dozens killed in syria's capital in the first suicide bombing since the uprising began 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 as the government plunges deeper into crisis after a bombing atrocity claims more than seventy lives just days after the u.s. troops pull out. every breath you take every move you make could be recorded human rights activists in britain by the surge of surveillance cameras now to be installed in every taxi in the city of oxford.

one am in moscow good to have you with us here on r.t. our top story about forty people have been killed more than one hundred wounded in double suicide bombings in damascus the syrian regime is laying the blame for the attack on al qaida it's the first incident of its kind in damascus since the uprising started in march this against the backdrop of the first batch of arab league monitors arriving to implement a peace deal russia supports the nation but the u.s. and allies have blocked a u.n. security council statement supporting the observers moscow's along the way to the un expressed regret over the west refusal to cooperate. this is three full with text into of a commendation and support and appreciation of the efforts of that to be. a pretty straight forward to the expression of invention that the it will help to do while

and 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 in working on the security council because i 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 but it is us too old to square one in the entire conversation the arab league observers mission to damascus follows in the wake of the organization suspending syria's membership and slamming president assad but jordan bass professor and journalist abraham a lucia thinks the league shouldn't be a lecturing another arab country in the first place. talking about reforms in syria especially when this kind of talk is coming from out of gulf states where. even a constitution yet on top of. our freedom of the media or the or the right to

organize and 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 are in the pendant or somewhat untie imperialist about democracy well this list doesn't come across to go to an honest observer as 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 syrian regime has said we are going along with all our reforms on our agenda and our time and we we need to see what those states have in the way of reform before they start preaching to us about reform this is obviously. an sos and say that has been instigated by night

so and it's cronies and the arab world. syrian government troops allegedly gunned down hundreds of civilians this week the west wants the crackdown to end but apparently refuses to acknowledge that the opposition is also armed this despite a legion of army deserters now fighting against the assad regime as are a few sorry first reports from damascus international monitors will have their hands full trying to put a peace plan into action. but 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 coltan trade to 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 prevented extremely difficult in fact getting accurate information and verifying it full stop has been a major challenge we 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 with was the violence breaking out of civilian deaths in fact they seemed if anything to be increasing the course of 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 increasingly bloody certainly that team of observers a really going to have their work cut out for the everyone is going to be very much are you paying

this some form of change can now be a bull's about that this is going to be an important step in the right direction but do 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. and later this hour the latest in our special feature series focusing on twenty eleven artie's shawn thomas this time talking about the extreme grief and pain he witnessed while covering the plane crash that killed the entire lokomotiv hockey team. i remember we were out of the scene when it was pouring down rain it was in the middle of the day we saw this one player in new jersey walking along with two of his friends in this moment of shock in this very rare and very roll moment and 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. history

in the making. testimony. ten stories that shapes two thousand and eleven on our team. the iraqi government plunges deeper into crisis with leaders in gauging in a blame game following a wave of bombings that rocked the country thursday it comes only a few days after the official pull out 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 baghdad crisis talks between the country's political leaders were called off friday after a dispute in which a rocky prime minister nuri al maliki was blamed by the opposition for the violence the us administration insists it left behind a stable country nine years after launching its invasion but joseph schorr the writer for the world socialist web thinks the latest flare ups in the region are a product of the patient. this was not about you know securing iraq and giving it

freedom it was about securing resources and in the process so sectarian tensions 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 it threatens 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 like a patient 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 take

a look now at some of the major events that shaped the year two thousand and eleven through the eyes of the r.t. correspondents who covered them today we focus on the fatal plane crash that wiped out the locomotive jaroslava hockey team in russia or the schon thomas was covering it he shares some of the thoughts and memories that didn't make it into his previous reports. you were hearing it on the radio in fact on the way to work they were there were listening to it. it was just. it was much bigger than. the personal connection. there was anger. frustration. there were tears. and

the outpouring of support from everyone in the. pictures and stuffed animals and light candles in front of the stadium. it was just amazing to see such an outpouring of support. every season. we were seen 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. shock in this 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 images of them pulling the bodies from the actual crash site one of the survivors who survived the crash and 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. and each day right up to the new year will bring you more personal reflections from our reporters and correspondents covering the year's biggest stories and if you can't wait to see them all on the air you can see them all online at r.t. 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 turkey of armenians in the early twentieth century the bill imposes a fine of forty five thousand euros plus a year in jail for offenders but still needs to be approved by the senate turkish

