A punishing trade war the u. S. And china. Which will see. More American Products in return for access to its markets but questions remain over the long running whether they will be lifted. To the world this is R T International the names you know neal hello and welcome to the program. Our top story the russian president has nominated the head of the federal tax service for the post of Prime Minister its the latest move in a day of major upheaval in russian politics earlier rushes. Prime minister Dmitri Medvedev of his government resigned not came after president putin suggested amendments to the constitution which will give parliament greater powers well i discussed all the changes with our correspondent earlier maria for national. Saying i mean he was born in 1006 to 6 in moscow hes married has 3 sons and hes a good hockey player right we know that he has been the head of the Russian Federal tax service as you mentioned for actually many years since 2010 but even before that he has been almost like since 9098 within the tax system you know real estate related things it may sound surprising to some people that someone who i mean we. Would not hear about i mean. Prime minister nominee right now but you have to remember when 20 years ago when putin was appointed as Prime Minister and then president no one actually knew that man and it worked that came out and spent just hours after the entire government resign what does that actually mean i think there is a very important thing to understand in this situation that whatever of this resignation means for russia the country will not find itself in a vulnerable situation as. Political vacuum power vacuum because 1st of all we can see how. Minister nominees they already and we hear from state duma that is right now in charge of approving him that they are going to have a special meeting on thursday so no power of back and even before like the cabinet is for and the government that just now step down will be in full charge of everything theyre continuing although yes yes mr medvedev announced about this resignation earlier on wednesday at the meeting between widely reported in the ministers here how it was. Mr putin colleagues. The address of the russian president Vladimir Putin as president and the major priorities of our work for the upcoming year but he also outlined a number of fundamental changes to the constitution of the Russian Federation. These changes when they take place and this will be done after the discussions and as with it they will significantly alter a number of parts of the constitution and change the balance of power the executive the judicial and the legislative powers in this context it is obvious that as the government of the Russian Federation we need to give the president of our country the opportunity to take all the necessary steps and decisions and in this context i believe it would be the right thing to do in accordance with article 117 of the constitution of the Russian Federation for the government to resign just. Do we know what happens him not here of course 1st of all you have to understand the Dmitry Medvedev has quite a prominent politician here in russia and he has quite an impressive political career he served as the countrys Prime Minister for 18 years since 2012 putin was present but before that for 4 years he was the leader of russia he was the president of the Russian Federation of wild lot more potent was Prime Minister so i mean these 2 used to Work Together for quite some time before that Dmitri Medvedev served as deputy Prime Minister for 3 years and before that he was kremlin teef of stuff and now hes going to have a new position hes moving to the countrys Security Council and put into the countrys legislation the head of the Security Council is the president meaning putting and now mr medvedev will become his deputy in what is important to address this position didnt exist before today so he will become again like put in his right hand he will work with this gentleman side by side just because it has been a few hours ago another be another big story why is it happening if you look at putins public appearances you can notice him in the last lets say 3 months you can notice that he was talking a lot a lot a lot about kind of like. Need for change that is strong in Russia Society right now but todays to season is direct lee connected to what life might put an earlier wednesday said during his address to the federal assembly and he was talking a lot about amendment specific amends to the russian constitution and he had to think of my calling has been following and lets now take a listen we were heads back to here where this country is supposed to head and 2020 but i can tell you that the russian future it seems way beyond that point was being shaped out here and the manager exhibit hall just outside the kremlin as mr putin was speaking because we heard some really groundbreaking proposals including proposed changes to the russian maine law the russian constitution in fact one of the proposal suggested that the constitution should limit mr putins own powers that have to do with appointing key government ministers and in fact the Prime Minister as well so heres proof of that. According to the constitution of the Russian Federation hes the president needs only the state dumas consent to make official appointments the president appoints the cabinet his deputies and all the ministers i propose shifting this power to the state duma and also the approval of the russian governments chairman and the chairman suggestion all the deputy Prime Ministers and federal ministers will have to be appointed by the president with the right to reject any candidates another proposal that came from the president was taken out the phrase in a row from the sentence from the constitution that one person could only serve 2 president ial terms in a row which if the amendments are approved would mean that the situation when for instance mr putin himself were turned to the president ial office after a 4 year break wont repeat itself in raw. In the future the russian leader among other things proposed thats also something very important putting the russian main law thats the constitution once again above the International Law in