the latest news in the week's top stories u.s. officials continue to deny a mass hunger strike at guantanamo bay where more than one hundred detainees have reportedly been starving themselves for forty days. two years since the bloody conflict began some european state to put weapons directly into the hands of rebel armies crawling with islamist extremists. and the handover of power in china is complete with the new leaders aiming to keep the economy and military investments growing as the u.s. continues to build its presence in the region our top stories this hour.

with a look back at the week's leading stories and the latest developments this is the weekly on. a hunger strike at guantanamo bay is continuing after forty days with more than one hundred detainees reportedly starving themselves in protest at the desecration of the qur'an by prison guards lawyers for the captives claim the state of their health is close to life threatening but the u.s. military strongly denied the crisis saying only fourteen detainees are refusing all food. reports. u.s. president barack obama began his first term announcing his intention to close the guantanamo bay detention center now just two months into his second term the prison enters its twelfth year of operation with one hundred sixty six detainees still languishing behind bars and a reported one hundred thirty life threatening hunger strike and their hunger strikes are the only way they have of even making themselves heard years and

years without any hope a release without any real charges this story has been denied by washington and essentially ignored by mainstream media outlets lawyers for the get more prisoners say the men began the hunger strike on february sixth to protest against the alleged confiscation of personal items such as photographs and mail and the sacrilegious handling of their qur'an during cell searches the center for constitutional rights says they've received reports of detainees coughing up blood losing consciousness dropping more than twenty pounds and being hospitalized by day forty five medical experts say hunger strike participants can experience hearing loss and potential blindness and that's in addition to the psychological suffering they've endured for more than a decade that context where we have individuals incarcerated isolated from each other and they don't know if they're going to get out tomorrow

or never in that sense of the circumstance for extreme a psychological stress it's really an abominable you know humanitarian situation where you're depriving these people of life liberty and for no really valid basis the director of public affairs for joint task force guantanamo captain robert duran released a statement to r.t. in it he denies all claims of a mass hunger strike or any mishandling of the koran duran says only fourteen detainees at the detention center are refusing all food. our understanding is that based on previous standards the determination of who is a hunger striker is a discretionary determination that one chinaman makes what those standards are what the criteria are are questions that they need to be at you know how are they

defining hunger striker and when are they determining that someone needs to be to that and if it is if the definition of hunger striker is entirely in their control and it is a matter of their discretion then i that explains how they are able to say that there are no more than a handful of men on hunger strike lawyers representing get more prisoners have sent a letter to us defense secretary chuck hagel urging him to help and the protest in the meantime organizations like the red cross have made attempts to check on the inmates welfare here's what a representative told r.t. the current tensions in guantanamo as far as we can see and as far as we understand are really the result of the uncertainty is made to detainees in guantanamo and uncertainty linked to defeat what's going to happen to them you know there is a lack of clear legal framework for detention many of them don't know most of them don't know what's going to open and so has been our position and there needs to be a clear legal framework and

a transparent process into the procedural safeguards for those detainees and it's to be transparent and fair to alleviate the strains really that emotional mental strain of this uncertainty triggers for the detainees of the one hundred sixty sixty teenie zakk one ton i'm obey eighty six have been cleared for release now this week the un said that the us is a violating international human rights law by indefinitely holding prisoners at guantanamo without charge the human rights council is urging washington to quote bring an end to these illegal practices by either process. killing prisoners in civilian court or releasing them reporting from new york marina point i am writing . well earlier i spoke with former guantanamo bay guard brenda neely who admits he took part in the abuse of detainees and he told me the u.s. has only created more terrorists through its actions at the facility facility is

a lot better but still guards have been there over the last few years are the three men saw it as far as the internal reaction force team and the way the koran is treated in a stuff like that not much has changed maybe the outside is changed but inside hasn't changed too much are people forget that these people have been cleared for release by not only the obama administration but also by the bush administration and they're going to be in there definitely all through whom goes along they don't know when they're going to see their families again or where they're going to go i think the fact that they don't know what's going to happen you know is it makes them and this is their only one form of protest they have this to go on or three and the fact is that when whoever open the camp decided to open guantanamo knew from the get go and that it was wrong that it was was illegally and it was a violation of human rights and the fact is it has to be closed the fact is will never bring him into a federal court system because a lot of information they have gotten as they have been have gotten out of the use of torture so that gets on a missile a federal court system well we dropped the ball we have a system here and we have the opportunity to show the world that arse still and our

