clued in we can pedia went dark in protest this week for more now we're joined by trevor ten from the eleven o'clock on it frontier foundation thanks for joining us so the us congress has so far back down after some of the major protests online do you think this is a victory for internet users yeah this was the biggest protest in internet history and we have we saw over one hundred fifteen thousand sites somehow alter their web pages or somewhat alter what their web pages a lot of them blacked out completely meaning that users couldn't even gets them including look at pedia which is the sixth largest site in the u.s. . this sent a huge huge message message to congress you know most of the american public hadn't even heard about these bills before the blackout day and once these sites blacked out everybody started calling their congress men and e-mailing them we had sent out over one hundred e-mails on sorry a million e-mails just in that one day google got seven million signatures on their petition and so by the end of the day we had

a huge swing in congress where at the beginning of the day sixty sixty congressmen supported this bill and thirty were against and by the end the day we had one hundred against and so within the next twenty four hours we heard that congress in both thousands were going to show shelf these bills indefinitely so it was a major victory for you now online activism in internet freedom so now these two bills reviewed as sopa and pipa were they really designed to censor the internet i mean were users really right to feel that they were under attack because of this or was it less cut and dried than that. well the overall goal of these bills was to stop online piracy but unfortunately the provisions were written so broadly that they would probably end up censoring millions of innocent users who never even thought about copyright infringement and the worst part was it wasn't even a stop online piracy you know the bills didn't go directly after the owners of the site they kind of went around everything around it so it was going to be censored

domain names or they were going to be delisted from search engines on the orders of the government or corporations were going to allow be allowed to cut off payment process or an advertiser from these sites just basically an allegation in a post court order and then again there was going to be broad immunity for a net service providers to enforce these bills so they could end up over blocking sites and capturing innocent users and even blocking sites voluntarily just on the unofficial orders of corporations so that there was a lot of a lot of free speech problems of these bills and the the net was cast so wide that free speech would have been infringed on a massive scale so you know the overall goal of stopping online piracy you know it's it's it's something everybody agrees with but the way they went about it was just completely. expansive and quite frankly ridiculous to think this is the start of a symptom of a bigger push by the government to take a role in controlling the internet. well there's definitely

a lot of bills in congress right now that would not necessarily censor the internet but kind of infringe on an users' rights there's a data retention bill which would force internet service providers to keep data on all of their users for eighteen months the century in and innocent till proven guilty until proven innocent but where they would you know have data on all these people when they've in fact done nothing wrong there's also a bill to allow wiretapping on the internet to make it easier and e-mail on the internet is not protected as much as letters and phone calls are in the u.s. so congress has really done a poor job of keeping and protecting people's rights online so this was a major victory you know they were this was really going to affect people's free speech and the internet fought back and so far at least temporarily seems like one now the site in question here mega upload how much damage did it actually do i mean the government is claiming it millions in lost revenues because of all this is that

actually the case. i think that remains to be seen i think the real there's two issues that the shows first of all the u.s. government was actually a holding up mega upload is the reason they wanted sopa and pipa pass there were some in an example of prime example i was pirate bay that a few congressmen even cited saying you know we can't go after these sites without these bills and you know a day after the internet blackout they actually did go after these sites that the idea that the u.s. doesn't have any laws to protect online infringement is not true. the converse is strengthen copyright laws many times in the last decade and this is just a great example of that you know the prob with mega upload is that there was a lot of innocent people again that had a right to files on their on their website had nothing to do with cut good friends been and they may have lost those permanently so it just is just another example of how copyright laws end up infringing on people's right to free speech or we have to

leave it there trevor tim from the electronic frontier foundation thanks for your proper perspective thanks a lot. u.s. senate is not the only ones facing accusations of censorship britain is under fire for the country's media regulator revoking the license of press t.v. via iranian english language broadcaster the washtub says the channel was in breach of regulations because it didn't control its content press t.v. says it's being silenced through research you k. based media analyst and author thinks the station was taken off the air the off the air not because of its journalism. if this had been separated from geopolitics then no this would not have happened most of the criticisms of press t.v. ad been due to its coverage because you know it sees the middle east very differently for example than the mainstream media in britain this repeatedly comes up pro israeli groups repeatedly complain about it and we know by the way through wiki leaks we know very well that the british government at the very highest level was

