with efforts to rebuild the water on iraqi city of mosul under way the situation on the ground remains grim locals have told is the city is a ghost town there's no reconstruction here all the reconstruction efforts are just like the living dead we have a cemetery over there but here it's a cemetery for the living. and as well as president nicolas maduro initiates large

scale military drills in preparation for a possible u.s. military intervention. on the defense secretary says that he will counter russia and china militarily post brags that if he delivers a plan to boost the british army's global presence. very good evening to you thanks for joining us this is r.t. . rebuild the waterborne iraqi city of mosul continues since its twenty seventeen liberation the situation on the ground there remains grim experts claim that despite the flow of funds to rebuild the city much of that money's being pocketed by local authorities though so authorities deny the allegations although locals continue to complain about widespread corruption we talked to some of those who have written. turn to mosul after its liberation auntie's right against the it

has the story. coming home should always be a joy safety security but it isn't always so not when you're coming back to mosul there are no basic services in the city no jobs it's terrible we return to our homes a year and a half after the liberation there is no life here there are no decent streets we suffer from power and water shortage it feels so pathetic. we are here battling all the hardships we now regret that we ever came back. it was one of the biggest deadliest battles in the world in decades in the name of freedom they turned west mosul into this. a city of millions reduced to ash and rubble in an act they called

liberation i was there two years ago i saw tasted and smelled the city being freed that's an iraqi helicopter this is what the aftermath of a classic strike in mosul looks like it doesn't that way you do it all looks virtually the same crumbled buildings the breach airstrike craters two years and nothing has changed west mosul is still a wreck city of the dead not going to zero by one can even imagine how difficult it is one hospital no schools no teachers we are like the living dead we have a cemetery over there but here it's a cemetery for the living. their spirit children orphans appearing rubble in the absence of builders and construction crews they are what you call rescue crews the

first to stumble on and dive from booby traps unexploded u.s. coalition bombs they are the first to reach the corpses under the rubble now estimated to be in the tens of thousands bodies left rotting for two years because they have gotten a shot holes are everywhere there are still corpses everywhere and if anyone brings humanitarian aid to the local officials to steal it they are all corrupt. corruption has its tentacles everywhere millions of dollars intended for reconstruction apparently siphoned off stolen the u.s. led coalition which spent billions bombing mosul doesn't seem to have the cash or will to rebuild it the only thing that's being we built say locals the bank accounts of crooked officials there's no reconstruction here all their reconstruction efforts are just in on paper potholes everywhere streets filled with

rubble and rubbish it's misery here i swear to god there are no clean officials here the norwegian refugee council's media coordinator in iraq told para course there is not convinced about how quickly mosul can be rebuilt mosul is not normal yet it's only quote it will not be the case for years if reconstruction is not being scaled up people cleared the houses and rebuilt with the bare hands and they are exposed to unexploded bombs we've seen many victims recently so clearly the situation is not back to normal yet there is a nerve agent need to rebuild and i'm going to tell you why for the simple reason that. the camps were not designed as permanent structures the life expectancy of attend is supposed to not exceed six months and in camps in some camps they haven't been replaced or more than two years now so people are are exposed to winter

conditions and floods we have big floods in iraq and even recently there has been many of the. so it is clearly urgent to rebuild the people from mosul have been enduring life under islamic state groups for four three years. and there are trustees but they are not suffering from the lack of their support and this is clearly an acceptable. but as well as embattled president nicolas maduro has launched huge military drills in preparation for a possible u.s. invasion material insists that washington is leading a coup against him backing venezuela's opposition leader. proclaimed himself interim president back in january even as well the military is sticking with the dura for now despite some fifty countries officially recognizing go i don't know duros warned washington about crossing the line. all of us if

you are we are a peaceful country that would do not mess with us do not threaten us donald trump get out of bed as well and stop the threats and get out we must prepare to defend our sovereignty to rhetorical integrity and independence. duros also not allowing u.s. aid to the country saying it's not needed medical professionals protested on decision they were blocked bridges the colombian border i don't know has been urging the military to disobey me and let it three. troops administration sharply criticized the christmas tour for blocking the aid from crossing the bridge and much of the media's been quick to jump on the bandwagon giving the impression that the venezuelan government had shut down an otherwise functioning route into the country my daughter blocks a border bridge where eighty said to arrive ordering troops to block the bridge president maduro has blocked a bridge about three hundred meters or so from the blockade by. the

border between then and then i humanitarian aid on the venice well inside trucks and troops are blocking traffic in and out of the country. the bridge in question that connects colombia venezuela has in fact never been open to traffic after its initial construction in twenty fifteen that's two to a dispute between the bordering countries earlier this week both the united nations and international red cross warned the u.s. not to engage in such p.r. stunts. related to the humanitarian aid which must never be politicized that i do moment. you money that you need to be not. politicized it's dividing the political debate which shouldn't be humanitarian action needs to be independent of political military or other objectives what is important is that humanitarian aid be depleted sized and that the needs of the people should lead in terms of when and how humanitarian aid is used.

