always in the water. there should be. charlie rowley says he is being kept in the dark on the british investigation into the poisoning that killed his partner last year he met with russia's ambassador to the u.k. . charlie and his brother. frank they haven't been able to receive any from. the massive fire sweeps through an apartment block in central paris after an explosion believed to have been caused by gas stored on a balcony rescuers say there are no serious injuries. but he said obtains what it says is a press strategy agreed to by the u.k. to be used in the event wiki leaks founder julian assange is extradited to the u.s. fueling rumors that the whistleblower is about to be expelled from his embassy

refuge in london. and more than forty. friends during the twenty first consecutive weekend of civil unrest. are broadcasting live direct from our studios in moscow this is our international thomas certainly glad to have you with us now a man who survived a nerve gas attack in the u.k. says he is being kept in the dark on the country's ongoing investigation charlie rowley whose partner died in the incident last summer spoke to the russian ambassador to the u.k. alexander. and he says that the reports. feeling so many of his questions whether or not said by the u.k. government charlie right he has reached out to you and mess with the russian ambassador. he's lost his pot. and this suffering from the terry rating health and

he's also been confused by u.k. media speculation regarding the poisoning of his partner once a script how lost it by what was said even that agent to be charged meanwhile though the russian ambassador has been trying to fill in some blanks. for us and literally eighty percent of what i told him was quite a revelation to charlie and his brother is perfectly understandable they're ordinary people reading british newspapers what could they know and what they're offered by the press so it's good to have an alternative point of view and understand russia's line of reasoning charlie rowley and his brother had virtually no info on the questions we directed at the british authorities over the scripts case they don't understand why we're not allowed to make this group files i told them that there was no mobile service connection with this group pals three hours prior to the poisoning we had no chance to examine this nerve agent it was all news to charlie and his brother most of the information they had they had read in the

newspapers and i got the impression that both the family of dawn sturgis and that the charlie rowley have not been adequately informed as to what happened to the pen amesbury and what happened in solsbury before they never received any official reports for many months now mr rowley into one family received very little information about the course of the investigation so little that don't some center latter to the russian president you know the family of the late don't sturgis ones first and foremost to see the investigations conclusions russia wants the same thing it's been a year now and we still haven't seen any official results what led charlie and his brother to contact us is precisely the fact that they haven't been able to receive anything from the british authorities. i know the point mr very raised is that he felt his reputation was affected by u.k. press describing him as homeless when he was simply a british citizen charlie and his brother a very nice people the first thing they told me was that the british press

misrepresented them. this is not the case charlie wants me to get this message across to russian woody and says the russian ambassador meanwhile says there's so much left to announce it but i wish we have plenty of questions regarding the cremation of miss sturgis because it destroyed old proof make it impossible to examine the results of those investigations that have been carried out by the british authorities everything the u.k. authorities have done needs rechecking including how these people were treated now moscow was accused of and house repeatedly denied all involvements to do with the last hit they've offered to cooperate with british authorities many times but that's something that's constantly tonights by london and the u.k. government still made little to no evidence public charlie royally on the other hand says that page just wants to die. a quick recap of the two nova child cases in the u.k. charlie rowley and his partner dawn sturgis fell sick in amesbury in late june last

year initially police suspected a drug overdose star just passed away a week later and in march two thousand and eighteen the screwballs were poisoned in the city of solsbury in that case both survived the u.k. blame the russia for the two attacks although no evidence was produced russia denies any involvement. i for more than an hour bring in t.v. host and political commentator steve malzberg steve good to have with us on kind of a bizarre story unfolding right now. as we heard charlie rowley told the russian ambassador that he's been given no information on the british investigation it's been more than nine months since that incident so why do you think that they're keeping him out of the loop. well if in fact that's the case i think they're keeping them out of the loop for the same reason that most of the world has been kept out of the loop to a great extent now we know that as you correctly reported leading into this segment

great britain the u.k. they blamed russia and the world to follow suit and accepted that that accusation and in fact expelled russian diplomats it think over one hundred forty or fifty or so around the world by twenty some odd countries where expect held after the u.k. led the way the other countries followed suit so there's never been though to my knowledge a report and a fish journal report which would go not only a long way in if in fact they could prove that it was russia then they should prove that it was russia but as we're talking about here they're putting an end to this for the families bringing them some sort of closure so that they will know what the story was it leads me to believe that a year out they just don't have the hard evidence or the full story to be able to go to these families and say here's exactly what happened so after the meeting with