protesters meanwhile took to the streets in istanbul and on her expression of their anger over the legislation turkey's already recalled its ambassador from france and halted all military ties with paris more than fifteen nations have recognized the slaughter of around a million and a half armenians but turkey denies accusations of genocide. pierre gurley in a professor of political science at paris west university thinks france's move is just a way to score political points at home. 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 struggling it would not go to the senate before the presidential election and maybe it would die out you know all these silly little political game east played by various political parties. there's that historical debate genocide is not written 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 that one of the stores it is not something that should be done and established by law. filing this news block better watch what you say especially if you're riding in a taxi in oxford england authorities in the british city plan to install audio and video surveillance systems in every cab by two thousand and fifteen campaigners have called 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 cabs 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 is a good idea i think it will make people feel a bit safer it's amazing and pretty same advice we're talking taxes just like. you can. put a lot of pressure on people who behave. in a. day and night recording will stop when the car engine switched on and end 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

his 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. threats which exist that requires them to record not just video but also the conversation of. just we simply don't accept that the force is greater toward every part of the record indiscriminately for example system. treats everybody as potential criminals. treating everybody as a law. and while the council says it has the support of cap is many at this local firm object to the blanket approach if people.

going to be. whoa that is you know for me. they may question why are we monitored. this prison 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 is into innocent people's lives laura smith oxford. news will be 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 final preparations for a unique christmas in the russian capital stay with us for the.

welcome merry christmas. to the christmas holidays

it's along. here but still some people everything. including that one. the good old. tree. another year has flown by and the new year is here again. this happens much as christmas in the country's most widely celebrated on january the seventh cooling calendar. day january the first christmas celebrated as a more important holiday and as the day. presents. its. fifteen years to go. no. dear soul. expect. christmas when.

you buy a tree the choice. online companies shops and. houses all greenhouses like this one for the demand. comes to choosing a christmas tree as it's called and people are increasingly divided between those who opt for a convenient artificial tree. each has its advantages and is much cheaper i could be wheeled out of the year. are in fact dangerous to decorate streets offices but. when you play such a train it might release some dangerous chemical. factories produce natural antibacterial substances which can help kill. all the

environmentally friendly choosing a tree can be a great fun family occasion coming in sizes. are. 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 full 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 huge christmas carol. the cherry on top of the cake is a gigantic slide with children. all ages can enjoy. everywhere you look all decorations christmas trees impressive garlands festive silhouettes

and spa clean lights. well talk about the makeup of this place that's how it's in the run up to christmas and the new year period if you have set the quota all the stops we got in the decorations this year situated right that's the reds where 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 keep you at say. the c. band members stress in the typical because she does that represent the russian father christmas not all those playing out soviet russian and international christmas hits he creates a wonderful atmosphere and visual feast to shop as he passes by. we have all name who perform music from various countries here at groom 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 the source of being set up the she's been designed by luxury a popular brand such as christian dior but a mess over the time is very interesting how a festive ornament can look so different there are some great designs here. shopping for the ones you love is a great thrill over the malls for your wallets. bags in hand i'm full of the festive mood during the holiday season the fails to impress if it's a real winter. when the land experience you want this is the place to come. moving on and what major piece of 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 the fireworks and celebrations on an others professor venture to moscow's red square full of thousands of excited muscovites tourists and this is his it's an application 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 in show you are both not titled 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 and finds his true love just like the sound amused. millions of russians watched this film and after decades. rooting out the final location every change. throughout the whole year it's clear things are

certainly stepped up to the various holiday periods special. events celebrity gatherings elite 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. developing restaurants 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 it seems that many of them are battling it out against each other to become the highest. 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 casual atmosphere. at home. is the ideal. christmas. turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white 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 hot spots in the world

but always a fantastic choice of events and attractions in the period. of christmas in moscow. fortunately that's that's how we have left on this week's program i'll see you again. next week. goodbye a very merry christmas. more

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