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tens of thousands across egypt. the interim government. and officials. here protesters say they won't leave until they began fighting. a reality joins me from cairo for the later. hundreds of. flights. dozens of. dozens were detained. to. zero and lift. the final.

blastoff marking the end of the space shuttle program. it's a really bad. to lose the skilled work force it's going to be difficult to rebuild . broadcasting live direct from the heart of moscow this is r t i'm sean thomas glad to have you with us let's take a look at your top story thousands of people are protesting in egypt square all day and into the night now. to voice their anger at the interim government over the country's sluggish rate of reform demonstrators want to keep up the pressure for change on the country's interim military rulers and to see former regime officials brought to trial archies and he said now is in cairo for us. civilians are doing the security checks there to record traffic and taking care of everything

themselves we've been hearing rumors that they caught a couple of they call them frogs people who come here sort of provoke violence make it look like they're coming to really stage under arrest here in the egyptian capital these protesters are really ready for anything in the sense that they say they want it to remain peaceful and the government has promised to stand away i haven't seen one police officer but that they're sending people in plainclothes it's really instigated by the so a lot of people on edge that something could happen well some of the protesters including the workers union is basically has marched the city so it's like with what we saw back in the winter they're going to basically live on talk here in till they get what they want and what they want is to get rid of all these so-called mini mubarak's they feel like they had the president ousted in a lot of high ranking officials but they want corrupt officials to be removed from the universities from the factories all workplaces across the country they want military trials on civilians to stop they want free press and have full coverage of

what's happening here in central cairo so some people will be staying here until the very end then you have the muslim brotherhood who didn't take place didn't didn't come and join the revolution back in the winter but this time are taking it critics say that they're really trying to just inflate their positions but if there are elections that they can gain some support it's a group that in fact is abandoned in many countries including russia it seems it seems that there's caution about any kind of links to perhaps terrorism but they are one of the groups that is protesting but like i said a lot of these protesters are here until they feel that the egypt they've been fighting for has finally happened. and now in reporting for us they are now hundreds of pro palestinian activists are being blocked by israel in their attempts to reach gaza by air dozens were detained for questioning in tel aviv on arrival while the majority were prevented from even reaching israel and european airports archies polish who's been at ben-gurion airport throughout the day has more. for

the last few weeks there have been some six to eight hundred international activists who've been planning this so-called fly turner united under the banner of welcome to palestine and representing some fifteen n.g.o.s these mostly french activists who made the point from the beginning that their intention was to bring attention to the pride of the palestinian people particularly the people of gaza they said that they were intention was peaceful the plan was to spend a week particularly in the west bank visiting palestinian families and really giving them a message of hope and encouragement from the international community but of course the attention also needs to be on gaza which since two thousand and seven since her must came to power israel has imposed a hippy blockade and the latest word we hear from humanitarian organizations operating in gaza is that the situation is almost catastrophic we're hearing figures of as much as eighty percent of the population who do not have access to basic necessities the problem is that the israeli authorities heard about this fly tiller and already on thursday they issued the names of three hundred and forty two

people that were not allowed to into this country and they gave those names to foreign airlines and warned them that if they bought those people here they would have the expense of the responsibility of sending them back to their home countries we know that two hundred people were stopped in european capitals but of the roughly two hundred who made it through to israel most of them are being questioned are being interrogated and as far as we can tell only one woman from england made it through the arrivals hall we caught up with her just before she made her way to bethlehem in the west bank netanyahu sees us as a threat he says us as a threat to the legitimize a show of israel how can we be a threat and yet he whips up the israelis he gets directly pouring all over the airport he gets the british police the french police to stop activists coming out we never planned to demonstrate we always planned to be here and be here for this day and enjoy the the cultural activities of the palestinians. on the west bank and

