Which is very pleasant for me to be here in the company of like minded people. There are more than 10000 people and nobody is scared. Everyone knows what they want. Its not so many of those here. Its just important to see people who agree that what happened is terrible and that there are a lot of people precinct. This also on the days or rainy is handed to the ballot box and the parliamentary elections turnaround is expected to be low. As more and more people ask, whats the point . There is actually no choice and there is no change, no matter who you wrote for. So be at the parliamentary election or even the president ial election because these elections are neither free. No fair. Welcome to the show. Its good to have here with us the russian Opposition Leader alex. I know bonnie has been laid to rest in moscow. Casket was lowered into the ground to the sound of my way. I frank sinatra. Last message to his followers. And his critics, his way, was courageous and defiant. His fearless way is what turned him into fultons number one enemy and into a hero for millions. On friday, thousands of them gathered outside the church where his funeral was being held. The crowd was kept behind fences that Security Forces setup in the morning after the service along his parents and others paid their last respects at his grace. Heres some things from today. The or the. 6 is it just solved . Thousands of people turn down to pay their respects to involve me . They were chanting. Thank you. Theres just now, all of that, the spines, a warning from the kremlin that anyone participating in unauthorized gatherings would be quote, held responsible Rights Groups say, authorities made over 60 arrest across the country. Heres what some of the warners and moscow were saying today. I came here to moscow for alexis funeral to pay my last respect. Its important to me. Its important to a lot of people. Thats why i didnt see any option, but to come here for the funeral stuff. I was very sick that we came early in advance and we were standing for a long time and were hiding l as low as in cameras. But now i realize that we need to do it and to speak up. But i think its a judy for everyone who knew, id say to come and say good bye. Were the only for me, this is the final farewell to the man. And as for a candle to weigh a candle as late as we say, youre just a memory. We will remember for a long time before and we will not give up. This is the most important for this summer. Well, here in berlin warners have also been bidding farewell to alexander longing. He believed flowers and lived candles. Had a memorial outside, the Russian Embassy and the german capital sprung up last night in falling news of the kremlin critics stuff. Today, it has become a focal point for those who wish to pay their respect along his team have urged with supporters around the world hours and as on our political, corresponding funds, blonde visited the memorial and send us this as as election of all any was being buried in most cult. Oh, those were close. Oh, windows closed oh, curtains drawn. Thats a Russian Embassy here in the middle of. But then no more seen as the embassy looks down in skirt typically on this impromptu memorial to nevada. Any that has sprung up in the last 2 weeks since his death was announced in the russian penal colony. There is a Significant Community of russians here in berlin with russian shops and restaurants, and thousands of people gather to yeah. When this date was an honest 2 weeks ago, today, that has to be in the state, a trickle of people stopping here at this memorial. Looking at the post as criticizing. Not even put in a piece of expressions of support for nevada name without the choice the gym and transfer this week. Once again said that according to him, nobody was killed by the russian regime. Certainly what can be said that these kinds of expression of support and warning that we can see here are being suppressed with brutal force in russia. So that we use russia. Analysts, konstantin, a guy told me hes not surprised at so many define the authorities to say their goodbyes turned up on me to the they do in the edits funeral. And basically the fact that several dozen people who are arrested according to terms of red row rice group, so really shows that this was not your regular funeral. Of course they didnt bump the show of solidarity without except his family. And of course they golf. But they go up, i mean, its less go, its not why dont these carplay, and thats where people of all the most politicize and where there is a huge, well at least a significant, lets say, a layer of opposition to vote. And so, to me, there was no surprise in the turn out. And uh, frankly speaking, these people are great because anyone who went there could have risk the risk arrest or it completely trumped up and fig charges. So yes, i mean, kudos to that. Kudos to the more people outside russia and along the was the face of the anti food and the opposition house. And molly, to figure izzy along the russian public. This will look the russian public thats was inside put and then still continues to be this minority. Uh, they of course knew about the agreement with him there, although the doesnt what position including an ex or have a box definitely through the fact that she was an russian attracted a huge attention to him. And he was one of the, i would say, 12. 00 to 3. 