successfully very critical time, time to sit down and talk ah, barricades fires and violence classes with the police are seen on the streets of paris under the french cities of the incumbent. president micron winds the presidential race. also coming up on the program a nation. and this is the scene, every single village taken from ukrainian with home. it base as fighting in the dumbass region continues and artsy. crew visits in abundance school used by ukrainian troops. the defensive position and western media

pushes for harsh sanctions for the new countries refusing to cut off russian gas. the you agreed to moscow's demand for gas payments in rubles with from moscow to the world. you're watching r c international. my name is peter scott and his grades have you with us in commons. the french president is to retain his post for 5 more years. thus after manuel micron triumphed over right wing firebrand marine la penn in the country's presidential election. but the gap between the opponents was far closer than last election, and opponents of micron took the streets to show that discontent. ah, it

brought us mark a continuation of domestic problems that have plagued microns presidency. most high profile is of course the yellow vest movement triggered by on popular tax policies . manuel macro no was also labeled as quote the presidents for the rich, and after a slight increase in popularity amid the conflict and ukraine. his ratings have been falling again. archie shaw davinsky reports on those election results a, b, it b, our country is full of so many doubts, so many divisions, so we will need to be strong, but no one will be left behind. it will be up to us to work together to achieve unity. i'm not the candidate of one camp anymore, but the president of all of us. so many of my call has been re elected as president of france. it's the 1st time that anybody has been given a 2nd shot in office for around 20 years. he beat marine the pen with a larger majority than was expected. however, many said that they simply couldn't vote for either candidate. and as

a result of that, the abstention rate is said to be at a 50 year high at around 28 percent. there was anger that spilled out to the streets of france, moments after that announcement was made that emanuel mac gone, had once again won this huge discontentment, with some of the things he did in his 1st mandate, his 1st 5 years in office. and they were already tensions palatable with protest is out on the streets. those tensions were high. ah so marine the pen of the national rally didn't win this time around. however,

she does feel as if that the fact that she won more than 40 percent of the vote, that's what's been projected that she has been raised up by that a what we have seen for her party is this unprecedented support that wasn't there previously. she has gained huge were ment, him since she went in to that 2nd round of the election back in 2017. why? well her campaigning over the cost of living crisis has resonated with a huge proportion of the electorate here in france. and there is really this distaste by many for president mac on somebody that has been described over and over as being divisive and our current in office. and she has now urged her supporters to use this success as a springboard for the legislative elections that are coming up here in june. we are more determined than ever. i have no resentment. we will not forget the france that

is forgotten. the ideas that we represent have reached new heights in this defeat. i can't help but feel hope. murray. the pen also said that a manual might chrome was a divisive figure. and as we saw from his 1st term in office, there were an abundance of protest. movements here in france, whether that was from the yellow, vast movement that started back in 2018 and hassle, quite pete it out yet, or the protest. so for his plans to raise the retirement age. something that he actually campaigned on this time around and says he will look to do in his next 5 years in office for present. mack on the how has perhaps an even bigger problem that he needs to face. we took control 5 years ago. he talked about the idea of bringing people together to heal the nation and he talked about doing everything possible to ensure that people wouldn't move towards the fringes towards parties

like the national riley. what we have seen in 2022 is that the national rally came far too close for comfort from many to actually getting to the of these a palace hale in france. so could another 5 years of mac gone, if he continues to stoke that same type of division that we have seen over hoss mandate. if that continues france move even further in the next 5 years towards those fingers. on staying with france, the french military who returned an army base to molly enforcers. early this week has accused russian mercenaries of staging burials in mali, claiming the actions are part of a smear campaign against them. video provided the associated press, allegedly shows around a dozen bodies being buried near an army base in northern molly. the soldiers invariably, to be members of the wagner group or russian mercenary contingent. and the french

military claims is an attempt to discredit french operations in the country. the russian foreign ministry has called for a thorough investigation into the burial given the traditional tendency of the french media and often some european officials to blame other countries for all the sins. we can assume that some will be tempted to throw into the media space versions directed against the malia military who successes in clearing the terrorist threat from their republic has irritated paris, which failed to do so during the years of its presence in molly, we support the decision of the maryan authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the commission of this crime. we hope that the perpetrators will be identified and will be brought to justice. well, earlier historian an author gerald horn, so does that. france has previously made accusations against others in africa. frances trying to deflect attention from the fact france has a reputation in africa as being a major vampire in terms of sucking the life blood out of the continent. so given

