has iraq's oil wealth gone from phantom civil servants to corrupt politicians take a closer look and the technology behind covert 19 vaccines how long before it's used to find the cure for cancer counting the cost of that. it's dishonest and the american people don't deserve this any longer you must acquit defending donald trump it is impeachment trial his lawyers say there is no proof inside the capitol hill attack. 11 harvey one on come on son summary of this is the world news from al-jazeera germans these are celebrating after the us lifts its terrorist designation but the

white house decision comes with a warning. that protests in may in mara's the u.n. human rights council at pressure on the military over the coup. in a disturbing trend on the us west coast a rise in attacks on asian americans. hello everyone donald trumps a 2nd opinion trial is nearly finished with a final vote in the u.s. senate expected as early as this weekend lawyers for the former president wrapped up their defense describing the trial as unconstitutional they say democrats pushing for a conviction are only seeking revenge trump of course accused of inciting the riot on january 6th on capitol hill and when fisher has our report. that some team took on a markedly short time to wrap up its defense just under 4 hours it argued that the

proceedings were unconstitutional were rushed and were driven by a hatred of donald trump this impeachment is completely divorced from the facts the evidence and the interests of the american people the senate should promptly and decisively vote to reject it far from promoting insurrection against the united states the president's remarks explicitly encourage those in attendance to exercise their rights peacefully and patriotically if you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore this is ordinary political rhetoric you have to get your people to fight and if they don't fight we have to primary the hell out of the ones that don't fight hatred is at the heart of the house managers frivolous attempts to blame donald trump for the criminal acts of the rioters based

on double here stay for hearsay statements of fringe right wing groups based on no real evidence other than rank speculation hatred is a dangerous thing they have not and can not prove mr trump explicitly or implicitly encourage the use of violence or lawless action to walk down to the capitol the and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women make no mistake and i will repeat it now and any time i'm ever asked january 6th was a terrible day for our country the attack on this building shocked us all. president trump did not incite or caused the horrific violence that occurred on january 6th 2021 the senate then moved to

a question and answer session it was combative it was fractious and it allowed both sides to repeat well worn lines this is an article of impeachment for incitement this is not an article of impeachment for anything else so one count they could have charged anything they wanted this process is so on constitutional because it violates due process on a t.v. to get into the jurisdiction part. the due process part should be enough to give anybody who loves our constitution and loves our country great pause to do anything but acquit donald trump at no point was the president informed the vice president was in any danger because the house rushed through this impeachment in 7 days we don't come here in anger contrary to what you've heard today we come here in the spirit of protecting our republic and that's what it's all about.

there was a moment of unity at the end of the day when both sides agreed to present the congressional gold medal to capitol hill the officer who led the rioters away from the senate chamber eugene goodman actions probably saved lives that day the senate will meet on saturday that is the possibility they could call witnesses but really we're looking at moving towards a vote on the acquittal of donald trump. so what happens next where the senate is set to reconvene for the 5th day of the 2nd impeachment trial it will 1st vote on whether to subpoena witnesses or documents but u.s. media is reporting both sides are likely to move straight to the next phase which is closing arguments house impeachment managers and trump's defense lawyers will each get 2 hours to wrap up their cases then we get to the final vote could happen as early as saturday needs a 2 thirds majority of an evenly split senate to actually convict let's hear from

richard purcell now a professor of american politics at the university of tennessee who doesn't think many minds have actually been changed during this trial well it's hard to imagine the beginning of the trial that a conviction was going to come out i think the democrats did in fact of jabbers of showing some footage that people hadn't seen before but in the footage will turn context i think the republicans the defenders of trump the attorneys did a pretty poor job at 1st but they managed to recoup a little today because of the sort of more aggressive tact that the attorneys took today that to they took a few liberties with the truth and so the democrats may want to sort of re you know back when this is a broom runyan witnesses for the 1st time and have those individuals testify that what the attorneys were saying was was not true from one you know that of impeachment is a pretty political weapon and the public's you know split up you know in the united

