gration throughout the day. a string of suicide bombings leaves dozens dead in damascus as arab league observers enter syria they're trying to work out a peaceful end to the country's internal conflict. just days after the pullout of u.s. troops the iraqi government plunges deeper into little crisis following a bombing wave that claimed more than seventy lives. and big brother is coming and he could be near british taxi human rights activists by the surge of surveillance cameras which are now to be installed in every taxi in the city of oxford recording not just video but audio as well.

thank you for joining us six o'clock here in moscow we go now to latest story over forty people have been killed and more than one hundred wounded after double suicide blasts rocked the syrian capital it's the first incident of its kind since the uprising began in march say al qaeda is responsible for the attack this comes as the first group of arab league observes observers arrive and try to work out a peaceful solution into the country's conflict russia supports this mission but the u.s. and its allies have blocked a u.n. security council statement in favor of the observers moscow's envoy to the u.n. expressed regret over the west's refusal to cooperate. this is straightforward text isn't a commendation and support and appreciation of the efforts of it to be. a pretty straightforward. expression of attention that it will help to put an end to

violence unfortunately i can tell you that a 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 with inevitably the met with all sorts of concerns about balance why didn't you do this why didn't you do that and it brings us to two to square one in the entire conversation the arab league observers mission to damascus follow syrian membership the organization being suspended but jordan based professor and journalist to buy him a louche thanks the league shouldn't be lecturing another arab country talking about reforms in syria especially when this kind of talk is coming from out of gulf states. even the constitution of. our freedom of the media

or that are 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 what that's what the senators said we are going along with our reforms on our agenda and our time and we need to see what those states have in the way of reform before they start preaching to us about reform this is obviously. and insurgency 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 is pushing for an end to the crackdown but refuses to acknowledge that the opposition is also armed that's despite a legion of army deservers now fighting against president assad as artie's sarah

firth reported from syria international monitors are in for a tough job 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 concert is whether they're going to be able to cover enough ground to get to the places where the coltan trait of conflict is actually happening now that's been a real problem here in the country was 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 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 reports of violence breaking out of civilian deaths but 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 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 vote 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. in

baghdad crisis talks between iraq's political leaders were cancelled on friday following a dispute in which prime minister nouri al maliki was blamed by the opposition for the recent violence monica meanwhile a shiite has called for his sunni deputy saleh or almost lucky to be sacked. this follows an attack on thursday where seventy two people were killed and nearly two hundred injured in a series of blasts across baghdad the atrocity of the u.s. troop pullout by just a few days the u.s. administration insists it left behind a stable country nine years after launching the invasion but joseph to soar a writer for the world socialist thanks the latest flare ups in the region are a product of the occupation 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 iraqis as light 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 doll is orphans destination of infrastructure the entire society has been scarred by this occupation by this war now it's time to take a look at some of the major events that shaped the year of 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 entire locomotive yet us level hockey team and russia chan thomas share

some of the thoughts and memories that didn't make it into his previous reports. you were hearing it on the radio in fact in the taxi on the way to work you know they were there were listening to it and everybody was it was just hitting the gravity of what happened. this was much bigger than a plane crash it was much bigger than. worldwide event. as you got to you felt that the personal connection of everyone in the town to the team. there was anger there was frustration there was sadness there were tears. and the outpouring of support from everyone in the town coming to place flowers and pictures and jerseys and stuffed animals and light candles in front of the stadium

where the locomotive practice it was just amazing to see such an outpouring of support. i haven't missed a single much since i've been living in. every season and that's why it's painful. we were seen when it was pouring down rain it was in the middle of the day my classes were just. thousands of people came to pay their final respects to the team members as soon as we finished our live shot we saw this one. 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 in a time 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 fans the people who really. i felt like they knew every single one of these players that did it it's the most serious loss of my life like losing families so 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 in new 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 and 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 to us. every day right up to the new year will bring you more personal reflections from our correspondents have covered the year's biggest stories and if you can way it can also watch them now on our web site r.t.e. dot com also online research irony it's the stuff of blocks of blockbuster movies but this is a real scientists may have accidently developed the ultimate bio weapon in the search for a formula to cure the flu. had no spirits of beers and wines could disappear from the shelves in russia for the full story go to our website r t v dot com. turkey has accused france of genocide during the colonial occupation of algeria this comes after the lower house of the french parliament approved legislation making it a crime to publicly deny the turkish genocide of armenians in the early twentieth century the bill imposes a forty five thousand euro fine and

a one year jail sentence for offenders. but still needs to be approved by the senate turkish protesters took to the streets of on car and a stumble to voice their anger over the legislation turkey has already recalled its ambassador from france and halted all military ties with paris more than fifteen countries have recognized the slaughter of around one point five million armenians as genocide but turkey denies the claims turkish prime minister ever the guns says the bill is an example of how racism and anti muslim sentiment have been golf to europe and france. you better watch what you say especially if you're set to ride in oxford taxi authorities in the british city have decided to install an audio and video surveillance system in every cab by two thousand and fifteen but you care activists are outraged by the decision calling it 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 the