true with the israelis as well now israel is dealing a heavy hand launched me because of what happened roughly this time last year which is when we first get to try to sail to gaza it had humanitarian aid including we'll note it ended with nine activists did we have seen a second freedom flotilla attempt at this stage the eight ships that are part of the efforts are stranded off the coast of greece athens has imposed a blanket ban preventing them from sailing to gaza so soon lot of attention in the international community trying to help the people of gaza and israel being very heavy handed very worried and very militant in its response. reporting there and of course you can have your say on what's been dubbed the fly by logging on to our website our to dot com and taking part in our latest poll today we ask whether pro palestinian activists will be able to convince israel to lift the blockade on gaza so far almost half of you say it would only happen if the activists arrived in

overwhelming numbers quarter view of the voters don't think israel would yield to any pressure sixteen percent say the activists can succeed as they have the truth on their side while fourteen percent of the north believe that walk aid will only be lifted if the palestinians stop attacking israel. of course this is our team here's a look at what's ahead arresting developments new espionage charges are brought in georgia as opposition members explain why tbilisi just can't get enough of its spy saga. nasa. says this is the final shuttle flight has blasted off with up to a million spectators witnessing a historic launch it's the one hundred thirty fifth mission in the forty year history of america's space shuttle program experts had warned of a high chance of that the launch would be delayed by bad weather but in the end of the astronauts left early with a delay of just about

a minute. he's going to church you can explains it was a poignant moment for those who have devoted their lives to the program for confirms so. empty shells of what was once florida's thriving space coast. up to ten thousand people will be out of a job as soon as the last shuttle makes its final voyage back to earth home to many of the kennedy space center workers rock which is on the verge of becoming a ghost town without the space program or pretty much nothing i mean this is what you know your beach is built on the space program you know just a lot of you are going to be out of jobs sorry me out of homes people are left and right food stamps and city chris a fully spent twenty three years with the shuttle launch team as an engineer with a plan to splice for is final mission it means the end of his career with nasa and the beginning of uncertainty a year ago he started looking for

a new job to no avail i have applied for jobs and so far i haven't got any concrete responses there's not that many jobs out there for sure the u.s. scrapped its shuttle program and now wants the private sector to come up with ways to get astronauts to space and several companies are working on new vehicles but it's not clear when they'll be able to deliver them on one thing is certain though they'll be able to hire only a fraction of the skilled space industry workers will be out of work soon this is the first shuttle ever it never made it to space but it was going to put tests before the columbia shuttle first launch into space in one thousand nine hundred eighty one a total of five shuttles had been used for space missions since that two of them were lost them tragic accidents a nine hundred eighty six and in two thousand and three those lawsuits and the skyrocketing price for each launch gradually led to the task elation of the program but critics say it's hard to estimate the losses that the end of the shuttle per.

and will bring about both for the space industry and the people involved i think it's a really bad thing for the united states to lose the skilled workforce it's going to be difficult to rebuild it for years the shuttle has been the only vehicle that could very crew and a massive load of cargo to space officials say one of the reasons the program was scrapped is that it's safer and cheaper to send cargo and people separately something that russia for example has been doing for many years but whatever the reasons for scrapping the thirty year old program for those who devoted their lives to it is the end of their dream job kind of sad because i've already seen a lot of my friends go and nobody's there being more people that are probably may never see again it also means the end of a once vibrant scientific community that's grown up around the shuttle going to check out our team. also in the news for you this saturday morning south sudan is

celebrating its founding independence he occasionally was marched by events across the country and in the new capital juba the hard won yet separation comes after decades of bloody civil war and refreshment that claimed the lives of more than a million people earlier the un security council deployed troops in the region in taissa violence with the north over still disputed border territory meanwhile most sudan has become the first state to recognize its neighbor. the former editor of britain's biggest selling newspaper has been released on bail after being arrested with others on charges of phone hacking andy coulson a former advisor to the ukase a prime minister is suspected of authorizing a private detective to hack into the phones of thousands of people including terror attack victims top level politicians and celebrities the new the world has been closed down by the owner media mogul rupert murdoch with the last addition to

appear on sunday. almost half of a million people have taken to the streets of the syrian city home on demanding the resignation of president assad this footage is believed to be of a supportive visit by the ambassadors of the u.s. and france which was strongly condemned by syrian authorities activists say at least thirteen people have been killed and many more injured in government crackdowns across the country. in turkmenistan a huge relief effort is ongoing following reports that around two hundred people were killed when a series of explosions at an ammunition depot tore down nearby buildings officials in the central asian state haven't confirmed any deaths and say the incident in the city of don happened at a fireworks factory half of the victims are believed to be local residents large sections of the city lost power although water supplies have been stored security has been tightened with police patrolling the streets we contacted the editor of

