while flying this plane but some of the things they talked about were directly pointed at to russia that the air traffic controllers were reportedly misleading the pilots and that the airfield in smolensk was reportedly not suitable for such landings some experts already say that this report represents something of an attempt to please everybody both in poland and in moscow so definitely this case has been very heavily politicized from the very first moment and will probably have some continuation of this story and in the latest news we've heard is that the country's defense minister has stepped down from his position after this report was was made published by the commission about his election as yes q well the results are really triggering cracks among poland's leading politicians the prime minister donald tusk accepted the findings but the brother of the late president kaczynski who leads the country's opposition party used it to lay into his rival.

prime minister two scares no courage to take up the responsibility for the plane crash and has shuffled it off on to his staff nevertheless he is responsible for all the games he played with the russians he's responsible that the poles were not conducting or even participating in the investigation he's responsible for not defending polish interests imposed on or at the international forum which will get to the bottom of this case as this is what we owe to those who died. retired american airlines pilot mark weiss told me the polish captain was under pressure from military officials or others on board before making the deadly decision. when it comes down to it the decision to land an airplane is basically in the hands of the flight crew and the captain in particular the fact that they had other people going into the cockpit helping to make that decision putting the pressure on that pilot where normally they may have decided and elected to go around to an alternate airport they decided to land at that airport it seems like based on the political

pressure never would have happened in a commercial airliner around the world anywhere. who would across developments of this story and we'll bring you of course more coverage and expert opinion on the results of that investigation if you will refresh yourself about what went on those terrible events over a year ago now the details of the plane crash including firsthand accounts from witnesses at the scene go to our web site. credit rating agency moody's is threatening to take spain's borrowing status down a notch. reports next and from madrid on how it's greece's massive bailout burden that's weighing heavy. moody's has just announced that it wanted to downgrade spain's rating spain's bonds have already fallen by several percent and the euro has fallen as well now this of course is happening to the fourth largest economy in the eurozone and you would think it should be better off but spain has been plagued

by some very serious economic problems there's of course the the very large outstanding debts as well as the unemployment we're already used to hearing about the so-called big c. countries. in economic woes and that of course is for to go arland greece spain and now it's also looking at some major issues as far as their economy is concerned by now also the the heavy drivers of the european economy the for france and germany are also finding themselves in sort of hot water because just recently in the i.m.f. has said that france has somewhat been too optimistic about the evaluation of its prognosis and actually may not be as well off as the french authorities have hoped . that have hoped the country to be the problem is these are things that have just happened suddenly i mean the french budget deficit has been in a deficit the french budget since nine hundred seventy four this is typical of

contagion we've been talking about it for weeks we have you know when you get some degree of illness salute goes through the building ultimately you have to decide when to amputate it and the truth is. to greece from the euro zone so that leaves germany and germany is already bearing the brunt of basically pulling the entire european economic structure out of the sinking hole that is that it's finding itself in recently this is coming right when the voices of discontent among the eurozone criticsm on the euro skeptics are growing louder and louder in fact there is saying that the euro. zone critics are saying that while initially the eurozone was created. hope of pulling up the weaker economies quite the opposite is happening the weaker economies are going down and they're dragging down the stronger economies where that is so this latest forecast from moody's is actually very bad news for the eurozone and for the euro as well well we're talking

financial news that so you look at the u.s. the clock there ticking towards choose day but nonetheless the squabbling lawmakers still can't agree on how to stop about because massive debt from maybe falling off a cliff and into default even so the military money is far and all virals to fund its overseas campaign still struggle over this with former u.s. congresswoman in two thousand and eight presidential candidate cynthia kidney she's in new york for us thanks for being on r.t. internationals much appreciate it let's talk about the latest military campaign in libya you've been there you've seen the devastation the bombings in tripoli where's the money coming from for warheads when back at home where you are now you've got soaring unemployment and a crippling default on the very near. is the same old story time and time again that the powers that be inside the united states can find money for war but they can't feed the poor and so unfortunately the many wars of president obama of both the democrat and republican parties have been

taken off the table unfortunately our president even announced nationally that the social security checks of our seniors who have worked all of their lives are on the table and made that go out as they are scheduled to on august third and yet the bombs and missiles that are being launched in thrown in not only. libya but also in somalia in yemen those war materials are not on the table cynthia president obama's appeal directly now is need to the american people to pray. republican politicians are is this a way do you think of shoring up support in case it all goes wrong on tuesday so the republicans could take the blame or as you seem to desperate. well actually i'm engaged right now in

