can let it be an arms race is on a fence, very dramatic development. only personally and getting to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successful, very difficult. time to sit down and talk with the wagner private military grip reports taking a key suburb archibald, also known as glued local to are safely evacuated. helping sharing their story is good. if you want to come from or too much yesterday, wagner evacuation forces can't go many thanks to them for point was out. otherwise we would have died. no, sure. like i said it's hopes are security a much anticipated loan from the i m f. as in the external affairs minister steps in to help the country deal with its economic crisis,

not also with fiery protest continue in the french capital against president mac problems, plans to increase the retirement age in the european country. with 10 at night thursday in nairobi and here in moscow. welcome to the global news roundup. our top story, we begin on the front lines of don pulse, the head of russia's wagner. private military company has set his forces up, gained full control over a strategically important suburban arch, more school, so known as back moot. the suburb time of class shift is less than 10 kilometers from archibald. the city which has been a vital transport hub for the ukrainian military of the wagner grip said fierce

fighting his own going in nearby areas. previously the russian defense ministry confirm that wagner had made a solid contribution in taking the city of sola dar another strategically important location in the region. meanwhile, locals and arch him also have fight the military company for helping them evacuate is good if you're musk, i'm from her to musk yesterday. wagner evacuation forces came with many thanks to them for pulling the south for otherwise we would have died there. when we left the house and came under fire from the cracking ukrainian nationalist group and we had to drop down to the ground during the sheli, we crawled about 3 to 400 meters during the day. and at night we walked a very long distance and my grandmother couldn't even walk. we carried her on a stretcher, were very thankful to the wagner group through through during the vacation were taken out by the wagner and crew. god bless them. the shelling has nazis for a 2nd over the last 4 days. although we showed no signs of being part of the military when you and was ukrainian forces that were shelling, you know,

fortune to the west at all. it's very difficult in our cio mosque right now, just like in mar, you pull. maybe even worse since august, we have been living in the basement of our house are not going out anywhere. ukrainians were shooting at us civilians because most likely they have political issues against us. we were evacuated by the wagner group. they came at night. they said we need to leave urgently. we were getting out of the ruins. as soon as we came out of the basement, the ukrainians started shooting nearby. while earlier we spoke with yellow put comment editor in chief of finish news website m v media. he says, despite they takeover of key cities and on boss being a major development for russia, the western media is done playing it. of course. so in the military muse, bottled has a very big importance and it's difficult for, for the foreign media to western media to accept the full bottled oh, bad. but like i said, when we are talking about lobbying from

a doors we are talking about fully duration of dorm was. and that is exactly what the western propagandist are afraid of. they try to keep the beacher that gray ha, steal a bus ability to win a war against russia, each grade being to do but, but that's what exact exactly what they are doing. trying to convinced that there is the says to send all these billions of dollars and a western military oh weapons to, to keep key of troops. mean off rushes, ambassador to the u. s. sais, washington has given key a direct approval for attacks on crimea using american weapons. anatoly unten off made those comments in response to an assertion by the us. take the apartment that crimea is ukrainian territory and therefore not off limits. commentators nameless hume that russia will not retaliate for texas territory. it

should be obvious to everyone that we will destroy any kind of weaponry supplied to the zalinski regime by the americans are native. isn't it clear that pumping a crane with ma weaponry no matter where it is produced in the u. s. or any other nato country will only lead to an increase in the deaths of civilians? the rhetoric of u. s. officials is becoming increasingly belligerent. after hearing such remarks from washington, the criminals and kia will feel complete impunity. the risks of the conflict escalating will increase once again, a lot of people regarding comment just now is calling it a potentially wiring escalation. we know about the patriot missile systems and theoretically tanks from america, theoretically, they're all being cold full by zelinski and kiya. what's the latest here? right, well the, so both actual supply of tanks from the u. k. and potential supply of tanks that we could see from other countries in the west really does present a serious possibility for an escalation and the current conflict. according to reports, france is already getting ready to send tanks to key of and like i said,

