the u.k. at the crossroads laura thank you so much for being with us explain third of the high and for our viewers and then we get in the details what is your report say well we look at the past years in which the u.k. supposedly had a recovery from the crisis they've had positive g.d.p. growth ever since two thousand and ten but a closer look so the growth has been somewhat modest and living standards for most people have actually declined ever since really so since a crisis living standards have declined now you've mentioned something in the report called the palmer ratio and use that to sort of as a gauge explain what the palmer ratio is and what does it mean in terms of where the u.k. stacks up so the palmeri so looks at income inequality and it looks how much the top ten percent of earners make as compared to the bottom ninety percent and it's actually in the u.k. something that's been going up in the eighty's a lot going up means that the wealthier have a larger percentage of wealth exac

and u.k. must be able to attract and employ the people they need and we are open to discussing how to facilitate these valuable links. ensure an ongoing dialogue, data protection arrangements and maintaining the links between our people, these are the foundations of the unique and unprecedented partnership. it will need to be tailored to the needs of our economies. this follows the approach of the e.u. as taking with its trade agreements in the past and with its own single market as it has developed. the e.u.'s agreement with ukraine sees is aligned with some areas and not others. the e.u.'s agreement with canada contains provisions to recognize each other's testing on machinery and its agreement with south korea is not. the e.u. is it taking a tailored approach. on fisheries, the commission has been clear that no precedent exists for the sort of accepted wants from the u.k. every free-trade agreement has varying market access depending on the interest of the country involved. if this is cherr

and the u.k. was even will salute him and we are living in a very special time in front of our eyes incredible things are happening the process of replacing the presumption of innocence with the presumption of guilt has taken place this criminal principle is being transferred into international relations and we hate lee as an experienced chemist his talk about crimes committed by russia we've known for years that for you in order to determine the guilty party no investigation is needed today the best kind of proof is suspicion and it is no longer necessary to show to the consul why to use with an unknown new art substance in it it's enough to send a letter displaying an agreed use attitude towards a sovereign state. from there the russian ambassador went on to call for a thorough investigation of the incident and determine exactly who is to blame and what happened and he called for this to be done through the existing international mechanisms to find out who is absolutely responsible and he reassu

have done in the u.k. there's been a number of other deaths including the death of alexander polygyny who is a a russian whistleblower loop blew the whistle on a massive f.s.b. financial scam and he dropped dead at the age of forty four in front of his house in weybridge surrey the police refused even investigated as a murder and so from from my perspective and from for the perspective of lattimer putin. this is a country where. assassinations can be carried out without any consequence and that i believe was a huge policy failure which has led to the situation we're in right now with mr script on his daughter hold hang on for dear life in a soldier a hospital bill you've become an enemy of law to be a person you're not russian of and you've received death threats does what happened in salzburg a few days ago give you pause for thought are you safe in britain. i don't believe in safe in britain at all if you look at this situation as as i said they can go around the russian government and go around killing

as the u.k.'s prime ministers expelled twenty three russian diplomats from britain in retaliation for the kremlin's alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former russian intelligence agent and his daughter that's despite police having declared no suspects to speak there is no alternative conclusion other than that the russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of mr and his daughter under the vienna convention the united kingdom will now expel twenty three russian diplomats who have been identified as declared intelligence officers and human rights advocates call on the u.s. congress to reject donald trump's new pick for cia director of a revolver into the agency's torture program over the years. very good morning there just to midnight here in moscow this early thursday morning you're watching our two international with me kevin the escalating diplomatic crisis of the surrogates crippled poising is reaching new heights this morning just a few hours ago the u.k. accused russia of breac

mr president the u.k. is proud to have been one of the states which played an integra role in drafting the chemical weapons convention a landmark piece of international law. we are therefore dismayed that russia has suggested that our response fails to meet the requirements of the convention. article seven of the convention calls on state parties to implement the convention under their own legislation the united kingdom was enacted the chemical weapons act in order to fully comply with this obligation that legislation together with relevant criminal law is now guiding our investigation into this incident as the convention was designed. this was an attack on u.k. soil under the convention we have the right to lead our response engaging the o.p.c. w. and others as appropriate. on the eighth of march the u.k. formally notified the o.p.c. w. technical secretariat that a chemical attack had taken place on u.k. soil but the russian federation has complained that we are not using article nine of the convention on