a national tour which is why i am in new york city at the moment and what we are asking the people who participate in this national tool we're asking the audience to contact their member of congress and tell them to vote to defund all the u.s. wars and in particular to defund the bombing of libya. you know for most of us when we think about paying our debts we prioritized reducing our debt not increasing our borrowing and for in trouble want companies to issues be separated by lawmakers either the long term debt reduction plan of one and the raising of the ceiling on the other while the trial you do it all together. well they're doing it all together they're trying to do it all together because you have one political party that is basically posturing and suggesting that you've got to have cuts but if we look at just exactly what the republicans did when they were the stewards of the u.s.

economy with the majorities in both the house and the senate what we could see is that they couldn't even finish a budget on time now that the democrats are in charge of a budget still hasn't been completed on time and the the different values or the policy priorities of the republicans versus the democrats we have clear winners and we have clear losers but under both of the political parties the people are the clear losers if you look at any of this sticks whether it's family income wealth jobs employment underemployment. access to health care access to quality education the statistics that indicate the quality of life of the people of the united states are plummeting and they yet there are very real lead winners in this economic arrangement of the cheers the winners happen

to be the war profiteers and that is why war dollars have been taken off the table so really really quickly the children of war dollars being taken off the table this is really ramped up the pressure. to get out of libya to speed up the actions that have got to start on iraq. well the abysmal failure of the u.s. nato warplanes and first of all with an admission from admiral locklear here that one of their missions or one of their goals was the assassination the targeted assassination of moammar gadhafi that has failed there was an article was released today that suggested that the so-called rebels the libyan may toe allies have actually lost territory approximately twenty percent of they have lost territory since nato began their pounding of tripoli and of

a point in in libya so what we're seeing is the abysmal failure of u.s. nato policy we are also seeing the abysmal failure of u.s. nato policy in afghanistan as well they've tried to do everything including bribing the the the taliban and the taliban is insistent that u.s. and nato must leave afghanistan in iraq if we look at the iraqi members of parliament who were supposed to formally request that the u.s. forces remain there that has not happened so being one. war machine in the united states is is being halted because of its failure i'm afraid we're out of time good to hear your thoughts on the program cynthia mckinney former u.s. congresswoman presidential candidate on the line from new york. one of the new stories the lingering debt crisis in america is making china see red america's

biggest lenders blasted the u.s. will make in saying that their big danger is the irresponsible investment analyst peter schiff says beijing could grow tired of washington playing its internal game of chicken and dump the dollar as its main reserve currency we can't afford bad relations with china beijing holds the cards you know we're dancing to the tune that they play the real problem for china is that there's no way that america can pay back the money that the chinese have already loaned us politically it's just not going to happen is specially when interest rates rise i'm surprised it's taken the chinese so long to figure out that they've been throwing a lot of good money after bad i don't think we're going to default i think we're going to inflate which is just as bad but you know we're going to raise the debt ceiling the problem is the debt not the ceiling the sooner the chinese start to stop enabling this phony economy that we have the sooner we as americans can begin to repair the damage and what's going to happen is where the dollar collapses

americans are going to see a big reduction in our standards of living. tens of thousands of demonstrators are back in cairo's tahrir square five months after president mubarak was overthrown one of the largest crowds there is calling for the regime to be replaced by a muslim state cairo based journalist and blogger austin mackell says the arab spring has produced a strong and divisive islamist movement. the protest planned for today was originally billed as the day of unity and it was a sign the liberal islam is forces were going to come together to continue their push for sort of basic democratic rights down in the square i was just down and before i came here this is a huge number zero. muslim brotherhood members. to which is where has been. the time that i've been and they there's many chance of. islamic identity and this is the islamic nature of egypt which is cause some

friction with. the secular forces who are down normally does it you know forces dominate into the they're the ones who run the been running a sit in there for a month since the clashes that happened at the end of june but today. these lists. that was cairo based journalist a blogger austin mackell on the developing rallies in egypt this weekend and there's a similar show of unrest in neighboring israel to thousands of young protesters are set up sprawling tent camps calling for social justice and the prime minister netanyahu to go more planned for saturday as the youths parents prepare to join in palestinian israeli journalist as he says israel is now one step closer to revolution. two thirds of the poor in israel are working poor people who are working every day people who have a great jobs and still are not able to go above the poverty level so that's a reason that people are coming out of the street if you look at how the protesters started it's almost identical to how it started in egypt and internees and other