discussing with the american ambassador yet how to limit press t.v.'s output in britain wrote we certainly know the press t.v.'s journalism is not viewed purely in terms of its journalism but it's viewed in terms of british iranian relations stay with us here on r t still plenty coming your way this hour including this. less than fifty days to go we take a look at the current political climate in a rush ahead of the march presidential vote. turning first to syria where the opposition is holding rallies across the country supporting prisoners held since the start of anti-government unarrest this despite a general amnesty granted by president assad earlier this week that seen almost two hundred detainees released or murray if emotional looks at who's calling the shots in the protest movement. people taking to the streets may look like

a real force of power and indeed the one. that in syria protest has apparently failed to prove that months of bloodshed with no sign is going to stop anytime soon. howlett ho jeff from the syrian national council the country's main official opposition body says making the people's voice louder and bring in an end to the violence is what the s. and c. was created for our main goal is to help the syrian people there present them and their two national committee in order to reach this syrian people's freedom and although it's been run by paris based exile but hamdani in the absence he has been recognized as the country's legitimate government by the new libyan authorities and supported by some and nato countries which has made some doubt the council's innocent intentions with regards to libya the promise that nato made to

the national transitional council perspective leaders was that they be given a major seat at the table in a new libya so there is power broking going on behind the scenes and i absolutely wager that the same thing is happening with syria they've either been bought off financially or they've been promised a major role in a new syrian regime the national congress and there are clear is national transitional council and the syrian national council and it's not just their names they have in common supported and sponsored from abroad i think he writes opposition forces and they're made to go is to overthrow the regime but there is a difference to the absences huts cortez are not in damascus but here in istanbul we are not talking about democratic regime if i go to syria now we have. you know. we have to be executed there howlett says he spent fifteen years in jail in the one

nine hundred seventy s. and eighty's just because his father supported the opposition he claims nothing has changed since then and the oppression has to stop but how is another matter is addicted terrorism cannot be most of without any pressure claiming they're only going to rely on political and diplomatic pressure the asson see to is now copper age in with the free syrian army fighters who defected from assad's military in was a clear shift from the essences initial entirely known armed peaceful stance. the cows who also sees humanitarian corridors and buffer zones as options to protect civilians in syria even though these might mean foreign troops arriving this isn't a top is all patterns of operation where this year that the gas has been used to at us and that generator they made to work at that because they don't want they

want to destabilize syria because they want syria to be part of nato at least late to label the opposition claims is just a matter of time before the joint efforts sooner or later will force president assad out while his attorneys to stay but the question remains exactly how long should these people have to wait for the bloodshed to stop and how many of them will actually see the end of it refit ocean r.t. turkey. a multi-billion pound london court duel between russian tycoon and chelsea football club owner roman abramovich and fugitive russian billionaire boris berezovsky is close to its conclusion the judge is mulling over the verdict in the financial so showdown after armies of expensive lawyers went to war for their clients exposing some juicy details along the way our correspondent in the british capital ivor bennett has been it's been dubbed the trial of the century for two reasons really firstly because of the sheer money involved a six and a half billion dollars at stake here making it the most expensive civil lawsuit in

the u.k. legal history and more importantly perhaps is the subject matter it's really laid bare all those dodgy dealings of ninety's russia in the wild east reaffirming all those stereotypes there are that i don't think anyone actually thought because could possibly be true but it turns out they are and what makes it even more unbelievable is that they've come from two of the main players in those turbulent times remember him over. to former friends now arch enemies as for juicy details will some of the really big believe the recent claims we've heard are that there is also he actually turned up to meetings wearing nothing but a dressing gown that he frittered away millions in the flash of a private jets and then that even signed off threatening text messages to his rivals with the words i'm watching you i'm dr evil as for promote it well he's been accused of every dirty tax dodging trick there is in the book and we also know that he was involved in murderous al-ameen wars in the ninety's will you now know for

sure through his own admission that one person was killed every three days in that kind of grab for wealth the world is really boils down to is the relationship between the two main there is also he claims that they will business partners and that he was blackmailed by a remote village forced to sell his stakes in shares even in the oil companies there for a fraction of the true worth of a movie he dismisses that payment is purely protection money paid to his political go. and full of the thanks for his mental shape a severance package now it's up to the judge to decide whether if anything all of this is true but regardless of which survives this battle i think it's safe to say the real winner here is the british who system it is believed to be raking in as a result of this trial eighteen dollars a seconds. london has another conflict to resolve with russia after a former senior official admitted britain was caught snooping find out how moscow uncovered the secret of the spying stone on our website are complete with pictures