that state of affairs, it's no accident that france is seeking to point the finger of accusation at others . i agree with the statement that there needs to be a thorough investigation of what led up to this video. we know that there is a tendency in the north atlantic countries to throw dust than the eyes of the public to try to distract attention from their misdeeds by pointing the finger of accusation at others. and that might be at play with regard to this current crisis . and molly, because we know that the mulligan authorities were quite dissatisfied with the performance of the french troops in mali, in the russian at city of brians, which is close to the border with ukraine. a huge fire broke out as an oil depot. local officials have confirmed the incidents, but the cause of the fire is not yet known. residents of the nearby area say they

heard powerful explosions before fire in gulf. the depot, no casualties have been reported and of course will bring your dates as and when we get them and is fighting continues to rage in the dumbass more russian troops are arriving in the combat zone. our correspondent rod got dea visited a local school abandoned by the ukrainian military, which was used as a defensive position phase 2 of russia's operation. ukraine is in full swing. vast convoys of troops and equipment. continue to pour into the wall zone, day and night. and as you get closer to the front, the sky lights up with russian forces together with local de nits militiaman are sweeping along the regions administrative borders. all of this was liberated from ukrainian nationalists and regulars. within the past week,

it's easy to find where they were quoted and resupplied. often, you just have to head for the closest school for 8 years as you grade, waged civil war against separate this province is they. they try to convince everyone from you out of the country was united. here is the crow across the hall from the local belonging to novak senior ukraine, who said over the years and added, we don't wanna go through with the food. cho wells for viola bray fluids is paula samuel nation leave on pods a show the loom. and he and missile. and this is this he in every single village taken from ukrainian troops that they with holes in the military bases. social

media platforms are flooded with videos, showing ukrainian troops setting up bases and arms depos in schools, even as frightened civilians pack the basement of virgin village. any settlement wherever we go. they make their firing positions in kindergarten, schools, churches, the national, live side by side with civilians. in the end, when they begin to retreat, their artillery hits both us and civilians. this scenario is repeated every time after our troops arrive, people relax, they begin to live. normally. they calm down. russian and allied forces here have almost reached the border of ukraine's near perimeter of screech, and they are at the gates of valeca and of a shortcut. a large fortified town. closer to the front lines, we found a full wood medical station. russian and local medics received stabilize and send

on troops injured in the fighting. we arrived as 3 bennett's militiamen wounded by shrapnel, received urgent care. i personally believe with none of the injuries were life threatening, though one soldier was heavily concussed. 3 at once is rare, but not unseen. this is a savage war, even though some humanity remains in the condition, enter the world my being at the forefront. we are holding on, we have a sufficient supply of everything we need. we accept everyone including civilians, even captured enemy soldiers. we provide them with the necessary medical assistance and send them on further for medical care. we feel great. we have support from our command and we believe everything went soon. rushes strategy here is care. the intent east to encircle ukraine's forces nationalist battalions and regular troops

in the don baths region. after 8 years of fighting and preparations to retake separatist areas by force. they are both experienced and well armed. this battle will neither be sure no easy or at guys the of odds he from the desk. staying in the da nets republic has some footage former equals poor showing the level of destruction after incense fighting. number of ships are badly damaged with some having been sunk. cause and buildings in the area have also been destroyed with so many unexploded mines left in the area, we heard from a russian soldier and a captain of a bulgarian ship fictitious. to discuss those learning, the ukrainian army had a fortified position in almost every building here was. this is evidenced by the large amount of ammunition that is present here, including western weaponry. if the building is untouched,

that means there was no one here. below digital of nike pleasure. it was hard for the crew because we are civilians. it was a lot of stress for us to hear the explosions of mines and grenades. it was terrible. no one can work here. now cranes are damaged buildings. computers, papers are destroyed. there is no one in the port who would work here will some western media outlets are ramping up the pressure after the european commission allowed payments for russian gas in rubles with germany and austria, declaring a quick cuts off from worse and gas would devastate their economies the countries now faced coals full tough measures for refusing to fall in line with tough, unsafe bush and sanctions. is ortiz, dont call to with more. you're either with us or against us. that seems to be the message, the western media, sending berlin just for being a bit apprehensive about slapping more sanctions on russia. we could impose a 6 month ban on german exports and keep extending it until the war was over or the

gas pipelines closed down. alternatively, we could organize consumer boycotts after all, any one buying a new b m w, or volkswagen is indirectly paying for putin's army. a point worth keeping in mind when choosing a new car. according to that telegraph article, germany should end up right next to moscow on the sanctions list, just because berlin is worried about what more sanctions could mean for its own economy in new york times. also put out a hit piece on former chancellor. gerhard schroeder, for saying germany is, economy needs russia you can't isolate a country like russia in the long run, neither politically nor economically. german industry needs the raw materials that russia has. it's not just oil and gas, it's also rare earths. and these are raw materials that cannot simply be substituted when this war is over, we will have to go back to dealing with russia. we always do. it's not surprising that more german public figures are now thinking that way,