places started through facebook somebody who made a post on facebook through social media that's how people organize or was organized completely in the beginning by the young people in israel students people who feel that they have no future people who feel who can't afford living here and it and i was realizing that this is not the way to go forward and he's trying to figure out ways to deal with it because the government could definitely fall in israel and these are ground and i think he is in danger especially that the process there is a growing while israel has been under a building in tel aviv in haifa and all these major cities and israel is all have been overbuilding in the west bank focus of the israeli government at the moment is more sustaining the occupation and more sustaining the settlements rather than caring for the majority of the population who actually oppose that the lands and oppose occupation and israel proper so that the problem here though is a still many israelis have not been able to make that connection and the more and the sooner israelis make the connection realize that the activation affects their

daily life effects that the pennies that the government spending the money the government spending in the west bank verses and israel i think you will see a real revolution in israel are you watching r t an update of the headlines for me kevin i know it is just about twelve minutes between now and then as insider's guide showing to russia the war the capital with might address.

hello to you i welcome to st petersburg on this week's program i'll be exploring the various hotels are restaurants in the city new venues opening every single week it's certainly an exciting time to grow in the glorious summer where i'm a late evening life and it's one true party town about that it's time for me to check into my hotel. depending on your budget the city offers a boss choice of her tells ranging from comfortable small hotels to reach five star . today i'm checking into the post bridge her towel when you arrive know to the hotel we'll take your passports and do your fish registration for you this is standard practice to do worry if they keep your documents for

a few hours. very popular with tourists and business people from all over the world provides excellent service wonderful furnishings and the most up to date communities. staying here will be an experience you'll never forget. we have a very noisy mixture of customers coming through all the summer. the management of international companies plenty of tourists from russia finland all over europe. if you're visiting the former capital on a budget but she does hotel accommodation insipidus but can be found at older soviet era hotels some of which offer economy class rooms as well as more comfortable renovated interiors. back to circus and it's time for me to go up to my room even though such rooms are more expensive sometimes apartments or suites can work out cheaper especially when charged a room instead of a person wherever you decide to stay do your math research for deals and office on

the internet. expensive breakfast buffets and how many times you might need taxis for example because often you'd be surprised the high end hotels cheaper in the long run. out of more than three hundred rooms there are various luxury apartments and suites like this one here for families and celebrity entourages they come with several connecting bedrooms and a large living room with kids from the seventy's so whenever you're bored of eating out don't worry as you can always make the good old trusted carry. time to eat and we've arrived at. opened in two thousand and seven this one teacher is one of the brightest newcomers petersburg's restaurant scene. national study domania features various cuisine. italian japanese and russian dishes that are vegetarian meals as well and also a wide variety of tasty beautiful desirous of. booking is advised if you want to

eat here soft sofas in pillows easy lounge music in ambience beautiful people and some people's bags gorgeous guy this is the ideal place for dinner after a busy day of sightseeing. now it's time for me to try out the fruit. gorgeous a burial the thing i love about the city is all the hidden locations. you do your research take a look on the internet all the local guys you'll find some incredible places new restaurants popping up every week and teressa here i think has the best location in the city just look at the stunning cathedral behind us and just by the down the road you can see the church of the spells blood. and. solitaire it's absolutely. well. absolutely beautiful. a city known for its revolutions over the last ten years

there's been a different type of uprising that of the restaurant and hotel scene times have changed in the former capital now offer some of the best food and lodgings in russia and to discuss the western influence and development of simply dispense cultural scene let's meet this week's guest. you can see me very nice to me so you are the general manager here at the hotel yes been here like since january. in russia now for four years but i came here in. a different of the thing that this is my thing so so so every every morning when i wake up i can't wait to. start my day so it seems that the different hotels and restaurants are opening every single week in the city at the moment you know this is just booming because like when i came here like four years ago they were basically the few feist store

hold us in the morgue it but now we are getting more and more not only for the store but they also also hold those in some other segments or for for all the old of trouble or swans to come to be the spirit so now it's currently white nights surely you must see a huge influx of tourists coming to the city. is the greatest actually knowing it. still i come from from finland from exactly the same thing but they have done so great job with the white knights here so so so i don't understand that white people chose some petersburg instead of just because of the theme. but the great job well done great great great p.r. marketing this is the time of the year to come here if you want to enjoy something with the speed of lies around you so i'm regarding cultural activities it seems that the list is absolutely endless from. the boat trips it's amazing that's

