dozens of civilians are massacred near the syrian capital damascus as survivors tell our t. of mass executions and kidnappings carried out by islamist rebels. as the european union puts ukrainian integration on hold u.s. senators join the protesters in the capital kiev throwing their weight behind the opposition's pro western ambitions. and mexico is gripped by mass anti-government demonstrations with protesters accusing authorities of stripping the state of its wealth and the people of their future.

is three pm here in moscow you're watching r t international with me and he said now it's good to have you with us let's get straight to our top story this hour and fierce fighting is continuing in the syrian town of hadera on the outskirts of damascus as the army tries to push rebel forces from several districts reports indicate mass execution of civilians carried out by al-qaeda linked groups with survivors have described the horrific scenes and of people being used as human shields artie's arabic channel spoke to an eyewitness to the massacre. no. r t sources in the military say radical islamist fighters entered the town of address and massacred local civilians according to the latest figures at least eighty people were killed in the districts which the syrian army has now liberated entire families were killed other families were kidnapped and are being used as human shields in the battle against government forces. militants from job i don't know strike and the army of islam seize control of all the streets and crossroads

very quickly this iteration became terrible they were killing the outrage and fear on of them to find our men came to the city they carried out the slow to the worst thing in their crime was when they shocked people in the baker's over they kidnapped people and many were beaten. our t. sources in the military also say that some of the kidnapped families have been transferred to areas south of the town they are now being held in strategically important zooms which the rebels have been using as a base of operations these places are heavily fortified sources also say the total death toll in an address main fact increase because the syrian army has not yet liberated the entire town to belittle analysts patrick hansen told r.t. that they advance an address so that foreign encouragement of rebel forces is only delaying any hope of peace in syria. if there's any western governments that want to have any dialogue or engaging dollars with these groups these are the same

western governments is saying we don't talk to terrorists we don't negotiate with terrorists and here just the mere idea of wanting to include the radical islamic elements into the conversation and for the future of syria is ridiculous just on the basis of western policy over the last twenty or thirty years doesn't make any sense at all what it does though indicate is that there are in there is involvement absolutely by western intel i wouldn't say agency that do have links to some of these radical jihadist groups and that has been proven throughout history and is also the case today the first thing that needs to happen for any peace talks to succeed is the western governments cannot be involved in any way shape or form either through proxies with through their intelligence agencies or third parties with army financing equipping giving aid of any kind to the syrian opposition.

of course we'll be keeping a close eye on syria throughout the day for you and for the latest updates as well and as more and more eyewitnesses rather you can always report r t v dot com. ukraine's locked in uncertainty with both the government and the e.u. sending mixed signals over possibilities for future integration as thousands remain on kiev's main square demanding an agreement a senior u.s. official signaled that all plans are on hold and in this hazard an atmosphere it's the u.s. that seems to have assumed the role of the decision maker as alexie or now reports . show much kerry. bremer oh there's very few america here's where you. hear john mccain's media conference in kiev was rich in loud statements dimly veiled warnings to moscow we need to make it clear. to the russian government that i'm your putin that interference in the affairs of ukraine

is not acceptable to the united states of america or to any other free country in the world followed by explicit threats to kiev if the movement and membership in the e.u. does not achieve that cause it's going to have very serious effects here in ukraine and in u.s. craned lation he accused russia of interfering but many question why he was there in the first place it's not the first time john mccain has been seen playing a visit to those the united states is currently lending its support to he had a photo op with some syrian rebel kidnappers now it's a world boxing champion turned politician and mccain is not the only american politician in ukraine his appearance that gives independent square was preceded by u.s. assistant secretary of state victoria nuland handing out cakes to the protesters the reason they are there is bluntly because i think these people want to detach the ukraine from russia as they see it and they think that by supporting the

protesters in. here they might actually achieve that the problem with that strategy is that it's simply not working the balance between the ukraine and russia economically and culturally and sneaky and simply too strong and i think for american politicians and indeed european politicians to go to the ukraine and to try to do that is actually very unwise and very dangerous and he simply exacerbating making worse the differences the divisions in the ukraine which are already very great but as u.s. officials seem keen on pushing the e.u.'s o.c.a. ssion deal through brussels all but shut the door and signing it through a tweet from the man in charge of e.u. expansion it's unclear whether it's a matter of the e.u. not budging on ukraine's pleas for more financial help upon signing the agreement the previous offer of six hundred million euro was branded as humiliating by unocal which or brussels rumored willingness to seize any talks with this government this

