challenge the accepted truths of the turn the status quo and fight injustice witness personal documentaries that alter deception on al-jazeera. the u.s. senate votes to proceed with donald trump's impeachment trial and reject the defense arguments of trying to convict a former president is unconstitutional. but on the cloud this is our life and also coming up. the police crackdown on mammals protesters thousands ignored ban on gatherings to condemn last week's military coup. chile says it will expel undocumented venezuelan money grants

we're on the border with libya which has become the epicenter of a humanitarian crisis. in cracking down on china blocks of the audio at used to discuss sensitive topics from shin jang to hong kong. so the u.s. senate has voted to go ahead with the 2nd impeachment trial of former president donald trump rejecting the defense's argument that it is unconstitutional to try a former president but only 6 republicans joined all 50 democrats in voting to proceed with the trial $67.00 votes needed for conviction from wednesday house impeachment managers and trump's defense lawyers will have 16 hours spread over the next 2 days to present their cases both sides presented that opening arguments. our case is based on cold hard facts

it's all about the facts a president trump a sent his lawyers here today to try to stop the senate from hearing the facts of this case they want to call the trial over before any evidence is even introduced their argument is that if you commit an impeachable offense in your last few weeks in office you do it with constitutional impunity you get away with it this is nothing less than the political weaponization of the impeachment process pure raw sport fueled by the misguided idea of party over country when in fact both will surely suffer with this trial you will open up new and bigger wounds across the nation for a great many americans see this process for exactly what it is a chance by

a group of partisan politicians seeking to eliminate donald trump from the american political scene and seeking to disenfranchise 74000000 plus american voters and those who dare to share their political beliefs and vision of america out of fissures and capitol hill he's got more on what's expected from the trial in the coming days. we can no longer argue about the constitutionality or whether or not donald trump should be on trial he is going on trial what is interesting is that bill cassidy who is a republican who just a week or so ago voted to halt this whole process saying it was unconstitutional that was defeated in the senate this time around he flipped his vote he said this absolutely should go through and he laid the blame family at the feet of donald trump's lawyers he said they were random they were unfocused they didn't address the main questions when he said of the team led by jimmy raskin knew exactly what

they were doing and we don't an emotional case but also one that was rational and based on the law that's the big problem that donald trump's lawyers you know have they have got 16 hours to make their case it will start on wednesday the democrats will lead off the prosecution will have a 16 hours to their case they might not use all of that and then donald trump's team at some point either on thursday or friday all leo their case they may not take the full 16 hours of the senate can also vote on whether or not they're going to hear any witnesses that seems unlikely but certainly donald trump's team need to be a lot more on their game than they were on day one a but they can also be assured of a couple of things one this isn't going to last as long as the last trial it won't be 22 days the last time round 2 of the will be more focused the believe they have got arguments to put forward that suggest donald trump simply wasn't responsible for what happened here on january the 6th let's take this on let's speak to a scott bolden who joins us live on skype from washington d.c.

he's a former chair of the washington d.c. democratic party and trial and white collar criminal defense attorney scott bolden welcome to the program what did you make of the opening salvos. well i thought the democrats did an incredible job it was an extraordinary presentation not only in words and defense of the constitution and the constitutionality of the appeasement trial but also with video you know jurors and he said there's a sin in his jurors as well as witnesses jurors light seen things touching things seen things on a whiteboard and this video was so powerful with the juxtaposition of donald trump's words and didn't literally watching that crowd that front problem january 6th go to the capital and attack it with 5 people were killed attack the least in the language that was used it was just a partial presentation compound bursley with the republican lawyers trump lawyers

they simply were on matched or no match for this type of piece of trial work at the senate they were. just simply ineffectual if i say so and work prepare they didn't really hit the r. he meant which is the 1st amendment argument that his words did not cause this riot the rioters cause this insurrection they never really got there and they seem to be having a conversation with themselves they even ended one presentation with a poem that made 0 sense and so they get a real poor grade for presentation they need to step up their game going forward reisa around one to the democrat mo is. enough to change minds enough to get enough republicans on side to impeach the former president. well convict him i should say that remains to be seen and seen senator cassidy change his one vote if you well but it's really not about the lawyers and the lawyer forces it's about that videotape and making it personal to the senators and the representatives we're

under attack that date this president cited a riot and put their physical their physicality at risk if you will and the democrats are going to continue to hammer away at that and make it a principle choice a personal choice on the part of the senators are you going to teach this president this former president one side in a riot or not and so they're going to continue to pound away with this video is coming very difficult for the republicans to continue to ignore what's right in front of them and that is the impeachment of donald trump but they probably will the chances are he will become will get acquitted and then you have this situation whereby you could say that it was a mistake that the democrats put this in the 1st place because it's kind of actually reached donald trump and his base well he lost the election and preachment bought the house in conviction not the senate is the only way you

