a place of tradition, an amazing mix of cultures and peoples, but what makes this place so appealing? we're going to speak to some of the most prominent locals of all home and uncover some of the secrets. a french president dismisses the nationwide protest and gulping his country over pension reform, calling the public's voice illegitimate. but that's while demonstration that other countries have his full support also ahead years or do. i do not expect transparency in these investigations, nor the general public to get acquainted with its results. for russia, as foreign minister says he doesn't expect the western investigation into the north room sabotaged to expose the truth. that's on con, reveals details of assassination attempts against and pointing to the culprit in an interview with was all done by people in both the prime minister,

the minister and one senior intelligence agency, guy, a coming to you live from the russian capital. this is our t international. i'm rachel evans here with the top stories of the hour. welcome to the program. violent clashes with police have erupted in paris as nationwide, protest against controversial pension reform plans rate on it comes, says the french president bowed to implement the change. no matter what. ah

president, my crop has brushed aside those concerns, calling the public's voice illegitimate. but that's why protest in other countries have is full support. archie contributor rachel mars, it gives her take on the story. so the increase of frances retirement age from 62 to 64 years has been rammed through the french national assembly, not by democratic vote, by, by french president emmanuel michaels prime minister elizabeth bon evoking clause 49.3 of the french constitution. now that clause permits the government to push through new laws and very limited circumstances without any vote. and also cutting short any debate or discussion on the issue. listening to my call trying to defend his decision to push through this particular law without a vote. you think that the french actually had a chance to express themselves through democratic charles,

the crowd. whatever form it takes, has no legitimacy in the face of the people who express themselves through their elected representatives in parliament. so in the absence of the vote on the reform itself, protesters have continued to take to the street to express their upset at how the whole thing has been handled. so parents right now was basically a giant health scape of trash from the sanitation workers joining the strike, which makes for convenient tenure for protesters. so there are trash fires pretty much everywhere. tourists are getting a complimentary dose of tear gas to go with their fresh bye. yes. and also a free french revolution experienced tour of the french capital. now remember, the several yellow vest protesters had lost eyes as a result of french police action. we're talking here about france whose recent leaders have been quick to back protest elsewhere. remember that former french president equal, i suppose. he praised the arabs spring protesters

a decade ago and back to the resulting regime change of leaders like a low hall bag boot of d blah. and mom are gadhafi of libya and lights are cosy. michael has also cheered on protestors in other countries, the government from adobe revolution cannot be achieved on its own. it can be only ducted by the people in europe in the you must continue to support the hundreds of thousands of bell russians who peacefully protest for their rights, their freedom and their sovereignty. i salute the courage of the hundreds of thousands of venezuelans marching for their freedom. in a very clear way, france condemns the repressions carried out today by the iranian regime. and we stand by these women. they are a sovereign people fighting for their freedom. so apparently popular protests are only legitimate if they are challenging the policies and action of mac home and is western bodies. nicole is positioning himself as the defender of democracy,

but all he's really defending is the increasingly on democratic establishment. russia is foreign minister, sergey lad ross says he doesn't expect western investigations into the north stream attacks to be thorough or objective. he suggest the u. s. will fall back on the narrative to blame russia. yesterday, i do not expect transparency in these investigations, nor the general public to get acquainted with its results. so most likely they will end up with something like that. it's highly likely to as london 1st did in 2007 in connection with the poisoning of lit clinical. and then in 2018 in connection with the poison in salisbury, that's when the formula highly likely russia did. it was invented with no evidence that russia was involved was ever provided less, and i have no reason to believe that in the situation with the north streams, the current german leaders will find the strength to do something else. souls de la grove's message came after the latest revelations from investigative journalist,