the sense that russia wouldnt be. A part of any International Treaty if it contradicts the russian constitution so all of this is indeed Ground Breaking and very important especially in the context of lot of more putins expected departure after the end of his term from the president ial office in 2024 so it looks like russia and its system of governance is up for a massive revamp mr putin today made it clear that none of this will happen without the approval of the nation so perhaps we should expect some kind of vote on that. Well the nominee for russian Prime Minister mikhail. Is credited with having revolutionized the countrys tax system over the past decade dramatically increasing takings he has also worked in other government positions and has been involved in Investment Banking side of politics or to discuss todays developments on the say that Peter Shilton professor of International Relations at the university of gottingen in germany joins us live good to see you this significance of todays moves and the thinking behind it peter your take. I mean. Reshuffles of government and resignation are. Not is not very unusual in most not parliamentarians systems and i think are what we are seeing in europe you serve and maybe in a kind of a move away from a more president ial based system tolerance and more parliament charlie bass political system but of course this means if youre going down this roach then you have to have. Larry are strong then or you will end a sector of our Government Party the new government a new Prime Minister and of course a new president and i think this is you know theyre waiting and russian money you know are some problems and wrongs because you know new united russia you know last year is not so well tell you at the moment. Its all sort of could use if you look hard at it do you think. Sorry so you could see you could maybe see new parties being created. Ive done the same then new parties can be created i mean theres a sense of cause an almost an option but i think there should be a cant time room i am mentioning it cant its. Its only as a nation and structural orientation towards a very practical and moderate and Interest Groups and object just wasnt ruling party at the moment and if this is all it is in this is possible because the all administration that from an administration does not belong to meant does not define it any more yes and the ninetys are not as yet seen on the on the gokey and on. Our groups but it is based basically on on a very strong an effect just. Seen in 2003 and came to a kind of lets say and it will end in 2011 but now is the time is crazy for me to strengthen that if youre going down the parliamentary role its the political impact of. A Government Party and this will be are not easy for a new government how do you think this is going to be seen todays developments by the International Community will there in essence be implications for Russian Foreign policy or is this move indicative of a shift in focus to the domestic agenda. I think there will be not just not because one of the. Miracles which could be in the ditch in the last 30 years thats not me after 2012 is to bring russia back from the cold into the International Arena russia is now in a respected geopolitical actor on the on the on the same putting the United States and much higher than you were and union and basically a little bit long in china or china doesnt play it out so basically i will see north korea change just once foreign and defense policy is off russia now im going to modernize the military structures and theyre going to. Try to do that or relationship between washington. And if it can be using and theyre playing their cards very well ease your ears Economic Reforms because if you do if you not make it the middle of the presidency between 9 and 2012 he put a formula to do this sort of on the shore and you are its you know listen in investment in infrastructure and. Nothing has really happened in this regard and i think the next president not russia must run must focus its efforts and the struggles on social economic revolution thats what its going to play sorry to interrupt but the next Prime Minister mikhail mischas then hes been credited peter with streamlining the tax system here while he doesnt have political experience is president putin hoping that hell be able to jumpstart the economy with this appointment. What why not i mean hes not a banker she comes home to Tech Services and i think the next services know as much more of the balance of the industry the technological equipment not the industry in north as well maybe russia or france in nice on the road martin saw its own competition products. And not ruled out from the beginning leddy is not the right man for doing such arent you must focus on social ensues you need must focus on someone doing his nation and does not diagnose you condition. In the street and drew back the bureaucratic control. The amendments that were spoken about by Vladimir Putin one of the things that perhaps was forgotten about a little bit is that he said it will go to a referendum that hasnt happened since the 1993 do you think thats a welcome move for the country that have their final say on on so many important issues in their own country. This is and wolf to create and jewel increased leisure the receipt for the government and for the new president c. And of course for its constitution and for the political system. Yes the people participate in the political process and gardners the number 60 percent license you know and some good percent blasts arent those of mean wilting at you nor are i think the biggest a boost for the new government up on the presidency to go at it was the changes and arent you just a very very in the news that much for having such a referendum and i think theres a good moment because we in germany for example we have missed the boat in this regard and now you cant. React and russia is doing it on a certain in that direction not for his vision and thats a very good sign thank you very much for coming on the program and sharing your thoughts peter shells professor of International Relations at the university of gottingen. Thank you. Ok to another big story today donald trump on the chinese vice premier who