i miss life and freedom with ah, we have never intentionally violated any countries territory. that's the message from china as the u. s. suggest beijing is deliberately using it, the balloon, the spy on them, inciting attacks on russian region. that's how moscow condemned a u. s. delivery, a long range rockets to ukraine, which could potentially hit the russian region of price near the g $7.00 nations and pose a price cap on russian oil products that caught muffles revenue. while presidents as the country simply will not export oil to state of boarding the limitation with

good afternoon for mark, international studios in moscow, and welcome to the hour's top stories world wide. i'm fiorella is about china slams the u. s. for taking advantage of the incident with its balloon in american aerospace criticizing what it called hysteria regarding accusations of spying on the u. s. territory. this was a complete accident caused by a force, missouri, and defects a very clear. china has always, strictly abided by international law, respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and has never intentionally violated the territory and air space of a nice southern country. some politicians and media in the united states have taken advantage of the issue to attack and discredit china. china firmly opposes this. this one verified footage allegedly shows a 2nd chinese balloon travelling over latin america, the pentagon labeled it as another chinese surveillance device. china has not

commented on this latest development. a chinese balloon was previously spotted floating over the city of billings, montana. before allegedly exploding. the u. s. officials denied there was a blast. this on verified footage was spread on social media and believe to show the moment of the blast while some media linked it to the balloon. it's unclear what exactly caused the explosion. meanwhile, the internet has exploded with the hash tag chinese spy balloon. as panic spreads over fears that such balloons can actually be being used as surveillance tools. the u. s. president has still not commented on the incident o r t is caleb mob and dive deeper into the recent spot over china's balloon. china has confirmed that this is a chinese balloon, as

a weather balloon used for media illogical research by the chinese authorities. now they have made clear out of this balloon serves no military purpose. it's not being used for spying or anything of that. a fact. it's simply for monitoring the weather . this balloon is of chinese origin. it was 1st over the aleutian islands than it was in billings, montana. there's some concern about the possibility that it's near nuclear sites that it's also been confirmed by a number of experts in the united states that there is nothing that could be obtained from such a balloon that couldn't easily be attained by china with satellites. i was satellites, they could just as easily get any information and that there is no threat to civilians posed by this balloon. this is not a weaponized balloon. this is not a drone or anything like that. there is no danger to civilians by this balloon. now it is worth noting, however, the antony blanket, the u. s. secretary of state did cancel his meeting with the chinese president,

and i canceled it saying that this balloon is the reason i made clear that the presence of his surveillance balloon in you as her space is a clear violation of you, a sovereignty and international law that it's an irresponsible act that the piercing decision to take the section on these my plan visit is detrimental to the subject of discussions that we were prepared to have. now the language that's being used by us officials and by us media is they're referring to it as a spied bull loan and there are reports of another balloon somewhere in latin america, possibly another balloon, a chinese origin. and it is worth noting that beijing has apologized for this below, and they said it was not their intention to violate us aerospace this balloon went off course. however, beijing has been pretty firm to denounce the anti china town and the antique china hysteria. the wave of hostility to china, we're now hearing in american media. now there is a social media of bonanza going on. of course, all kinds of names and images,

people, invoking star wars, the death star, all kinds of science fiction. you know, there's memories of sputnik and the panic in the united states. back in the 1950s in response to the soviet union was launching the the spacecraft. and, you know, people are making all kinds of comparison. there's been the talk of american media . however, at this point, china is pointing out, this is the unintentional violation of us aerospace by a balloon that could not really threaten anyone that has no danger, even according to us experts. they're saying that their territory integrity was intentionally violated by nancy pelosi. she went on to china's territory and sy juan, without the permission of the us, recognize chinese government. the u. s. government recognizes one china. so china is pointing out that while they are not intentionally violating any country, territorial integrity or aerospace it appears the united states is ban on

continuing to kind of haunt china with their provocations around taiwan that are definitely intentional and involved more than just balloons. and this point high ranking officials and there is also may be pointed out that us drones and other us aircraft have violated territory integrity and aerospace of countries throughout history. this kind of thing has happened from the us side. however, this has not stopped american media from going into an anti china overdrive. there's all kinds of very fierce allegations and see the language being displayed on us media from us officials. according to the u. s. military, the chinese balloon has changed its trajectory and is now moving east, which demonstrates that the object can maneuver legal and media analysts line all of us are deliberately blowing things out of proportion with the use of the word balloon having a strategic meaning. in this case, american mean stream corporate media actually reacting in

a way that is roughly commensurate with the situation that is going on. normally. if i, what are you going to do? and i must say something, because i am a cultural scholar when it comes to balloons, that word trigger something. whenever we see somebody fly across the sky at hypersonic rates and make right turns we don't call it a u. f o, we call it a weather balloon. these weather balloons are all over the place or swamp gas. now here's the question. does anybody understand what this means when you have a balloon fly over a sovereign country? may i also ask the question if and joe, the china, we replaced the country with another name. do you think the reaction might be a little different? it's incredible. let me tell you, the will use of the word balloon is strategic. does that?