seymour hersh on the north stream pipeline, sabotaged hurst claims of the cia, invented a cover story to divert attention away from u. s. involvement in the explosions. and as the german chancellor off shoals helped president joe biden, the leaders met in washington in early march. and as hersch reveals, discuss the sabotaged. they reportedly planned to create an alternative narrative to the one that seen the u. s. blamed was told by someone with access to diplomatic intelligence that there was a discussion of the pipeline expos, a. as a result, certain elements in the central intelligence agency were asked to prepare a cover story in collaboration with german intelligence that would provide the american and german press, with an alternative version for the destruction of nordstrom to in the words of the intelligence community. the agency was to post the system in an effort to discount the claim that biden had ordered the pipelines destruction. following that report, the north stream attack was once again brought up in

a white house press conference on wednesday as senior official river. and washington physician at the u. s. was not involved in any way that those german officials have cast doubt on whether it will ever be possible to find out who is behind the sabotage. according to the country's media. the perpetrators of the explosions will probably never be able to be clarified without a doubt. according to security circles. the chances of being able to provide factual evidence or lo, if only because there is little experience with criminal investigations on the c bed. besides commenting on the latest hersch revelations, the russian foreign minister and his counterpart from the african state of burundi disgust, strengthening relations, and pushed back on a world order where a select group of states seemed to dominate earlier. my colleague, re sushi spoke with ortiz donald quarter, about what was said at the press conference. i was able to personally ask survey lab for what he thought about these new revelations that seymour hersh put forward

. and he said it was funny that all the west could all the west could do was ignore . he, seymour hersh in the hopes that most people wouldn't really pay attention to the kind of revelation he was bringing forward lab. rob also said that we shouldn't really look to the european investigation for answer because, and that a broader international investigation should really be launched that doesn't just include countries from the west lab also said that a proposal was launched to the united nations calling on its organization to remember their obligation to combat international terrorism when considering the fact that a lot of information points to washington in terms of who carried out this north stream sabotaged all of the coal mines. donald were given by law office during a press conference with his brother indian counter pod there in saw where you are now. they covered many, many, 3 years. they're going to be talking what they're going to be agreeing to contracts and nuclear energy security bilateral business. what else, what are some of the highlights you can give to us to?

well, one thing that both foreign minister said is that a cooperation needs to be increased essentially across all spheres. and one of the main ones that you mentioned is the peaceful development of barone, these atomic energy sector, the burgundy, foreign minister said that atomic energy needs to become essential in lighting the countries rhodes, as well as a tom, it's holmes and its buildings. and we also heard more talk about cooperation, further cooperation in the sphere of health care. russia wants to help randi combat the spread of infectious diseases, specifically called 19 and this is really building upon cooperation that's already existed. we also did here at the burgundy and foreign minister say that he brought up the united nations and the fact that the african continent is not represented on the security council. he called this a historic injustice that needs to be corrected. you know that africa is the only continent in the world that has no representation among the permanent members of

the security council. we are under represented among regular members of the security council, and i think it's unfair. it is a historical injustice. we are excluded. and one bill in 300000000 people hands are under represented to the security council for the african continent. it is unacceptable. now both foreign minister is also said that defense cooperation is developing in a positive way as well to specifically both countries working together to combat terrorism in the region, as well as help protect its national sovereignty at a time where many countries, specifically western countries are trying to metal in the internal affairs of countries on the african continent. there was also a little talk about the ukraine conflict. the perone and more minister said that his country's stands for peace and resolving conflicts and negotiations. and you said that that can be extended to the ukraine conflicts as well, and that's obviously long been the position of russia. so this is another area

where both both countries, the id i and especially that is a general round up of the main topics that were discussed at this meeting. the boss of kick talk has faced or grilling and congress over fears that the popular app could be a way for china to spy on us citizens. that's just by no tangible evidence being presented. all local data for the app is also process solely within the us. nevertheless, that's not reassuring officials. the chinese government has that data. well, how can you promise that that will move into the, into the united states of american be protected here, a congressman? i have seen no evidence that the chinese government has access to that data. they have never asked us. we have not provided let you know i've asked that. i find that actually preposterous. i have fucked in i have seen no evidence of this happening.

