at the end of the year now our colleague. was just asking him a question about the pharmaceutical industry and russia and the access to foreign medicines and of course our correspondent steve has been listening in for almost 3 hours now as a lot of reporting has been answering those questions and much has been talked about everything from ukraine to the russian economy to climate change rob tell us more. well i. just asked the question about the problems that people are having in russia because of sanctions for other reasons such as bureaucracy and people can't can't get access to the medicine that they need this is lifesaving medicine and editor in chief margarita simonyan jean she's got a project which roughly translates as no one left behind and he asked that mayor putin about about these issues to which the president replied that there are issues this is something that has been brought to the attention of the government that

people are going around the law just just to get the medicine that they need and in some cases you know they're breaking the law to do it in something is being done about them but as i say. press conference. in a marathon 4 hours 40 minutes the longest one of this year the biggest thing he said i would argue is that almost said outright that he would be running for a 4th term after a journalist asked whether it's worth considering powering the russian parliament at the expense of the president's. budget reply that you know there's a clause in the current law which allowed it to run for a 3rd term despite the constitution saying that a president can only run for 2 terms you know rule he goes around this by becoming a prime minister and then running for president against something that he says could be changed to the most noble of the what could be done is to cancel the. amendment we have 2 terms in yule's truly serve 2 terms then resigned and had the

constitutional right to return to the presidency because it was not 2 terms in a row the amendment confuses some of our political scientists and public figures so it could be canceled. of course a lot of questions a lot of questions even more that haven't been asked this 1100 almost journalists in attendance accredited to this event a new record and obviously all of them or ask a question there's just not enough time there wasn't a. bit about sanctions which are costing both europe and russia a lot of money and. you know the damage that this is this is all doing he said europe it's up to 15000000000 the auditor some estimates and losses because of politically motivated sanctions this is classed as a minus and these sanctions have allowed russia to develop its export business and export industry and they've been huge strides economically but ultimately says

sanctions are politically motivated sanctions are a bad for business and bad for society because they dialogue. but he. was a criminal and a killer one of the says he killed 98 people in other countries they hold. where there are less victims and this is from the full list of evil and we raised this question. in syria we see what is going on in the jail. being killed people from central asia russia and 2nd place but there are also many people from western europe from from from germany we see that these people terrorists move freely into european capitals and that was a lot of merit put in talking about a situation that happened in august a man was killed in berlin and that's resulted in both countries expelling

diplomats can you tell us a little bit more about that. this wagner putin was asked by a journalist from germany why why you know the by there's a lot of confusion in the press and public what officials are saying about the murder of. an ethnic chechen that was killed in berlin that would lead me putin. commenting on the character of this man that this was that this was a terrorist this is a terrorist. who had his hands covered in blood who have participated in the murder of many many people and that he was allowed to wander the streets of berlin without anyone without anyone touching him and that says this is a huge boost of issues and how these things should be resolved. but good points here and russia of course is the recent want to ban on russia from international major competitions for the next 4 years and that's something that did

give his thoughts on tell us more about that. well this is this is something that is touched deeply touched russians all over the country a proud people but it comes to sport always you know in the top 5 and medal rags in the olympics for russia to be banned from the olympics to be barred from all sorts of sporting competitions in 2 for 2 periods in a rule is a humiliation for many russians and you know blood raising an example let's say a 14 year old figure skater was too young to even compete but it is duping scandal came about how is this fair to her why are people why is that blanket punishment collateral punishment when people should be punished individually for doping wives everybody being published. said that she says that this is just a precedence. what is the solution is not only unfair but also

not consistent with common sense and law as for doping with decision to compete under a neutral flag was made at previous to now the same thing once again never before have we seen a president like this in international law secondly any punishment must be individual this is natural and fair but an overwhelming majority of athletes in russia clean how is it possible to play someone else's guilt on them to. of course as our viewers know yesterday the house approved impeachment against donald trump in the us and bottom report it was given a chance to talk about that what did he say. when he said that the president trump likely isn't going anywhere that this impeachment is built on completely made up reasons he said pointed out the conspiracy theory that the grounds for years and