president donald trump has said he is with the u.k. all the way germany france all of them have condemned this attack so really people on lining up to support the u.k. here the announcement that we've had today they are just domestic responses to what's taken place that we haven't heard yet of any official official international response as they more likely to come a little bit later so it can be very interesting to see what happens as we learn more more about this attack and what the international community decides to do as you are saying charlotte this is a huge diplomatic route. what we heard from moscow if anything yet well as big it was saying that they've denied any involvement they've had a very strong response to this assegais lover of the foreign minister has even suggested that this is part of a propaganda efforts to discredit russia he was he was very angry that we've also heard from the embassy in russia they've said that if these sanctions if sanctions are imposed on russia expect sanctions in return so this really isn't s

the u.k. government concluded that it was highly likely that russia was responsible for this reckless act we haven't seen anything but highly likely as of yet we have concluded that mr scruby pro and his daughter were poisoned with a shock a military grade nerve agent of a type developed by russia. if britain is so confident that it was not a truck gassed then that means they have the chemical formula samples and the ability to produce it the united states believes that russia is responsible for the attack on two people and the united kingdom using a military grade nerve agent. we demand that material proof be provided before making any accusations against us in this high profile case. we requested the russian government to provide an explanation by the end of tuesday the thirteenth of march on how this russian produce nerve agent could have been deployed in salzburg. they provided no credible explanation goodwood we are ready for open and constructive cooperation within the framework of the o

officials including u.k. foreign secretary boris johnson and i think people can see this is a classic russian strategy of trying to conceal the needle of truth in a haystack hold more you sound of the station poisoning of surrogates creeping is not the case but the latest in a pattern of recluse behavior by the russian state. that behavior goes back many years while boris johnson's language has become his rhetoric has become more and more intensified events on ravel despite the world really still waiting to see evidence of proof of russia's involvement that the u.k. has been talking about boris johnson has spoken of what he believes that there's enough evidence that russia over ten years not only was involved in the delivery of nerve agents for assassination but also creating an stockpiling novacek we do know that this moscow has said that russia believes that u.k. slovak czech swedish and possibly american lives were closely studying novacek since the ninety's now while russia's guilt is really being pushed

earlier the u.k. prime minister driesum may said that britain will expel twenty three russian diplomats and suspend all. meetings now with russia it comes in response to the poisoning of the ex russian intelligence officer and his daughter the city is solved with all things about as the investigation into the instant continues with more from london next. well the british prime minister has said that russia is culpable of attempted murder and among the measures that the u.k. is now taking is the expulsion of twenty three russian diplomats they are suspending high level contacts between the two countries the russian foreign minister's visit to the u.k. has been cancelled and no british officials including members of the world family will be present at the world cup in russia taking place this summer may has said that russia's response to the deadline that was given by midnight last night was a distain given the gravity of that unravelled mr speaker it was right to offer russia the opportunity to provide

u.k. prime minister teresa mayes allegations that moscow was behind a nerve agent attack in england are quote insane. you know leave or quarter some london to rotterdam this comes at a crucial point in the u.k.'s brics it because she asian. and duty honor country an increase in the number of women joining the afghan police ranks. turkey has no intention of handing the city of a frame back to the syrian government once us forces have captured it the turkish government says it expects to clear a fraying of kurdish fighters the very soon thousands of civilians are leaving the city after turkish troops and free syrian army fighters encircled the city turkey launched a military assault and january to clear syrian kurdish forces that control the region get more from alan fischer who's live from gaza on the turkey syria border so allan fels all this supply supposed to play out turkey saying that we are going to basically take over part of another country. well clearly the serbians would normally

the u.k.'s prime minister expels twenty three russian diplomats from britain in retaliation for the kremlin's alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former russian intelligence agent and his daughter despite police having declared no suspects. to speak no alternative conclusion other than that the russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of mr scruby and his daughter under the vienna convention the united kingdom will now expel twenty three russian diplomats who have been identified as declared intelligence officers and russia says the u.k. still has no to replied to its offer to help with the investigation or its request for access to the chemical used in the incident moscow earlier rejected a midnight ultimatum.