states maybe 60 percent support conviction and 40 percent don't. but i think the point is 2 to one is that trump he didn't from running for public office again and number 2 is that you send a message to future presidents that this kind of behavior on the road the partisan divide is very bad in this country but i think that you're seeing with 10 republicans in the house and maybe 7 or 6 or 7 republicans across santa with about 140000 people in the last few days renouncing their membership in the republican party we're may actually be seeing a little bit of sort of some move. towards maybe a little bit more towards the middle as we heard earlier in alan's report u.s. senate has a paid tribute to a man they say is a hero of the capitol ride eugene goodman who was awarded the congressional gold

medal the highest civilian honor goodman kept writers out of the house chamber senate majority leader chuck schumer thank the officer for going above and beyond here in this trial we saw a new video powerful video showing calm this under pressure his courage in the line of duty his foresight in the midst of chaos and his willingness to make himself a target of the mobs rage so that others might reach safety officer goodman is in the chamber tonight officer goodman thank you. onto other news the united states is due to lift its terrorist designation for yemen's pretties on tuesday president joe biden the united nations and aid groups had feared the designation could actually worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis the shift in policy comes with

a warning that's cut the low pace of the un reports. the u.s. state department says yemen's who thier bibles will be taken off its list of terror groups it's a move that could reflect a shift of u.s. policy in the middle east but the announcement comes with a warning after the who these admitted they attacked a saudi airport on wednesday the u.s. says if the violence continues sanctions will follow if the who the leadership is under any illusion that the intent to revoke this designation suggests that we're going to let up the pressure on them they are sorely mistaken the who these however are defending their actions what kind of by war is legitimate because it is based on the right for self-defense when saudi and the u.a.e. stop their war on yemen we will stop immediately and without the need for any dialogue or political solutions in the past we stopped attacking saudi arabia hoping that it can change its policies and stop its aggression we have in the past introduced many concessions therefore we emphasize once again that we are not

waiting for a change of heart inside the american administration or inside the saudi or your leadership. the war in yemen has led to a humanitarian crisis leaving millions of people on the brink of starvation more than 80 percent of the population lives in areas controlled by who thinks many fear keeping the group on the terror list or f t o would make the crisis worse as it limits the access of aid workers with f t o designation in place those aid workers ace handled the jail time and you know it just really shuts down the international humanitarian assistance. the war between who the rebels in yemen is internationally recognized government is widely seen as a proxy conflict between saudi arabia and iran and now taking the coup thieves off the u.s. terror list could have wider political implications i think it's going to possibly

upset the saudi u.a.e. led coalition and that same token it's going to help cool temperatures in yemen and possibly will temperatures tween the u.s. and iran while the war appears to be far from over people in yemen hope new policies will eventually lead to more concessions and peace agreements. up a civilian al-jazeera. we're looking at me in mind now where people are out on the streets protesting now for an 8th consecutive day against the military coup. 6 6 and want the generals to release the deposed leader aung sang surgery was of course under arrest police have increased their efforts to crack down on the gatherings which they say violates covenanting restrictions and security forces have arrested protesters in overnight rights. and the un human rights council adopted a resolution calling for release and all political prisoners as well have been detained since the coup the original text was watered down to get china and russia

on board china still distancing itself from the measure the resolution also demands the military to reinstate the civilian government and use restraint with protesters scott hyla monitoring things from bangkok for us today scott i am almost running out of ways to ask you what's happening there because maybe that's just thing the fact that it's still going the fact that the people are still out on the streets after 8 days in a row is the significant part here. it is kimo yes when you look at that particularly you know we had what appeared to be the largest number of people on the streets across myanmar on friday yesterday today saturday it's shaping up to be the same if not maybe more and again it we're looking at you know the similar gathering point at least in the end gone the nation's largest city commercial capital they're gathering they started gathering a few hours ago kind of mid morning in an area that's right near yangon university