00 Political Prisoners that were influenced hands. So in a sense, i think theres those who dislike, but they always acknowledge these bravery. But of course, the zip the whites way, the Public Opinion in russia, which believes the criminal propaganda, and believes that in a while it was the c i, a agent or whatever the crime and tells about him. So i lost lots, every one in refresher was taken by his energy and his messages. Now long as widow lives outside russia and didnt attend the funeral, today she is bound to continue her husbands 5. What role do you think she can play Going Forward . Well, it depends on how she proceeds. Shes a different person. She kept always likely. So to be the shadow of alex a and the she has to become a wrong for old self, her own political. So i think thats what weve seen so far. Points to the fact that i like see who might happen to know personally to was correct to say that shes probably more radical than hes in a position to putting a bunch of calls. It means that she will have to recreate his team to mostly defined her own messages in her own image. And dest is a big task for her. Its just exceeds the im absolutely certain you bose, a danger to boot and even from from the outside, even from eggs on it. Thats constantly. I got always a pleasure to get your insights. Thank you so much. I orders and are on it for the electing a new parliament and powerful religious body of home, the assembly of experts throughout the political establishment. The elections are attached to public sentiment following a social uprising in 20222023. The last parliamentary elections 4 years ago saw the smallest vote since the 1979, as long as greenville lucian around is suffering and economic crisis and has been rocks by nationwide Anti Government protests. The signs are everywhere and the messaging is clear. Iran has been scrambling to boost voter turnout ahead of fridays election. Its introducing electronic voting and several cities. And the number of female candidates vying for a seat is more than double what it was in the last Parliament Re election in 2020. But the governments efforts appear to be falling on deaf ears. My shock bye, she presently i will not take part in this election without this because the results of the last 2 elections would not good to you on this group novel. The biggest problem with the election is the peoples lack of trust in parliament. A political distrust and an ailing economy have helped fuel voter apathy. Although the elections are seen as a crucial barometer for legitimacy. The governments own surveys show participation will be well below 50 percent. Fridays vote includes polls for members of parliament, and the assembly of experts will have the power to appoint who runs the Supreme Leader. The country system of pre approve and candidates has led to mass disqualifications and the removal of true choice according to critics of the current hard line government. Yet no, you dont even know. Yeah. Into all the time the word election is completely meaningless. It should be called an anti election or non election road. And the good bottom of the election is rejected by the people and these lumnick republic, and you dont sell it to them, but not doing that for sure. The memory of mazda many is also casting a long shadow over this years boat. The 22 year old curtis iranian died after she was taken into Police Custody for allegedly violating the islamic dress code. The death led to wave of mass protests against the hid job law and other social issues. In 2022. The movement was violently crushed by authorities. But the demands for change and an end to these logic republics rule ensure was written, but im been telling blo, hes a senior fellow at the foundation for the defense of democracy. His work focuses on a rang and security and political issues, and he joins me tonight from washington. Good to see you now. First off shortly, even be calling this exercise and election its its a pleasure be with you. And its an excellent question for over a decade now, many independent iran watchers around experts are running list, have been calling these selections. You know, these are tightly managed politically choreographed moves off and kind of overseen by approx. Every rod Supreme Leader of the Guardian Council through a series of disqualifications through a series of reading procedures and in essence, fabricated numbers to continue to a contract. The already very limited space. Any runs is lemme smith or terence as system and shifted further to the right. So in short, these are really more selections and performative. Then elections has refreshing of descent, which we seen bubble up again. And again, over the past, especially 2 years at has it stepped up in the run up to this vote. Indeed, although in the very Short Campaign period about 2 weeks before election day march, 1st. Traditionally, you see these nomic republic try to dial down some of the pressure, try to incentivize more people to turn out and develop. Who has, you know, these numbers, public trying to reach a broader audience than the already very narrow audience. They know that they can only reach, but in general, the apparatus of refreshing remains operating in the background. For example, in the one up to this very limited elect total cycle, you have the somebody who public even crack down notches on has to take effect. Jared minorities, but also on the use of v. P ends or virtual private networks. So the readings repression continues both on the streets and in cyberspace. And its only 18 months since the death of gina and loss on me and the extraordinary protest movements that followed and the crack down thats managed to to silence much the descent. How much is left of that movement in iran today . Ok. Well, what is clear is that movements uh was not born of the vacuum. And that movement certainly is not