there is an initiative to have 13 viking sites included in the unesco world heritage program, but swedens backing out. >> we welcome all possible initiatives including that of the vikings. there are many ways to do that. of course, you cannot forget the unesco world cultural heritage program is just a tool for disseminating information. >> germany was bewildered by sweden's withdrawal from the project. the chief archaeologist believes there has been a misunderstanding with the swedes about the selection of sites. >> another problem was the presentation implied a romanticized nationalistic elements. that is what is so difficult for me to understand. because i believe that when we fail to join the contextual discussions, we lose our ability to determine what actually happened. of course the vikings can be used for political purposes, just like the slavs and the celts. everyone knows archaeology is always political. >> political propagandists have exploited the vikings more than once. extremist white supremacists and rightist groups on the nordic got a strong dramatic heroes. online shopper

cultural heritage agency unesco.ether they toured the ancient city's famed sites including its grand mosque built in the 14th century and this library once filled with priceless centuries old manuscripts. the manuscripts were initially feared to have been burned but the fast majority were safed. >> what we did was to liberate and sure that cultural places but also heritage elements like the manuscripts are protected and face guarded. >> warner: not as fortunate were these medieval maasly yums recognized as world treasures. the islamists deemed them eye toll truss shrines. last july they hacked many of them into rubble. today rebels opposed to the islamists and the government claim they captured the top islamist insurgent who had imposed strict sharia law in timbuktu. meanwhile the french military said its 600 troops now patrolling the city plan to turn it er to mallian forces later this week. for more on the state of timbuktu's ancient manuscripts and sites, i'm joined by lazare eloundo assomo, chief of unesco's afri

cultural heritage agency unesco.r they toured the ancient city's famed sites including its grand mosque built in the 14th century and this library once filled with priceless centuries old manuscripts. the manuscripts were initially feared to have been burned but the fast majority were safed. >> what we did was to liberate and sure that cultural places but also heritage elements like the manuscripts are protected and face guarded. >> warner: not as fortunate were these medieval maasly yums recognized as world treasures. the islamists deemed them eye toll truss shrines. last july they hacked many of them into rubble. today rebels opposed to the islamists and the government claim they captured the top islamist insurgent who had imposed strict sharia law in timbuktu. meanwhile the french military said its 600 troops now patrolling the city plan to turn it over to mallian forces later this week. for more on the state of timbuktu's ancient manuscripts and sites, i'm joined by lazare eloundo assomo, chief of unesco's africa

unesco raised concerns about it last year when it sent a team to queensland to investigate the likely impact of expanded development and shipping along the coast. now the story. >> a staggering spectacle of the great barrier reef. it is one of the natural wonders that makes australia so beautiful. but it is threatened by one of the things that makes australia rich, its resources sector. the coral reef was granted world heritage status in the early 1980's. but unesco has expressed concerns about the impact on its delicate ecosystem of expanded ports and increased shipping that it will bring. after making a monitoring visit to the queensland coast last year, it gave the australian government a separate deadline correspond to its concerns. the un morning came with a threat, that's the real estate as could be downgraded to a world heritage area in danger. status could be downgraded. the government has delivered its response and has pledged to stop developments that would cause unacceptable damage to the cold reef. >> it's one of the most prestigious -- precious places on earth and destroy

agency unesco a quote is valuable contribution to stability in my social justice activist officials and manji says the award is encouraging further foreign intervention in africa. so what is this reward actually encouraging it presumably encouraging others to follow the example of the french over invading africa of occupied territories in africa it's an invasion on behalf of nato and the u.s. and its africa troops and it's a little economic and political interests of empire to flee or france the problem here is that this is a political crisis in money and can be resolved only by political means by sending in the warriors the troops the planes and the bombing actually doesn't resolve the problem and as we can see it's actually exacerbate it and they've claimed that they have been invited to come into mali and buy a government but it is being an illegitimate government and it's outrageous that the u.n. should sanction such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded. this is a fierce clashes between palestinians and israeli defense forces erupted