can you imagine being attacked by a balloon? gets it a part i am i, i know i'm making too much out of this, but i know how people work in devoted my life to what it does. and he kind of anticipatory or reaction for real formation to it. there is no put teller, wait a minute. when you hear missile rocket plane, you know, then you, you, you, you react, but the part of your brain, which normally turns on this as i think i better investigate this more does not activate. when you say boulogne is sound innocuous, a sound, and a 9 sacrifice. so what is a mistake and an o, and not only that, it's not a shot island below it. so either below, you know, whether climate change, good rain america with we made a mistake, and here's the best part. wait and show. china says, can we have our balloon back? and do you mean to tell me a can't be intercepted? meanwhile, us officials are sounding the alarm over fear that chinese balloon could be used as

fi on american nuclear missiles and montana. to get more on this story and other news had to archie dot com for the latest updates. and some news just this, our 63 russian service men have been returned from ukraine. that's according to the russian defense ministry. the video of the exchange was posted by a deputy of the state of do much showing the service men returning from captivity. the negotiations were conducted with the help of the united arab emirates, the ministry of defense added that all the soldiers are getting all the needed psychological and medical assistance. we will bring you more details as soon as we get them. in other news from the conflict, ukraine has hit an industrial facility in russia's belgrade region over night. that's according to the regions governor. fuel tanks were reportedly on fire after the strike. the blazes said to be contained as fire fighters quickly tackled the

flames. there were no reports of casualties and staff were safely evacuated. with this latest attack comes, as washington has pledged to send ground launch small diameter bomb long reach rockets to ukraine, which would enable kia to strike much further than current weapons. moscow has criticized the weapons delivery saying that u. s. is pushing ukraine to attack russia. washington sees no boundaries in seeking to inflict a strategic to fit in russia. the transfer of increasingly powerful weapons to the key for him is a deliberate escalation of the conflict body. not it states that miss ration hasp. it almost everything on the credit cards, its own national authority, the money of american taxpayers, and the lives of ukrainian soldiers. at this rate, the united states could go to opposite madness, like given father, jess washington is defect in sudden it's prodigious to attack russian regions. the

ground launch small diameter bomb has a rage of 150 kilometers, twice the distance of ukraine's current highmark rocket launchers, also supplied by the us. the long range missiles are said to be highly accurate and can be fired from hidden positions to avoid detection. washington says they will enable ukraine to attack russian territories, including crimea. a small diameter bomb in the latest ukraine aid package has the potential the target crimea on. is that the intent behind providing a now? so thanks for the question, joe. so, so yes, as part of the usa i package, we will be providing ground launch small diameter bombs to ukraine. this gives them a longer range capability, long range fires capability that will enable them again to conduct operations in defense of their country. and to take back their sovereign territory russian occupied areas. we discussed the topic with the coordinator of the international

action center. sarah flounder says as the u. s. is intent on dragging out the conflict for as long as possible using any means. us isn't ignoring the warnings they are deliberately, deliberately provoking further and further, or they know the consequences of this. and they are more than willing to push ahead certain enormous number of weapons and us, you know, inventory to big lots of choices. but it's clear that each choice is meant to expand the war to do more damage, not in any way to reach a resolution. it will also mean on, on rushes parts that they will have to go further into ukraine in order to secure their borders to russia. as much as borders. so it's an expansion of the war. it's very dangerous. there's no reason for it. it's more money,

but higher grade of weapons that actually have doubled the range that comes in mid more overnight, attacks by ukrainian forces on the russian region of the guns with multiple high marsh rockets in the done. yes, republic, one person was killed in 2 more injured and ukrainian shelling as well as civilian areas. ukrainian forces are also targeted rushes, heavy flames or system r t c are responded mariah garcia, bring this report from the front lines on the battlefield. there is nothing that ukrainian troops and nationalists fear more than this a machine that has instantly broken in car battalions and turn the tide of countless battles. it's u. s. one. as o barry multiple, a rocket,

larger system. and perhaps the deadliest weapon currently fielded on the battlefield. ukraine 24 rockets, 270 kilograms. each fargo a distance from 6 to 10 kilometers and absolutely fatal to anything within a 150 meter radius asked only philly. our main talk is how large concentration is a phantom troops 20 or more people. and also vehicles, if anyone caught within the bus radius has particularly no chance of survival, thermo barrick, munitions or vacuum bombs on nothing like conventional munitions. it is and shrapnel that kills. but flash burn and crushing over pressure which causes instant death. you can't hide from this behind a wall. only a hermetically shield bunker offers protection and there are none here to her frown