over. What i mean by that. As youve seen a whole series of boom and bust cycles of street protests and these monic republic, starting in 2017 actually, that are triggered by distinctly non political events, often economic grievances, social grievances, environmental, grievances, given Foreign Policy groups. But theyre not triggered by political events anymore, like the 1999 closure of a former students paper or the 2009 ceiling up of electric. Remember, form is candid. The population had moved away from reform and largely towards revolution. And what that means is theres a boom and bust cycle of on predictable social explosions in the battle between the streets and the states. So while perhaps the next generation of protesters may not change women life freedom, the forces that brought you know, this generation as well as a Cross Section of iranians from over a 150 different cities, towns and villages. And the 2020 to 2023 protests is likely to endure all others name is, of course, seeking legitimacy and wants to tighten its grip on power, especially after those revolutionary 1st, that followed the death of geno mazda. I mean, what is the likelihood of change in iran after this about a how well after this built, i think it was changing the wrong direction. Meeting what weve seen now by these series of 2020 parliamentary elections, 2021 president ial election. And now the parliament and assembly of experts election in 2024. The system continued to move to the hard right. There is Stage Management by e run Supreme Leader was going to be 85 quite soon. Is looking to cement and institutionalize is ultra hard line legacy. And what hes doing is ensuring that there was a constellation of ultra hard line forces that are more righteous than capable. You know, there was a phrase that was said during the cultural revolution period that the radi diversity since the 1980, if im not mistaken, the phrase in version was taxable and thats have a know, which means, right just and its not capability. So youre seeing essentially hard core believers where already classical, you know, you could say conservative forces are teaching these hard core believers were simply not even being capable of managers. These are the kinds of people that are being promoted. And these are the kinds of contractions and political changes in the wrong direction being seen because these are what is being orchestrated by e. Rons ultra hard line. Revolutionary leads, particularly comedy. How far are radians from having free and Fair Elections . And unfortunately, theyre quite far. I think so long as there isnt as monica public, particularly as nomic republic that has elements like these nomic revolutionary guard core. Its a layered security apparatus, and that includes kind of semi formalized vigilante groups against our has the law that continues to have a best age, which is quite literally a check on all the forces of civil society. And most importantly, a Supreme Leader position like this, the constitution that was, you know, foisted upon the running population amended in the wrong direction. And 1989 i, you are likely to see the regime, the also hard line regime. I continue to represent something fundamentally different than the National Interest and public good, which when you look at the one in the history, particularly modern iranian history or contemporary writing history, youve seen a century long quest for representative governments of which most unfortunately, the population is still far from today, that was and ive been to level from the foundation for the defense of democracy. Thank you so much for those. And so i thank you. Or their theme commission is releasing a 50000000 euro payments to the u. An agency for palestinian refugees. Our own room, the funds were frozen, and the following is really claims that some agency staff took part in the october 7th come off terrorist attacks. The Commission Says the funds will be released early next week, as when raw has agreed to conditions including an audit. A further 32000000. 00 euros will be paid out later if the review is satisfactory. And the United Nations is calling for an International Investigation into the depths of more than a 100 palestinians killed during an a delivery and gaza families of the victims say, is really troops open fire. Now the is rarely army has admitted firey shots at people near the aid con why, but it says most of the best occurred during a stampede. The u. N. Has warrants than a quarter of guys, population is currently at risk of found. The friends and family morning, their dead injured survivors on the floor receiving treatment. These people say they were shot by israeli troops as they went to meet in each shipment with the brand after they stopped shooting. We went back to get to the 8. By the time i got flour and some kind of goods and took it down from the truck they shelter to is they show it to me. Um the truck driver left to run away from my leg. I lost my notes. If he wants to give his agent this way, that he might as well not bring his anything. Israel has a different account. This is a video released by the military. Its spokesperson says it shows mobs looting humanitarian aid from trucks and the trucks are overwhelmed. And the people driving the trucks, which gauze and the city is gone, and civilian drive is plowed into the crowds of people ultimately killing it. My understanding is tens of people. I dont have anything more specific to that. It is on folding. He does his health ministry, which is controlled by how mosque says dozens were killed at the drop site. This brings the ministrys death toll, which does not separate dod civilians from fighters to 30000. 