rugged terrain and at times seem impossible. but for afghan traders who brave the will concur that it's no choice. combating the impossible to sell their goods in isolated areas. we follow that daring journeys as they overcome the extremes. risking it all afghanistan on al-jazeera. we. will not let people go on. u.s. president joe biden signs executive orders to help millions struggling financially during the pandemic calling it a national emergency. we're watching all just your own life from

a headquarters and. also coming up accuse the for inciting and insurrection the impeachment trial of donald trump a set to begin next week growing concern that a highly contagious u.k. variant of cope with 19 may also be more deadly. forced from their homes 2000000 people displaced in africa some have the region the u.n. says aid agencies are dangerously overstretched. thanks for joining us millions of americans struggling to pay their rent bills and afford food because of the pandemic are set to get an economic boost president joe biden has signed $2.00 executive orders to fast track checks to needy families increase food aid for children and double minimum wage for federal workers biden says the country's in a national emergency and he's looking for a bipartisan support in congress to pass a wider stimulus package worth one point $9000000000.00. i don't believe

democrats or republicans are going hungry and losing jobs i believe americans are going hungry and losing their jobs and we have the tools to fix it we have the tools to get through this we have the tools to get this virus under control and our economy back on track and we have the tools to help people so much use the tools only use them now and just a correction that stimulus package is worth $1.00 trillion dollars let's bring in john hendren he'll tell us more about that john is joining us from washington d.c. so john tell us more about the executive order signed by president biden also that wider stimulus package. durian president biden is trying to reverse an economic spiral driven by that covert 19 pandemic and to do that what he really wants to do is to pass that massive $1.00 trillion dollar economic stimulus

plan that sitting on capitol hill right now but republicans are balking at the cost and it could take a long time for them to get through that and come up with a compromise so he's doing what he can right now and that is as you said to sign executive orders one that would raise the federal minimum wage for those working for federal contractors to $15.00 an hour and the other increases food assistance for good apartment of agriculture it's not a lot it's about $100.00 for a family over about 2 months but it's something that the president can do on his own in his 2nd full day in office here and eventually he's hoping to get that negotiation going on capitol hill that number of republicans are pushing back on that they say the amount is too much at 1.9 trillion and they also note that the last economic passage package was just passed in late december that was about

$100000000000.00 if i recall correctly now that package had been waiting about 6 months while congress debated it so this would be the most the president can do right now meanwhile he's going to keep pushing on capitol hill is economic adviser brian deets gave a news conference at the white house in which he said this would prevent this bigger package to prevent a continued economic spiral and could save the country months in recovery time all right john hendren reporting from washington john thank you let's speak to stan boy who's a resident scholar at the american enterprise institute on a specialist on political economy and public finances joining us from washington as well thanks for your time with us john voigt our so. we heard the president speak earlier on and he basically made both the moral as well as the economic argument let's look at the economics for a 2nd unemployment is incredibly high in the u.s. there are more job losses to com according to biden as his plan to ambitious or is

that not enough. i think it's i think parts of the plan are very appropriate and well targeted the job losses that still remain which are pretty significant so there's about 10000000 people who are out of work who are who are working about a year ago are heavily concentrated in the leisure and hospitality industry for good reason because a lot of businesses there just cannot operate the way they would in the absence of the band damage and no amount of fiscal stimulus is going to change that situation and so what's really important there is to make sure that families and businesses that cannot operate the way they usually do that have lost their jobs or have lost their customers make it through to crisis without you know without their balance sheets destroyed and large elements of these plans to do exactly that so there's an expansion extension of the unemployment insurance program the executive order announced today provides additional support in the form of food benefits

to to needy families those elements of the biden proposal strikes me as quite appropriate so what it sounds like there are parts of the proposal that you think might not be appropriate what are they. yeah so i think the elements of the proposals that are really more traditional fiscal stimulus right so that for example about a quarter of the $1.00 trillion dollar legislative package would go to checks that would be mailed out to 90 percent of households in the country that really doesn't strike me as the right approach for the kind of crisis we're in. the overwhelming majority of households have not seen any losses and you know and they're not to we don't want them in some on some level to go outside and you know spend that money because that just increases the risk of spending dividers and so those elements of the. biden proposal old checks the dramatic increases in the

child tax credit i don't think those are appropriate. but you know they're obviously if you're a politician you use that the crisis at hand to push some of the priorities you you you may have gotten into the crisis with i think it's hard to argue that those elements of the package which are white significant elements that cost a ton of money are really a reasonable part of the current emergency response as well ok also it did make the moral argument when he was speaking earlier on and he spoke about things like hunger in the u.s. some people going hungry and has almost 2 trillion dollar proposal we know will require congressional approval is that going to be difficult to get. i think will be very difficult so did today's actions are really quite different in scale right so the expansions in the in the nutritional benefits. money to make up for school