. ah. her sound is always for the purposes of gregoire itself. eyes in the sky, draw more spot where it landed that new coordinates. and off they go again. $24.00 rockets, 6 and a half tons of annihilation. a . ah, these rockets are usually fired in ones or twos as little point of full barrages. a single rocket practice has shown is usually overkill. almost nothing survives within a 150 meters of the impact site listed

in the survey or where all this ready. we get a job done. i fight for my family and those close to me. we're all here for our homeland. we're here to help our boys. the san say book translated as sunburn or sun far is always the top priority for ukrainian forces cannot stay anywhere long. it cannot far from the same place twice. kia spares, no one, and nothing to find and destroy these machines. after all, they have devastated ukraine's ranks like nothing else. or i'd gasdio archie, danny, at screeching, and the g 7 states have agreed to impose a price cap on russian oil products, which will take effect on sunday. then you price for products such as diesel will be a $100.00 per barrel, and $45.00 for fuel oil and nafta. the president of the european commission praise

of this as an, as a move aim for a stabilizing global energy prices. we must continue to deprive russia the means to wage war against ukraine, ease impulse ban, and russian petroleum products comes into force on sunday. with the g 7, we're putting price caps on these products, cutting rushes, revenue, while ensuring stable global energy markets. russia's retaliatory measures to the g 7 crude oil price cap, imposed in december of last year, came into effect on the 1st of february, meaning that exports the country supporting the price cap are no longer possible. russian president vladimir putin earlier stated that russia will only trade oil with countries that adhere to the fair market. rules are ti contributor, occurs and discusses the failures of the price cap. they got a $100.00 price tap on what we call premium oil premium or like diesel and $45.00 on,

on other products that maybe you'd be interesting thing about the price cap predominantly. it's been imposed by the but by the presidency. sweet. sweet. and actually you to live on 60 percent or even more of renewable energy. they're not so dependent compared to that. they're both take european partners like even like potent until the beginning of the special military operation. but more or less totally dependent on russian oil in terms of the trade in products that really, that, and the baltic states now said look, okay, we'll take this for now. but we want to review every month and it's priced out. and it's very, very hard to see how the country to be able to depend on oil from that to the united states, or from the opec, plus countries like saudi arabia that have said, look, we cannot, we were to pass the, we won't give you any more than we are using right now, which leads them in a very small way, russian, russian, oil,

and gas that was going these days edited the thought of the special ministry operation, even before then, ross has already started trading with that there are the partners, they weren't solely dependent on the west, china, we buy more russian oil and gas than ever before. the chinese economy can eat up as much as possible. if you look at india, for example, we've got a lot of western states saying that buying indian oil, but we're pretty aware that that indian oil coming in, originate in russia, where the majority of it does so, it's very hard to see how this affects whatsoever. and only really hurts the part of me, those the, those, those, those western countries that they're buying it, staying on the topic of sanctions, europe's latest round of restrictions presented a chance to sanctioned media freedom as well with brussels restrictions forcing our sister channel r t d e to close its production office in germany. however, our teeth, german language channel, will continue to operate and broadcast internationally from its headquarters and

moscow. in a statement r t d e says the move came as a result of the betrayal of fundamental rights and freedoms. by the european union and the german government r t d e productions regretfully announces the decision to cease the company's journalistic activities in germany. archie de productions has faced immense pressure from government media, businesses and others who have sought to curtail is journalistic work. and to silence the voice as it brings to public attention, the e. u. in permitting the imposition of sanctions on media. freedoms has shown that the very values claims to define the core of its existence are without any substance. the freedom of the press to operate without hindrance does not exist in germany today. the r t d e production office located in berlin has created a wide range of content for german language channel. the outlet, i faced immense pressure ever since it was launch from moscow in december 2021. ortiz, german language stream on youtube was also blocked the same day. it was launched,

according to our t. d. e. the latest you sanctions effectively cut off oxygen for our remaining staff and germany. our t managing director alexi nicholas says international viewers won't have any trouble tuning into our tea despite western benz. they are afraid of our competition. even though our resources of so much smaller, our finance is so much smaller. our abilities to broadcast are in comparable even so they got so scared of somebody challenging their agenda that they are just doing what they're doing. and this really shows how weak they are, how weak is their agenda? people overall are not stupid. they're not it. they don't like to be treated as it is. if they are right to access the independent information,

the alternative source of information is being stopped. they find inevitably, they will find the way to get this information. it's already happening, including in germany. it's so funny. the germans almost did not use any of the pan to access the hub in the band. i internet addresses at all. now the, the usage of the dance has grown exponentially in germany. i, it was very rewarding to hear that somebody who believes that you can completely block access to alternative information to alternative views is making a huge mistake. and they will learn that very fast residence and northern kosovo have opened a petition, demanding the immediate suspension of building works in their village. proceed.