after all the countries inflation rate for march with 7.3 percent, the highest since 1981. and the rising cost of living has dealt a serious blow to public support for anti russian sanctions. just ask the people on the streets, his own hand, and how can a country be punished for buying something. we need to discuss whether it is possible or not to continue buying russian gas is that who should punish him? i am a heating engineer, i have my own business and i constantly have to install gas heating oil heating. i asked, where are we going to get gas from? where will we get it? if we stop purchasing, where will we get gas from? even e, you politicians are flat out saying they cannot go on without russian das. we will not see the consequences of this in the spring and summer of 2022 as we have restocked, but next winter will impossible to survive. if there is no more russian gas look at the, at the sanctions in a different way. because a we of course, in line with all the sanctions and with our partners in you. but once

a sanction it's, it's yourself more than the ones targeted of i the sanction i think there's not much use last month in response to already existing sanctions. russia's president vladimir putin demanded gas payments from unfriendly countries to be made in roubles. that 1st the e. u flat out rejected the idea, but after a quick realization that there wasn't much of a choice. if the lights were going to stay on, the european commission agreed to play along. you companies can ask their russian counterparts to fulfill their contractual obligations in the same manner as before . the adoption of the decree by depositing the due amount in euro's or dollars. all the while countries that don't want to dump even more weapons into ukraine are feeling the pressure as well. some in washington want to cut off foreign aids to its close ally israel for refusing to do so. israel's reaction to ukraine will have varying on future aid from the u. s. to israel. hey, it forward. while the british telegraph says france and germany should be ashamed

for also refusing to send more weapons, it's pushed germany's chancellor to say enough is enough when world tensions are already so high. we must do everything possible to avoid a direct, military confrontation between nato in a highly armed superpower like russia, a nuclear power. i am doing everything i can to prevent an escalation that leads to a 3rd world war. there should be no nuclear war. brussels is planning yet a 6th round of sanctions against russia. the west, santi russia, hardliners are clearly trying to pressure their allies into their camp. but who knows how far they will bend before they decide to protect their own interests over kias form olsteen foreign minister? karen can, i still told us that this pressure is on death by some of germany's partners in the you, you know, there's a kind of so then that does hold of revenge in my eyes. if i may say, by a certain parts of germany who were dictated about 1012 years ago by the german government, how to run their economy that was against the backdrop of your price is 202011.

then chancellor, i'm going to america more, less put them in front of very strong reforms in order to remain within the euro. that was particularly true for greece, but it also hit italy, spain, all to go to a certain extent. and when i'm observing now, the positions by italy and greece, both countries, all the very dependent on russian gas imports. so they say, well, look, we are more or less in a situation like you, germany, but we go for it. and by the way, all recession you, germany dictated us 10 years ago was much harder than whatever you might face. now i would call it now it's a sort of little revenge by those governments and the germans honestly have not been behaving in a very diplomatic, in a very strategic way. although over the last 1015 years, ah,

in other news, the stickers with images of joe biden, as american petrol stations appeared to have had some clarifications added. americans made it clear that the gist of the stickers were not related to russia's actions in ukraine. americans hits by rising petrol prices pasted petrol stations with stickers, depicting biden. as you can see on your screen here. however, the stick has begun to appear with the inscription, quotes this sticker was here before putin invaded ukraine. many have become increasingly dissatisfied with biden's presidency and his political course. we spoke to residence of houston, texas. i'm not surprised at the popularity of the going down with the gas prices and many other things that he's done it as a saying that because of the war the gas prices were the same. or even during or before, we really need to talk it down and then fix what's going on here. in our 1st i

voted for him and i'm actually kind of sorry that i did. we need to be protecting our border before we go out there, worry about praise work. if the economy is good, residents can get by with a lot if it starts to decide if you start having a high prices, people are going to be angry about it. and there's going to be a change in the administration very quickly. usually the approval ratings of us presidents tend to rise when their country faces strategic challenges. while biden's is falling, the policy of sanctions against russia created problems. the administration with commodity prices rising. the withdrawal of troops from afghanistan triggered the falling ratings when biden's rating dropped by 10 points with the president also appearing confused during public appearances on multiple occasions. ah,

