Green issues around the world. Im sorry good morning to you youre watching r. T. International with me. Now u. S. Senate committee has approved a bill directing the countrys secretary of state to determine whether russia is a state sponsor of terrorism the draft legislation is titled stopping malign activities from russian terrorism if passed the state department will have 90 days to report back to congress on whether russia meets the criteria of a state sponsor of terror the senator who pushed the bill is sure it is. Ludden reported continues to try to cause grievous harm to International Peace and stability and im pleased the Senate ForeignRelations Committee advanced my critical legislation directing the state department to consider naming russia what they are a state sponsor of terror it proposed legislation will now have to pass the house and the senate before being signed by the president though just a week ago the state Department Said that russia is not a state terrorist both help more people looks at whether russia falls under this category. State sponsor of terrorism is a special designation under u. S. Law in which a country is subject to specific sanctions and treatment by the United States for allegedly supporting terrorism now the countries that currently have this label are iran north korea syria and sudan cuba had this label until u. S. President barack obama lifted that label against cuba as part of negotiations that took place during his presidency now the allegation seems to be that russia supports terrorism and is worthy of this state department designation however weve heard testimony from members of the u. S. State department making clear that russia does not support terrorists the state department has not at this stage determined russias a state sponsor of terrorism theres a fairly complex deliberative process for doing and i dont personally see the person as state sponsorship of terrorism terrorist attacks we also have to recognize russia itself has been a victim of terrorism to make it safe to say that on the record as well now russia has long battled against jihadism extremists that have carried out terrorist attacks against the russian people the russian government has also cooperated with the u. S. Government in antiterrorism efforts the advancing of this bill comes in the immediate aftermath of the very important meeting between Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and us President Donald Trump now at his press remarks following that meeting the Russian Foreign minister emphasized that there are certain forces in the United States working very hard to do rail relations between the 2 countries. Congress seems to have been captured by a desire to destroy Us Russian Relations now relations between the u. S. And russia have been sour as it is and when u. S. President donald trump met with the Russian Foreign minister and took a photograph together there was quite a reaction from those who oppose it are critical of President Donald Trump trump is meeting with russias foreign minister in the even if you see again on this hes invited in. It sounds last time they laughed about troops firing of komi today they can celebrate the success of russian propaganda regen wouldnt recognize this g. O. P. Trump lover of meeting in private this off to new what conspiracy are they cooking up today among the topics discussed at this high level russia us meeting where the issues of arms control Nuclear Proliferation as well as the issue of terrorism and it seems that in the aftermath of the meeting some efforts are now taking place to undo whatever progress was made. About an executive director of the eurasia sense i think that russia has done more to combat terrorism and the u. S. I am shocked i think this is going in the complete opposite direction the president. Would like to go and i think europe is also would like to be mending and rebuilding the ties to russia i dont understand how the senate even comes up with this idea i mean if you look at terrorism russia is probably doing more to fight terrorism than the us i mean its clear that whether its intentional or not us funding us weapons us training have gone to just an example moderate rebel which one they are supposedly moderate and then the next day there isis russia as a state sponsor chip i mean these people are off in some other world and theyre not in not in reality. I feel very embarrassed. For myself and russia for the going through and i just im completely shocked that somebody would actually propose that. A Chinese Restaurant in new york opened by a white woman has shut down after just 8 months i mean a backlash over Cultural AppropriationPromotional Materials by our hospitals lucky leaves restaurant repeated stereotypes about supposedly unhealthy chinese food claiming only its offerings dont leave you feeling bloated and itchy the post sparked an outrage on social media. Xenophobe become merican lady weve all been there having chinese food on sundays but dont you hate how its so unhealthy me raced for 20 years by asian metrics cooking healthy balanced meal 7 days a week now. Talks about how chinese food is usually a dolls dinner on sauces and makes your eyes puffy lady what. A lucky liza started by a white woman ignorantly use an asian stereotypes to clean american chinese food and so led to the owner of the restaurant closing her business and apologizing. We have been listening and learning and we have been making changes and we will continue shame on us for not being smarter about cultural sensitivities my colleague neil harvey earlier discuss the issues raised with human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell journalist and political commentator charged with more. Well if you gave it cultural procreation and thats what they seem to be mad about theyre trying to say that she was using disparaging language if thats the best they have and she said chinese food makes you feel icky thats not a really strong argument and i dont believe it i dont think any Chinese People upset about this i havent seen the government of china banning her from visiting i think the problem was that the owner did indulge in a few stereotypes and you know i dont think its true