since the escalating gas row between russia and ukraine insisting deliveries to europe mustn't be a big deal details later this hour in the business. it is now just after five pm on friday here in moscow this is r.t. with me wrong. moscow says the u.n. resolution that put forward to try and end the bloodshed in syria is being manipulated in order to force regime change the russian plan calls for damascus and rebel forces to abandon fighting and return to talks but it's not easy to go to prison off reports it seems that some other countries are working to an entirely different agenda. the amendments proposed to the russian draft resolution on syria at the u.n. security council are aimed at toppling president assad's regime while moscow has a different approach to the situation is calling for both sides of the conflict in

syria to put their weapons down and negotiate and its drafters aleutian rules out any possible military intervention all this supporting to the russian foreign ministry which says that despite the differences in approaches it's still ready for dialogue on this matter with the western partners but stresses that the libyan scenario can not be repeated in syria meanwhile the secretary of russia's security council has said there's reasons to believe that operation is already being prepared by some western states including possibly some countries in the persian gulf and possibly even syria's former ally turkey the secretary of the security council has also said that he sees there are reasons behind the international tensions around syria don't lie within the human rights situation in the country and the issues around the syrian opposition are dealing directly linked with

president assad unwilling to cut relations with iran the tensions around which are continuing to rise as well. as you go to prison off reporting there will actually burn. from the lebanese base conflicts forum told us here about the western interests more focused on their own agenda than that of the syrian aspirations for democracy. this is actually a project very much about regime change and the aim of it is that it's part of the war on iran which has effectively started and there were comments by the national security advisor from the us tom donilon by jeffrey feltman in his testimony to congress which has basically been very explicit about regime change of gender of the u.s. they've been very careful up till now to acknowledge any kind of violence that's being perpetrated by any others apart from. the government forces in syria but i

think just a few days ago the u.s. ambassador didn't mean it that actually there is violence there is there are. actors active who are not government forces so i think what's been very clear is that this is a project about regime change and it's within this context that the narrative of sort of pro-democracy movement protesters. can text realize this is the cover for their regime change project. one of the biggest disagreements in the u.n. over how to proceed with syria stems from the west's stance of holding assad personally responsible for all the bloodshed it's a position that's drawing accusations of bias and intentional ignorance as artists are further investigated. no midnight sun too man was an activist say sure networking sites such as facebook to call for peace in syria he phoned his family to tell them to watch him doing an interview on lake very famous but i saw him on

t.v. and he looked well but it was to be one of the last times the family saw him alive and soon after that he was kidnapped he left home and never returned we found his body in the morning and his face was mutilated it's too painful for me to remember that moment it remains unclear who killed him and his family thinks it may have been militants he thought he was working for the security forces after seeing him speak on television but in reality he'd worked at a sugar mill and was training to become a computer specialist like so many of the young educated people in syria right now he felt the need to be involved in the changing reality in his country syria in fact has one of the youngest populations in the arab world is schools like this a new generation as studying in fact an increasing number of arabs have become better educated and better informed them that parents or grandparents were there not any more aware of their political rights the more able to demand them as well.

many young opposition supporters have taken their campaign online relying heavily on social media like facebook and twitter that have helped topple regimes like these in egypt and libya people's literacy and also media literacy has been enormously harvested recent decades by both education technology called trained but i think we should remember this can cut both ways opposition sides can try to get out their message and can mobilize people but also even supporters of governments are much less dependent on a single new station or single state newspaper the between a regime under pressure and an increasingly militarized opposition many syrians have been left trapped in the middle. i have only one question what did they kill my son for my son was a politician or a public figure various movements national and local exist in this country i don't understand when my son was killed you know you know and speaking before

a crowd many of whom were young supporters of president assad this week once again repeated his promises of reform that was not with skepticism from the opposition meanwhile on all sides of this conflict young politically motivated syrians remain committed to fighting for the political future of their country despite the fact that so many like him and that fight could end up costing them their lives. r.t. . and the people of illinois crosstalk so i discussed the influencers at work inside syria for me arab league monitors to the protesters themselves the programmer coming away now at a fifteen thirty g.m.t. for now a preview. they have consistence policies towards syria and i think they took this side of their civilians inside syria and they have only sorry if i get interrupted i mean these are i don't understand when we use the term