and then there are also other areas where they popped up we know that again embassies and the united nations offices are probably going to be places where they gather where they march from this gathering spot and then kind of regroup if you will in these certain locations and we can imagine that the chinese embassy as you alluded to kemal is going to be one of their locations with a bit of anger and that is generally we've been seeing this over the past week they focus on the chinese embassy they focused on china's stance. through this whole period after the coup and they are going to focus again today we're hearing because of that human rights council special session that was conducted on friday were china essentially said that what's going on in myanmar is an internal matter so obviously that's not going to sit well hasn't sat well with the protesters sort of focus on that but again what we're looking at so far everything seems to be peaceful not just in a part of the capital the 2nd largest city mandalay they're also gathering there come on but yet no i think it's you know it is i do feel is saying the same thing

a lot over these past couple days you and i have spoken but as you mentioned this is that in itself is significant because there is a big concern on tuesday when there was a bit of a crackdown by security forces we haven't really seen so much more violence since then we saw a little bit on friday in the eastern city there were some rubber bullets fired but other than that when you have this many people coming out on the streets that's being in a nation that's being ruled by the military you know that's the big thing is to make sure everything's safe and then you know. in that case i'm happy to keep saying the same thing as long as you know it stays as it is in the people coming out and and everything's they say you do a tremendous job of it scott can i ask about china seeing as you brought up the issue and we talked about the human rights council you know the communicating watered down as it were tell us the level of influence which china does potentially have with me and mine and why it's become so important.

substantial trading partner it is the biggest trading partner with myanmar so financial reasons economic reasons these 2 nations are very very tight and that goes back to when there was a military dictatorship for decades when myanmar was pretty much sealed from the outside world except with china so they have that they have a long history relationship through good times and bad if you will and then you get a kind of fast forward to now when there was the opening up really opening up of myanmar as a commie about 56 years ago that china was still there china was still heavily investing in then we saw a bit of a dip or at least me and mar and on sun tsu cheese profile in the international community dip because of the rangar situation the running a crisis so there was concern that there'd be a lot of that foreign aid foreign investment pulled out china stuck to its allies are all the way through so those those routes have already grown there with china

and they're maintaining china needs me and more as well because of you know access to water there's also a lot of energy interests investments from china in myanmar so it is a relationship that has been going on for a while and is very tight and we're seeing that in the political arena now particularly so what's happening at the u.n. ok great context there with scott hind leg reporting from bangkok today thank you. in the news ahead france holds off on a 3rd long dumba critics warn that may be a risky strategy. there is finally an international or new lead prosecutor should say the international criminal court after a long drawn out process at the u.n. . how they were amazed basically cold across a good part of europe certainly into northern and central areas but over the next

couple of days you will see moderate pressure pushing in from the atlantic it will turn to kristie cloudy old town increasingly wet also turn increasingly a windy this area of high pressure is blocking things off at the moment but as we go on through the next couple of days we will see the cold were just getting squeezed down towards the southeast the moment london one celsius minus 11 in moscow 14 degrees there in athens is because through the next couple of days just watch how those numbers change the yellow color started to push their way into western parts of europe plus 11 there in london by monday minus 19 for moscow well down to single figures there for athens at that stage still plenty of snow around across those eastern areas but the stance was the southeast at last enjoy your attention race taking snow pushing across italy into the balkans some very heavy snow for grassy pushing its way across greece over the great mountain some parts could see a meter of snow by the end of the weekend in that wintry weather pushing across

both garia both western parts of turkey squat but cold across central parts of europe there's that milder wet and windy weather to the northwest. frank assessments you've got colleagues on the ground in the canaries what is the situation there's only one doctor and one nurse or $2200.00 people informed opinion how big does foreign policy figure in the early stages of a bi ministration he comes into office with a huge amount of foreign policy experience in-depth analysis of the day's global headlines how will a place like it'll get the vaccine when there's no money at all the rest of rich countries are fighting for an inside story on al jazeera.

