our headline story this hour the pentagon hold operations against. syria after its key ally changes focus to pull another u.s. partner in the region turkey. from a former russian colonel who spied for britain is allegedly poisoned in the u.k. sparking media speculation of a russian despite new details from the police also ahead. really soldiers film throwing a stunning grenade. trying to escape a military operation.

around the clock across the world this is r t international from the team and myself you not only welcome to the program our top story the u.s. military has halted its ground operations against islamic state in eastern syria in a statement the pentagon said kurdish forces in the area are shifting their focus from fighting terrorists to countering a turkish offensive. some forces operating within the s.d.s. have decided to leave a prey sions in the middle east river valley to fight elsewhere possibly not they're not fighting isis anymore and they're basically meant that they're not taking territory back from isis is quickly as they have been in the past. well the democratic forces mentioned in the pentagon statement are predominantly kurdish militia should be been a key ally of the u.s. in the fight against i still in syria enjoyed washington's support there are

no fighting in afrin where there is existing conflict and the city which is located in northern syria has been one of the main flash points of contention in the country and it's all after launch the growing defense against kurdish forces in january turkey considers militias based their terrorist and safe had started the campaign to protect its border so we return to be looking into the story for us but according to u.s. officials u.s. backed a ground operations against islamic sing remnants in eastern syria have been put on hold now that's because kurds who had spearheaded combat against extremists have shifted to a separate fight with turkish forces in a free the kurdish region of a free and in northern syria has become a new geo political pivot point in the conflict turkey launched an offensive in a frame in january to expel syrian kurdish forces what it sees as a terrorist group and as an extension of a kurdish insurgency at home while the parties in the region are trying to figure

out what to do exactly the violence in the region continues. for weeks now defense secretary jim madison other u.s. officials have called turkey's operation a distraction from the isis campaign you you know. the. distraction of what's going on in half right right now it distracts from international effort to ensure the lasting defeat of isis what is going on in a free and is taking away from the fight against isis it is a distraction as secretary mabus had called it is certainly not helpful how it seems that for kurdish forces the fighting in a frame is more than just a distraction kurds have been washington's key allies in the fight against iceland one of the most effective forces combat ing extremists in the region the pentagon

has already admitted that the potential costs of their destruction from the isis site is severe now we just have to wait and see how this will affect the battle against isis in syria and whether or not this will extend u.s. operations in the country don't even make albums executive director at the wrong paul institute thinks relations between the us and the kurds are unlikely to normalize. well it's three months of the old saying it's better to be the enemy than the ally of the united states because if you're the enemy they may try to value but if you're the ally they certainly will sell you and that certainly seems like what they're doing with the kurds perhaps the kurds are understanding that they will be sold out they were sold out at rocca as well and they will be sold out in the eastern part of syria where the us is operating and they're coming to the aid of their allies does the us hope that the syrian government gets further drawn in to the fight with the kurds against the turks than the us can swing back around and help it struck his ally in fighting the syrian government and the kurds as well

maybe that's the move that would mean the big question mark is what will russia do in a situation like that talk about a disaster. let's turn our attention to the u.k. where two people are in a critical condition after being exposed to an unknown substance one of them is believed to be a former russian colonel who spied for britain the alleged victim a surrogate scriptural is retired from the russian military and. telegin service in two thousand and six he passed the identities of russian secret agents in europe to the u.k. and was subsequently caught cripple was sentenced to thirteen years in prison but in twenty ten he was released as part of a high profile spies swap with the u.s. and then flown to britain well comparisons are already being drawn with former russian spy alexander litvinenko who died in london twelve years ago poisoned with a radioactive substance his death that was later blamed on moscow if you recall

back to two thousand and six that was when a man named. alexander litvinenko was poisoned and died a slow horrible death is circling st paul was poisoned it will never really do questions about kremlin involvement given that russian defector alexander litvinenko was murdered in two thousand and six using radioactive polonium so it's according to the b.b.c. and sky that this gentleman is the one who's been found ill now the police also as well there's not naming who the person is they've also not said anything about what the substance is at this stage however that hasn't stopped the media here from drawing parallels with the case of alexander litvinenko who was poisoned in london in two thousand and six but again it's key to point out that the police haven't named either who the man is or what the substance is involved so at the moment anyway the media seem to be jumping to conclusions in drawing those parallels. once you put the word russian in front of somebody who's ill taken to hospital the

