very dramatic and developing only personally and getting to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successfully, very critical time to sit down and talk a this is a firing position. there are several basements all around the place with similar firing positions. so what is this if not proof that ukrainians use civilian houses as the cover ukrainian nationalists forces are again accused of using civilians and don't boss us. human shields as an r t crew visits that front line with the wagner private military group. german officials warn about possible social on the rest, which could be worse. they say down the protest over the cobra. something that says electricity prices are already 5 times higher than

a year ago. with columbia is newly sworn that president brown's the u. s. warrant brooklyn's policy complete failure on pleasures to criminalize certain narcotics. later in the program, we have a lively positive discussion on that controversial initiative. i'm the new leader with wherever you're catching the program from today across the world. welcome to the global use ronda up in r t. my name's union. we begin with the latest from the front line in don boss, the russian defense ministry, se ukrainian brigade has lost more than 2000 troops in the past 24 hours. the fighting happen near a city in the done yet republic. the m o. d. all so say's another brigade lost 70 percent of its troops on one ukrainian. the battalion was said to have refused

to fight altogether and retreated from the battle on a high precision missiles strike. also killed up to 100 ukrainian nationalists. but it comes as russian troops continue to make advances in that and yet people's republic, they are not pushing towards the key strategic city of our champs. and among the advancing forces is a private russian military company called the wagner group. our team eager shut down a forest front of the rare opportunity to join them and also to look at the abundant positions of ukrainian troops who continue official se to use locals there. as you mentioned several years ago, many weren't certain if this unit was real or just a spine chilling myth. it's the most reclusive and cryptic company fighting for russia, the don bass. this is the wagner group. ah

ah. the village of the cross glare refused to fool for weeks to defended. key of commanders deployed some of its veteran troops with plenty of experience in ugly warfare. so from the outside, this looks like an anonymous village. ha, just a civilian house, but trust me, it is not. and as i go, please pay attention to this very badly decomposed body in ukrainian military uniform. but if you were to just follow me, you will discover this, again,

an anonymous tool shed. and again, it is not, you can see the trench, the trenches over here. so this is a firing position. there are several basements all around the place with similar firing position. so what is this, if not proof that ukrainians use civilian houses as their cover. and basically anonymous places like this but it takes more than just dirty tactics to stop the wagon a group dubbed as the orchestra, the unsolvable and other music inspired nicknames. they pounded this very position for long, violent 8 hours until every one of the dozens of resisting ukraine's troops either fled or met them. maker. this is one of the basements amid village houses, where the ukrainian troops used to shelter. this is a good hiding sport because you can see it goes quite deep on the ground. the roof here is reinforced. and if you wondering what this ropers is done for safety,

for closing the door remotely, the village is largely deserted, yet a handful of civilians with no other place to go remain at the same time. ukrainian forces are still shelling the place, targeting the musicians in a whack a mole style. we live together with the russian units. my husband is an insulin, we just ran out. i ordered some ones, then again, the delivery failed. now they've taken him somewhere. i think that will get the medicine without the insulin. things would be bad, he would die. the orchestra has moved on already. there are the 1st and only unit to have breached the defenses of the city, of our term, of the next big thing on this direction. ah hm,

i'm walking along the same road as the most enigmatic unit. fighting on the russian side, this is the end of the village. and this is the last house here, which also turned out to be the final fortification, on their way to another of our headline stories to day soaring electricity prices in germany. i've had a new record reaching $455.00 euro per megawatt hour, which it translates pretty worryingly as 5 times higher than last year on the spike. the traditional economic strength of the country. even the states finance minister recognizes that. currently the situation is worsening. significantly to feel a mention for many people in everyday life has become far too expensive. we fear that gas energy and food prices will rise. at the same time, countries, economic prospects have become fragile and full cost for economic growth have to be

revised downwards of all of our to contribute. our rachel marson has been among those watching the bills rise and also the younger to them. rachel, hello, their arts are things really that bob in such an economic powerhouse as germany? well, it's not like they weren't warned right. germany is the country that contributes the most cash among all the member states to the european union. now, brussels is always able to count on the reliability of the high german economic tied to carry any sinking member state ships. but the problem with, depending on the other guy's money, is that someday that other guy could be in financial trouble himself. and then when that happens, what happens to these dependence? the idea that germany could be facing dire economic and political straits to the point of social unrest and warnings of potential instability was previously completely unfathomable. but now a perfect storm is brewing on horizon for berlin with inflation reaching its