he signed phase one of a trade deal with the u. S. President calling them that historic it comes after extensive talks aimed at putting an end to a damaging 2 year long dispute between the countries speaking to me earlier on this r. T. E. American correspondent kill up and like that. Well at the ceremony where the deal was signed launching phase one of the agreement donald trump was rather boastful about this accomplishment this is what he had to say today we take a momentous step one that has never been taken before with china toward a future of fair and reciprocal trade as we saw in phase one of the historic trade deal between the United States and china. Together we are righting the wrongs of the past and delivering a future of Economic Justice and security for American Workers farmers and families i want to thank president xi who is watching as we speak can be going over to china not too distant future. Now at the press Conference Donald Trump was very critical of china using language similar to the language hes been using for the past 2 years as the trade war escalated for decades American WorkersFarmers Ranchers manufacturers and innovators have been hurt by the unfair trade with China Forced Technology transfer and intellectual property theft have been huge problems since china joined the World Trade Organization 2 decades ago we have racked up nearly 5 trillion dollars i promise that i would use every lawful president ial power to protect americans from unfair trade and unfair trade practices unlike those who came before me i kept my promise as a result of todays agreements some of the planned tariffs that were going to be imposed on china have been dropped and others have been lowered however much of the tariffs that have been imposed on china over the past 2 years that cost that basically cover roughly 360 1000000000. 00 worth of goods most of that remains in effect now the hope is that when phase 2 goes forward those tariffs will be dropped but that remains. Mains yet to be seen the main source of you know the main part of the us economy that has been impacted by these tariffs has been the Agricultural Sector theres been significant losses due to the tariffs theres been significant decreases and the u. S. And Global Markets have certainly been affected as well now when the deal was signed we heard from chinas vice premier and he seemed optimistic but his words werent exactly as glowing as the u. S. President s this is what we heard from the chinese leader from. China will work with the u. S. Acting in the principle of equality and Mutual Respect and strictly one of the agreement and ensure the implementation of phase one of these agreement thats the core principle and necessary to ensure by lets rule relations cell at this point donald trump is saying this is a huge breakthrough that this is the next step forward some are looking on with skepticism i guess well just to see have to see who gets more out of this deal in the long run. Deep divisions have emerged in the german chancellors Alliance Party in bavaria with local elections approaching a poll revealed that almost the half of all people in the region would be against the muslim or many of those supposed being Christian Social Union voters thats is an angloamerican party no the scandal has seen a muslim come of that resigned from the race due to resistance from his own colleagues picking up the story this hour arties peter all over. Mehr all elections in the german state of bavaria raising questions about islamophobia in the regional wing of Angela MerkelsRuling Coalition then a surgeon had been a candidate for the Christian Social Union but the prospect of a muslim heir sore protest from some Party Members so he is decided to drop out of the running when some party member said they dont want to muslim as a man i was initially disappointed theyre not ready yet i have to accept that they should have clarified that in advance there is no tolerance im very sorry indeed to disappointed. This is hugely embarrassing for the c. S. U. Mr psion feeling he couldnt stand as a candidate based on his faith has drawn sharp criticism from Party Grandees i think it is fundamentally wrong to exclude a candidate because of his beliefs if he is committed to overall views especially at a time when dialogue between the worlds religions is so urgently needed something about must not happen the news that mr sarin would be pulling out of the race prompted polling across the state of bavaria which showed that almost every other person would have an issue to some degree with the mayor of their city or community being of the islamic faith with over a quarter saying they would definitely have an issue when the polling data was broken down to voter preference on surprisingly supporters of the anti immigration a. F. D. Overwhelmingly were against the muslim air but just a touch and a half of c. S. U. Voters held the same view the Party Faithful putting out a very different message to that on the bavarian interior ministrys website the ministry run by the Christian Social Union we want a culture of togetherness so that people with foreign roots have the desire and the opportunity to get involved both at work and in the local community then assad says he will continue to support the c. S. U. While senior Party Figures have gone out of their way to show him support the attitude of the grass roots in the Christian Social Union shows that in the conservative state of bavaria at least some germans arent ready or not willing to accept people from the islamic faith representing them in politics that is sure to leave more than a few of the upper echelons in the party red faced at the attitudes of their supporters while germany bills itself as open to multiculturalism peter all over r. T. Early. Well we spoke to a Christian Democratic Union member must stuff amar who has been nominated himself for the been to stagger elections now he stressed the constitution in germany does not hold back muslim politicians in the country we need to say that to sit today or look to talk to them to sit in one table with a different crowned there is nothing saying our constitution there is no one allowed to have a position in the politics or government if he has that wisdom