london andbetween damascus or will it also be within damascus itself because someone decided to take a different decision than what the president himself decided? inry time something happens syria, it is very difficult to get to the full truth of the matter, but that is how it looks tonight as we speak about a terrible tragedy. >> an awful story. thank you for bringing it to us. liz doucet there in damascus for us. in moscow today, your cranium president -- the ukrainian president agreed to accept loans and discounts on natural gas from the russian leader vladimir putin. it probably comes as no surprise that this deal has not been well received by protesters mtf who want closer ties with the european union. >> and the kremlin, the president of russia and ukraine met to discuss closer cooperation. but just how close would that cooperation be? there has been speculation that viktor yanukovych might commit the ukraine to the russian led customs unit, a move that would infuriate pro-eu protesters back in kiev. they signed a draft of economic operation. moscow granted tf a discount on rus

whether or not -- damascus. whether or not they'll be able to achieve the kind of cooperation, the kind of openness, the kind of -- there will have to be cooperation as well, some kind of liaison between the government and the opposition. it's a huge, huge challenge but it's time to begin making progress on those promises because lives are at stake and people are starving. just miles from where i'm speaking to you here in damascus. >> ok, let's hope that can happen i -- that can actually happen. thanks very much. a u.s. judge ruled today that the national security agency program that collects massive amounts of data about american telephone calls is almost certainly unconstitutional. in the decision he wrote this, i cannot imagine a more indiscriminant and orbtrary invasion than this systemic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on . rtually every single citizen analyzing it without judicial approval. for more on the ruling and what it means, i spoke a short time ago with the former general co

an apparent witness to a cold blooded mass murder near damascus tells r t that dozens of people including children were killed by radical jihad as their. uncertainty hangs over ukraine as the e.u. says it's frozen trade talks while keeping up pressure on the president and blaming moscow for meddling. amnesty international exposes how bahrain routinely tortures people in detention including children all human rights workers on the ground say the scale of the abuse is even worse than the latest report suggests. the british energy company finds a massive wind turbine sprawled across the entrance to a drilling site a gift from anti fracking activists caught up in the christmas spirit. at seven pm here in moscow you're watching r t international with me and he said no way our top story this hour nazi like atrocities are being described in war torn syria residents of a small town outside damascus have told r.t. how they've witnessed anti-government islamist burning civilians and of ins and using others as human shields for the army struggling to throw extremists out of the area says the horrifi

be the thing that very dangerous very risky process of transporting those chemical materials from damascus to latakia could be completed in time for the geneva conference which is expected now next month. actually i'm not a position to give a new timeframe for this phase. of the security striation on the ground is very challenging and is so we have to see the authorities archives who will take to mr measures in order to carry out this phase you know some which way but the challenging circumstances of course are there and we hope that they will be new deal ase now we already mentioned these plans of transporting those chemical agents to what tucker where they're supposed to be. loaded on to shapes and. i know that the e.u. wouldn't want to give too many details about when and how for the fear of endangering that whole mission but i wonder why base plan was publicized in the first place because some would argue that it would have been wiser to proceed quietly without tipping off you know those forces who may be interested in sabotaging the whole process. actually there was no plan to publici

stuff as well who were based in damascus and who were going to decide it's the storage sites in very difficult circumstances and they had completed this phase three days earlier than it was in fact determent is so i believe that they have done a great job in very difficult the security environment which was unprecedented in the history of jokes that we do certainly but even in u.n. standards it's seen the most challenging operation in the history of the united nations so that's something we should be recognised yeah absolutely but i wonder if we also have to recognize the afterwards. so far taking by be theory in authorities because after all you are verifying the work that they are actually doing said did they deserve any credit for the way they work that has been done so far. i have. stated on several occasions that the cooperation of the syrian government has been satisfactory and they are satisfactory fulfilling their obligations to. from the commission and our job effect as your piece that we used to verify the complaints of the syrian government in this respect ok if i could as