way of life actually works and we dropped the ball on noonan and we've created more terrorists and enemies around the world than we could ever imagine. us as force feeding the several of the hunger strike has to prevent them from starving to death and one expert told us the detainees are in great danger because it already been weakened by years behind bellows. they've been there well some of them have been there over ten years this is been they've suffered all kinds of for strong torture. in the in the in the form said everyone would agree to probe long deisel ation for many if not most of them which has profound effects all kinds of abuse simply the not knowing what's going to happen to you imagine being in a setting like that for year after year and having no idea if you're ever going to get out obviously the whack of energy the you know without taking food

in. the effects both psychologically in terms of the ability to to even think very clearly. and there's a danger that some of these effects become permanent around this time point so they're in great danger. well on the website of the moment we want to know your view on this issue every voice counts and dot com where you can tell us why you think the most still open after more than eleven years well perhaps you think the us is to blame for not keeping its promise to close the facility maybe cuba should never have leased the base to america in the first place maybe blame other countries for refusing to. detainees or indeed you may see the nine eleven terror attacks as the main reason that it is still in business still operational where you can have your say right now it's on the front page of our web site r.t. dot com here's how the voting is looking so far eighty percent the vast majority blaming washington for failing to keep its pledges and almost equally small numbers

if you think others are responsible for what's happening. well if you haven't done so already good to hear from me well coming up the break. protests over the killing of a brooklyn teenager. angry clashes and dozens of arrests. more

news today. these are the images. can. be twenty four hours a day a developing story in colorado police have reportedly used. a number of protesters

close to the headquarters of the muslim brotherhood attacks on journalists are apparently what sparked the demonstration clashes come a day after a group of activists who were running against islamist policies were attacked by an . let's now turn to. in the egyptian capital so we're learning about yet more clashes there in cairo what are you seeing what are you hearing. we've had reports that tens have been arrested including one journalists as fierce clashes continue between anti-government protesters and security forces outside the muslim brotherhood headquarters here in the capital the police have reportedly been firing birdshot but it's and tear gas to hundreds who gathered today to protest against an attack they said happened against journalists by muslim brotherhood members in fact russia today camera man himself received a head injury he reported groups with

a rising at the area outside this main headquarters of the mr brotherhood arriving with sticks and knives on the journalist tempted to film anti-government protesters spraying anti brotherhood slogans on this main headquarters today's protest was backed by newly elected journalists in the head one who said this was another example of a crackdown on freedom of speech by the most brotherhood's and he called on the supreme guide which is the leading spiritual figure of the regime brotherhood to apologize the brotherhood for their part say that this is yesterday's skirmishes that occurred after groups attempted to break into the building it's still not clear how this story's going to end and all of this happening in the backdrop of political struggle in the country just remind us what's happening. we're seeing significant unrest and lots of brotherhood sentiment across the country this protest happening almost on a daily basis and a lot of skirmishes even here in the capital by to her square on the banks of the

nile we're seeing a daily fights between a youth anti-government protesters and security forces the president is fighting many different problems at the same time in addition the parliamentary elections have been suspended after the admission of courts said there was a problem with the electoral law putting the future of the political costing in doubt is economic problems and major economic problems the president is trying to secure an unpopular four point eight billion dollar loan from the i.m.f. which could see subsidies cuts and tax hikes that people have been protesting against of course you have a situation of course i need to answer here the capital over this very contentious verdict in the poor sight football trial which saw several people die in the last few weeks so what we're seeing really is continual protests continue on to government sentiments and with not any solutions on the horizon thanks so much for that live update in cairo that's true reporting for us here and i want to thank you . the killing of a black teenager by the new york police is called public outrage in

a vote week long protests in brooklyn activists chanted slogans accusing me and y p d of racism and cruelty clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officials resulted in dozens of arrests in the stars a chicken in the story. sixteen year old kimani gray was killed by police shot four times in the front and three in the back the n.y.p.d. claimed the team had pointed a gun at them however this remains uncertain that there was a weapon that no one saw and not his friends his family didn't know you had a weapon and there were a lot of witnesses outside who were able to see that this individual may have a weapon on him as these candles burn in memory of the. yet another killed youth an entire community rises up night after night to demand justice and to police brutality for three nights in a row peaceful vigils turned chaotic clashes broke out. leaving one officer hospitalized after reportedly being injured with a brick

