i. long to short of completion russia's north ring 2 gas pipeline to your face is yet another hurdle as the main contract. in response to tough new u.s. sanctions also to come this hour a u.s. court rules that it is ok for american spy agencies to collect data in the future but that would warrant if done by accident that is the lessons of n.s.a. whistleblower edward snowden who lifted the lid on u.s. mass surveillance seen trooping forgot something. you tell us who. was still. not the. summary information and the man accused of stealing and burning a rainbow flag from the u.s. churches jailed for 16 years i guess debate whether the time it's the.

16 years for offending probably one of the most privileged groups in america and when it came to course he did not express any regrets and justify his actions based upon used particularly extremist interpretation of the say. hello there good morning watching out international where she's gone 9 o'clock in moscow now just as it reaches his final stage of construction russia's north string to gas pipeline is under threat one of the main companies involved has pulled out of the project because of new stinging sanctions unleashed by the u.s. . in anticipation of the enactment of the national defense authorization act one sees has suspended its stream 2 point plan activities ok let's get more

information he's following the story joins us in the studio good morning to ask you again just break it down for us then what is led to this point what we know that of course under the trump administration sanctions have become the political tool of choice they're often used simply as the default reaction to anything that the president takes issue with and this is apparently no different with this case president trump has officially signed off on a bill which will require him to impose sanctions on any foreign companies and individuals which have been involved in the construction of more strain to now as many would of course already know is a huge $11000000000.00 it's a pipeline over 1000 kilometers long running from russia to germany and essentially it's a way for russian gas to flood the european continent at a cheaper and faster rate than anything else currently available on the market but

since the very beginning the u.s. while we can say hasn't shied away from expressing its dissatisfaction with the project the united states commands all our european partners who have taken a strong stand against north stream to. and we commend others to do the same germany is totally controlled by russia because they were getting from 60 to 70 percent of their energy from russia and their new pipeline this pipeline if completed would make europe even more dependent on russian energy would generate billions of dollars for putin billions of dollars that would follow on russian military aggression. so many see this bill as a last ditch attempt by the u.s. to stop nordstrom to in its tracks the pipeline was originally due to be completed by mid 2020 but they're ahead of schedule it seems that there are any 2 weeks out

from it being done there are any around 60 to 70 kilometers of the pipeline left to lay now one of the main companies which will be affected by this is the swiss. cheese another have been consistently providing vessels for the construction and only a couple of days ago they got a very aggressive flat to one with a distinct scent of blackmail to it from republican senator ted cruz and he basically gave them an ultimatum either you stop walking on nordstrom too or we will freeze all your assets in the u.s. on we're not going to give you any visas so since then it seems that they thought they had little choice and stopped all operations as we had american says it's do all of this because it's concerned about europe's energy security but of the of the motives. well current gas pipelines between russia and europe run through several european countries such as poland to russia and ukraine so these countries got a very hefty transit fee for allowing the pipeline through in contrast the north

stream to the baltic sea meaning that obviously these countries will be bypassed now washington says that this is incredibly unfair and specifically with regards to ukraine says that it's somehow politically motivated what's incredibly important to mention is that just hours before the bill was signed russia and ukraine came out that they were likely going to be by the end of 2019 signing off a new 5 year extension for russian gas to transit through ukraine to europe south massively and to mind washington's argument that somehow russia is trying to give ukraine the cold shoulder and this is led many to suspect that really what america's off to is is phasing out healthy. competitions that it can establish its dominance in the energy markets this is of course is supported by the fact that the bill also. and not the russian it gas pipeline called tug stream and not as across the black sea to turkey so really this establishes quite

a clear pattern so what's been your reaction to all of this because of course it says look we just want cheap energy while the e.u. and the us standpoint on this issue couldn't be more different the e.u. has consistently called this an economic project that is just a logical move and russia of course supports them in this and germany especially on many occasions has spoken out saying that european energy policy is europe's business and so america should stop its meddling in it and surprising that these latest sanctions were not welcomed the federal government is against extraterritorial sanctions we don't approve of this practice we oppose especially extraterritorial sanctions that his german and european companies. so europe starts on this is very clear this is in your opinion u.s. needs to stop getting involved we're going to wait and see what other reaction comes out and really more crucially we're going to see how if it all this will

impact stream to itself. you know europe's against it but how can they actually stop it or keep this project running. with a professor of political economy engender trust a former u.s. diplomat both say that the u.s. is trying to prevent russia from becoming economically more integrated with europe . well it's kind of ironic that the u.s. is saying they don't want germany and europe to be dependent on cheaper russian gas but they wanted to be dependent on more expensive american gas you see and what you see here in this latest move is that they couldn't us couldn't get germany to. pull out of the nordstrom too so it's going after smaller companies building some of the products of nordstrom to those kind of an act of desperation in a sense the u.s. is getting concerned to some extent trying to keep russia from being economically more integrated with europe which is the big strategic objectives the u.s.