plans to build a police space in the area following an increase police presence. we heard from locals with voice concerns about the plan, ill, bonnie book, who so the wrong or the learning little nauseous angle. as you see, we're trying to defend our lennon prophecy. any of those that came with machines has started digging. there is a village cemetery here, there for houses, everything. so there police call told us that there been a base for, for the police. and that's, it was on. if they already decided to where to put the border, let them build the basis back and not here in the middle of our village. so they didn't do anything to us or not. you know which of them we just asked to know what the uh, building here and what other building it. and we will be here to defend our rights as much as we can. as you see where unarmed, we don't have any other options. we will continue gather like this is not allowing them to work. that's it. was it up to one, throw rocks and them orders of all anything else for sure. if we could come to a peaceful agreement, great. and if not,

then they'll do it has proven again that there is no life for us here. despite what they say, nissan with brazil residents are also demanding that the expropriation of their land is sought by the government in pristina. construction of bases for the border police in several locations and the north of kosovo began in september of last year . at least 5 facilities have been built so far. we heard from the kosovo forces representative who says that the police presence there is mandated by the order of authorities. didn't the idea that we have warner police and police station here? we have information that the works have been stop for the day, and we will see what happens in the following days. i have no information when the work will continue. if that happens, we need to be here to secure the continuation of their work. we spoke to the residence with the citizens that are protesting, were understand and said they can complaint of the government of kosovo and to the courts. and then they will decide what to do. we are here to make sure that works

can go on without any disturb. a teenage boy has been killed and hundreds of voting materials destroyed in the latest attack on an electoral commission office and a police station in south eastern nigeria, just weeks before locals had to pause to cast their vote in the presidential elections. the national electoral commission has voice concerns that violence could impact the vote at least 50 attacks against the staff and offices by arm groups have been reported over the last 3 years. the majority of the incidents in the southeastern parts of the country were separate to sentiments, remained strong instability remains. a key issue for nigeria, northern provinces were security forces are fighting a 13 year war against your hottest and criminal militias. a local reporter take a closer look at what awaits the country in the upcoming elections. on february 25th 202030. my jillions will have to pull select

a new precedence outgoing precedence. muhammad will have a rule for if years. however, the increased abductions and killings in the north, in addition to separate his tensions in southeast and part of the country of great concern to the citizens and post a good faith to the elections. our lord, i'd by pressing to grant brought that blue's rbc skew, and no security. any body closures before you come out, they will kill many people. the government has, however, insisted that despite the growing insecurity, the elections will not be postponed, nor cancelled as intensive an extensive security. all the provided all through the election process and shredding the safety of security or vote does i enormous. this responsibility has become more challenging in the context of the current security situation. i'm gonna show you how to anyone won't. it won't really mitchell

with starcy aids in presidential candidates are contested. they are all aware of the security issues on a promising to resolve it before any of the 8th. ready candidates come declared winner. he has perhaps the highest number of votes nationwide, and more than a quarter of violet costs in at least 2 3rd of the my she went states. my jury has over my to 1000000. but you said voters are almost 40 percent of these number a youth between the ages of 8234 for countries with missing renewed youth engagement in politics like never before. and that's the rap on the top stories this hour and coming up, africa should resolve internal conflicts and problems without outside interference . that's a takeover. see your research fellow at the university of pretoria discussing the concept of paths. afrikaner in the latest episode of going underground. find out more of next on our team here back soon with

oh, so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have. it's crazy confrontation, let it be in arms. race is on a very dramatic or development only personally and getting to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successful, very difficult, time time to sit down and talk ah, museums are important for preserving our history so that it is a lot to future generations. but our fiscal museum spaces themselves

a relic of the past. this is one of the best museums in the world, the hematologist st. petersburg to help refuse the director here, and i bet he has met with ah, i i'm african retents. he and welcome back to going underground ragas single round the world from dubai. in the united arab emirates, african nations faced mounting pressure from nato nations to support that war on russia through ukraine, especially since vladimir putin's foreign minister sag labrons,

groundbreaking tour of african nations, culminating, and joint military drills between the armies of russia in south africa. with me today is suppressor at a k at about jo, former director, the institute for pan african thornton conversation at the university of john has worked. he served on you and missions in south africa. he's also the author of the new book, boutros boutros golly, apropos prophet proselytize, a pharaoh and pope, one of the very few written works in the u. n. z. first african arab 60 general, whose contributions he says had been raised by nature nation scholars professor at about your joins me now from johannesburg in south africa. thank you so much professor for joining us before we get to the book. i must ask, man, i should say a book about a un secretary general that wasn't assassinated. unlike dag hamish old famously, your view of oliver robs visit to africa. i mean in asia nation media, i don't, i knew you were in nigeria at the time during the visit, but i mean all but condemning as, as african count botton a lady.