welcome back here with r t here's a look at the top stories international law on the line as the u.s. talks with tougher action on syria without u.n. consent this comes as the rebels issue a cease fire all to made them to damascus despite being implicated in violations of the u.n. peace plan themselves. the father of the late former russian security officer example of an ngo who died of radioactive poisoning in london in two thousand and six reveals the names of those he believes were behind his son's death itself exiled tycoon boris berezovsky who russia's still once extradited from britain is named among the masterminds. and around irish voters head to the polls in

a referendum on the e.u. fiscal treaty which opponents say amounts to nothing more of them permanent a stary controlled by brussels while a backlash against cuts sweeps across europe the plan will mean centralized brussels control of national budgets which those of gans did say means handing over sovereignty to the e.u. . and as ireland decides whether to back or reject the fiscal treaty up next r.t. sits down was richard boyd barrett an irish politician and campaigner. today i'm talking to richard boyd barrett he's a member of the irish parliament and a leading light in the new campaign on the referendum on the fiscal pact which thanks for talking to us tell us just what the fiscal pact is the pact is a european agreement which countries are being asked to sign up to which will

compel the goldmans to reduce debt and deficit figures by a certain amount per year over a long period of time and what we're concerned about is that that in effect because of all of the gambling debts of banks and speculators have been put on to the books of the state and that this would mean permanent austerity billions worth of colt's every year for at least a decade or more in order to meet the treaty targets and that we believe will do untold damage to the economy which is already very traumatized and impose even more suffering on working people on the less well off and vulnerable in our society who have already been devastated by four years of austerity and talk to me more about that what's the same economic backdrop against which this referendum is being how well and now we have four hundred fifty thousand people in employed we've had two hundred thousand people leave the country because there is no work we've got

approximately three quarters of a million people living in poverty about a quarter of a million children living in poverty literally going to bed hungry at night. we have public services that have been devastated by austerity cuts imposed by the e.u. i.m.f. over the last four years so really people cannot take much more pain and equally if this has not done anything to help the economy recover the economy has tipped back into recession and i think if you look at the rest of europe it's clear the austerity policies have also driven the wider your ozone into into recession so we think we have to call a halt to. this policy which is simply not working which is doing extreme damage if you like to the social and economic fabric of europe and what's the atmosphere like hey we hear from the greeks that this constant pushing for more and more austerity from the government is creating this kind of atmosphere of fear in the country is it the same here yes i think the government's main weapon in trying to get people to vote yes has been fear tracts that money won't come out of the a.t.m.

that the be no money to pay pensions and social welfare so there's no positive reasons being given it's just we've got to take this austerity all the wise there will be disaster and in fact we think the disaster is happening already it's clear greece have been if you like the major victims of austerity and now they're proposing to generalize that austerity model right across europe and it didn't work in greece what makes them think it's going to work in the rest of europe and what's at stake what accepting declining the pact actually mean for the irish people well i think if we accept we're essentially giving the government a mandate to impose austerity for the next ten or fifteen years if we vote no i think we will be aligning ourselves with a growing movement in europe that we've seen with the french elections with the greek elections recently with the big protest movements developing in spain and portugal and even in germany itself where the opposition are refusing to ratify this treaty and i think we will be aligning ourselves with those forces who are

saying austerity hasn't work hasn't worked and that we need to focus on jobs investment financial stimulus and economic growth rather than the failed and describe the policy of austerity how financially integrated is. talking bank bailouts that kind of thing oh were very deeply intertwined europe for our you know our biggest trading partners so there's no doubt host as our phase is linked to the wider european economy but i think there is a battle going on in europe as to whether we follow the merkel's our cosy model of austerity and bailing out bank. or whether we go in a different direction where we prioritize employment protection of public services and economic growth and we're certainly for the latter you seem so sure that the. funding to even if the vote does go against messes proposed by brussels what makes you say well i think there's an implication to europe bales countries

in fact what they're doing is bailing out the european financial system that's the reason they're providing assistance and if they perceive a trace to european banks to german french and british banks they will provide funding because otherwise the entire eurozone will collapse so we think it's a bogus threat to suggest if we vote no they're going to cut off funding because they would be calling off their nose to spite their face almost every major political party is in the yes camp and this treaty is already being ratified by old two european countries can so many political and economic minds b. roll well that's not strictly true governments have signed up have agreed to fight the treaty but in fact many of those governments are now finding themselves on able to actually get the treason through their parliaments so the dutch government have been unable to get it through their parliament francois hollande is delaying the ratification precisely because he believes on its own it will do more