and in order to assure everybody here and although uses our commitment is to move data in into the united states to be stored on american soil by an american company overseen by american personnel. so we have the ceo of tick tock testifying before a u. s. congressional committee and explaining the great length, the tick tock goes to in order to protect the data of its users. however, these answers are not satisfying for many in the u. s. congress. i, in addition to that, there are concerns about problematic videos on tick tock depicting violence, suicide, drug use, and other harmful issues that a similar app which operates on the chinese mainland sensors. at this point in the testimony, we heard a rather harsh questioning of u. s. officials are where they pressed the seo of the tick tock corporation about why a similar censorship measure was not being used for content directed at the united

states as was done with contact directed at the chinese mainland i. here's the interaction. the typical us experience. it should be compared to other u. s. companies, because this is common. what's your parent company has the technology to prevent it because you prevented china, but you can't prevent here. why is different? that's why i'm asking. oh, congressman, there is no technology. there is perfect in doing this. we have to deal with the reality of the country they were operating in. and here in the united states, as with other companies we, we shared this challenge. we are investing a lot to address the challenge, but we are, you know, it's a shared child to invest a lot to seem to be address it in china, but not here. again, you know, i think the comparison has been within the single country. you know, we face the same set of challenges, hearing what you like 1st, which i'm sorry, i'm out to ball. it's a difference in china. and here, let me give you an example. congressman, in my home country, singapore there's, there's almost no the legal draught content because singapore has very strict drug loss. now tick tock, us flame faced away those allegations that it is somehow

a mechanism for spreading chinese influence or spying on americans for the chinese government. in 2020, it hired a u. s. citizen as it's c e o. and the company has set up privacy protection centers, a transparency centers in both the united states and in europe in order to ensure the privacy and protection of its users in order to make clear that their data is not being used for some nefarious purpose. however, these answers have not been satisfactory to the u. s. government u. s. officials continue to hurl allegations against tick tock as we saw in today's congressional hearings. it's also worth noting that a 150000000 people use tick tock around the world, and that number continues to rise despite the heated allegations leveled from voices in the united states. however, a poll did indicate that 40 percent of americans would favor a diane on tick tock. now there have been a number of us states that it passed

a law for bidding tick tock from being used on government devices. we saw the scenes today in congress. the heated exchanges that went on so the controversy continues surrounding this social media app. for more on this let's cross, i'm now to legal and media analyst, lionel lionel. it's good to see you. now when it comes to applications like twitter, americans are said to feel more secure because it's an american company. however, twitter has been fined a $150000000.00 in the past for misusing user data. so why is twitter considered ok when it does exactly what the us government is accusing, tick tock of doing 1st, i must say, i despise, take time, i despise all of it. and this c e. o, acquitted himself splendidly better than anything i and i is a lawyer. i'm watching the way he answered the question very,

very well. may i ask you a question? i wish he would have said what madame? a congress, a person make. may i see your phone for a 2nd? do you mind if i see it? oh, you've got facebook, instagram, twitter, and you may have this in that. do you know where this data go collectively? do you know where the servers are? do you know how no, you don't. there is, i don't want to say something, but there's a, a scrum as going on, right? so there's a, there's this idea we're tick tock is the embodiment of all evil. and i'm not necessarily disagreeing with that. but what i'm telling you is that i know the people understand this. let me also say something. the safest place for you to be is testify in congress. you can say whatever you want. don't even worry about how the doctor found she doing no problem. how zuckerberg no, no problem. in 1994, there were 7 members, 7 hed ceo's of tobacco company,

who said under oath that they didn't believe that nicotine was at all addicted. he said this on the road, no problem in 2005 major league baseball player said steroids. what are you talking about? we don't have st. we don't steroids. nothing happen now wanna steer roger stone or somebody else, any other reason to worry? so the bottom line is, as far as this testimony goes, don't worry about it. but the pointed you're bringing up is very good. why is tick tock in this was? i think the gravamen of this whole story. why is it substantially and significantly more dangerous than any other application? why is it and there are 2 issues, content and the actual data capture. 2 completely different issues, concomitant issues, important issues, but separate. and i think it was blurred. i think ultimately the tick, tock, c, e o one. you know, that's a really interesting point there because especially when it comes to those top