stuff as well who were based in damascus and who were going to decide it's the storage sites in very difficult circumstances and they had completed this phase three days earlier than it was in fact determent is so i believe that they have done a great job in a very difficult security environment which was persistent to in the history of europe's that would you certainly but even in u.n. standards it's seen the most challenging operation in the history of the united nations so that's something we should be recognised yeah absolutely but i wonder if we also have to recognize the afterwards. so far taken by the theory and authorities because after all you are verifying the work that they're actually doing said did they deserve any credit for the work that has been done so far. i have. stated on several occasions that the cooperation of the syrian government has been satisfactory and they are satisfactory fulfilling their obligations to. from the commission and our job effect as your piece that we used to verify the complaints of the syrian government in this respect ok if i could ask yo

be the thing that very dangerous very risky process of transporting those chemical materials from damascus to let attack it could be completed in time for the geneva conference which is expected now next month. actually i'm not in a position to give a new timeframe for this face by the security striation on the ground is very challenging and so we have to see the authorities archive sure will take to assume measures. you know order to carry out this phase you know some which way but the challenging circumstances of course are there and we hope that there will be new deal ase now we already mentioned these plans of transporting those chemical agents to lattakia where they're supposed to be. loaded on to say and. i know that you wouldn't want to give too many details about when and how for the fear of endangering that whole mission but i wonder why base plan was publicized in the first place because some would argue that it would have been wiser to proceed quietly without tipping off you know those forces who may be interested in sabotaging the whole process. actually there was no plan to pu

fled to damascus from beirut are finding reflections of the harbors of war.referred beauty seen, but that the syrian wardrobe and beirut lester, -- last year, it intrudes evermore on his art. deadstarted to pay women or bloody, to paint our children dying, i see it as a kind of archive. paintings depict foreign them ass and secularize players on the world stage. was not just a danger that promote -- that prompted him to leave damascus six months ago. was becoming extremely difficult to transport the paintings from damascus to beirut, which is the only way we can send them abroad. it could take two or three months, or the border could close altogether. thriving art scene is a magnet for the new arrivals. at this gallery, they receive many new artists portfolios, collected and also stored. >> coming out of the syria -- it is very strong. conceptually, they are writing the history. people are responding to it. in the mountains above beirut, syrian markets created the sanctuary for artists from the country last year. during their month-long residency, i tried to

tonight the apparent witnesses to a cold blooded mass murder in it damascus tell us that r t that dozens of people including children were killed by radical jihadists their. uncertainty hangs over ukraine tonight as the e.u. says its frozen trade talks while keeping up pressure on the president are blaming moscow for meddling. amnesty international condemns the torture of detainees including children in bahrain of rights workers there say the scale of the abuse is even worse than the latest report suggests. the british energy company finds a massive wind turbine scrawled across the entrance to his drilling site a gift apparently from anti fracking activists caught up in the christmas spirit. by their very good evening she just joined us it's just past ten pm here in moscow my name's kevin knowing you're watching r t international and distressing news to start this hour reports of nazi like atrocities are being described in war torn syria residents of a small town outside damascus have told us that r t how they witnessed anti government is in the midst burning civilians in of ns and using

tonight nazi like atrocities of being reported in war torn syria residents of a small town outside damascus describe to r.t.o. antigovernment islam is have been burning civilians in other words and using others as human shields. and russia once again draws the un's attention to evidence that the syrian rebels have used chemical weapons to set up the government and points deep flaws in the work of investigators. other headlines uncertainty hangs over ukraine still tonight as the e.u. says it's frozen trade talks while keeping up pressure on the president and blaming moscow for meddling. also to amnesty international condemns the torture of detainees including children in bahrain well rights workers there say the scale of the abuse is even worse than the latest report suggests. and a british energy company finds a massive wind turbine sprawled across the entrance to his drilling site a gift apparently from anti fracking activists caught up in the christmas. just past eleven pm no you're moscow my name's kevin zero in this is r.t. international and our top story a disturbing story to start thi

