better sweep good bye the sochi winter games are officially over it kept by a spectacular and grueling ceremony and going down in history for its remarkable performances as well as usual records and highlights. ukraine's new insult leadership rushes through a new law after taking power in the ban on the former ruling party and the clumsiness amid fears of a surge in nationalist groups. and scotland's and referendum means for instance iconic national flag may be in for some major changes . i mean to be said. so many things would have to be changed we ask some brits how they feel about the really drawing of one of our country's

most recognizable symbols. you watch an artsy international with memory in the cost of all welcome to the program well that's once you fourteen winter games have bid farewell cap and sixteen days of tom competition with a closing ceremony and our very own they say now an artsy song was lucky enough to witness the games so we can cross to her live now let's find out more about the morning after the night before. one of those bittersweet and emotionally overwhelming moments the olympics are over and after all those cheers and tears big breaks and heartfelt losses the sochi

games are officially have officially come to an end when those special olympic moments consigned to history. it was certainly sealed with a finale to remember viewers were taken further on the journey through russian culture picking up from the opening ceremony it was a tribute to russian greats in the arts music and literature and the organizers didn't miss the opportunity to poke a little fun of themselves over the infamous a little big ring that wouldn't open of course the biggest excitement came from the russian fans after the host nation surged to the top of the medal count with a total of thirteen golds and a spectacular accompli kompany men to a farewell show was of course the big fireworks display at the end of a dozen a ceremony there and plenty of olympic moments to remember we put together the top five for you top five sensations i should say number five the dutch they managed to grab hold of that beat skating and actually twenty three out of the twenty four medals they won in sochi were in speed skating number four

a rising star of figure skating seventeen year old. she became the first russian ever to take individual gold in women's figure skating. i'm very proud to have won a gold medal at the age of seventeen it's such a great feeling it's about who was everything including with myself. here is our number three the new russians american snowboarder vic wild who married a siberian and joined russia's a live big team to become one of the medalist and korean born speed skater victor he won three gold for his new homeland are sensation number two is in the region biathlete all the boards and dahlan becoming the most decorated winter olympians of all time a great performance on his sixth and last winter games here in sochi and of course the top stop goes to the overall performance of the russian national team making a victorious comeback from the vancouver games winning the home of the pics with

thirteen gold medals the sochi olympics have broke. lots of records and it's not just sports we're talking about almost half of the planet was watching at some point with at least three billion viewers talking about fans they set a surprising sound record during one of victor on speed skating races with cheers reaching out as one hundred ten decibels and here's another record quite an unexpected one thirty four babies were bored in sochi on the day of the opening ceremony of the city's highest single daily total of new boards now the sochi games will also go down in history for the weather becoming the warmest winter olympics in history and being a winter games capital with a different sochi also welcome so unusual competitors to paul scott has been fighting. for some twenty fourteen was simply about taking part take for example indian illusia shiva can shave in his

commitment to his sport highlighted by his training regime winding his way down dusty trucks. and lorries along the way. and i want some insight yes he may have come thirty seven thousand and thirty nine but the him there is more at stake following accusations of corruption the indian and limpid committee were suspended by the i.o.c. in two thousand and twelve. during these games meaning can shave and could finally compete under his nation's fly unfortunately there's a lot of politics. of india which i'm sure many people are not happy with but no that's. a lesson learned for everybody. to look at. one of the more colorful characters of these games was prince you bunches of hohenlohe with. the fifty five year old is a descendant of a former german royal. he's also a way for children the pop star who goes by the name of royal disaster.