social media, c o is when it comes to twitter and facebook. you always seem to notice there's a lot of speculation around them, then they go, they testify before congress. they given they make the members of congress look very official and then they're allowed to keep doing whatever they want. so what do you make of this sort of selective outrage is that we put all or focus on tick tock, and then don't look over here at twitter, facebook, instagram, all of the other apps that are also taking your data. and you don't know where it goes, what kind of message? well, you know there's a, there's an old expression. i don't know who said it, but they said if, if you're getting something for free, you're the product. it's, it's you, it's your information. and i think that people do not understand. and you know, rachel, 1st i thought to paper from my generation, you know, we remember, you know, record players an am radio it's, it's my generation wrong. it's your generation. it's everybody's generation because

rachel, this is been 9. this is our friend, this is in china. i friend, don't you understand? they take pictures of my food and my dog sleeping. and my beauty, and i chronicle every aspect of my life on my phone and tick tock makes me beautiful. and it makes me calm of a part of the world. and if you take my check, this is my favorite. take my data please. why do i have one of my some star my bank account? nobody understand and you know, wait last people, you walk your door when you're home, you pull the shade down. if you ever were to god forbid, mail a letter to her lick the envelope for you said yes you, you enjoy this phone call privacy. why is it that when it comes to your phone to your devices, your friend, why doesn't this seem to work?

and that is an inherent problem too. you know, i'm sure you've heard about this, but the uncanny valley, the, the idea of looking at robots. some are cute, some more fun. summer. scary. sometimes things seem ominous. the name tick tock. it's simple. it's easy. there's something about this that. so how do we say this is a trying to explain to a kid? you have to get sleep because you're growing and intellectually, are you talking about? i know intuitively what you're saying is correct. but i'm a kid. i want to stay up like, are you cool? what is it data capture? so what now i will tell you this. if i a thank god you do not, i do not have children now, they would be in a monastery. i would not let them nearer this. this is the most dangerous device that any child should could ever possibly come into contact with. now,

right, here's a question. is that my responsibility is that mine is apparent. why should my child, my hypothetical child get in the way of your enjoyment? you're an adult, you are reasonable, rational, a person. why should you not be able to enjoy a full and throttled social media with a one year land? or must it be throttled back and, and limited because some child we become, i'm sorry, the victim of a challenger, something me, that's a terrible thing. but that's a content issue. that's it, that's different. do you know that if you could go back and talk to mr. gutenberg about the printing press, alexander graham bell, about the phone. she may be the may i have some serious regret it to 1st i be got an obscene photo before your time. so listen, i don't know. i'm constantly bouncing this. i'm trying to understand yesterday. yes,

i know there's surveillance. yes, i understand it. yes, i understand. i grasp it, i understand it. but trying to convince people of this on a device that is their friend. i can't say this enough, this is dear friend. this is, this is something that, that i think this will replace family and you want to get no way of that. good luck . he asked certainly, oh, lot at stake there, but we appreciate you joining us to break it all down. legal and media analyst, lionel, thanks so much for your time. thank you. rash as deputy foreign minister has confirmed that fox news host tucker carlson, has made an official request for an interview with thought in your opinion, something that carl sent claims that us intelligence had discovered by spying on hand yamaha with details. i can confirm that this journalist made such a request some time ago. our system is designed so that this kind of request is

automatically reported to the presidential administration where it's considered in terms of the messages. i wouldn't be surprised if the national security agency or the federal bureau of investigation is collecting data from your smartphone right now. tucker carlson claims the essay tapped his phone messages in order to sabotage his attempt to interview vladimir putin in july 2021. the host says he contacted russia deputy foreign minister, but later received a call from a source who knew confidential information about the proposed interview. what were you going to do interview? why wouldn't you had it set up? i was working on it and they broke into my text messages at the n. s a broken deer signal because they admitted it really the us national security agency dismiss tucker carlson statement saying he has never been and intelligence target the agency to go further in depth on this. let's cross live now to investigative

