there's a report. to the test the u.n. general assembly prepares to vote on a new syrian resolution seen by some time to put the screws on russia and china and push to action the two nations consider one sided. gets hit with yet another wave of downgrades as confidence collapses of the blocks future this. crusade against greece. the russian anyway is flooded with pre-election campaigning positive coverage prime minister putin's actions is criticised as non third vantage with the other presidential candidates.

this is our world news and comments are twenty four hours a day welcome to. the un general assembly is preparing its members for an upcoming vote for a new draft resolution on syria the document apparently echoes the one vetoed by moscow and beijing in the security council only february the un human rights chief said the inability of the body to take action on the syrian crisis and handed president carte blanche to execute an all out assault. decisions at the general assembly are not legally binding some believe the vote could be used in. russia and china. explains. this meeting has definitely last in the entire day we've been hearing speeches from dozens of countries that started early in the morning and of course this comes only a week after a double veto from russia and china. blocked in the arab and western backed

resolution on syria at the security council so what we saw is an attempt from the saudi arabia and qatar to go to another body of the united nations and attempt to find some kind of decision there even though the general assembly does consist of over one hundred ninety members we have to keep in mind that it's not nearly as powerful as the security council because whatever decision comes out of the general assembly is by no means binding it's only seen as a recommendation by the rest of the international community and what's key here is that the text of this suppose address aleutian that the general assembly will be voting on voted on has not even been circulated yet we're hearing about it's going to be pretty much the same document that russia and china vetoed and russia and china's problem with the text was that it seemed biased to the countries saying that it only named the syrian government as the main cause of the conflicts going on on the ground in syria but not the arms of groups the armed groups and that's something that continues to be a major sticking point the recognition two sides to this conflict by the

international community we've been hearing all of these countries make speeches to d.c. is saying that the syrian government is committing atrocities so really this is another opportunity for those who do support regime change on the ground to send out criticism towards the syrian government many experts are saying really that the fact that at this symbolic diplomatic gesture is being attempted at the united nations does not really mean much because any sort of document is not going to help stop the crisis on the ground unless it pushes for a cease fire so many are saying that should be priority prioritized at the general assembly these days and not just you know a lot of words of criticism well new york u.k. based journalist and contributor to the guardian newspaper says instead of diplomatic wrangling world powers should focus on both sides in the syrian conflict . why we got peace in syria over the last eleven months the government has said they will make concessions the government can open to talks but the opposition has

been picked on by irresponsible western powers and its allies i think they would have had a peaceful solution to this months ago had the opposition not been egged on by the west they are being encouraged to take a very hard line in the west has been denouncing the government violence but it hasn't been denouncing the violence by the opposition and until it does does that then we don't have any peace in syria so you know that is actually the western powers in the arab league who responsibility now say to the opposition forces look you have to stop the violence the government stops the violence everybody stops the violence and then we can have proper talks. well in syria alarming reports continue to emanate from the protest hub of homs where the spiraling violence now being fanned by such players as al qaida concerns the crisis could take a sectarian form as a teaser for ports. the predominantly christian town of milly lies in the syrian mountains even here in this hauntingly beautiful place and the signs of the pale

rising conflict that is tearing apart much of the country right now creeping in and a sense of foreboding hangs heavy locals tell us they don't travel out of this area much longer feel it's safe we speak to the nuns at the monastery here they tell us about the town's preservation of the ancient aramaic language and like their cherished tongue they hate the fine balance of religious groups in the country can be kept even in these difficult times i have been this we have been living with. their religion and ethnicity in peace for a long time. back in the center and damascus is known as a melting pot of religions alloa effect are a minority in the country but despite making up around just twelve percent of the taito population heloise have occupied elite positions in the government and the military for decades and now there are fears that resentment among the majority

muslim sunni stack's could or ups the country that until this crisis break out was religiously diverse as the tolerance now the can increasingly polarized genuine fears i just worry that these divisions my laid his a sectarian tensions being further exploited have been staked by the emergence of an al qaeda video link the holy war through the assad regime violence is just not going to end we see it happening and iraq neighboring iraq sectarian violence that is catastrophic and nobody is reporting on that the reporting on syria and they're not focus. being on the potential problems that syria could lead into another iraq on the streets through an increasingly desperate population has called for help in whatever form it comes as long as it stops the violence there's little time for them to think about long and think kerry and rick as many of them a worrying about daily survival anyone who. we are ready to hear about to say

