rages in the ukrainian city of back. we look at cubes, plans to launch a potential counter offensive, the spring plus thousands protest in paris in a last ditch effort to deter lawmakers, raising the age of retirement changes, the governments is necessary to save the pension system. ah, i'm told yoletta. welcome to the program. us defense secretary lloyd austin and his russian counterparts again. sure, you have discussed tuesdays drawing incident over the black sea. the u. s. military says it's surveillance. drone was an international asked base when to russian jets dumped fuel on it. one of them clipped its propeller, causing the drone to crash defense secretary austin had strong word for moscow. after the incident. on tuesday, russian aircraft engaged in dangerous and reckless and unprofessional behavior. in the international airspace over the black sea to russian jets dumped fuel on an unmanned u. s. m. q 9 aircraft conducting routine operations in international airspace. and one rush and jet struck r m m q 9 aircraft, resulting in a crash. this hazardous episode is a part is part of a pattern of aggressive risk at risky an unsafe actions by russian pilots in international airspace. now i just got off the phone with my russian counterpart minister showing as i've said repeatedly, it's important that great powers be models of transparency and communication and united states will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows . here's t w's correspondent, carolyn and moist. summing up the latest from the fall out that we clearly see, we just heard it from secretary, all saying that the u. s. government does not want to escalate this incident today . yes. a cra, terry, of defense light austin. that he talked to his rational counterpart as we just heard. and he referred to yesterday's incident as a troubling episode and said that it was dangerous and unprofessional, and reckless. but he also said that this is part of that pattern of aggressive and risky actions from russia. however, he added that the us does not seek an armed conflict with russia. and at that the u . s. will continue flying international space, and that it's up to russia to encounter the u. s. aircraft in a save and a professional manner. this is a clear alert towards russia, but nothing more than that. they don't want to escalate the situation. and in that pentagon briefing, we also learned that they are not certain if this encounter a yesterday was intentional or general milly. he said that the aggressive behavior was intentional, but the actual. 1 that the actual physical contact of the aircraft that they are not sure if that was intentional, as well. corresponding carlie met she moines in washington as ukrainian forces hold awful rushes continued, attempts to take the eastern city of cuba, signaled it is gearing up to launch counter offensive. many in government of penning their hopes on the supply of western weapons, including german made left the tanks, which they're expecting soon. the new hardware could help ukraine break the still made in some of these areas and take back more. tertiary russian artillery fires on past mode. after months of attempts to take the city, ukraine has forced its enemy to commit major resources and take tens of thousands of casualties. the ukrainian military says it's buying time for a spring counter offensive. part of the preparations for that counter offensive are happening far from the front lines in spain. ukrainian troops are finishing their training on advanced western tanks. they hope the leopards will be a game changer on the battlefield until now ukraine has been using older russian model tanks. ukrainian troops are getting training from nato forces elsewhere to like here in the u. k. learning the art of combined arms warfare. how to coordinate all the high tech weaponry with infantry assaults on the front. a tank commander has high expectations. nor would the concepts and tactics of tank usage and battle will significantly change because western tanks have a higher firing range and other capabilities like a digital information field. if this equipment is used properly, one can destroy the enemy before the enemy approaches its firing range of her paula analysts say ukraine will likely amount a major attack in chaper reason or province. aiming at the russian held city of moleed upon a successful push would cut through russia supply lines to its forces further west . there factors like whether they can only be guessed at not controlled. spring mud can slow or stop tank advances, bogging down the russians and ukrainians alike. that means the timing and the target of any counter offensive, or still a mystery, which is just the way ukrainian commanders wanting are. let's take a look now at some more stories making headlines around the world. russian president vladimir putin has hosted his syrian count about basher alice sat in moscow. the discussions of thought were focused on rebuilding syria after years of war and amending its ties with turkey. with syria under western sanctions put in has been a sad, strong ally. meanwhile, thousands of syrians have rallied in rebel held it live to mark the 12th anniversary of the start of pro democracy protests. the italy berry and the countries north west is the last major territory, not under the control of president ellis, as russian backed forces. tokyo's nick, a financial index opened below 27000 for the 1st time in 7 weeks. as concern over the banking system spread in the wake of to us bank collapses last week, investors or shares in credits with all to record low before it announced plans to strengthen its cash position. israel's president is at, has and build a plan to resolve the stand of over a controversial traditional overhaul. but it's unclear whether the compromise will break the deadlock prime minister benjamin netanyahu plans to weaken the supreme court of spot mass protest. a court in pakistan has ordered authorities to halt in operation to arrest the former prime minister in moran can. the decision comes on the 2nd day of violent clashes between can supporters and police, dozens of officers and protest as of injured and guilt. occasions police had been trying to arrest the aston premier at his house in the hall, failing to