that is the trump russia. he said that it's an internal political battle between democrats who lost the election and the republicans who won the election got president. elected and said that the democrats are just trying to get revenge said that. with regard to relations that russian american relations in the doldrums and you likely won't be improving anytime soon. continuation of before from presidency the question is if it's already ending i'm far from it is it must 1st pass the senate where republicans as far as i know have a majority they won't want to remove their party representatives from power based on in my opinion invented reasons it's just a continuation of political infighting one party that lost the election of the democratic party is working for results through other methods accusing. with russia

then it's discovered that there was no inclusion can't be the basis for impeachment now they've come up with pressure on ukraine i don't know your representatives have a bit. regards the relations between russia and the united states we shouldn't expect you know an improvement anytime soon a special commission committee in the us senate has just approved what is what the media calls health sanctions these are sanctions aimed at russia that would if president trump sides them into law affects almost every industry in russia affects almost the livelihood of almost every russian. bags target entire industries target the sovereign debt of russia. would be huge to which wagner put in said that russia will reply tit for tat it will reply in kind with mirrors actions in the street there would be a response that the united states would feel that unless this press conference

isn't over yet and i'm sure there will be many more questions especially about international politics and russia's role in the world. bringing us the latest from . presser today well you go so you can continue to listen that's been going for just over 3 hours now and it's still ongoing will be popping back and forth as the russian president touches on pressing international topics. u.s. tech giants among them apple microsoft and google are facing a lawsuit from 14 congolese parents and children human rights groups accuse the companies have been complicit in the deaths of children who are working in coal mines in the company supply chains cobalt is in high demand as it's widely used and batteries for devices such as smart phones here some of the testimonies from children who for legal reasons have all been given the same name a warning you may find some of the upcoming photos upsetting. the chamber ceiling

collapsed on people in a coal mine john doe 5 was one of only 2 survivors john doe 3 was living in the mine area on his motorbike loaded with 3 bags of kabul he was hit by a large cobbled transport truck and his leg was amputated after 2 weeks of working john doe will never was severely injured he was 14 years old when he was in the mine the families and injured children are seeking compensation for forced labor negligence and emotional distress some also claim they suffered serious injuries while crawling through tunnels or carrying heavy loads artist asked taylor has more . how far would you go to make your fortune hire a child a child kill a child these are the questions the world's most famous tech giants will be in court as part of the landmark legal case that's off to a human rights organization allege that complicit in the injury and deaths of

hundreds if not thousands of children in the democratic republic of congo all to feed the wild insatiable appetite for the very nature gadgets defendants ample google will microsoft tesla are knowingly benefiting from and aiding and abetting the cruel and brutal use of young children and democratic republic of congo to mind called the young children are not merely being forced to work full time extremely dangerous mining jobs at the expense of their educations and futures they're being regularly mean been killed by tunnel collapses and other known hazards common to call gold mining in the d.r. see the case has been brought forward on behalf of 14 congolese families 6 of who have lost children walking and mines the document makes 5 harrowing ranting with stories of broken spines paralysis and people buried alive and collapsed tunnels children as young as 6 forced to walk up to 24 hour shifts using tools the human

rights group brandt's as from the stone age many of these children while also trafficked. and while the latest i phone retells around $1000.00 these children were being paid as little as 2 for that troubles if they survive the watching day i've never encountered documented more severe a similar. in the elocution of income between the top of the supply chain and the bottom it's dad disconnect that makes this perhaps the worst injustice of slavery and child exploitation that i've seen in my 2 decades research what could be one these lives though coble apparently a metal that is essential to those and lithium batteries found in every smart phone