a total of forty six arrests were made wednesday. but no violence erupted thursday night tensions however still ran high. i mean this is no different than. you know. going to the country a lot of people are just tired of the period with solutions to stop the violence nowhere in sight deeply seated issues between the police and the community remain on addressed leaving many worried children parents are not supposed. to be obsolete . r.t. new york or to live in moscow the choice knees reshuffle the country completes a once in a decade transfer of power while other states beefing up their presence in the pacific region. still to come for you but first bloodshed civil strife and devastation the state of syria two years after its conflict began

the war between the government and rebels seventy thousand people killed and millions fleeing their homes creating a humanitarian disaster and while diplomatic efforts to bring peace of all failed many say that foreign countries fanning the flames with plans to send more weapons bodies were financial reports. this part of syria known as mesopotamia between the tigris and euphrates rivers is considered a cradle of civilization has been home to many asked nic and religious groups living in peace and harmony for ages people here believe this diversity is serious strong point but some warn it could also be used against the country and that's something the destroyed. and the regime slogans in syria have been repeated the longest of all the arab spring countries but assad didn't step down within weeks like the leaders of to measure and egypt nor did his regime fall within months like colonel gadhafi is in libya opposing sides have gone

beyond demonstrations and clashes killings have become an everyday reality those wanting to go both at home and abroad have decided to target what hurt the most serious diversity pitting people against each other after every massacre and every killing rivers of blood have been joined by streams of mutual accusations and hatred. the first blow was dealt to relations between the country's sunni majority and the ruling she had minority some more ignorant position and sometimes. it was never to make a city and it's not the more me once that one again. we should keep our unity we live in all of all of. it gabriel a point from commercially livin in syria's north east all green sunni dominated turkey and mostly shia iraq says here in about six tarion intolerance is something

new for syria and very alarming your will feel this pressure for months now especially from gulf countries trying to drag us to this perilous share sunni game it's a big threat because a to society from the inside. and some say it's been fud from the outside it is part of the us strategy and some of the western strategy is to destroy syria by syrians and by arabs and this they are doing successfully another blow followed with an explosion at palestinian refugee camps in syria and the cold blooded murder of palestinian conscripts these drove a wedge between the two arab peoples previously on friendly terms. they wanted to both weaken the rishi and spread this fear among palestinians with kurdish villages in syria's north east targeted the kurdish syrian peaceful coexistence has also been endangered of. its approval cations

a pure and very dangerous syrian kurds want to be integrated into syrian society have rights and be respected some turkish kurds maybe do as murder one is killing his own people we've never been treated like that of course when violence targets us it can't not affect relations. and fears are that those who want to see the fall of the regime who witness the country's hollands. me for national from syria. more stories for you at r.t. dot com a website online all the time is not about the money french actor turned russian passport holder. says his move was not about escaping taxes but because his home had become too sad for him. drastic measures a leading animal welfare group says it will use drones to stop illegal hunting in britain find out more about the upcoming war in the countryside and r.t.

dot com. china's new president has called for what he described as efforts to continue the realisation of the chinese dream he's giving his first comments after the nation went through a once in a decade shift the power this week economic development will be the top priority for the country's new leaders and recent forecasts look promising a report from pricewaterhouse coopers predicts that china which is now the world's second largest economy will catch up with the u.s. by twenty seventeen and then over take it one of the top spending priorities announced by the new leadership is defense that comes amid america's growing military expansion in china's backyard effort u.s. . to gain a stronger foothold in asia and the struggle for regional influence has been raising concerns in beijing just days ago the pentagon and outs of decision to put fourteen more missile interceptors along america's west coast and deploy

a radar tracking station in japan and they say it's a response to the north korean nuclear threat but according to professor joseph chang at hong kong city university the future balance of power in the region will be defined by the amount of money countries spend on the military. given the fact that time it aims to become a major power and be you know positioned to be fair territories and its own overseas interests it will continue to spend that kind of rate of increase doubt any substantial military expenditure i suspect in fact time is of forty's probably understand that the american military spending is very much limited by the fact. the obama administration has to cut its military budget because of financial difficulties now to some world news in

