it will be. the place. the olympic flame arrives in sochi after a historic relay covering more than sixty thousand kilometers while delivery of the prize medals peril the imminent start of the winter games. the u.s. warning international firms against doing business with iran saying the partial lifting of sanctions doesn't mean the country's market is yet for grabs. again instead reveals it's been trying to hammer out a hush hush deal with the taliban as the u.s. role in the country after twenty fourteen becomes less clear. eleven pm in moscow i'm at present good to have you with us our top story this hour

the olympic flame has arrived in the host city of sochi for the final relay stage before the games begin and what a journey it's been thousands of kilometers across all of russia and up into space at the international space station. welcoming the flame in sochi was artie's own martin injures. with great anticipation as he said the olympic flame is finally here in the host city of sochi ahead of the opening ceremony on friday it made its way across sixty five thousand kilometers of russia the largest country in the world featuring eighty three regions fourteen thousand torchbearers and over one hundred cities through of course the very cold winter months recently regarding its journey well as you mentioned just before we went up to space i was there myself and him by can already last it off from the soyuz rocket to the international space station and for first time in history they made a space for in the vacuum of space other areas it's included the largest freshwater lake in the world the sensational and beautiful lake by cal grant took

a successful scuba dive there also went up to the policy circle it's been on a submarine it went to mt albertz the largest and smallest mountain in europe and finally it is here in sochi it arrives at three thirty today not by land or by air but actually by sea and the black sea that you can see behind me that it's made its way to adler actually very very close to the olympic park which you can see behind me but it didn't stop here it went straight away to the before mounting cluster of cross like pollyanna where various people could see the flame finally here is sort of recalling the people who carried the torch we had famous musicians famous actors sports men and women and the local people of sorts you managed to carry that flame of course the torch being in sochi everyone seeing how much the area has changed i was here myself seven years ago and really it's almost unrecognizable and r.t. met it with a former olympic winner he won bronze and silver before in various olympics his

name is alexei a volley of water and this is what he had to say about the changing face of such a. this is a group with the president with you it's my understanding is that he's ten years ago i couldn't imagine such as would host an event of such magnitude and it's very important for russia to mothers. only been positive changes for surgery but it is now world class resort which is a cutting edge training facility for winter affluence one that russia never really had business in the future so she will host world championships global school to your friends is an amazing p.r. push for such a city that no one had heard of just ten years ago of course it wasn't just the olympic flame that everyone's talking about the medals made the introduction to various journalists one thousand three hundred of them finally here in such as well that includes the paralympic medals that will be used after the main winter olympic event two they're made by a moscow jeweler and over thirty craftsmen and women actually made the medal successfully they're a very interesting design to their almost like

a mosaic of patchwork quilt you could say featuring a posse through design with the emblems and ethnic groups of russia with english russian and french writing on the sides. and martin i understand those medals were delivered under very heavy security security in general something that is very. prominent in the preparation for these games i understand the whole area encircled by a virtual metaphorical ring of iron they're calling it tell us more about that. but try people calling it the ring of steel but reed i've been here for four or five days myself now and it feels really just like any other european or american city is feels like extremely safe i'm speaking to various forces it's the first time here in russia and just agree that it really does feel as if you're under great protection we've got six thousand athletes arriving this week ahead of the games we've got twenty five thousand volunteers i don't know total regarding security

we've got one hundred thousand army men security offices police men sniffer dogs horses you name it we really feel as if sochi is one of the most secure places on the planet but it's also important to note that this isn't just typical for such indeed security issues are important for olympic games. the past two years ago for example in london they were talking about the issues of having missiles on apartment blocks so this isn't just an issue for the olympics it's an issue for indeed conferences and sporting events throughout the whole world and this is what vladimir putin had to say when security is always of concern not only at large sporting events but also of political ones we can't forget the terrorist attacks that rooting venues the boston bombings for example which happened recently there have been similar attacks at libby games in the bombings suring the g eight summit in london but i'd like to thank our partners from almost every nation who are actively working to ensure the game security together with our own security specialists judy twenty four hours

a day. but of course security is the main concern here at the games but it really does not take away the fun of it the excitement is still here and it's nothing like sort of a concentration camp or blockade at all people are still having a wonderful time and there's great excitement in the air now yesterday i sort of want to just speak more about the subject of security and from from the wonderful cossacks in that crazy costume to the horses which are helping out the security there certainly a lot to deal with when it comes to the subject over the next month. air defense missiles drones sophisticated suttles capable of detecting some of the rains and high speed patrol boats a vast array of high tech gear is being deployed to make such one of the safest places on earth with any global event security is the number one priority and no

