headlines today a top u.n. official says the united states jailing of will supply chelsea manning full refusing to testify against the wiki leaks founder is tantamount to torture. new year's day in hong kong sees hundreds of arrests as an estimated 1000000 turn out for the 1st big anti beijing protests a 2020. pushback against the droid january health initiative as french one produces and the government announced the annual alcohol abstinence of the topic in the country's culture. good afternoon well welcome to the program just 12 pm here in moscow right now live

from the r.t. international world news center it's kevin i would here with this hour's round up start with this the senior u.n. official now accusing the united states of torturing whistleblower chelsea manning with her continued incarceration letter from the world body special report on torture to the u.s. government from last november as no only just come to light the practice of coercive dipper of asian of liberty for civil contempt involves the intentional infliction of progressively severe mental and emotional suffering for the purposes of coercion and intimidation at the order of judicial authorities such deprivation of liberty does not constitute a circumscribed sanction for a specific offense but an open ended progressively severe measure of coercion fulfilling all the constitutive elements of torture or other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. chelsea manning was of course a u.s.

military intelligence analyst but was arrested in 2010 for leaking classified information to wiki leaks she was convicted in 2013 to 35 years in prison now president obama commuted his sentence just before he left office but then she was arrested again last year for declining to testify against wiki leaks publisher julian assange we got the thoughts of global affairs analyst patrick henningsen who told us that the u.n. letter will be a boost for supporters of both manning and while lawyer and activist kevin zeese explain to us how the law is being used to coerce manning uses. in a grand jury which is a secret process before someone is indicted or you before a prosecutions occurring to determine whether someone should be prosecuted this is a power of the court to coerce someone into testifying now this law can all allow a person in the united states to be held for the length of the grand jury in order to coerce them to testify before the grand jury and no longer serves the purpose it

was intended to serve it's now become a weapon of prosecutors it was initially designed to protect people who are being investigated the reason they're kept secret because they're trying to protect people being investigated before they're indicted so you don't know that they're being investigated but no motor serves our purpose and now serves the purpose of being a tool for prosecutors that's abused and i think chelsea manning is a victim of that abuse the report by niels meltzer does give an additional layer of legitimacy to the case of manning to really back up all of the things that manning supporters that the song should really have been saying now for over 6 more ups i mean this is unjust this is unfair they're trying to create something new this is the whole point of coerced trying to coerce manning to come up with something that the d.o.j. can use to make a real case against the sunday shows you how flimsy this is this is the degree

degradation of the justice system in the united states and also in the u.k. as well in the case of the songes more like more resembles a banana republic style facade of a state judicial apparatus this is all part of the campaign trail for a man you can to reframe julius on and we as a from a journalist and a publication to being a cyber criminal in a hostile foreign intelligence agency 3 entire case all the indictments against dishonor are based on that really framing principle and they are trying to get chelsea manning to give them something a key to actually make that narrative work and she's not she's not volunteering anything and this is frustrating the u.s. system tremendously. while julian assange is a ferry much better either he's also behind bars in a british prison off to being dragged out of the ecuadorian embassy very publicly where he spent the previous 7 years we'll talk about that today a correspondent. few buildings in the walls have come under as much scrutiny as

this one here at the door and. in those 4 walls for 7 long years possibly the most famous whistle blower who time to get a staunch would hold off until 8 port 2019 to 48 world was sensationally dropped out which should start to ease. the work for the wiki leaks founder this was a huge betrayal by the latin american country that had sheltered him since 2012 aquittal said the relations had soured with the songe and his bad behavior triggered them opening the door to the police and revoking his asylum but it's worth noting that just a bit acquittals bank account got an almighty boost with a $4200000000.00 loan from the i.m.f. where the u.s.

