why do you think austria is doing this and take off this one wrong? it's a really good question and we've not had any clarity from the parties why they think it's necessary to do this. i think the experience in other countries is not enough. people are going 1000000 of people are going to come to care, let alone being admitted to hospital to, to warren stringent measures. so i do wonder whether the austrian measure is a bit of a have from previous concerns and they, they don't sort of right back on what was initially proposed. it does seem to me run g, the u. k is going in the opposite direction to austria, scrapping vaccine mandate, friendship stuff, or at least it looks like that. who's right here? well, of course, the u. k is really backroom measures, not really because of the will of the government so much as the resistance of the people. there was a mandatory law for vaccination pass, which said that by the force of actually necessary by the 1st of april if people are not fully vaccinated. so that means if they haven't had their 1st shot by the 4

now compare and contrast denmark with austria later this week, austria, which is reporting record high infection numbers will become the 1st european country requiring all adults to be vaccinated against the corona virus. and then there's england, which was betting on beating the virus in part with a vaccination mandate for all health care workers was not anymore. here's the u. k. health minister, such jutting while vaccination remains our very best line of defense against covered 90. i believe that it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment through statute. so madam deputy speaker, today i'm announcing that we will launch a consultation on ending vaccination as a condition of deployment in health. an all social care settings subject to the responses and the will of this house, the government will with the, the regulations. i'd. let's take this now to andrea fagen. she's a global health care expert from the harvard chance school of public health. and it's going to see you again there. there is so much to talk about tonight regarding the pandemic 1

in it's evening and ish, gill, austria. it's peak season for the sky resorted to roll, but there's not much going on. even though the covert related curfew was lifted a few days ago, a lot has changed since cove it even when skiing, especially here in is gillan austria. there was a cove it outbreak here in 2020 that had an impact on the whole of europe. at that time, many people got infected in the upper ascii bars and then took the virus back to their respective home countries. the resort operators were accused of negligence. there was even a criminal investigation, but the case was dropped in november 2021. well, what has happened since then? how does winter sports work in a former corona hot spot and what's the app risky all about? that's what i want to find out. and that's why i went to school ah, at the top of my to do list skiing on the slope of escape. i also want to try tracking and deep snow in snowshoes. and of course, i'll visit in every ski bar house the party with pandemic routes. ah, while driving up to the mo

it's not for any authority to tell me what to put into my body. >> but austria's government says thenecessary to fight covid-19 and prevent future lockdowns. >> mandatory vaccination is an interference with human rights. but in this case, this interference can be justified. that's very clear from the law point in the human rights one of you. we have the need to get out of the pandemic and we know that vaccination is the only way to get out of it and to get back to normal life. >> the vaccination center has even been set up in vienna since stephen's cathedral. around 72% of austrns have already had the jab. those who refuse to get the shot will face fines of up to 3600 euros. the vaccine mandate is set to expire in january 2024. one of austria's top doctors says the vaccine saves lives. >> it has clearly shown that the vaccination impedes severe courses of the disease, therefore it reduces icu admissions significantly, and that is really important for the health care system. so if you want to reduce your personal risk significantly, and the risk for your loved ones, get vaccinated. >>

also coming up, austria becomes the 1st country in europe to introduce a coven 19 vaccine mandate for all adults on jobs. austrians without medical exemption will now be breaking the law if they refuse to get the jazz. ah, hello, then i'm really muhammad rescue workers in morocco. say they are getting closer to a 5 year old boy who fell into a well. this is the 5th day. he's been stuck then. crowds flocked to the village of a crown to cheer on the team. digging a tunnel to the boy helicopter is standing by to fly the boy to hospital once he's finally free, day breaks and no the morocco. after another sleepless night in a mountain town, hundreds watch on. as a risky team tries to extricate ryan the earth under ground growing stony and stonier, the closer d kids get to him. long term amaya did us able so it's a very difficult process because of many problems related to the terrain at the site ordinary them sort of ality. now the well is less than 45 centimeters wide and this is where ryan has been since tuesday rescue, as loring oxygen food and water to him. they've even managed to talk

that's when of hostile to on and doctor m miss torn austria expects an avalanche of flow suits by those unwilling to pay possible fines, starting at $600.00 euros and to be enforced from mid march. his reminder of our top story in morocco, the boy who fell into a well nearly 5 days ago has died. rescue workers have been trying to free 5 year olds, rayon from the shaft, in the hope that he was still alive, as it threw up to date, to stick around up next is wellstar youth . ah, what people have to say matters to us. mm. that's why we listen to their stories reporter every weekend on d. w. the battle against cove it.