and video. at another would be spy scandal sparks up as russia and canada wage a battle of he said she said more about it on our website or t dot com. as russia's presidential candidates are busy ramping up their campaigns ahead of the march election some members of the public are stepping up their efforts to ensure a transparent vote in light of the massive rallies against the parliamentary ballot in russia last month both authorities and protesters admit they need to sit down and talk more artie's really delusional gauges the temperature of russia's political life. with just under fifty days before the march presidential election and major campaign is still simmering in the candidate's headquarters mr putin decided to unleash his powers of persuasion on the electorate and nonpublic speaker for change he's decided to be more scholarly picking up the pen for the first in a series of articles outlining his vision for the future of russia what he's

calling a new economy to be built. the gravitation away from dependence well i standing welcoming political dialogue and the strengthening of civil society in russia putin however said people should concentrate on just what candidates are promising to do rather than the theater of personalities we need extended dialogue about priorities about long term choices national perspective and development this article is an invitation to such dialogue it's important to say that prime minister has never denied the possibility of establishing such a dialogue and they just become friends his ravenous and this is what is making people take the initiative into their own hands this week some of the most prominent participants of december's post-election protest pulled together to form the league of constituents so they all know where should i new public mood has blossomed people are showing a desire to make an educated vote to know where their votes are going on the

understanding that the country needs competitive politics those behind in their group are quick to point out they're not going to turn into a political party but do hope to become a major support group for anyone wanting to make a difference with their vote i didn't have the political activists are nothing without this type of newly found public support there to help boost them are the key to public support is the media and that's with complete and found himself to a record low criticizing one of russia's most popular radio stations and. for being too pro western in its coverage. the prime minister told its editor in chief. since you don't get mad when you come to me with liquid crap from. the government. all seem to realize they have to think fast and act quickly in order to get the ball rolling with the presidential elections just around the corner. which some say lasted for years the political life in russia. r t.

the hour's news i'll be back with the headlines in about ten minutes coming up next the moscow team heads to florence looking for traces of russian culture in the heart of italy stay with us here on r.t. .

hello and welcome to the program today the moscow team are in italy as we continue our exploration of russian culture abroad bit music from. by condition ski racing creativity has been studied and celebrated for centuries around the world so jovi mounted on news as we take a look at russian influence and connections one of the most beautiful historic and romantic cities in the world florence. christians have been fascinated with italian culture for centuries florence is often compared to st petersburg. with its architecture and classical entertainment see consisting of music and literature it's easy to draw comparisons to the cultural grand jury of russia's former capital

. moves around the major cities in italy today and you didn't hear the. chat excited recent tourists they devour the social scene here and they're exploring what it has to offer now more than ever before. i feel him in florence and my children in russia does raise studying the culture the renascence and the principles of humanism and this city is the essence of such cultures. you just are stuck with it to feel comfortable here it really doesn't even seem like a foreign country and italians are very frowned like probably in all my life was an interest it's all an art and russian art nothing else because it's the most maybe fancy is the most difficult difficult technique difficult collars. everything else they're all dozens of connections between italy and russia dissociation within the field of art goes back centuries.

we arrived at the russian art academy located in a grand building in the center of the city it brings together all the levels of all ages and nationalities you can almost feel the creativity as you walk in here. many students have taken sabbaticals to come to florence and learn more about art the school is angled towards classical russian teaching methods and takes individuals back to basics studying the works of old masters. nice work. classes let's take it as part of a full time course weekend or evening classes and a whole range of subjects to study from canvas painting to much touring but why come to a russian art school in florence. because we're kind of training to see fair play where you can get to do various city or later. art schools around here it's

just very focus of spirit affected it actually i've never planned come too far and still painting i can't do sculpture but i was convinced by the russian method and all the way that they they teach i mean wagering and improve the scene as i came here and most of the buildings are still authentic show it does give you a sort of the ideal background for all to. many live models are using the conses tools in english russian and italian shouldn't take visual photographs with the aim of recreating the image in sketch form. based on consequence additions and values in the modern art world because here is learning about site size technique.