the operation has nevertheless won france's president of peace prize from the un cultural agency unesco for his quote a valuable contribution to stability in mali social justice activist. says the award could encourage further foreign intervention on that continent. but so what is this reward actually encouraging it presumably encouraging others to follow the example of the french over invading africa territories in africa it's an invasion on behalf of nato and the u.s. and its africa troops and is aimed at the economic and political interests of. france the problem here is that this is a political crisis and it can be resolved only by political means by sending in the warriors the troops the planes and the bowie he doesn't resolve the problem and as we can see it's actually exacerbate it and they claim. that they have been invited to come into mali by a government but it is being an illegitimate government and it's outrageous that the un should be censured such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded. it's good to have you with us here on

should be censured such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what some what needs to be rewarded the u.k. has been stripped of its aaa crown and a huge jolt to the british government ratings agency moody's says there is many years of trouble ahead for the country due to its growing debt the opposition's called the move a catastrophic failure by the british finance chief who remains adamant that his austerity plans won't change professor rodney shakespeare though says a strategy ignores the plight of the british people. back to the matter is the rating agencies rank your form of a global elite which thinks it can suck up from the nation and over time it's not so with whether or not people have jobs whether or not living standards are declining they claim that the independents have something to add to the observations they did not notice a great just coming in two thousand and eight and the reason why they didn't use is that they assume that the whole system is working well and he has ups downs and they can't see this become a family profit things we got out of hand

operation has nevertheless one of france's president at peace prize from the year one cultural agency unesco his valuable contribution to stability in mali now social justice activist rosie manji says the award could encourage further foreign intervention in africa. but so what is this reward actually encouraging it presumably encouraging others to follow the example of the french or we invade to go for go territories and if you've invasion going to be do with the us troops. will be completely interest. to you from do you think that this is a political crisis and can be resolved only by political means by sending in the warriors the troops the planes and the actually doesn't resolve the problem as we can see it's actually exacerbate the. it and they've claimed that they have been invited to come into mali by a government but it is being an illegitimate government and it's outrageous that the un should censured such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded. fierce clashes between palestinians and israeli defense forces erupted across the west bank

policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded what an r.t. and a massive pileup at a nascar rally in the u.s. has left a thirty three people in the crowd or injured at least two in a state of critical condition and they were hit by devereux that was thrown into the stands of the accident happened on the last lap of the florida race course of drivers hurtle towards the checkered flag it was caused by the race leader turning sideways at high speed in a chasing pack smashing into his car. in thailand two bombs are thought to have been placed by islamic militants exploded in the city of patani wounded ten people and the blasts were part of a series of almost thirty minor attacks in just one night close to the border with malaysia and more than five thousand people have been killed in thailand self since an insurgency began there almost ten years ago. other stories in the world thousands of people joined a protest in a southern libyan town demanding independence on the creation of their own federal state representatives of various tribes chanted s

should do so should such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded. british prime minister david cameron has done more u. turns than i learn a driver new figures from the guardian newspaper show he's gone back on more decisions in three years than either of the sunni leaders before him first tried not to find out why the coalition government is so quick to go into reverse. it can be hard to tell what goes on inside the mind of the prime minister say many decisions to be made on a daily basis it's perhaps little wonder that sometimes they change their minds and from buses to badges health care to housing case goes caravans charities and circus animals petrol and even pass these the list of this government's u. turns buried and long in fact there have been so many recently that some wonder if this is the most indecisive british government ever this kind of difficult to get a tow truck and partly because people change what we call them so and after modifier to talk about you turn the load you stop turning your everybody's where do you turn but

should do so should such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded the u.k. has been stripped of its aaa crown in a huge jolt to the british government's what is raining agency says that there are many years of trouble ahead for the country because of its growing debt the opposition has dubbed the move a catastrophic failure by the british by if he meanwhile remains adamant that his a sturdy policy will not change the present serato shakespear says the strategy is completely ignoring the plight of the people. back to the matter this is the rating agencies rank your odds form off part of a global elite which thinks it can suck you off from the gulf nation and over time is not a son with whether or not people have jobs whether or not living standards are declining they claim that the independents have something to add to the observations they did not notice the great classes coming in two thousand and eight and the reason why they didn't use is that they assume the whole system is working well and only has ups downs and they can't see this bec