controlled by president assad in this part of damascus, families are struggling. everything is more expensive. but at least they have food. in the suburbs under siege, people make the most of the little they have using a bike to recharge batteries, relying on firewood for heat. as the fighting drags on, leaving the innocent trapped, hungry, just trying to survive. keir simmons, nbc news, damascus. >>> still ahead tonight, the countdown to a high stakes, high risk mission in space. >>> and up next, the underground mystery that has baffled a big american city. a lot of folks wondering what lies beneath. a >>> there is something weird going on underground in one of america's big cities. underneath the streets of seattle something is standing in the way of progress, but what is it? nbc's joe fryer has our report. >> reporter: in a city known for a giant needle that stretches toward space, everyone is now talking about a massive machine stuck beneath the ground. >> the fact that so many people are focused right now on something underneath the streets i think is fascina

we arrived in damascus at dusk. our journey from lebanon just over 50 miles took seven hours through snowy mountains and checkpoints. an estimated million terrified syrians have made this journey in the other direction, fleeing the country that has been tearing itself apart for almost three years. in all, almost 9 million people, more than a third of syria's entire population have fled their homes. those who get to camps like this one in lebanon now face a freezing winter in just tents. [ speaking in foreign language ] my husband is sick and the cold weather is hurting us, this woman says. we're becoming sick from the smell of the stove. in a u.n. center, mothers crowd around me. help me get to the west, one begs, holding her 9-month-old child. but others who look to the west for help, syria's more moderate opposition fighters are losing ground. battling not just president assad's forces, but extremist rebels with some link to al qaeda. america has withdrawn some aid fearing it will fall into the wrong hands. syrian

controlled by president assad in this part of damascus, families are struggling. everything is more expensive. but at least they have food. in the suburbs under siege, people make the most of the little they have using a bike to recharge batteries, relying on firewood for heat. as the fighting drags on, leaving the innocent trapped, hungry, just trying to survive. keir simmons, nbc news, damascus. >>> still ahead tonight, the countdown to a high stakes, high risk mission in space. up next, the underground mystery that's baffled a big american city. a lot of folks wondering what lies beneath. you're talking to the guy who hasn't approved a new stapler purchase in three years. but then i saw the new windows tablet, with a real keyboard, usb port, and full office. it's a tablet that works for work. plus, it's got apps and games, for after hours, of course. compared to an ipad -- way more value. these tablets are such a steal; i couldn't find a reason not to buy them. ♪ honestly, i wanna see you be brave ♪ [ male announcer ] when you feel good, no one is immune. emerg

this morning like atrocity to be reported for the long syrian president of the school time outside damascus described to us see how i miss the government isn't this a big wedding civilians in the other. using others as human shields russia once again draws the lines attention to evidence that the syrian rebels of use chemical weapons to set up a government that point said de force in what could be investigated. also headlining this morning and said he still running of the ukraine as the eu says it's frozen trade talks while keeping the pressure on the present time lately most definitely i missed international condemns the torture of detainees including children in the brain while rights workers that said the scale of the pieces even worse than the latest reports suggest also footage energy company funds of massive wind turbines rolled across the entrance to the styling site a gift of time before i see from the activist caught up in the christmas spirit three or four . the forty two greek ability of most of its attitude to steal the distances of two mixed up with this to the knees terrified

damascus is packed with those who have fled. smiles for the camera, but privately people share blood-curdling stories and rumors of extremists opposed to the government carrying out executions of entire families. war is now part of life here. as we're filming there's a power cutoff. nothing unusual. they've seen far worse. just a few weeks ago, people were going about their ordinary business shopping in this ancient market when a mortar bomb fell in this very street. that bomb injured one man. mortars don't compare to the destruction of barrel bombs, but the fear they sow is just as real. syria is a broken country, and across the divide are civilians on both sides, terrified. keir simmons, nbc news, damascus. >>> in this country, one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in california is burning. a wildfire broke out yesterday in big sur, california. and among the many buildings destroyed, the home of the woman in charge of saving other people's property. nbc's katy tur is there for us tonight. katy, good evening. >> repo