hospital. cleared out from some people or declared declare that no one could add to the area suspect. what do you read into that you read that it's a radioactive substance it's something which is very dangerous and then you say well which country would have the facilities to produce that of. the british authorities blame the murder. go on the offense be eventually back to liverpool to. just go on speculatively it's too good it's too juicy it's too good to let go well despite that media speculation sources in the u.k. emergency services have been quoted saying the former spy may have suffered a prescription drug overdose his symptoms apparently point to the use of a powerful painkiller called fentanyl it's reportedly fifty to one hundred times stronger than morphine and has a similar influence on the body overdoses from the drug caused at least sixty

deaths in the u.k. and twenty seventeen former m i five officer on the machine on gave us her views on the case. this might just be some sort of drug instant there have been numerous stories over the last couple of years in the u.k. for the spread of. synthetic kind of annoyed called spice which seems to create the same sort of symptoms that were reported in this case people who. dissipated because they've been involved in a spy swap for example their lives are forever changed there's a long history of people in that situation self medicating with substances this happened they were taken to hospital they were identified their names were fed into the system and assume is there their names are fed into the system there's some alert around the fact that this guy had indeed been involved in the spy swap in twenty ten suddenly became much more much more news worthy and i think this is where the story is built from. an israeli officer has been caught on video throwing

a stun grenade at a couple running with an infant. i was. so what we are seeing here in the video which was released by an israeli human rights group are a palestinian couple running with a baby and it really soldier throws what appears to be a stun grenade in their direction it goes off right behind the family which was simply trying to flee the area. well the i d f responded by seeing dozens of protesters were throwing rocks or troops in the area and the officers did not spot but the couple were currying a child the statement went on to say that if a baby had been not as they would have acted accordingly the rights group which released the video so used violence by israelis against palestinians is what comes under occupation and little is done to prevent. so the reality of the occupation the israeli occupation over the palestinians in this incident as well as

in many many others in recent weeks we have seen in this collision of violence by israeli citizens there were certainly towards palestinians in civilians who are not citizens despite these many many incidents. public awareness is still low and more importantly the military is failing to provide provide. the security required we're seeing that many many of the violence of settlers and military personnel first indians go without any trials without any investigations or with food investigations and many of them closed down due to lack of the police failure to investigate as they should and this is the case and this is the reality that we're in. a changing gears now where we have reached the one hundred day count on mark before football's showpiece tournament fee for world cup kicks off

here in russia a total of sixty four matches will take place twelve either revamped or brand new stadiums across eleven cities. i. will. hold. on so a pretty adventure will take place across russia this tuesday to mark the final countdown daniel hawkins has been reporting for us from r.t.e. special studio here in moscow where the world cup will open in the summer. it's a pretty chilly snow covered day here today in moscow but of course the world cup will take place in the height of moscow's warm summer it seems so long ago now that russia was bid to host the fifth world cup but as time has moved closer to the event it's really flown by and today marks the first mark of one hundred days till

the start of football's biggest festivals preparations have been well underway twelve stadiums across eleven cities from khazan in the east to kaliningrad in the western fifo fishel is have been keeping a close eye on those preparations on those developments so far so good from them it's been a thumbs up this is very important for fee for and for the local organizing committee to make clear to everyone and every fan around the world that the walk up is going to be an inclusive event an open event and welcoming even for everyone who respective of their background origin nationality gender sexual orientation or skin color it is an event which is for everyone and this is the year the commitment that we have made in the local authorities in the local organizing committee who are behind this as well together with us people have complete trust in the security preparations and the security concept people looked at by russian authorities to the local organizing committee and we had also to create opportunity

to test all the security arrangements and the concerts during confederations cup last year and everything went there we will promote what point of view now organizers have put found comfort at the center of preparations those tens of thousands of fans coming to russia from all across the world will be able to get a special fan idea alongside their tickets now that means they can come into the country visa free as well as get free travel on special transport between the host cities and in the host cities as well also of course giving them piece of my. and about safety and security now of course the fans have been the main priority but it's the sports teams themselves who are taking center stage many of the world's greatest stars coming to russia and it's fair to say those teams have had requests which have been let's say a little bit more unusual. will

