it's syrian rebels say they'll keep using captured peacekeepers as human shields in the disputed heights despite the un for the immediate release. of. the un security council unanimously votes to adopt more sanctions on north korea following pyongyang's nuclear tests last month. could spend up to twelve years in prison for masterminding an attack on his artistic director. of his involvement but said splashing acid on his boss wasn't the planned. mourning of the country braces itself a change after the death of its. we examine the prospects of the political transition the top stories.

around the world on the screen online international news and comment line from our new center here in moscow this is. the u.n. is demanding the release of a group of its peacekeepers taken hostage by syrian rebels in the golan heights the militants say they're using the observers as human shields and will hold them until syrian government forces pull back from a nearby village middle east correspondent has the details. all twenty one you in personnel well armed they're all from the philippines and we've heard from the philippines foreign office who has demanded their immediate release the philippines government says that they are being treated well that negotiations are underway to try and secure their release the militants are admitting that they took these u. n. personnel to try and prevent an attack by assad's loyalists in other words what

we're seeing is that the rebel forces are using this you and seen as human shields now the u.n. has of course condemned this action we've heard criticism particularly from moscow at the united nations there is no reason at all under any circumstances any kind of a sick imagination to try to harm those people so clearly gross disrespect for united nations gross disrespect of international norms of behavior now the united nations is currently also involved in negotiating their immediate release according to the united nations its team were on a regular mission in the area we're talking about an area not far from the israeli syrian border that happened earlier on wednesday when they were taken hostage paula slayer there were leading up to the hostage crisis western powers in that arab allies have been stepping up support for the syrian rebels arab league ministers have decided to let member states government forces but some like germany have

surprisingly warned against sending weapons to the militant opposition but it is also so far remained hesitant over a training mission like britain france or these nice and early reports. this shift is on the heels of secretary of state john kerry announcing last week that the u.s. would finally provide direct aid to the syrian opposition and help push forward the two year fight to topple president assad the the just here though non lethal aid opposition groups despite not being united are already getting plenty of cash arms and training from friends in the region especially gulf states like saudi arabia qatar well not only were the rebels disappointed the u.s. isn't being more generous with their weapons they're having a bit of a laugh online check out this video that has emerged on facebook of fighters on the ground trying to survive on so-called non-lethal weapons take a closer look brave on a chair even what looks like some kind of sanitizing hand jealousy later in the

video you can hear what sounds like actual intent shelling at some point with the only defense these silly makeshift weapons certainly many civilians on the ground won't find this funny especially with the international community finally realizing the fact that sending more arms especially lethal arms could worsen an already dire situation most recently germany's foreign minister warning against sending arms to militants in syria saying that such a measure would broaden the conflict in the country and throughout the region. u.n. teams came on the phone from the syrian rebels last year and the group also seized near the jordanian border this january well let's get more on the hostage crisis now from dr rod ones the other is a member of the syrian national council thank you very much indeed for joining us is your organization now in danger of losing international support over this hostage crisis. this in c.

but i think that's right. it was intimate it was a mistake and but i'm not sure that they since he isn't a control of that group of the free syrian army who detained some un members i've been in direct contact with the different groups in the free syrian army called in you to release all of them it wasn't should be done like this but sort of i got as excuse me b. as your own explanation that some the u.n. members they facilitate some food and some maybe some ammunition to that i said to me forces who are based there because of the free syrian army with their seat on grooves and this b.t.n. until they said under and they were in member just maybe. some life in munition

some food and other equipment. said the regime members and this is why it was but again that should be more explanation and done more transparency in this issue because this is a serious issue ok what whatever the reasons were for taking these people hostage are you saying that this group these hostage takers are indeed part of the free syrian army and they're not breakaway extremist rebels. no no they are not extremist extremist and i don't think that they they have they have any intention to damage their stories will get in a dangerous situation well you know they're not going to put them in any danger but there for them what if they simply release them because this is not doing the free syrian army the s.n.c. or any of the opposition any good in terms of p.r. is it. that's right that's right this is why i said that this is not an acceptable

