sometimes you see a story. think you understand it and then. the big picture. put to the u.n. general assembly scrutinizes the syrian crisis the movie is seen by some attempt to tighten the screws on russia and china. europe gets hit with yet another wave of

downgrades as confidence collapses and the blocks future. presses ahead of the crusade against greece. and with the russian ways flooded with pre-election campaigning positive coverage of prime minister vladimir putin is an unfair advantage over the other presidential candidates. and you're watching. straight to our top story the u.n. 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 in beijing at the security council in. un human rights chief said in his ability of the board to take action on the syrian crisis and handed president carte

blanche to execute an all out assault. decisions at the general assembly and not legally binding some believe the votes could be used in an attempt to put pressure on both russia and china. explains. this meeting has definitely lasted 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 as an attempt from the saudi arabia and qatar to go to another body of the united nations an 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 to the syrian government as the main cause of the conflicts going on on the ground in syria but not the armed groups and that's something that continues to be a major sticking point the recognition of two sides to this conflict by the international community. effort to end violence to come with a negotiation attempts involving all syrian forces including the government and the opposition in order to start to talk to countries that have an influence over the opposition groups went to him now have been unwilling to should exert their power. we've been hearing all of these countries make speeches today you see it 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 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 i push for a cease fire so many are saying that should be a priority prioritized at the general assembly these days and not just you know a lot of words of criticism. when new york based correspondent in williams says if the action on syria is pushed through the un general assembly it could set a dangerous precedent the arab countries in the western countries want to show that they're doing something. if they were serious than they were oppressed for a special general assembly and emergency special general assembly meeting under the uniting for peace resolution and this you might remember field rich with irony was the form that the u.s. and britain used to fight the korean war in the face of

a soviet veto in the early fifty's since then it was resurrected by the palestinians to bypass the american b.t.o. in the security council and that's i presume is why it is not being invoked now because i use the phrase a non-binding resolution the resolution that established the state of israel partition this was a general assembly resolution that was not binding then where do we go from there. you know what we have is some powers say that resolutions they like a binding resolution they don't like a non-binding. the president of the general assembly could have followed earlier precedent and said that there was sufficient support for a special it. special session but it hasn't done so and i'm sure that's because a western pressure. they don't want to establish a precedent they consider these resolutions binding because that would be accepting next time the u.s. be there was a palestinian resolution. well alarming reports continue to emanate from the

protest hub of homs as opposition activists suggest the city is suffering its heaviest shelling for days with the spiraling violence now being fanned by players such as al qaida there concerns the crisis could become increasingly sectarian as artists earth now reports. the predominantly christian town of milly lies in the syrian mountains yet even here in this hauntingly beautiful place and the signs of the pale rising conflict is tearing apart much of the country right now creeping in and a sense of foreboding hangs heavy locals tell us they didn'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 we have been living here with all people regardless of their religion ethnicity in peace for

a long time. back in the center and damascus is known as a melting pot of religions the south alloway sector 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 to run. the country that until this crisis breakout was religiously diverse as the tolerance now the calm increasingly polarized genuine fears i just worry that those 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 illustrate the assad regime the 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 focusing 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 this is a time for them to think about long term sick carrion rests. many of them worrying about daily survival anyone or. anyone over there. yes i do are in syria right now the split still largely remains along little lines there's concern that it's increasingly bloody conflict continues it could turn into a think tarion one as well. damascus syria well still to come on the program a super power game is washington and beijing representatives meet to discuss corp u.s. abuse its forces in china's backyard. and tensions between israel and

iran escalate after a tentative lames tehran trying out to bomb attacks on embassy staff in does not assists on those events in just a few minutes. yet another wave of credit rating downgrade has hit the e.u. with moody's one of the big three ratings slashing the scores of italy spain and four other nations this as the bloke labors to erect a debt barrier around greece and his hopes that extreme austerity there will halt any possible contagion but as artesia who greece reports it's a plan that really seems to be unraveling. system under siege m.p.'s drowned out the pleas of tens of thousands of demonstrators masters in short passing another round of unpopular cuts. the results proved incendiary. if you got the protests turned violent as protesters including fringe anarchist 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 been broken as governments past increasingly unpopular austerity cuts will be left asking who can they trust their interest to measures and that is part of the poor people especially and this is the reason that we feel. today i think more measures have been taken and they're going to work in the end it will be another bill. bad 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. infrastructure of the whole country we know that it is. a day that we have no signs that the. bad we cannot continue like that because the government is following actually increases the dead instead of finding a solution at the heart of activists claims is their search and that they've noticed there. he for the best part of five years now and the time taxes have risen incomes have fallen but the country's deficit only seems to grow ending this austerity cycle is something sought by an increasing number despite the government walls will follow but what. exactly.

