dozens killed in syria's capital in the first suicide bombing since the uprising started as arab league observers get down to business in an effort to mediate a peace deal there. leaving the nation in despair tensions are running high in iraq is the government plunges deeper into crisis after a bombing atrocity things more than seventy lives just days after the pullout of u.s. troops. every breath you take every move you make could be recorded human rights activists in britain fight a surge of surveillance cameras now to be installed in every oxford taxi.

midnight in moscow i match reza good to have you with us here on r.t. our top story around forty people have been killed more than one hundred wounded in double suicide bombings in the syrian capital the regime laying blame for the attack on al qaida it's the first into incident of its kind in damascus since the uprising started in march and it comes against the backdrop of the first batch of arab league visitors arriving to implement a peace deal russia supports the mission and the u.s. and its allies have blocked a u.n. security council statement supporting the observers moscow's envoy to the un expressed regret over the west refusal to cooperate. this is straightforward text. of a commendation and support and appreciation of the efforts of that to be. a pretty straight forward to the expression of invention of that the it will help to pull to number two islands unfortunately i can tell you that the number of members of the

security council objected to hold up this is a little strange one of the difficulties we encounter working on the security council because one would try to do something positive will inevitably be met with all sorts of the concerns about balance why didn't you do this why didn't you do that and it brings us to the two to square one in the entire conversation the arab league observer mission to damascus follows the wake of the organization suspending syria's membership and slamming president assad by jordan based professor and journalist abraham aleutian thinks the league shouldn't be lecturing another arab country in the first place. talking about reforms in syria especially when this kind of talk is coming from out of go states. even the constitution mid-month of brutality or freedom of the media or the are that i to organize them political parties or organizations so this is this is just nonsense i mean when when

someone who lacks the very basic tenets of democracy is preaching to syria or other arab states that dependent or somewhat untie imperialist blood democracy well this this doesn't come across to the on the subset of what i was honestly it was just simply a double standard that should not even stand i mean this out of gulf states they don't have a multi-party system they don't have free press they don't have free elections so what are they complaining about exactly what that's what the senators room has said we are going along with all our reforms on our agenda and dollars time and we we need to see what those states have in the way over reform before they start preaching to us about reform this is obviously. an sos and see that has been instigated by a nights ago and it's cronies and the. syrian government troops allegedly gunned

down hundreds of civilians this week the west wants the crackdown to stop but refuses to acknowledge that the opposition is arming this despite a legion of army deserves now fighting against the assad regime as r.t. sara furthest reported from damascus international monitors will have their hands full trying to put a peace plan into action. well the advanced arab league team is now in damascus they have of course to pave the way for the observer mission that is expected at the end of the month they're going to be looking at the government's promises to implement that peace plan now of course many people here in the country excuse me skeptical about whether or not any real change is going to come from that arab league observers mission entering here a big concern is whether they're going to be able to cover enough ground to get to the places where the colds and treated conflict is actually happening now that's been a real problem here in the country whilst we've been here for the past week actually

getting to these areas accessing these people that are on the ground where the armed conflict is breaking out has proven extremely difficult in fact getting accurate information and verifying it full stop has been a major challenge we've visited the city of homs and there you can hear the gunfire ringing out in the distance but ahead of the arab league team arriving here in the country we've heard very harrowing were pulls the violence breaking out of civilian deaths in fact they seemed if anything to be increasing the polls putting around two hundred people having been killed in the past few days and as the conflict continues what we are seeing is this becoming both sides seemingly increasingly armed increasingly bloody is certainly that team of observers are really going to have their work cut out for the everyone is going to be very much prepaying this some form of change can now be of course about that this is going to be an

important step in the right direction but do you remember it is of course just one step in many many more that are going to need to be taken before you see the situation here in syria coming down. stay with us here on r.t. still to come this hour the latest in our special feature series really focusing on two thousand and eleven artie's sean thomas this time. talking about the extreme grief and pain he witnessed while covering the jaroslav a plane crash that killed the entire lokomotiv hockey team. i remember we were out of the scene and it was pouring down rain it was in the middle of the day we saw this one player in new jersey walking with two of his friends in this moment of shock in this very rare and very well moment that was very special that he shared some of his feelings and his thoughts with us in a time when he was just processing what was going on. with this is. to history in the making. testimony. ten stories that shapes two

thousand and seven on our t.v. . the iraqi government is plunging deeper into crisis with leaders in gauging in a blame game after a wave of bombings that rocked the country thursday the atrocity comes only a few days after the pullout of u.s. troops it was the worst attack in months at least seventy two people killed nearly two hundred injured in a series of blasts across the capital crisis talks between the country's political leaders were called off on friday after a dispute in which iraqi prime minister nuri al maliki was blamed for the opposition by the opposition for the violence the us administration insists it left behind a stable country nine years after launching the invasion but joseph is sure a writer for the world socialist web site thinks the latest flare ups in the region are a byproduct of the occupation this was not about you know securing iraq and giving it freedom it was about security in oil resources and in the process.