the. he's six olympics the jewel nationality skis for mexico he's never won a medal for the maybe deserves gold for p.r. i think that russia the only problem at this stage that hired a p.r. person like me to be better p.r. before i mean you know it's a great thing they will want the full ten years before everything is really. just got a positive reply over to europe and to america there were some negatives tom de made his debut in these games bruno banani went in the luge you know his real name mind as part of a sponsorship deal he changed his name to that of the german underwear company but he told me he wants to be known for his sporting prowess if i didn't qualify for the olympics they wouldn't care at all what names i am so i think is the most important thing that i try hard in training hard to get together. and is any winter olympics complete without the jamaican bobsled the main attraction for press in

five mins raising their own funds to compete missing a connecting flight losing their luggage on coming second last still didn't dampen their party spirit proving that in amongst all the sporting excellence there is still room for the sport to be fun. such a. very sweet look back there but we're also looking forward to the paralympic games starting in less than two weeks back to you and moscow. thank you that was a nice the now reports from marty's very own studio while putting our heartfelt goodbye to the winter olympics were in fact asked you to tell us what you thought about the winter games to give us your heartfelt moments some of your highlights while it was all on our facebook page and here's what you had to say about your selection moments the first of a russian gold in women's figure skating no wonder you picked that one a huge and also on the expect the triumph there then we of course had another great

olympic moment from norwegian biathlete all. i know bjorn dahlan becoming the most decorated winter olympian now many others were impressed by snowboarders like wild and his russian wife and therefore scored medals for the host nation on the same slope and the national team's parade at the opening ceremony was also selected and finally the sublime performance by a russian figure skater roky emerging as a new star and olympic darling you need sky there well our own lines team has a more on the winter games and its heroes as well as more touching moments all you have to do is head to artsy dot com. my right to see my. first trip. and i think that you're. on a report. on

my. in other news after taking the reins of the ukrainian capital the former opposition as now busiest abolition of its own order and the latest measures against the all the ministration the country's parliament has suggested banning the once ruling party of regions and the communist party from any political activity all seventy four delegates have already withdrawn from the ruling party saying they fear of reprisals the name of some members wanted for questioning have reportedly been circulated to airports while vehicles are also being searched on the roads around the capital those on the streets that are trying to make their voice heard are being. seen with. all of. this is footage of

someone who was the bridegroom liquid as he tried to speak out against the new leadership our says it got the skin off takes a look now at how the political crisis is consider in song fault. freedom democracy independence as mind on the downing of the dictator and mourns those killed in kiev a city or street battles perhaps the way certain groups of the opposition have been acting can hardly be called democratic. around five hundred offices of the now ex ruling party have been burned down those with a different political stance or physically attacked inside the parliament. right now it's more about emotions rather than rivalries we are the most important things right now is to prevent gold card from audience bound completely because then the situation would lose. the president has fled the capital saying it has been carried out while the parliament passes new laws as fast as a printing press taking down officials and appointing their political rivals

including putting the right leaning forward in the government posts. from the national party taking charge of the prosecutor general's office in the woods. it was just for me was a new regime is taking shape really quickly and with the use of strong measures it has nothing to do with the mark received because those coming to power will go on with pursuing tough policies and they will conduct massive expansion of the eastern territories first among the first laws adopted the banning of russian as the second official state language despite nearly fifty percent of those living in the east of ukraine being ethnic russians the public is stalled from now on the right wing is going to be heavily present in ukraine's more enforcement at the moment the situation in kiev is basically controlled by radical people with with arms who are pursuing a very very militant agenda which is a political corpse i think he is an utterly discredited man he cut deals with

opposition who were quite obviously a since the nineteenth of january no longer in control of the crowds and here so he's a political leadership has been disastrous and i think that he's recognized across the whole country there are reports that foreign journalists who've been promoting different values from the rebels have now been put onto a wanted list as well as trying to temporarily ban a russian t.v. channels many are now raising the question if this is the type of democracy so many ukrainians put their lives on the line for. key of is foreign policy chief catherine ashton is visiting care. discuss measures to shore up the country's crippled economy meanwhile the interview said it's ready to provide the crane with twenty billion euro once a new government is formed we still got a bunch of the former presidents of the soviet union thinks that the west should