the russian ambassador rowley spoke to the sunday mirror their headline reads and i'm going to quote here no the choke victim charlie rowley asks putin's man did you kill my girlfriend now as far as we know and as far as we're aware those were not his exact words but they are given as an exact quote to the ambassador and that quote is not actually backed up in the article what do you make of the way that they're trying to spin the story. well the the thing here is we have to rely on the newspaper and their account there was a video posted along with the story in the story of the daily mirror and and so we could see part of the post meeting interview or press conference i was in many members. of the press there though it was mostly the daily sun there amir i should say that was there to begin with so we have to take what they say as as the story because nobody else even sky news and others who have written about this

quote that from that story it's not like they all had reporters there so in the video we see the first the ambassador then we see. charlie rally and his brother and it's limited it's only about two and a half to three minutes and it does not have what the headline says he said it does not have what the some of the things that the story says he said does that mean that they're making it up does that mean they just didn't post all of the video why they wouldn't post the meat you know that the meat and potatoes part the the story line i don't know but i would have to feel that if they're severely misrepresenting what what he said to the ambassador that we will hear from him saying wait a minute i never said that so i guess time will tell so taking it a step further the sunday mirror says that it helped arrange

a rowley's meeting with the ambassador. doesn't seem on some levels like they're using him to fit their own narrative. well of the first of all it makes sense that they would help facilitate it because like i said you know i've severely googled this story in preparation and and they're the only ones who have a story of their own and everybody else takes from that story so they're probably the only ones who are out there waiting after the meeting so they probably did help facilitate it to push their own narrative again and i would just like to see it make sense the whole video of what what what a truly rally had been his brother had to say after because that's where i would assume again that we can only assume because we don't know i guess soon that what's in the story all these quotes i still think russia did it i said why did you kill my girlfriend on and on and on that these quotes came from that little little after the interview you know interview right outside the embassy so if it's all in the

video then let's see the whole video i mean that that would make sense and then we'll know if there's an agenda then we'll know oh if there's you know any. yellow journalism or fake news going on if you will so we'll have to wait and see because right now we can only speculate now steve from the very beginning the u.k. has accused russia of carrying out both poisonings in solsbury and amesbury in fact even before. any investigation had taken place still no evidence has been produced we touched on this a little bit at the beginning of our conversation surely they would have shown their proof by now if they had any evidence right. well you would think so and again for the for the aforementioned reasons i mean and i would like to think first and foremost for these these family members of the church charlie himself was a victim of whatever happened and certainly he lost his partner and then you have

the first attack that you mention in the introduction insults perry so certainly you would think for those people who are the victims and the family members now and loved ones of the woman who passed away and that would be doing sturgis and her son has been very vocal certainly it would make sense to to release the facts and if you want if you could prove that it was russia and then hey that you could ask the world to to to put forth more sanctions and more punishment because hey here's the proof we have the proof so far that has not been the case and you have to ask yourself why i'm going to ask you to go down the rabbit hole with me just a bit and it's a stretch if if you will and you'll get me here in a second so if no evidence is found do you expect to see any kind of a retraction or apology from the various countries that introduce actions against russia over this case or is it just going to be swept away.

no i think if this is if this is how it ends if this is where it all stops if there's no report to be issued with hear it ladies and gentlemen you know the theresa may stands up parliament hears the report if this is just it then you know the countries that followed suit at the behest of the united kingdom which includes the united states and like i said about a couple of dozen other countries you know countries don't really apologize for stuff like that if they're wrong if they made a mistake if they did something that they should maybe shouldn't have done they did something to go along without seeing the proof know that there will be no apology country is in my experience and i'm sure you know you might you might be able to look back in your mind's eye and say the same thing very rare two countries apologize and i can't see them lining up to do it for this indeed ok one more question really if you don't mind charlie riley has says he has been left severely injured by the incident and he has repeatedly complained of

a lack of support from the u.k. authorities do you think that he has been unfairly treated in this whole scenario. well again you know if that's if that's the case i mean i know he has vision problems now he's in a wheelchair certainly his health is severely affected i mean i would like to think that no matter what happened to him. we know that it was as a result of this this nerve agent no but chuck i would think that the country would certainly take care of a victim of of this this kind of an attack one way or another so i don't know the particulars enough to know if he's been denied funds or medical treatment or assistance i don't know what he means by that i haven't heard him say that so i i really don't want to weigh into that but certainly any country should treat you know someone who's been victimized by something out and not even born of their own circumstances or their own doing but the utmost respect and dignity are i'd very

interested. here are thoughts steve malzberg t.v. host and political commentator thanks for being as always with us here. powerful explosion has hit an apartment block in central paris causing a large fire authorities say there are no serious injuries but at least twenty seven apartments have been destroyed the blaze has been put out at this point a spokesman for the. blast may have been caused by gas containers. after the fire started a follow up explosion that was caught on camera. near the scene for us. here in the signs of we need. now the whole area is still blocked by the police and still. present in the area.