latest statement by the european oversold also puts huge pressure on the converts because he has been saying all along continuously during press corps as a meetings with european officials and the opposition that the train would not step down from the euro integration. he was all expecting to sign your association deal with nearest future and with the news that this prospect is as remote as ever the protesters resolve is now also being hardened by a rallying cry from the newest arrivals from america let's hear a chance to see reporting from kiev in ukraine. well those protests in kiev are not the first protests aimed at regime change where senator mccain has suddenly popped up here it is embrace in ukraine's aren't revolution almost a decade ago he was also a frequent flyer to georgia another former soviet republic that saw a color revolution mccain is now friends with former president mikhail saakashvili who after coming to power move swiftly to crackdown on protests against his own

administration and the arab spring of course didn't escape his attention either john mccain supported protestors on egypt's top career square and in libya where he pushed for more active u.s. involvement in its civil war as for syria mccain was among the most vocal advocates for america to start bombing the regime and arming its rebels international relations professor mark snowballed says the u.s. senator demonstrates a highly selective approach when it comes to anti government anger. zetter john mccain hasn't shown any such concern for occupy wall street protesters when they were brutally repressed in the united states and driven from zuccotti park and from the main centers of american cities across america or with. protesters in europe against neoliberal austerity measures when tens of millions receive like treatment over the last two years indeed just this week in spain in the united kingdom and in italy we saw police repression of peaceful political dissent john

mccain hasn't. shown any concern about this what john mccain has always been concerned with as he views russia as a geo political enemy of the united states of the greater trans-atlantic community and he like many a western officials is viewing through this through a cold war lens of trying to separate russia from the ukraine in order to in his mind keep it in a permanently geo politically weakened state. political turmoil a crackdown on the protests an economy in limbo life in egypt is no is why just ahead a look at what happened to those dreams of the dreams rather of those who took part in the arab spring uprising almost three years ago plus. no one welcome for new members as immigration and finance drives a wedge through the european union. if

you leave the. economic up and downs in the final month they belong to the new york sang i and the rest because i was doing the case you will be every week.

prevails sleep peacekeepers for a program of concerned with monitoring peace deals in a post conflict environment nowadays they are increasingly asked to operate in a high risk obama while believe violence is still a legal i'll read to stay. motionless what these people have caused over almost twenty years four million people killed millions of displaced and refugees tens of thousands of women raped. children and recruited those soldiers who were slaves no.

the the. police it was terrible they are looking very hard to take a. long line have you ever had sex with the earthquake there's no. police going to. look a bit. welcome

back you're watching r.t. international live from moscow the congress of mexico has opened up a seventy five year old state monopoly on oil a move which has brought hundreds of thousands of people out onto the streets across the country protesters say that if the bill becomes law international oil companies will snatch the reserves from under the noses of domestic producers for now the document has been approved by more than a third of mexico's states but what began as a protest against an energy policy has now turned into nationwide discontent with the entire government parties nicolas donovan witnessed one such demonstration. protests against the energy reform have been held in all major cities across mexico it's a new demonstration of power of those who oppose what they government has approved without de consent we can't forget that there are three points of the mexican

constitution that will be modified under the new measure for many mexicans this new era in the energy sector just means the beginning of the end of the country's independence many also believes that the whole process has been just a farce and that the decision was really already made even before the debate began the rapid approval that the reform is getting in the local delegations only strengthens the position of those who think the politicians of mexico aren't on the side of the people on the side of commercial interests that is and that is not interested in asking the people they don't care about what they think at all this states who have to reform a trillion ten minutes you know know what they're doing there to train us the streets are the only thing that we have now and will do all it takes as a planet and symbolically protesters in mexico city the nation's capital chose the square of independence to kick off their massive march pressure tension and

frustration been building up here it's not only about energy reform they talk about education reform about transposes indeed it's just the mexican people coming together really demonstrating they just are not happy with their policies. international accents action center activists cal of mao penn believes the government itself is the source of the unrest. the oil in mexico this is something that the mexican people you know have called claims for themselves they say it's their property they say belongs to doubt but now just like so much of the wealth of the world's being privatized being handed over to private corporations and being utilized to make profits work for some capitalist and that's that's an outrage and that's why the people are are rising up against it that's why we see all these massive outcry because the people of mexico have really made clear that the government of mexico doesn't represent them that represents interests in the united states and they would like sovereignty and independence. you can buy more stories

we're covering it r.t. dot com and they all will see three hundred lashes for calling for a constitutional monarchy saudi activists are punished for criticizing the ruling family and get a further four years in prison plus preparations for world cup two thousand and fourteen could be undermined as workers in brazil call for a nationwide strike over the human cost of construction more details on our website the. right to see. first street. i think that you're. on our reporters there. in. the the in.