expense is being spared to achieve that end at the twenty fourteen winter olympics a ring of steel is in place around the city and no one from residents to work is can enter without an official pass but it's a case of high visibility and minimal fuss was that you did know many of the athletes have been saying that back home they saw very negative media coverage about the olympic village some are even afraid to come here but monday arrived this started wondering what all the bad press was about and were very impressed by what's going on here they say there is much less hassle and discomfort is present when it comes to security checks compared to previous gain. but it's not just about tighter controls and manpower place officers are into growing extra training for mounted patrols that have distinct advantages at such events but i recall nobody thought we were called here ahead of the games mounted police are more effective during mass the bands are as there's a tower over the people and have

a better view of the crowds the beefed up security including assistance from the u.s. government is prime to keep a protective i'll locals and visitors more than ever before almost five hundred cossacks warriors of russian law will also be on duty at various olympic locations with that traditional black hats and coats with apple lets they will be on standby to assist the police cossacks have been guarding russian borders for centuries which traditionally based in southern russia we know the region and its people very well. a cossack. job is to offer assistance spread safety culture and peace to various religions and people from different countries because like normally patrols without any weapons they can only stop a crime in progress and they can only call the police and wait for the authorities to arrive so as the population of this black sea resort swells by the thousand whether it's sniffer dogs or horses patrol boats will cost x.

salty's businesses locals are certainly in good hands and with an estimated one hundred thousand police security services and armed troops here the aim is to ensure that these will be the safest lympics in history martin andrews r.t. . you are the president of shell oil and big committee thomas backers come out no uncertain terms against those seeking to score political points at the expense of the athletes take a listen we are grateful to those who respect the fact that sport can only contribute to development and peace if it's not used as a stage for political dissent or for trying to score points in internal or external political contests to other political leaders we say have the courage to address your disagreements in a peaceful direct political dialogue and not on the backs of the athletes

interviewing a live updates for you from sochi where the olympic flame has arrived plus go to our web say to see the most exciting moments of its journey from ancient greece to the russian black sea resort city. investment dollars again flowing into iran but that set off alarm bells in washington with officials insisting the oil rich nation is not yet open for business tehran's prospects have been looking brighter since sanctions were partially lifted under a new nuclear deal my colleague marina kosar eva discussed this with r.t. business presenter katie pill be. we've had a huge french delegation making their way to iran in anticipation of this post sanction iran the oil majors are all looking forward to not as oil majors but car

manufacturers including rand are with that telecoms are into the i was talking the biggest delegation in two years and the one that was missing of course and this comes after the occasions when they're from turkey so everyone is trying to get. a life and it's it's almost like everyone wants to get in the line now in reaction to this the u.s. is saying whoa hold on a minute ok hold your horses we've got wendy sherman she was quite still in her was as to what she had to say we're going to have a quick listen iran is not open for business because our sanctions relief is quite temporary quite limited and quite targeted doesn't matter whether the countries are friend or foe if they evade our sanctions we will sanction them surely they should have expected that international companies would start moving in as soon as they announced exactly as margin so wouldn't you because we know the reserves in iran are huge incredibly vast one if not one of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the

world are talking about the top in terms of both oil and gas world exactly right so people want to drum into that and also you go to remember europe is still dealing with stagnate gross it's no wonder that they want to drum up business and product to these sanctions a lot of these countries including what active in the region and they want to get in those oil fields and get them likely again i think that stands to reason so you know it's no surprise but the u.s. too they also want to healthy business relationship with iran because it's going to be a full three record with when it's back up and running if these six months go well in the way it's kind of twenty two for the u.s.p.s. doesn't want to aggravate iran too much at the moment because then they stand to lose. anyway but iran's leader. is trying to drum up some publicity and also some investment so you know i was in davos just just the other week he was there he was talking to oil majors. including some about as well from the u.s. and he basically said iran is i'm from the business to go completely different story ahead the reason why he sang this is because his economy has been crippled by

the sangh says we're talking forty percent inflation five percent recession he's undepressed to himself to get relations kickstarted the oil industry and any other whether it be call pharmaceuticals all materials. moving westward to syria now in a biting speech the u.k. prime minister has sharply criticized the pace of syria's chemical disarmament calling for more haste david cameron cited missed deadlines and a lack of clarity from the assad government is the most worrying developments let's talk live now with charles shubert just purity analyst and former british counterterrorism intelligence officer thank you for joining us so the u.s. was first to raise concerns here the u.k. followed are any other countries likely to follow suit about this delay. yes we can probably see france joining in perhaps israel as well and of course saudi arabia the usual suspects some cynics might say who of course will use anything in accordance with our foreign policy of course to attack syria not just assad