journalist on your foreign pill. anya, it's great to have you on the program today. now you say that you were actually the intermediary between tucker carlson and rushes deputy foreign minister. will you start by taking us through that experience and how that came to be? yes. well according to u. s. officials, i'm a friend, lynn, or a us based kremlin intermediary who was trying to help tucker, set up an interview with russian president vladimir putin. and as i detail in my article at the grey zone, that was all based on the fact that i went in april of 2021 box was tucker carlson. happened to mention to me that he was trying to book an interview with russian president putin. i offered to put him in touch with the russian government contacts that i had through my own independent journalism. i've interviewed rob that's public on the breeze owns website. and so i offered

to put tucker in touch with rob in order to see if it was possible that this interview request he had, could move further along and resolve the u. s. authorities apparently not only age and to act as you add media and read it by the i think actually in here when trying to find justice. and that's really ridiculous. i'm a us citizen. i have no formal relationship,

financial or otherwise with the russian government or the kremlin. and my relationship with deputy remains just very minimal. my reviews and i, when i think happened here with the us government trying to weaponized my existence, just the fact that i had previously long before any of these exchanges took place. works for r t america actually with you the branch of our t, the network. and even though i stopped working for r t in december of 2018, and all of these communications happened in 2021. the us officials who were spying on pucker or deputy minister re, i've tried to imply that i was friendly and b intermediary. i think basically in order to mir hucker is reputation and suggest that he was in some way communicating

with foreign agents or russian government representative in order to pursue an interview with. yeah, certainly is a fancy title that they gave you when you're doing something that really every journalist does when it comes to their contacts and helping other journalists out. now i want to talk about your article for the gray zone because you mentioned that it is completely normal and routine for journalists to maintain contact with high level government sources, domestic or otherwise. so do you think that the essays interference was therefore unjust considering carlson's job? absolutely, and like, let's just emphasize the point here. the only reason that we know tucker's name, as part of this story, is because an essay whistleblowers stepped forward and informed him that the u. s government was planning to leak his tax in order to embarrass him and say that he

was trying to get an interview. and i don't even know why that would be embarrassing. but they were, they had this source repeated back information to tucker that only someone with his access to his private messages could have no it as a result. i mean, the interview never happened or told i class and he said he was government had tapped into his communications on that level. but the faculty was never, it was considering reading the story and then tucker went forward with this information. when the whistleblower informed him and the u. s. media mocked it basically said, there was no way the true the interstate came forward with this non denial, denial thing that tucker was never the target of their spying. but what they were saying then is it's very possible his communications could have been captured. perhaps i don't know the fact they were monitoring deputy minister of foreign minister, react god, but they were still to go forward with this story,

an unmatched, the identity of a, of an american brutalized who happens to be one of the most influential and popular journalists of his generation and they're going to do that for political reasons. this was just months before the most recent escalation and the ukraine war which took place in february 2022 tucker was pursuing his interview in the summer of 2021 . that was apprehended by biting ministration. had come into power. and you can see, you can imagine how powerful individuals, perhaps who were the architects, the bit aggressive of an aggressive, a very aggressive policy towards russia that were now living through would have wanted to undermine tucker's ability to interview the russian president. and i, i think that's what happened here. yeah, there certainly are a lot of lessons to be learned from this one, but we really appreciate you joining us to share your experience investigative journalist on your foreign. phil,

thanks so much for your time and insight. my pleasure. ah, for pakistani prime minister and moran con has claimed that the country's government was behind an assassination attempt on his life last year. he claims the authorities are now hampering the investigation in order to conceal their involvement. he made the claim will speaking to archie is going under ground. you can are civil episode on saturday, but here's the teaser. you've been overthrown. you've been shot and injured. your family is being targeted. our real are the assassination plot against you. right now, as we speak english and loyal sir. unfortunately, i real the jim john, me when i was very lucky, i'm lucky to be alive and well to see bullets in my legs. i was wanting for almost 2 months before the.