showing symbols like these could land you in jail in egypt a fifteen year old boy was arrested last month after you brought a ruler to school bearing the sign of the muslim brotherhood prosecutors claim the boy was inciting violence while the brotherhood unites millions of people who oppose the in term government in egypt but they say their voice is being quiet and as beltran reports it's just another reason why many egyptians are looking elsewhere for a better life. omaha meet a young egyptian design student sits in his favorite downtown cairo cafe talking about a better life abroad three years on from participating in two thousand and eleven revolution almer is frustrated by the state of the country he says once he finishes his studies he'll have to leave you i have been. here your story for four years and then you don't find a job at the end of it there are better chances are side egypt there i can find the freedom to work with the skills that i have that is one of the most important reasons forcing people to leave egypt there are eight million egyptians already

abroad and others are looking to join them as the economy flatlines in the political instability even if the economy of the country will grow in the future the double digits there will never be able to accommodate every new job seekers there is going to be always a percentage of the population that would seek job elsewhere job outside the country youth unemployment rates are at a staggering seventy seven percent and that may well rise after years of turmoil for young men like almost seeking work abroad is often the only option but it's not just the economy driving egyptians to leave some fleeing and made a growing crackdown on political freedoms a growing numbers of activists are now facing jail sentences after the military installed government enforced the law banning protests without official permission daily battles between student protesters and security forces broke egypt's campuses police and the army continue to patrol the streets here where we need democracy

freedom better health care and social justice to fulfill the main demands of our revolution the police need to change the whole regime needs to have a better ideological way of dealing with egypt or more people will go the government hopes and new constitution and upcoming elections will help stabilize egypt but until egyptians can find work and enjoy basic freedoms. be forced to leave. for r t. follow bell true on twitter for all the latest from egypt including why this banner to promote the country's newly drafted constitution has caused a few red faces that's because most of these faces are not even gyptian in fact they are stock library pictures used in commercial ads from other countries. let's take a look at some other world news in brief a series of suicide attacks and car bombs across iraq have left at least twenty

nine people dead there were five assaults in the capital of lone but the deadliest took place around two hundred kilometers north of baghdad where bombers encircled a police station has been iraq's bloodiest year since two thousand and eight are to dot com has a special section devoted to the civilian cost to the country since the american led intervention. israeli soldiers have shot two members of the lebanese army just hours after after after i.d.f. soldier was killed by a lebanese sniper a spokeswoman for the israeli army said troops opened fire after detecting suspicious movements the region has been hit by sporadic violence since the two thousand and six lebanon war when israel fought a month long battle with a long life. and a proposed bill that will shield romania's m.p.'s from probes over corruption has led to a violent protest in the capital crowds broke through a police cordon outside the government headquarters in bucharest chanting slogans and demanding the proposal be dropped for many is president this us through

signature is required for the bill to become law has condemned parliament's planets . well this agreement between e.u. member states is growing as its newest members romania and bulgaria prepare to gain the same rights as other citizens freedom of movement and banking are driving a wedge between nations that fear of flood of benefit hungry immigrants and unfair competition as polly. reports it's supposed to be an ever closer europe but the european commission the body responsible for keeping the twenty eight country club together is facing a growing number of complaints from its members in january as the new asst members remain ians and ball gary ans will be able to travel to work and live anywhere within the euro zone but the u.k. prime minister david cameron's not exactly offering open arms you need to change

the rules about remove with people we bring to countries for a job is one thing but i'm not in favor of people being to be able to claim benefits that's why we set up a series of measures this week to put beyond doubt that there isn't the freedom to go and play the same sentiments have been shared by germany and france so it's no surprise that views not going down well with the european commission it argues migrants boost these countries economies rather than sponge off that governments but immigrations by no means the only issue that you can't agree on i don't believe that we're facing right now is actually has been lost and i'm not talking about u.k. or rhythm equates always being outside and inside europe i'm talking about the. roads that are european banking union has long been on the cards designed to offer the same confidence to a depositor in

