honor jesse, breaking down the headlines to exposing the powers, attempting to silence reporting what to do, what to investigate. why didn't you ask this extra question? there are many drawings that said, fencer they don't have, but you think effect on public when stories, the listening post doesn't cover the news. it covers the way the news is covered to suppress moderate. and in some cases, amplify the content you feed on your part of the listening post. only out is era. we understand the differences and similarities of cultures across the world. so no matter how you take it will bring you the news and current affairs that matter to you, ah, anger on the streets of lebanon, protest as in bay roots that have had enough of their nations escalating economic

collapse. ah, i know i'm elizabeth brought him. this is al jazeera alive from don't also coming up, the world is running dry. the un issues of warning saying humanity is on a dangerous path of over use and move, say navy, at least 4 people have been killed and drone strikes and ukraine's cave region. and let's get back to normal. and the french president urges protest is to end this strike after he falls, changes in pension buddhist, through parliament. ah, police have fought together at paper, protesting in bay road against lebanon's ongoing economic crisis. many of those demonstrating of a tied soldiers demanding a living wage. it comes off to the lebanese lira had

a record last week. inflation has been skyrocketing since 2019 making essential daily items, increasingly unaffordable and problems with the banking sector have meant some struggle to access their own money. xena holder as, as the protests in beirut year for of an economic collapse. the currency is now worthless. the devaluation started in late 2019, but in recent weeks there was a sharp evaluation. the central bank intervenes now and again to try to regulate the market by pumping millions of dollars. but many experts will say this is not solving the crisis. the li, ross value recovery little and then it depreciates yet again. and what the central bank is using is a dwindling foreign currency reserves. money that belongs to the depositors who have been locked out of their accounts. in back there is anger. people believe that the political and business leads. if you can see many here are public public sector

servants. they believe that the political and business of the they do not want to solve the crisis because solving the crisis will involve economic reforms. structural reforms fighting corruption, if the business and political elite do that, then they lose control over the states and its resources, which they have been exploiting for years now. many believe the solution is with an i m f deal. but like i said, those in power are refusing to carry out the reforms necessary for that deal to be made. so the economy continues to collapse for years. the enter this crisis, the politicians are, have done nothing to come up with their economic recovery plan. and in the interim, there's also political crisis. the country does not have a president or a government, a functioning government in order to carry out those reforms. so an economic and political crisis and no and insights. moving on to all the news now,

and there is an imminent risk of a global water crisis that's according to the un. what is hosting its 1st conference on water and sanitation in 45 me years in new york. it says more than $2000000000.00 people don't have enough water for at least one month, a year. 26 percent of the world's population doesn't have safe drinking water. nearly half of them don't have adequate sanitation. the u. n is worn and water shortages will get worse in the coming decades, especially in cities. on this, there's better international corporation. a shortage is already hitting those who live in cities and what that means in low income areas of cities like caracas, is that something is weighed and say they haven't had tap water for decades. they must arby, has more life in one of the world's largest oil producing nations. venezuelan say shouldn't be this difficult and access to a basic human right should be easy. they will, they might, they to just 2 or 2 and

a half dollars for water. it's too much, we can't do it anymore because nobody can put up with that. sometimes the guys have running water from the well and sell it cheaper. more than 20 years. we haven't know what it's like to have tap water. no. running water has long been a luxury in the sprawling low income neighborhoods around caracas. a state owned company is in charge of supplying water practically free of charge, but it is unable to keep up with rising demand. on some residents, a pottery venezuela's largest villa benefit from a nearby well where they can collect ground water, others siphoned tap water from broken pipes or any mo guy working. we come here to get drinking water every 2 weeks. the use of the house i have to fish and carry every day because we only have running water sometimes once a week and for 2 hours or an hour and a half if that. otherwise,

we don't have water shrinking wages and rising prices make access to water more difficult. even informal traders are increasing prices for jugs and tanker water. but these sources are still preferable because they are more reliable than the state for access to the most essential resource for life. zane basra v o g 0, richard corner as the editor in chief of the united nations world walks of development report. because many countries lack the expertise to deliver safe drinking it, we talk about investment and indeed investment in water and sanitation has to increase. but it's not just in terms of investing in pipes and treatment plants and then with so in infrastructure, what's really missing is capacity so that, you know, the municipalities themselves have the expertise, not only to build but to actually operate these systems and provide the level of