so kerry intensions devastated the entire society and this is really the product of that you have different factions of the iraqi elite who are battling over power over control over resources including particular oil contracts. and drones to unravel into a civil war that conflict the violence in iraq is very much a product of the occupation itself and you know that's really the source of the crisis facing iraqi politics and iraqi society i mean look at what what this occupation has produced over one million people killed by some estimates thirty five percent of iraqi children. living now is orphans destination of infrastructure the entire society has been scarred by this occupation by this war time to take a look back at some of the major events that shaped the year through the eyes of

our correspondents who covered that today we focus on the fatal plane crash that wiped out the entire lokomotiv yaroslavl ice hockey team in russia sean thomas shares some of the thoughts and memories that didn't make it into his reports. you were hearing it on the radio in fact. it was just. this was much bigger than it was much bigger. as you got to. the personal connection. to the team. there was anger. frustration. there were tears. and

the outpouring of support from everyone in the place flowers and pictures and stuffed animals and light candles in front of the stadium where. it was just amazing to see such an outpouring of support. every season and. scene when it was pouring down rain in the middle of the day my classes were just. thousands of people came. walking with two of his friends in this moment of shock in this very very. very special that he shared some of his feelings and his thoughts with us when he

was just processing what was going on. the entire community rallied around this team and speaking to the individual members of the community the people who really. i felt like they knew every single one of these players but it's the most serious loss of my life like losing family. they were like family the graphic images in covering this story there's images of the plane still on fire and images of them pulling the bodies from the actual crash site one of the survivors who survived the crash in chile who was one of the stars of the team and then later to find out that he passed away just taking the hope away from this entire community. the desire in the willingness for this team to go forward to the team itself and the players and the young players really rallied and were on the ice the very next day. after the plane crash while there were funeral services and while there were

rallies there were players on the ice ready to rebuild the jaroslava locomotive team so that there could be a team in the future and that was an inspiration. remember every day relating right up to the new year we'll bring you more personal reflections from our correspondents looking back at the year's biggest stories and if you can't wait to see it here you can all for also find them on our web site r t v dot com. turkey has now accused france of genocide during its colonial occupation of algeria this after the lower house of the french parliament approved legislation making it a crime to deny any genocide including the mass killings by turks of armenians in the early twentieth century the bill imposes a fine of forty five thousand euros a year in jail for offenders but still needs to be approved by the senate turkish protesters took to the streets of on her and istanbul expressing their anger over the law turkey's already recalled its ambassador from france and halted military

ties but paris more than fifteen countries recognize the slaughter of about one and a half million armenians but turkey denies accusations of genocide p.r. get alaina professor. nicol science of paris western university thinks the french move is just a way to score domestic political point. first of all you have to realize that it's a build good thing through the lower house that are meant and then it has to go to the senate most probably it would not go to the senate before the presidential election and maybe it would die out your audience would say a little political game he played by various political parties. there is that historical debate genocide is not going down there was a genocide and there's also the political games being played by various parties to get the armenian vote in the french elections every nation has to investigate its crimes in the past but establishing historical truth is the work of the story and

it is not something that should be done and established by law finally in this news block better watch what you say especially if you're set to ride an oxford taxi authorities in the british city plan to install audio and video surveillance systems in every cab by two thousand and fifteen campaigners of call the city council decision a staggering invasion of privacy and claim people's rights will be violated artie's laura smith has more. in oxford surveillance cameras everywhere and now in a city council scheme taxis will become the latest targets of state bugging operations over the next few years license caps will be required to install equipment monitoring both driver and passenger it's a fact of life in towns and cities across the u.k. that you'll being watched wherever you go on the high street in shops on public transport the surveillance along this stretch of street will only record images but the systems in taxis will record sound to effectively eavesdropping on the

conversations of private citizens who fear for their security late at night or reassured others see it as a staggering invasion of privacy i think it's going to end here i think it will make people feel a bit safer it's amazing and pretty same advice you have to talk entices just like . you. put a lot of pressure on people. day and night recording will stop when the car engine switched on and and thirty minutes after it's turned off the council says footage will only be available to police for ongoing investigations i don't believe that it will be this let's remember this is not someone's front room this is not some of these bedroom this is the back of a taxi with a driver in the front seat who will be able to overhear any conversation but you're

having with a passenger or someone on fire previously campaigners on the other hand can't understand how the council can justify this and accuse them of refusing to hand over statistics on taxi related crime. of coy threats which exist that requires them to record not just. the conversation of. passengers we simply don't accept the differences greater toward everybody should be recorded indiscriminately for example a panic button system. treats everybody as potential criminals. treating everybody as a law. and while the council says it has the support of cappy as many at this local firm object to the blanket approach. as in the i was. going to be.

whoa that is you know for me. why are we monitored. this. oxford city council doesn't think it's going to have any trouble pushing this measure through but previously campaign is see it differently they're launching a complaint with an independent data protection body to try and stop what they see as the further creeping encroachments of the state prying eyes and ears into innocent people's lives laura smith oxford. how the news looks are we back with the headlines in about ten minutes but first santa claus is coming to town the moscow team takes an inside look at the vinyl getting ready for a unique christmas in the russian capital.