a greek or spanish bank as enjoyed by someone in a german one but richer member states a worried it'll only end in bailouts for banks and other countries last time ministers met to discuss the union they wrapped up early because of a lack of progress and speaking of money brussels has strived for tax harmonize ation the cost of mind back to recent scandals about google and apple housing their headquarters in ireland. with a corporate tax rate of just twelve and a half percent compared to thirty four percent in belgium and you'll see that harmonized nation is a long way off you're seeing economic effects of a shed from greece across the eastern europe recent germany but without political control over those things happening it's a very untenable situation to. london coming up peter the valen his gas balance surveillance against security discussed the actual purpose of america's national security agency.

until me the people in my gun are. bringing good stuff. because to date but equate it with each should probably. be a memory of the past and. we need much better before that even though this is how come the world now in europe we don't know. what the new cultural phenomena like. the face i think people.

pleasure to have you with us here on t.v. today i'm sure. hello and welcome to cross talk where all things are considered a computer all of the scandal that keeps on giving the steady stream of snowden related leaks no longer surprises but the all encompassing scope of spying still does even online gamers have not been spared although while the powers that be are hesitant to rein in the n.s.a. in fact they appear only want to make legal what is now illegal is it time for an international bill of digital rights.

to cross the surveillance state i'm joined by my guesses and also in new york she is the executive director of the penn american center and in washington we cross to eugene per year he is a national organizer with the answer coalition all right cross talk rules in fact that means both of you can jump in anytime you want you to go to you first in washington ever since this scandal with the n.s.a. broke with me as a result of mr snowden we've gotten one leak after another and we've been told today that it's only about one percent of what he's willing to through other people obviously now to expose and i watch all of these leaks coming out and at first i had to be like most everyone just really quite shocked and amazed and now i'm not shocked or amazed anymore the only thing that really concerns me because i'm in media is this how encompassing it is it seems like it's people are kind of gold by it i mean they just know this is we're calling this program digital octopus and

even when we see that symbol i don't see the outrage in the grassroots why is that . well i think that we've seen some outrage i think here and over twenty six in washington d.c. there are many thousands of people protesting it but i think in some ways it's such an all encompassing program it's very difficult for people to wrap their mind around it needless to say the government is doing everything possible to sow misinformation about this program in the populace that i'm not even one hundred percent sure people know what they can do and what is going on because it's so all pervasive and the government is so consistently lying and i think that certainly having all this revealed has a chilling effect on protests in this country whereby people are now very concerned about if they speak out how will that be seen how will that be held against them their actions their movements their writings who they're talking to how will that all affect their ability to be effective in the public arena and i think we're seeing not only a conversation but a really internal conversation amongst people in terms of how they challenge these

sorts of policies and i think in this new terrain it's very difficult to say how do you react to that because. kind of jump to my next point or actually my most my last point here is it does have a chilling effect on dissent and you know people are going to being far more careful in what they say and we still don't know to what extent it is all encompassing because one week after that i mean gamers now they're all they're watching gamers i mean my goodness what do a wonderful way to spend taxpayers' money what are they trying to get by studying gamers when my point is here is that everyone is aware of it is it sinking in to just how maybe dangerous this can be. well we did a survey of ten american center members american writers to ask them how they're reacting to these revelations and what we found was there were far more up in arms than the general population about ninety percent said they were very concerned about at a safe surveillance and we were surprised to learn that just about

a fourth of american writers were self censoring in some way they told us they were restricting what they post on social media who they talk to who they email with and even what subjects they take on in their writing out of concern that they could attract some sort of trigger and warrant the n.s.a. is attention and they wanted to avoid that and in a sense i think we can look at writers as the canaries in the coal mine on this they're the ones who depend on free expression for their livelihood for their craft so if they're this concern and they're actually changing their behavior think the rest of the public is not going to be too far behind and that there may be real grounds for concern that people will restrict their political activities be wary about who they work with who they make contact with whether they're going to take part in a protest i don't know that we've seen that yet but i don't think if i could stay with you if i could stay with you i thought the n.s.a. was looking for terrorists you're talking about writers well.