should be censured such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what some what needs to be rewarded the u.k. has been stripped of its prized aaa crown when the huge jolt to the british government ratings agency moody's says there is many years of trouble ahead for the country because of its growing debt the opposition has dubbed the move a catastrophic failure by the british finance chief but he remains adamant that his austerity policy will not change professor rodney shakespeare though says strategy is ignoring the plight of the british people. the fact of the matter is the rating agencies thank you and i was from. a global feat which thinks it can suck you off from the occupation and over time not so with whether one off people have jobs whether or not living standards are declining they claim that the independents have something to observations they did not notice the great classes coming two thousand and eight and the reason why they didn't use is that they assume that the whole system is working and he has ops the hounds and they can't see this become the family

should do so should such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded. covering up critics in the u.k. that's all see online find out how one m.p. accuses britain's national health service of spending millions of pounds to silence whistleblowers publicly criticizing the system and also online u.s. citizens and the u.s. scientists i should say develop an organic zombie cell that not only copies its living prototype but even outperforms it all the details as aussie dot com for you and of course we've got plenty more news lined up for you coming right after this short break. well with. the british as world class athletes descend on sochi brand new olympic venues are kept safe by high tech sensors behind the scenes congestion battling infrastructure digs deep dude hard to get thousands where they need to be it's just building bluebook fueled by clean energy the research is pretty new life into gold medal dreams the race is on. the update on the. move. this is all she welcome back now is serious key opposition group the syrian national coalition say

cultural organizational unesco says francois alarmed should be rewarded for his valuable contribution to peace and stability in africa and social justice activist heroes man trace after giving such a prestigious award to the french leader will inspire other heads of state to follow his example. so what is this reward actually encouraging it presumably encouraging others to follow the example of the french or invading africa of occupied territories in africa it's an invasion on behalf of nato and the us and its ethical troops and is aimed at the economic and political interests of empire and particularly of france the problem here is that this is a political crisis that money can be resolved only by political means by sending in the warriors the troops the planes and the bombings actually doesn't resolve the problem as we can see it's actually exacerbating and they've claimed that they have been invited to come into mali by a government but it is being an illegitimate government and it's outrageous that the u.n. should do so should such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that t

about 150 experts gathered at unesco headquarters in paris. they discussed ways to rebuild ancient tombs. >> translator: the destruction of world heritage site is an a of foolishness. people of the whole world are the victims of such an act. >> militants destroyed 500-year-old islam makes liums before being driven out last month. they will study the damage and start reconstruction. >>> japanese prime minister abe is packing his bags. he will meet later this week with president obama in washington. >> they'll talk about a lot of things. one thing high on the agenda is the japan energy cooperation. japan is looking to the u.s. for an energy boost. prime minister abe will ask president obama to permit shell gas exports to japan. the two leaders will meet on friday at a summit in washington. japan faces a rising energy shortage. most plants are halted and utilits ar depending on thermal power. abe is eager to import shell gas as a new cheaper resource. the u.s. is limiting gas exports to its free trade partners only. that's to avoid pressure on do

president will receive a peace prize from the united nations for his military intervention in mali the unesco cultural organization says francois hollande a should be rewarded for his quote valuable contribution to peace and stability in africa and this is violence in the war torn nation shines up slowly no signs of slowing down leading rights groups have condemned the french led operation saying the conflict has seen serious human rights violations including the killing of children french and malian troops and meanwhile struggling to keep islamist militants out of where there's been yet another wave of fighting and the latest on rest comes as france plans to start withdrawing some of its four thousand troops next month editor at the pan-african newswire bio me as a kiwi says of the french leader doesn't deserve such no water given what's currently happening in the west african nation he has not been in office that long his political career since being in office as president of france has been marked by this intervention in mali something that was done you know latterly it was totally unjusti

. >> unesco declared aleppo's old city a world heritage site in 1986. today, it is a war zone just meters from separating opposition and regime troops. sometimes, snipers crouched in the building opposite. the rebels have organized themselves into small squadrons. they want to hold out, whatever the personal cost. >> we were three brothers. one of us was killed. the other was wounded in the leg. we are ready to sacrifice everything. if i am shocked, then my 7-year- old son will continue the fight. >> the rebels in aleppo say they have little in the way of firepower to battle the assad regime. they are mostly limited to guns and homemade weapons like these catapult's for bombs. every day, the war claims more victims, and almost every family has had to mourn at least one relative, but that is not enough for either side to end the war. >> to egypt now where a favorite tourist activity has ended in disaster. at least 19 people have been killed when a hot air balloon crashed. most of the dead were tourists from europe and asia. >> the pilot and a tourist are