protesters civilians i mean a lot of these people are armed and there are no longer civilians or protesters there come back now and this is turned into a civil war and some western powers are supporting certain elements within syria taking a side in the civil war would you agree or disagree with that. and across borders on a little bit later today here in our city but for now though our british prime minister david cameron has arrived in saudi arabia the u.k.'s biggest trade partner and arms market in the middle east the gulf kingdom has been rattled by recent unrest in the arab world and has suppressed protests on home soil as well as elsewhere with us force our correspondent laura smith has more on the trip. this is david cameron's first trip as prime minister he's going to be meeting with king abdullah and also crown prince naif while he's there to be discussing a huge range of issues really including the global economy energy security

counterterrorism obviously the situation in syria and the situation in iran at the moment and this is an important relationship really for both parties saudi arabia is obviously the world's biggest oil exporter it's also got ninety five billion dollars or thereabouts invested in the u.k. and the u.k. and the middle east do about twenty three billion dollars worth of trade every year so a very very big partnership on both sides strong relationships with the saudis very important to britain for advancing the interests in the region saudi arabia has recently been hugely roiled and rattled by various developments in the region including the overthrow of their longtime ally hosni mubarak and these recent tensions with iran and there is a certain amount of a lot of powerful opposition to this visit here in the u.k. a group of very powerful members of parliament the committee on export controls has

questioned why licenses to saudi arabia for arms exports from the u.k. haven't been revoked in the wake of that trouble they have submitted questions and then publish those questions to the government on licensing of various equipment including bombs and components of vehicles and helicopters and also communications equipment and they're saying why given the unrest that we did see in saudi arabia it was very very little reported on what has in that license been revoked why would the u.k. government trust the assurances that the saudi the saudi powers have given them that about the end. of the weapons that they're being sold we saw violence last year during the arab spring brutal suppression of protesters particularly from this shiite minority saudi. of course as a sunni majority country there's a shiite minority they came out on the streets and were brutally suppressed and indeed just as late as thursday night we saw one processor killed and three wounded

when the security forces opened fire. on. the saudis the violence in iraq iran has a shiite majority and in the region they represent the interests of minorities in other sunni majority countries like saudi arabia so iran's accusing them of meddling there is also an accusation by the us that iran plotted to have these saudi ambassador to washington assassinated in october so there's all sorts of tension between saudi arabia and iran very worrying but nevertheless the british government is looking at carrying on selling arms to saudi arabia and even topping those arms contracts there's a huge order. seventy two already on order and some people are saying that possibly the control be expanded to include forty eight more. so massive amounts of

money at stake for the u.k. government but also reputation according to this powerful group of lobbyists within the government. laura smith right there and u.k. arms contracts with saudi arabia are not the only thing piling pressure on iran as we find out in just a few minutes here. in every instance all the speculation falls on those who want to see a continued escalation of hostilities look at who benefits from d.c. stabilizing the islamic state all of that analysis is just about to come up for you . this is r.t. political hardliners in kosovo have announced that a bloc serbian trucks that border crossings this weekend to come just by belgrade ongoing steps towards a compromise in the border issue as the country strives for e.u. membership and ethnic serbs in kosovo say they're finding themselves under more pressure from the albanian majority you've got. reports. the

checkpoint in northern kosovo may not look like an obvious triumph of peace but here is the same spot just two weeks ago since the summer you backed billions have tried to take control of the border between serbia and. the minority erected barricades in response they don't recognize course of independence saying that the albanian dominated province is still part of serbia now both sides of the new agreed that the border will be jointly policed. anyone can now freely pass through this checkpoint when you're trumpeting this as a happy resolution but a standoff and while life here has become easier a lot of serbs are saying that once again they have given up too much for the compromise and have received no rush owen says about their long term future belgrade try to talk serbs in kosovo down from the barricades so it was to join the e.u. which made a peaceful solution to the border issue

a precondition but despite progress on the border belgrade's application for candidate status has been stalled in the latest round of talks with brussels some countries which did recognize and they feel that serbia is a week in just before they are getting the kind of a status that's why they are squeezing serbia exacta trying to achieve something more than usually asking the candidates. just meters from the east soldiers. are serbian militia many here have been engaged in conflict through the albanians since one thousand nine hundred nine when an ethnic war divided the territory into they have been coming to this road block since july and say they will carry on despite a border deal only for those why should we be happy to see you soldiers give us permission to use this road we never used to need permission to use it at all we do not trust the e.u. and albanians wanted it when a relative's and friends have been injured in this conflict for the past twelve years. those who gain the most from the border compromise are ordinary serbs