of the training have decided on the basics of technique the use of color and the study of and that's made out of portraits most of the changes here offer russia and they bring with them a whole range of classical knowledge and experience having trained at various prestigious universities in moscow and st petersburg are being sent to and say help each student find that in the expression whatever stand it that may be the school in france is aware that many of our colleges around the world are opening up to contemporary styles and radical new training methods and on that note to discuss the academies. let's meet this week's guest. and as you let me to meet you so tell me about the academy here in florence of a here during two years which is years ago of the start of the first course. into a funeral of all the data during ten years doing different kind of water. and gold here as i care to man i want to bring a russian academic classic school to share at the european stay with us and of

course bring spiritual waters and art which is very important you mentioned european students here you have russian orthodox or italians it's almost an international of the students which is a half from belgium from italy from you glance from america around the world can anybody come here or they have to be you know a. lot about you know it's anybody can be here which is normally students just sending their application form together with the board but after one year or so of professor choosing if that student will continue fills two year or second year which is a bit don't have an answer or an exam but they would have exam after one year were serious and the tutors are mostly russian teachers that most are russian which is that it's teachers the who are already graduated and russia and who is a professional artist but himself the most time of. war in the russia

russian government academy well many of the art schools around the world they focus now on contemporary arts maybe here the training is more strict with its russian roots maybe depends the because our being in the world where giving plastic foundation school base without foundation classic school base you can develop your own style a diverse a school the nonprofessional way. which is the to me in our opinion the bringing school in the people and. and the business school will develop their own style. it was great to meet you and good luck with it thank you there was a lot but. so what are the cultural links this florence have with russia one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the twentieth century person director undertow kosky lived in france in the one nine hundred eighty s. in the capital of tuscany took a watch on his two lost films and the sacrifice he was even pronounced as an honest

citizen of florence by its authorities took the left italy and nine hundred eighty six and moved to paris where he died the same year now a memorial plate to be seen on the house and via some nicolo but the filmmaker lived and worked. in the beautiful surroundings of florence nestled in the tuscan countryside as a hotel bearing are russian named the damage of country result is a modern four star hotel then after the famous for some wealthy and influential demetre family from the eighteenth century the democrats had a villa in this part of italy and they definitely chose the location wisely as the views here are spectacular and relaxing. about twenty minutes drive from the center of florence the hotel offers a hundred rooms and suites with all modern comforts absolutely. how a hotel is there for business and nations changes that the middle family used to

enjoy the surroundings many centuries ago and now our guest can enjoy the same nature and the more festive it is to relax. florence is a sensational city the center is an open air museum itself every corner is a photo opportunity no wonder many famous russian figures came to live here. the esky for example chose florence not only because of its inspiring the true so many other foreigners but many because of the library they contain russian periodicals he wrote the idiot here in january eight hundred sixty nine of the seventeen months of work. another russian legend spent a considerable length of time in italy was the composer tchaikovsky he came to florence in the year eight hundred seventy eight to write quietly in a villa overlooking the city situated on the beautiful street via the sun leonardo

twenty minutes outside the city it has a completely different feel to the center of florence it was stated that tchaikovsky called florence the city of dreams for him it was one of the best locations in the world as he enjoyed the architecture landscapes and soul of the area he said it was one of the most inspirational places to live and to work he wrote the famous russian opera the queen of spades here in italy in eighty ninety and back in russia to celebrate his beloved city he wrote the piece souvenir to florence. from the art world in florence or oligarchs and their glamour shots on the island of capri the prism of russian influence and connections in italy and vice versa isn't it too apparent and not just here but it is closer to many european cities

than you think is the love affair with all things european shows no signs of slowing down. the punch of the year bridge is a beautiful mediæval landmark not to be missed as a focal point of the city it represents medieval florence in all its glory and whether you are chinese english american russian the historic landmarks and fantastic cultural world of florence with a long standing. italian connections a something everyone should. what an amazing city well unfortunately that's the time we have left on this week's program see you again the same time next week until then for me and the rest of the team for now.

with. technology innovation all the developments from around russia we. covered. one thirty am in moscow these are your r.t. headline hackers strike back anonymous cripples major u.s. government and corporate websites in response to a crackdown on a file sharing service and pending anti-piracy long. britain faces accusations of censorship of a different kind its media watchdog revoking the license of iran's english language broadcaster press t.v. . syrian opposition holding more mass protests demanding more prisoners be released despite a general amnesty granted by president assad earlier this week. and

a multi-billion pound battle between russian tycoon ramana album obituary indeed of mobile boris berezovsky in a london court finally approaching. the hour's headlines up next peter lavelle and guest discuss the dispute over a planned u.s. anti-piracy laws which critics say may censor the internet worldwide stay with us crosstalk. oh. hello and welcome to cross talk i'm peter lavelle it's a contest pitting silicon valley against hollywood with washed.