damage to the french economy and now angela merkel cannot even get the fiscal treaty which she wrote effectively through the german parliament because the german opposition are saying it will mean more colds and do damage to the german economy so i think there's a real question mark over whether this treaty can be pushed through and we want to add our ways to the forces in europe that are saying more austerity won't work and that we need a different approach the yes camp says if the fiscal pact isn't ratified irish people will be subject to hostile for longer it will be more expensive to borrow money on the international markets. and there would be no more bailouts chile all of the situations that you would want to avoid no i don't believe first of all it will be difficult for the austerity to be any worse than how it is being over the last four years we've had twenty four billion euro sucked out of the economy with devastating consequences and the fiscal treaty would require us to take more or less the same amount over the next number of years which can only have the effect

of more unemployment more you can all mixed nation more suffering for people so we believe there is an alternative to that and that is to focus instead on investment jobs and growth rather than the continuous policy of bailing out the bondholders and the banks the calls the crisis in the first place was about this idea of it seems that some of what is at stake hey if this kind of emotional feeling of nationhood can island to forwards to have that kind of pride at the moment it's well i'd like to put it more in terms of democracy not just for our jim but for europe as a whole than what the fiscal it will do will centralize more power over economic policy into the hands of the owner elected european union commission and the european central bank and the european court of justice when really it should be democratically elected representatives both on a national level european level who should dictate policy as the people decide so we don't think we should tie ourselves into a treaty that will essentially enforce

a particular economic policy or dogma on people in perpetuity how thought at the moment from the greek situation i think if we continue down the road of austerity where about a year behind greece in terms of the devastation that is likely to be calls to the economy in our society is so we think it is very very urgent that we call a halt to that and demand that both our government and european leaders in the policy of bailing out banks and paying for it with brutal austerity being imposed on the people when that is doing such obvious and serious damage to. the economy and its prospects for recovery on an still dependent financing and courts need inspections to decide on each new tranche of money that's released that way and still the referendum results what can be done still well i mean certainly i don't believe the y m f program is working and i don't believe it's a bailout for the irish people as i said i think it really is a bailout for a d.

french british european banks people who engage in the reckless speculation that has destroyed the european economy and on extreme damage to our economy so i think we have to strike a different path where we instead put the resources directly into infrastructural projects into enterprise into employment measures that can get people back to work and restart the european economy and get it i was of the extreme stagnation that is now. you know suffocating at the entire eurozone richard boyd barrett thank you very much.

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it anational on the line as the u.s. talks of tougher action on syria without un consent this comes as the rebels issue a cease fire all to made into damascus despite being implicated in violations of the u.n. peace plan themselves. and are out irish voters head to the polls in a referendum on the e.u. fiscal tree which opponents say amounts to nothing more than permanent astaire controlled by brussels while a backlash against cuts sweeps across europe the plan will mean centralized brussels controlled national budgets which those against it say leans handing over sovereignty to the e.u. . the father of the way former russian security officer example of an ngo who died of radioactive poisoning in london in two thousand and six reveals the names of those he believes were behind his son's death itself exiled tycoon bars very soft

rushes to once extradited from britain is named among the masterminds. of the headlines here on our t.v. and sports next with him on. well welcome this is for an art scene with me room on costs for a plenty of french open tennis news up ahead but first let's go to the headlines. for jock which continues his quest for a maiden french open title after beating blood in straight sets to go through to round three. sisters alex venus of voyeurs joined serino on the french open losers list following defeat two of his current bond's cup hole now faced russia says that like because that. is it third time lucky russian women's basketball team aim to improve on their two of them big bronze by staking

a claim to the summit of the upcoming games in london. but first to tennis in paris and world number one novak djokovic has become the first man to reach the third round as he continues his quest for a maiden french open title the top ranked serbian was broken once by a blood venia but otherwise was hard to troubled on route sixty six four six four when joke that she is searching for his fourth straight grand slam title and his first at roh longer all sides are losing in the semifinals three times before including last year at the hands of roger federer. i'm happy with the game overall listening to everything was was working really well. just for the couple of games in the second set. didn't move is efficient as maybe i did the first set but aside that everything is working great you know on mom

feeling better and better every match. so joe coaches once again in alliance made federer in the last four stage as the swiss master dropped a set but still outclassed lesser known for mania and adrian six three six two six seven six three. now the local crowd had a reason to celebrate as it eleventh egil seem on over to brian baker of the united states the frenchman is through following a fight said victory. very important to keep my so the first game it was a difficult game was a rude if you seen my sort of so it was really important to save this one and then i managed to put some pressure on the game after. it was i knew it would be harder for him and you have to seize the fish. pretty for me missed a few shots at this moment i managed to break him and. then.