just now the u. k. has said it's sending tanks officially to ukraine and has actually been pressuring germany to do the same. now at the same time this, not everyone in the west has been, has expressed as such willingness to take this conflict to the next level because we saw berlin say that they'll only send their tanks to ukraine if washington agrees to do so. and washington is saying, we're not going to do that right now. we just don't think we're there yet. the abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment. it's expensive. it's hard to train on. it has a jet engine. i think it's about 3 gallons to the mile with jet fuel. it's not the easiest system to maintain naturally, this stands that washington has taken has actually upset quite a few germans who basically think that the u. s. is trying to sacrifice other people at the altar of its own foreign policy agenda, one german m p. a basically voice that opinion and also suggested that this is really risky. bringing us closer to a nuclear confrontation,

western tanks could ultimately provoke the use of nuclear weapons, primarily against germany. that seems to be the deeper reason why washington is so reserved on the subject of supplying tanks. but as forcing its ally to make those sacrifices like a vassal, one of the main questions we have to ask is why, why is the west allowing for such an escalation right now? and actually the german chancellor explained pretty well the west position on, on this. and it's quite simple. basically, they see the west as good. and they see russia as bad in order for the war to end. russia of aggression must fear. that is why we are continuously supplying ukraine with large quantities of arms in close consultation with our partners. it is extremely important that preston to it and doesn't win this war party because it will be a tragedy for the cleaners. but when very dangerous for us. because then the message to alter italian need is not only to putin, but also all the author time it is,

is that when they use brute force, when they have one that's in national law, they, it, she, what they want. and that'll be very bob. and then your lessons, it'll make the world more dangerous and more vulnerable. if we want to negotiate the peaceful solution to the war. ukraine, we need to provide 1000000 can support your crime. that's the only way. weapons they are the way to peace. so the nato g against oldenburg right there, don't know, basically saying that more weapons and more deaf other way to peace. and just before him, donald, the left shoulder, german chancellor, the man looking surprisingly optimistic, didn't his job, didn't his defense minister just quit? yeah, that's right. and you know, this, this kind of rhetoric combined with these recent developments with the potential massive future supplies of western tanks to the ukrainian military. all that combined really makes it scary to wonder, how far will the west go just to fight russia at the end of all this?

my colleagues, rory, sushi and donald quarter earlier. but let's go live now to former us marine geopolitical analyst on blogger, john, mark. doug for his take joe mark, welcome to the program. when asked if u. s. weapons would be used against crime me at the us state department simply said the territory is part of ukraine. what do you read and start? is it a green lighting for aiming weapons out the peninsula? yeah, absolutely. of course, it gives him room for some plausible deniability. but yeah, it's basically encouraging them to go ahead and do it for us is pretty worrying, isn't it? does that bring the risk of further escalation? do you think the u. s. believes that the price worth paying? yeah, yeah. i mean the united states has been encouraging this all along. ah. they

have been pushing, i mean, even before this conflict started, they've been pushing and pushing for an escalation of war. and even bernie sanders back in february was one of the only people in the american government to say, look, you guys trying to push you grand and to nato is going to start a war. but now that's exactly what the united states wants. they want to war the u . s. is urging another aspect of this john mark. it's urging its european allies, a lot of lobbying, going on to send tanks to kiev. but so far isn't ready to do that itself. your thoughts are not juxtaposition. well, i mean it's, it's pure hypocrisy they want everybody else to they want to give the gun to somebody else to do the dirty deed. so they can say, well, our hands are clean. it's really, i mean look, there's no secret that the united states probably the most dishonest government

that's on the earth, right at this point. do the disagreements over sending tanks, do they suggest divisions among nato members over who has to take the brunt of the expense and are all about dealing with the public, the i cry or without of military supplies to ukraine? look, the people, the united states are not going to stand for a lot more spending in ukraine. and they know the, the government of the us, they want to push this off on to europe so they can do it. and they can take the brunt of the outcry from the citizens. but you know, it's just going to depend on how, how loud that outcry from the citizens are going to depend on, you know, germany, france in the rest of europe. next move. yeah. the u. k. has agreed to send 12 tanks to ukraine, either the fleet of a little over $200.00 come britain afford to be so generous. well, you know,