at all the claims that chinese food makes you feel bloated or icky. Ive never experienced that i love chinese but i think its great but of course there are good and bad Chinese Restaurants just like theres good and bad british ones once again this is a busybody annoying white liberal preoccupation who think they have to police the world and stand up for all the poor suffering minorities out there and you know its great to see them eat their own its wonderful to see them be ridiculous and to shut down a female own business because they didnt like one thing she said i think you know obviously its very important that the owners and providers of i think minority traditional foods do have a cultural sensitivity and respect for those cultures but thats like why would that even be controversial who cares its not like its insulting a culture its not like its racist the whole problem if they had you know if that would also just be her stating her opinion about chinese cuisine which would be shared by many people this is not like a hateful statement celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay criticised for opening an asian restaurant without a single asian chef i would guess probably say i just choose the best chefs regardless of race and you would think that would be applauded but how do you feel about it i think Gordon Ramsay could easily afford to find some good asian chefs and there are plenty of them believe you me you know there is no excuse from not for not having some chinese chefs in the restaurant because there are many many really good chinese shifts i think thats ridiculous because that the accusation to be something that you. I intentionally didnt hire a chinese person which of course i think it would would be completely not true he simply hired the best person for the job why me waste time money and resources scouring for employees based on their skin color just because they happen to. Have. A genetic history from a certain part of the world. Time magazine has unveiled its choice for person of the year 16 year olds climate activists queso fung bug well some view her as a model of determination and praised her efforts to combat Climate Change of assigned approach on scientific and accused of sowing worldwide panic aunties donahoe kens looks into the phone book phenomena. Last year she was just the regular swedish schoolgirl 12 months on and shes times person of the year rarely does the discussion on Climate Change today take place without her name being mentioned growth of the work has become a global sensation not just a prominent figure among climate activists but almost a messianic symbol to pulls no punches in schooling politicians about what they must do to save the planet the real danger is when politicians and c. E. O. s are making it look like real action is happening when in fact almost nothing is being done apart from clever accounting and creative p. R. She certainly does have a point but what about the growth of film book phenomenon itself its on the noise quickly and loudly drawn attention to Climate Change shes got people talking and even been credited with influencing european and National Elections but wants more than just talking she wants action from politicians or the critics question what useful action grettir inspired movements have actually taken up from strikes and protests which she herself says are unsustainable we cant go on like this it is not sustainable solution that children skip school we cant go on like that so now we dont want to continue so we would we would love some action from people in power her speech is resonated across the world it wasnt long before her fiery indictment of World Leaders at the un Assembly Became a meme now they followed a clear structure grave danger bad government and a need for immediate action she soon became a target for opponents who said her ideas it lacks substance and slated her style but that was quickly knocked on the head criticism was often swiftly silenced with those critiquing her justifiably or no. Not labeled as massage honest hysterical or being triggered the climate hysteria movement is not about science if it were about science it would be led by scientists rather than by politicians and the mentally ill swedish child who is being exploited by her parents and by the international lair you. Markku knows of daily want to just call get a phone by get a mentally ill swedish child she is mad and dangerous and she is causing the Young Children sleepless nights and with the idiocy i was in she said she needs to go to school and show that i was in acid aided by this school girl starting this strike for Climate Change awareness and i thought wow thats pretty gutsy it was all a little melodramatic it was all in the world of succulent tick i dont want millions if not believes of young people watching great to do that kind of speech and genuinely think the planet is literally about the way she is daring to express what so many young people are feeling and actually i find it remarkable that she can speak in such an honest way its truth to cow theodicy speaking some of her actions are ridiculed like her transatlantic boat trip having sailed through storms to avoid Carbon Emissions from air travel she sailed into a storm of criticism when a fellow companions jointer flying in by plane not to mention the impracticality of adopting such measures on a wider scale this brings us back to growth as words about politicians creative p. R. World leaders from merkel to micron among others were happy to humor the latest global trend with a photo opportunity while rebuking some of our ideas so what does this leave the person of the year at 2019 which is certainly sent a message taken center stage and brought people into the streets with a call it is now time for civil disobedience its time to rebel but will this have the desired effect the only thing you want to see israel action and reaction has not been happening so of course we have to see. A lot but. But if you look at it from. From from a certain point of view we have achieved nothing like her all over shes created a stir it may be difficult to understand the method behind a person of the year awards one of good as runner ups was