to clarify the question, i just delivered it also coming up, europe's 1st vaccine mandate, austria makes coven 90 japs, compulsory. for most adults. now the hard part in forcing no other topic polarizes austrians as much as mandatory vaccinations. those who administered it is inside can only do sue the security nearby. there's concern about was tied all birth by and have access to our viewers watching a p b. as in the united states into all of you around the world. welcome. we begin the day with a rendezvous of like mines at the winter olympics in beijing. today, russian president vladimir putin and chinese president, she's in pain, came together just hours before the opening ceremony to show the world that they are playing on the same t. a show of solidarity that produced a letter promising a joint and coordinated fight against attempts by other countries to undermine chinese and russian natural national interests. and china even went so far to say that it too is opposed to nato expansion. a russo sino push back against what much of the world agrees is true. russia is threatening ukrain

and then we bought austria that has introduced a vaccine mandate. what do you make of this? well, i think europe, us, north america are very, very tired cove. they're tired of trying to battle it. they're tired of promises that things are going to be over soon when they're not. by the way, not just due to government problems, but because the virus is changed. i still favor mandate. i still believe that the right thing to do is to protect your neighbor, to not club the hospitals with the sick and the dying from people who are not vaccinated. and i still think vaccination is a key tool. however, it's going to be very tough to collect those fines in a weird way ethically, if the austrian public doesn't support looking out for one another and puts individual self interest ahead of their neighbors. i don't know that the policy is going to work. let me take us a little bit from public health to public happiness. here in the united states, we've got a new go gallop poll out that shows americans continue to struggle to find the positives in life and society. back in 2020, i think 84

across europe in austria, — are not going up. across europe in austria, the _ are not going up. up. across europe in austria, the honking that - in austria, the honking that has come to define daily life in ottawa with truck drivers are showing their opposition to restrictions by blocking off parts of the enough, defying police orders do not enter the city. horns blare. as with canadian and french organisers, the group hearsay their intention is to be peaceful but the threat is there. no more restrictions and no vaccine mandate, or the city streets, not its president, will be on lockdown. stephanie prentice, bbc news. let's turn to ukraine now, and the us is warning that russian forces could invade at any time — although there is not yet any intelligence suggesting vladimir putin has decided to do so. president biden held a virtual meeting with the leaders of america's major european allies and nato member on friday, and the white house has confirmed that he is due to speak to vladimir putin by phone on saturday. with the latest from washington, here's our north america editor s

in the 3rd week of march in austria, that requirement comes in. but there are many wondering now whether the police will enforce it. current virus pandemic now in a bind administration is looking for support in congress for an extra $30000000000.00 to fight their pandemic. it wants to increase vaccinations, treatment, and research, the delta and only con, variance and vaccine hesitancy of healed infections and best worldwide video shared on social media appears to show how overwhelmed hong kong hospitals are from surgeon cove. in 19 infections, patients can be seen in beds outside, reportedly because it's too crowded indoors on kong. leader carry land said earlier this week that hospitals and clinics were struggling to cope. the argentina is dealing with suddenly high annual inflation now running at 50 per cent. some analysts are forecasting it will climb even higher this year, despite promises by the government to control prices that a sub will report on one osiris on our people are trying to adapt it to a culinary hot spot in the central market

z version, i'm at a z in upper austria. any one wanting to visit the doctor needs to get past the security guard 1st. what kind of gun her saddle. a block. so no blank round it. no, it's live ammunition. dr. liza maria kellum here has received a death threat e mail. it's their subject. i'm going to execute you. hello, you stupid. the concert again, i'm an american dorner, threatening me with lawyers won't help to this because i'm coming after you and actually my the pipe in vantage apathy. and while i'm out at the better than i'll slaughter all your employees, he's been did after them have an issue. i'm armed with a shot gun there means laden man. and isn't that a day i received this? i close the practices. i have a responsibility for my staff and my patients name, but ever since dr. kilometer has paid for a security guard out of her own pocket. you know, she, immunize is against cooper 19, which makes her a hate figure for active actors or for any money is in here that the whole. now this isn't just a bit of ranting and th