has huge voting rights a staunch is currently sitting in belmarsh prison in the country's capital sucking up to meet sentence but jumping bail in 2012 but many are saying that what he's been handed is a death sentence because over 60 doctors wrote an open letter to the u.k. government saying that he might die in prison britain for its part denies any wrongdoing the allegations mr son she was subjected to torture and founded and hold false the u.k. is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the no one is ever bomb it but long to its defense rings hollow in light of the reports by many organizations including the new web which claimed that as a scientist health continues to deteriorate authorities are simply standing idly by the blatant and sustained arbitrariness shown by both the judiciary and the government in this case suggest an alarming departure from the u.k.'s commitment to

humor. rights and the rule of law unless the u.k. urgently changes course and alleviates the inhuman situation mr songes continued exposure to arbitrariness and abuse may soon end up costing him his life but as saunders battle for his well being is not only fight on his hands ever since wiki leaks exposed gross misconduct by the u.s. government washington has been pushing for his extradition on espionage charges giving him a helping hand the british government despite international outcry the u.k. home secretary signed a us extradition request putting us on that one step closer towards being charged for publishing classified information and conspiring to hack the government computer 18 charges that washington has put forward could carry a maximum sentence of 175 years behind bars the reaction all over the wild people are crying foul they say that this is not

a case about punishing a crime but of silencing a voice surely in their singled out for special treatment for one reason only here's the truth he's such an innocent important man is because he is a freedom fighter however much you dislike. his case is the most important for me give you freedom this is just. miss rule of law and operation. washington's bid to get asylum stateside was also helped by not the european country sweden the scandinavian nation was investigating a rape allegation against the whistleblower and would have been within its rights to request his extradition to face trial since that case predated the u.s. request london would have been obliged to send a songe to stockholm fast but sweden has now closed that investigation conveniently removing the. final obstacle for the americans funny how it all wiped out

a song just extradition hearing is set for factory 2020 but in light of these recent talents of the band's fears of grabbing the does little charts of play discourse sure i mean what and so of course what news most of the united nations special operator on torture certain how corrupts and how in stress that the entire system in the u.k. including the judiciary and the media has to call in when it comes to julian. you know before you call course earlier this year and this sort of was a confirmation that what neil smelters said seems to be true that julian was. just a lot of attention was fair trial into while one always hopes that lead to justice will prevail u.s. authorities are rather spared applied wired for a start so it might well turn out that when

a country is dirty secrets are risk of being exposed justice that is a word that's up for interpretation so as to tailor r.t. london. hong kong so the new year with more violent protests with rally organizers putting the turnout at more than a 1000000 though so there are $400.00 arrests with police blaming radical protesters for the unrest. and called police a mass riot has recklessly vandalized public facilities in several areas the

authorities moved to end the rally early and then the clashes erupted washington supported the protests from the outset but hong kong based political fighters joseph chang spoke to us about it he thinks it's more to do with building a wider political leverage against. the united states part of we will support hong kong but don't know it's from administration both likely to hold on to shield and theory as human rights issues in china. chips to exert pressure on china people would like to see a novel nice asian process a reconciliation process but apparently 18 and the hong kong government maintain. in and they have used to make any concessions to the protestants and to do all democracy in one's. taiwan's military chiefs been killed in

a helicopter crash near the capital taipei the defense ministry says 7 others also died but the remaining 5 on board did survive the blackhawk helicopter was heading from the capital to a base in the island's east coast but 30 minutes after takeoff it disappeared from radar and came down in a mountainous area it's not yet known why the aircraft got into difficulty but an air force general told reporters that the helicopters condition was quote not ideal . well now with 2019 done and dusted the let's take a look back at more of the events that defined the year just gone. thank you. so socially politically beyond 2019 caused a fair bit of upheaval to our lives worldwide let's try this thing out and bring a bit of it alive but for some the march of modernity as we head into the 2020s is

leaving more than a few people fearing for the much loved heritage and this story let's take a look at one tradition seem to be under threat if it comes in france there's anger over a proposal to adopt draw a journey areas is being put it's a month abstaining from alcohol often excesses of the holidays or french one is of course as much a part of the dinner table as the food itself plans not going down too well. as some other ideas than on how to freshen up from the new year without having to put a cork in your culture. when you raise a gloss of wine or beer in florence it's customary to say so on say which means health but if you waking up with this sore head off to celebrations on new year's eve you may be wondering if all those salt days have done you any good after all and instead of trying a hair of the dog here you might think that it's time to join the millions of others across the world in having a little bit of