u.k. police were of course getting many questions regarding where the nerve agent was actually it was i can't comment on that at this hour we're not declaring a person of interest or a suspect at least in a court of law this would at least mean a time out in the world of political game play apparently it means very little thank you for watching out international tonight not a handle on this may be following all might the deepening crisis over the surrogate scruple affair between the u.k. and russia as our news bulletins continue and keep up to date as well on our sites twenty four seven r.t. dot com now for me kevin owen saying thanks for watching i was pretty sure it in our programs continue in your part of the world but after this break. hello and welcome to cross talk or all things considered i'm peter lavelle it appears and highly likely these are the words used by u.k. prime minister to resume pinning blame on russia for the poison attack on a former russian intelligence officer turne

the u.k.'s prime minister expels twenty three russian diplomats from britain in retaliation for the kremlin's alleged involvement in the poisoning of a former russian intelligence agent and his daughter despite police having declared no suspect. to speak is no alternative conclusion other than that the russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of mr scruby and his daughter under the vienna convention the united kingdom will now expel twenty three russian diplomats who have been identified as declared intelligence officers and russia says the u.k. still has not replied to its offer to help with the investigation or its request for access to the chemical used in the incident moscow earlier rejected a midnight ultimatum to answer questions about the origin of the nerve agent use. human rights advocates called on the u.s. congress to chill rejects donald trump choice to be the new cia director over her involvement in the intelligence agency's torture program. a warm welcome you are watchi

u.k. government has done to condemn the culprit but i see if. they stick to it. i mean speaker it it seems to me without access to those information that the choice of this particularly bizarre and dreadful way of killing an individual is a deliberate choice by the russian government to put their signature on a particular killing so that other defectors are left no doubt that it is the russian government that will act if they're disappointed in any way by their actions now in the light of that the only sensible question that the leader of the opposition us was what consultation we proposed to have with nato the other european countries with the american government about positive i should and it could be taken to prevent this continuing defiance of international law all with the defiance of all the rules on testing the possession of chemical weapons it's not just a question of expressing anger about soldiers repeat this she's actually a serious threat to the safety of the west and with old

u.k. prime minister to resume pinning blame on russia for the poison attack on a former russian intelligence officer turned british claims are made and threats flaunted of course without evidence. crosstalk in the poison attack in britain i'm joined by my guest alexander macarius in london he is a writer on legal affairs as well as editor in chief of the duran dot com also in london we have charles shoe bridge he is a security analyst and a former u.k. army and counterterrorism intelligence officer and in brussels we cross to any much shown she is a former british intelligence officer and writer or across time pros in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i always appreciate alexander macarius i'd like to go to an article that you just recently wrote in the title is very telling to resume neta now demands russia provide prove itself innocence and that's a very curious form of jurisprudence isn't it isn't that backwards what she's asking go ahead. well that is exactly what

used by u.k. prime minister to resume pinning blame on russia for the poison attack on a former russian intelligence officer turned british spy claims are made and threats flaunted of course without evidence. crosstalk in the poison attack in britain i'm joined by my guest alexander make your us in london he is a writer on legal affairs as well as editor in chief of the duran dot com also in london we have charles shoe bridge he is a security analyst and a former u.k. army and counterterrorism intelligence officer and in brussels we cross to any much shown she is a former british intelligence officer and writer or across time pros in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i always appreciate alexander macarius i'd like to go to an article that you just recently wrote and the title is very telling to resume the now demands russia provide prove itself innocence and that's a very curious form of jurisprudence isn't it isn't it backwards what she's asking go ahead well that is exactly

prime minister theresa may outline the u.k. response in parliament expulsion of twenty three russian diplomats and the limit by natural contacts with moscow later today the u.n. security council will discuss the case in new york tonight oh to as promised to help you change during the ongoing investigation here is some of what the prime minister had to say earlier in the house of commons. there is no alternative conclusion other than that the russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of mr script. and for threatening the lives of other british citizens in salzburg including detective sergeant nick beatty this represents an unlawful use of force by the russian state against the united kingdom. under the vienna convention the united kingdom will now expel twenty three russian diplomats who have been identified as undeclared intelligence officers they have just one week to leave this will be the single biggest expulsion for over thirty years and it reflects the fact that this is not the first time that the russian state h

the u.k.'s defense secretary has told russia to quote shut up and go away over moscow's alleged poisoning of former spy sergei scrip hall and his daughter as the diplomatic fallout over the incident continues. it is absolutely atrocious treasures and outrageous will refer to it and sold very we have responded to it for entry. should go away it should sure took we've certainly raised eyebrows because it begins to feel a little bit surreal when this kind of language starts being used in this kind of language comes into play especially if you're expecting to be taken seriously certainly in the world of diplomacy in the u.k. has plans to provide a sample of the nerve agent that has been discussed and revel in in connection to this poisoning to the organization for the prague bishan of chemical weapons which russia is also a part of but it's not providing a sample to russia despite requests and messages multiple times from russia throughout this past week to be able to analyze this nerve agent to tr