is trying to achieve washington policy establishment is a big dinosaur that can never admit that it's still stream to will be completed i think that this this latest round of sanctions on the cessation of workers is a hit it will be finished and will go into operation but these people in washington can not mitt that their policy has failed we don't know how to adjust ourselves to a reality we don't like we only have one reality that is russia is bad and i think that connects russia to europe is bad too but we must do whatever we can to try to stop it and if we can't stop it let's just make life difficult for everybody. and medical spy agencies are permissive to gather information on citizens without a warrant in certain situations the u.s. court of appeals has proved that this can happen if in all national he was and he just simply being monitored approach makes contact with an american the case was brought by a by an american citizen arrested in 27 he pleaded guilty to

a charge of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization the question of whether the way the n.s.a. had collected information on him without a warrant was actually legal former intelligence official and whistleblower william binney tell just that the ruling did not really reveal anything. it doesn't made no difference at all it was all under executive order or $1.00 to $2.00 or 3 section $23.00 see which they used to been signed into effect since the reagan years the reagan presidency so they were using them as early as they were and also the use the excuse that they are unable to separate their data as a now right lie to so they've been lying to the courts are wrong they have the capability to sort that stuff out it's just that they don't want to because it gives them power over everyone the ability to look into political opponents like

they did the president drop while the n.s.a. has an eagle mass phone and internet surveillance of the same citizens was revealed by edward snowden a former contractor at the agency back in 20 saying he's wanted in the u.s. for he can classified information but was granted asylum by russia. if we should be able to freely assemble we should be able to communicate freely if we're going to be talking to countries like china and russia about how they secrete people we should start in our own backyard the people oppose the surveillance state the n.s.a. is violating the rights of not only americans but also as citizens all over the

world with the alphabet soup of government agencies was it carrying out all kinds of wild spying and violations of privacy it was all pretty clearly a violation of the us constitution or that meant that offers protection unreasonable search and seizure however at the time the n.s.a. tried to fight back pretty hard does the n.s.a. collect any type of data. on millions or hundreds of millions of americans. no sir. it does not. not wittingly 7 years on u.s. federal courts have ruled that edward snowden the whistleblower who feel this apparatus of surveillance won't be able to make any money from the book that he just published the ruling argues that edward snowden violated his contract with the cia and the n.s.a. because he didn't submit his book for prepublication review who don't want to see

books like to skip written especially don't want to see books like this get rid of from it is still pursuing that case quite strongly they're more focused on the financial censorship side of it this court ruling comes. federal courts have also ruled that it is now except a bowl to monitor the communications of americans with a quote foreign interest without any procedure or warrant so while u.s. courts have ruled that it is now acceptable to continue carrying out practices once considered to be scandalous they have come down pretty hard on the man who revealed these practices to the public so do americans even remember edward snowden we decided to ask new yorkers can you tell us who edward snowden is now and doesn't ring any bells hope that word snowden. edward snowden is. it's. way to 2nd snowden's not the. not to brooks that guy. he is the

wiki leaks not like the wiki leaks guy but the guy who was working for the government here and is over in russia now now that he leaked it's some information he leaked basically the government spying on us and watching of our things and gave a detailed report as to what the government's doing yes there was a massive outrage back in 2013 when this was 1st revealed but it seems that since then this is all become part of the new normal in the united states warrantless wiretapping of civilians will continue in the united states and american leaders will also continue to boast that they have the freest country in the world we're going to do with sitting there it's an admission that the sales in. the only targeted data on who large firings that they're monitoring so i mean to be that there was not a crummy american the $99.00 he could have done that but they decided not to do

that then when you click everything but they're not saying here is that the cia the f.b.i. and the d. e a another long people have access to that data to search for common crime in the united states and they use it against u.s. citizens in. in criminal court without the without telling the coup or anybody else in the court lawyers included so they're fundamentally violating the rights of others of us citizens every year and they do this without any oversight whatsoever even though that templer so i know you are saying to us in the united states they believe the intelligence these is any good anyway it's just it's already look a conversation it's not oversight or our. man accused of stealing and burning in l g b t flag from the us church has been sentenced to 16 years in jail after being found guilty of committing a hate crime a law firm arson as was 1st arrested in june and accused of desecrating the flag