a breather from alcohol that's right it's time for dry january a month of alcoholic abstinence it's been so popular in the anger from world that there were even plans to introduce it here in france but to the french you are famous for their love of a little plonk even you know what to write january is try january. no it's not possible it doesn't exist in france dry january i have not heard of it i have heard of many other traditions like move into is that it's. movember something like that but with wine i don't think it's possible no no not at all no with free. no i don't understand it this really exists so a person much or resoundingly no perhaps all the more reason to kick start the idea given that alcohol kills tens of thousands of people every year that's exactly what

france is health agencies salt a public falls to do but after explaining to prisons what dry january is what they think about it. in a month without drinking whole it's difficult for the french. i could try it but i'd rather not it would not be too pleasant without wine. the french are going to die. what would be the reaction i mean why. it's like not eating because they're not used to it who drinks more than me i don't know hard to respond it seems for once the president might call really has his finger on the pulse of what the french are thinking he's said to have fiercely opposed to promoting a moratorium on alcohol in january or perhaps it any time of the year and given the

choice will parisians be raising a normal colics all day for dry january well if they slaughter anything to go by probably not dilute the very same tea maybe mix too is a bit of alcohol just a bit unlike those women who drink discreetly in the kitchen. i prefer wine friendly always who's in a small meal and even when you have it you know. what wine is it if it's a very good wine then wine. well that settles it to draw it january is definitely not a french thing and for us here in paris bone is salty. well thank you all the way more of all reflections of the year just what we've got coming up on the big screen small some of the movies and shows that go to still talking terrified just downright furious coming up.

to. put themselves on the line to get accepted or rejected. so when you want to be close. to going. to see what the 3 of the people are. interested in the water. should. cause a report the 1st episode of 2020. states you're ever not going to really special guest dr michael hudson you know back in the seventy's 970 s. there is a movie called death wish with charles bronson remember that i remember that we

could do a remake and you were the star you play the charles bronson role as called. vigilante banker economists that goes around new york blowing the way. we think i love it ok. again say this when but notice in the cultural highlights of the policy issue we hear about the international. protests demos and trade was as you're about to see monies to escape from some to some decades of funny t.v. series of movies as well like this event saying goodbye to some long running blockbusting favorites another left will be in says deeply divided along the way then takes on the. it's been a long year in global news entry scandal uncertainty and cliffhangers we've seen it

all at least we can all wind down with a good movie everyone's favorite pastime bringing people together in the cinema or on the sofa well ok 29000 hasn't quite been like that. spring arrived bringing a monumental conclusion and epic game of thrones saga it won millions of fans around the world i mean do you even know anyone who hasn't seen at least one episode it even became a feature in international twitter diplomacy. it took 8 years to get literally everyone to jump on the west the rose by and wagon but just one series to get people fuming about the finale game of thrones season 8 has to be the most disappointing season finale of the decade merry christmas to everyone except the people who like the game of throwing series finale. thinking

about how cursed we are to live in the time when we're both the game of thrones finale and the star wars finale sucked people even launched a petition to reshoot the final season nearly 2000000 signatures and still rising and if you thought breaks it was divisive don't get me started on that file episode and into thinking. how do you think. i was just really. after such division of viewers would desperate for some unity and in came should noble people flock to see the latest hit stand aside game of thrones as the draw more about the world's worst nuclear accident shot right up the t.v. rankings. is on fire. and every atom of uranium is like a bullet. with a mini series struck such a chord with viewers in both east and west it also struck some bones of contention

why were there no ethnic minority actors how accurate was the science why so many cliched stereotypes nope so noble couldn't please everyone either and with every new episode came a new take on just how accurate the drama was or wasn't their characters are distorted and misrepresented as if they were villains they were nothing like that the plan work is a shown as though they are scared of everything this does not reflect reality in reality they were quite decisive very decisive not one of the operators fled after the explosion is a composed calm intelligent man who never denied his responsibility also became the knight screw darker and so that our screens walk in phoenix's joker delved into the murky as the depths of society and the human mind. when you bring me out. introduce me as joker.

