russians called for to help the syrian army to repel an offensive in the province launched by militants with the support of turkish troops. german authorities say the suspects who killed 9 people in a drive by shooting on wednesday night had xenophobia chancellor merkel condemns the poison of racism in german society i'd also this being the center of dispute between greece and the u.k. for decades but could. be on the move that amid reports the historic sculptures could be part of the brics a trade negotiations. are

welcome and even here in moscow you with r.t. international news just in an elderly man who was believed to be leading the call to prayer at a mosque in central london has been stabbed in the neck witness reports claim the man was stabbed multiple times however police say his condition is not life threatening the suspect was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder the motive of the attack is not clear i will keep you updated of any developments. now syria militants backed by turkish forces have launched an offensive against the syrian army in the war torn is province but russian airstrikes have helped to repel them with more on that we're joined by donna in the studio could even tea or just run through then exactly what happened and how serious the situation is on the ground well i have to say it's a very serious escalation when it comes to this province and the situation in syria in general basically what happened terrorist factions launched an offensive on the

syrian forces who were holding one of the villages a village in that northeastern province a very large scale offensive supported by artillery strikes of the by the turkish army so that offensive or that was of such scale that the troops the syrian troops on the ground could not withstand it on their own so the ask the russian air force to help out so it did but again that offensive that terrorist offensive was supported by turkish artillery so moscow had to intervene and reach out directly to ankara and ask them to stop the support. to prevent militants from moving deeper into syria into su 24 aircraft of the russian air force at the request of the syrian command have carried out air strikes against the dancing armed groups this allowed the syrian troops to successful the ripple all attacks.

well 2 turkish ministry of defense has confirmed that 2 of its soldiers have been killed as a result of the airstrikes and 5 more wounded now it is not clear yet who fired those deadly rounds or what war the those russian air force or the syrian air force but still the situation is very very explosive given that now 3 independent 3 sovereign states have been engaged in a skirmish effectively in a deadly skirmish and one of those states being a nato ally as well it's been a rapid escalation hasn't it just over the last day or so how did it reach this point well essentially turkey has been very vocal about the situation in. the turkish president earlier one has been telling syrians to get out of to move out of that province behind the troops line that had been pre-agreed back. he's been the one who has been giving deadlines to the syrian army by the end of february

then we never going on their demand and saying that there's no deadline they should move immediately or the attack or the turkish attack would be imminent. the operation is imminent in particular we will not leave it to the regime which is not yet understood our country's determination on this issue and those who are encouraging it refuted to making it live a safe place for both turkey and the people of the region at all costs. well it seems the push has come to shove now in the syrian province and interestingly turkey has been encouraged from abroad it has been encouraged by its main nato ally the united states they've been sort of cheering ankara and saying that they are all along standing by their nato ally also literally hours before the advance whether or not it is a coincidence we don't know but an official nato twitter account and international

twitter account posted a video in turkish and it was like a it's like a promo promo video saying that we are nato and that's in turkish language now russia has been all along saying that this recent escalation in the globe that turkey has failed to deliver on its promise ankara being. one of the guarantors of the peace process province process excuse me in lib has been tasked with delivering a clear distinction between radical hardline jihadists and those groups who are ready to engage in dialogue and sit behind a table and talk to the syrian government and russia has been saying that ankara has failed to deliver on this key promise and key task so we'll certainly have a look whether this this mess in today's mess and will see all sides back at the negotiating table ok all right thanks hugo that was r.t.