of something called literacy.org, which is based on, uh... it's also coupled with, uh, the, uh, unesco's international literacy institute. illiteracy is a problem we think is just in the, um, undeveloped or developing countries, but it's also here, even in the commonwealth of massachusetts... >> hinojosa: in fact, the has some pretty extraordinarily high numbers. >> well, high numbers on one end, but high numbers on the lower end, also. too many adults who have too low a level of literacy, and without the facilities to give them training and, because of budget cuts, they're being reduced, also. >> hinojosa: it could get worse. so, this is the name of one of your classes at the harvard kennedy school: "new media: surveillance, access, propaganda and democracy." >> right. >> hinojosa: so, you're actually also... not only are you... are you propagating for more democracy in terms of access... >> a better quality of democracy, also. >> hinojosa: a better quality of democracy, more awareness of the have-nots. you're also very concerned, as are many americans, about the issue of our loss of pe

the french president will get a unesco peace prize for the operation in mali and the un's cultural agency says francois hollande made a quote valuable contribution to peace and stability in africa the editor of the pan-african newswire about yeah me as a q we believe that given what's actually happened in mali and the french leader is certainly the wrong person to be heralded for bringing peace. yes not been in office that long his political career since being in office as president of france has been marked bad this intervention in mali something that was done you know laterally it was totally unjustified there's been reports of gross human rights violations that have taken place since the french intervention in mali they've admitted the defense ministry in paris that they killed hundreds of people going to france and the operation overall is not turning out the way in which france had initially planned these developments in mali do not bode well for someone who is being offered such a prestigious award for peace of course this is being fueled by the overall economic crisis that exists i

cultural agency unesco. decided has made a valuable contribution to stability in mali but peace activists can stone believes it's nothing but a throwback to colonialism. the form of neo colonial powers were once again flexing their muscles and they're starting to reach back into and into yugoslavia into iraq . afghanistan into libya and now into west africa you know the main product mali for example where mushrooms there would be no french troops there are in niger but the main export is your aim and that's very important to the friends. we have a twenty first century race for colonies beginning it's a tragic fact there is a further problem that the west has introduced to end a successful overthrow of the look of the gadhafi government it introduced. al-qaeda type terrorists into africa where there weren't them where they didn't exist in any significance before so that has created a can of worms the main point though is that the western powers. of europe the neo colonial powers and the united states nato the

cultural events and unesco has a valuable contribution to stability in mali all social justice activist rosie bondra he says the award could encourage further foreign intervention in africa you know so what is this reward actually encouraging it presumably encouraging others to follow the example of the french or we invading africa or the occupied territories in africa it's an invasion on behalf of nato or the u.s. and its ethical troops and is aimed at the economic and political interests of empire but italy or france the problem here is that this is a political crisis and it can be resolved only by political means by sending in the warriors the troops the planes and the bombings actually doesn't resolve the problem and as we can see it's actually exacerbate it and they claim that they have been invited to come into mali by a government but it has been an illegitimate government and it's outrageous that the u.n. should do so should such or such a policy against you national feel that this is what what needs to be rewarded. a palestinian prisoner has died in a israeli jail with one pale

the french president will get a unesco peace prize for the operation in mali the un's cultural agency says france on land made a valuable contribution to peace and stability in africa but at the ted pan african newswire the as a key way believes given what's actually happened in mali differentially days there won't pass and to be voted for bringing peace. has not been an august that long his political career since being in office as president of france has been mart this intervention in mali something that was done you know latterly it was totally unjustified there's been reports of gross human rights violations that have taken place since the french and invention in mali. well they've admitted to the defense ministry and terrorists that they killed hundreds of people assisting in its rants and the operational role is not turning out the way in which. had initially planned . developments in mali do not bode well for someone who is being offered such a prestigious award for peace so in mali coalition forces claim they once again retaken control of the key city this it is in a series of

should do so should such or such a policy i guess that unesco feels that this is what what needs to be rewarded. a palestinian prisoner has died in an israeli jail with one palestinian official demanding an international probe charging that the man was actually killed during questioning the incident is certainly likely to further stoke tensions in the west bank an area that has seen a week of violent protests against conditions for palestinians and israeli put presence there are going to claim many are detained there without charge or prospect of trial earlier fierce crashes broke out during the march in support of several hunger striking prisoners when israeli forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to control stone throwing protesters i did hear ration and conditions for detainees what has been on hunger strike for more than two hundred days now has led to widespread calls for their release and while the un chief has called on tell the policy analyst harney mahmoud says the current international pressure on israel is not enough. median solution that comes up to everybody's mind right