highest level since reunification in 1990 cost of living, pressures, increasing energy prices. skyrocketing as officials plunged the economy into a sort of kamikaze tails friend o for ukraine, and the german finance minister is now saying that the economy is deteriorating as he taps the fuel gauge and sees it on empty. there's no gas. literally as officials scramble to find a solution to their self and most energy crisis and rationing. now all he really has to do is pull up on the controls. but berlin refuses to consider the pipeline north stream to north stream. one city are sorry, north stream to sitting right in front of them. ready to deliver rushing. yes. the minute they decide to stop the sadomasochism of their self imposed economic sanctions. so now german officials are bracing for panic of on board as disaster approaches. if prices continue to rise, then at some point people will take to the streets. we must help average households

and set an upper limit for energy cost. if we get social unrest, the state won't be able to cope what we experienced in the cove it pandemic in terms of partly violent confrontations on social networks. but also in the streets and squares was probably more like a children's birthday party in comparison. so there's also another german security official named stephan kramer. and he told the german press that he's concerned that this, these clashes, if the situation escalates, could quote probably feel more like a children's birthday party by comparison to the classes that happened during the coven pandemic. and it's funny, but he's also advising people well ahead of time. of course, to think quote, think carefully about which protests and demonstrations you join or better stay away from them altogether. so as not to support the enemies of democracy. so obviously they're kind of framing this already as well, someone else's fault, and certainly not their own. so in an attempt to calm the masses, nonetheless,

berlin's going to throw money at its own citizens. now, who have thought that we'd see the day when germany would be handing out aid to its own citizens. and judging by any report, forecasting a loss of 260000000000 euros by 2030 and an estimated loss of 240000 jobs. by this time next year, it looks like germany's running out of its own money now. so by what magic math is going to keep paying people and to make matters worse, chancellor, olaf schultz is racking up political scandals, including accusations of political interference in waving the tax bill of the largest private bank in germany as mer of hamburg now. he has to answer to committee on that and he already doesn't seem too happy having to answer to the press the pharmacist, michelle tradition. mom and it is not credible to mix facts into a question that is not true. these claims have not been substantiated. think about it before you ask something like that. so you might recall that there was also

a matter of 9 women claiming that they were slipped a date, rape drug during a summer gathering for shelters, party and one that he hosted. so it all just adds fuel to the fire at a time when the german landscape is increasingly vulnerable. and officials fear that any spark could ignite a blaze of unrest. it's just really too bad that they brought it all on themselves and seem pretty intent on staying the course are to contribute. rachel morrison taken us through that. thanks. rachel. now a so cold and murder for hire a plot to assassinate the former u. s. national security advisor john bolton, i've seen a member of the arena law mac revolutionary guard cor, charged by the u. s. sharon um personnel fee was reportedly offered at offering $100000.00 for the hit thought in retaliation for an earth strike that killed senior. iranian military officer. custom sula. money in 2020

on or about january 3rd, 2020. cuz some silly money. the former commander of iran islam a revolutionary guard cor, t o d s force was killed by u. s. air strike in iraq. certain members of the leadership of iran denounced the killing of publicly vowed revenge general. still a money was se hugely popular, figuring around his killing brought hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets and protest. many experts considered him of the key figure behind a run foreign strategy in the middle east on the market. tact of its regional influence really cilla money's murder by drone, intensified tension between washington on to run professor at the university of iran side. mohammed mirandi believes there was no objective reason or explanation for his killing this accusation. the united states has a tradition of lying about intelligence and such information.

and we know, for example, that when the united states murder, general sony money, later on, it was exposed to the defense secretary. in his memoir, he said that trauma just simply wanted to kill him and that the reason for his killing that was given was all false when the united states wanted to murder or general. so the money they gave an excuse or they claim that he was about to carry out an imminent strike or attack on american targets. but it turned out obviously that was a lie. this is the same. it's unclear why the united states at this time would want to escalate some sort of tension with iran. it cannot wage war against russia through ukraine, poke china and attempt to intimidate china and also escalate against

iran at the same time. the truth is that the united states is only going to increase its decline at a more rapid pace by simultaneously trying to intense, intensify tensions with iran, russia and china. columbia is new presidents, and it's 1st left. this one, gustavo, petro claims the u. s. war on drugs has failed. speaking out his inauguration ceremony on sunday, he also promised that his victory would be a 2nd chance to tackle poverty and violence in the country. is sort oh, this time for new international convention that except that the war on drugs is fail, that is left 1000000 latin americans murdered. majority of them colombians in the past 40 years, and they leave 70000 north americans dead every year due to overdose of drugs, of which none are produced in latin america, the war and drug strengthen,