services that people require to meet even the most basic needs, which are the chief, the human rights to the water and sanitation in low income countries the, the number one cause of water pollution is untreated waste water, 80 percent of the world's wastewater is the least of the environment without any treatment at all. and in a lot of the developing countries, it's 99 percent. that's pretty much everything. but in developed countries, the water pollution is caused by agricultural runoff. so these are in efficient irrigation systems that use more water than they should. and the agricultural run all is filled with nitrogen, basically nutrients or fertilizers, herbicides pesticides. and so even in develop country, there's

a lot of efforts that need to be done to reduce pollution and thus protect the resource. it's really up to up to different countries. member states to make sure that they, that the populations do receive the services that they deserve. at an affordable price, and that the resource as well managed and protected as well. and so it's not really international laws or agreements that are going to protect the ecosystems and the, you know, the base even the river's. that's really the national lab to key. now why ukrainian officials say full people have been killed and russian drawn strikes on the region . caves forces say they shut down 16 of 21 iranian made drones launched or the night by russia. stephanie deca reports from keith, craig e, a ukrainian military saying that 16 out of 21 drones were shot out of the sky over night air i sirens did sound the ukrainian president cooling at quoting the

murderous drones and referring to the russian president vladimir putin. and saying, well, as he talks of peace, ah, the orders are given for these kinds of attacks. it's the 1st time certainly that there has been a hit on a residential building in the surrounding areas of the capitol. ah, since december the u. s. secretary of state antony blinkin is as big as in front of the senate appropriations committee in washington. d. c is expected to lay out a foreign policy objectives of the u. s. government. that's listening to what he has to say. war era is over and there is an intense competition under way to shape to determine what comes next. ah, we, the united states have a positive vision for the future. a world that is free, that is secure, that is open as prosperous. and it's our belief that the budget that we put forward will help advance that vision and deliver on issues that actually matter to the american people. a particularly by preparing us to effectively meet too broad sets

of challenges. the 1st is the challenge posed by our strategic competitors. the immediate acute threat opposed by russia's autocracy and aggression. most destructively, of course, through its brutal aggression against the ukraine. and the long term challenge from the people's republic of china. on the 2nd set of challenges is really posed by shared global tests, including the climate crisis, migration, food and energy and security pandemic. so all of which directly impact the lives and livelihoods american and people around the world. with this committee's leadership in support, including through the f y 23 omnibus, the united states is in a stronger geopolitical position than we work 2 years ago at. hence our ability to deal with these challenges, i think has been enhanced. we have drawn enormous power from investments that we've made in our own economic strength and technological edge at home, including through the infrastructure and, and jobs act,

the cheapest and science act, the inflation reduction act. the unmatched network of eliasis and partnerships has never been stronger. in fact, we've been building on it not only strengthen existing alliances and partnership, but building new coalitions of countries and other institutions that are fit for purpose or expanding our presence in critical reasons. like the and o pacific were leading the on press, unprecedented coalitions to confront aggression and address humanitarian challenges around the world. the 24 budget request for the state department and usa idea meets this moment, head on. ah, this budget will sustain our security. economic energy humana trains, or for you brain to ensure the president putin's war remains a strategic failure. it will strengthen our efforts to outcompete the p. r. c. o president biden is firmly committed to advancing a free and open the no pacific. which is why this proposal asked for an 18 percent increase in our budget for that region over f y $23.00. our budget contains both

discretionary imagine proposals. we're happy to talk about why we proceeded this way. for new innovative investment, stout p, china, including by enhancing our presence in the region and ensuring that what we and our fellow democracies are able to offer, including maritime security, disease surveillance, clean energy infrastructure. digital technology is more attractive than any alternative. the budget will help us push back on advancing authoritarianism, democratic backsliding by strengthening democracies around the world, including through supporting independent media, counter corruption, defending free and fair elections. and it will allow us to pay our contributions to international organizations because we need to be at the table, ah, wherever. and whenever new international rules that affect the livelihoods of our people are being debated and being decided that the budget will allow us to continue leading the world to addressing these global challenges from food and energy and security to climate and health crises. and just on that last white jump, as you all know, we're celebrating now the 20th anniversary of pepper, which i think is one of the greatest achievements in our foreign policy of the last