got to have accountability for these type of atrocious acts this was sedition this was insurrection it was an extraordinary day on january 6th and to prevent it from going on with future plans presidents of potential office holders and to really hammer home that the soul of america is this state right here this trials got to take place whether you get 17 g.o.p. senators to can vote to convict or not this is a case that's got to be tried for the future of america and really for democracy in america as we know. thank you feel perspective thank you very much. now police are stepping up their crackdown on protests against last week's military coup made national league for democracy says please have raided its headquarters but see political movement led by the civilian leader who remains in detention. the protesters took to the streets for a 4th straight day and were met with tear gas and water common scott hi there is

monitoring events from bangkok. facing live ammunition fire rubber bullets tear gas and more water cannon the antic who protesters defied a van and headed out to the streets in their thousands for a 4th straight day but the military junta has barred any gathering of more than 5 people and imposed a curfew in many areas from 8 pm to 4 am. undeterred and determined from many walks of life the protesters still came out i was here and if the civil disobedience movement accelerates in the country as a whole the government machinery will start not only the lawyers i hope all the people will join the movement we must not lose a new is a joy. we must win that is why we are on the street now. in yangon police prepared for the protesters in the early hours there were 2 main areas in myanmar's largest city where they gathered by city hall and a large intersection near the university of yangon. in the country's 2nd largest

city mandalay thousands of protesters face water cannon and at least 27 people were arrested international condemnation of the coup has grown over the last few days new zealand the 1st country to go a step further new zealand is suspending all high level political and military contacts with the main man. midsomer has all started to repeated that new zealand's i'd program to mean my should not include projects that i delivered with or benefit the military government we've also agreed to implement a travel ban to be formalized in the coming week on me and as military leaders. further international action is expected after a request by britain and the e.u. the united nations human rights council will hold a special session on the february 1st coup and all that's been happening in myanmar since. al-jazeera. is interior minister says that undocumented migrants being

entering the country will be expelled more than 6000 venezuelans have entered through a remote desert passage in the last 6 weeks a lot of america it's a new and reports now from culture. to chile bolivia border in the desert excruciating the heart by day and freezing by night. and a distant nation for the news whalen's seeking a better life in chile. i have 7 grandchildren here they are they're the reason i come here to help feed them because in venezuela they call. here thousands of undocumented venezuelans have barely made it here crossing at night through illegal entry points into the isolated town of chani. the ride suffering from hypothermia altitude sickness and hunger at least 3 have died including the baby it's becoming more and more windy and pretty soon it's going to be dark but

the temperature will drop to below 0 absolutely freezing conditions these people spent one night outdoors. build a makeshift shelter so that they could have a place to sleep. 17 year old. are taught and husband were among the lucky few who were allocated a tent by the local police get them last week i mean. then lover i thought i would freeze to death getting here my little boy's hands and feet turned purple and he screamed with pain i was terrified my husband couldn't breathe it was pitch dark and he couldn't carry up belongings anymore this is all i have. their stomachs are is empty as their pockets went through doesn't arrive the children get priority the adults tell us they're willing to bear any hardships not knowing the chinese government has just decided to send them back to venezuela. and if you keep it in a city anyone who enters legally will not be allowed to apply for residency and

will be expelled administered to the chilis government has started busing the women and children into the city of the get 1st 240 kilometers away to be quarantined for 2 weeks for covert 19 separating them from fathers and husbands but no one knows how long. the plan is to fly them back to venezuela once the quarantine period is over. grant him is shocked. police don't send us back they'll kill us if we return that's what the government does to people like us and if not will starve to death please chile help us a desperate plea that's sure to be repeated by thousands of more venezuelans as this humanitarian crisis worsens you see in human al-jazeera china. still ahead here around 0 micro finance gone wrong we take a look at why nigeria's government is planning to take legal action against

thousands of rice farmers. it's time for the perfect gentleman to weather sponsored plan qatar airways it's times cause it was still cold enough for a bit is snow in hong sure and not much that's mostly the sun and the sun these days a little bit so things are getting warmer in tokyo in beijing watch the temperatures for the south you don't expect to see this raid come out of vietnam is going through ground on for jan to taiwan in the next 2 days it's typically about 80 millimeters or significant rain more than the average for this part of the of the world at this time of the year but it's also warmer than average in beijing as an example where it should be about for the shell to rearrange themselves a little bit recently further south so the philippines is giving the benefit of the biggest showers and west papua did

a couple days ago those showers becoming liason are focusing on jobs and maybe sumatra and we have one of 2 showers still falling of snow in the hindu kush more likely in nepal there's not really stood up in the northern part of india the plains it's still foggy and new delhi's know except. should hear the focus persistent brakes briefly during the afternoon but air quality in the morning is hazardous it only improved unhealthy during the day it's not just new delhi but not everywhere is affected quantas weather around the re being goal of the levant and iran continues. at ways. to say just that and it's time for a different approach one that is going to challenge the way you think on asking the questions now is the new host of the next season of the show that's got no space for sound bites only comedy so let's leave simplicity to the headlines join me as i