true but on the other hand i would love to say that the there are no younger generation who comes to experience life here and experience life. they don't even need those excuses that there's a next visit next to the whole don't they just want to see how the life goes here they rather go for clapping you know this is the great city also for the twenty four hours. so it's wonderful it's great to meet you. thank you it was nice to meet you too. moving on and what other drugs i was mentioning in sim petersburg the backpackers there are some great places to stay in the capital which would burn a hole in your pocket location hostel situated in the heart of the city of his wonderful views a palace square from its windows prices here just six hundred rubles that's roughly around twenty don't miss. the concepts as they call it also both contempt designed

and a friendly and international atmosphere not only will be given a bed for the night but i suppose many of the projects bills offer advice for the most people happy then using events in the city. one of our projects is in my case. it's a nontraditional city guy. feature in the most interesting places in the city in our humble opinion and includes information on where to downs eat our shop and there are all kinds of places from flea markets to concepts stores from two to five star places but that's the words i use. when visiting look around for many of the city's yards and many of them you'll find cozy restaurants diplo meeting wolf is a so-called living room restaurant the interiors of its several halls and terrace are indeed very homey and if you're traveling with children there's even a special room for them. next up the new ball cooled twenty two thirty inspired

with traveling around the world it's junk and if you just owners can create a fashionable place to lunches and also cocktails after dark. the bombing at the venue make amazing drinks and there's also a sweet shop here ten microbrew the takeaway place. when we were wrecking on the interior is if you wanted the venue to represent and family comfort for example the sofa was brought from the flagships now boutique in paris it took a long time to proceed the owner to sell a time she didn't understand what i needed the old one down so for what we believe in our energy and philosophy furnishings but history. the dorm we too bought and cafe is located in a soviet building of the same name meaning consumer services center its interiors with old furniture resembles the atmosphere of an apartment in the times of the u.s.s.r. during the day there are dishes of russian and european cuisine on the menu while at night the venue turns into

a loud and busy nightclub. next up and we've arrived at our final location the w. hotel. in one thousand nine hundred eight the brand has since expanded with over fifty hotels and resorts around the world. if you're looking for stylish accommodation. and the trust to double your best hotel. already it's packed full of the who's who of st petersburg high as jets who tourists with just one hundred thirty seven rooms the service is in ecuador. if you do stay here but i do recommend that you bring your credit card. as well as a spectacular rooftop bar and the bliss pool and spa the hotel boasts a restaurant called mix it invites guests to enjoy killing every muscle pieces by linda casts the master of french cooking in the world records man for the number of michelin stars in. st petersburg is amazing cultural historic

and grand and we should try our best to harmonize the cuisine with the city's spirits through to be top quality and at the same time reasonably priced the best dollars yesterday that the of. the finish of the north is a great city for dining out with restaurants to suit every pocket from humble backpack is to a list celebrities as for accommodation simplest most hotels range from grand historic properties to budget many hotels and wherever that may be in st petersburg it's ultimately the wealth of culture and history that will amaze you and most of that is for free. very nice so wherever you sleep eat or visit here in st petersburg this is you will never fail to disappoint and that's all the time we have on this week's program sal see you again at the same time next week for more adventures around the former russian capital until then for me and the rest of the crew from the beautiful and balance of the never ever.

wealthy british style. margetts why not scandal. find out what's really happening to the global economy cause a report on our. fellows r t international is tight after one thirty am here in moscow and i've got the top stories for you poland reluctantly admits sponsibility for last year's plane crash

that killed the nation's presidents but the report released on friday still tries to shift some blame to russia. spain's credit rating faces a possible downgrade as the greek debt burden continues to fuel its euro zone stablemates instability it comes as germany refuses to sign blank checks on athens junk bonds. rival parties in the u.s. continue to wrestle over the debt deadlock as the choose the deadline looms washington's biggest lender china is rapidly losing its patience. and thousands camp out in israel in protest against poor living conditions some are already drawing comparisons with the rising. in february thanks for being with us today next on our look at whether it's divine inspiration is being used to drive the free market economy or not crosstalk.

if you. follow in welcome to cross talk i'm peter lavelle does the lord need marketing some are selling christian rock jesus jeans and even jesus pills is this the right way to promote christianity in the twenty first century or is it a new profitable nisha for those who have nothing to do with face. became. live. to discuss christian marketing i'm joined by you and danding in london he is director of marketing and communications at the un danny.