hugo should an affair with the late. the suspect accuser who killed 9 people in the west of germany were said to have then a phobic motives either the victims of turkish nationals chancellor merkel condemned the attack branding it far right and racist. it's too early to give a conclusive assessment everything is being done to find out what was behind this murder but a lot already suggests far right of the attacker he apparently acted out of hatred towards people of different descent religion appearance racism is a poison hatred is a poison and this cloisonne exists in our society and has led to many crimes. well at a press briefing from the interior minister of the state of pizza but we found out more information relating to what went on on wednesday evening through to thursday morning that's left 11 people dead including the main suspect in the shootings on wednesday evening 9 people were killed after 2 separate incidents at different she

should bars in the city of her now a man then believed to be the gunman was found dead at his home on thursday morning alongside the body of what is understood to be his 72 year old mother the attorney general has confirmed that an investigation into potential links to right wing terrorism is underway this is after a 24 page manifesto from the man understood to be the gunman was found in this document he expresses a hatred of foreigners and non-whites and calls for the extermination of certain north african middle eastern and central asian countries those that have read through it it has been leaked and seen by some media organizations have described it as confused and riddled with racist tropes that also broaches far right ideology like janet x. in this document now there was also

a video published by the man believed to be the main suspect in this shooting just a few days ago in that video there was no links that he was intending to carry out this attack it appears to have been directed towards u.s. citizen. that is conducted in english in that video he makes a number of wild conspiracy theorist claims and says that there's a conspiracy for modern day slavery in secret operations by the united states government well the s.c. and state government themselves have cancelled their parliamentary sessions for thursday as well as other state legislatures around germany angler merkel the federal chancellor is also counseled her meetings that she focuses on these tragic events of unfolded in her now what we understand though is that the police are investigating a xenophobia motive behind the killings and investigating links to far right.

just mention it's a poison to see people as enemies to see yourself as a superior to make strangers out of fellow citizens it is a poison that's increasingly penetrate in our society and it can eventually lead to this crimes. the federal justice minister has said that no stone will be left on turned in a thoughtful and thorough investigation carried out to find out what the motivation was for this terrible attack on wednesday evening said left 9 people dead 2 she should bars in the city of. peace while reporting now in the wake of the shooting the chairwoman of the ruling party was quick to bash rivals from the alternative to germany party accusing them of having extremist tendencies. immunity to ensure that if you look at their texts profile it seems like he had racist xenophobia as well as far right motives and this trenton's mean my believe therefore the c.d.u.

should always be clear not only for the c.d.u. but for all parties in germany that they can be no corporation with a party which tolerates far right extremists and let's call a spade a spade not since in monitoring so we are resolved to have no cooperation with the f.d.a. in any shape or form it's important to keep the spirals. tentative for germany it's more or less the parliamentary wing of a right wing movement and if not the right wing terrorists if they want or not they are the ones who give the key. to terrorists and every collaboration by other parties with the what. but give this party more credibility in the eyes of the followers so we have a level in the public debate that is more of a charmed rational political debate and when i hear yesterday night about that shooting i instinctively knew that our opponents would blame us for being

responsible for it it is completely ridiculous and i can only ask everyone to read that money fester of this crazy terrorist and then compare it to what we are doing and then it's all views that it's nonsense but no one reads of money 1st $2.00 and so our opponent think if they only repeat and repeat and repeat that we are somehow linked to that or that that this terrorist had links to us than enough people would believe in ok maybe that happens but it's just fake news and of course we fight against fake news. when save time secretary unveiled a new points based visa system the move is intended to reduce the amount of cheap migrant labor flowing into the country. this is the 1st time in decades the government has been able to take control run its own immigration system after we've

left the european union and free movement and low skilled migration to our country which means that we will get migration numbers down and that essential to this policy of a points based system the new system requires immigrants to prove their knowledge of the english language as well as professional qualifications and skills an existing job offer meeting a minimum salary mark would also be required ph d. qualified specialists would receive extra points making it easier for them to gain entry but the new rules would have proven quite a challenge for those who've already made a career in the care i don't know if i'd actually be in this country under these rules would you with your parents they wouldn't qualify it with this is a very different system to what is going on in the past and don't forget this is a point based system on the local market. well not new cases have until now made up a system absorb stanchfield part of the country's workforce with close to a 1000000 immigrants working in the low skill sector and 2018 liberal democrat

politicians joined in friar believes it won't take long for the new system to review its forms. really a very dangerous game with the home secretary is playing basically just to satisfy the promise is that the conservative party made joining the general election and to deliver briggs it was proposed many businesses have warned that it's just a realistic to assume that you can change the nature of the workforce in the way that the home secretary and presumably the prime minister want this doesn't solve the problem which i think is going to arrive very soon which is this country needs a lot of people in what's hot for the moment lower paid jobs basically what this new policy is saying is that the sorts of work they're doing often from not very high is not being valued maybe they're not being valued as members of our society.