we spoke to sara founder's a co director of the international action center and contributing editor of the workers world newspaper who says that americans across the u. s. realize that billions in funding for foreign policy objectives has been taken from domestic programs. i think across the country, the big problem is that u. s. policy is not succeeding. therefore, the president, who helped to in every way to launch this war to motivated to push for billions and billions of dollars and funding for it will pay the price. and that was money taken directly from desperately needed domestic programs here to pay for a program that only is a benefit to us top military, oil and gas corporations. and everyone here understand pretty well,

the biden administration. and when he was vice president, all the more so was actively engaged in this war and promoting it and in promoting fascist gangs really in the ukraine. they will be behind the crew of 2014. so they are committed very deeply to this policy willis succeed in an electro away. i don't think so because it is costing so much to the average working person as i say, it's costing and inflation, it's costing and domestic programs right here. and you know, the u. s. has a problem. they are an empire in decline. and countries around the world hasn't signed on in the way in which they expected it to happen. the lesson has imposed sanctions on more than 40 countries around the world. a 3rd of the world population,

but then they impose the harshest ever against russia. and they're seeing a number of countries refusing to go along. actually, i would say it's in terms of world population, it's almost 3 quarters of the world today. that is not part of the sanctions on russia, so you have the, you being forced to acquiesce, and the u. s. pushing it, we can see it, even in the g. 20 meetings. they couldn't get the countries they wanted to buy into their program. so they're failing on a lot of levels, and that means their popularity will go down. the chinese naval base on the solomon islands would be a quote, red line for australia in the united states. that's according to the australian pm, but he didn't specify how the country would respond to such a scenario. here's what they have to say, though. i shared the same red line that united states has when it comes to these

issues. and we are very aware of that and actions that could be needed working together with our partners to ensure regional security. not just restricted to the whole region working together to ensure that we don't have any negative influences here or what either her young, what, what else trailing politicians should do is to earnestly heed the cause of the regional countries for maintaining regional security and stability and sustainable development, respect the island countries rights to decide bilateral corporation independently, and seriously reflects on their coercive diplomacy that brought grave impacts to the people of the island country. so u. s. officials visiting the solomon islands want of serious repercussions if china were to establish a permanent military presence. there after the pacific nation signed defense parts with beijing. this statement comes as a response to the ongoing confrontation between the us and china over influence in the region. china security patch with the solomon islands,

raised concerns as the country may request chinese assistance with military and law enforcement. china coat with consent docket, ships unmake stop overs and transitions on the islands is was a u. s. official had to say about the new part b, u. s. delegation made clear to the solomon islands during their visit, that the u. s. would have significant concerns and would respond accordingly. if china take steps to establish a de facto permanent military presence, power projection capabilities or a military installation, according to the white house. we spoke to joseph gregory mahoney, who's a professor of politics and international relations in east china normal university . you said that nathan policy is one of double standards. that's the essence of a double standard. you know, nato can claim countries are free to join nato. but this isn't a principle that it applies to blocks. it proceeds as potential threats. but i think it's helpful here to distinguish between sovereignty and whether

a country has an independent foreign policy. so we can say that japan, for example, in australia have sovereignty, but the extent to which they have independent foreign policies is a matter that many debate australia is caught in a near hysteric ante china discourse now, and has been for several years. so any event, even a minor 12000 kilometers away, all he creates more hysteria in canberra. so the fear mongering has to take even minor events and extrapolate the worst magical scenarios. because this is the logic already guiding their thinking. so they want to present this as a potential opening for military base aimed at australia. actually, it's a minor security outpost protect chinese interest in the solomons. that's all it is . russia's become production of a new super heavy intercontinental ballistic sol mots missile? ah.

according to the russian defense ministry, the saw much miss al can carry several hypersonic warheads. but officials claiming there are no analogues in the world. the missile is made in saudi from russian components and will be put into service later this year. a survey for now my name is peter scott. i'll be back again to the top of the hour with all the latest news and views out scenes. national ah a

ah. is your media reflection of reality? in the world transformed what will make you feel safer? isolation, whole community, are you going the right way? where are you being led to some with direct? what is true, what is great? in the world corrupted, you need to descend a join us in the depths. will remain in the shallows. ah

with ah, to welcome to worlds apart in that efforts to isolate a salad to west, comparing it to a parkway to dial south after claiming that depression were to have its own. nelson mandela and a bleaching government, which was to be ostracized. and the country's economy boy caught it. is that a viable historical lesson to be applied again, or perhaps to another international colonial thinking to discuss that i'm now joined by and talk while a woman in south african politician and this message and an ally of nelson mandela . this is a while, it's great to talk to you. thank you very much for your time there. so let's look. let's see now you're literally your worlds apart from russia.