donald trump maybe we can agree to hope that this years award isnt just symbolic isnt Just Creative p. R. But will lead to the real change the grettir seeks to create and it looks like her message is hitting home at least in the e. U. Which is just unveiled its new European Green deal that was left slamming the block disgruntled as well find out later in the ground. Now in 2011 an earthquake and tsunami hit japans Fukushima Nuclear power plant contaminating the surrounding area hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes since then or thirtys have declared parts of the town closest to the plant safe for habitation r. T. Documentary visited the ghost town you can catch the film in full tomorrow on r. T. But march 20th live an earthquake and tsunami. A giant wave hits the fukushima one Nuclear Power plant. Flooding almost the entire facility. First the reactor cooling system is compromised then theres an explosion then another and another. Radiation rises to 5 times the normal level the situation is exceptional and its given the highest possible score for severity of Nuclear Contamination tend to make it a bit of. What they were on with the cook and similar to the well known as you hijack that. Zone thats what they call the part of the prefecture to which access is still restricted. But highway runs right through this section and its fenced off on both sides. Now and. One of the media has done their. Corner there could. Be on the Border Collie just couldnt. So if you can the u. S. Announces a brand new round of sanctions against iran this time for its alleged arming of militants in syria and in yemen our story and more after the break. When the balance came in 2008 oh theres a lot of money printing going on people said wheres the inflation the government says theres no inflation you know and then a lot of people say well actually health care and education are skyrocketing in value you dont count those and thats why youre misreading inflation and this is been going on for years new evidence suggests. We found it we found the missing inflation. As an individual i think very much i have to do what i think is right i have 2 friends to defend my values have to defend my principles and if i feel the state is not doing it according to what i think is the right thing then i have to stand up and say its not good enough and if i as a humanitarian feel that the next to me is not respected and treated in a dignified way then i have to also stand up in this regard so yes we have to do it despite that it is maybe a very long term fight and we are not necessarily winning. Welcome back oh polls that have opened in the u. K. Which is holding its the general election in 5 years well show you some live pictures from a polling station in london where which i put around 18 minutes ago now which is voters have until 10 pm local time to cost that that was the voting is done here dotty International Well bring you all the results as they come in throughout the night so do join us. And the e. U. Commission has unveiled new plans to make europe the 1st climate neutral continent under the European Green deal emissions will be halted by 2030 with Carbon Neutrality to be achieved by 2050. Excuse me but the deal has already faced criticism from bloc members evangelos it says finds out. There is no bigger challenge than saving the planet and europe wants to lead the way the new e. U. Commission leader wonderly in has proposed a new green deal aiming to make the continent climate neutral by 2050 the European Green deal is our new Growth Strategy for growth the gives back more than it takes away we will help our economy to be a Global Leader by moving 1st and moving fast by showing the rest of the world how to be sustainable and competitive we can convince other countries to move with us via bishan are there but making it happen is not going to be easy the plans were choir a revamp of almost every sector transport farming manufacturing power plants and many countries already pushing back on the day it was introduced one 3rd of the countrys bloc the finance underpinning the new green deal so for euro skeptics this might look like it another example of brussels making plans before getting the Member States on board most governments support the general direction of the new green deal but the trade off between saving the planet and protecting jobs is not going to be easy for the politicians electricity is a key factor in cutting emissions and us things then in europe most of it comes from either Nuclear Power or fossil fuels the Nuclear Power sector employs more than 1000000 people in the u. N. Another half a 1000000 people work in the coal industry so thats a lot of jobs that are at stake and france the continents biggest Nuclear Power producers are now questioning why that sector should be excluded from the Green Financing we cannot succeed in the ecological transition and we cannot achieve a goal in terms of combating Global Warming without Nuclear Energy meanwhile the renewable term it is are not always popular look at germanys wind power sector. To buy installation in your house slow down due to legal disputes long delays in planning permission and alarm over number of birds being killed by the blades e. U. Commission leader of underlayer and calls her new green deal a quote men on the moon moments this is europes man on the moon moment but from down here on the ground you can see its going to be a long and difficult journey eventually. For artsy. United states how about a new round of sanctions against iran for its alleged the arming of militant groups in syria and yemen secretary of state mike pompei i made the announcement on wednesday but like to turn to the some of the public of iran as long as its malign behavior continues so will our campaign of maximum pressure today im announcing designation of 3 iranian Transportation Companies that helped iran import items for its weapons of mass destruction programs. Well affirms targeted by the sanctions including irans Biggest Shipping Company along with a subsidiary of based in china the nations flagship ak area is also on the list washington has already imposed numerous functions on iran accusing it of pursuing a covert Nuclear