Stories from the past 7 days and right up to the moment. This is the weekly international. Rushes overhauled constitution came into effect. The previous week long vote majority of the public indorse the changes with over 3 quarters in favor from attorney 68 percent. Kept on the final day of polling for us. Now this really was a vote of us the fos time people were in mosques and gloves that they were using disposable pattons wilson through temperature sconce focusing on law and facade as for the voting process itself while that was the situation west security footage allegedly caught a woman stuffing the ballots now but counting in that area of moscow has been suspended pending an investigation otherwise the central Editorial Commission says that it found no irregularities that was so many amendments on the table 147. 00 in total that its difficult to decide what it was that ultimately secured public backing but undoubtedly its the package of social amendments that house particularly white appeal im talking about things like adjusting pensions and law and with inflation and showing that the minimum wage never ever fools below the cost of living as well as giving additional Financial Support to low income families these proof because they have such a tangible impact on peoples day to day lives but that is not to say that this was an easy decision for anyone old that it was without control to see a few amendments proved to be particularly polarizing and one that paints a lot of media traction was conceding the socalled zeroing out of president putins previous tubs paving the way for him potentially if he wanted to do so run again twice as president on top of the some of the more conservative amendments proved to be divisive such as defining marriage so many as a union between a man and a woman reiterating traditional family values as well as mentioning goal despite the fact that russia is officially a secular the nation but let him the people themselves and what they have to say will be a push why have i come here to vote because im a c. Just russia and. All of them men women and you know i am not ok with them and about doing good president ial kerry i absolutely do not agree with. The can from him. As with all of the amendments to the constitution of. The most important never managed the problem with russia you know over international with the head of the Central Election Commission of the it says something about voting being like a meal deal you either take everything or you do not take it at all and i already do not like one dish in this meal deal so i will not take Everything Else i think it is nonsense according to all the legal logical and ethical norms in which i love my country and you think everything has been done is right i think that its needed because the current constitution is out of date it is in modern time and even the view is not as good as new the bit of a mixed bag in terms of reaction and people decide to show that disapproval not just at the polls but also protests peaceful ones in the capital and also in the us and petersburg but true to 2024 it was safety fast. Not. Because. Ultimately so many who put a tick in the yes box with dogs you got the rush of 9293 when this current constitution was born was full of political and economic instability it was still finding its feet after the collapse of the soviet union and that russia is not the same as the russia of 2020 that almost entirely Different Countries so i think this is just into the changes was born from a desire for the countrys top document to move with the times to set russia on a new course and shape its future as envisaged by russians now today and not as envisaged by russians almost 30 years ago. As mentioned there was a long list of amendments in the package all for but it was one element in particular that got much of the foreign media fired up. Russias parliament basically paving the way for Vladimir Putin to potentially stay on as russian president hes the longest serving russian leader from Joseph Stalin a lot of your putin wants to stay in power even longer addressing lawmakers abdu words putin said he backed the amendment allowing him to seek another term in office but there are dozens of interesting lucians that also be discussed and the one that caught my eye was on children the role of children and all fronts i explicitly mentioned in one of the constitutional a market which i think is worse while reflecting the Russian Federation of the year 2020 is in many regards i would say in a different situation than was the country in 1903 when we compare the International Circumstances but also of course the National Economic and political situation the early ninetys were marked by the implosion of the soviet union marked by the down brutal communists and. It was more about being a fax s. Of the then the Russian Federation that we have today i think there is a need for. Meeting these new circumstances because a constitution is almost a reflection of a society and also of the circumstances of the country it is in Social Security of the legislature the parliament in order to respond to these new with egypt is. The campaign to topple statues link to historical racism saw groups attack and others attempt to defend monuments through the week and while some of the links may be clear the vandalism of denmarks Little Mermaid was a little harder to comprehend it was daubed with the words racist fish. The academics say they cant see what could be racially insensitive about the christian understand fairytale so what is the best way to remember our history the good on the contentious peter all of our explorers what germany thinks is the answer when it comes to assessing and dealing with difficult periods of history germany has more experience than most but we havent seen the type of scenes