supporters will also use anything to their propaganda advantage and i think really we need to see these contacts from cameron and from kerry recently in the context of the wider political situation of course we have the geneva two talks resuming quite shortly we've also noticed that of course. assad is being quite widely criticized now by many of the western powers for example the use of these bow bombs in aleppo and so on and was in recent months we've seen perhaps less criticism condemnation of a south by name from the u.k. and u.s. governments as of course they've wanted to hedge their bets as to what the outcome of the war and indeed what the correct outcome for their interests is concerned will be but it's also i think very important to keep a perspective on this from the chemical weapons point as well and that is that whereas for example cameron today and kerry before has been very critical of syria missing by

a few weeks these initial test lines the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons the f.e.c. who is managing of course this process of removal of these weapons from syria has today or yesterday has come out and said that these deadlines are in fact soft outlines that the the west shouldn't be too concerned about the deadlines being missed at this stage and. in the last forty eight hours reiterated its satisfaction at its confidence that the june thirtieth deadline of complete eradication of these weapons should be met. why do you think they're not so they're not so the international organization the chemical weapons watchdog is not so dedicated to this this hard line date why do you think they're more flexible this way how much leeway should the assad government been given here while it's got to be remembered and of course the o.p.c. to appear and indeed almost all military of course and and security commentators

will point out that these deadlines were set under very challenging circumstances if one remembers russia and syria agreed to these deadlines under the threat of missile attack from the us and others on syria at the time of the shortly after the alleged chemical weapon attack it should be remembered and it's an extremely challenging set a deadline sort of been given and i think he realizes this isn't interested at this stage in school and political points as both sides of the senate dispute what they're interested in is facilitating and having completed tasco of. syria's chemical weapons one must think that a country such as the united states in that eradication of chemical weapons faced many delays asked for many extensions of deadlines as i believe or cited russia these extensions of deadlines and the difficulties of meeting these deadlines in

terms of chemical weapon destruction a well recognized and well established how much more site than is that going to be the case when these deadlines were set only for a matter of weeks for syrian statements and it's for the us for example and of course uniquely in the case of displays of chemical weapons on a scale also actually taking place in an active military ship said as indeed the russian foreign ministry pointed out in the last couple of days that have been a number of security issues to this and indeed syrian soldiers have been killed god in these chemical weapons all right charles your bridge thank you for your time. the days of sprawling u.s. surveillance states dotting the british countryside could be limited coming up find out how senior politicians and u.k. are trying to put the u.s. spy operatic back in the bottle in the aisles.

of london. the whole world is. the original one the one on the end. of the corner of that building at the end of the street another one a more transparent society gets the money or the public tears become we see military and police forces mobilized against people who blend into the city the city the more people trust electronic devices the more defenseless the. fear that it is a thousand on. twenty

minutes past the hour afghanistan's government has admitted to holding secret talks with the taliban as president karzai steps up efforts to make peace with a military group although negotiations have been largely fruitless so far the u.s. says it supports the push for reconciliation artie's marina portnoy reports. one of america's longest and most expensive foreign investments is turning into one of its greatest obstacles the u.s. intervention in afghanistan has essentially created a new taliban movement far more powerful you know no comparison really with the taliban that existed before nine eleven or before the u.s. intervention in afghanistan matter of fact as the taliban and afghan president

reportedly remain in secret talks about reaching a peace deal washington's future in the country after twenty fourteen remains in limbo president hamid karzai still refuses to sign a long term bilateral agreement with washington last week that the afghan leader cited poet percy shelley when describing the painfully strained relations with america i believe the best way to summarize this is to put it in the words of shelley the great british port i met murder on the way the whole twelve years was one of constant pleading with america please treat our civilians respectfully and treat their lives as the lives of people. the u.s. has reportedly spent more than ninety billion dollars on reconstruction and relief in afghanistan i just it for inflation that's more than any european country received after the second world war however journalist gareth porter says in this case no amount of money can buy love what the united states has accomplished in its

escalation of the war in afghanistan is that they are the exacerbation a tremendous increase in anti-american sentiment and a large part of that of course was the use of night raids of on people's homes knocking down doors in the middle of the night and antagonizing hundreds of thousands of people who who was channel a friends neighbors were affected by this tactic and it's tremendously antagonized the afghan population and that is going to be a problem that will affect u.s. national security for many decades to come in the year to come picture a for the u.s. may turn out to mean leaving afghanistan in the same circumstance it was when it was invaded marina porton i am r t new york us has military installations dotted across the british isles senior u.k. politicians now calling for an overhaul of the rules governing the network it's