photo journalist james hash takes us to an amazing life display in damascus, one that's gone after thisar. >> the light creates within people a simple response of happiness. >> reporter: if the richness of a man's spirit can be judged by the joy he gives others, then donald is a wealthy man indeed. >> i'll be honest with you, mainly i love it. i'm its biggest fan. >> reporter: don's incredible display at his damascus home draws friends and strangers alike. >> it's where we all have a collective heart beat. it doesn't matter what religion or nationality, we all feel something. the spirit to share all of this is just amazing. . >> reporter: the 70,000 lights are synced to music which he even broadcasts so viewers can sit and watch in their cars. >> every little kids goes around and sees lights like this with their parents. it's like a dream land. it's the little kid who has the chance to create the ultimate light show. >> this is a gift to everybody. this is an awesome gift to give to everybody. >> reporter: awesome indeed. but this is also the last one. after this season, it's over. >> w

birds converge in moscow to discuss how damascus can get its toxic arsenal out of the country a condition that prevented an american strike in the war torn state. saudi blogger and activist faces execution for rejecting islam after already being sentenced to seventy years in prison and six hundred lashes we talked to human rights campaigner about his case. and the british economy could the one pass a sluggish jurors like germany within the next two decades say new forecast but for those who are not part of the affluent to leave there is little cause to celebrate . in the russian capital which international with me marina joshing now it's been almost three years and there are still no an inside for the war in syria which has escalated away beyond the conventional standoff between rebel forces and the government the year two thousand and thirteen has brought more trial and trauma for the people of the country and more obstacles for the global players trying to broker a solution. a study by had defense consultancy earlier this year showed that out of one hundred thousand rebels in syria who

syrian and international chemical experts converge in moscow to discuss how damascus can get its toxic arsenal out of the country a condition that prevented an american strike in the war torn state that's among the stories that made the year two thousand and thirteen. huge car blast rips through central beirut killing a former finance minister and several others as violence continues to spill over into lebanon from the civil war in neighboring syria. and the british economy could limp past a sluggish germany within the next two decades a new forecast but for those who are not part of the affluent elite there is little cause to celebrate. and the a k for a k forty seven creator mikhail kalashnikov is being seen off in style as his funeral gets under way with all the pomp and circumstance of the man to put his stamp on global war fare. the certainly international coming to live from moscow i'm marina joshing. it's been almost three years and there's still no an inside for the war in syria which has escalated way beyond conventional standoff between rebel forces and the government the yea

syrian and international chemical weapons experts converge on the mosque out to discuss how damascus can get its toxic arsenal out of the country a condition that prevented an american strike on the war torn state that's among the stories that made big here twenty thirteen. a car blast rips through central beirut killing a former finance minister and four other peeper of people near the lebanese government had ordered. the british economy could edge past druggists germany over the next two decades according to new forecasts but for those who are not part of the affluent elite there is little cause to celebrate. kalashnikov inventor of the a k forty seven is seen off in style his funeral is held outside moscow with all the pomp and circumstance of a man who put his stamp on global war fare. it's two pm in moscow you're watching international with me and he's to now a well it's been almost three years and there's still no end in sight for the war in syria which is escalated way beyond a conventional standoff between rebel forces and the government the year two thousand and thirteen has

many christians have left and i'm now living as with elsewhere in damascus because they're so fearful of the situation the last time that i was in so yeah i visited the city of homes where both the syrian army as well as people who are returning to the question quarter so did me around and found churches and spoke about the fear that they to have as attacks on the christian community inside syria escalates. thank you so much for bringing us this late hour here there. and here's food at that allegedly shows another attack on a christian a monastery in syria this is an orthodox monastery north of damascus the opposition justified the attack saying as the troops were using it as are tillery position and you can see here rebel fighters targeting the buildings which then catch fire my colleague kevin no one spoke to us are an anglican priest in syria about the fate of christians in a war torn country. thousands and thousands hundreds of thousands of christians where this place from their homes and a lot of christians were killed we still have two bishops missing from from a little we don't