welcome merry christmas. taking a look at some final preparations for the christmas holidays it's along. here but

still some people leave everything. including that one crucial the traditional the good old festive buttery. another year has flown by and the new year period is here again. this happens much later as christmas in the country's most widely celebrated on january the seventh cooling calendar new year's day january the first precedes the christmas celebrated as a more important holiday and is the day when we can really give presents. it was. ten fifteen years ago. almost celebrated christmas day. weekend for. catholics here soul. expect rest. christmas day.

by a trade the choice is online companies shops and. houses like this one for the demand. comes to choosing a christmas or new year's tree as it's called and people are increasingly divided between those who opt for a convenient artificial trait of those who prefer to have the genuine one each has its advantages an artificial tree is much cheaper i could be wheeled out of the year. are in fact dangerous to decorate streets offices but not when you play such a train it might release some dangerous chemical. factories produce natural antibacterial substances which can help kill. trees if great especially. environmentally friendly choosing the tree can be a great fun family occasion coming in shapes and sizes. are of the same the

problem now is transporting it back home in great workouts and then comes the fun of the decoration. time for christmas shopping now and there are hundreds of last minute places to shop in moscow for markets to discount stores and price ranges covered however if you want a grand christmas experience take a look at this next location the department store. the spectacular fountain centerpiece has been covered by a huge christmas carousel the cherry on top of the kate. is a gigantic slide which children of all ages can enjoy. everywhere you look all decorations christmas trees impressive gardens festive silhouettes and spa clean lights. wow

talk about later this place looks out sick in the run up to christmas and then the really good have set the quota all the stops we got in the decorations this year situated right next to red square it was the best place to get into the festive mood and that's something all simply people watch and there's even a christmas band's p.p. if it's a. d.c. band members dress in a typical because she does that represent the russian father christmas rose playing out soviet russian and international christmas hits it creates a wonderful atmosphere and visual feast to show because you cross is why. we have only a group of four music from various countries here of whom to create a special festive atmosphere for all shoppers we want to wish everyone happiness

health and wealth in the new year that. is certainly one of the most glamorous stores in russia what else can you expect from a mall that stands right next to the kremlin known for its expensive shops a display of decoration trees a source of being set up the she's been designed by luxury a popular brand such as christian dior at a mess. it's very interesting how i festive women can look so different there are some great designs here. shopping for the ones you love is a great thrill all the malls for your wallets. bags in hand i'm full of the festive mood moscow during the holiday season now. fails to impress if it's a real winter wonderland experience you want this is the place to come. moving on and what made you decide activities or occasions i was mentioning in the russian capital. one of the most sought after productions in the country is the

performance of the nutcracker ballet at the bolshoi theater. written at the end of the nineteenth century by the outstanding wishing composer peer through tchaikovsky the ballet has been performed in the stage for decades tickets for the show on new year's eve are sold out months in advance and prices on the black market could be as high as thousands of dollars a true new year's treat. for those who are not lucky to get tickets to the bolshoi for the thirty first december there is another quite popular way into the new year . in fact celebrating the holiday with family and friends at home is a widely followed tradition in russia several hours before the clock strikes midnight people start creating various dishes with salad being among the highlights the president addresses the nation on t.v. everyone raises a glass of champagne and makes a wish of a criminal charge. while

some prefer to watch fireworks and celebrations on air others professor venture to moscow's red square full of thousands of excited muscovites tourists and this is his it's a good and happening location to meet in the new year right in the heart of the russian capital. there are various films around the world that have become associated with the festive season in russia is the romantic nineteen seventy five comedy called the irony of fate or enjoy your bath not title yes. it's based on the similarity of houses in the soviet times how many people across the country lived in similar blocks main character travels from moscow to st petersburg by mistake. just like the sound of music in the west millions of russians watch this film. after the decades. rioting and final location. is busy throughout the whole year it's clear things are certainly stepped up for

the various holiday periods special. events celebrity gatherings parties and decorations. and at the top. and you. rub it. in. taken to the skies. you know one thing i love about living in. a developing restaurant seriously is now one of the best in the world and over the past six years that i've lived here a whole range of spectacular eateries have opened. and now seems that many of them are battling it out again to become the highest and most glamorous entire city. the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. and. impressive to say the least. views of course. prices but it's

christmas. celebrate in the restaurants yet. at home but here is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream. truffle oil. is not publicly celebrated in the twentieth century but now with the festivities of fifty. it's clear the whole country is. huge. and whether you rejoice in a christmas merry. capital is one of the leading cultural hotspots in the world. a

fantastic choice of events and attractions is it a new period. in moscow though since an. incredible. food. fortunately that's that's how we have on this week's program i'll see you again at the same time next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. download the official placation chobani phone oh i pod touch from the i.q. exam still. life on the go.

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