ok let's go back to our top story this hour because syria medicines backed by turkish forces have launched an offensive against the syrian army in the war torn italy province but russian airstrikes did help trip tell them let's get some reaction from our. political commentators going to save me good evening what do you make of this situation do you think this is a precursor to this large scale military offensive that has threatened. i think possibly this might be the last straw that both the syrian arab army with its leadership and the russian forces as well with its leadership would accept from the turkish side given that syrian arab army posts were bombarded with artillery fire and the morning of today thursday february 28th think this would be the last straw given that found that the as you were 24 were used as

a by the demand of the syrian government to bomb the turkish area the turkish. area where the bombardment was coming from hence killing 2 turkish soldiers as per the turkish statesman to 2 hours ago so what is happening right now is truly very dangerous but at the same time do you politically speaking i think this is just the last straw to politics on the ground that can be played by the turkish side be so before eventually sitting on the table with an intermediary of the russian side with damascus and talking about how turkey will have to eventually leave the syrian land because it's syrian land and it's the syrian arab army trying to clean this land from terrorism so what is turkey doing there anyway. i mean it feels that it has many concerns about the situation in italy particularly with the refugee crisis and all the refugees spilling over into to feels it has to take action i know you

say that you feel people will sit around the negotiating table but is there also a danger that this could transform itself into a conflict that's much bigger than we've seen previously. well i think that the view that we see with the refugees trying to flee and that puts a lot of questions on who the refugees are to begin with are they actually refugees or not because we did see about 3 months ago and also a flock of people to the gate between the syrian border and the turkish border where we saw a lot of militants trying to flee but now a lot of reports are saying that it's actually families trying to flee but let us remind the audience that what's going on on the ground in soccer or in nato which is an area or a village in south east is not inhabited by residents it's only or by civilians it's military as own it is where the syrian arab army is advancing to liberate

the city of idlib and it's where the militants are residing it's practically the last frontline. that the militants can hold on to try and stop the syrian arab army from advancing to the city now why would you say that or not you but why would anyone that would say that the syrian arab army is advancing to places where civilians are we have seen the liberation of aleppo were no civilians were killed unless they were bombarded by terrorists we saw the liberation of homes where no civilians were killed we also saw the liberation of conscious one and live which was the major theater for the so-called chemical attacks charade that was happening and yet no civilians were killed there why should it be any different obviously there will be an influx of terrorists and militants who will try to evacuate the area because they know that they would have to deliver themselves and give themselves up to this year an arab army after the liberation of the maybe that's why they're afraid and they were they want to flee to turkey but i don't think that

would be the case now if turkey would stop aiding these terrorists and would definitely sit down with the russian side which is already sitting down with it and you go sharing a lot of issues especially in the northern part of syria why not start with an open up for new ties with damascus this is where i see it's going to be honest ok mauer thanks for your thoughts this even that was a political commentator thank you. series spreading in 3 ukrainian regions where protests have been held over the country's national spring brought back from the coronavirus epicenter the flight carrying 73 people evacuated from china eventually landed in the crimean city of harkov demonstrators have clashed with police in the time the passengers are meant to be quarantined. oh yeah. was no no no no no no no no no.