school commentator and journalist john white joins me on the line. so this is the bridge being open or closed how can the media be demanding it be reopened when it was never open in the first place to think this is a simple mistake willful ignorance. as well full ignorance rooted in ideology we do see that the best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows that he's in prison and the rule of the western media on this issue and all with other seismic issues that we've been dealing with and i'll tell you the rule of the western mainstream media is to keep us in our prison or false consciousness in the western mainstream media is part and parcel of this coup if you survey the content of the media it's a disgrace it's reprehensible as contemptible and it's this information and it's woeful misrepresentation of what's going on and then it's real this is regime change by any other name may do would be the legitimately elected leader of the

country is being faced with the kind of pressure that saddam hussein was faced with assad has been faced with more moderate tough he has been faced with this is a well worn script and is being played of venice realize we speak. the international red cross and the un have warned the us not to use humanitarian aid as a pool why is the us not listening. because the us isn't interested in what the un says anymore and hasn't been for a long time the the us is interested in who germany international war no longer exists to any great extent when it comes to the clutch of your corn grim reapers who are behind this move against venezuela they don't care what the un says and they never really have done this is a vote mate is rate this is a cane or petition that julius caesar would of been protest socially and self with as he was rampaging through gold and so it let's be clear what this is this is nothing to do with democracy this is a bad thing to do with germany and the un is both

a minor inconvenience and not pursuit. of the dura says that the humanitarian situation which seems to be pretty clear that exists and it's pretty bad but it was made worse i see says by western sanctions and an economic blockade do you think there's any truth to that. one hundred percent correct i mean of course there are subjective factors behind what's going on in venezuela the people are suffering more new mental deprivation in him is a ration but the the subject a factor cannot be separated from the object of factors we've talked about the oil prices of oil with filleted but the primary objective fact is the huge external pressure has been a against an exact against venezuela right from the mic minute hugo chavez took power in one thousand nine hundred. years will remember the aborted coup in two thousand and two when there was a tape supported by the u.s. to overturn the bill of alien revolution then and they have been in boat opposition in venezuela that is acted continuously as

a de facto agent of washington which is never elected its desire to see venezuela return to the fold as a wholly owned subsidiary of u.s. and u.s. so corporations. and it seems almost prophetic there was a u.n. report on venezuela a year ago warned the humanitarian situation there could be used by the us to force regime change would you make of that. was very prescient indeed isn't it because he could see what was coming down the track this thing has been in just the issue for quite a long time mr gray do who's just appeared from nowhere a man who hardly anybody in venezuela i think has ever held of before he certainly was an instance of his interim president of the country about thought by washington this is clearly been a plot that's been underway for quite some time and i think this is this is a desperate gamble on the part of the u.s. because a ball of the revolution has held strong its core support is still strong despite the huge suffering of the people and this is testament to the risen consciousness

of the venezuelan masses that was that we have been inspired by hugo chavez and we do as his successor villager timidly elected successor accord not to me or not or not to of t. but by dint of international observers on the ground to vote judged that the their democracy is robust indeed i would consider to be more robust than a democracy here in the u.k. at least we don't have an annoying head of state in venezuela as we do a good speech judge appreciate your time john white political commentator and journalist. the british defense secretary has been addressing national security had a britain's withdrawal from the e.u. among the things that he advocates is the deployment of more british navy ships overseas all in correspondent paula boy has more. well this was a speech raghavan williamson unveiled his future plans and ambitions for the british military he said this president is a historic moment and an opportunity for the u.k.