appear in court on corruption charges. let's take a closer look at the situation in pakistan. using water cannon and tear gas pakistan ride police pushed back supporters of imran cons p t. i. party who gathered outside his house in law hor to prevent the authorities from arresting him . con was asked from office by a no confidence vote last year and has been snarled and legal wrangled since the government says con. so to state gifts while in office, but the one time cricket superstar says the case is politically motivated, the authorities want to stop his party from taking part and forthcoming elections. how you will saudi will they are pushing the p t i party against the wall a morton that they want to exclude me from politics. that's the reason they came to arrest me with my not going to beat was it is your plugger now? i think it's the latest sign of instability in pakistan, a nuclear power. the country is reeling from an economic crisis and risks defaulting on its loan obligations, unless it can secure an international monetary font baylash. the security situation is also deteriorating, with the slate of deadly attacks on police headquarters linked to the pakistan taliban. dozens of police and con supporters were injured and tuesdays operation footage shows tear gas canisters landing inside cons garden. although police did not appear to breach the gate, or the wall con, has been pressuring the coalition government that replaced him, led by prime minister shabba sharif with popular rallies and daily addresses. last year, cam was shot in the leg during a political rally and assassination bid that he blamed on sharif lawmakers in france have approved the wording of a proposal by president in my normal crowd to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. it closed the way for the controversial bill to face a final vote in parliament as early as thursday. the move came of thousands of protest as took the streets of cities across france in a last ditch attempt to convince lawmakers to oppose it. a final show of force against french president emmanuel, my cons unpopular pension reforms across france, protest is turned out in there. hundreds of thousands desperate to force a last minute turn around by lawmakers union leaders in not said they had no intention of backing down. i thought reform is bad today. it would be bad once has been voted for or personally by force. so we'll keep fighting for it's complete withdrawal. oh, oh, i thought it actually the raising of the retirement age remains unacceptable to us . the protests were largely peaceful though there were some skirmishes with police . oh, according to surveys, more than 2 thirds of the population opposed. michael's plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. recurrent protests in recent months have drawn millions across the country. and repeated war counts have disrupted the transport sector to coincide with wednesdays. protests unions called an 8th day of strikes in paris. refuse collectors walked off the job over a week ago. now $6000.00 tons of rubbish have piled up in some areas trash has almost taken over forcing pedestrians on to the roads, attracting rats and repelling restaurant visitors and tourists. it did surprise me alike cuz i heard that, you know, people ladies told me like, oh yeah, it's a very clean, very clean city. so just like a surprise me so far, we're not changing any plans. if we encounter more garbage though, we'll probably visit other parts of the city because we don't the garbage has done little to impress lawmakers. nicole's bill would bring france more into line with its e, you neighbors, most of which have increased retirement age to $65.00 or higher. but with union saying they'll continue their battle even if the bill passes. pension reform in france is set to remain a burning issue sport now and fee for president john infant, you know the most powerful man in the world of football, stanz, unopposed for reelection in thursdays for congress gathering in rwanda. or there's been fierce criticism of the organization's attitude to human rights under infant, you know, including from the german 4 bar association. did of you spoke to association president bernard of a head of the vault see for president geniune. santino has faced plenty of criticism for his perceived autocratic style for his organizations lack of transparency and on human rights issues surrounding the world cup in guitar. denmark and norway had withdrawn their support for him. well, in advance of the vote, no, the german football association, the d f b has joined them. my oldest im dog, i find there is often a lack of transparency and clarity about how decisions are made. that's all i'm asking for. nothing more, nothing less. and melanie vinegar, the relationship between the d, f. b, and pfeifer is strained. the d b says questions on human rights often remain unanswered. infantile, meanwhile, is certainly known for talking a good game. it brought me up to no human rights, protection of human rights. international level is a top priority for fever. we pulled it as a condition in our bidding process is for all our competitions and whatever we go around the world. we are, of course, a highlighting the need for protecting human rights fee for had said it was open to creating a compensation fund for maltreated guitar, a workers that hasn't happened, but the upcoming fee for club world cup was awarded to saudi arabia. those firms and stick white glove british cut out there for me, it's about fif is credibility. so it has to stand by the statements. it's president makes the most i have to admit i don't feel that's the case. so i find it hard to offer my support type of infantile may not be flavor of the month in europe. but his huge popularity among the majority of 5211 members means his re election as president is likely to be a formality. a fears of us bank and troubles spreading to europe like colleague marie sima has that and more in the business news official break, there's more of course d, w dot com and our social media as well. check the handle at dw nice. i'm told me all right, well thanks for watching. ah, come have a g, she's now t v highlights you every week in your in box subscribe now. that has to flow to do you do the full.