blocked roads prevented many children from coming to school and their parents from buying even basic foodstuffs but normality is some distance away. so. there are constant warning sirens during the lessons these children are not growing up normally their lives are defined by the conflict and this is true not just for children but for all serbs have been living in kosovo for twelve years while opening the roads is a step forward to serve status in. do not consider. does not want the remains. of a. quarter past the hour now here in moscow and coming up to you a little bit later in the program pharmaceutical phantom menace. you know when you feel the weight of sadness you may feel exhausted hopeless and anxious look at the alarming death rate from pill popping in the united states as drug companies are

accused of overstating the scale of depression around the country. the u.s. has reportedly used a secret channel of communication to issue a direct warning to iran's supreme leader ayatollah khamenei and washington says that any move by tehran block oil trade through the crucial strait of hormuz will be met with and media response inspectors meantime from the un's nuclear watchdog a show if you will to come to iran in two weeks to see if its nuclear program is aimed at developing weapons capability meanwhile the war of words between washington and tehran has also been heated up by wednesday's assassination of a top iranian nuclear scientist. from the national iranian american council things isolating iran was the main purpose of the killing. the fact the matter is that the hardliners on all sides who don't want to see any kind of negotiated resolution who don't want to see iran brought some way into the fold and want to see this tension

escalate want to keep iran sort of outside of the security status quo in the middle east or supportive of these actions and that's why you have speculation that perhaps israel was behind this perhaps the iranian. terrorist organization that is dedicated to overthrowing the iranian government and preventing a reproach mom between the u.s. and iran are behind this or you even have people who think that perhaps hardliners in the iranian government were behind this because. they're more interested in preventing any kind of talks and being able to create a security environment within iran where they can crack down on on dissidents and use the threat of an external you know a war with the united states or external threats to actually consolidate their control so in every instance all the speculation falls on those who want to see a continued escalation of hostilities. in iraq but name and from the us based

n.g.o.s just foreign policy says that the iranian threat is being overplayed by american politicians with even the highest officials silenced if they dare question it. defense secretary. will not be our defense or was a piece the new. and he said they were trying to bill to develop a nuclear weapon. in the very near p.b.s. news hour and you know they had steam. and they used his remarks to try and argue the opposite as fairness and accuracy in reporting noted we didn't alert p.b.s. and received any response to this part of the pair of. us media and it's certainly part of the pattern in the presidential campaign in presidential candidates if you're going to tell us what you think about the situation as it develops around iran just by looking on to see dot com that's what it's now with some of your opinions posted in our forums at r.t.

dot com one of the says what is going on in the strait of hormuz is just another set of moves in a long chess game in the region it will be a long time before any side is close to a check position but let's have a look at also see what else one of your things israel must ensure that its military is stronger and ready for any eventuality it will only find peace through terror and so if you go to the forums section at r.t. dot com have your say and we will broadcast it live around the world. all right so we've got plenty more for you online as well here's a look at what's there right now if for example we bring you more of that video that stirred up such a scandal over the actions of u.s. forces in afghanistan comments on the reaction from around the world plus. a seventy six year old millionaire finds himself in hot water after he broke away to his finger at a swanky restaurant in florida find out how that happened at r.t.

dot com. i don't know out of the u.s. on the story of a deadly passion for pills today more americans die from prescription drugs than car accidents it's shocking data coming from the national center for health statistics and as autism arena reports it's feared pharmaceutical firms are prioritizing profit over people's lives. america is regarded as a country with a ravenous appetite for consumption today a widespread fondness for pharmaceuticals has turned the u.s. into a nation of pill poppers bipolar depression doesn't have to consume you here's me and here's my depression you know when you feel the weight of sadness you may feel exhausted hopeless and anxious according to the u.s. government anti-depressant use among americans has increased nearly four hundred percent in the past two decades published reports find that one in five adults take

at least one drug for mental health disorders with over fourteen billion dollars in annual sales anti-psychotics remain america's top selling therapeutic class of prescription drugs says a medical doctor harriet fraud believes big pharma has manufactured a climate of insanity by manipulating and even creating illness for capital gains the advertising strategy is to have a big diagnoses and then find wiggle room so that they apply to everybody prescription nexium the u.s. is the only western country that allows direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs this ad for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder warns that untreated patients will likely end up divorced and this commercial for so long to your promises to make you happier but side effects may include dry mouth insomnia sexual side effects diarrhea nausea and sleepiness critics also say big pharma uses