thought some of the sites may have relayed secret information to control drone strikes in yemen and carry out dragnet spying polly boyko reports. well they arrived during world war two and they stayed throughout the cold war and now there are some ten thousand u.s. military servicemen working here in britain in dozens of facilities but what are they still doing here well it's alleged that one of the u.s. military bases here in the u.k. was relaying data back from a network of spy posts alleged to have been monitoring the phone calls of german chancellor angela merkel so now three senior peers from all three major political parties here in the u.k. say they want to see greater transparency in relation to u.s. military bases and they want to know exactly what the u.s. military servicemen are getting up to on british soil well to talk about this i'm joined by one of the authors of the proposed amendments to defense legislation lib

dems baron s. miller barnett miller thank you very much for joining us the u.s. and the u.k. have a special relationship they're both part of nato what does it matter what they're getting up to on these bases. what you're quite right we do have a special relationship but the global surveillance program that the american national security agency has been up to has gone well beyond what we think is acceptable in terms of security are you saying that these bases have basically become a lure on to themselves within the u.k. well we're really talking particularly about menwith hill anyone living in new york should be familiar with it huge goals balls dozens of people working at the scale of it should have told us that something was going on beyond simply missile defense perelman terrence like myself have been asking questions over the last couple of decades but we've received a brush off and not very good. now either our ministers didn't know what was going

on which that would be pretty appalling or they did know what was going on and were quite comfortable with it but either way i think we need. no to see these bases become far more accountable to the british parliament it really does need to be something that we do knowingly and not just wandering into what we've got now which is a big state run from the states proposed amendments to defense legislation are currently being revised but certainly here in the british government there are those that say while they are on british soil u.s. bases should be added herring to british laws. r.t. london joining me live not live now is linda's percy an activist for the campaign for be accountability of american bases so do you think these calls for more transparency about the bases will amount to anything i don't know. we've been campaigning about this issue you know six train new encouraging this is how. you

know this hasn't been done before we've been asking and asking questions for years as a senator and chill i know it's going to get anywhere but the point is that which is really encouraging and you know will not let you know. your organisation has been holding demonstrations outside of one of these sites for many years why have you singled out that location menwith hill. well it's partly because there always has been a demonstration there also to the eighty's but also there are some of us never quite close i mean i live about eight miles away from men but it's not just men must know we're interested in it is that you know. in the media at the moment because of it which snowden documents but you know as your piece said in fact there are about twenty of american bases in this country we are concerned with what is going on on all these bases there is no accountability and they are very secretive and cracked

you know out of the british government so it's really encouraging as i say in this debate is happening tonight if there were more transparency or more information about the bases then would you have less objection to it or what else would be your main objections well i'll call a cab company accountability american bases we've always wanted them to we want them to go back take their goods and chattels back to the united states to within their borders we should not be having foreign forces on this on it's not america there's not any forces i mean i'm a pacifist so i don't like them anyway you know we should not be settling conflicts conflict through violence and aggression how much control does the british government currently have over these installations well i don't think they have much control over the i mean the intelligence and security committee have always said that they have oversight. but they have.

settlement hearing in parliament. recently when three british security heads were questioned but then you will the question of course is quite clear that they don't know what's going on we will ask questions about it when they last visit menwith hill when they last visit these american bases increasingly were not to know which is extrude. so you know one of the things is if they didn't know spareness miller said that his deep concern and surname if they didn't know if they did know. then that it's very concerning to either way they do not know what's going on as far as we can see all i we have to leave it there linda's percy thank you for your time thank you up next cross talk stay with us here on r.t. .

in one corner of the wall street jamie that. drug goes wild. any other corners the evil no good they refused to help bellow long-term capital management always dick the guerrillas who. are. here to mediate the slightest think that paulson will be rescued this stage rumble in the wall street jungle with a seven or billion times. the audience shrinks yes the game is really. york london. the whole world is on the go. to the original one but the one on the end of it to hang up the courts building at the

end of the street another one the more transparent society gets the money or the public tears become we see military and state and police forces mobilized against people who blend into the city the city the more people trust electronic devices the more defenseless the. fear that has a thousand on. the interview.

hello and welcome to cross talk where all things are considered i'm peter lobo is there a new cold war brewing pitting the west against russia what is being called a reset and relations at the start of the obama presidency today is in tatters western media and politicians are determined to betray russia and the worst possible light even to the point of undermining the sochi games what are these new cold warriors hoping to achieve. to cross up.