what not was there nothing could have been like this in order to know what constitution we are bad to very bad is studio and we dont want to go to be this history we are knowledgeable about your country and we need to live war together and you know such a site so that by and one of the book laurie and me could think about it on the it only need to open a discussion not to involve all the people in it and not to make just the selfie of all just that but we are 11 country but one is a part of our country and want to see where is next year if not if someone has a politics with the muslim religion we have a lot of people who are that we have a lot of gentlemen muslims there in the Security Service who have been locked up in the border as we are going to want to read events so what is the problem would be the politics we having also local people with a different pocket and for what you only do in this country on the r. And d. Spend on the up and get a great faith for this country we should be we need to know with whom we are dealing. With their upcoming us election another russian hacking scandal a Cyber Security firm stateside with ties to the n. S. A. Has taming the Ukrainian Gas Company at the center of Donald Trumps and ph meant was hired by russian intelligence agents he looks not what lies behind the allegations. Meeting old friends there are a few things that feel better not any old friends the ones you have barely heard from for years who then turn up at your front door with drinks food and great memories its a joy anyone whos followed americas 2016 election and is following this one can now be a part of the Ukrainian Company barisan russias hack of bridge made Russian Military hackers the russians could be searching for a potential embarrassing material on the bidens the same kind of information that mr trump wanted from ukraine Russian Military hackers successful a targeted or race not russia trump his fancy bare election meddling why invent a time machine when you have American Media a new report is suggesting that a bunch of hackers from russia with ties to the government of course got access to the computers of boris mom a Ukrainian Energy firm what they were after and whether the got anything at all such minor details are emitted in the report as is any evidence the president leaves everything out except for a smattering of graphs and conclusions but why would everyone care so much all of a sudden about some company half the world away well because joe bidens son hunter used to sit on the board of directors there as the company was facing a corruption investigation by ukraines prosecutor general who joe biden eventually had fired and donald trump then asked the ukrainian president to look into this so will resume is at the center of the ongoing impeachment scandal in other words essential pathing to the current ethical question. The ukrainians to investigate joe biden is a journey of scandal involving the president President Trump repeated attempts to get ukraine and now trying to interfere in the 2020 alexion by investigating job 100 bided. The allegation that the russians hog bras moe comes from a firm called area one a firm with a mission. This is a message to all the houses out there. Is up there there is no place for you in the scene it is Civil Society everyone is the only Silicon Valley company that has been allowed to work with 2020 president ial candidates which it does big time we have a tiered Pricing System with a little to no cost here for nonprofits schools Small Businesses or political candidates and a little more than a year ago some candidates came to us and said we dont want a repeat of 2016 to all of its cofounders have n. S. A. Background and one of them donated to Democratic Candidates in this president ial race Blake Walsall used to work for crowd strike the company that led the 2016 russia hiking crusade whenever you mention russian cackling 2060 election 2020 alexion something happens internally where peoples brains turn off and you can hear a collective oh not a given not again biden must have said oh no not ukraine oh my god thats us thats what thats what we did so no what better way for joe biden to deflect the information from him and his son to say russia did it excuse me before what russia did is what russia did as you say is it true media promotion in promulgated all of this russia a bad image its still its its everywhere so i i say here we go again another russian hack story. So its 5 months for the 4th of july turkey for the thanksgiving and now russia has for the election season because naturally all dogs arent good with new tricks. To a story from the indian capital new delhi where hundreds of small scale traders are protesting against amazons founder jeff bezos he plans to visit the country next week and is expected to meet Prime Minister narendra modi. What youre hearing here are protests part of a nationwide movement led by members of the confederation of. Traders Small Business owners accused ecommerce giant amazon predatory pricing. In order to stay in business then you cannot sustain your business and be afraid you want to since then you know that you have no place in india and you cannot do. That not being that i didnt. Jeff bezos has not responded to the allegations or earlier he said this company will invest 1000000000. 00 to bring small and medium sized businesses online in india expects to export 10000000000. 00 worth of india made goods by 2025. With International Concern growing over the likely collapse of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement the british Prime Minister seems to have a plan for ensuring global security. If we get rid of it lets replace it lets replace it with the troop deal ok thats what we need to. Think that would be a great. Boris johnsons remarks came after germany france britain triggered a socalled dispute mechanism over irans alleged failure to abide by the 2815. 00 accord now about start a 30 day resolution period after the matter may be referred to the u. N. Security council which would then decide whether to reinstate sanctions all need Islamic Republic we have therefore been left with no choice given irans actions but to register today our concerns that iran is not meeting its commit