for free school lunches that are not being handed out right now that will not you know i would be really surprised if that adds up to more than say $10000000000.00 in spending so we're they're really talking to waters of magnitude less than the $1.00 trillion dollars package the $1.00 trillion dollars package as you say requires congressional approval i think that's going to be a heavy lift it's a lot of money especially coming so soon after congress and act is another $900000000000.00 relief package just at the end of december and so i think some elements of this posable could survive with you know with republican support but i don't think all of the all of it could and that means that democrats may have to turn toward other solutions right so they can try to get rid of a legislative filibuster they can try to go through the reconciliation process which would which comes with

a little less flexibility in what you're allowed to do under the rules which we would allow them to bassa package of this size but i i doubt congressional republicans will jump onboard. this plan all right thank you very much for speaking to us from washington. now retired army general has become the 1st african-american pick to be u.s. defense secretary the senate voted $93.00 to $2.00 to confirm joe biden's nominee lloyd austin to run the pentagon austin will oversee the 1300000 active duty servicemen and women who make up the nation's military and says he is committed to rooting out the growing threat of domestic extremism in that country. well donald trump's impeachment trial is set to begin next week house democrats plan to send an article of impeachment to the senate on monday trump is accused of inciting an insurrection and the only president to be impeached twice the charges stem from a rally on january 6th when he encouraged his supporters to eat to attack the

capitol building republicans wanted to delay the proceedings until february i've spoken to speaker pelosi who informed me that the articles will be delivered to the senate on monday now i've heard some of my republican colleagues argue that this trial would be unconstitutional because donald trump is no longer in office an argument that has been roundly repudiated debunked by hundreds of constitutional scholars left right and center and defies basic common sense it makes no sense whatsoever that a president or any official could commit a heinous crime against our country and then be permitted to resign so as to avoid accountability and a vote to disbar them from future office. makes no sense. there's impatient began with an on president life i asked and minimal process over and of the

so-called cannot be an insufficient senate process that did not former president tried to due process or damages the senate or the presidency it fell short of republican strongly believe we need a full and fair process for the former president come out of town and the senate can properly consider the factual legal and constitutional questions. for that reason we suggest the house transmit that article next thursday but that's apparently going to be next monday i do so kastor has more from the capitol hill. all right apologies we don't seem to have that report by hiding joe castro well we'll take a short break here's what's coming up on al-jazeera feeling the pinch states across the u.s. are pleading for mark around a virus vaccine supply is running critically low. thailand revives its monarchy to

defend nation laws as the government intensifies its crackdown on anti establishment protesters. the weather patterns about to change across the united states maybe best show world why what's happening down the california coast that normally breeze bringing rain down to southern california and across into baja elsewhere the pictures a fairly normal one not particularly cold you might not think but the wind chill is about to increase there lay shows the forecast next tree days it's don't feel blue skies it's showers every day even on shore breeze developing which means that the fire risk inland is much diminished now and as i said elsewhere sunday shows a wintry sea none especially code for

a strong wind in ontario in particular is going to feel pretty chilly and it's the wind chill i think we'll see developing of the next few days as snow goes once again across well minnesota in the great lakes you end up with a high doesn't minus 4 in minneapolis but look at winnipeg minus 70 and then look at the forecast in the apple as we turn to minus 8 by day a man is 14 by night come tuesday the cold is coming back. in contrast it's quite boring throughout the caribbean beautiful days most the time but of cloud on the coast of nicaragua or costa rica or panama otherwise just a few light showers a light breeze and much sun. criminal drug dealing shifted to places beyond the reach of the line there are many people in afghan government when forced into drug trade guerrilla wars in colombia . and mexico where the cartels have been

responsible for a muscle a spiral of violence. the final episode of drug trafficking politics and out of the territories unconsciously. to move. kellermann the top stories on autism are president joe biden has signed 2 executive orders to help families hit hard by the cobra 1000 pandemic biden is looking for bipartisan support in congress to pass a stimulus package worth $1.00 trillion dollars donald trump's 2nd impeachment trial is set to begin next week that's despite calls from republicans to delay it

until february the former president is accused of inciting a mob to attack capitol hill earlier this month. britain's prime minister's warning that the current virus varian found in the u.k. is not only more contagious but could be more deadly the news comes just as britain appeared to be making headway infection rates have started dropping by around 4 percent per day but boris johnson says britain can't consider unlocking until the government is confident the vaccination program is protecting the population we've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly it also appears that there is some evidence that the new variant the very that was 1st identified in london in the scythe east may be associated with a higher degree of mortality parker has more on what the prime minister and his medical advisors have to say. were known for some time that the new variant