ukraine are in a separate pool with scotland, wales and austria.— wales and austria.e football matters - wales and austria. regarding the football matters in - wales and austria. regarding the football matters in both l the football matters in both ukraine and russia, we continue to monitor the situation. and we'll communicate updates with regard in particular the outgoing —— upcoming fifa world cup qatar 2022 qualifiers soon. the german football side have removed the name of russian state owned energy giant gazprom from their shirts as the club look to cut ties in light of the invasion. —— the german football side schalke. gazprom, who also back the champions league, have sponsored schalke since 2007. elsewhere, there were lots of protests and messages of support for ukraine at matches across europe on thursday night. these were dinamo zagreb fans holding a banner saying "support to the people of ukraine". the napoli and barcelona players came togther before kick off behind a banner saying "stop war" and one of ukraine's big football stars, ruslan malinovskyi, scored

it's compulsory in austria. sat like noted amendatory vaccination because normally every one should be wise enough to get the job automatically follows. but only a few came for their 1st shopped, the city set up mobile vaccination buses to increase that number. the willingness to get a job is stagnant despite the new bill. gig an infix, i'm against mandatory vaccinations though because i believe this is a violation of human rights yet. yet every one has the right to freedom. right. even before the controversial bill was passed, security was died at vaccination centers. no other topic polarizes austrians as much as mandatory vaccinations. those who administered reduces inside can only do so with security nearby. there's concern about whole style outbursts by anti vac source. tens of thousands of them have been taking to the streets almost every weekend across the country to protest against comic measures. they are a minority. but vanna izing, who's researching radicalism, says the protest should not be underestimated. store it escaped unbroken and hot. and keanda elkins at school, there

i've tried to report ah ah, oh, come back, the parliament of austria has approved the most stringent vaccine mandate in europe, despite staunch opposition, now needs final ratification from the president under the bill. every non exempt donald is required to have the job all face a hefty fine, the initial penalty. it's i watering 600 euros pregnant women are exempt. as all those with medical reasons and those who recently recovered from cobit austria's vaccination rate is almost 3 quarters of the population are almost 9000000. the country's health minister is clear on the advantages of this mandate. all experts believe that we will need high overall immunity in the population next fall as well. with this vaccine mandate, we will succeed in achieving these important additional percentage points in the vaccination rate. in while the world health organization is urging everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible, my call again in o'neil discussed austria's vaccine monday with a panel of guests. i think these mandate explanation is against the constitution goes against austin constitu

my colleague, you know, neil are discussed to austria vaccine mandate with a panel of guests. listen to this. i think these mandate explanation is against the constitution goes against the old stone constitutional lo and so would be over told by the supreme court feel student just need to be clear about what they want to get out. so, you know, they're going to make everybody have a vaccine. now what's gonna happen in 6 months time, if the virus still circulating, but not putting too many people in the hospital intensive care? what's gonna happen that i think you're going to stop 19 people's lives, then they need to be clear about where they're going. run gte in austria, just reading through what's going to happen. the rules are going to be enforced by police checks on the streets. it's not a worrying precedent potential civil rights violations. what, what's your thoughts? certainly a draconian measures and the concept of carrying against an estimate to many of them. but there are many countries where identity cause necessary and internal possible if you like, marrying that wil

when austria did this it was in the middle of a big wave and had one of the lowest vaccination rates in western europe. one of the effects of the announcement was that lots of people got the vaccination before it was actually introduced and so i think from today's perspective, austria probably wouldn't introduce this, just had to follow through on a similar phenomenon in germany, when it was announced lots of people got the job and now that they really have implemented they find lots of practical difficulties and we may actually not see it in the end. how are companies and businesses dealing with this? from their perspective of course anything that ends the lockdowns and quarantines is going to be a good thing. at the same time, where we have sector wise mandatory vaccinations, for instance for the health sector, many businesses in the sector, private hospitals, for instance, find it difficult to implement this, as they do with all sorts of measures such as keeping people without vaccinations out of shops or workplaces and so on so it poses a big burden of bureaucracy sometimes on th

came out and dominated again. | slowly and austria came out and dominated again.— slowly and austriaagain. i worry for england going into the road _ dominated again. i worry for england going into the road cut _ dominated again. i worry for england going into the road cut because - dominated again. i worry for england going into the road cut because they| going into the road cut because they are the ready champions in your part of that side but it feels in the intervening five years in australia have streak ahead.— intervening five years in australia have streak ahead. they have. they a- -l for have streak ahead. they have. they apply for data _ have streak ahead. they have. they apply for data grid _ have streak ahead. they have. they apply for data grid and _ have streak ahead. they have. they apply for data grid and for— have streak ahead. they have. they apply for data grid and for a - have streak ahead. they have. theyj apply for data grid and for a number of years— apply for data grid and for a number of years now ever since 2017 in that world _ of years now ever since 2017 in