a human rights web page in turkmenistan for more details. trichet the causes of the explosions are still unknown but many are blaming the heathen but it's unlikely because whether it is common and ask about so far too i mean mission there has exploded but not all the fires put silently and there are fears other explosions could take place that's a food only going to report saying that it was not the ammunition that coats on fire but the. but there are photos circulating in social networks would have been that it wasn't flat ammunition and you know. georgia claims a group of high profile photographers detained in the capital tbilisi have been spying for a foreign state the arrests come as nine other people were jailed for up to fourteen years for espionage for moscow artie's explains what's behind it georgia spy saga. that have been me i still spy with my lai

george is continuing his firm encounter espionage campaign and this time around the people in the spotlight are those who usually stayed behind the scenes for photo journalists have been detained including the president's personal photographer and employees of the associated press and the european press agency the a.p. photographer was later released without charge but the other three remain in custody. they may supply but i have met with my client injuries to his face the moments he still hasn't been charged with anything and i waited on the prosecutors to file the case and to question him formally charge me aren't. secret georgian authorities haven't specified exactly who they believe these journalists were spying for their previous spying allegations however have mostly been aimed at russia for soccer shruti writes novels the continuation of the russian hysteria

this is the. basis for. the list of those three and then i will be the red line here. because construction the second there are only truly and unsolved instead he's going. in there and killing a nation of built war and i want to conquer is why georgia in the protocol is really live or do you know what your original power. but it was the. key dependence of georgia and not but he's probably against. russian agents or since more. recently hysteria began with yet another alleged spy story last year thirteen people were detained and accused of being spies on your first payroll earlier this week nine of them were found guilty and sentenced to. between eleven and fourteen years behind bars the lines behind this frenzied

spanish clamp down. to anyone i guess is just. that has been. seems international and numerous arrests and convictions are not enough to put the . officials to rest georgia's interior minister claims that there are more alleged spies out there and that he knows exactly who they are where they are and what they're doing while official the. efforts many seem to be of the opinion that it's just plain wishful thinking. that's what is r r t s. and of course if you like what you see right here on our make sure you can visit our website. where you can also find some sounds of summer.

heat. relief. performance chart topping hit. her.

and up next our tees maar menders explores in st petersburg's in museums mansions and theaters.

hello and welcome to the program summer is the perfect time to visit russia a long weekend here in st petersburg is a must the former capital is bursting full of history and culture so join me as we visit major logs and take part in various fun filled activities and we start off here at the spectacular cathedral originally the city's main church in the largest cathedral in the shop it was built between eighteen eighteen and eight hundred fifty eight french born architects month around almost two centuries later the gilded dome of sin isaac still dominates the skyline of st petersburg a trip to the top provides excellent views of the city coming from the russian capital moscow on team travel by this past summer some train network the journey takes four hours and costs around three thousand five hundred rubles that's roughly one hundred twenty five dollars. why you can see here the location of the city

situated to the northwest of russia in the eighteenth century it was piece of the great stream to create a window. with a vast canal network press taking architecture and palaces that were built to rival european counterparts this vision was well achieved. we think the very ground. we've been to the edge. with the. three. i live in and now i'm visiting st petersburg for the second time i love it here especially the wingtip. is very beautiful misty prospect is st petersburg's main avenue as one of the best known streets in russia i suppose you could control the prospect to all streets in. the area is packed full of restaurants shops museums

and historical sites the main point has to be this magnificent. two hundred years ago it was closed by the. museum of cool services. and today the area in front of it is one of the city's main points tourist spots. the church of the spilled blood is located off the main streets here. same passes cathedral in moscow. built on the site but saw alexander the second was assassinated. in his memory. to show you some alternative sites to explosions. at the city's answer to the. very popular. international. seven hundred rubles that's roughly around twenty five. similar projects in london