its financial muscle to ply doctors with gives cash kickbacks and research funding in exchange for endorsing or purse cry being the latest and most lucrative drugs what you have is a whole network of doctors who are hustling these drugs if a patient comes in with a knee injury and says i'm so sad. oh are you depressed hey right prescription. they're given out like eminem's last year per scription drug abuse became the number one cause of accidental death with more than thirty thousand americans overdosing can consume you sarah quell a bipolar medication generated four point four billion dollars in sales last year listing all its side effects requires forty nine seconds of air time blood sugar has been reported missing or that sarin medicines like it and in extreme cases can lead to come down the number of children consuming anti-psychotic medication

doubled in the past decade millions of american adolescents are taking drugs like adderall doled out by doctors to treat hyperactivity only drugs are very very similar to illicit or illegal drugs is a very dangerous now one is a little safer but you're just not sure i mean they're being forced on these. but doctors you know who are telling parents this is the best thing for them when often it's not and so you have a lot of angry resentful just growing up in america here the charity happening because pfizer america's most profitable pharmaceutical company makes anti-depressants not only for people but also for adam and in two thousand i the pharma giant paid two point three million dollars to settle civil and criminal allegations over illegally marketing one of its drugs it was the largest health care fraud settlement in the middle line to ever been aided by a u.s. drug company that being said the money reportedly amounted to less than three weeks

more of a prize or drug sales the money is so huge that the fines are immaterial and they're not thinking about the social effects of what they're doing or thinking about the profits they accrue the pharmaceutical industry remains the most profitable business in the u.s. more success and financial gain for the companies will always remain possible as long as more americans are encouraged to take drugs. r.t. new york. before it's daniel with the business now it's time for the r.t. world update some other headlines for you in brief from around the world to nigeria first where powerful unions have threatened to shut down oil and natural gas production in the country this sunday this comes as they suspended nationwide protests against spiraling gas and food prices after four consecutive days of demonstrations the dispute has already been felt in the world oil market where the price of crude has already jumped. a leaked report by the cia and other

intelligence agencies has painted a gloomy picture of the situation in afghanistan the document says the country is in a stalemate and warns that attempts to improve security have been undermined by corruption local government and taliban attacks from neighboring pakistan well several senior military commanders have filed a written objection to the findings saying that based on flawed flawed assumptions and a lack of understanding about taliban tactics. all right about a five minute time it started special report exposing the bloody background of the war in iraq and tells about how many journalists were among the victims of the after the business news in a recap of the top stories here on r.t. . booking to business the european union has joined the growing conflict between russia and ukraine energy commission a good singer warns both sides must take into account agreements already saw and

with the e.u. ukraine says it's struggling economy calls of the volumes already agreed with moscow almost to cut purchases core whole of russia's energy joy. could have reduced to twenty percent but only with six months notice the e.u. has offered its support to ukraine in this row but just how many may not be new to hold talks next tuesday. capital flight was one of the key risks faced by the russian economy last year around eighty four billion dollars left the country that's the biggest outflow in three years and you get into. believes it's not out of the woods yet as far as capital outflow is concerned i don't see any break in the trend here so i expect that the flight will pick up the outflow and then private capital outflow will stay with us not only in the course of the whole world but also throughout the whole year it will be more. it will be more moderate than in two thousand and eleven but unfortunately i expect

a double digit fee if you go into thousand and twelve to. look at the stock markets european shares a mixed with london dropping into the red in the last few minutes with frankfurt still bored but a successful spanish and italian bond auctions high demand for both states debt eased worries for the single currency italy the e.u. third largest economy is gearing up to sell all of the four point seven billion euro in debt this friday. russia is trying to end the week on a hoya after several days of losses but the positive news coming out now is that europe is being tipped to improve the appeal of riskier assets in russia. this is a look at the share movers almost six today blue chips mixed this hour gazprom is the laying down the lure of the gas supplies to ukraine while all major luko has moved into the black in the last hour several of the blue chips are down telecom to negative reports. operated g. and c. for over twenty two million dollars. and did other news turnover in russian trade

with known c.i.s. countries rose by third in the first eleven months of last year reaching six hundred thirty two billion dollars fuel and energy accounted for three quarters of exports while machinery in quitman. imports russia's top three trading partners for the period where china germany and the netherlands. that's the business this hour join us for more in fifty five minutes.

just so use. just see. if. wealthy british style. is not on the tightest.

market why not come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike's cause or for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune into cars a report on our. five thirty pm here in the russian capital you want. to try and drop the resolution on syria for a moment and for the. peaceful. backing regime. british prime minister david cameron are rivals in saudi arabia. in the middle east even as the gulf kingdom to use its crackdown on protests.