and he listed all the new gadgets and the state of the art toys and equipment that he has on order he spoke about the british military needing to increase its mass and lead. which led to questions about how he's planning on funding increasing this mass and lethality take a lesson or two we've seen is the government has always been willing and ready to respond to the case. because we realize for prioris importance office funding aside this speech sounded somewhat detached from reality in other aspects as well kevin williamson spoke about bragg's it being a great moment in the you case history which is sound somewhat optimistic given the chaotic situation that the braggs it process is in right now and it is. to seize the opportunities that brics it brings we will build new alliances rekindle old

ones and most importantly make it clear that we offer country that will act when required we should be the nation that people turn to when the world needs leadership he also spoke of britain being ready to intervene to protect the international rules based order which seem to completely close over the interventions that britain has taken part in that haven't quite gone to plan for example iraq afghanistan libya to name but a few. ok let's bring in m.e.p. mike hookham is the deputy leader for the u.k. independence party to mike are you surprised by this talk of military spending post specs it some might argue that there are more pressing needs at hand. was the army in the the armed forces of great britain of being on the phone did for many years under successive governments and if if kevin williamson is going to

bring more funding to charm for she will bring it on when you know we welcome now we know we have the best forces in the wild the brain on the founders as i've said by excessive government and let's hope is good to which way but i mean looking at the phone being a something in the range of about seven billion pounds in the black that was a black hole. i think machine more to do with governor williamson pushing to be the next leader of the tory party saying why see singling out you think china and russia. ali a rot in the seventies trying to be the sman the world still sman you know why are we getting involved with any of this we shouldn't be getting involved with china or russia or the other another threat to us as far as i can see the moments when we should be looking at building our armed forces bill now around we're

building a the air force up on the navy as a defense force looking after our own country once we leave the european union but as we say within the brics the plan of to region may she signed it is up to every tendency of the the european policy defense policy so you know i don't know where he's coming from with that with all of this what we can say from theresa may is that she wants a printed creation with a near opinion. it seems looking at the u.k. media every day there's another. they're a different story telling about how briggs it's going to damage the british economy do you think this is an attempt by him to try and boost hope boost spirits because of course you know arms exports defense spending they can theory should be a filip for the economy. but it sure it's always about it's always about the fear factor the free french have been pushing since before the twenty sixteen referendum

and you know it's everything's a free for us everything's down to break you know we look forward to the day we leave the european union we think it's a great day for great britain and we will get on trading with the rest of the world and dealing with the rest of the wild and hopefully if egypt chilled to his word he will pour more money into our armed forces and and give them you know the benefit of extra funding and you know the belief that we have in our armed forces which are that you know i believe and my belief is that the best of the best troops in the world you clearly have found what you make of the british army's record in actually both in the past and present have the chiefs the peace and the stability that they would say that they set out to achieve. while i mean in the last few years we can see what's gone on the whole chops have gone out there and done their absolute best but they're never more sure as the phrase lions led by donkeys

you know our troops go out there and deal with a billion of politicians and it's politicians are let down the contrary and let down our troops. my pleasure to speak to appreciate you coming on r.t. international m.e.p. my cook and deputy leader of you kid. you care thoughts is being accused of a heavy handed response after a woman was arrested in front of her children and locked up for seven hours for calling a female transgender activist by her former male name scotto says that she's not her mobile or laptop returned to a two months after police detained and is reported to being charged with a campaign of targeted harassment aunties and see a choking explodes this is a case that's circulating in the u.k. press this monday concerning a thirty thirty year old woman and hartford tour north of london kate scotto who is being investigated following a potentially controversial twitter exchange now according to this woman she was

arrested by three police officers and locked up according to her for an entire seven hours following a report filed by a transgender activist claiming that she was dead naming this activist which means using the name that the person was either born with or was using before transitioning so essentially in this case for calling this activist a man this is what she had to say i was arrested in my home by three officers with my autistic ten year old daughter and breastfed twenty month old son present i was then detained for seven hours in the cell with no sanitary products which i said i needed before being interviewed then later released under investigation i was arrested for harassment and malicious communications because they called someone out and ms gender them on twitter. well this woman was accused of a campaign of targeted harassment and from what we know court papers say that she

had made defamatory posts in a quote talk sic debate over gender now the activist who filed this report stephanie hayden has this to say it is not just relates to mr gendering me as a male it's far more serious that the allegations are far more serious and includes a disclosure of financial and personal information and the decision to arrest misspelt how was an independent decision taken by half a police here in the u.k. well the police in this case have said quote we take all cases all reports of malicious communication seriously and now this case is under investigation so we'll be watching it to see how exactly it unravels. that south african our violent attacks on farmers are on the rise increasing by fifteen percent over two years according to new information official figures indicate more than seventy

percent of those murdered on farms were white we spoke with some pharmacies been subjected to attacks i think lou usually brought in to make any difference to him so much interest in a little medical activity if you go into. this is still like you know what it is looks like up in the door and i was scratched by a guy but he spun me around my neck and how to come to my age. i. got. in this stark reminder it is now i'm. on my. as i went down the garden the guy on the head with this with the stick. and as i stood up on the seashore we believe if you will continue in my income to this place. your bet is that you're leaving to go you know said it. the whole time they held a shop and college believe that it's one reader i can't say more than chaucer