belonging to a local church in iowa earlier in the week he was convicted on charges of not only committing a hate crime but also 3rd degree harassment and reckless use of fire martin has admitted to opposing homosexuality but the length of his sentence has caused debate why does the left cheer when the american flag is burning no one goes to jail for that but they do for burning an activist movements flag wow he got more years than murderous get in the u.k. unbelievable so burning a rainbow flag is hate speech burning an american flag is freedom of speech i see. he should have burned the american flag then he would have been praised statues dedicated well i think in principle people should have the ride to behead flags fly it is a symbol and people have a right to disagree with homosexuality they have

a right to disagree with did i did states or britain i don't think that should be a crime per se but i would say that the flag is a bit different from the american flag because it days ignites a specific community in the same way as maybe burning a jewish flag might designate the jewish community if you look at the report of what happened he was kicked out of the strip club he grabbed the flag he set it on fire outside of the strip club and started ranting about i was gonna burn down the club i was in there i don't know it sounds like maybe he was wasted i don't think i don't think this is so they just would go around doing even if that weren't the case it still is extreme and a hate crime laws are silly anyway they should exist no a crime happened here it is absolutely 100 percent our institutionally protected speech to burn the gates of the gay pride flag in the same way that according to the supreme court's also protected speech to burn the american flag well i'm gay and much of my human rights involve supporting the human rights of l.g.b.

plus people but i've got to say this sentence is excessive it is disproportionate it is not commensurate with the crime committed however there are some disturbing elements a he was not given the sentence purely for stealing the flag and for burning it there were also. accusations and claims of arson and threats to burn down all the properties namely a strip club when it came to course he did not express any regrets and indeed justify his actions based upon his particular extremist interpretation of the christian faith i don't believe that this flag necessarily represents the rainbow flag i don't think it. represents gay individuals maybe at one point attempted to but it's we've come to a point where the rainbow flag and all the symbolism represents an l g b t political ideology which is becoming increasingly authoritarian increasingly toxic increasingly anti-christian so people are going to have gripes about it i

mean this is actually proven that people are our millennia was a study done recently that young people millennia old are less in favor of the now they were a few years ago now the left in the gay lobby would say that is due to hate speech on the internet and trumps america and blah blah blah no i would say the real reason is probably because this movements that is symbolized by the flag has become authoritarian and ridiculous we see it with the insane trans narrative in the bathroom transfer people and women sports we see it with the children with the trance children the drag queen stories i mean you can think of and this is just another example 16 years for offending probably one of the most privileged groups in america. your she wants he said had he this morning to present a condition could be in trouble back home as it's in the news that he did anything funny messages that had been requested this evidence for a probe into her time as the country's defense minister look at that just off of

the price. understanding of shell is that it's a money loser from day one but it doesn't matter in the u.s. because all the creditors who lend money into the shell industry are constantly being bailed out by the central bank that prints money that's why they do it for the fees it's great for the banks but it's not an energy play and it's not a business it's a sinkhole but here as you point out in argentina so they can't just print their way out of a losing situation and the economy is already a bit fragile you don't want to add another loser into the mix like shale drilling voided completely. the world is driven by dreamers shaped by one person or those with.

no dares thinks. we dare to ask. the washing off now the president of the commission on the law and is facing a scandal back home in germany as a merge the data was deleted after it was requested in evidence none vesta get into her actions while she was germany's defense minister peter all of a has more on the story. on the line is looking to stumper or thora on the e.u. commission presidency right from the off.

the former german defense minister has been dogged by a scandal from her past and lynn she doesn't seem to be able to shake off while in charge of the german military her ministry was accused of massive overspends on outside advisers it was revealed that the fonda line defense ministry was spending 155000000 euro a year on outside advice that's more than all of the other branches of government combine and a federal audit office investigation found the defense ministry couldn't sufficiently justify why that external advice was even needed for the lions phone was thought to hold the answers to whether she was involved or even knew about any impropriety but it's emerge now that all of the data on her ministerial phone had been deleted the data from the phone of boosler from the line was already deleted in august the phone had a fax reset and the data was lost with no possibility of feed being restored but