from today most adults in austria must be vaccinated against covid—19.ople who've had covid in the past six months, and those who are medically exempt. we can go live to vienna and speak to bethany bell. what and speak to bethany bell. has been the reaction t change? what has been the reaction to this change? it what has been the reaction to this chance? , . what has been the reaction to this chance? _, ., ,., ., change? it is a controversial law. around 70% _ change? it is a controversial law. around 70% or _ change? it is a controversial law. around 70% or so _ change? it is a controversial law. around 70% or so of _ change? it is a controversial law. around 70% or so of austrians i change? it is a controversial law. | around 70% or so of austrians are fully vaccinated. but there is a sizeable minority of adults who do not wish to get vaccinated. there are also those who question whether are also those who question whether a vaccine mandate is the most effective way of dealing with the pandemic. austria's government says it has brought in this law whic

in it's evening and is gill austria. it's peak season for the sky resorted to roll, but there is not much going on even though the coast related curfew was lifted a few days ago.

we also spoke with austria as a former foreign minister kirk and i. so now she says that if the e u does sanctioned russian gas, it'll simply have a nasty blow back effect. there is german officials, including i think even the minister economy have said we are able to substitute russian in gas imports. i'm not so sure that this would really be possible because

in the 3rd week of march in austria, that requirement comes in. there are many wondering now whether the police will enforce it. dominic came live for us in berlin. i am a former soldier who has deserted me on mars. army has told al jazeera of the brutal tactics he says are being committed by a feared regiment. since last year's call the army, his face allegations of abuse, including torture and massacres, all of which it denies. tony chang spoke to the ex soldier who was in hiding near the time. yeah, mob order. rebel fighters approach to convoy of burning vehicles on christmas eve. it was the scene of a massacre. they say more than 30 men, women and children executed. their bodies burned at you. they say it was mere mars army. specifically, the much feared 66 light infantry mia mars military leadership have denied involvement and the next day. but those tactics a well known to captain, me and tow, whose name we've changed for security reasons. he served in the 66 light infantry until november when he deserted. now he's in hiding. he says he and

kron variant and the end of winter me in europe is that for a quote, period of tranquillity and austria's vaccine mandate has passed in parliament. austria is the 1st european country to make vaccination mandatory for all adults. with some medical exceptions, we are now just hours away from the opening ceremony of the beijing winter olympics . but the crone of virus pandemic isn't the only issue looming over the games. china's human rights abuses are also in the spotlight. oh, with less than 24 hours until the games officially open the political clubs over beijing showed no signs of clearing. despite the repeated efforts of i will see president thomas, but to resist what he views as the instrumental ization of the olympics. cctv the greeks knew that the if for the games would be used for coming between both of the politic retentions which were hired at the time between a sponsor and nursing center. and they had all those he, for the of the games would not be considered to be neutral. they would not to have her as a wife to therefore g, 1000 years australian open spectators were accused la

with next up for the to austria. they'll have to pay told if they want to continue on the roads here. coming up in our 1st thoughts, a little steep, 10 euros would lower. what does that like? 12 usb or 70? some like that. i believe this is the 1st and only today. yeah. good. who did the crowns? the i'll come up with can you speak german? yeah. nick with her doctor. and i'm seeing a sign right there. it looks like car charging or so this one should work. hopefully it's the fast one. ah. when we started our drive today, it said we had 316 kilometers till empty. but we have been going through the mountains and so that quickly dropped. we lost about a 100 kilometers in there. it'll be our 1st time doing it at a charging station. i'm very excited because i think it'll go very quickly. this is the way the he said, if you can find one that fits both of these, it's the best and should go the fast and right. do it. i think most of the time for a little update on how we're doing on our waste reduction go. typically when we do

and it was a day to remember as well, for austria and the us in the snow boarding competition. natalie guys burger got germany's elite, lose team off to a good start. before to be as vender. and to be as art set a course record in the final run, to pick austria and make it a clean sweep of the loser events for team germany. austria had better luck in the men, snowboard cross alessandro him. allah finished ahead of canadian elliott rondon in a neck and neck final. the austrian edged out grandin to claim his 1st ever olympic medal, saying he had just pushed a little more. there was joy for the u. s. 21 year old chloe, him one gold in the woman's snowboard half height, kim became the youngest woman to win snowboard golden 2018 aged to 17. her latest performance makes her the 1st female snowboarder to win back to back. gold in the half pipe. and us figure skater, nathan chin is taken home, his 1st olympic go delivered, a rousing performance skating to elton john's rocket man. and his 5 quadruple jumps . helped him live up to his name quad. he jen went into thursday's free skate wit