decades has helped us save 25000000 lives around the world. this budget will help us continue the fight against h. i. v aids while advancing health security more broadly through a new bureau of global health security diplomacy, which i look forward to working with congress to establish this year. the budget will advance our efforts to modernize the state department, including by expanding our training flow, updating our technology, carrying out diversity, equity inclusion accessibility initiatives, including to make our overseas missions more accessible. i'm grateful. the progress we've already made together, including congress, a support in updating the secure embassy construction and counterterrorism act and accountability review board. to give us some of the flexibility that we need to open new missions and better manage the risks that we face. we know there's more to do and we're looking forward to working with congress. we celebrate these modernization efforts. so that the part the department can better attract better, retain and support a 1st rate workforce as they advance our interests. and what is

a very complex and fast moving world? finally, the budget will further a personal priority from me and i know for many of you and that is supporting, enduring, welcome, our whole government effort to resettle our afghan allies. keeping promises to those who served up alongside the u. s. remains an unwavering priority. this budget will help us continue to make good on that commitment. i, when i took on this role, i committed to doing my part to try to restore congress's place as an equal partner and our foreign policy making. i'm determined to continue to do that and very much appreciate the work that doug we've been able to do with this committee over the last couple of years and look forward to that. the work ahead and with that, i welcome any questions. thank you. i'm thank you. mister secretary for that brief but a broad review of the challenges we face and the leadership that you've shown at the helm of the state department at let me open with a question. if i could about the workforce, i've had the opportunity to visit a state department employees around the world in lots of difficult,

dangerous places. and like i believe all my colleagues, i'm uniformly impressed with their skills near determination. if we're going to achieve our national security objectives, it's critical to ensure our diplomatic core is putting the right people with the right tools and the right resources and training in the right places to carry out their work. and we work together sen, graham, and i to ensure that last year's bill delivered on that goal. but there is more to be done. what are the most critical workforce and other investments needed to strengthen the department to meet the challenges confronting us today and to have the flexibility to meet emerging challenges near ahead. we're very much appreciate that question on the chairman, and really it does come down to us a to, to people, to resources and in some cases, to some authorities. ah, what you'll see in the budget is a proposed hiring increase for another 500 new employees to fill some of the staffing gaps that we have that i can go into more detail on. we need more people to address some of these emerging priorities and emergencies. ah, that includes,

for example, a couple of 100 new counselor positions. i thought, i know you're all sees with some of the challenges the counselor affairs is experienced over the last few years because of covet. we have been building back in a very significant way, but we need more work there and we need more resources there. said the budget proposes that. we need an additional number of civil and foreign service employees to scale up the endo pacific strategy and to outcompete china to strengthen our outreach to fully staff, for example, new missions in the pacific islands. something else that we can talk about. we want to make sure that we are building on something that's been a terrific innovation that's been supported by this committee. and that is having an additional position so that we can increase our flow, which enables us to pull people out of their day in day out, and allow them to have career long training so that they can keep their skill set fresh. in fact, i get new skills as they go along. for example, by coming here to spend time by going to an academic institution. ahh, et cetera. we're requesting an edition ah, new management hires. this is critical because where the rubber meets the road in

the department, as in sony, other institutions is particularly our mid level management. and we have terrific management people in apartment. but what you know, and what you'll see is that people who don't actually come up through the management style on the department are nonetheless called upon a different stages in their career to exert management skills. we need, ah, more there. ah, we have the money there to make sure that we're protecting our emissions and our diplomats and i, i commend that to you. we have to keep pace with increased security threats and cos the growing overseas presence. as i said, the pacific islands, we hope to reopen the mission in libya, something we want to work with you on that's going to require some funding as well . we have significant funds as well to make sure that we are at up to speed on cyber security. we've all been challenged across government by this and we have to make sure that we have the funding to do that. there are number of um, authorities, as well as chairman that we can get into. i'm also happy to share with you that