and we from from yesterday we did kirk communication with all different good all to release all of them and to give us acts of a nation why they did that so it is a very you know how you organize ations don't seem to have any control over these people and there is definitely a danger is there not that extremists could well hijack the mission of the s.n.c. over its calls to remove assad and actually take power themselves that's where all this chaos could lead to couldn't but fair so far and we have to. consider in our consideration that the seat and be pulled out a very frustrated are the lack of the action from that a national hero from the u.n. and this is why for him it's a un is a useless are gonna say sions they did nothing for them to stop deck in question also i said regime committed crimes ongoing crimes and committed a crime against humanity that was not only all to see that's the line on me that

they only it's not the issue now of the un being did to him in detention they should allow the un can do to stop the scud missiles the international community can do any action to stop the scarred all the longer range missiles which made by and are shot to stop the killing to see it and be part of this is that question so actually you know admitting that this is anger against the un and western allies for not helping the syrian opposition enough not by taking hostages surely that isn't the way forward is naturally negotiation and dialogue b.s. and see your job now to really start talking to assad after all the trouble in the chaos and loss of life after a couple of years now. you know the issue how the international community how this security council can take action to stop that from using the air force from using the longer range missiles against the scene and be what's more than fifty being

killed in iraq yesterday because the scud missiles and today off course in my down in other cities still every day we have a victims we have a civilian casualties being called you are on blood you are getting killed for it and i also don't see it getting help for you really i mean you're getting when they are bleak even the u.s. congress is probably allowed of a sixty million dollars towards the cause of your fight in syria the u.k. as announced plans to help more but me what more help do you need all of that as non-lethal equipment to their free syrian army that russia they are shipping supplying the acid the regime every day every day according to the old and new contracts with that ship it was shipments long range missiles anti craft and out of that this is why all of the help that they wish they give did every see it out on me not to equal one of the eighteen and russians telling us of providing us or the regime and this is why there is no comparison to the syrian people they need to

have to defend themselves but that they get the help from the irish and from iran to kill the seed and people to kill innocent civilians and to call children and women doctor red ones the other thank you very much indeed for joining us we appreciate you joining us live here on r t thank you. anger in egypt for the city of port saïd once again the epicenter of the troubles the egyptian army and. the city which have been plagued with unrest and violence for a fourth day report on that later in the program. but first the bolshoi ballet dancer suspected of masterminding an attack on his artistic director is facing twelve years in jail because of the two others involved in the assault he's charged with causing grievous bodily harm at thursday's pretrial hearing in a moscow court. said he did order the attack but didn't mean for his boss to be splashed with acid. has been following the scandal. on march the sixteenth

pavel dmitrichenko was due in the bolshoi theater behind me to take part in another great performance there he will not be there he will be staying in detention and least until april the eighteenth a judge has ordered that's when the investigation will wrap up into this case of this acid attack possibly longer that was ordered by a pretrial at a pretrial detention hearing today and that was after mr leach a chain co had said that he did admit that he had committed a crime but he had to collude with his two accomplices and paid them about one and a half thousand dollars but he did not plead guilty to ordering them to throw acid in the face of surrogate fill in the direct the artistic director of the bolshoi theater there is

a cloud of rumor circling around this case and there will be as long as it is as long as it goes on all of this stuff sort of starts to fall away from hard facts and it's a lot more based around rumor the police have said that as far as their statement goes that there was a lot of animosity between surrogate filin and pummelled demitra cenk over and that the this attack was likely due to tensions at work beyond that there is widespread rumors that it may have to do with the puzzle to me to change girlfriend also a famous dancer at the bolshoi who has been turned down by surrogate fill in more than once for lead roles in ballets there and that that may also may have had something to do with this fall out which resulted in this acid being thrown in surrogate felons face the trials will take its time to unravel all of this

attention surrounded around these individuals and the bolshoi is making this theater and everyone connected with it famous for all the wrong reasons. well earlier on entertainment correspondent martin andrews told my colleague transfer about the ugliest side to life on the stage of the bolshoi. in the front of the feet you see a beautiful production but really the drama backstage is i think it's everyday life in a production house and that's what it is it's a factory from from the problems with the understudies from the problems with cars thing from the problems of of management who were dances they were bitter about their faded career it's not an easy world to be in obviously the rivalries between companies within moscow and with the mets and the skull and they all want to be at the top of their game and tensions are always high in fraud and this is the first time we've had these sort of things happen right well this is certainly