the reef is a unesco world heritage site. new figures show the suicide rate for u.s. veteran has increased about 20% since 2007. a study by the department of veterans affairs says close to 22 veterans take their life each day. one army veteran has been arrested in texas for shooting dead two men on a gun range. any ray routh had gone shooting with the two victims. kyle was a former navy seal who gained notoriety while in iraq. he recently spoke out against increased gun control. kyle had a routine of taking troubled u.s. veterans to gun ranges as a form of therapeutic relief. a somali american man has been found guilty of trying to detonate a bomb supplied by undercover agents in portland. a attorneys for mohamed osman mohamud accused the fbi under entrapment. he was blocked from leaving the portland area from taking another job. he could face life in prison. leon panetta has played down the role of cia torture in gathering the intelligence that led to the discovery of the location of osama bin laden. he said while torture techniques were used, he would have been foun

cultural agency unesco when a station decided france want more land has made a valuable contribution to stability in mali but peace activists can stone believes it's nothing but a throwback to colonialism. the former new york colonial powers are once again flexing their muscles and they're starting to reach back into into yugoslavia into iraq into our get us there into libya and now into west africa. if the main product of mali for example were mushrooms there would be no french troops there or in niger but them the main export is uranium and that's very important to the french we have a twenty first century race for colonies beginning it's a tragic fact there is a further problem that the west has introduced to and the successful overthrow of the look of the gadhafi government it introduced. al-qaeda type terrorists into africa where there weren't them where they didn't exist in any significance before so that has created a can of worms the main point though is that the western powers. of europe the neo colonial powers and the united states nato these countries have no right to act

top stories that are headlining there seems that french president francois alone is to be awarded a unesco peace prize for the of mali operation and a winter storm has prompted a state of emergency in mood zuri you know read up more about those stories or of course some of the very very many more on there you can r.t. dot com my name is kevin and thank you for being with out save more the world's biggest news stories ahead for you after this break. well into the future to the finish as world class athletes descend on sochi brand new olympic venues are kept safe by high tech sensors behind the scenes congestion battling infrastructure digs deep and builds high to get thousands where they need to be it's a building bluebook fueled by clean energy while researchers preclude life into gold medal dreams the race is on on technology update year on. leave the country for. new year's celebrations on the move without the traditional t.v. or festive food surprising meetings and new adventures stories of love found and love lost our russians teach foreigners to celebrate their biggest holiday of the

. >> history buffs like this place because it's a fortress, a unesco protected heritage site.ots of sugar cane fields, too, and old mills that have been decommissioned. so it's a beautiful island, first off, but it's also a great place to get a full resort experience that won't break the bank. marriott there, we found rates from $215 a night in march. >> and neevus is next door -- >> not so cost affordable. >> no. >> but pretty. >> very pretty. and you can do a day trip from st. kitts and experience it. go for lunch, maybe hit the greens if you want a bit of a splurge. >> absolutely. >> florida keys. >> the florida keys. super easy to get. to i wouldn't say it's 80 this time of year, but pleasant 70s. you fly into miami. again, you can get there for under $200 from the east coast. lots of quaint b&bs and inns all over the keys. not much more than $100 a night if you're looking to save your pennies. and there you get to go water sports, kayaking, it's a really great all-around destination. and quintessential experience, sunset, drinks on duval street in key west. >> all right.

can the united nations is not the general assembly, the secretary-general's office and places like unesco make a difference? within each one of them we can always say yes but here is the money and that the corrupt power and the skewed environment of the world which there is no equality to the you can say that or you can ask compared to what? which one makes the bigger difference and which one allows us to impact the power, illegitimate power, those to me are the questions that we need to be asking. the last questions that are the smaller cities and the second-tier cities are a very good question 500,000 trying to deal with cities from 10 million to 25 million in the world, the center of the global economy, those cities, that is clearly not a fair competition. and detroit and new york are two very different questions. but interestingly, the mittal site cities have also used creativity it's beginning to look at the digital age and beginning to find they can get the companies taking over. mittal site cities have their own attractions many of the so-called attractive cities to live and one of