u.k. and russia the standoff ongoing this breaking news on that as a speaker as a u.n. security council emergency meeting taking place in new york it was called earlier by britain and the u.k. within the last hour accused russia of breaching the international chemical weapons convention in new york recently across all this mopin. again as you'd expect. a heated response from britain there the rights or wrongs of it nevertheless this happened on british soil how serious are these allegations being put russia and where do you think it's going to go tonight. well it's a tense scene here at the u.n. security council now this is an emergency meeting of the fifteen member body that leads the united nations and it was convened by britain and we it began with the u.k. ambassador and he made some very strong statements about russia he essentially accused russia of carrying out what he called an unlawful use of force this is the u.k. representative. as the president for more of this we can conclude

he u.k.? might be a point where we are less supported internationally? secretary johnson: i, i, if that was their assumption, i think that they would be greatly disappointed. there's a big difference in global reaction. the assassination of alexander litvinenko. muted inago, rather responded. what we have seen over the last couple of weeks has been a mounting discussed globally -- isgust globally. i've been surprised by the strength, the solidarity that there is with the u.k.. the determination, whether it's nato, the eu, or the course -- court statement, or the un , there'scouncil support for that in this country. mike gapes: have you got any thoughts as to -- why they chose this particular type? secretary johnson: think that's -- i think that the most common -- there might be thetion in the kremlin to, loss of russian life in the wagner. the mercenaries, you will remember syria -- what happened in syria. speculation about that. the timing -- i think the timing is more closely connected with

the u.k. and its allies and the kremlin had said before that putin will actually be taking the final decision on what measures to level in response to what the u.k. has has leveled at russia so we'll kind of have to wait and see to find out more details. so we're looking at a number of options here but in terms of measures so far britain has expelled russian diplomats and announced a royal boycott of the soccer world cup which takes place in russia later this year but there is talk of other retaliatory possibilities including a cyber attack here's what a british expert has had to say about this. as a number of tools at its disposal in the sphere of cyber warfare the u.k. house offensive cyber capabilities on war much expense expected these have put t's against russia in the eventuality that it's needed the obvious option or an obvious option would be to target a launch cyber attacks against and has no organizations within russia that are responsible full information warfare disseminating fake

and the u.k. and is based in berlin but moves a lot around europe understand because see john tree summations on a one day tour of the u.k. here just one year exactly before bragg's is supposed to finally happened what is so why is she doing this to her she's trying to reassure people that breaks it is going to be in their interests and she's going to all of the four countries of the u.k. she's starting in scotland then going to northern ireland northern england in south wales to try to reassure everyone in those places that bright city is going to do something good for them that's what she's at least trying to set out to do today and to show that the u.k. will stay together through the brics a process that's fault that's what. well it sounds like something a good thing to be doing given that what the country is is about to be headed into to break that she's trying to reassure the nation that's what leaders supposed to be doing why is she starting in scotland where she's going to a textile company

and the u.k. will be entering the transition bill and it is important to stress as the bank of england pointed out yesterday -- for the financial markets during that 21 month transition that things will be too much as they are. the key thing is if you look at the markets are economies, constance is a key factor, and there is some uncertainty. by next year i think people will be more confident because there will be more greater clarity. mark: what gives you confidence there will be greater clarity a year after the process has begun? we haven't even started talking about the trade deal yet. -- id: we are where we are am sure people might approach it differently but the reality is we have gone through the first stage, namely addressing core issues, in particular funding arrangements were that u.k. will pay that you a lot of money. northern ireland is still up in the air. you got through the first stage of the process and now entering the next stage. -- itise is as we thought makes economic sense for

london security analyst and former u.k. counterterrorism officer charles bridge believes it's far too early to attribute blame for the poisoning. according to the legal system for example in the u.k. if it was a person being accused of a crime they would be entitled to know what the evidence is against them and of course to be out to use their own scientists or it came to a court of law to challenge that evidence perhaps to show that actually this material this a chemical agent could have been produced elsewhere for example we know that. it's not in the ninety's the united states itself was helping to clean up plants not in russia but in his back is thrown at this material was allegedly produced and so that's just an example of how this material could have come from anywhere in fact that there are so many very many questions still outstanding over this matter and of course it's massively permit your for the government to be saying to rush or any suspect you've got to forty eight hours to respond or else we're going to take