come. will come once in a while to prepare the nigerian army this doctor will enjoy him so that the boys recalled to him once in a while and be able to give the best room to comfort you. very

much full steam ahead here in russia as the countdown begins and what better place to watch all the action than with a star studded lineup of pundits and commentators bring you the latest updates yeah we will have special coverage of the tournament with some of football's biggest names to guide you through it's all on board our month chest united's former goalkeeping great peter smikle liverpool england striker stan collymore and one of the most decorated coaches of the modern game joe samaria new. for a world cup twenty eight team coverage we've signed one of the greatest goalkeepers of alternative but there was one more question and by the way he's going to be our coach. guys i know you are nervous he's a huge star and the huge amount of pressure you have to the center of the beach but how would you and do a great game. get you out of the rock at the back nobody gets past you we need you

to get down there we have to go. a low as just i want to and i'm really happy to join the team for the two thousand and thirteen world cup in russia meet the special one it was also appreciate me to just say the radio the aussie team's latest edition make up is bigger than he better just look. good on the great dane peter smikle has been traveling across russia himself to take in the final preparations. even though i play the world cup myself this is going to be much more exciting for me because obviously it's going to be very basic with work being very close to the actual tournament having done a lot of work on the tournament running into the world cup and then once it starts you know all the emotions of having my country there and my son playing there so really special for me. i think i wish football stadiums for like this when i

play i think you're saying it's brilliant assembly and you get an idea about how the atmosphere will be and that they're all in around the same kind of theme but they're all very different as well variant of it one one looks like a u.f.o. than another one i said the stadium is such you look like a cake. i've been to all the eleven cities yet we were finished or that within the next three weeks. but what i've experienced of everything has run smoothly and everything is really well organized so my my my advice is to to relax a little bit about the things that we see every day in the western media and then enjoy it. or we will have coverage throughout the day from some of the world cups host cities as they mark one hundred days until russia takes on saudi arabia in the opening match up. this hour as germany's national anthem is caught up in

a sexist rock we asked people in berlin what they think about removing words like fatherland. that's. what politicians do something to. put themselves on the line. to get accepted or rejected. so when you want to express interest. or somehow want to be that's.

going to be close it's like the full story in the morning and people are. interested always in the logs it's. hello again germany's national anthem could be in line for a gender friendly mic over a leaked letter written by the country's a quality commissioner us for the words fatherland unbrotherly to be written that our europe correspondent peter all of our reports. it's one of the most recognizable national anthems in the world.

but there are plans afoot to make changes to the woods of the lead in an attempt to make it more gender inclusive now this is being put forward by the country's equal opportunities the plan put forward by kristin rose morning would see the phrase full of the land swap for homeland on the line of brotherly with hot in hand changed to courageously with hoss and hand it wouldn't be the first time that the german anthem which has been used since one thousand nine hundred twenty two it caused trouble after world war two the first verse in its opening lines. but alice soul germany germany above all else caused problems then as well the words themselves were written back in the nineteenth century about german unification however the nazis made them their own.

the and. after reunification in one thousand nine hundred one germany adopted the third verse as its national anthem the first verse isn't to be sung but people still to forget like earlier this year at a fed cup tennis much in the united states which on good play is in funds a like. the movie. was. and back in two thousand and nine british musician pete daugherty and could the wrath of a german audience after he sung the first for. during a life performance. was.

perhaps the time is right to update the anthem we spoke to some people on the streets of berlin that's what they thought. and i decided i belong to the generation that grew up with this i think is good as it is. thinks is all these it is i think it's fine the way it is. i don't agree with this i think it's nonsense why should we do this just to make one group had the words isn't an option either. of the song without it it would only be half of what i do and often well just me i honestly don't care. because of why not i think it's ok the word fatherland has some negative connotations and he somewhat right wing as far as i'm concerned in the feels like a negative sort of he church has or it would be better if it was more neutral peter

all of a. north and south korea may be on course for better relations with envoys from both countries meeting on monday but it seems not everyone is on board with having warmer ties with pyongyang. picks up the story. the winter olympic games have seen an unprecedented thaw in relations between north and south korea and now that the games are over the two countries have not given up on their road to better relations at this point south korean envoys are meeting with kim jong un for the first time in more than a decade you won't hear any celebrating in the u.s. though take donald trump's tough talk as far as the risk of dealing with a madman is concerned that's his problem not mine while warhawk neo cons talk about a military solution all the damage that would come from the war would be worth shit in terms of long term stability and national security to be fair u.s.