brief in budapest thousands of protest against changes to hundreds constitution which were earlier approved by parliament the amendments include limiting the powers of the constitutional court which spot concern among human rights groups the new measures also tighten laws on the election campaigns family rights and homelessness critics have condemned the move as democratic but the premier has roundly rejected the accusations. streets and cities across the world are swimming in get this and leprechauns as millions celebrate some tricks day this year in all of the cultic st over forty international lower marks pyramids the sydney opera house will be lit in traditional patties green watches and parades are held every year and most of the world's capitals and major cities. two car bomb attacks have hit southern iraq killing up to ten people the all rich city of basra is really a target of violence and is considered one of the safer places in the volatile

country it comes just days before the tenth anniversary of the u.s. led invasion or policy advisor focused hodgson i spoke to him a little earlier he believes there are too many warring factions in iraq for it to see peace anytime soon. the problem is that prior to the invasion it really was a difficult situation already the no fly zones in force by the british u.s. and french military and a very difficult sanctions meant that iraq prior to the invasion was already in a very poor state and so it's hard to say it remains in a very difficult situation one interesting point to note though is that a recent gallup survey in iraq said the people gave the message that basically they thought the place was small secure and now when the u.s. forces were present in greater numbers people should know that there are still many u.s. contractors there so it's not as though there is zero presence of united states and many people still see that as a presence which they want to fight against also iraq already was a very divided nation you have kurds you have synergy of many different minorities

who are necessarily happy with each other or with the prevailing leadership moskos preparing a rapid response naval force to patrol the mediterranean at least six russian ships are expected to ply the waters on the public bases there that to god national interests and transport people if the syrian conflict gets further out of control of these even to has more. according to the head of the navy moscow wants to have five to six ships permanently beast in the mediterranean that will be controlled through the command of the black sea fleet based in the crimea there's speculation that this group will be put together out of ships taken from the northern the baltic and the scene black sea fleet the idea to base the navy in the mediterranean was initially voiced by defense minister sort of west week and of course this comes as the whole region is in the global spotlight due to the gulf with russian authorities are not linking basing the need either in that region to what's

happening in the country earlier they said that the only way the navy good in gauges that help assist possible future of i.q. ations of russian citizens from the country but actually the idea of moscow basing the navy in the mediterranean isn't something completely new during the soviet times a huge group of up to thirty vessels was currently based there from the early sixty's to early ninety's. but brings up today for the moment that's all from me build out of my colleague you to ship out of there she'll be here in about thirty minutes from now until then we take a look at a remote area of colombia with a new gold rush is on the way in the country's jungles thanks so much.

there was a time in america when buses were officially segregated and today if they tried to research the wall next to it there would be outrage throughout the usa every t.v. channel newspaper so segregation in america was wrong but now america funded segregation no survive a foreign aid seems to be a ok and jim dandy arab language leaflets have been spread around west. bank in palestinian areas asking residents to start using special bus lines plans to put palestinians on separate bus lines were first announced in november of two thousand and twelve after some complaints by jewish settlers of trouble on the buses between passengers of different ethnicities in regards to the special bus lines it's really human rights groups but selim said the attempt to segregation is appalling and the current arguments about security needs an overcrowding must not be allowed to kemah flushed blatant racism you know when south africa had apartheid they were slammed with sanctions including from the us

but if you're isil go ahead and segregate all the buses you like and you'll still be the us is top recipient of foreign aid at three point one billion dollars a year if there's one thing i don't like it's hypocrisy like this but that's just my opinion. you get.

to go. to go via in northern colombia. beneath these rusty sheds the country's richest gold mine it's operated by canadian multinational corporation gran colombia gold. today the army has taken over the sector for a high risk mission. transporting the weeks production to a safe location. three gold ingots over twenty kilos each.

here we have sixty eight kilos. that makes one point two million euro. in colombia gold is highly coveted by the criminal organizations. so in order to avoid an ambush the time and day of the transfer or decided at the last minute made my escape the this is the most critical moment and on this side and the gold leaves the factory it up got to be transported to the city of midday and it is. the in goods are carried away at a run. the soldiers mark out the course. the operation is completed in four minutes. the precious cargo takes off towards midday the regional capital from where the gold will be exported. this.