is the default default is going to be very tough for us but there's going to be. for now relative calm has returned to the streets of athens smashed buildings have been patched up the signs of damage swept away but the simmering discontent hasn't been forced medicine appears to bring nothing but pain many are continuing their. treatment greece athens. well despite a greece passing it's hard. yes there's no guarantee it will get more bailout cash still has conditions to fulfilling further cuts to protect against a greek default but international consultant and author. says the country is 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 flesh pay you ability of the solver and there is literally used to control the entire country and it's so sad to see the same sickening scene time and again protesters taking to the streets they are repressed by the police who tear gas they throw stones somebody gets injured hundreds get into somebody's always ends up getting killed and i always figure that it's the poor people on the street fighting the police who are also poor and i always wonder if there are a cigar smoking perched on the fifth floor boardroom looking down of these horrific scenes and just laughing at it all with a choice of a greek lenders are due to meet on wednesday to give the athens bailout their polluter approval the final say however rests with the german parliament something that's not sitting well with next kaiser well coming up a thirty g.m.t.

a unique take on your debt crisis and all kinds of reports. greeks approve 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 of. on again off again there is a deal now there is no german we're crazy we're trying to milk your drive and steal the elegant marbles but the u.k. already stole them. the arrival of the chinese vice president xi jinping in the us comes at testing point to relations between the two economic giants due to meet with his american counterpart joe biden the two are expected to work on ties against the backdrop of a u.s. military buildup in asia pacific but it's discussed so i want may come of this trip with a cheery of the china institute of international studies in beijing who joins us

now live on r.t. one of the central issues between the two nations has been iran and we know that one anti tehran lobbying group is pressuring the u.s. government to convince the chinese vice president to join the rain or even bother do you see that actually happening. i think. you need. to come with time. and stop the iran's efforts. but. i'm afraid. either way.

it's still. not. level. of political and so. forth. that. not discuss. such a veto. over the united states leader. but they will talk about a general first of all the. press their respective positions and opinions not. so detail into a posture. such as. iranian nuclear use to north korea or. america or is this securing bases and moving its navy to surround china really what does that mean for future relations. i think. just. us

a strategic focus through a simple fifty region. not a well for the whole. international or are you are in the. china will be very alert will be keeping an eye. on not stop something i think in the theater but i think. in fact the united states. the moves by the united states. in recent months in except for the region are not aimed totally china. it is part of the work to maintain the global leadership. role around the world so china because china is rising so rapidly and. it's

growing economically. to you. right obviously pacific. the leader in terms of both economic security area. ok nice to see you to international studies i'm sorry to have to leave it there but thank you very much for the few comments thank you. on the other stories making headlines around the world a south radical muslim cleric with alleged links to al qaeda said to have been bin laden's right hand man has been released from prison on bail came extremist preacher abu qatada has been in jail for six years last week a tribunal rooty should be freed but officials say he poses a threat to the country's security and attempts to deport him back to jordan to face terrorism charges have been blocked by the european court of human rights.

police fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters in brains capital of the first pro-democracy demonstrations crowds were attending illegal anti government rally had been held around about the country's uprising began a year ago at least sixty people have died since the shia led protests began last february but the money a constitutional monarchy. serves in the northern coast of holding a referendum on whether they accept the current rule of the self-proclaimed republic the results of the two day vote didn't we see today struggle to reunite with serbia belgrade there was condemned the referendum saying this will complicate dialogue with the breakaway state because of a declared independence in for every two thousand and eight but its status is still not recognized by many countries. now russia's legal voters is demanding that the

country's central channels drop their alleged appropriate in bias and marches presidential election the league starting for a fair election doesn't like the positive tone of reports about the prime minister saying it on the minds of those chances. are reports every candidate makes good use of their allotted a time. oh i doubt he'll a few days he did so far the most eccentric video in russia's presidential campaign urging to vote for the country's top populist bloody midget in a ski famous for his showmanship and occasional fist fights with fellow make is. similar to see see that this little mangy donkey has become a symbol of our country the whole country has gone to a standstill like this animal if i become president i will get moving again. less than a month to go and five candidates have plastered the streets with election posters desmond view is with t.v.