let the people who crave the side their own political future. infiltrate you know don't really have you seen what's going on there it's outrageous you need a bulldozer to push all the consultants from the us and e.u. all told their they should let the people decide for themselves issuing recommendations to nations is unacceptable they shouldn't provoke people they shouldn't send bandits in like old sides need to head to the negotiating table and talk to one month or six months even needed they will come to an end graeme and eventually. still to come a potential boycott good sparks concern in israel after the break we'll take a look at what's fake for television for acid prices song with its settlement program and the west bank. i know c.n.n. m.s.n. b c news have taken some not slightly but the fact is i admire their commitment to

cover all sides of the story just in case one of them happens to be accurate. that was funny but it's close and for the truth from the right thank. you it's because one whole attention and the mainstream media work side by side with you is actually on here. and our teen years we have a different brain. because the news of the world just is not this funny i'm not laughing dammit i'm not how. you guys talk to the jokes well handled in the sense that i'm.

welcome back to artsy and turn ashen away consume you now with brits in the union jack has long been an inspiration for artists fashion designers and then and so in symbol and pop culture but with scotland's independence referendum just months away there's growing talk about whether the iconic flag will need a make over there are already several designs around an r.t.s. for smith want to find out what people in london think about them. the campaigns on both sides of the scottish independence debate the factions have until september to sell their idea of how the union should look going forwards westminster says an

independent scotland would lose the pound but hardly anyone seems to be talking about something even more simple legs that the rest of the u.k. could lose if scotland declared independence the union jack scotland's represented on the flag by the blue background and diagonal white cross but if scotland left the u.k. might have to give that back old these flags would become obsolete and replaced with balls the u.k. charity the flag institute has most tops and suggestions so let's see what people think that's the nicest looking want to see. who's got the overall kingdom so the current state sure kingman i. know is too faint to get one. some of these are my favorite british one ok and what what you think of the idea what you think the concept in general would have to try to do what is going to more . tax and everything so i don't want to change i suppose it makes more sense i mean

there's some point in having a share in there of an impartial anymore that's quite attractive. she shook educational old flag you know be difficult for people to have any change really yeah i mean to be sad. so many things would have to be changed. it really was that do you think many. you know the union jacks enjoyed a resurgence in recent years becoming an iconic brand again apparently everything from high fashion to soft furnishings it would be holds for britain to discard it and indeed there are no firm plans to change it even if scotland does declare independence but david cameron and alex salmond might do well. better the flag in mind as this war of words save a scotland gets here and. we have more stories on the line and clue they're not in my backyard and they're giants my claim fracking is safe out there paul says

clearly they don't want us of knowledge of anywhere near their homes for more on the controversial statement from exon c.e.o. heads who are theat dot com. also their internet joined google claims robots will be able to understand those faster than we understand ourselves more details on the future as the forecasts are just a click away. the fact that. they didn't do the job did you know the price is the only industry specifically mentioned in the constitution and. that's because a free and open process is critical to our democracy but there's. rule. in fact the single biggest threat facing our nation today is the corporate takeover of our government and our press cynical we've been hijacked lying handful of friends national corporations that will profit by destroying what our founding fathers once told just my job market and on this show we reveal the big picture of what's

actually going on in the world we go beyond identifying the problem try rational debate and real discussion critical issues facing up to find her job ready to join the movement then welcome to the big picture. welcome back to r.t. international german chancellor angela merkel travel so israel on monday to meets with the country's prime minister binyamin netanyahu he describes germany as

a good friend but his country's relations with the european union haven't been particularly warm recently artie's policy or reports. when european parliament president martin shorts touched down in jerusalem recently he experienced the cold shoulder of israel's right he was heckled while dressing the parliament and accused of telling lies surely rough airlie was among those who walked out on the ball and . plenty of world leaders spoke here just recently french president hollande said very harsh things on the need for a police state and we needn't walk out of. shorts later acknowledged he was mistaken about some of the figures of palestinian versus israeli access to water although the figures are far from equal now it is fellow countrywoman angela merkel's chance to face the firing line. at the at the. in my mind and in my party's mind this ocean is not to have two states rather the solution should be