yes to anyone over there so far the sort of. yes i do on in syria right now the split still largely remains along pilliga collines there's concern that is this increasingly bloody conflict continues it could turn into a sectarian one as well. damascus syria. well still to come on the program superpower games washington in beijing representatives reach to discuss cooperation with the u.s. marines its forces into china's backyard. and tensions between israel and iran escalate after ten of the tehran to bomb attacks an embassy staff in-depth analysis on those events in just a few minutes. yet another wave of credit rating downgrades has hit the e.u. with moody's one of the big three writers slashing the scores of italy spain and four other nations this is the book labels to erect debt in greece and with hopes

that extreme austerity that will halt the unions credit contagion but artie's chicken greaves now reports it's a plan that already seems to be unraveling. system on the seach m.p.'s drowned out the pleas of tens of thousands of demonstrators amassed within a short passing another round of unpopular cuts. the results proved incendiary. that uganda protests turned violent as protesters including fringe and a kiss clashed with police again leaving their mark on athens. the day all this is the remnants of public anger big losses and the only thing that's being broken as governments past increasingly unpopular austerity cuts will be left asking who can they trust their interest to the measures are very very tough part of the poor

people especially and this is the reason that we feel. the today i think more measures have been taken and they're it's not going to work in the end it will be another bill. and. oh i hope for the best but i don't see it coming. under pressure from brussels and the international monetary fund the greek government has cut more jobs to slash funding for the nation's pensions a minimum wage but current policy appears to mainly expose those was fun to crisis conditions is a mindset some feel is doomed to fail and they already have destroyed the whole generation of young people and their dreams destroyed. the safety and infrastructure of the whole country we know that it is. a day that we have no signs that these illegal or old bad we cannot continue like that because the ball

is hit but the government is following actually increases the day instead of finding a solution at the heart of activists claims is there a solution that they've noticed there. the for the best part of five years now and the time taxes have risen incomes have for the country's deficit only seems to grow and in this austerity cycle is something sought by an increasing number despite the turmoil the government walls will follow but what. is the exact date even more. going to. this point is the default before there's going to be very tough for us but there's going to be a better solution. for now relative calm has returned to the streets of athens smashed buildings have been patched up the signs of damage where the wait for the

simmering discontent hasn't been forced medicine appears to bring nothing but pain many are continuing their call for terms of treatment griefs r.t. . well despite greece passing its harshest austerity package yet there's no guarantee it will get more bailout cash thin still has conditions to fulfilling looting further cuts to protect against a greek default but international consultant and author. says the country's locked in a vicious cycle. are bankers that stupid that they always make the mistake of lending too much money and are governments that stupid that they take loans much more than they can pay back or insist is this part of our model where like shylock's pound of . pay you ability of the solver and there is a little used to control and it's so sad to see the same sickening scene time and

again protests taking to the streets they are repressed by the police with tear gas they throw stones somebody gets injured hundreds get in because somebody always ends up getting killed and i always figure that it's the poor people on the streets fighting the police who are also poor and i always wonder if there are a cigar smoking perched on the fifth floor boardrooms looking down of these horrific scenes and just laughing at it all now the troika of the greek lenders are due to meet on wednesday to give the athens bailout their preliminary approval the final say however rests with the german parliament something that's not sitting well with max kaiser coming up seven thirty g.m.t. a brief recap on europe's debt crisis on our kaiser report. greece approved tombstone austerity deal with troika so we see over and over there's a great deal there is not a great deal there's a great deal there's not a great deal. on again off again there is a deal now there were german were crazy were trying to milk you