here that have played out in the United States britain belgium. I. I. I. But germany isnt without its own controversial statues otto von bismarck has been dogged with red paint in hamburg while as an Ongoing Campaign to block the renovation of another monument to the eye and chancellor in the port city bismarck wasnt just crucial in german unification he was also a driving force in colonialism and by todays standards and antti see might here in berlin selland off district anime as hassam in 1920 s. Depiction of a needling black woman was decapitated last week kasem and remains controversial in germany he was a committed nazi and despite the fact his works continue to be displayed across the german capital this particular monument had been slated for removal by city authorities whod already deemed it earlier this year on suitable for display in the city of belin. And if you said dont push the sides you cannot exist with this kind of bigotry and prejudice you cannot live together if you do not treat each other equally people shouldnt be discriminated against based on the color of their skin so what happens to start choosing germany that no longer justify exhibition well here in berlin theyve got just the place for them the spandau citadel although the 16th century fortress has its own troubled past it was used as a chemical weapons storage by the nazis but i put it as it was to bring as that you to a museum to show it was an example of racism these mistakes are not repeated this racial stereotypes should not be demonstrated on the streets but in a museum where we could demonstrate it to people get within context as we move through the exhibition we see hundreds of years of prussian military strongman into monuments of naziism the 3rd reich didnt really do sculpture but this castle was one of few described by hitler as irreplaceable the nazis preferred buildings as their monuments to time and theres plenty of those still visible in modern belin. One of the most i can change in this collection of discarded start juice is this gigantic granite head of blood to me a lemon its all that remains of a 19 meet a high monument that was built in 1970 to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth. In the United States and also in Great Britain there are discussions in the moment about what to do with dismantle memorials but here we have already found a possible solutions for memorials that are so to speak toxic if you put them in a museum that doesnt mean its over we put them here so that people can continue to Pay Attention to them but in a different context germany is often cited as the example to follow when it comes to assessing periods of history troubling to modern sensibilities even if there are 2 named after nazi field Marshall Erwin rommel that the German Military calls home to this day they glossed over as they dont fit the particular narrative because history has a tendency not to be as neat as we might like it when its really examined peter all of a r. T. Berlin. Or is the us which is being ground 0 for revising the past these last few months there are now even the countrys National Anthem is in question i tunes all done your hawkins picks up the story. 2020 is the year of change and im not talking about coronavirus popular t. V. Shows axed statues torn down even food brands updated to meet 20th century criteria of inclusive u. T. Equality justice and tolerance but is it enough more be done while in the United States protests during the National Anthem have been a bone of contention for quite a few years but what about the national itself well now some people are saying enough is enough. The i. I well thats thats you that just came off the plinth was Francis Scott key the man behind the lyrics that the starspangled banner and former slave owner and and he abolitionist so whats the deal with the anthem itself. To do so warm. Was. What you can sing the 3rd all right of course the rarely performed that 3rd verse was directed by key black slaves whod been freed or escaped and fought alongside the british in the war of 1812 his message to them was clear your fight for freedom will bring you nothing but death and downfall Little Wonder then that was attracted increasing scandal across the United States with soccer teams and High School Students refusing to play or sing at keys that only profited from slavery he apparently also harbored some pretty backward views on race and nationality and this widely attributed quote certainly has no place in this day and age. Ah you dont want to hear me sing in french. But that was the mossie years tune familiar to all around the world for centuries truly a symbol of French National identity both in times of joy and tragedy and i mean well did. You knew that you know that is the who or with the you know the well some of those lyrics furious soldiers coming to cut throats grabbing weapons impure blood may seem to some at least to be appropriated by the far right and certainly having no place in the modern republic course which aims remain theres even a movement for a new law so yes and while theyre still far off their goal theyre not. Lowed various french figures throughout history have had issues with them from the right of victor hugo to socialist leaders. Even seeing a surge games ball who wrote his own reggae version back in 1979 have called for almost a year make over. The sing all not to sing that is the question well former u. K. Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn found himself at the center of a media storm when he really got the wrong answer are you saying that you will sing the National Anthem im going to be many events ill take part fully in those events so i dont see a problem but this is the issue surely is that we had a memorial for the battle of britain i was there and despite his explanation the press was merciless branding him all but a traitor but what would they say in 2020 beyond the 1st verse which we all know the lyrics do get a little strange especially in a Secular Society talk of a day theorizing to scatter enemies and punish those rebellious scots hardly makes any friends up north and whatever his reasons corbin isnt alone for example indigenous members of parliament in all taria recently announced they wont be taking part in any of them singing. God save the queen is an archaic tribute to the British Colonial period and the centuries of violence oppression and discrimination the British Empire carried out against nations and peoples are considered inferior Indigenous Peoples in canada a glaring example among them perhaps corbin was just ahead of his time as was canada they officially passed the motion back in 2018 making their National Anthem gender neutral true. This was coming i debates around symbols such as anthem statues or brands dont seem to be going anywhere anytime soon but as the calls for transformation grow louder many may question what fundamentals they really change beyond just up symbolism. This is origins or National Still ahead its a World Heritage site visited by millions but current president ial plans for istanbul is iconic sufi yet be said to fuel a religious feud between muslims and christians more enough after this short break. Is youll be a reflection of reality. In a world transformed. What will make you feel safe. Isolation community. Are you going the right way or are you being led. By. What is true what is faith. In the world corrupted you need to descend. To join us in the depths. Aura maybe in the shallowness. Join me every day on the alex simon show and ill be speaking to us of the world of politics sports business im show business ill see you then. Hello again over 100 heavily armed members of the black Panther Party gathered in the us state of georgia on saturday approaching the stone munching confederate memorial and demanding it be removed the monument which is carved into a rock face is one of the most infamous tributes to the side of the legacy the march by the far left militant group has mostly been peaceful so far but its believed the black panthers have tried to instigate fights with opposing right. Now another long standing block lies mother protest has finally been cleared in Seattle Police finally moved in to the self declared autonomous protest in their own whedons they. Although pockets of protests are ongoing in neighboring districts. The citys capitol hill which became known us about a month ago after police moved their precinct building the campaigners had said they hoped to create a peaceful pole least for a utopia but thought peace didnt last too long in the 3 weeks of protests the zone saw 4 shootings 2 of them fatal there are also reports of assaults burglaries and rape the protesters some armed were warned they could face arrest if they didnt leave in the end over 30 were detained Seattle Police released footage of the bar. First the murder wanted to leave the activists to take over hoping for a summer of love but she was later forced to take action the decision came after protesters marched on her home demanding about the police be defended on activists watch those officers moved protesters all this is his report. So i am outside of the pine street entrance right now where a bunch of police have set up a barricade and the protesters are now up to date gather. Their. Block in the street and try to cause a little bit more awareness and the officers took that as an opportunity to really enforce their version of law. Nothing. But the police came and chopped and ousted the remaining people who were staying there is that a brown 32 a rests spray if you will pepper spray them in aggressive from your perspective what exactly happened. That. Are an. All star game playing. Bang bang bang screams and how do you know that there were a couple individuals who were speaking loudly red megaphone switching the crowd energized to actually bringing people in off the streets and the cops in a little bike brigade actually charging targeted those people arresting them individually and throwing them into the back of a cop cars far end of chalk. Not too long ago there were a bunch of tents in these areas there were people hanging out just living but in 5 hours everyone has been evacuated you know like you had a right. To do what i said yeah. Like thats just. Your friend yeah i dont think anybody in seattle did not see this coming ever since the string of 4 to 5 shootings that have. Recently found out that in the last shooting there was a 14 of a 16 year old kid who were killed so i think that it was. The cops decided that it was time to put an end to it theres a lot of the moralization right now especially in the crowd of protesters because i think a lot of people are taking this is a bit of a loss because the baby were. Told. This entire idea. Seems to have not only old but come to an end. Chess may be a game of strategy skill and patience for australias national and broadcaster this week it became another poll in the global racism debate the a. B. C. Plan to ask radio audiences is chance racist because white pieces move 1st it didnt go down well with a former Australian Chess Federation representative who was asked to take part in the debate john adams refused and took to twitter to rebuke the a b c. Saying the taxpayer funded National Broadcaster is raising irrelevant topics during a pandemic is anger was echoed by world class players such as russian grandmaster. Of. The period of total insanity has begun what does it have in common with the centuries old game and john alums whose tweet propelled the robin to be open and choose this sees the order of who goes 1st has nothing to do the race called