i don't know how any of these governments in the west have been able to afford to be so generous. you know, you can rest assured that they are giving their oldest tanks tank that are in need of upgrade. and these weapons contractors that make these tanks. they are going to be making a lot of money from them. they're going to say, well, you know, we gave, the government can say, well, we gave these tanks to ukraine and you have to replace them the, replace them with the new technology and everybody is going to make them money out of this deal, including the politicians. yeah. very interesting point, who pays for all out of course and doesn't the same apply to germany if it's persuaded to send it to coveted leopard to tank? would that not also, and it's not just germany, but wouldn't that also leave berlin exposed at home? yeah, well, i mean berlin can, berlin can afford its ammunition for its weapons as it is, you know, we have, we have reports of germany not even be able,

not even able to afford boots for their troops, cold weather boots. so so the fact that they're giving them their leopards, it's a very questionable move. how much is this conflict just in the overall sense of things? how much is it? expose cutbacks in military forces in certain countries. do you think? i think it's done a lot. it's exposed a lot and it's i think even more than that, it's showing the people that they shouldn't be. they shouldn't be allowing their government to spend so much on military running, running theme house under ukraine, getting weapons. but then saying not enough, we want more. they're not saying they need to run $300.00 advance tanks to make a difference in the conflict. will key of get that will they probably will, but it's not going to make a difference. you know, the lens, he's this guy,

he's like this homeless guy at the gas station. constantly handing of his paper cup out. and, you know, people are getting tired of especially especially in us. i mean, you know, it was bad in the beginning, but it's, it's so bad now. and people are starting to see right through it. what about the rhetoric of people like the nato chief, claiming that the weapons sent to ukraine are needed to achieve peace? it almost goes unchallenged. now, it does go unchallenged, and it's ridiculous. i mean, his, his statements have to leave people wondering who's actually controlling this, who's controlling him and what are they gaining out of this because that's very, very dangerous. the rhetoric that he's pushing. yeah. and if mister stills and berg is saying weapons are the only way to peace doesn't mean it's a likelihood, then the move after that,

that there's 0 chance of talks negotiations. how does that work? well, it doesn't work. you know, you don't, you don't give terrorist guns and try to negotiate with them. you don't give weapons to people and try to have them negotiate it. it just doesn't work. i mean, we see it in america and not on the huge scale, but on a much smaller scale in the communities where we have all the guns running rampant and unchecked, and the violence never gets any better. it, it always gets worse. you know, it's interesting, just as we were speaking, a line has come all on the news wires, john mark the pentagon saying that it does not make sense for the us to give an abram tanks to ukraine at the moment in light of high maintenance costs. so just

what you are seeing earlier, a lot of lobbying going on behind the scenes for the us to get your a p and nations the send them. but now in black and white, they're not sending their at top tanks to ukraine. well, yeah, and that's a good point actually. and will not only is it good for them to weasel out of it, but frankly speaking, the abrams tank is, it's a jet powered tank. it's got a jet engine and basically, and it is a maintenance hog. it is a very thirsty tank and i don't see how the ukrainians could support that and see how america could support that being ukraine and even if they wanted it, they're not getting it. john, mark, doug from us, marine geopolitical ellis and blogger, thanks for your time. thank you for having me. my india has reportedly stepped in to help sure. lanka restructure it's dead. the island nation is seeking a 2900000000 dollar loan from the i m f to help find its way out of the big

economic crisis. it's taking us through our t z region from too long. i'm hoping to get a nearly $3000000000.00 bill. our package from the i m f and to secure that it has to renegotiate loans with its foreign lender, mainly japan, china, and india. and india is 3 lancaster, 2nd largest bilateral lender, which is via this revisit over in del, for minnesota, off the edge a shankar becomes extremely important. in fact, he landed in freeland got to do with the local time. he expected to meet with his counterpart. also, tomorrow he's expected to meet with the president of free lunch run in vic from the thing and all that, to talk on that restructuring. that really is going to be the key focus of this particular was it not in does also confirms that it has written to the mass as far