that in the land of israel there will be only one country and i hope that uncle merkel is coming to talk and got to pressure us this is the most divisive issue israeli settlements in the west bank and jordan valley because of it according to recent polls only fourteen percent of germans view israel positively the european union already bans all products grown in settlements as israel's number one trading partner accounting for about a third of its total trade it hurts the pockets of farmers like your seed deeply your seed grows organic vegetables in the disputed jordan valley and the leader we use to sell to tons per month today i barely export two hundred to three hundred kilograms when i asked these companies why they tell me it's because the stores they sell to tell them they don't want to buy any more from the settlements all mother guti who spearheads the anti israel boycotted disinvestment and sanctions movement believes the e.u. stand is making inroads europe now checks the past for the place of origin if it's

coming from a settlement they want israel to declare that increasingly they no other news in the settlements are losing the european german market. he has always had a special relationship with israel because of its nazi past but merkel's visit comes amid reports that german israeli ties all the wusa in a decade no don't put pressure on the israeli government especially as the german public feels it needs to apologize. jerusalem. a quick look now at some other world news three people were killed including two children on the grenade exploded out an opposition rally and bank leaders of the protest movement blamed the governments for the attack while the prime minister has condemned it as an act of terror more than twenty people have died in thailand in the past four months the government demonstrations. crowds have marched through the main square in madrid rallying against what they call curbs on civil rights and freedoms the protests covered

a wide range of issues from the economy immigration spain is climbing out over to you know recession but unemployment keeps rising and partial sets of cots are still in place. and i know so well one of the quotes that the group put six has engaged in the armed standoff the army officers who came so. general on how the boss was accused of masterminding. the government supporter of armed himself with an assault rifle. to run the officers more than trace the way by supporters the place after thousands gathered in caracas and supports. more news for you in about half an hour from now but coming up on r.t. international it's our latest special report a desert but if you're watching us from the u.k. they're prepared to go on the ground. either way stay with us.

transit routes of a nuke of the report you'll best way to the heart of moscow. there's a medium lead us so we need to be. seen push this into a. party because of the. questions that no one is asking with the guests that you deserve answers from it's all on politics only on our t.v.

. if you see greece if you see friends then they have such different problems and possibilities of economical possibilities the smaller you have to entities the easier and perhaps in a certain way the european union can also learn something from switzerland. please. please. please. please.

please. please. please please please . i think that in all of these areas where you have the rise of what is called the new right there were shadows faction with left wing keep. my my friend. to be aware of how widespread is this. and having spent the last forty years academic lunatic asylum i assure you that. in many

many quarters of american life. i was in academia for a while i managed in a straight jacket so let me go ahead jump in london yeah i mean i think spending time in the lunatic asylum this kind of affected his you know thinking a little bit the point is that in the u.k. and. europe values have changed cultural values have changed need to become much more tolerant much more open much more liberal and even in the united states. common in washington d.c. college face.

a pleasure to have you with us here on t.v. today. it's no accident that his cafe on the very edge of the desert. he knows that any adventure into the sahara will always take this road. coffee and coke but trading has been slowed. today. but on top of that he's heard worrying news on the radio unlikely though it sounds does snow in neighboring egypt. which could threaten that as its main event a festival that attracts thousands of tourists. the mild desert winter is when

business usually peaks and when the sahara really comes to life. a small way of shape slice in the north of perhaps the most famous desert on earth this small country is known as the sahara games. for fifty years the annual desert festival has taken place here it's an event that draws people from all surrounding countries. these people's lives a deeply intertwined with the death of. the many preparations for the festival began six months ago they've gone deep into the desert every day on an

exhaustive training shuttle the main event is camel racing any prize in a sprint race is a great honor but winning the forty two kilometer marathon is considered especially prestigious the young boys in the small town of doulas dream of such a victory seemingly endless sand dunes begin just beyond the town's borders. like every other man in the region image hopes to win two years ago he and his camel came first in a sprint for us. i'm confident about this part of the race because my camel is quite familiar with the area but i do have some doubts about the long distance marathon. i haven't before with this camel. because the festival only takes place once a year needs to make a living for himself and his camera so he dons makeup and colorful national costume to pose as an exotic sultan for tourists which is particularly popular with some women travelers.