according to the medical and scientific of scientific officers that were both either side of boris johnson is between 30 and 70 percent more transmissible but were both gentlemen confirmed is that the u.k. strain of the virus is also contributing to a higher mortality rate as well in the example given it was for an average man in their sixty's for every 1000 people that get the virus you can expect 10 deaths that's for the 1st variant of the virus but for the new variant figure is higher between 13 and 14 the good news is according to both experts that they this virus does respond to existing vaccines however there are concerns about the 2 other strains the south african strain and the brazilian strains that earth according to the expos may need more research as to whether or not it doesn't

respond to existing vaccines that would be a significant cause for concern if for instance given how high the level of infection is given how high the death toll the number of people in hospital is if those strains suddenly have an increased impact on the population going forward but there is of course hope very much in the shape of a vaccine for a 5400000 people have now been vaccinated 2000000 in the past week a significant milestone for the government and the hope is that by september. every adult in the country will have at least one dose of the vaccine but it is something of an uphill struggle particularly given the low uptake from some minority ethnic communities who have cited concern as to whether or not the vaccine is compatible with their religious beliefs and also some deep seated distrust about the health service that hasn't always seemed to favor people from minority ethnic

backgrounds now very much a drive by the government to try to encourage community leaders to get the right message out. u.s. democrats a sense a request to joe biden's new intelligence chief to declassify a report into the murder of a saudi journalist. sen adam schiff the chairman of the house intelligence committee has tweeted a letter asking for the report to be released he says the murder which took place in $28000.00 in the saudi consulate in istanbul was an assault on human rights why can't more from washington d.c. . basically he's reiterating a request that was made by congress indeed a demand that was made by congress way back in the months after the show g.'s murder in the congress sent to demand to the trumpet ministration asking for the report on his killing to be declassified and presented to congress the deadline was put on that request january last year president trump simply ignored the request

the deadline passed president trump insisted that whether or not there's a saudi arabia was in point responsible or specifically the crown prince of saudi arabia was responsible he regarded the matter as closed now on tuesday the new director of national intelligence every hain held or even hearing in the senate she was asked directly whether she would be classified the report on jamal khashoggi as murder she replied i will follow the law so the indication is that the director of national into intelligence would consider a declassifying the contents of the report to congress the issue that we do not know at this particular stage we may not learn more within coming hours is what is the white house's position on the matter we do know from what has been said in the early days of the biden administration that it's reviewing its relationship with saudi arabia very closely it has expressed concern about the ongoing bombing in

yemen it has said that it will no longer supply weapons for such actions so we are going to wait and see in the hours ahead what the white house position is but we do know from what the director of national intelligence a said that this report may well be provided to congress as demanded now formally by the majority leader in the senate. but un's refugee agency says the number of people displaced by violence in africa region has passed 2000000 a 4 fold increase since 2019 it says humanitarian teams are now dangerously overstretched and is appealing for more international help armed groups have been spreading across the region in recent years feeling ethnic tensions and attacking security forces in countries including my share roman desk flow is a spokesman for the west and central africa at the united nations refugee agency he says civilians have been bearing the brunt of the violence here we told you. what

to call the number that it was 2 years ago and that's because of the. attacks bootle gruesome. people are being forced into the. wall and they're not just the clothes on the back. and they're fleeing in their own country they're receiving support from their communities local communities or themselves stretch and that's a tragedy and here we're talking about 2000000 internally displaced people on the observed you have over 850000 refugees people have fled the crisis and cross the border to neighboring countries so host communities are of a stretch the teams on the ground her. gruesome testimony spittle sling attacks telling that's the lead wheel of the night on groups were shooting around that tell us about sexual violence rapes that tell us about being at night walking for 3540 kilometers on food. when they arrive then it's shelter because wherever they

go the host communities don't have enough space to hold the people we don't even want or they need food they need burn a city score sentient they also need to have access to health so here on top of all the bare essentials for now that people need me to ensure that they have more downside if they wish and the government they live all of the action against the pandemic and yes we need international community to gauge support the overall humanitarian response so that we can show those who are showing responsibility and generosity that supporting people forcibly is everybody's job. the un is voicing concern after a spate of murders in syria's largest refugee camp at least 12 people have been killed at the un holding facilities since the start of the year the u.n. says the violence could jeopardize aid for the camp it's calling for better security for residents and aid workers the ringleaders of

a people smuggling gang convicted for the deaths of 39 vietnamese migrants have been sentenced to up to 27 years in prison the judge said the victims were excruciatingly slow deaths suffocating in a lorry travelling from belgium to britain they had each paid up to $18000.00 to be taken to the u.k. in october 29th teen crackdown on anti establishment protesters is underway in thailand as the government pursues more than 50 cases under the country's draconian monarchy defamation laws known as less than just say the laws had not been enforced for years but have come into play recently because of mass protests calling for political reform scott hi-lo reports from bangkok. he's one of the most vocal critics of the thai establishment now protesting to put it penguin rock is facing the consequences in court he's accused of insulting the monarchy under this country's strict measures state laws and he's not the only one dozens of