take on the lies dismantle the misconceptions and debate the contradiction. i'm marc lamont hill and it's time to get up front right here on al-jazeera. well again you're watching out 0 remind of our top stories this hour the u.s. senate has voted to go ahead with the 2nd impeachment trial of former president donald trump house impeachment managers rejected the defense's argument that it's unconstitutional to try a former president. national league for democracy says the police have raided its headquarters that is the political movement led by post media uncensored cheap

earlier protests has rallied for a 4th straight day against last week's retreat. a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in chile where thousands of mostly venezuelan migrants have entered through the idea border with bolivia in the town of call china a local say they've been overwhelmed by people seeking food shelter and warm clothes. china has blocked the social media clubhouse host to a growing number of residents who joined uncensored discussions on political and human rights issues the invite only american audience allows users to interact in chat rooms it's become increasingly popular in china and to provide a platform to the to discuss sensitive topics rarely debated online including the persecution of week as taiwan's independence in the pro-democracy protests in hong kong where china defended his decision to block the app and described it as interference by external forces. the hold em 1st will china's internet is open the chinese government manages the internet in accordance with law and

regulations 2nd china's position on the relevant issues has always been consistent and clear cut china has an even determination to defend its national sovereignty security and development interests as well as to oppose interference by external forces let's bring in that russ feingold is in asia a political risk on the list and joins us by skype from taipei. china has the most sophisticated online censorship system in the world the great fire will they call it google twitter a huge long ago how was this one has slipped through the net until now but i think the key thing is what you said that it slipped through the net on our clubhouse became popular very rapidly to the point where i had chinese friends sending me text messages asking me for help to get on to clubhouse within the past few weeks it was very sudden phenomenon but just as quickly. internet regulators obviously they've caught up with it and now are made efforts to block it look chinese

internet users routinely jump over the firewall to access internet websites and social media around the world it's not unusual that they would have tried something new that became popular they heard about it a gauge them political conversation and at the same time it's not unusual that eventually the chinese regulators put a stop to it how much could be said by millions of people tens of millions of people if they were allowed to converse freely. yeah look at that again that's what chinese internet regulators struggle to keep up with the technology and the capabilities and frankly the intelligence of internet users is always going to be several steps ahead of regulators whether in the west or in china. when it gets onto the agenda of the chinese authorities and it always comes after it was popular with net is in this is just another example of that but it also shows once again that the tolerance level for this kind of conversation within china is very limited

and it can only take place within the confines that authorities in china are comfortable with why is the tolerance level so what is the chinese government so concerned about this is freedom of speech. it's an interesting question it think the answer is the way that the spokesperson from the chinese government described it that they're concerned about external forces they have their views on these issues whether it's hong kong taiwan cian jiang relations with the united states and there's only one narrative and that's the official narrative and conversation needs to take place within the spaces of that narrative and frankly there's just no room for debate and debate could be very risky and it will see in the coming days and weeks to users in china continue to try to access clubhouse and whether or not users eventually get prosecuted for doing so but what about the chinese media have

they reported on the story. that's very interesting because they try to portray as yeah we know people in china are using it so they're not denying that but they say though or the interview netizens in china to say oh i try clubhouse but it was so why i decided it was so entirely china didn't present the facts accurately so when they purport to interview internet users the. reaction that the state media in china will get very very much tracks with the official spokespersons will say all right russ feingold thanks very much for that thank you. now iran has begun its mass comit 1000 vaccination program using the russian developed sputnik vaccine front line health care workers are among the 1st receive the job it is the worst affected country in the middle east with nearly 60000 coronavirus deaths those jabari reports now from tara. wall was a lot of data to them a shot of hope after nearly

a year of despair iran is now officially on the path to vaccinating millions of people against cope with 19. the 1st shipment of 10000 doses of the russian me sputnik vaccine arrived in the country on thursday and on tuesday about 1000 health care workers were an ocular it parson the makita health minister son was the 1st person to get the job while. considering all the if it's medical personnel enough to sing what my father and gone through and how much pressure he was on the i decided it was my duty to do this and the smallest contribution i could might to all fighting against the spiers. 430000 frontline workers across the country will also receive the shot iran has purchased 2000000 doses of sputnik back scene and the rest we delivered by the end of the month. despite severe economic sanctions imposed by the u.s. on iran's banking sector iran has so far purchased another 16800000 vaccines from