still the elegant marbles but the u.k. already stalled. the arrival of the chinese vice president xi jinping in the u.s. comes testing points in relations between the two economic giants the two meets with his american counterpart joe biden who are expected to work on ties against the backdrop of a u.s. military buildup around china but let's discuss what may come of this trip with academic and journalist said. to you mr. official reasons for the visit on business and agriculture is that really all there is to say oh this is really you know the relations between. you know a difficult position and the issues. as well as

economic strategically obviously you know a man you can find in china and wants to. and you know ameri believes that. you know in the eighty's and saw. in that area and really the. economic because china. and america you know what china would be. economic or beach after we were after world war two. you know. and china know obviously vonder . word or. it can you know star in a small image now with the traditional kind of interrupt

a little of the chinese vice president is widely seen as the country's president in waiting how significant is this meeting that. then on many of. you who you know you know. many was going to become. even big easy to imagine as my speculation on this is that for media guy you know kids already significant because you know the leader in the eighteen and a satisfying but be a man eat them standing can't b.c. they need the you know before baby gate in beijing in the egg. on may. china i was calling and as far as i know. you know. these. and in badly have already made it clear that sold

a nazi they'd have. this brackley and that's a lie i now see belong to them and these islands are by some of the degenerate. binds and now and incidentally of all the earth ok you mention mention strategic matters there what's your take on america's push to establish a military don't it's in the asia pacific china's buckey oh really. yeah that is what china is why it is but. in a sense you know why are you looks like china and once it's on was shown off wonder although it's america is but i hope i don't die in their own backyard that is not in america so the wind is bad then a magic. china to sort of be they don't enduring it all in

the asia pacific they are so it's a plaster doing it and in my jeans bomber and you decline into a purple and you realize it's raining. down iron man by a star studded lightning you know it is the most dangerous you know because i think big city long island. really needs a wind of. being known that bought it for here and that it's the dying man you know man in my indian polity is coming up and the existing name and the problem starts if you look back at the experience of sea to where it was you know bonds i remember generally start. out of deliberation they are. in the us and then we see in the pool where it's their fault lonestar through. because this sort of the main sit in and be it sort of the other part is the

bling. so this see the danger between china has i have written in my piece you know this is the danger you know of equality and getting the two countries to say i'm so sorry we are we are out of time there but still a setback and i'm just like you very much indeed for your comments have not been on things thank you. well there you can log on to auntie dot com twenty four seven for latest details on all the stories we're covering also online while the recent cold spell on parts of europe and chaos temperatures away because zero would just chose for one russian teenager to fail this fifteen year old is set to become the youngest person to ever reach the no zero. genesis of records is likely to be more his daring to find out why.

also anonymous testimonies just days after crashing the cia's official website. hacktivists east on line explanation of what was behind the attack and the full version of r.t. dot com. iran has denied responsibility for the attacks on the israeli embassy stuff in the indian georgian capital of the television queues the islamic state in india motorcyclists planted explosive devices and diplomats cars and lost injured four people about just. this from the instance of prime minister martin tbilisi explosives also taunting and you see the scope of. the blame game between the two

countries has been on. its iran blaming israel over a series of assassinations of its nuclear scientists radio host stephen lemmon least iran had no reason to organize the attacks. by name but i thought it would be able to start i mean mossad i mean. so over territory or it. goes. all over them really israel there's no compunction about. is well as anybody else it serves their intention israel makes charities america makes charges but no evidence just provided one thing or it would read and i read actually in europe cations when the wrist so many accusations flowing against iran right now again no evidence substantiate anything including its alleged nuclear weapons program it's entirely because according to u.s.

intelligence as a march two thousand and eleven is no evidence whatever to prove it now russia's legal voters is demanding that the country's central channels drop their alleged to prove putin bias of march's presidential election and legal standing for a fair election doesn't like the positive tone of reports about the prime minister saying it undermines others' chances but as it seems to have pushed over reports every candidate makes good use of their allotted their time. yes this is the video that school's been most after all so far in the presidential campaigns underway in russia and it's one of the candidates. famous for his showmanship and occasional fist fights with paul an experience claims mcgann other times when russia's symbol was a traditional troika with three day horses and jingle bells this little mantra donkey has become a symbol of our country the whole country has come to a standstill like percent of us with less than a month to go the five candidates have plastered the streets with election posters