city council scheme taxis will become the latest targets of state 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 mean it's good idea i think it will make people feel a bit safer it's amazing and pretty same advice you have to talk entices just like chatty friends you know be going to. 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. 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 as. just we simply don't accept

that the force is great enough to warrant every passion to be recorded indiscriminately rather the for example a panic button system being how it treats everybody as potential criminals. treating everybody as a law abiding citizen and while the council says it has the support of cap is many at this local firm object to the blanket approach if people used. as in the i was not working is a camera going to be because they're not going to family and friends filmed while the puzzle will be monitored. whoa that is you know for them it me. they may question why are we monitored there's always a sort of fear that you know. this is like a prison oxford city council doesn't think it's going to have any trouble pushing this measure through but previously campaigners 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's prying eyes and is into innocent people's lives laura smith oxford let's now take a look at some other news making headlines around the world. thousands of egyptians have come out on cairo's tahrir square and a mass demonstration against the country's armed forces and its heavy handed tactics last week's anti-military demonstrations led to the deaths of seventeen people in the capital protesters want the military to hand over power to a civilian authority ahead of next year's presidential elections. eleven people have been killed and about ninety severely injured after a fuel pipeline exploded in colombia on friday the blast occurred in the central province of what he said alda and destroyed dozens of homes official investigation is underway but authorities suspect it could have been caused by thieves who tried

to tap into the pipeline in order to steal fuel. and in cuba almost three thousand prisoners including those convicted of political crimes have been granted amnesty according to the council of state those convicted of serious crimes such as murder as drug trafficking would not get part and the latest move follows at the communication of all death sentences to prison terms and ahead of the pope's visit to the country. in the u.s. police used pepper spray and made several arrests as thousands of shoppers calls mayhem trying to get their hands on a retro version of the classic air jordan sneakers also gunshots were heard at one of the malls in california a new pair of these shoes cost one hundred eighty dollars but they are already being sold on e bay for over six hundred. that's the main news for you this hour i'll be back with the headlines in about ten minutes time now as seven coming to town

a moscow out team takes an inside look at the final preparations for. russia's capital stay with our team for that.

welcome merry christmas. to the christmas holidays is along. here but still some people everything. including that one crucial. the good old. tree. another year has flown by and the new year period is here again. much later this christmas in the country's most widely celebrated on january the cooling calendar new year's day january the first christmas. as a more important holiday and is the day when really give presents. it was. fifty. goal. almost celebrate christmas day.

begin fresh. catholics here soul. expect rest. christmas day. you buy a tree the choice is online companies shops and god sent his temp houses or greenhouses like this one up to the demand. comes to choosing a christmas or new year's tree as it's called in russia 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 and. are in fact dangerous to decorate streets offices. when you play such a train it might release some dangerous chemicals. produced natural

antibacterial substances which can help kill. trees if growing especially. environmentally friendly choosing a tree can be a great fun family occasion coming in sizes you know to really are of the same the problem now is transporting it back home and great work out 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 model of a christmas carol. the cherry on top of the cake is a gigantic slide which children of all ages can enjoy.

everywhere you look all decorations christmas trees impressive garlands festive silhouettes and sparkling lights. the talk about the makeup of this place that's how it's going to run up to christmas and then the really good ascetic or the older stops we got in the decorations this year situated right next to reds where it was the best place to get into the festive mood that's something all simply the watch there's even a christmas band to keep you and say it's. d.c. band members stress in the typical because she's 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 show because you process by. ways

of all name who perform 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. to miss 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 this year a display of decoration trees it's also being set up the she's being designed by luxury a popular brand such as christian dior. kiko it's very interesting how a festive woman 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. during the holiday season never 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 distracted caesar 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 theatre. written at the end of the nineteenth century by the outstanding wishing composer peer through tchaikovsky the ballad 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 to the ball short of 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 for the kremlin charms. and while some prefer to watch the 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 some of the five comedy called the irony of fate all in show you are both an odd 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 and. just like the sound of music in the west millions of

russians watched this film. after decades. of rioting and final location ever changing. the whole year it's clear the stepped up of the various holiday periods special. events 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 seems that many of them are battling it out against each other to become the highest most glamorous city. views of the capitol skyline offering incredible images of high rises. in the

distance. impressive to say the least. views of course means sky high prices but it's christmas. celebrate in the restaurants casual atmosphere for all those who don't. get here is the ideal. christmas menu. i've created a turkey. it's very tasty an aromatic served. with cheesy cream crunchy parsley and white truffle oil. christmas in. public he celebrated much of the twentieth century but now with the festivities. fifty first. 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 attraction if you can use the experience. called christmas in must go the since an. incredible. food. fortunately that's that's how we have left on this week's program i'll see you again at the same time next week for me and the rest of the crew goodbye a very merry christmas.

whether you dive from high or to the depths. catch the power of the wind or drift in the beauty of the currents. being well prepared is a must and if you're lucky enough. you'll never forget your experience we only need them a screen that's going to be heaven. in the white see up close and below the ice on our t.v. . mission free accreditation free transport charges free coming from and free risk free. to tide free. download free broadcast quality video for your media projects for free.