would be very helpful. i would be very useful. tell us to have a new funding account for the enduring welcome operation to consolidate up to about $20000000000.00 in existing funding for relocating or afghan partners. ah, there is some personal services, a contractor authority. we need to hire more domestic personal services contractors . um, we can get to that ah, some special american visa adjustments, again to make sure that we're making good our commitments to ally to our after hours. and then i will be listening here to view as secretary state antony blank and who's been addressing the senate appropriations committee in washington d. c. and he has been talking about the font yet that the state department has put forward the foreign policy objectives of the us government. talking about the positive vision that the u. s. has for the future, a world that he said is free, secure, open, and prosperous. interestingly, he outlined to what he called brought sets of challenges posed by russia's autocracy, especially in ukraine and long term challenges posed by china. going

back to news from ukraine, where authorities have said that one person has died in a russian missile strike on residential buildings inserted. sia, ukrainian president vladimir zalinski has condemned the attack. at least 25 people were hospitalized after 29 story buildings were hit. and in crimea, russian officials say the navy has repelled a drone attack on the sebastopol port. this comes 2 days after an explosion on the peninsula, destroyed russian muscles that according to ukraine's defense ministry, they were intended for use by moscow's black sea fleet. eula, chapel walla, has more from moscow. the morning attempts to hit russia targets and crimea, and 7 topple with 3 drones. all devices were destroyed by 2 women offices, both well received state awards. so this is the laces from survey showing go the

russian defense minister. basically the rest of information we have on the semester latan comes curtsey over, got a note of us total and the high resident jive and his telegram channel. so they chose, tried to get into the bay that's according to resume jive, russian. the russian sailors fire fired a small arms at them and there were no casualties. but some windows in into residential buildings were blown out. g, 2 explosions caused by destroyed drains. and after successfully repulsing the drone of tacos to stop, all the ukrainian knots is according to reservation. if again, his telegram channel, they launched an informational talk, but to crimea is safe according to the governor. and if anything, basically anything dangerous is going to happen, that people will be informed by the authorities. and this is not the 1st recent

attack by ukrainian trends and crimea, as we know not so long ago, a massive tried by several ukrainian u. a. b was carried out in john coy on the crime in peninsula late monday evening. on march, the 20th chinese president, she's paying has left moscow after 2 days of talks with president vladimir putin. the 2 leaders issued a joint statement on tuesday, calling for responsible dialogues and the warren ukraine, cushions of bathing proposals to end. the conflict could be used as the basis for a peace settlement bond that keep the west don't appear willing to resolve the situation. as katrina, you reports, it's likely that the chinese leader will be pleased with the meetings. she, jim ping has quite successfully. i think use this visit as a platform to promote china piece plan. now, putin said himself that they would discuss this and, and both sides during this meeting said they would, board, wanted more to promote dialogue, to prevent this conflict in ukraine from escalating. now it's clear that there was

no concrete outcomes in terms of improving the situation in ukraine bought. what matches to be doing is that she didn't bring at least appeared to be a global statement statement and peacemaker during this trip. and the 2nd thing that they do has achieved, well, it really is the optics and your sticks were that this is a strong try enough supporting and propping up a weak russia. and it does seem that putin was the junior partner here needing. she didn't king. now we didn't see trying to crossing any red lines, offering, for example, military support to russia, trying to feel very much needs to preserve the health of its relationship, especially economically with you. but at the same time, we did see china supporting vladimir putin throwing his weight behind him, putin and needing russia to stay strong, no matter how ukraine war ends. and this is because china desperately needs

a russia not to fail and put in to remain in power, but it's increasing confrontation that it finds itself in its increasing tensions against the united states that needs to be strong and, and back there in its corner as that situation with the us seems to be getting worse. french president emanuel macros says the controversial changes to pension rules will be implemented by the end of the year. is government plan to raise the baton age from 62 to 64 has led to weeks of demonstrations across from a 9th round of strikes and national protests will take place on thursday, back home government full through the amendments and the national assembly without a vote among those who speak to you right now, do you think i enjoyed doing this reform? no, i could have done the same as many others before me and swept the dust under the rug . maybe the reality is today. there's one thing i regret is that we weren't able to inform people of the constraints, and more specifically, the need to undergo this reform says it's in the facet i form is the office