oh. god. god. god. so far ukraine has yet to see one case of the corona virus but many people clearly are quite scared of even taking that chance in the region of laval's groups of protesters worse were seen blocking the streets to a major hospital where the passengers were supposed to be quarantined after arriving in the country riot police were quickly sent to the scene they could be seen dragging people from the streets and even some of them were hospital workers themselves now for the past couple days other skirmishers between protesters and the police have become widespread across the country but the ukrainian authorities are saying are trying to reassure people that none of these passengers were affected or infected by the coronavirus about half of them were ukrainian or ukrainian and the rest come from

a number of different countries but all of them have been screened twice before being allowed to board the plane now the government's been trying to find a quarantine area for a while now and amidst all the chaos of these new protests president selenski says that these reactions are not really something to be proud of these reactions to something that was supposed to be a gesture of goodwill to help people in need is a shame the not all of us can be proud of the humane reaction the efforts to show find ways to build close to those not to let ukrainians back to ukraine we want demonstrating the best of our character here especially given the majority of the passengers who are under 30 to most of us they are almost children now the passengers are bound for a health center in the poltava region of ukraine but with such a negative reaction to something intended to be a gesture of goodwill we'll have to see how similar attempts in the future to fight the coronavirus fair if there are any at all. now for decades greece has

been locked in a tug of war u.k. over the elegant marbles but it's a contest athens has never won however it seems that breaks it might change all of that amid reports the historic sculptures could be on the table for at trade negotiations the ancient elegant marbles are currently held on display at the british museum they were shipped from athens back in the 19th century and greece has accused the u.k. of stealing its heritage but a government spokesman says that the u.k.'s position hasn't changed the u.k.'s position on the parthenon sculptures remains unchanged they are the legal responsibility of the british museum that is not up for discussion as part of our trade negotiations. ok well i'm pleased to say we can debate this story now because joining us is a couple of people from the u.k. who know all about this wendy earle she's a cultural historian and also my once our political and social commentator you're

both very welcome wendy let's start with you why do you think it's important the u.k. keeps these models i understand that's your position but don't you fear that with these trade negotiations they could be returned. yes i do fear that they could be returned and i fear. these wonderful works of art could be turned into a kind of political bargaining chip and that would be disastrous because where they are at the moment well you know in a way the parting of marbles the shared between britain and greece in athens and london and i think the good thing about that is that you've basically got these treasures that have global significance are really sort of important to our understanding of the history of the world and particularly history of art and they can be both cared for well in both those places and they can be seen by millions and millions of people in both those places and they also reflect the history of

those models themselves the fact that you know they they started out they were created in athens and then they were to a proportion of them were taken from greece at a very crucial moment for their survival and at a very crucial moment for the development of the knowledge about ancient greece or i let me just bring in my we hear often that the british museum is the safest place for the east breaks it hasn't changed that so why move the. well i think this is part of a growing debate because geoffrey robertson q.c. wrote a book and a paper amal clooney as part of some of these discussions last year and the british museum let's be clear about this the british museum is the world's largest curator of stolen artifacts from around the world now whether it's in models of the parthenon marbles or whether it's been in bronze whatever it might be you can't go

around the world nicking stuff and then just saying we're going to keep hold of it because it's really valuable and we want people to come and see it it just doesn't wash now adays in a i hate saying it but in a relatively well in lyon society people are asking for their stuff back and it's very hard to construct a case when we go around the world stealing stuff and don't get back it when you don't simply put on a no the surveys been done and most people in britain seem to agree that these are the facts should be handed back to their original owner what is wrong with that argument. well i think a lot of these are artifacts actually have very complicated history histories i think history itself is a very complicated place to go and we can't you know. a stash of art you know that these kind of artworks that are now has to museums around the world an impression is are not complex don't need to. know they are the . issue that history is complex you can't repair history by