needs attention. over the. years and still looking for those who are still initially commission and probable source of the explosion now well the fish information from the spokesperson from the firefighters we know it's possible it was a well portable yes joint with the balcony that exploded this is possible but. thank you need there's no need to drink you can remember the previous gas explosion at the bakery in pirates back in january and it was actually people getting whiter and. doing things and also dozens. to being injured. so now right now we can see what the situation treated seriously but it's wayne. watched.

we do makes says it has obtained a press strategy agreed upon by ecuador and the u.k. in the event wiki leaks founder julian assange is extradited to the u.s. whistleblower was granted asylum in ecuador as embassy in london in two thousand and twelve and the rumors are circulating that he is about to be expelled and potentially headed by britain to america according to wiki leaks ecuador will claim a songe broke the terms of his asylum with the u.k. giving assurances it will not let the u.s. sentence him to death u.s. officials have repeatedly called for assad to be prosecuted for publishing classified material including intelligence and military files but songes supporters say he is doing crucial work and must be protected. but i don't want to see if it's not possible to mistreat someone this way just because he revealed news that by their beach and powerful people and as

a publisher he has revealed all kinds of human rights violations war crimes on this information needs to get out united states says that they're defending democracy around the world and they're not doing so bending democracy at all only in the united states is is. trying to silence people the good of them are revealing what's happening and julian the signage is just the person who made it possible for those people to be heard. much has changed in ecuador since a songe was granted asylum almost seven years ago including relations with washington are trying to take up the story. thank you for the gracious welcome you have shown to be my wife sharon on our very first visit to ecuador we are huge and they should treat us. what a beautiful video what a beautiful welcome maybe that's the reason the us vice president was pacified

enough not to call out names when he brought up the dark times in the u.s. equity or friendship while visiting president lenin moran oh in quito price your election our nations did experience ten difficult years where our people always folk loose but our government drifted apart though that was clearly a jab at someone who proudly stood up against america's whip cracking hand while in charge of the small south american nation just think of how rafa korea sheltered julian a songe what a slap in washington's face that was imo though with given diplomatic asylum to do in the sun. to guarantee that he's not the extradited to the country which could put his life in danger who lives of misters sons is a true is a life sentence which is being dead while alive under lenin maranoa who was are radically praised by outgoing leader chorale at the election the tide has clearly

changed mr carette even ended up calling his successor a traitor absolute. to the united states is doing. what it is let's look at what he could have meant by that. the first signal joyous could soon be shown the door at the embassy in london was when the american media reported president moran oh had once met donald trump's former campaign boss paul man afford it was claimed mr moran no was trying to negotiate concessions from the u.s. like debt relief in exchange for. kicking the whistleblower out back then would lead to nothing but today it's clear he's not a fan of assad yet us bases are so you know that too many times mr sanchez violates the cream and we keep leaks and gauges and spin arjun how cute. as a real us imperialism hating tough guy raffle carette was known as

a staunch ally of it as well as nicolas maduro while for ecuador's current president someone else quite well known as the true leader in caracas i have spoken with president hu on going i've invited him to ecuador to receive the affection and support of a people he loved more crecy. mr chorale was on a mission to rid his country of uncle sam's folks step by step he first refused to extend the lease of an ecuadorian air base to the americans beyond two thousand and nine and then told all u.s. military attash to leave the country and two thousand and fourteen only a few years later sam is coming back the governments of ecuador and the united states decided to resume bilateral military cooperation training and assistance to contribute to ecuador's ability to combat shared threats. wonder corrals

moves were annoying those in charge in d.c. to say the least so starting from two thousand and fourteen millions of us aid cash stopped flowing tito's way under mr moran oh the bucks of freedom are slowly starting to find their way back today i'm pleased to announce that the united states who support that effort to root out corruption merely want to have million dollars to support your efforts. to end corruption and strengthen civil society in ecuador it seems it didn't take long since the right man came in human rights campaigner peter tatchell believes a songe is being used as a bargaining chip in relations between ecuador and the us. i would suggest it's highly likely that the u.s. government has been putting pressure on the government of ecuador and we know the president. in ecuador himself is under huge pressure and his popularity is to about