i and as the height grew so did the panic yeah people actually got worried that film could provoke members of the so-called community self pitying missiles or mystic lonely online trolls into violence alarm bells even rang in the us military soldiers of a board about the risk of attacks during screenings it was all right on the night there was no mass violence critics loved phoenix but would divided over the film itself and whatever you thought of it some people certainly took inspiration from the character mixing fantasy with the reality and certainly sparking debate. nag nag nag. and back. the listen of joe

cruise the movie radical change is needed this is not enough and this is what all those democratic leftists i'm not aware of this dissatisfaction the grows today is a serious one this is the cannot deal with it with gradual reforms more tolerance it's a health care now it's a lot of themes of dystopia you know people don't really know where society is headed some people are loving the direction some are very scared and that's why movies like joker really speak to people another thing we're seeing is is that people are so sick of politics that they also just kind of want to zone out and they want something that's just just pure entertainment but the number one movie this year was a bender is the end game and i think that also speaks to it as well is that there's not really a political message in that it's just kind of eye candy and something to zone out to it's mindless entertainment and that's important i think to. people who are just sick of hearing about politics all the time because it affects

everything right. now well that's enough controversy for tonight christmas is off for all the season of goodwill to all it seems as though people just love to have a good old squabble over things even the magical world of cinema just call please everyone unless of course you happen to be baby go to. the baby. because they were that report looking back at the you're just going. to do so much more from a start you don't want to social media want to kevin know it for the rest of the team in russia seasons greetings and thank you for watching. but if she won you posted by you can i do the show with the shoes at the bazemore

those jeans nudist beach and you see me we need you blue truth. about that and when you die yes i. mean yes i mean that so that in fact involve. a lot of people see sawing as if parts of the 2 kids each other both are the most called. it as it needs to be as if. the. cabinet at 5 days doing this is. people who simply do something new. is your media a reflection of reality. in

the. transformed. what will make you feel safe. isolation it's good to see. are you going the right way or are you being led so. what is truth. is. in the world corrupted you need to descend. so join us in the depths. already made in the shallows.

alone welcome to worlds of the limits of my language mean the limits of my world the loss of our living with inspired sad in 920 why then the following century of booming linguistic studies have only confirmed that if our language is indeed shapeless as much as we think we shape them do we ever really speak our mind well to discuss that i'm now joined by letter but i didn't ski associate professor of cognitive science at the university of california san diego professor bird it's a pleasure and honor to talk to thank you very much for your time thanks so much for having now i know that you have long been studying the relationship with the mayan language and the world around us and i think you come to some very humbling conclusions that as much as real like to see ourselves as the masters of our thought and our warrants it works in the opposite direction to our language shapes

our experience and. very profound ways how does it work well of course we all have many years of experience speaking a language and we absorb so many habits and so many important structures from the language each human language is exquisitely structured there are about 7000 languages and all of that experience of speaking a language hearing the language around you trains your mind to focus on some things and not others there's always potentially an infinite set of things you could notice about the world you could potentially try to remember about the world and language streamlet and to think about only some of those things to focus on only those things that the people before us who built the language over many generations those things they thought were most important those things got built into the language and so now those are the things that we tend to focus on in the structures that we tend to conform and the heat works also in very subtle ways we do not necessarily we kind of appropriate to ourselves to our own free will but without

necessarily realizing that there are forces that imposing certain structures on ourselves you know we all take the language that we speak for granted it's like the air that we breathe we don't notice it and in fact most of us believe that we simply perceive reality the way that it is in fact we know through many years of psychological experiments so that's very far from the truth we don't see things just the way that they are instead the world that we the internal world we live in is highly constructed by the structures of our brains but also by the structures of our languages and cultures that tell us how to put things together we often talk about this symbiotic and reinforcing relationship between language and culture and it's very hard for me personally to resist thinking about that relationship in cheek in that terms enough to sort of struggling with it for some time i wonder if it's actually a fitting metaphor or not in terms of what comes 1st but the terms of how the 2. we

produce one another yeah so i think of language as a part of culture language is a really good way to make a part of culture very long term and universally distributed so if i make something like dramatically gender a part of the language well all speakers of that language are going to have to use that structure it's not going to be optional if you're speaking russian you can't just speak russian and not use grammatical gender no one's going to recognize you as a real russian speakers and so it becomes something that's then universally distributed through the culture the languages can lose genders can add genders that process is going to have to take a very long time whereas other cultural practices can come and go much more fluidly and may only affect some portions of the body but how. do you extrapolate from that relationship the fact that english and to some extent russian and both added to their quick to assign blame or responsibility does it have anything.