there were areas of damascus under siege. the government is accused of using starvation, if you like. certainly hunger is a weapon of war. >> how much control does assad have with his country? >> good question. that's not a question that is easy to answer. this is an opaque government in terms of trying to understand how things work. in damascus, there is rumor and a city of war. you walk around the streets here and you hear explosions and gunfire. you see people who are having to get food for themselves. they are talking about having to feed millions. the crisis is unfolding. a lot of people's attention is here and they are not on that kind of question, but trying to survive. it is difficult to assess. in terms of the way the situation is now. the one thing we can say is that we know that there talks planned for next month. that president assad's government said they will be involved in the talks and at the same time you have the west looking to the opposition that is divide and i'm trying to figure out who should go to the

iraq and lebanon these people states where the sectarian violence continues to be played out the damascus government so he does believe it can win this war and if not when it then at least retain control of the areas where it currently has its grip what we do expect for two thousand and fourteen is that the opposition will continue to be dominated by islamist extremists and the knock on effect of this is that it's going to be increasingly difficult for the damascus regime to enter into any kind of negotiations or discussion with them and at the same time you have external outside powers that are also going to withdraw the support for the opposition this means that the geneva two summit that is currently slated for january does not have a particularly good prognosis right archies polls they are live with us head of our bureau thank you so much of course happy new year to you. paula. now in september the world held its breath as the u.s. threat destroyed syria in response to a chemical attack would show washington blame squarely on the assad government but russia's diplomatic efforts manage

we know there have been similar deals going on around damascus.overnment delivered aid on saturday evening, trucks loaded with food and canned food and bread. part of the deal with rebels there who announced a cease fire and the flag raised. it seems there are small deals being arranged around damascus to alleviate some of this between the rebel groups and the government. >> reporter: all right, thank you. still to come on the news hour. >> addiction had a negative impact on my life. i think i really made a strong will to quit. >> reporter: shooting up with maymar and two thirds of young people are hooked on heroin. a pair of boots is what remains of a child soldier and we will hear the father's story. and they hold the league after a win in liver pool and joe will have the sport a little bit later. ♪ egypt's security forces arrested al jazeera in cairo and they were picked up from their home and hotels. our correspondent peter with producers and cameraman are being held in custody and experienced journalists for 20 years and he is reporting from

it's nine pm here in moscow tonight the apparent witnesses to a cold blooded mass murder in a damascus tell r t that dozens of people including children were killed by radical jihadists there. hangs over ukraine again tonight as the e.u. says it's frozen trade talks while keeping up pressure on the president moscow for meddling. amnesty international condemns the torture of detainees including children in bahrain the rights workers say the scale of the abuse is even worse than the latest report suggests. the british energy company finds a massive wind turbine sprawled across the entrance to its drilling site a gift manty fracking that has caught up in the christmas. just joined us my name's kevin zero in this is r t international our top story then as just mentioned nazi like atrocities of being described in war torn syria residents of a small town outside damascus have told r.t. how they witnessed anti government is the mists burning civilians in other news and using others as human shields all the army struggling to overthrow the extremists and get them out of the area says the horri

many have found their way to damascus. nbc is there tonight. >> reporter: children wait for food to bring their families. this 7 year old has 11 bros. th and sister, all hungry. and even as these families register for help, gunfire. this 4 year old helps his family carry away basic provisions. this 4 month old's father says they fled when his town was shelled. outside, people search a list to see if they're eligible for help. every name on these lists is a hungry family. look at how many there are. this war started almost three years ago as a popular uprising against president assad. it's turned syria into a slaughterhouse. even more deadly as outsiders come in to fight on both sides and terrified syrians flee their homes. many are now starving. the world food program is feeding millions. >> we have to have some kind of solution politically because the humanitarian crisis is getting to a point i've never seen in any other country i've worked in. >> reporter: this soccer coach tries to distract the children from the misery