a very severe but there been other kind of scandals what is this it's called drama for a reason if a year ago stravinsky's rite of spring was postponed and in fact one of the dances that. she was actually said that she was threatened by various people and she she actually went over to canada in fear of her life in fear of that it would escalate beast and she was between the theatrical ballet world would escalate into violence and obviously as we see with the result. that happened in january it happens and this may reduce it down to a level of a cliche but we have this blockbuster movie black swan that cloud that's absolutely what is live with the black swan film not important it really highlights the you know the extremities and the tensions and especially with the with the management with the hiring in the firing its everyday life and sometimes it can seem like a wonderful place to work but it they were reality is somewhat different. still to

come here naughty we examine venezuela's upcoming political transition after the death of its cars. also ahead this hour breaking with tradition for the photos the shopping the mainstream politics opting instead for tentative we take a closer look at the trend shortly after this break stay with us. wealthy british style it's time to explain the fine. market why not. come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike stronger for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune into cars a report. released be told language.

will use programs and documentaries in arabic it's all here on all t.v. reporting from the world talks about six of the yard p. interviews intriguing stories for you to. see then try. to find out more visit our big. dog called. the world to the. science technology innovation all the latest developments from around russia we've got the future covered. news continues here in r.t. in egypt there is no sign of calm after four days of continual outbreaks of violence protesters set streets on fire in port side and a challenge to the state's authority army and security forces were deployed to the

sea the rioting crowds of the morning the release of prisoners charged for their involvement in a deadly soccer stadium disaster in the city a year ago what a find out more on what's going on in crisis torn egypt i'm not joined live by artie's bell truce she's on the phone so tell us what is happening there in port at the moment. between the government. and security people can continue into the night. all the way through the all to new unit and we were hit by the main character building and watching about six or seven curries all that they had on top of the building tearing rocks on pretense at protective ok during mama talks that pretty close to having a good youth all between the last few days on a gun charge for calm concerned whether or not they are nine. point anything you could only think drug clean record six people killed in the last few days hundreds injured for the injuries this evening going to find

a minute here to go think of line all because it's a great folks. who have been around for cash to come back all the quotes i need to take the stadium and they need to be very lucky and to bring content to the fence around footprint resident that you can consider has been sparked a. city when they try to move. from the prison to the cage comedy's all don't get pregnant kane the street is fucked the particular attraction really pressure coming from cairo in. cairo continent to continent are going on than staying at the got a good. action against the former minister of interior and the current minister of interior a similar sentiment to being said here on the street. and they are being treated

extensively from the country and what we really are. going to be expected to bind and to continue under human to think on. things very much and do it for the love of truth on the line. security council stepped up sanctions. against north korea in response to pyongyang's defiant nuclear test last month the resolution for more penalties was unanimously approved by all fifteen member states while the us has threatened even more harsh measures if north korea carries out yet another atomic test what is going to china has more. well north korea is definitely paying the price for that nuclear test last month the un security council has unanimously condemned the test and now they also unanimously voted on a resolution to strengthen sanctions on north korea yet again the sanctions will target north korean banks and cash core years who might be funneling money to to the regimes nuclear and missile programs the resolution also outlines measures to

step up scrutiny of suspicious sea shipments and air cargo and expense restrictions on several institutions and senior officials in north korea's weapons industry as well as a range of materials and technology known to be used as uranium enrichment this is just yet another round of sanctions on north korea you can say the world is united on that although china is north korea's ally it too condemned that test together with all other members of the security council north korea carried out a nuclear test in two thousand and six in two thousand and nine which prompted the security council to impose sanctions including a ban on the import of nuclear and missile technology and an arms embargo while two months ago they tightened those sanctions against pyongyang in response to its december rocket launch and now there are some doubts on the a fact of those sanctions what's also contributing to the tension the u.s. and south korea started their joint military exercises this week the combination of

sanctions and military drills by the u.s. and south korea has sent the isolated regime in pyongyang into a frenzy of threats north korea has called the annual drills an open declaration of war so further military buildup around north korea could actually to the simmering tensions. venezuelans have been paying their respects to the country's late leader as he didn't do it a long battle with cancer but it was said to be a halt to time which killed the president of fourteen years it was his funeral is now friday the russian president vladimir putin said that he will be remembered as someone who always had the people's best interests in mind. the correct total on chavez was a brave and very thorough man who was able to showcase strong character to go through with his plans he genuinely wanted to rid the countries poor citizens of their plight and improve their lives but chavez became the symbol of independence throughout latin america while he was still alive he joined the legendary ranks of