thanks, nations are in full swing at austria as biggest explanation center in vienna. but around 20 percent of the population as so far refused to be jap. and now the government wants to force them abroad. majority in parliament has passed a new law. in austria, we make it clear evaluation, but if the health care system is in danger, the use for me, for all of those in the country, this counts for more than personal rights. tens of thousands of all students have demonstrated every weekend, again, scalded restrictions and compulsory vaccinations. mika, l blue know founded a party with a sole purpose of fighting the government's coven policies. he doesn't believe scientists when they say that vaccines are safe. the compulsory vaccination is not based on evidence and there's no way to justify it in legal terms. it's a serious violation of fundamental rights. and right now there is no justification for violating them. he predicts thousands of lawsuits will be filed against this law and expects it will never be enforced. actually, i go into great like to increase its vaccin

but the key thing here is both in germany and austria, although that's a federal decision. each state will be able to interpret how it should implement that. so we know, for example, that the mayor of vienna, remember vienna is a state in the federal republic of austria. that man said, well begin to relax things slower. so people might still have to prove their status in terms of vaccination or in terms of recovery. but the point that's very much worth driving home here is that there had been a feeling that austria was leading a trend where people were saying it was important to have a mandatory vaccine requirement. that is still the case in australia will take come into force in the middle of march, but there are those who now wonder whether it will really be in force and here to in germany. although the federal government says it's committed to trying to get that implemented. there are many leading politicians, notably the prime minister bavaria, who say maybe we should slow down on that. police in honduras have arrested former president juan orlando have mondays at the r

omicron variant and the end of winter near europe, is that for a quote, period of tranquillity and austria's vaccine mandate has passed in parliament, austria is the 1st european country to make vaccination mandatory for all adults, with some medical exceptions. and just before we go, the duchess city of rotterdam, europe's busiest port has given the green light to dismantle a historic bridge. for a very wealthy customer, the bridge will be temporarily taken apart so that an oversized yacht under construction, can pass through on its way to the north sea. the 40 meter long vessel is that to become the world's biggest yacht when it's launch later this year. and it's believed to have been commissioned by amazon founder jeff bezos. one of the world's richest met, that you need update at this hour. stay tuned for dark film coming up next. which looks at a village fighting for a football field in the mountains of credit done. and if you do want more news and analysis at this hour, you can check it out on our website at g, w dot com. or you can find us on social media attitude of new news. i'm cle

and austria's vaccine mandate has passed in parliament. austria is the 1st european country to make vaccination mandatory for all adults. with some medical exemptions, well, believe it or not, we are just hours away from the opening ceremony of the beijing, which are olympics that the chronic virus pandemic isn't the only issue that is looming large over the games. china's human rights abuses are also in the spotlight . oh, with less than 24 hours until the games officially open, the political clouds over beijing showed no signs of clearing. despite the repeated efforts of, i will see president thomas back to resist what he views as the instrumental ization of the olympics. cctv danger greeks knew that they did it for the games would be used for good would come in between those are the political tensions which were higher at the time between his father and her things and in others. if her they're the games would not be considered to be neutral. they would not have her survived. therefore, 1000 years australian open spectators were accused last month by china of politicizing sport. after tennis

, then most of western europe, bailey austria, has just introduced a mandatory vaccination system and many in germany want the same here. do you think mandatory vaccinations are a good way out of the pandemic? i personally, i think it, i think everybody should have the vaccine, i think are particularly health care workers. i think it's, it's a moral obligation on, on. if you're a health care work that have the vaccine, but at the same time, personally, i'm uncomfortable with forcing people to have any form of medical intervention. and we've seen him in the u. k. the or the likely backpedaling of the government's decision to enforce vaccination in health care workers because to do that would actually ultimately cause more pressure through a loss of substantial numbers of staff. so yeah, everybody should go out and get vaccines. but that doesn't mean just if they are not yet vaccinated, but that doesn't mean to say i, i personally support compulsory vaccination or i professor paul hunter. thank you very much. paul hunter, professor in medicine infectious diseases and epidemics at the un