other countries including china and india will more to my and bush and i get a box anybody think people should know that when we import a vaccine officials trust it and it will be beneficial for everyone this vaccine and other domestic vaccines will help us keep people safe we hope to enter a new phase from this moment in the fight against covert 94 in december officials began human trials of the cove vaccine the country's 1st domestically developed shot 56 volunteers are waiting to get their 2nd dose a 2nd homemade vaccine is due to be tested on people with iran is the worst affected country in the middle east with nearly 60000 covered 19 deaths and almost 1500000 people infected much like the rest of the world people here are tired of all the restrictions and economic hardships that this pandemic has brought with it but many say that if they see officials getting the vaccine the imported or the

best the ones there are much more likely to trust them and join the mass vaccination program and officials say they hope to end that program by early next year. al-jazeera down. turkey has indicated it could be willing to limit its use of the russian air defense system aboard less than 2 years ago turkey's purchase of the russian s $400.00 s. is strained relations with the u.s. and led to an increase removal from the f. 35 fighter jets program washington has been demanding that the russian missiles be decommissioned in an interview published by the daily a turkish defense minister who lucy said he was open to a compromise on the issue. rival factions hamas in fact strengthened their commitment to holding the 1st elections for palestinians in 15 years talks in korea they agreed to respect the timetable and results of parliamentary and presidential votes in may and july palestinian governance has been divided between in the

occupied west bank and hamas in gaza a surprise election win by hamas in 2006 triggered a longstanding rift. the un security council has called on somalia's leaders to resume dialogue after talks over the weekend ended without agreement in direct parliamentary and presidential polls were agreed last year but have been by a rift between the president and regional leaders and a statement agreed by the 15 members of the council said inclusive elections should be held as soon as possible and welcome to the announcement of further talks on february 15th the members of the security council hold for somalia's leaders to resume their dialogue urgently and work together in the interests of the people of somalia to reach consensus on the arrangements for the conduct of inclusive elections with a view to holding them as soon as possible. so the goals army says it's captured 3

rebel bases from separatist groups in its southern custom months region one of the bases was on the border with guinea purcell while another was an operational sense of the conflict is one of the oldest in africa and has claimed thousands of lives since it 1st broke out in 100822 custom on 3 chin is religiously and ethically distinct from the rest of senegal thousands of farmers could be taken to court in nigeria for failing to repay loans provided in an attempt to boost rice production and reduce food imports more than a 1000000 farmers were given cash and tools but many are now refusing to make repayments putting the scheme at risk of collapse would interest reports now from our own good you. oh. my god what is close as time hands prepared to feel so a new crop a few meters away other workers tend to your shoots by going to one of nigeria's major rice produces with hundreds of hectares of land dedicated to growing rice is a serious thomas like him are benefiting from

a government loan scheme to boost domestic production but says a scheme faces risks. now. given them. though they are. what. the 34 member farmers corporative and says they weren't told there have anything back either. if it was make clear to us that it's a loan we have 9 house approaches we didn't apply for it so i can tell you that we won't pay back a dime not all of it was money we consider it is gifts or assistance after all we see politicians take public funds with no accountability. the so-called i could borrow a scheme encourages thomas a small holdings to produce

a variety of commodities and to connect produces with the process but 5 years after the program was introduced nigeria's tilley port foods the scheme was meant to produce a nexus system interview an estimated $600000000.00 has been provided to more than a 1000000 farmers to boost price production critics of the process say it's corrupt and lacks transparency they accuse government officials and politicians of hijacking a scheme that could now collapse because of a failure to pay back their loans. an estimated 40 percent of those who have received money in the field or refused to fully repay. some officials say that's often understandable. but one can understand that for one reason or other. especially the last time we had a flood so you can imagine our farmers last. africa's most populous nation has

34000000 hectares of land but only 33 percent is and the production this country of more than 200000000 people imports much of what it eats agricultural experts say that's because farming technology is out of date and if the government doesn't encourage mechanization. nothing will change. greece. out of. cotton poland has ordered 2 problems holocaust research is to apologize for suggesting a polish man helped kill jews during the 2nd world war the family of ed wood a man in ascii argued that he saved jews during the german occupation and they reject the holocaust survivors testimony connecting him to the death of 18 people the court found discrepancies in that testimony the office plan to appeal they say the ruling jeopardizes independent research it's a major independent radio station in hungary has lost an appeal to keep its broadcasting license raising concerns about press freedom in the european union

member state club radio which will go off air on sunday it's known for broadcasting interviews critical of the government media regulators have refused to renew the station's license saying the broadcaster broke the rules by submitting documents or late promised a victory has been accused of stifling press freedoms since coming to power in 2010. there are lots of recap headlines here in al-jazeera and the u.s. senate has voted to go ahead with the 2nd impeachment trial of former president donald trump house impeachment managers rejected the defense's argument that it is unconstitutional to try a former president an official has the latest now from capitol hill this is really just an appetizer for what's going to come over the next couple of days as with both sides of the argument there.