00 that unprecedented human cost hesper cause for resolution. The war in gaza must and clear violations of in the nation with rights and too many different roles, including war crimes and possibly other crimes on the International Law has been committed by all parties, mediators say that mos in israel on the cost of a truce. But a group say that before that happens, some northern guidance may not survive the famine that result from a not getting through europe has a drug problem everywhere. Everyone, and were using that is how the use europe in drug report describe the prevalence of Substance Abuse in 2023. Now after cannabis, cocaine is the 2nd most commonly consumed drop in europe. And in recent years, that demand for the wind powder has grown to record levels as a lucrative business for the criminal gangs involved. But the world communities in south america where the drug is mainly sourced off and pay a heavy price. Germany is now one of the countries trying to rally International Authorities to coordinate efforts to interrupt International Supply lines. General louisa has got these hands full. Thousands of containers are loaded in the peruvian pulse of calais of every day. And cocaine could be heated, in any of them. Demand in europe is increasing and such as drug smuggling. The ways is Anti Drug Team is on daily patrol. Instead about any potential suspicious containers would be Game Changing for lowering forces. But most of those is we absolutely need an International Exchange of information with only investigating a are these so that they can seize the drugs and the criminals behind the getting the knowledge due to rising demand. Coca cultivation improve is doubled since 2015. The drug is almost exclusively exposed to europe in germany records 35. 00 tons received last year alone. Thats why germanys federal minister of the interior, nancy phaser, is traveling to south america, offering great to collaboration between nations, egypt, because ive already seen the spiraling violence in belgium and the netherlands public. Prosecutors and journalists have been shot dead. And i would like to prevent that from happening in germany. I, he, non whitehall, 2000 drug related deaths and not just a few. And its not just about people dying. Its been a huge impoverishment associated with violence and huge profits because theyve been in peru rainforest to being cleared for drug cultivation. Coco farm is on just enough to survive. Well, International Smugglers make millions. The rule of law is being undermined by corruption. So theyre going to have a shared responsibility. Countries that can see must cooperate with countries that produce because this is where the damage is done, the environmental destruction and the mode is supporting the customer. Negotiations for security agreements also begin soon more education and training a planned and a great to exchange of information. The impulsive information sharing was demonstrated to the anti drug police at the end of january. A tip also enables the team to seize over 7 tons of cocaine and the ports of calais of the cocaine is embedded in wooden panels. The smugglers getting more and more creat. Its becoming harder to find. I know so limited, but i mean its a great satisfaction, not just for me, but for everyone who has worked with us. Were always off to the drugs with the aim of finding the people behind the thats why corporation is so important and any help is welcome. Because the drug business is poisoning society and the people who use them. And finally, a pre Wedding Party found like asias richest man is proving to be quite a celebrity magnet tech type. Mark zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are rubbing shoulders with sports stars in bollywood royalty. As a billionaire industrialist, new cash on bonnies 3 day free not party for his son and his wife to be that 1200. 00 strong guest list, including bill gates along a trump. And the king and queen of latan will be entertained by none other than pop star rianna. The wedding itself will take place later in the year. Plenty of time to try and get an invitation. Would that weve reached the end of the day, but make sure to stay informed, stay engaged, and stay in touch. It would follow us on social media. Of course, youll find our team at the, the winners and myself at nicole underscore, florida. If its the latest headlines youre looking for, theres always our website that is a c, w. Com. For now though from all of us on the day, thanks for spending part of your day. Okay, the not laughing any more. The why the, the new electric vehicle force from china, from revolutionary Battery Manufacturer to the top spot in the market is the sparked. Finally, were heading to the west on d. W. A significant step for Cancer Treatment called seas cell therapy. Basically to use the phone, sometimes the hunters find the task to miss out a very promising message for advance spaces tomorrow. Today in 60 minutes, phone and dw the race loan. Because later when we look back, we recognized at all, thats the moment when everything changed. Its all about german is in the age of artificial intelligence. In 5 years it was in china, the us. Oh, youre up to control the technology that will shape the future of humanity, the small, its new world, the a i raise thoughts, march 16th on dw, the we will see a big grace between b, y, d and test drive the next 3 to 4 years. The b y d, the Worlds Largest e v. Manufacturer. How did they get that . And can they dont tell the in 2011 the coverage wildly there was still a lot thing, stoke. Why do you, why