and dazzled views with t.v. promos heated discussions on television and radio and the internet have become part of everyday life. i don't course in the race billionaire businessman mikhail prokhorov promises their arrival of a new russia with a new president known for his height riches and playboy past he's the only new face on russia's political scene formally editorial party animal his reputation was once dented by an international sex scandal which has come back to haunt him on the last revegetate how long will our body and soul as for the elections will win them anyway you can buy anything so you can buy your victory to the remaining candidates are a family a crowd to go to the unchanging leader of the communist party gun of presents a fresh image with a campaign featuring a mix of faces from the past as well as the present while his rival for the just

russia party gave it on the streets trying to attract the older generation the only clear favorite in the race prime minister vladimir putin has refrained from getting involved in the campaign directly he has controversially refused to take part in any t.v. debates sending his representatives instead and his promises never show his face. three politics there are only talk. either prop or tin or against porter so if you when he doesn't go to television when he's a part of st paul it takes what he's a part of television coverage so he's job as prime minister he is there is the only one let's say the only kind that with so many resources so much media attention i think that he wants to show that he's the only real candidate precisely by not going there and according to the latest opinion polls the level of support

keeps on growing across the country despite the wave of opposition protests i think that brought us to mobilize his core electorate because when. people like right wing politic politician brought her are saying that you know the social benefits would be cut that factories that are inefficient because that's they should not interfere so much i think that the message that people gather cross russia is that like we should keep election day may only be around the corner but this still plenty of time for the other four would be presidents to try and chip away at the lead and while some voters rely on traditional t.v. campaigning others are turning to the internet for some comic relief. and then call himself tell him join supposedly. has recently become an online sensation with some praising the virtues of the prime minister all the. initials.

ls and while the jury's out on whether it's propaganda or clever aimed at discrediting putin the electoral campaign rolls on with more surprises likely along the way. r.t. still. the business news now with nary. hello and welcome to business here on r.t.l. we start with the russian crops where mother nature is once again playing tricks just a year after a severe drought the country's plantings are facing a cold test business analysts saying a bushel has more of the whole of crops may have been damaged by the extreme cold weather say worried farmers it's lead germany france and poland are also risk from

sustained low temperatures which of thirty three in some parts that is expected to skyrocket prices for things like bread wheat futures have been through ring of the ukraine russian government warned they may limit exports to guarantee the mystic supply both countries are usually big exporters of grain global we proceed eleven percent in the second half of january alone we will russia's top port never received because suspended loading at its grain terminal several times of the black sea froze over for the first time in thirty years a drought from july to november last year had already weakened crops of russia's one company says fifty percent of the country's great crop could be damaged by heavy winds and the worst weather in a quilter of a century first. show one in three great finds have already been lost their lands on dollars will be spent so they end for a set of love and there's long been

a commercial ads to valentine's day but only strain time spending habits are changing and caterpillar reports on how reality it's taken a bite out of romance. saying it with flowers is a well established way of letting somebody know. saying it with a tooth brush though could quite possibly cause offense or perhaps even be. the economic being felt by people. even on the most romantic day of the globally valuable money is expected to be spent than ever before. the gifts are becoming more practical. out of the flowers than the toklas and all the. toothbrushes now according to. the. last thing the decadent western holiday just take you know. people tend to be more traditional with that gift and it's the men that are going to be doing the spending. very

mantic. flowers now according to a poll by see very three percent of respondents said that we're going to compose a poem for the love which is great which is absolutely fine as long as it's well written if not i could leave a girl hungry for more. analysts like a look at the markets now we'll start with oil which is their own but still hovering around a warm month high and that's after austerity plan approval by the greek parliament and tighten sanctions on the wrong. over two percent after companies in control of more than one hundred tankers stopped loading cargoes from iran. let's take a look at asian markets which are falling modestly after moody's rated since over a string of eurozone nations so in these recent and a half percent. let's move on to the russian markets two hours before the opening bell on monday the markets closed in the black with m i six scaling the

most in five weeks and the biggest gainers. that's how business looks for now ok. for the headlines.