far from home the new insights and joseph's church in damascus. christians are getting ready to celebrate christmas. many gay are refugees from i'm a small city in time the right to head the seventh of september and with the conflict in syria showing no sign of it many here will once again celebrate christmas without their loved ones. they were at eleven am. i lost my brother my son to my cousins i miss all of them for christmas. it was sad last year and a series of fate. i want to go back home with my head held high. some fourteen years now. this tied in the year. the greek catholic patriarch himself gifts to each family. the cia it's a sealed envelope filled with cash. a small but welcome token for the holidays. we had a nobleman said through a messy and all delight children and being too tragic time stood still trusting god to know that they are not that people collect money to help them in but the biggest help that syria can receive when peace of god to grant us peace but it just me and a lot. now here's the man. not to let the strict in damas

here in damascus while those barrel bombs are dropped on opposition groups here in damascus we went tohe market while people were shopping and rumors swirl around this city of atrocities being carried out by extremist islamic groups amongst the opposition forces particularly in an area where there were reports 80 people have been executed and people being held hostage. so the picture across this country, though it is divided is one story. that is utter fear amongst the civilian population. >> acknowledging there is brutality on both sides and the fact the united states cut off aid to the lead rebel group because it was dominated by what the united states considered islamic militants. still, the only group that has air power is the regime. what do they say about the use of barrel bombs? >> reporter: that's right. we haven't managed to get a comment from them yet about the use of these bombs. when you do talk to them, they bring up exactly what you are talking about there, because they have for a long time talked about the opposition forces as terrorists. what we have seen, the picture w

there has been bad weather and fighting, a deteriorating past the -- tactical situation from damascusnd although it has not been made official, everyone is expecting that this will have to be flexed by a few days or weeks but how long is not clear. >> the implications are impossible to imagine. the conflict in syria is very volatile. at there these weapons moment from your understanding? >> they are being brought together in damascus and there were closed sites from which they are having to be moved, tidied up and brigade. where they are at the moment is not clear. they are intended to end up at the court where they will be taken by norwegian and danish ships to italy, to an unnamed court where they will be put on an american ship, and taken into the mediterranean to be processed. -- processed. the chinese are sending a frigate, there is a norwegian and danish frigate. this will be heralded as a very impressive collaboration but it is not clear what these will be for. other countries getting involved -- everyone wants to play a part. wanted to take these weapons into their own country

rebel fighters entered the syrian town northeast of damascus and it's famous for the christian churches the last places with people still speak the language of jesus. rebels took over in september but were forced out by the army. lebanon's government deployed the army on to the northern city of tripoli and 11 have been killed in fighting in the city as rival communities target each other and violence is triggered by religious and the neighboring war and andrew simmons reports. >> the aim is to bring this to an end. [gunfire] and this is syria's war playing out in lebanon and cost 100 lives in the past year. fighters for pro-assad area and in another district clashing frequently in a sectarian feud that dates back to lebanon civil war. the prime minister said the army will be asked to exercise complete supervision of security in the city over the next six months and denies that tripoli will become a military zone. what will happen next it's expected it's a decree and what it will contain and how this will play out on the ground remains unclear at this stage. it was a meeting that brought

five people have died of hunger in a refugee camp in damascus. >> the army has been moved into iraq. tensions are high. >> in bangladesh the main opposition periody is struggling to gather numbers for an anti-government protest. >> the police are out in force. authorities blocked many roads. we have this report. >> rifles loaded. armed forces are on the streets. they are ready for action. the country has a history of coups. this time the military has been called on to keep the peace ahead of an election that could get nasty. >> their main task is to provide law and order, so that voters can go out to vote without any intimidation fear of being attacked or hurt. >> the opposition nationalist party are boycotting the election due to be held on january 5th. the mp leader asked for people to defy the polls and occupy the city of dhaka. bnp executives have been targeted for detention. >> there were cases against thousands of bnp leaders and workers. most of them cannot stay at their home. i was admitted in the hospital from a place i was trying to escape arrest. i was not at my home. >> o