every laptop every electric car and as the tech boom continues to monta has sought the d.l.c. as one of the poorest countries in the world but also a mineral gold mine has been only too willing to power at this for a shift market it produces around 60 percent of the wallets coble supply mining the thought of it by hand now some of those giant corporations which signed a contract with these mining companies say they have no idea what was going on those people in silicon valley can't be big wages than because this has been news before further the horrors of the plight of these children has been widely reported in the media defendants all have knowledge of the forced labor dangerous conditions and extremely low p. provided to child coble minors then you have reports like the one by amnesty international back in 2016 which documented how child cobalt minors were over exposed to hazardous chemicals while walking with no protective gear and basic hand

tools apple's promise a year later it's not use mines that didn't provide professional quit meant must have gotten lost in translation even worse than just standing idly by though pretending you're all the good guy indeed taking a major peach from the corporate cover of guard defendants apple alphabet dell and microsoft have joined in support of modal mining programs in d.r. seek to create the false impression that they have acted to prevent the known horrors of cobol mining in the deer sea by children but when you are raking in hundreds of billions every year what are a couple of lives over 9000 miles away from you though of course they'll have you. i believe they really do care people should have values companies are nothing more than a collection of people and so by extension all companies should have values you know apple has always been at the core about changing the world it's no coincidence that a company dedicated to free flow of information was founded right here in the us as

an american company we cherish the values and freedoms that have allowed us to grow and so so many users we always knew that we were losing our money now was life and our eyesight technology but how could we know it was costing lives to. we've asked the companies and question for comment they said reports of misconduct are always investigated but the purpose that action taken also told us that they are committed to being responsible when sourcing materials but we also heard from a journalist in the d r c who claims that companies know exactly what they're doing. they know very well that the system is not good enough and they are taking profits from this of course they nor very well that's the most of the mining their mind coming from the dia. any kind of. go back to our top story about crossing live to

moscow trade center. and of the year. of my career usually it is the. major terrorist attack it's. all never forget that. the dubrovsky. terrorist act. significant ones. will talk about the need to improve real incomes. what about poverty because that is. the lowest was in 2014. 11.3. but that was right now it's slightly higher. so the growth is not that much but there are real people behind those figures we

have not resolved ultimately so this is the most important issue if you. look. at what our country was in the early 2000. different countries. the different ballgame. in the sense of security it's completely different i'll call a spade a spade. the 6 we had. in the caucasus. aircraft and have actually. everywhere you. go. this is why. this is a question during the meeting with human rights activists. when one of the people film director asked me that question i respect. i respect that

person a lot he said let's rewrite it for what i said well we rewrote. the 917 will remember those words 1st ruin our thing and we'll build a new world and those who who are free have nots will be the haves. well all of them are in the boot. symmetry and all the other area these people were shot dead. so it's a very dangerous slippery road to sue finally we've achieved internal stability only do you have confidence that our country when it developed. economy has drastically changed in the we still have a lot of unresolved issues in the economy. with biggest one a labor productivity and then based on it proving labor products when the claim of

productivity we will grow our economy higher we have the lowest one of the lowest indicator is in terms of. public debt inflation. 3.25 percent in the ninety's ninety's it used to be 200 percent 300 percent you forgotten about it you forgot what it we used to be it's a totally different to what we can on the environment. that has allowed us to improve our defense. look at the sentiments winning. office. were abused the public transport. forces country cannot exist. in the crowd and all of us are proud of the level of the forces.

one of the mates you have one of the most high take in the world in general. it's our shared achievement the russian nation has. the russians and all the ethnic groups we have survived. that's a feat in itself. now we're japanese colleagues so please we are sitting right here. at home. japanese agency i would like to ask you. regarding curate how did you do your vision and your ideas regarding the nuclear war you have mentioned. see don't want at least so far they don't want to x. dead extend. the treaty and when the treaty well

and. to stop you going. to prevent. happening what are you talking about upcoming nuclear war stop using that language you know that. we are very much concerned. by that we know well that you are doing. having a lot of effort to hold this out it's called a moratorium and so on and so forth but you have mentioned on a lot of. that you will respond to. actions and i think it's a very bad thing because it could lead to war and so what do you think about that and i think that and i understand that of course from time to time. military hardware must be modernized must be updated. and you can stick to these