leaders did pause their rehearsal for all out war during the olympic games but almost as soon as the closing ceremonies were over the tanks and planes were out once again and they were rehearsing for mass death new york times reports that a classified u.s. military exercise examined the number of u.s. troops that would be involved in a potential conflict on the korean peninsula according to their estimate roughly ten thousand u.s. soldiers would be wounded in just the first few days of the new korean war the brutality of this war will be beyond the experience of any living soldier in the north and south korea may be tentatively moving forward but the reluctant united states will only sit down with conditions trump says that a meeting can only be arranged via beijing if the north will give up their nuclear weapons that according to pyongyang is a ridiculous and preposterous demand we've waited so long for this to come up there's no leadership in south korea that is recognizing that this has gone on for

far too long and this leadership under president moon who is a progressive lawyer he knows what dialogue can do and has seen how it can get interrupted by one side or another wanting to engage in this ongoing type of tug of war at the. united states has not necessarily had an interest for peace in korea really. it doesn't seem like the leadership wants to create a real atmosphere for peace that brings us back to the beginning full circle to the vitriolic war of words which is not exactly been helpful in previous years cable mop and r.t. new york. are global news stories are looking for are not and you are a cheater is here in about thirty minutes time with more updates from our stay with us now though for more great r.t. programs right ahead.

fight for many people over the years so i know the game and so i got. the ball isn't only about what happens on the pitch for the final school it's about the passion from the families it's the age of the shaper money. and spending to get to the twenty million. it's an experience like nothing else not to be true so i want to share what i think what i know about the beautiful game like great so well with . the basics it's going to.

this is boom bust broadcasting around the world for washington d.c. and to be clear that's right here we're three blocks from the white house maybe too close i'm barred shelton coming up scientific american has

a cover story about the future of money and we are fortunate to have an author with us alexander lipton from the massachusetts institute of technology joins us to talk about crypto mining and the future of money and actually banks looks at the global market reaction to president strong statements about opposing steel and aluminum import tariffs which seem to be the starting sellable as of a global trade war and melissa arm all of the stocks who should sit down with us to talk markets and stocks plus before we go as a former steel worker myself who would have thought i have a few thoughts about what's been going on all of this by the way coming up soon but first really get to some headlines. italian voters gave a large majority to populist outsiders and the right wing in sunday's parliamentary elections the five star movement won thirty two percent of the. vote the largest vote for the say a single party and the northern far right league one thousand percent outpolling

their center right coalition partners for a talia led by former prime minister silvio bristlecone by six points the winning parties have a fairly anti immigrant stance and some say they are european union hostile which raises concerns about the future as the e.u. deals with things like the united kingdom leaving the e.u. . and related election news germany's social democrats the s.p.d. have voted to approve a coalition with conservative chancellor angela merkel of the christian democrats the vote among s.p.d. members was two to one in favor with a very high turnout the s.p.d. decision to enter another call issued however hands the position of official opposition to the to the neo fascist alternative for germany as in italy the dynamic weakened the establishment parties who are attempting to hold off rightwing

outsiders who seem to be taking some hold. and computer hacks of crypto currency exchanges already this year have seen investors losing more money since the big time back in two thousand and fourteen when the largest exchange mt gox in japan saw roughly four hundred seventy five million dollars drain from accounts before they filed for bankruptcy so far this year investors have lost more than seven hundred million dollars from two exchanges bit grayle based in florence italy and coin check based in japan the losses exemplify that investors can lose all of their invested money in exchanges without appropriate security the two hacks represent a continuing obstacle to gaining more mainstream acceptance of digital currencies. and now in that same.