in damascus. >> but while on the road to damascus, saul had an extraordinary vision.y, a light from heaven flashed around him, says the book of acts. he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "saul, saul, why do you persecute me?" he asked, "who are you, lord?" the reply came, "i am jesus, whom you are persecuting." >> and when he finds out that jesus is truly alive, it means that the other things that jesus' followers say about him must also be considered as true. jesus is the messiah. >> saul of tarsus who never met jesus in the flesh, never traveled or supped with him and who wanted to kill his followers, becomes the greatest defender of the jesus faith, known to the world by the greek version of his name, paul. >> some people have called paul the second founder of christianity, because christianity is more than following the teachings of jesus. christianity is not just the religion that jesus had, it's the religion about jesus. it's the religion founded on jesus' death and resurrection. >> in his letter to the galatians, paul reveals exactly what jesu

dozens of civilians are massacred near the syrian capital damascus as in our team best occasion reveals mass executions and kidnappings carried out by the islamist rebels. the european union puts ukraine integration on hold u.s. senators join the protesters in the capital kiev throwing their weight behind the opposition's pro western ambitions. and mexico is gripped by mass anti-government demonstrations with protesters accusing authorities of stripping the state of its wealth and people of their future. the starting international you're watching us live from moscow i'm marina josh welcome to the program fierce fighting continues in the syrian town of on the outskirts of damascus as the army tries to push rebel forces from several districts out of us again carried out by r.t. discovered the mass execution of civilians carried out by al qaida linked groups survivors described horrific scenes of brutal executions of people being used as human shields our colleagues from artie's arab channels spoke to an eyewitness of the massacre. r t sources in the military say radical islamist fighters

we are joined by a spokeswoman in damascus. can you tell us -- the un's secretary-general says the situation in syria has to steer your agent -- has deteriorated beyond all imagination. can you give us an idea what people in syria have to deal with now? >> it is the third year of this conflict. it is wearing people's ability to cope out. in damascus, every time i come, i see a more difficult situation. people are queuing to get daily rations of bread. prices have skyrocketed. now, more than 100% price increase from the same time last year. over the last three months, prices have gone up i 60%. most of the people are displaced three or four times. yesterday, a woman who was displaced for the 10th time, i met. 10 times, she changed her location. in addition, thousands and thousands of people are living in unfinished houses -- no windows, no doors. a difficult housing situation for the people in unsafe areas. extreme worry about people in the siege to areas, which we do not have access to. we worry about what the situation is like

august, video of a chemical weapons attack shocked the world -- a nerve gas attack on a suburb of damascus killed dozens of innocent civilians. friends and relatives data to identify their loved ones. the attack rallied international support or a chemical weapons ban in syria. bashar al-assad's government caved in to government pressure. they agreed to surrender a weapons stockpile. nelson mandela died on december the -- december 5. in 1994, he became south africa's first democrat tickly elected president. nelson mandela is credited with taking south africa out of apartheid and into the 21st entry. -- in 1994, he became south africa's first democratically elected president. nelson mandela is credited with taking south africa out of apartheid and into the 21st century. bayern players are not letting success go to their heads and are keen to remain dominant in 2014. >> one man we did not see in that report, but who will certainly be remembered as one of the key figures of 2013 is edward snowden. >> a year ago, none of us had heard of him, but now, the former u.s. intelligence contractor has