possibility, muslims. and so i say this in all responsibility. i'm not wishing to get reelected, i cannot be as indicated by the constitution between the short term poles and the general interest of the country. i choose the general interest, and if in the end i have to endure unpopularity to day, i will endure it just as a former british prime minister boss johnson, his face in questions over his role in the so called party, gave scandal. johnson's being quizzed by u. k parliamentary inquiry into whether he misled parliament over his role an illegal parties and down the street during bush's clothes locked down. the cost of living in the u. k is continuing to rise and inflation is growing faster than expected. consumer prices jumped 10.4 percent from february 2022 to february this year. food and drink costs and pumps and restaurants were the main drivers are posting the highest increase and 46 years. the price rises could prompt the bank of

england to raise interest rates on thursday. as wells parliament has overturned part of a law that band, a legal settlements and some areas of the occupied west bag has been in place since 2005. when israeli settlers were ordered to leave during israel's withdrawal from gaza, or michael soon sheriff has more than likely for his wally settlers as the knitted lips of been on for settlements in the occupied mass bank. it allows settlers to return to illegal outpost 18 years after they were ordered to leave in 2005. then prime minister ariel sharon agreed that israel would be drawn from casa and see the sacraments under the future deal with the palestinians. israel has now reneged on that agreement, a coin campbell, everything exists fair except for the people, the houses, the people who are evacuated and the houses that were destroyed. now we came to fix

it and there will be a town there. the palestinian authority has denounced the move. most of most, i'm out of homes lawyer, i think when they return to the so called homage settlement and other settlements. this will show us that this government is going head with its plan to take an annex the lands and continue its open battle against the palestinian people. the e. u and israeli allied the u. s. have condemned the decision. last month, the israeli government announced would recognize 9 settlements in the occupied west bank since the 1967 war israel has established more than $100.00 outposts on palestinian land. the settlements are illegal under international law and the you and has previously described them as a war crime is really retreating from international comments. well, israel is dying. the seizure of it's also bring calls to return the land of those

settlements. foods dry goods, palestinian owners any the also denies low the low of these the gauge meant which was accepted in 2005 when when is pulled out from gaza. the changes for the late is in the cds of controversial moves by prime minister benjamin netanyahu was far right coalition government, which took charge in december. it comes at the time of high contentions, and the worst violence between israelis and palestinians in recent years. and we consume sharif august, the south korea says pin gang has test launched, multiple crews massage towards the peninsulas, eastern waters, sol, as the missiles could have been long range. and it's not yet clear how many were launched. killing young has wrapped up the military test in recent weeks as the u. s. and south korea carry out joint drills. bob brian traveled to the city of poor shawn near the border where the exercises have taken place. these annual spring

drills haven't been held on this scale since 2017. for the past 6 years. they have been drastically scaled back partly because of the pandemic, but mainly to allow the process of dialogue to work with north korea. this extended period is summit diplomacy that now seems all but a memory, as well as this live fire exercise, which allows south korean and us forces to put it on and off. hillary. through its paces, there are aircraft drills involving some of the latest jet fighters and also nuclear capable bombers from the u. s. air force out to see their navy drills taking place, involving a u. s. aircraft, carrier group, and also marines in joint time 50th landing drills. these exercises always infuriate north korea, which claims their approach you to war. but according to the south koreans and the

u. s. allies just the opposite is true that by having this level of preparedness, it acts as a deterrents to any attacks ensuring they say, the continued peace and stability on the peninsula. everything we're doing right now is defensive in nature. we are not being offensive, we're being defensive in nature, and it's what we expect to do in conflict and need to be good at it, which i think everybody in south korea in the world wants us to be good at it. we have to train at north korea has been expressing its anger with a series of ballistic missile launches, including last weekend with drills that were overseen by north korean leader, kim jong gunn. and what state run media tell us was a rehearsal for a tactical nuclear counter offensive against its enemies. robert bride al jazeera poach on south korea. unions and brazil have marched in protest against high interest rates. the 7th

type is not the column she rate of 13.75 percent to be lowered. they're also demanding that the head of the central bank step down. president louise and our seo alluded to silva has also called for a lower interest rate, arguing the current rate hurts. economic recovery. trained services have resumed in greece for the 1st time since last month, head on collision between a passenger train and freight train. the crash killed 57 people, services on that track and some longer still suspended. grace has seen demonstrations in the past month as people demand railway safety and accountability . ah hello again. i'm elizabeth bronman, doha with the top stories on al jazeera police have fired tear gas at people protesting in bay route against lebanon's ongoing economic crisis. inflation has

been.