principles to keep the strategic balance. but i guess sometime in the near a future. you will come up with a comprehensive peaceful initiative if it's possible so do you concede or. even if you do consider these. kind of. represent japan if i don't ask this question then i will be really. talks regarding the peace treaty they got into it dad and. partially because russia has concerns regarding the u.s. as japanese agreement of the defense agreement will not go into detail regarding recently. seen the i and i have treaty has been disbanded so it has its influence on our relations so when you

apply and we have agreed that the u.s. and japan but you are talking about deploying such missiles. and on the other hand inside she you have told us that. you are assisting china and coming up with the unique early warning. situation. that you've it's not a military alliance that at least it's a really close relations as you describe did. military area between. the countries as well so could you in northeastern asia there are already blogs. countering each other or japan and the us from one hand and russia and china on the other hand on the other side and in this situation that we have now. is it possible

to watch to japan and russia to meet half way to reach mutual understanding to gain mutual trotty soledad been the pujol we signed the peace treaty. in the 1st. military carburation between japan and the us. you almost. question. the. talks with japan. with missiles. to media trains missiles well we have to take it. as including in regard to the violence. what are the guarantees there. will not host. in

the near future. will it make sense. logical we are trying to find a solution that we have very good trust with the relations with prime minister we've been discussing it do we have a solution not yet. what's important is that we want to find that solution. that. could be different there are different options as i once said it should be. should be a win win a draw. and my. japanese colleagues really liked it if you used. language. but he came we find a solution that would be acceptable for the public well we've been trying to find one to 70 years so far we have not found one but we're ready to move on that you would align says we don't have any military alliance with china we don't plan to

set it up but. look there are other countries trying to set it up in eastern china which you mentioned there is south korea japan and the us here today are trying to set up this alliance this is counterproductive. to any positive about the positive we do called trade with china in defense chinese high tech country that there are some issues which require lots of i'm sure china is capable of building its early warning system they are helpful do it fast actually. but really. that's held. in a major way our strategic partner defense and against all defensive capabilities and i was really surprised that you named it in the right but look this is the

early warning system of. attack against. so that's a defensive element. but i would take you through. it certainly the u.s. and russia have capabilities defensive capabilities mind you but again it doesn't approve. an aggression it only helps you to defend your territory. another foreign reporter from the b.b.c. they love us so much so you have the floor. but if. dissipating your question. steve rosenberg b.b.c. nice spin presidium. but johnson. of us so breeze johnson talk of the q. differently as some time ago he was those that are calling you

a tyrant he even compared you we have big character you told me from harry potter to berg and what do you think about him what kind of impression did he make on you has he made on you and brags it and how do you. measure the nationalists and the relations between our countries will be between the great britain and russia and since now the great britain is expecting to read their parliamentary report the ballot. fraud changes their political protests be ok so we are waiting to read those to maybe you could tell us now and so did rushing for a few years rush interfering in the u.k. domestic matter thank you that was. many statements by politicians in different countries about russia.

and here is well i do it yes no what is my attitude. sure. i know what the interests of my country are when you go no matter who says what about me and i'm sure that has nothing to do. with the fundamental goals. that my countries face and. certainly we do follow these remarks we take. into account but here's one of the points i'd like to make it's one thing when people say this when the want to become. when to when they want to get into office but it's quite a different thing when they say that when they are in office they are responsible for the economy for the defense and again given the briggs's story that you mention that the u.k. is interested in developing ties with russia and their business may have been

telling us exactly that thing and we believe they are our friends just some investors. we really appreciates their efforts to create jobs and we need to support them so that they can feel at home here because any other points of convergence and there are just recently we discussed it with european partners. the u.k. could. join the discussion of some of the issues international issues that you have mentioned here in the audience but the u.k. is interested in. taking a more active part in resolving those issues including with russia on the interference noninterference. the officials.