matthews and weakens states. will. let's just take you through some of the figures he'll have to talk on. some truly i opening once more than $600000.00 colombians are drug users. the country produced an estimated 70 percent of the cocaine consumed globally. last year, males age between 15 on 64 are the main users in the country with more than 128000 teenagers currently using to. so i big agenda head for him at let's speak on this subject. there. plenty of ramifications. we can speak to daniel shaw, professor of and latin american and caribbean studies, the city university of new york, francisco domingo, head of latin american studies at middle east university, and jamita shopper colombian, active speaking to us from bob. it's how you're very welcome to the program. daniel, can we start with you? speaking of figures? the u. s. has spent more than one trillion dollars over 50 years in the war. on

drugs. can it all have been a failure, as the president seems, the claim did nothing work every year here in the united states, we lose more people. the vast majority to opioid overdose is, which is coming from afghanistan into mexico and made right here in laboratories that says nothing to do with columbia south america. this long benefit belief justification for us war on not drugs, but the people of south america in the sovereignty of south america for how many decades we seen the colombian government and paramilitaries, actually collaborating with the us government and carrying out their agenda. so the u. s. by no means innocent in this matter. mirror and gustavo petro has call for the d, criminalization of drugs in the country. so i suppose that begs the question,

how can he slum america's war in drugs when he's advocating more of them on the streets, is not for accusation. well, so as somebody on the ground here in columbia, and as somebody who i was present for the you know, gratian, i feel that gustavo kept those approach to the legal edition of drugs is basically trying to figure out a way to decrease the diploma zation of youth with in colombia as far as him wanting to pass stuff as legalization of marijuana because as we know, marijuana is kind of like a gateway drug for folks who use for their own health. this is utilized for medicines and all that other stuff. and i was trying to utilize the coco leave you know, legalize that the way they did in bolivia under ever moralities. so i do feel

that that that could be an approach towards the one drug francisco domingo is good to have you on the program as well. just to keep the theme of figures going, because i do think it's important for the audience to know. and 600000 colombians or drug addicts, children as young as 12 are using that's just columbia. how grave is the drug problem in the latin american region? because we keep talking about the issue internationally, but on the growing there, what's the situation? how did it get to that stage? a lot of them is least. excuse me. it's ok. i think the problem is very serious. in terms of the e channel, you know, the number of people that you mentioned in the presentation, but i think that would be a clean for emily. you know,

and nations in latin america come from regionally from children. as a result of the warm dry, united states was able to pressure the colombian government 2009 to sign. the 1st defense corporation agreement, which the united states installed between $710.00, military bases that were allowed to use every facility, community or civilian in the country. in any event, the conflict. you can imagine that it's more or less given the country united states, but it seems that you know, we stole real reinforcement against drug trafficking, drug a collection in columbia grown between 30 to 40 percent of your favorites and 92 percent again, produced in columbia. actually consumed the united states. so it is

a very serious problem. so they can realize that much of these 2 in the, the j is from people who are, you know, mine all these mean with daniel. one thing here, if other countries, the big markets for colombian, cocaine, if they don't alter their drugs policy in terms of the criminalization, will it really make any difference? what are how ambitious the new president's agenda is in the country. it's going to take an international effort for, to really make a difference in columbia to so many push and pull factors when we talk about a international effort that's often a euphemism for us lead effort. how could we trust the u. s. government, when they themselves were found guilty in the 90 days of trafficking, the cocaine in the crack, into the most depressed inner city neighborhoods. in los angeles and across the

country. from the perspective of colombian, youth, they need economic opportunities, educational opportunities, community healing a chart to reverse how many centuries of generational trauma just like us here in the united states. and until there are policies, a brand new effort is gustavo, bad through frontier marquez have said either the colombian people nor the u. s. people have a shy to overcome this war on us because the war on drugs is actually warn us on poor people. on both sides of the border of this conflict and vm, your president, petro, he seemed to channel into a new hope in the country after after decades of spending and trying to fight the war and drugs out it not working and leading to more gorilla right wing wars tan, gustavo, petro, can he stop violence in columbia by de criminalizing drugs?