beyond the u.k. government now as you say to pullback in britain's courts now where do you think it could go from the british side or perhaps is that a potential solution on the table to deescalate these tensions. it's hard to see these tensions deescalating or going away anytime soon britain has made it very clear that it doesn't see any explanation besides. russia and russian government involvements behind this group of course name allies in the west including the united states have backed that stance and so that will be walked back what could potentially happen russia has a consulate in edinburgh in scotland. that could potentially closed as a response to this measure although it remains to be seen how exactly the will frame this and will respond to this and it can learn from the daily telegraph the moscow correspondent there thank you very much indeed. a search and rescue operation is underway off to a boat carrying more than twenty people capsized in the aegean sea at least fifteen people includ

whereas the u.k. has two consulates in russia but nonetheless this would be seen as an escalation this is unprecedented even when the russian cut u.s. diplomatic staff by seven hundred fifty five people over the sanctions adopted last year they still didn't shut down the consulates any u.s. consulates directly so this is quite a strong moves russia and certainly all eyes will be on the u.k. government now as you say to pull back in britain's courts now where do you think it could go from the british side or perhaps is that a potential solution on the table to deescalate these tensions. it's hard to see these tensions deescalating or going away anytime soon britain has made it very clear that it doesn't see any explanation besides. russia and russian government involvements behind this group are poisoning allies in the west including the united states have backed that stance and so that will be walked back what could potentially happen russia has a consulate in edinburgh in scotland. that could potenti

u.k. last week. and americans prepare for doomsday by purchasing survival equipment and underground bunkers and continue to fear a north korean nuclear attack. you can go to our to dot com for more on those and other stories coming up next though takes a closer look at the scandal dominating headlines the recent poisoning of a russian a former double agent in the u.k. . hello and welcome to cross talk or all things considered. it appears and highly likely these are the words used by u.k. prime minister pinning blame on russia for the poison attack on a former russian intelligence officer turned british claims are made and threats of course without evidence. crosstalk in the poison attack in britain i'm joined by my guest alexander macarius in london he is a writer on. legal affairs as well as editor in chief of the duran dot com also in london we have charles shoe bridge he is a security analyst and a former u.k. army and counterterrorism intelligence officer and in brussels we cross to an

the u.k. expelled a large number of soviet diplomats and a lot of commentators have said that it was really the shot in the achilles heel of the soviet espionage nest in the u.k. and then it never recovered do you think that this expelling this expulsion of these thirty two diplomats could it have the same effect on russia's espionage efforts in the u.k. . well it will have some impact on the net espionage is quite different now i think it's not always the guys on the ground who cloak and dagger thing a lot of espionage the electronic. things of the internet and you probably can that's going a camera in the way that we look at it ninety seven so this will certainly damage teligent russia. but i don't think it will cripple but it will make rights to look space in a professor of strategic studies of sin and university carsten phenomenal correspondent in washington and here in the studio over salat gentlemen thank you very much we appreciate your insights tonight. so far britain has expelled a ru

from the u.k. is exported to the e.u. and the u.k. is the second biggest importer of german cars for instance ok so maybe the car industry there have something specific but i'm just trying to wrap my mind around this idea that workers in continental europe could be badly impacted by regs at leaving from a labor labor union point of view i mean some analysts say that with london the biggest anti regulation force in the e.u. leaving the rest of europe could take a more robust regulatory approach to business and labor policy don't you accept that argument. well it could be an opportunity there is an urgent need for a mall social e.u. and that is the need of the hour and a parent li. the e.u. commission seems to have realized this if you look at the state of the union address of his own clothes in september two thousand and fifteen nine months before the brics it referendum he spoke of a fair and more just e.u. that would be necessary to shape the future of the e.u. in november last year political leaders adopted the european pillar of so

it's of the u.k. on the streets of europe for the first time since the second world war that is that is why we are at odds with russia. on a separate murder probes begun into the death of another russian in the u.k. businessman nicholai glue scott was found dead in london on monday he was a close associate of prominent putin opponent boris berezovsky who was found dead in the u.k. in twenty thirteen tens of thousands of people have joined anti-government protests in civil they're demanding an early election to end a political crisis triggered by the murder of a journalist the president of cyprus says he's ready to resume peace talks with the breakaway northern region because anastasio adi's told our jazeera he would jump at the first opportunity to discuss the issue with a north leader must offer a conjecture investigators say it's unlikely there will be any more survivors after a bridge collapsed onto a busy highway in the u.s. state of florida at least six people were killed on thursday when the bri