hamburg and which are called the dungeons his visit to the book people who seek some emotions since. this is the early field our guests also include those who are interested in history literature myths and legends of some pieces but. represents a legend or a myth connected to the city's most famous story literature characters all united by one theme jack. for example legend has it much and kosky died in simpy his bike in eighty ninety three not because of color but because he famously said his last simply was launched and his entire life hours later. he stands. in the ring shows the body of the russian historical figure for sprucing burns by conspires often used always and shot and drowned. the pharmacy isn't for the faint but the light hearted tourists among us i think it's

a perfect skate an alternative in statement after being subjected to hours inside the city's palaces. the welcome to the hour is in st petersburg and interactive museum dedicated to the myths and legends of the city the last book it's cool it's a scene through a labyrinth of that same room where you come up close and personal to terrifying exhibits i witness don't think as the process is disputed and pizza the great. so what other alternative activities can you enjoy it said because by the ford museum of dreams located in the st petersburg institute of psychoanalysis open in one thousand nine hundred nine to mark the one hundred years since for its famous book the interpretations of dreams is published there are two holes exploring the psychologist's theories the so-called light school splays historical facts and figures where the guide explains freud's work while the dark cool is. collection of

at first sight meaningless they're things to guide suggests the visitors should perceive the display in accordance with their own experience fancies and desires. there's a museum in the northern capital with celebrates the rich history of the world famous drink vodka display cover such a reserve history in russia starting from the eleventh century when it was originally called red wine and explores drinking traditions and rituals. during peter the great swain many votes could drink in traditional were established and many of them exist to this day for example they size and cheer a school should be illegal goblet which was a prototype for ritual of penalty shots for being late to party the amount of which one had to drink from the goblet was fixed and total to one letter guess who relate to bidders balls all done badly broken large to drink a list of what. thousands of exhibits amazing broken bottles spanning centuries there are also several unusual items on display which include even vulcan

for cosmonauts and space after you're done with exploring the items in glass cabinets invites to focus in a room which contains over two hundred various machine boxes and next door to the museum is a restaurant called russian folk or room number one which office of course traditional russian to sing. and if you have a special occasion it's a petersburg or just want to look top notch in the city where professionals will take care of your style dozens of hair stylists makeup artists and cosmetologists if you constantly upgrading their skills in your top schools or professionals of the industry will help you look your best. the celebrated phenomenon of the white knights is a source of much pleasure in petersburg as the cold business is it's an exciting time to visit the city not a little bewildered ring in regards to your personal time clock and to discuss the culture in. let's meet this week's guests laura lovely to meet you and i mean so

you're from berlin that you've been living here in st petersburg for a while you know yes. nature so we try to promote the cultural cooperation between finland and russia. very useful but it seems that some petersburg is a completely different city in the winter than it is in the summer tell me about some of the activities that you enjoy you know what. first of all people act totally differently during the summer time people russian people. love to go out into time they're just trying to get home as soon as possible so people go hang out in the parks in the restaurants terrorists if you had any visitors already any tourists coming to the city where would you recommend that they want to visit they had to. pause fortress which is on the other side is really beautiful

especially during the summer time this really really nice. church bell. ringing and take a walk around around downtown because it's amazing the architecture is amazing and beautiful you know what if the weather is bad because you know one that can be a rainy day can be sunny it's a bit temperamental little bit like it was you recommend. something inside i think it's you know there's this amazing traditional old russian vodka room called. going to. have a glass of water which costs twenty roubles as far as i remember going to happen if you're not into drinking. i think there will be museums that were going to cathedrals that well there's a whole range of different mazing churches and cathedrals all over this. story. he want to party the

nights away all totally immerse yourself with historical sites still considered cultural capital. reflects the country's extraordinary state of the city there are various ways to see the city by speedboat roller blading bicycles you can hire them privately or take part in group guided tours either way you can see all the major sites such as the peaceful way here and for those who crave adrenaline filled activities there are a few other suggestions too like this next form of transport. welcome to the world of the furious. about the city. and. there are many people who dream of once riding a bike and. popular destination for tourists so we've decided to combine these two facts in.