as these talks around that restructuring are concerned. so india has given it's approval to the i m f a to give so long call that bill of package, the feeling really desperately is looking at also treat and got always india about $1000000000.00 only last year. india had given 3 long got around $700000000.00 on credit line. and this was when the crisis was added speak in july last year, july 2022 things had gotten really, really bad for 3 long. we all remember those we all of the he was outside patrol station that makes 4 kilometers in kilometers. but also the government offices were runaway, the presidential palace was ransacked, the faith broadcaster was hijacked, and the prime minister's office was set to believe the economic crisis. now had really turned into a political and of humanitarian. one thing on the ground for long had become

extremely extreme. the difficult, of course, that also led to the fall of the long standing roger buck shot government bought for sri long called the priority now is to read negotiate loans with it's for lenders. and that's what india is trying to help sri lanka. we've for these debt restructuring talks between india and free long become extremely important because they do provide a glimmer of war to the island nation of 22000000 people. okay, moving to france, where protests are raging on the streets of paris. thousands of people are there demonstrating against the president's pension reforms, which would see the retirement age raised in the country. ah,

demonstrators blocked rooms while some clashed with police, with reports of bottles and smoke bombs, being full or than 20 people have been arrested. the president has said, retirement reform quotes must be carried out. the proposed legislation would mean people having to work 2 more years until there's 64 to qualify for a full state pension and they're strongly opposed by trade unions. manual michel urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully unavoidable, any violence. a local reporter sent us this from the crime lab and just assumed the movement of the protest is who, being widely monitored was blocked. shortly after the start, especially after clashes with people dressed in black and with masks on their faces . nevertheless, everyone joined this protest, action people and protesting against the extremely unpopular pension reform in france. according to a recent poll, 66 percent of french people do not support reform, sim to 5 percent people age 35 to 64, oppose it, which has not been the case for

a long time. oh, french trade unions including large ones, such as the general confederation of labor and the french democratic confederation of labor called for protest in the country. the security service was afraid that radical people might be present among the protest us, which has happened will cause along the route of the protest column were removed. in order to avoid serious incidents, given the number of demonstrators, the authorities were forced to pro 10000 policemen. angel dumbs throughout france and 3500 employees in the capital, a low no, a russian ice hockey player in the u. s. has been making headlines after refusing to wear a gay pride themed pre game jersey philadelphia flyers star, yvonne prover of decided not to take part in the n h l won't prevent citing his religious belief. everybody's choices. my choices to stay true myself,

my religion latan gonna say like really personal. we've got a hockey player from philadelphia who says he doesn't want to participate in events that his team is involved with that glorify the l g b t, community and homosexuality, et cetera. he says that his religion just doesn't, you know, doesn't think that's a good idea that's not consistent with his religious beliefs. he's going to stay true to himself. we're in a situation where we're seeing an increased politicization of sports. there were similar issues regarding the l g. b t concerns that were raised regarding the world cob guitar, et cetera. and now we have some leading voices, just piling condemnation on to ham, man. and you know, a basically, you know, having a meltdown over the fact that he is staying true to is religious principles. and just doesn't want to participate in certain activity. the national hockey league to day these to find that organization a $1000000.00 a re evaluate how the support gay rights. cuz cuz that is insulting. nothing scares

me more than any human being who says i'm not doing this because of my religious beliefs. because when you look at people's lives, you normally say that publicly throw what, but what you saw ivan prover off can get on a plane any day. he wants him to go back to the place where he feels more comfortable. i understand there's a conflict going on, maybe get involved. we have a situation here where because this hockey player of russian heritage wants to stay true to his religious beliefs. he's being told to woke, go back where he came from august white bigoted language of you tote tv personality tucker carlson, recently commented on how bizarre it is that we have someone of russian origin sticking up for what supposed to be an american value. freedom of religion, but it seems like increasing spaces that are not political and united spaces like sports in education of children and other places are becoming highly politicized. and if you're not on the politically correct side of these things, you are not willing to take the side that is promoted by the democratic party and