news live from berlin as the u.k. ramps up its investigation into the poisoning of a former spy foreign secretary boris johnson points the finger at the kremlin. has to be responsible somebody has to be accountable and we in the u.k. think good. evidence points the evidence of culpability points to the russians to. johnson's comments come as the international chemical weapons experts begin analyzing the nerve agent used in the attack. also coming up europe's human rights court condemns turkey of the jailing of two journalists it is a court's first such ruling into an action with turkey's crackdown on anyone suspected of having links to a failed coup attempt two years ago. and a sad day for conservationists the world's last male northern white rhino dies in kenya only two females remain can anything be done to stop the species from going extinct. the man. i'm swimming so misconduct to have you with us diplomats expelled by the u.k. have left russia's london embassy headed back to moscow this as international weapons in

one of u.k.'s largest companies is moving its headquarters from london to the netherlands but you know labor and sister decision is not due to bricks if it comes at a crucial point in britain's negotiations to leave the european union. south africa's dismissed an australian minister's comments that white farmers should get special visas as they face quote horrific circumstances how my fares minister peter dutton says a civilised country like australia should help he cited reports of land seizures and violence south africa's government says no one is in danger president cyril ramaphosa has vowed to speed up the legal redistribution of land from wealthy whites to poor blacks. can say no that we will not allow land drips we will not allow lending invasions and those who are tempted to resort to such activities must be warned in advance that we will not allow would because if you see the go but up from being illegal it begins to violate the rights of the sold off we can citizens. and rental is histori

staying in the u.k. in country terror police there are investigating the death of a russian exile in london he's under stood to be nicholai glue scoff a friend of the now deceased russian oligarch boris birds of ski group skull was granted asylum in the u.k. in twenty ten after serving an earlier five year prison sentence in russia for fraud he was reportedly fined did on his home in the british capital late monday night well given the current political turmoil between london and moscow the western media has been quick to link the case to the poisoning of the former spy and his daughter in salzburg. while london's metropolitan police say kuntar terror officers are looking into the case quote as a precaution because of associations he british authorities say there's no evidence of a connection a security analyst and former u.k. counterterrorism officer and self charles schumer bridge told us it's far too early to attribute blame for the poisoning according to the legal system for example in the u.k. if it

u.k. ordering at twenty three russian embassy staff moscow continues to deny any involvement in the chemical attack but lavrov u.k. chems of boris johnson accuses president vladimir putin of ordering it himself. smart investigation is now underway into the death of another russian in the u.k. earlier this week businessman nicolay glues cough was found dead in a west london suburb on monday the civic confirmed the cause of death was compression of his net but his death isn't believed to be linked to last week's attack saul's free and iraqi teenager's been found guilty of attempted murder for planting a bomb on a london train last september it's in your old uk white house son will be sentenced next week thirty people were injured when his homemade bomb partially exploded at parsons green underground station in west london. you are up to date those are our current headlines stay with us the inside story is coming up. there is anger in egypt as a teenage girl died weeks after a street attack i

no not the end the u.k. embassy in moscow will remain open but it should be said that this is an escalation in the diplomatic spat that's been going on the u.k. of course it's twenty three russian diplomats and said it would take measures to curb russian corruption in the u.k. but russia goes a step further you're not just expelling twenty three british diplomats as was expected but also close in the consulate in st petersburg russia second largest city and also shutting down the british council cultural organization which has been very active in russia promoting the u.k. russia were all year of culture last year for instance and trying to build bridges between the two countries despite the diplomatic tensions in russia in recent years or so those are the measures and it from the foreign ministry we haven't heard directly from putin yet what can we expect from him. well i think that russia will this is the this is the big answer that russia has promised and now really the the ball is back in the u. case cour

say for example the u.k. has been honing its skills in the death by chemicals business since shakespeare's macbeth busted blatant englishness the cia james bond shakespeare one thing all of my theories have in common is an insane age of conspiracy we're not taking them seriously neither should anyone but when it comes to russia and proof well we've already heard the d.n.a. arguments in the election meddling scandal the story corps practices of the russians who typically almost genetically driven to co-opt. perpetrate international law is being substituted for hashtags ash tag russia did it as tag highly likely. it is r.t. international polling stations have just opened in moscow for the country's presidential election but with russia's spread across eleven time zones in some regions the vote has already been in full swing for half a day now just a moment we can go live to call in bray and a dear a tutor from our special studio right in the heart of moscow. because it is decision with our coverage of the russi