meanwhile argentina's one martin del potro came from a set down self last frenchman edwarda or a share vessel and so much vertical the czech republic dispatched local better and make a draw and crowd favorite show for its own god match with cedric marcel stabat from germany was delayed due to rain. in the women's open seven time grand slam champion venus williams produced far too many errors in her match with advance guy it ended six two six three in the favor of the goal who will now face russia's so that a lot of hits over the next round venus now joins our sister serena who was eliminated earlier. you know first of all obviously she played really well you know it's important. to you know that's what she had to do in this and you know unfortunately i was in my best today. you know. so top seed victoria azarenka conceded just two games as the australian open

champion thrashed german qualifier david up fison meyer six one six one of this than an hour but the belorussians says life at the top is anything but easy. being number one is it's a difficult job because everybody wants to want to catch you everybody want to move you from the smarts so you have to work with number two number three number four number one hundred two you know you still have to put in a lot of work nothing is going to come easy just because you are number one you know you should have more people trying to more people motivated trying to beat you . and there was huge disappointment for the home crowd after world number eight is murray on bartoli one crashing out of for each us bet for a mortgage six two three six six three was the final score there. i think i don't imagine the first six to be on ice was you i really start to play when i was down which is a bit late. and then at the end of week it was really. some

points here and there i didn't see where if there said she served are better than me but i really thought i'd. say it was really in equal terms. former champion so that's a lot of close knit solve a lot of it's both a vast and straight sets while u.s. open winner sam stosur needed just over an hour to dispatch an american company six one six four and this really is wary of next opponent. who had the better off south african chanel shutters and now it is different to play where you go to you know be ready she can play great she can have a huge serve. and she's been at the top of the top of the game before so you've got to be ready for her to be on. moving on to basketball and with just under two months to go before their opening game in the london olympics the russian women's

team are aiming to go at least one better than two previous bronze medal finishes the games come in a year with special historical significance are some trigger rounds with the details. since russia started to participate in the olympics as an independent state it has never tasted victory in either the man school women's conversations but twenty twelfth represents to poignant anniversaries for two major victories in soviet basketball in one nine hundred seventy two the men's team claimed their first ever olympic gold in munich in a dramatic final against the americans while two decades later in one thousand nine hundred ninety two they women's unified team celebrated one of their big triumphs in barcelona by defeat in china in the decider and so ahead of the upcoming london games one of russia's leading players hold our attention admits even today it's hard to underestimate dos achievements that's when the song to be honest when you stand on such great place and feel that passion about this game it really makes you

understand how important such a victory could be for the country and it's also great to hear them wishing the best for us in an atmosphere like that however besides follow in the countries victorious school steps to rein in european champions aiming high in their own right at the olympics their performance at the essence in beijing games and russia two consecutive groans mendel's and this year bri sokolowski steam will definitely be looking for medals of higher value oh man the goal is for the. chiefs. to ask for limpy games for what. it must be. for second place to achieve these goals the coaching staff would have to pick twelve players out of the twenty two. that was cold for the national school at the absence of some of the teams long term leaders like. well merriest upon

a through injury may seen you to step in on the pitch or coolies one such player to become one of the lucky dozen ruler present russia in london in just under two months time and the twenty seven year old beliefs everyone has a chance to make the team you know i believe that this year. less people are guaranteed a place out believe that years before there has been seven or eight. guaranteed you know unless they get into something they go but they always go to see i believe it's going to be a hard decision for the poles inspired by the glorious results of previous generations and hungry for success of their own the russian team now heads into seven weeks of training and if their physical strength and texaco's skills could be joined by a little bit of luck the country's best could bill history may acquire another distinguished chapter. archie. let's get

stateside now where in the n.b.a. miami survived on rondo's career high forty four points and take the eastern conference final game to an overtime one fifteen one eleven played all fits of three minutes of the game scoring all twelve of boston's points and overtime finishing with forty four points ten assists and eight rebounds however it was not enough to beat miami on the nights as the bron james scored thirty four while dwayne wade at twenty three that means miami heat will travel to boston with this thing series advantage. and only one friendly remains for russia head of the european football championship in poland and ukraine the final test takes place in zurich on friday against former world champions it's a head coach dick advocaat is still facing tough choices though both for the number one position and the attacking line so. it's got moscow's even taken faves and the neat st petersburg's but just left my lot they have proved their equally match fits in the last two friendlies against the euro why and little way however east it

seems scoring abilities that are and downs with alexander cares a call by bill pogrebnyak and rim on public chant go all vying for the center forward slots the match versus it's the takes place on friday and that's exactly one week before russia's year old twins it's all the opener against the czech republic involved poland. now let's talk about chess because it's on a non's has defended his world sides all right here in the russian capital moscow's trichy call our gallery provided home to this close the fault match which was a fish battle of two eyes as indian grandmaster on and held off israeli challenger boris gelfand on a break the players were side at six points of peace after winning a game each and drawing the other ten so it went down to the decider with winning one of the four x. four games all fast chess it was enough to help the forty two year old root same his thigh sell off on this world champion the accolade he's been holding since two

thousand and seven and he put his drive down to mental strength. i would say simply that my nerves. i mean even beautiful games so much back in full. well i simply hung on for dear life. i won't play more than that. less than a couple of hours from now but you may find us and any time just look for our sport use and thank you for watching. thank.