premises heated discussions have become part of everyday life. i don't cos in the race the billionaire businessman mikhail prokhorov promises their arrival of a new russia with a new president known for his quite riches and playboy past he is the only new face on russia's political scene formally and a tory as party animal his reputation was once dented by an international sex scandal which has come back to haunt him on the lam revegetate helping us with all 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 some of the a crowd united you got of the oton communist party leader has always relied on the pension of voters who form about one third of russia's population now his laurels all contested once again middle of from with a russia polity is the notion of beans you can't even afford to milk whether

pensioners. the competition has made you gonna reach out to younger generation and offer them a brand new slogan there's always a choice bloody mad putin running for his that time has refrained from getting involved in the campaign directly he has controversially refused to take part in any t.v. debates sending. representatives instead and he's promised to never show his face. 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 oh he's a job as prime minister he is very 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 as the campaign picks up steam it's expected so will the number of street protests both for and against putin and it's likely election two thousand and twelve will be remembered

as one that got russians on their feet all of a village just being in the polls also show the level of support keeps on rolling across the country despite the wave of opposition protests i think that brought us then to mobilize his core electorate because when people like brought her up are saying that you know the social benefits should be caught that factories that are inefficient because that stage would not interfere so much i think that the message that people gather cross russia is that like we should keep. busy even a song a recent online secession praising the prime minister's virtues sung by supposedly . it claims to be by his initials was sent to russia by god. bless her the many say this song is clearly too much and is just

a club the headaches in the meantime the electoral campaign will be sewn with more surprises likely along the way. party. well i getting up for the playoffs kick off in the moscow frost a preview of tonight's game between me being in greece is an impi all costs coming up in sports minutes in around twenty five minutes but first the business news with marina. hello and welcome to business here and i see that we start this hour with the russian crops where mother nature is once again playing tricks just a year after a severe drought the country's plantains are facing a cold test and our business model is dying a bushel has more for us. the home of crops may have been damaged by the extreme cold weather say farmers its lead germany france and poland are also risk from

sustained low temperatures which is thirty three in some polls that's expected to skyrocket prices for things like bread wheat futures have been through of the ukraine government warns they may limits exports to guarantee the mystic supply both countries are usually big exporters of grain global we proceed eleven percent in the second hole for january alone we will russia's top port never receive suspended its grain terminal several times after the black sea froze over for the first time in thirty years a drought from july to november last year has already weakened crops so than one company says fifty percent of the country's great could be damaged by heavy winds and the worst weather in a cool to of a century first. show one in three great points have already been lost. by let's take a look at the markets now we'll start with exchange rates the euro is trading flat against the dollar of the shoes then that's after being down in early asian trading

due to read in downgrades by moody's investor service and we'll have more of that a little bit later but the move by the rating agency weighs on the robot which is seen more and gains and gas and currency. but all i know is that but still hovering around a one month high and that's after the austerity upon approval by the greek parliament as well as tighten sanctions on iran interest climbed over two percent after companies in control of more than one hundred tankers said they would stop loading cargo. in iran let's move on to europe stock markets they're open lower with sentiment and wait by a fresh crop of downgrades and ratings caused by moody's the ratings agency not to notions of spain sovereign that rating and cut its outlooks on the u.k. and france too negative. over in asian markets have reversed earlier losses in the bank of japan surprise the market by expanding its asset purchase program and the bank also said. one hundred twenty eight billion dollars will be used to buy japanese government bonds. this hour markets are flat negative

the arts u.s. is losing a third of a percent while the my sense is adding just the last let's take a look at the index movers on the my sites and there's the majors are dragging the index lower but local oil has managed to sustain the pressure traders say investors are moving their stock from the rolleston after and that's after all the increase plan capital expenditures for this year banking stocks are also lower although the second largest lender we to be is slowly escaping the negative territory and looking ahead to the rest of the week home monday from told us that russian investors will be waiting for the new economic data from europe in the us. the us. as well as job of production are coming. out some numbers on the market. look at those numbers as a reflection of how very rude economy is improving the implication about it's also in the euro zone if we can get a soft landing in china i'm not stephanie someone who drives russian markets with

your numbers you would expect he's still a mess in particular to run. you know the news all rosso the world's largest diamond mine are by all put may sell forty percent in the i.p.o. according to commerce and they leave the flotation worth over one billion dollars may take part in the second half of the year. and over in germany beer lovers will soon have the opportunity to enjoy a new flavor of their favorite beverage and that. because russia's six largest bro or i chockablock has decided set up production elevator p.n. country company plans to increase its presence in the german markets head full of this year by brewing five million liters of beer a second us says it's forced to expand the broad view to some regulatory pressure from russia as their markets. that's all the business is for and that will carry snacks for the headlines.

resistance is not a politics but a culture. this couldn't. sell on its own.