the low social media outlets cetera. you become the target of widespread scorn and condemnation. it seems like in many ways this is yet another sign of the united states in the west in general, are not living up to the ideals of freedom and formality and diversity. they want to south know a new report claims the persecution of christians is on the rise globally, with thousands of people killed last year because of their fate. the paper by the religious research group opened doors stated that 5600 christians were killed last year. and said many of the crimes were committed by islamist extreme. it said that more than 120000 people were displaced due to anti christian violence. and at least $15000.00 became refugees. while the reports went, as far as to say that in some regions, violence against christians is actually condone. take

a look at this african nations will they make up the majority of the top 10 countries where christians reportedly face the most violence with somali and the 2nd after north korea, the head of the research group said the rates of crimes against christians in africa is deeply troubling i think even we were shocked by our own numbers, 7 out of 10 countries where there is the greatest violence against christians are in subsaharan, africa. violence can mean killings and a large percentage of those who were killed for their faith in the last year were in africa. but it can also mean rate. it can mean a production. it can be the destruction of property. for some more startling figures. the report said, 360000000 christian faith persecution and discrimination because of their faith. that's one in 7 christians world. why breaking that down? by region one in 5, christians are persecuted, africa rises, the $2.00 and $5.00 in asia, and one in 15 in latin america,

we discussed the findings with the nigerian christian association you decide on the fortunate that in a country. it has a constitution in a country that has a government from google citizens of been good enough to be picking up in the schools and could not really do nothing and they do it more than those flying maybe getting of them and please, and healing some of them that becomes a good cause if give nothing is why killing the please. why do you plan to bring that to do? if you're happy with government, what kind of it was under that could have been in thank you up in a seat, where was george and louis give not what i came to you. i miss enough to know so much as

a bit close on the crystal community. i'm worried, but citizen generally what it because negative seems not to be secured at this moment. well, that's by rising religiously motivated violence in sub saharan africa. local christians, in ethiopia as northern to great region. happily celebrated a perfectly holiday this week dedicated to the baptism of jesus christ. thousands of christians gathered for the event, nor locally of tim ket. it's widely celebrated by ethiopian orthodox christians as a period of religious revival than occasion to give thanks for personal prosperity . and here in moscow, there pet phony celebrations they are in full swing. cried of russian orthodox fateful, gathered to take the traditional dip in freezing cold waters. on the eve of the holiday after a church service or looking correspondent this year with steve sweeney who was daring enough to take the punch. well, as predicted, the temperature has dropped slightly. i can feel rain floating down to my body,

but i am making my way now to the ice poland. i'm going to get myself into the freezing cold water. there are a men or women of all ages. they're here to day and many a row already made the plunge into the icy water. and this kuza people. now, as you can see, i'm prepared it's, it's very, very cold. and this is, as i've said, this is about the celebration of epiphany, which is an commemorating the baptism of jesus christ. there are many health benefits that come with diving into the waters home told i'm, i'm about to go in. so i'll let you know what it's like when i come out and, and, and how i feel oh, i hear with i feel a little bit invigorated. it's quite refreshing getting into the water and i'm plunging my head on the 3 times. i can see the benefits of it and i can see why many people come here and do this every year. are not promising the i will come back and do it again. you can see many, many people here still waiting to,

to get into the po, see, as we saw it. no, it's not the 1st time i've dipped myself in the waters. it's the 6 types. there are always emergency workers here. every one house, almost identical. what's my youngest son and i try to dip ourselves in the waters every year as i think this is a very important holiday for orthodox christian. see, it's a symbol of our fate of reading them. okay, man, steve, he did the dep now. inflation has a bad tendency, the but price is up, which then never go died. next are teeth, you show the cost of everything discusses whether the sky high tariffs not being seen from energy to groceries, or here just stay close for them. ah, ah, a community like i

don't, i do not. i don't then for me you move it and i'm from my that's you know through for the diesel to best get pretty them. yeah. get get you physically move it sort of it. if it's too long for you. yep. and so i move it in a perfect desk with best they can. i'm just kind of a big kinetic or she so she may not just wonder bandanna, they got shipment, but i left this on accident. i thought it was fun, i guess, you know, with the harness system and i did find a new lease down is your media reflection of reality.