simon bolivar fidel castro and shake of our. world questions and the future of the country's political direction vice president nicolas maduro is the interim leader and is widely expected to succeed. in a month from now lizzie feelin the producer for ati's video agency ruptly gage the atmosphere in the venezuelan capital in caracas today is the streets are very calm but really very somber basically the coffin of hugo chavez was taken through the streets today and was finally taken to the military academy where literally thousands of people have gathered outside the military academy and there's a queue which seems to know no end of people who are waiting to be able to see the body of hugo chavez and pay their final respects people are still very much in a state of shock obviously hugo chavez has been battling with cancer for a very long time at the moment there's a lot of confusion about what kind of coming days and weeks have to bring all of

the projects back as it was taken over the last fourteen years that he was in power benefited the most marginalized sections of venezuelan society of course before hugo chavez came into power in one thousand nine hundred nine venezuela was one of the most unequal societies and that gap has been reduced because of a number of social programs that were brought in by hugo chavez banks to be immense oil wealth that this country has and who. came to power in one thousand nine hundred nine much of that oil wealth was obviously going into the pockets of a very small elite in venezuela. and which. supporters today say form the backbone essentially of the opposition that if the opposition again took power then essentially the country would back to pre-one thousand nine eleven stream and quality obviously we know that there's going to be elections in the next thirty days and among the supporters of the people who have been out in the streets today they're very confident that the vice president nicolas maduro is going so

comfortably win the next elections but of course you know that remains to be seen. the u.k.'s traditional political parties are losing supporters to their non stream rivals the conservatives suffered a major blow at the recent by election and easily beaten into third place by the u.k. independence party they were once described by prime minister david cameron as a bunch of fruitcakes loonies in closet racist party sarah firth looks at the shifting shape of british politics. britain's political landscape is changing the stranglehold of the old three party system appears to be listening and it's a pin the door to some colorful alternatives with all the polls and percentages and opinions from politicians and pundits it can be hard to get a clear picture of exactly what's happening in british politics right now as are looking at last week's byelection in eastley saw not three not four not five but full team different candidates of all shapes sizes and colors and all of them

willing to take on the mainstream party to recast government in britain. from. democracy to bottom up genuine democracy where the larger all have to obey the will of the people they to disillusionment it seems is an all time high something that's backed up by recent polls and there's certainly a bit of a perception that maybe the traditional parties aren't concentrating on some issues particularly around immigration that we know is a big issue for many members of the public puts can certainly be a hard bunch to please it used to be that fed up voters would throw their backing behind the liberal democrats but not anymore. possibly for us as a party which is good but it doesn't mean the protest has had to go somewhere else and the one of the above party has the moment as you keep many other parties using

the sea change in public opinion as a blank canvas on which to stamp their mark. a protest vote. that's a lot to. keep beating the conservatives to second place in eastley last week might have come as a shock to some but it's not. first time a small parties stolen the show in a byelection last year and the respect party had a sensational win when george galloway won the proudfit seat from labor of course gaining a bit of media coverage is one thing turning that attention into votes in a ballot box and winning seats is quite another something few of the smaller parties have yet been able to day but with a general election not say far off and with some polls putting almost half of the recent support the ukip is coming from former conservative voters well you can

perhaps understand why the prime minister's not the picture of happiness right now . r.t. london that's a good moment because a report is next. did any of you seen darth vader is storm troopers trying to make their way into the ukrainian justice ministry as part of a protest well probably a lot of you saw this fun viral video but how many people remember what exactly they wanted and what their protest demands were all about probably not that many trust me i just did that using wacky protest tactics gets media attention and if

you are pushing a cause that media attention is critical but when no one even gets what you want or why you are in that wacky costume it doesn't help there seems to be like almost a protest a culture and language like you see people protesting there so satisfied with themselves in their costumes and silly gimmicks but if your protest is actually aimed at people in power then the how is it going to cure cost of goods with the opinion of heartless bureaucrats sitting in some soulless office again media attention is great but if you want to be taken seriously wearing a rainbow wig and thawing while fighting for your rights doesn't seem to send the right message but that's just my opinion. max kaiser welcome to the kaiser report. month eight in evil genius.