my favorite example is ambassador ford this damascus -- in damascus who i think at the start of the syrian civil war did an enormously powerful and important job for the united states by going to the funerals of political dissidents who had been killed by the government, showing that americans care about that. giving interviews about what the assad government was doing. there are that's american diplomacy at its finest. and that's what we need to free the state department up to be out doing in the world. >> and kori schake is the author of "state of disrepair: fixing the culture and practices of the state department." thank you for joining us on booktv from hoover. >> guest: it's been a pleasure. >> is there a nonfiction author or book you'd like to see featured on booktv? send us an e-mail at booktv@cspan.org or tweet us at twitter.com/booktv. >> this weekend on booktv at 4 p.m. eastern, charles gati and a panel discuss the life of former national security adviser si big knew brzezinski. and then a panel on how the wounded come back from war. tomorrow on booktv at 10:0 a.m. eastern, edwin

opposition forces use to control the town of noble it's located along the highway connecting the capital damascus to this end to city of palms. it will now be eased if the government forces to transport goods feel and weapons to the capital. tear of french soldiers who were killed in an operation to restore stability in the central african republic yet france is first casualty since its military intervention began last week french defense ministry official said the two soldiers were attacked by militants at close range typically an airport in the capital city of pune be drastically about sixteen hundred troops to the central african republic to help restore security. tribal militants have repeatedly clashed in the country in recent weeks. civilians have been killed in the violence french president francois long offered his condolences to the soldiers' families he said he will continue the military operation. south africans and dozens of heads of states came together on a rainy day in johannesburg to remember a man who changed the nation and inspired the world. i attended a memorial for nelson man

the report counters claims that the missiles fired from the government held damascus. hundreds were killed in the attack. united nations continue to run aid flights into syria. the two week efforts helping thousands trapped in the country. one key life line is in danger of being cut off. imran khan reports. >> the pallets are loaded. final preparations are in. the flights began on 17 december or unhcr, the u.n. refugee agency. they say it took a massive effort. >> we had to transfer from jordan, and now to syria. >> getting all the permission to run aid flights has been a difficult beside involving the kurdistan government, the federal government in baghdad and the siian regime. >> this man was part of the talks and said the kurdistan government is doing its best to facilitate the flights. >> it's been agreement at the hour offices in geneva, the united nations officers in geneva. as well as the syrian officials. it has been an iraqi and syrian agreement for the flights. >> dating back to the "70, the ukrainian crew are ready to go. we are allowed to film this part of

so the show is getting on the road. >> reporter: in damascus, james hash, wusa9. >> okay, we're going there. >> i

first kara then dar atier, with nabak taken, major supply routes between damascus is now retain. with nabak fallen, the rebels are surrounded. opposition forces are being led by forces linked to al qaeda, also include the free syrian army. on the other side, assad's forces, critical in shifting the balance of power here to the assad forces. on sunday a heb hezbollah commar was killed with three fighters, about but civilian deaths, feu imagefewimages alongside. she found this on sunday. >> we came into the basement finding this entire family dead, executed by guns. >> one town now under the control of assad forces. gaining full control of the region hasn't been achieved. now, with the mountainous territory under the icy grip of winter, this battle isn't over yet. andrew simmons, al jazeera, beirut. >> assad forces may have won a strategic battle but how would that affect the broader war? the city of a aleppo, islamist rebels have made notable gains and the capital damascus is under government control but the suburbs and surrounding country side remain in dispute. joining us now is

dozens of civilians are massacred near the syrian capital damascus as survivors tell our t.v. of mass executions and kidnappings carried out by the islamist rebels. as the european union puts ukraine integration on hold u.s. senators join the protest in the capital kiev throwing their weight behind the opposition's pro western ambitions. and mexico is gripped by mass anti-government demonstrations with protesters accusing authorities of stripping the state of its wealth and the people of their future. a warm welcome to you live from moscow you're watching archie international with me and he's now our top story this hour fierce fighting is continuing in the syrian town of hadera on the outskirts of damascus as the army tries to push rebel forces from several districts and reports indicate mass execution of civilians carried out by al qaeda linked groups survivors have described the horrific scenes of people used as human shields archies arabic channel spoke to an eyewitness to the massacre . no. r t sources in the military say radical islamist fighters entered the town of addre