Weapons program but members of congress have questions the entire strategy the goal is to limit their Nuclear Weapons capability and iran is now advancing their Nuclear Weapons capability theyre much farther theyre much closer to having a nuclear bomb than they were under the deal ministration want to talk about the mashing Pressure Campaign and all the ways its hurting their economy and everything but Im Just Holding you to your stated strategy to your stated strategy and on all 3 points the Administration Strategy is failing the administration is worse off we are worse off we are less safe than we were under the j. C. We heard from Joshua Landis a professor of middle Eastern Studies he says iran is being punished for telling it telling us dominance in the region the United States uses a number of rationales for its actions in the middle east which are largely driven by balance of power desire for to preserve its position and gemini in the middle east one of those is human rights democracy promotion its restricting weapons of mass destruction upholding International Norms these are the standard accusations for intervention in places like syria iraq sanctions on iran whether its sudan and other places i think its about iranian power in the middle east which challenges americans allies its about americas position in the middle east and its dominance over the persian gulf thats what the United States is doing its trying to pin back iran weaken it force it out of places like yemen syria iraq so its going to escalate and thats why the United States is sending more troops to go and taking more measures to try to put pressure on iran but that strategy is only going to make iran strike back iran has very little choice unfortunately because diplomacy does not seem to be americas strong suit today and it isnt offering really any kind of diplomatic solution for iran so you know i forsee an escalation on irans part. Thanks using off the international this theres they morning were back at the top now with the. Well there is only something. I just got out of prison for. 41 yes. Im 73 years old now i got arrested for attempt something. You know like just everything was taken out of. My work and. I think mr. Im meant to sit on land that looks a little bit like me. I would rather call about. Homicide want to cause. Them to. Work hard tough in the. Bible so youve got. Something on the to go to the car. On the side of the child right now give. Us no good something that i didnt. Welcome to the alex salmond show on thursday the 12th of december election day in the United Kingdom where were not allowed to broadcast anything about you keep politics save the bullet theyre open and filthy. So i thought it. The fun if you look at some of the highlights of International Shows last summer we were in malta looking at the rise of the small countrys economy over the last 15 years and i spoke to dr Lawrence Gonzi the former Prime Minister the man who led malta into europe. Im interested in economically successful join the will to stay in the mall to recover very quickly from the financial crisis and. A number of fairly if. Infrastructure projects to transform the base of the conduit but didnt prove or to go pop up in the letter project tell us about what your vision was and why it wasnt as you might think greeted with open arms by people you know well being the capital city of malta but just not not just the capital city it is a symbol in its of the letter was the city where the knights of malta 300 years ago plays their headquarters over the designed by them to be a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen is the phrase that was used at the time but then if. I remember i said this is a symbol which needs to be upgraded it needs to make a statement the letter needs to make a statement of more as it is today and as it should be in the future its role in the mediterranean its role in europe its values what it presents etc the best way i could do that was to build the an imposing building in the entrance to valetta which made a statement and the building would be a new parliament of course when the architect chosen was rental piano one of the most famous architects in the world and i had persuaded him and im very proud of it to come and make a design and he put on the design of it all broke loose. And there was debate about the build the about the cost about the design about this about that so the whole island was divided actually a little bit more than that but i was determined to make that statement and it had been something which everybody agreed upon at the end of the day that developed the needed something to be restructured to before that but nobody agreed on what and it had been a debate for 7 years anyway i was determined i did that and. Today everybodys so proud of this approach back but even those who criticize that in a vicious way today if you go to their web site you will see their own picture with a smiling face and the background is the best. And im so proud of that and the fact one of these which makes me really happy as i walk into what i make the point to walk into the practically every day when you started your political career did you think it was possible the malta would transition from clear it was us affectively an imperial position into. A crowd of years equal independent state and the european very much so alex joining the e. U. Meant that we for us meant not only that we could make all this and find our place on the table when decisions are taken but it also opened up enormous resources Financial Resources that helped us move up the level of standard of quality of life that you accept just as the standard we started off as an object of one country we are no longer an objective one country you know thanks to the also the funds that whatever you give it to us which otherwise would not have been available to look at any of the models of the smaller continental. I mean obviously the motors and motor but some similar sure on the obvious and ireland was a model luxembourg was another model we looked at luxembourg and we realize that the success over luxembourg small country population very similar to more just 400000. 00 that about but theyre focused on