first period moments later the muscovites latest signing ball full three sun phone himself in a great position to score but all those chances we should meaning it was new nil by the first intermission the passion of support from the crowd was the home side forward although it was dinham riga who scored the opener mark hartigan netting here to make it one nil. although it didn't affect the course of the game at all the blue and white skipped and grating olsen chances to score with us just nothing in front of the visitors goal in the final period meanwhile rieger were sitting their fortune on counter attacks don't assume we had a brain or were to do school work in this one in one breakaway but michael garnett step in. in just five minutes from time the hosts efforts will finally rewarded

blackamoor off to the puck away and rifled home to little matters one one that's how it came to overtime we still do number regus liberating in the end that is there's first line easily finding that one ball played but it's definitely the visitors don't we still quist who should be called the men of the match their goaltender played amazing we had all the chances we needed we just couldn't score and. they made some really good saves even the ones that did get by and he was able to knock them away and. you know tonight i think we played probably about as good as we could play but you know i want to kind of house to talk first reader now you know one new lead in their best of seven serious against you know moscow with a name six making it bet to the same ice rink late tonight robert for the known party mostly. there are plenty of high octane thrills at moscow's main racecourse

amid the defenders of the fatherland day celebrations top races from across the vehicle categories comments again are at the invitation all tournaments to see who's the best of the best yvonne's of course the reports. motor sport fans willing to brave subzero temperatures in the capital were rewarded with a high powered spectacle the who's who of russia's racing world on hand in the twenty second star's race hosted by one of the country's premier automobile magazines two thousand and eleven to car runner up feed off in formula one lotus rae. and some of the more recognizable names taken part russia's first ever f one driver vitaly petrov also on hand to witness the event but did not participate in the race. events after his lotus reynold teammate robert qubits a suffered serious injuries during a rally event earlier this month the twenty six year old preparing for the formula one season opener on march twenty seventh. it's unfortunate that i'm not allowed to

participate hid due to the qubits the situation but it's always great to be back in russia as far as the formula one season we have no problems with the bahrain grand prix being cancelled that just means we have more time to prepare for the australian grand prix. the first qualifying race saw teams fitted winter tires on their cars and cureall the deegan took full advantage of the extra traction to when regular tires were used for the next race where a lot of revolutions starlite begin finished only seven those results were enough to qualify the thirty two year old for the final three races begins russian expertise serving a well in one of the final stages as he aged by one point six seconds with finishing third dmitri braggin finished second overall than last year's winner two more started enough was third so an exciting snow battle on the track amid the holiday festivities gorski r.t. . i'll be back with more in a couple of hours thanks for staying with.