the data was deleted from the phone after it became part of the body of evidence in the investigation opposition parties and those in the ruling coalition in germany are demanding answers i expect defense minister crown current power to take action now on those responsible this is destruction of evidence and must also have personal consequences this is an annoying delay tactic by the government 1st the ministry said that people were looking for a mobile phone then it was announced that it was still pin locked now the government has admitted that it had already been white the investigative committee has still not received any s.m.s. and the mobile phone has still not been examined there is simply no preservation of evidence the consequence is. the defense ministry gave the people concerned every possibility to delete as messes and messages the german defense ministry hasn't exactly made things crystal clear with its statement on the phone data being

deleted the types of communication and official mobile phones that are subject of interest for the investigation committee are covered by evidence decisions the federal ministry of defense provides the committee of inquiry with all existing documents relating to the subject of the investigation this is far from over the investigation continues and as long as it does has the potential to throw mud on angle americans christian democratic union party who are in overall charge and ursula fall into line herself which could well spell a short honeymoon period for the new e.u. commission president as the media and eventually her colleagues in brussels question how involved in these payments she was one thing is for sure silence and the deleting of data is only going to raise more questions peter all over r.t. berlin. thanks mean krave deputy chairman of the alternative for germany passing saxon brown says that the public should put more pressure on the government. does

it feel as a german minister of defense everywhere she had to turn or it was a catastrophe it was do this force of you lose the liberal socialists and the christian democrats would have for president of the e.u. commission the ministry of defense been ruling in some millions to external consultants for some of them alone created as soon there are external beep for more military people decide how to purchase new equipment after the tenor of misses from a lot of mischief germany is not even tradition and. it's of the military is completely ruined and knowing she destroyed the evidence can share with her she was just incompetent or or corrupt i didn't think it was and biggest addition will bring the truth to light it is that the political cost of the dollars are higher. to silence it should you alone nothing happened in

germany to governments that will try to. we're going to look at the public will pressure on merkel and other christian democrats and middle. except that they get treated badly. by the rock musician turned political activist roger waters has a lot to get off his chest these days especially given the state of british politics right now when he is the guest on the latest episode going underground which he does rail against the mainstream media's influence on the u.k. election and you can watch it in full a bit later today here on r.t. his approval. we have to guard ourselves out and remember that the information is the elephant in the room but we have to or simply looking over our shoulders because these men. will be trying to shut down and julian a son is a big it's the point of that nasty evil state at shutting people up

on many does all we need to do is to organize and to rise and to say no. we're not going to let you kill us anymore we're not going to write down quietly we're not going to let you come in and rape and pillage our lands and steal all precious things that might be underground and some to distract heap. of neo liberal disdain it's becoming more and more apparent that propaganda is almost the most important thing in our lives and the fact that the mainstream media is owned by very rich and powerful people and in consequence they may be that they coming closer and closer to controlling everything not just only elections but everything and obviously the elections they can't control they send in the troops you know and stop killing people what was interesting to me is that what 500 years since

columbus and just now this is the only thing that makes me. that gives me the strength to carry on in this fight and now is this 500 years later it seems that we the people are just beginning to rise up now against this settler colonial attitude supply last 500 years and that gives me heart that of course are not in the streets of the pads being shot or in santiago in chile being blinded or by the pinkerton man. can watch that interview on for a bit later today. now another security breach scandal has hit social media giant facebook is a new massive online database is being leaked that could potentially be used against the site's users more than 267000000 facebook users id's phone numbers and names were exposed most of the affected users were from the u.s.

this database has been taken offline facebook's stated to r.t. that they think the records were obtained before recent security upgrades. we are looking into this issue but believe this is likely information obtained before changes we made in the past few years to better protect people's information facebook has been marred by security breach scandals that's despite its efforts to combat the leaks here's a look at some past examples. we

didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility and that was a big mistake and it was my mistake and i'm sorry. we've had a series of different data exposures data leaks and facebook has how to respond reactively to a large number of because it's been on the back foot we are going to see more breaches more incidents to come because 1st of all they haven't fixed every single problem and secondly there are all amounts of data that took already being taken through facebook that have yet to be exposed elsewhere as was the case here the problem that facebook has though is that of eventually it is going to lose people's trust if it continues to behave in this way and no amount of money is going to buy

back the trust and at the same time with the new g.d.p. all regulations and europe it may face being blocked from processing dates when you're all even sharing data with the u.s. . it wash out say that brings you up to date set for the sad and forget they can or say keep across the news to you on a social media pages and you can. you know world of big partisan news lot and conspiracy it's time to wake up to dig deeper to hit the stories that mainstream media refuses to tell more than ever we need to be smart or we need to stop slamming the door. and shouting past each other it's time for critical thinking.