is, is it as simple as that? well, i do think him in french markets are going to have a big time challenge. during these next 4 years of worst, i will bet those presidency, but i do feel that there is hope as, as again, as somebody who was present for the migration for the his, this historic integration, which was like the plaza, i believe it was filled was, was over it was filled with folks from all around colombia, all around the left and social movement in columbia. so it was packed, the plaza was packed. and i remember hearing gustavo petro speak about wanting to consolidate national unity and for their national unity not to be concentrated in the capital book, but to be focused in the smaller regions in the rural regions. and trying to spread

the government of p of wanting to create opportunities, economic opportunities for rural farmers, that they're only opportunities were, was to produce the coca leaf which produces cocaine in order for them to reduce other things in their region that's for exporting being or are you or potato and as well as wanting to create how he feels with the land right now, gustavo is in the process with the cuban government of sitting down with the young and gorilla in order to spread that government of peace as well as opening the border we're going to swell up recognizing the constitutional president, nicholas my daughter. so i feel that it will stop at that all might have a challenge within the institution, but he will be able to, to be successful because he has

a lot of the backing. right? because i mean, i think and tired of this war on drugs and francisco, do you see a template for what the new president is attempting to do in terms of scale? as we said, over half of the worlds cocaine comes from this one country. so there's a lot of people making a lot of money from it. they are going to lose out in the short term, at least. is there a will for the president to succeed where that money lies? the immunization trucks that he's proposing is hard central to the policy or bring in about peace in the country already. there is an agreement signed by various countries including columbia. so to bring about the peace agreement, or destroying by the right, we as a consequence for a while and i don't mean to treat or somebody in the last year, 1300 people been assassinated and he's, you know,

who for peace. so i think he's going to focus on these and the reason why he can focus and these 2 for number one is a huge consensus and a huge majority. ready in columbia, one people from all of them, all right and different, but it is one piece in the country, one for one. secondly, because of the national by many, including the united states, my sense is that he's going to bring to bear all the countries powers international bully. so i see the start, the close of the you can see already been down, forces are really emerging voice is one of these days. so that's why you have to understand the, the conversion of drugs and deal with drugs. essentially, in order to assure that there are the conditions for bringing about the country so much me. yeah, danny,

i think it's worth touching on the previous president as well. a right wing figure who essentially went to the u. s. and said we need your help. we need your money to tackle drugs in this country more than $8000000000.00 and went to military forces in columbia for that reason. but the didn't seem to be result where, where does that money and all what, what happened there? columbia has long functioned as the israel, the u. s. is israel in south america with aching, mobilize and deploy troops, it will where they can in circle and intimidate. then as well as this phony war on drugs was merely the justification to mobilize $8000000000.00 in clan alamba. to move around colombia, swashbuckling like the colonizers of yester year, us has 9 more terry bases is francisco mentioned in columbia. none of these bases

are legal and that was the function of the henri base. the santos is the duke is the biggest seller off this tremendously geopolitically important in mineral rich oil rich country. that's a massive price. now that the left wing, the masses of 40000000 people of columbia, pushing back against this right wing imperialist gender, certainly is going to be a showdown between gustavo petro washington. it's very interesting looking at what he's planning in terms of the, the government, his cabinet, he's not afraid to go outside his, his round really he, he will take expertise from conservative figures. if they know more, it appears and he'll try and mix that. do you feel that that's maybe the issue, the problem before in columbia, that to many previous governments wouldn't go across the i wouldn't say that we need help from, from other figures. because the only way this is going to work in the country to

stop the violence is to get a front from all sides from all interested parties in the nation. yes, i think president costello, petro has to be very strategic of how he wants to navigate his new government. he's promoting the government or piece and reconciliation with in column in society . and he, he wants to, like i said before, wants to push for on his government, not just to be focused in both but also in the other room regions that have been abandoned historically within calamity society like tread more popular democracy to use our actual cuz i mean you out to the pacific regions of the call or to the indigenous youth out in the heat and the noise caribbean, north on eastern caribbean region as well as he has to also contend with the fact

that most of the institution still, even though his coalition and the start call story act as a majority in the congress, you still have to deal with. ready that though, right, we still have some power within the institution as well as the military because most of the military are not in our day are not accepting that they have to now have to have a president who was the x x gorilla. so there's a lot of the stuff that goes federal has to make concessions with the right wing. you know how to move forward with his government and his project of peace and reconciliation. all right, what time has beaten us and we appreciate your take on this important issue for columbia going forward. and indeed, the wider world we've been speaking to me at chub burkland be an activist. francisco engine goes head of american studies out middle sex university in the u.

k. and also down the shore professor, latin american and car to be in studies at the city university of new york. many thanks, gentle tool. thank you again you are now the us secretary of state tour of africa is continuing with ra wanda, the latest stop, anthony blink, and see if the u. s. doesn't want to force the content to pick sides. then geopolitical issues, african nations have been treated as instruments of other nations progress rather than the authors of their own. the united states will not dictate africa's choices, and neither should any one else blinking to follow is hauled to on the heels of the russian foreign minister. sir, gala ross, who just wrapped up a meeting read across the contents. us official has been trying to rally support on the african mainland in an attempt to limits russia's legit creeping influence across the region. washington state forever. the south africans, foreign minister for wall.