austria's vaccination rate is almost 3 quarters of the population are roughly 9000000 people. the country's health minister says the mandate is for the best of the country. all experts believe that we will need high overall immunity in the population next fall as well. with this vaccine mandate, we will succeed in achieving these important additional percentage points in the vaccination rate. my colleague, you know neil disgust auster, his mandate with a panel of gusts. i think these mandate explanation is against the constitution goes against the old term constitutional lo and so would be over told by the supreme court feel student just need to be clear about what they want to get. chances are they going to make everybody have a vaccine. now what's gonna happen in 6 months time? if the virus still circulating but not putting too many people into hospital intensive care, what's gonna happen that i think you're going to stop 19 people's lives, then they need to be clear about where they're going to run gte in austria, just reading through what's going to happen, the rules are g

accused of green washing for labeling some investments in gas and nuclear energy as sustainable. austria says it will challenge the action in cold and disappearing 3 times faster than forests on world wetlands day. we look at why few migratory birds are traveling to india during winter. ah, so we begin with a growing crisis on ukraine's border with russia. you as president joe biden is ordering the pentagon to deploy additional troops to eastern europe. 2000 american soldiers will head to poland and to germany and 1000 will be repositioned to romania, fear us in nato already have tens of thousands of troops in europe. but russia's president vladimir putin as to the world nato allies in to turn to and defend against any aggression. now, as the secretary said friday, we do not know if russia has made a final decision to further and aid ukraine. but it clearly has that capability. the department of defense will continue to support diplomatic efforts led by the white house and the state department to press for resolution. we do not believe conflict is inevitable. united states in lock step w

now, with protests bringing up in australia and austria. both countries have seen mounting public anger over relentless coven restrictions. austria's vaccine roles are some of the toughest in the world. with all adults required to take a covey shot or pay fines of up to $3600.00 euros. meanwhile, in canada, a standoff is currently unfolding at the countries busiest border crossing with the u. s. security forces are trying to clear the ambassador bridge, where truck is involved with the antique cove. it mandates freedom convoy a blocking traffic. on the ontario side, the province has declared a state of emergency, and the nation's prime minister is warning of severe consequences, though many say it's a crisis of just into those own making. if you join the protests, because you're tired of coven, you now need to understand. you are breaking laws. the consequences are becoming more and more severe. the deliberate politicization of the pandemic is undermined to trust in our public health institutions and as damage to national unity. a prime min

, both countries have seen an up swell of public anger over relentless kobe restrictions. austria is seen roots are the toughest in the worlds with all adults required to take over shot and pay fines of off to $3600.00 euro and after the break in 90 seconds, we'll get into where it all started. that freedom convoy protests in canada and see what's happening there and more. besides, stay with our tensions the the turn is not expressing itself and having this willingness to lead world quite to the coach. china is still trying to learn from others and trying to do business with everybody, particularly with russia, with us, was that it's not a whole town nation. this is something that the whole world needs to understand china history. another has this experience of colonization. never has this dixby rooms of trying to bully others. always try to make friends with people. the join me every 1st day on the alex simon show. and i'll be speaking to guess in the world, the politics sport. business. i'm show business. i'll see you then. me the okay, now, right before they break, we show you the

union is accused of green washing labeling some investments in gas in nuclear energy, as sustainable austria says, it'll challenge the action in cold ah see, as we begin with the growing military stand off spots by the crisis on ukraine's border with russia the u. s. president joe biden is ordering the pentagon to deploy additional troops to eastern europe, to thousands. american soldiers will head to poland and to germany, and 1000 will be repositioned to romania. the u. s. a nice who already have tens of thousands of troops in europe. these movements are unmistakable signals to the world that we stand ready to reassure our nato allies into turned and, and defend against any aggression. now as the secretary said, friday, we do not know if russia has made a final decision to further they'd ukraine. but it clearly has that capability. the department of defense will continue to support diplomatic efforts led by the white house and the state department to press for resolution. we do not believe conflict is inevitable. united states in lockstep with our allies in partners has offered russia a pa

president, austria is not part of any military alliance. we rely for our security on respect and implementation of international law, of treaties, of custom, including humanitarian law. reports about russian attacks on civilians and civilian objects in urban areas are extremely worrying. rockets or missiles hitting apartment buildings in kyiv cannot be accepted. these attacks constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law. we urge russia to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law, in particular regarding the protection of civilians in urban warfare and immediately cease these attacks and refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas. we strongly condemn the use of cluster munitions which is incompatible with international humanitarian law and outlawed under the convention on cluster munitions. and colleagues, the threat of use of nuclear weapons, any nuclear threat of this kind is a violation of the principles of the u.n. charter. the implied catastrophic humanitarian consequences do not respect borders impos