thanks doc. told all. recently published report has revealed that electric drills blow torches and bleach have been used as assault weapons against farmers the issue of the white control of farming is controlled the say it is to redistribute land to black farmers have been launched by the government which has stressed the it doesn't intend to begin the mass seizure of white farms the reason spike in attacks that's put the issue firmly in the spotlight the violence against following this is been happening for decades most of the victims are white some say the attacks and less to do with racism more to do with wider social problems concerning law and order. the nature of the attacks is disproportionate we're not among those claiming there is a wide genocide or a crime against humanity but it is it serious crisis and there are signs that it is only going to get wars we are on record as as dismissing the the what the white

genocide narrative as if it does not exist as friends that being said. you you do get into it into issues of what of what motivates these crimes and an argument could be made that in certain instances. the rictus rictus racial rhetoric they may be a contributing factor once again these are all experiences possibilities commercial farmers. tend to be disproportionately white although. you know i think it's it's it's very important you know in these you solutions you know to become trapped in that racial prison we are aware of instances where we. reflect people being attacked and also i think it must be pointed out that that part of the whole form or matecumbe form of a phenomenon is vulnerable. workers pretend to be interviewed like and they've been

instances with. black people or is that lots to protect. to protect what i watch people under attack and vice versa was the case. we followed increased. job no mall as of next month as a marina returns to r.t. for coverage of the two thousand and nineteen u.i. for champions league he'll have pre-match predictions and post-game post-mortems in the psni bi weekly show. after the previous stage of my career was over everyone wondered what i was going to do next then multiple different clubs on one hand it is logical to signal from fields where everything is familiar on the other i wanted a new challenge and the fresh perspective i'm used to surprising people and i saw why not if you think. i'm going to talk about football nazi or else you think i was going to the.

by the way ways of that slide here. such a great guy ok to join me for the latest in half an hour. you know world of big part of the lot and conspiracy it's time to wake up to dig deeper to hit the stories that mainstream media refuses to tell more than ever we need to be smarter we need to stop slamming the door on the bats and shouting past each other it's time for critical thinking it's time to fight for the

middle for the troops the time is now we're watching closely watching the hawks. after the previous stage of my career was over everyone wondered what i was going to do next the hope the ball different clubs on one hand it is logical to sit in the home fields where everything is familiar on the other i wanted a new challenge and a fresh perspective and i'm used to surprising people and us old why not if you think. i'm going to talk about football not the or else you can think i was going to do. by the way ways of the line here. join me every thursday on the alex simon show and i'll be speaking to guest of the world of politics school business i'm show

business i'll see you then. time after time so we're going underground on the fortieth anniversary of the iranian revolution two and a half decades after britain overthrew its democratically elected leader coming up remembering the revolution but what now for the nation the from persepolis to the palestinians has been synonymous with human civilization for thousands of years and coeditor with nobel laureate joe stiglitz and the un's jose antonio ocampo seventy griffin jones on what advice she's been giving u.k. shadow chancellor john mcdonnell for socialist u.k. government all this and more coming up in today's going underground but first it was in ninety fifty three that the nation celebrating revolution today had its

government toppled by london washington and an oil company now part of b.p. why would winston churchill want to overthrow the iranian government do you think bizarrely c.n.n. one of the t.v. networks today being for the overthrow of the leader of another oil rich country venezuela understands a story the cia has released documents that show its role in the nine hundred fifty three that is the coup that toppled iran's democratically elected prime minister mohammad mosaddegh had moved to nationalize oil production and iran yes nato nations tend to destabilize countries that nationalize or bring back industries and civic society under democratic control but the winston churchill was successful in installing a brutal dictator along with death squads in iran and they do nations are ultimately defeated by the iranian revolution of nine hundred seventy nine not that the u.s. and u.k. didn't stop trying margaret thatcher's pal ronald reagan began to supply us saddam hussein with weapons to attack iran with saddam's massacres against his own people

they were term and for two hundred thousand people. in fact the reagan administration blocked efforts in congress even to protest against and furthermore the support for saddam increased and continued in fact saddam was given an extraordinary privilege. remarkable he was allowed he got away with attacking a u.s. naval vessel and killing thirty seven soldiers if the u.s. didn't even seem to mind having its own soldiers killed by the leader which future pentagon boss donald rumsfeld delivered w n d to iraq but iran wasn't defeated in the iran iraq war by the time rumsfeld was helping tony blair destroy iraq iran is role in the region was significantly strengthened with allies in the international nonaligned movement it most recently sent emergency supplies to save the people of one of the richest pick up in nations on earth as it was blockaded.