anti-government demonstrators have been charged under this law in recent months. earlier this week a court handed down the longest prison sentence ever for less majesté 43 years to a woman in her sixty's proposed she made on social media 6 years ago. every time that this law is in force the monarchy loses its legitimacy it's uncivil to sentence to school and to 33 years it's a political move to threaten the us sorry to disappoint you but we're not afraid and i think i'll support us i'm not afraid i don't want to key is taking is on great putting shame on the south. the law also known as article 112 was sidelined for about 3 years on orders of king watch the wrong corner. but it's been brought back since protesters started taking to the streets calling for the prime minister to resign a new constitution and reform within the powerful monarchy some thais agree with the law and say the monarchy needs to be protected. what is sun on c bar one tonic

it has taken it upon herself to patrol the internet she says this week's 43 year less majesty sends was fair and hopes her work will lead to others being sent to prison cannot be i think she got what she deserved this is a sensitive time because people don't want to defame the institution just once they do a ton line they do it in person like when they shouted and threw objects at the royal medicaid the steep increase in 112 cases is seen by some here as a desperate move by the authorities whose previous tactics failed to stem the movement that's demanding reform and it could backfire by bringing more 'd 'd and more aggressive nature is to try to play odious voice it will only meet with this situation it will be political intense from bad to worse make the situation moema call it i it is as the highest authorities are building up a new ridge the repression. and the potential for volatility will increase over the

next few weeks as recently imposed covert 1000 restrictions are relaxed bringing the protesters back to the streets scotland al-jazeera bangkok. ugandan opposition leader bobby wine has lashed out at president 70 accusing him of staging a coup in last week's election in his 1st public address from house arrest wind said miss seventies reelection to a 6th term had made a mockery of democracy he urged people to reject the result through nonviolent protest but suggested he won't be mounting a legal challenge the president has dismissed winds allegations of vote rigging. the race. i have a strong look because i'm aware. that those that came before us how to. fight for freedom and democracy i am further. because that through my

in me what i'm going through today is nothing compared to what. i find good for the past 3 years to a people problem of. the white house has asked the centers for disease control's to investigate why some regions have run out of the coronavirus vaccine president joe biden has promised to roll out 100000000 vaccinations in his 1st 100 days in office but supply shortages across the country are hampering efforts runnels reports from los angeles. president joe biden's national action plan to combat covert 19 and get more people vaccinated is welcome news in california where more than 35000 people have died from the virus that's exactly what we need we need someone to really organize it whether it's on a state level or a federal level to be able to get it to the people who need it in los angeles and

across the country there is a critical shortage of vaccine demand far outstrips supply we are still waiting to learn when more doses will arrive there are about 10000000 people in l.a. county with 800000 health care and frontline workers and 1300000 people aged 65 or older but so far the county has received only 850000 doses of vaccine supplies are distributed by the federal government the former administration failed among other things to act with urgency to ramp up production governors around the country are pleading for more oh we're facing is just not enough is just not enough even if it's delayed it's not close to enough of what we can do and. we're not seeing the type of vaccine hesitancy that the people expected at the moment we're seeing people who want it so desperate like the bided

ministration is using emergency powers to speed up the manufacture and distribution of vaccines also as the as the president has said in his plan to do whatever he can to expand that the availability of vaccines whatever that is i mean he said that he's going to just use every possibility including the defense production act mass vaccination centers like this one at dodger stadium in los angeles are ready to go if biden's plan succeeds in boosting vaccine production many lives may be saved i have hope now that there is at least someone who cares about making a plan of some kind because there was nothing before and it was sort of left to people to figure out for themselves so i do have some hope and i have some optimism that with someone who carries up a top that's going to trickle down and hopefully will be able to get this taken care of in a timely manner. los angeles has now surpassed 1400000 coated 1000 infections

and more than 14000 people here have died from the virus rob reynolds al-jazeera los angeles. rio de janeiro's for spawn's carneval has been cancelled as brazil faces a surging cup in 1000 cases the world famous party which normally takes place in february had been pushed back to july but with the slow rollout of the country's vaccine program rio's mayor now says it won't go ahead this year more than 200000 brazilians have died of corona virus the world's 2nd highest death toll after the us. hello again the headlines on al jazeera president joe biden has signed 2 executive orders to help families hit hard by the co in 1000 pandemic biden is looking for bipartisan support in congress to pass a stimulus package worth $1.00 trillion dollars i don't believe democrats or

republicans are going hungry and losing jobs i believe americans are going hungry.