history is complex we do very well in britain education system and so our western media miss telling it and misstating it we we don't half pick and choose what and how we tell history i mean we can say that well i think i'm and this is the worst of it a stupid shit but at times it me we should be trying to we should be trying to have a decent discussion about this rather than you trying to interrupt me and the point i know it's a case not only do i know he believes there is a history. we are going to are not going to repair the damage of damages of history by doing anything with these marbles what we can do with these marvels now is continue to learn about history continue to understand their histories their role in those in history and continue to develop our knowledge by returning them back willy nilly to places that demand them we're not caring for the objects themselves we're not looking at these as. pieces of our heritage of global heritage

which needs to be protected and looked after and saved for the few i see that is really isn't all. come in there because i saw you shaking my head i mean it is please i have to i mean look i was a student of history as somebody who is lectured regularly on and written many papers and i'm sure no nearer the nearest qualified as a as my learned opponent over there however i would say this that you know under under the ottoman empire eldin was given permission to excavate the rubble around the outside and study chiseled off the the models and people were saying will take half of them keep them here and return the back to the original owners every single argument you make for keeping them away can be used for returning them i'm sure the greek people you know the home of democracy some great thinkers you might consider will be able to figure out how to display this to the public now turkey recently looked into the film on which are the the legal construct of the papers and the sharia around what happened at the time the said permission wasn't given for that

there wasn't a legislative dictate that was issued for removal of those things the letter that can be seen clearly elegance given permission to excavate to learn now if we go around raping and looting and pillaging treasures from around the world we should give them back and you're right we can't repair history but we're not exactly making slavery reparations and if you look at all of the areas of the world which we have bullied and bombed and usurped and how to run into regimes installed we have some. thought. yes we need some kind of cleansing and part is going to have to be a conversation when these people are for their stuff but we've got to give it ok wendy why couldn't greece look after these artifacts well. i don't. think that's the argument i'm sure that now they could look after they are articles well i think at the time when they were taken by all get in there was a kind of question over a very big question mark over their capacity they were basically rubble they were had been bombs they were you being kept in an artillery base so.

yes some of the works of chiseled off that's right but i think their concern at the time was that they would be taught school and here is your right way counting of be accurate. just a 2nd so i think the principle really is not about what happened then i think the principle is what we do now and how we use artifacts from the past which were created in human societies that are very different from our own and we need to develop understanding of them and we shouldn't be just using them as as kind of political ok also. taking taking the moral high ground taking the moral high ground we live in a world that is constantly changing and we need to recognise or any other times i don't know if there are any moment you know the better as members in history most i just wondered at this moment i think there's a lot of excess i think if you had that you've got how do you know and it started as a real holding ok let me just ask you about bricks it most is a good time to bring this issue up because surely from the u.k.'s point of view it

greta this is going to be going to all sorts of things whenever it tries to agree a trade deal with another country. well obsolete i think part of the reason we're coming out from underneath the auspices of the european court of justice is not only looking at war crimes in iraq and syria and libya and even going back to the troubles in northern ireland we're talking about a future colonialist. empire which britain seems to be wanting to forward with the likes of dominic cummings and michael gove and. flogging waving the flag as we used to try to companies are selling around the world taking stuff again now my concern is that by not coming under the auspices of the european court of justice we're not going to be held accountable how on earth is the british government ever going to be held accountable for the sins that it commits as a state at home and overseas if we don't have a higher court to answer to so i think britain is is perfectly poised to be able to do exactly what it wants when the last 30 seconds to you. well i think the l the

models the parson and the marbles represent a fantastic moment in human history which is about democracy and about the idea of people. governing themselves and that's what greece is. important about and i think in terms of brecht's it that discussion about it is a discussion about democracy it's about solvency it's there's no point in kind of really hashing old historical arguments when we are when i think we're in a completely new place where people in britain are thinking about how do we have a future where we're free of a bureaucracy outside of boston that we're not that is not accountable to us and how can we can tighten up on our lives just to run a losing argument ok and that's where we're going to have bring this argument. there i'm sure that's your opinion though all right thank you to you both are so going to the cultural historian and also my answer that this a call and social commentator thank you.