seventeen percent the new york times reported that president moreno had offered to hand over to the u.s. an exchange for debt relief so i think there is something much deeper going on here and it would be a great great shame if ecuador bowed to american pressure and gave up the important principle that a citizen of its country a political refugee would be granted asylum should be handed over to a foreign power to face draconian charges cooked up by a secret grand jury the content of which is not known to anyone that would be a very very grave step to take. more than twenty thousand yellow vest activists have been rallying in cities across france for a twenty first consecutive weekend riot police were out in force using crowd control weapons in paris at least forty three people were arrested ahead of this of

the country's constitutional council an old government plans to ban certain individuals from protesting saying the measure would grant police excessive powers but other parts of a crackdown on the rioters were approved as artie's show dubinsky explains. a big slap in the face for the french government as the country's constitutional council has ruled that named yellow vests protest as current through taking part in the continued demonstrations the cancelled the loss would only set plans to give the power to authority would give officials excessive last city the provisions leave therefore it is too much leeway in assessing of the reasons did me justify the ban so called anti break his law was passed who fronts as part of measures to try. in control that week the protests that have rocked the country protests that often disintegrate into writing and see as clashes with the police so much so that some cities have banned them. because god.

was. kept out of. the streets destroyed buildings set alight causing motorcycles torched the damage has cost him two hundred million euros to the french economy with business is tearing their hair out even french banks waded into the debate calling for an end for more than four months hundreds of local branches through essential links and local life has been targeted vandalized pillaged and bank offices physically threatened it is time for everyone to condemn acts committed against the bank we must quickly put a stop to this unbridled and unjustified violence and it's not just the destruction of towns and cities that has made the headlines since november seventeenth

thousands of people have been injured some suffering life changing injuries. because of the gap from a few. feet if you. take . it up. to her grave. but while some protesters may see this decision by the constitutional council as a when it's not all music to that is the council about held other controversial elements of the. because new meaning more severe penalties for organizers of new thrice demonstrations and for those who cover their faces during violent protests well police now have the right to search individuals and vehicles in the

demonstrations in a bid to prevent objects being brought in that could be used as weapons. arty paris your best movement began last november driven by rising fuel prices and a decline in living standards philosopher believes that the aims of the protestors are too vague to succeed. lynch mobs fall into these oh. you know this. really slow growth you would. need to know who you. are we should never forget that. opened up. all of the people and still is the failure of the. venezuela's opposition leader is vowing

new tactical actions in his latest bid to oust president nicolas maduro won by those first mover calling for more nationwide protests on saturday is something we've seen before however he has not gone into much more detail about what his new actions will involve his local journalist norse god from the capital caracas. we are here again where one of the most implemented took up positions sounds of protest today protesters are fighting against the blackouts that has been as. i can bend as well and since march the seventh this was a called me by one way to earlier this week he called to ben as well as to protest every time a basic service fails. in the country also earlier this week he created anti arson or surpassing committees he plans to tour the country and plans to gain more support from the. cos also a us made

a new set of sanctions against venice one of. around one hundred and fifty one. officials are sanction let's hear what mike pence has to say about the venezuelan situation at this moment the united states of america sanction venezuela state oil company paid a vase and today. we're taking action against a vital source for the madeira regimes wealth it is important to remark that also a call for marches to support his government today also nikolaus madeira said that this is another intervention and from the u.s. and another mendelian in the business is a bonus well up the government of the bolivarian republic categorically rejects the latest us attack on the venezuelan oil industry and its economic sovereignty venezuela believes it's unacceptable cynical and criminal of donald trump's

administration to take measures that violate international law as well as economic and commercial principles journalist paul dobson says the latest sanctions won't actually make much difference. the latest round of sanctions sure what it will not have a great impact here in venezuela venezuela currently exports somewhere between twenty thousand and fifty thousand barrels of oil a day to cuba a much more pressing measure from the white house would have been to apply the same measure to for example when it's well an oil exports to china which are increasing every day and have a serious impact on venezuelan books more across the political divide here in. military action it is merely rhetoric and it's not seriously being considered by the white house however when you look at the history of u.s. pressure in latin america and other areas of the world we can see that military action very overt but indefinitely prominent so would i think have to be taken in a very real threat by all of those who are looking at the venezuela situation in

thirty minutes my colleague kevin i will be here with a look at your weekly round up and i'll be back tomorrow watching national stay with us. this is a story of one of africa's giants. know his team. his name that's a long. list giant is rather modest and keeps a low profile that's not him either. people are often scared of this particular joint but he's nowhere near as dangerous as that one.