this is al jazeera and these are the top stories donald trump's 2nd impeachment trial is nearly over with the final vote in the senate expected as early as this weekend lawyers for the former president wrapped up their defense calling the trial unconstitutional. and he could protesters are out on the streets of myanmar for an 8th day in a row they want the release of the supposed leader unsung suchi. the head of the world health organization says the origins of the corona virus pandemic are still not clear after an investigative mission in china w.h.o. experts haven't confirmed the source during their trip to work with the virus was found back in well late 2019 was the team says it likely originated from bats but

they don't know how it jumped to humans. some questions have been raised as to whether some hypothesis have been discarded having spoken with some members of the team i wish to confirm that all hypotheses remain open and require further analysis and studies. some of that work may lie outside the remit and scope of this mission. we have also said that this mission would not find all the answers. but it has added important information that takes us closer to understanding the origins of the virus. in france most schools have shut for the winter mid-term break and with no travel restrictions within the country some people are heading away on holiday despite

high daily infection rates the french president unexpectedly decided not to impose a 3rd full lockdown and critics say that is risky and tasha butler reports from the coastal town of on for in normandy. the february went to holidays underway in france and in all flown out tourists have begun to arrive to enjoy the picturesque harbor on normandy east coast this couple say they feel lucky to be here because like most people in friends they had expected to be in lockdown we only think and we're happy to be able to travel as we really thought we would be confined again so we're trying to make the most of things even if the situation means we can't enjoy a restaurant or bar for several weeks french ministers had suggested that a 3rd nationwide lockdown was imminent because kovac case is the high and more contagious strains are spreading so french president emanuel markwell sudden decision not to impose one took most people by surprise and forced the government

to change its tune just today are. certainly exists apart to avoid a letdown it may be narrow but it's there and will be wrong not to try and follow it. the government has tightened the existing measures it's extended a nighttime curfew and imposed more restrictions on shops and travel in and out of france restaurants bars cultural and sports centers remain shot but schools are open my call is said to be worried about the impact of now the lockdown on the economy and on people's mental health but with the pandemic showing no immediate solutions over basing in the country it is clearly a political gamble because. the president is taking a risk as it's his decision even though the government announced it obviously he wants to protect the economy so he's waiting as long as possible to see if a full lockdown is needed it's a big gamble but if it pays off it will put him in a strong position before next year's presidential election but this doctor says there's no room for gambling when it comes to people's lives and without

a strict lock down the health situation could deteriorate rapidly this might be a big mistake actually because the situation in france is is really bad so we are seeing high plateau. plateau because the number of contaminations per day is still increasing the government has not totally ruled out another lock down but they hope the tighter restrictions some regional measures and a stepped up vaccine rollout will help avoid 11 year before the next election it is clear that macro has a lot to gain if his strategy succeeds but he could also have much to lose if it does not natasha bottler al-jazeera. moment. and france's health authority says people who have already been infected with covert 19 can receive just one dose of the vaccine all jobs approved by the e.u.

are designed to be given in 2 injections a few weeks apart but a small u.s. study showed recovered patients had the high antibody levels already after just one dose a single dose regimen would help speed up france's vaccination program the government's been criticized for its slow rollout a british human rights lawyer has been elected the new chief prosecutor of the international criminal court karim khan will serve a 9 year term once he replaces the outgoing leader father bensouda in june diplomatic editor james baines was following the voting from u.n. headquarters in new york. this was a long drawn out process argentina. australia for the 1st time since the international criminal court started work almost 2 decades ago the $123.00 countries that a part of the court elected the new chief prosecutor after counted it couldn't be agreed by consensus having received the highest number of votes after 2 rounds of

voting there was a victor mr karim khan of the united kingdom has been elected prosecutor of the international criminal court for a period of 9 years karim carne is the 3rd person to take on this important role that always proves to be controversial he is an experienced prosecutor who currently heads unit tab the un unit based in baghdad that is charged with collecting the evidence of crimes carried out by eisel although this is an independent legal position everything about the international criminal court ends up being politically charged a number of his early decisions a bound to be controversial whichever course he takes. the court recently decided that its jurisdiction extends to the palestinian territories this is enraged israel because the current chief prosecutor for 2 bensouda has said she

believes both the israeli military and palestinian groups a possible perpetrators of war crimes has been sued are also launched investigations into crimes in afghanistan the us is not a signatory to the court and the idea that u.s. troops could be charged so enraged the trumpet ministration because the i.c.c. continues to target americans that issued travel bans on senior i.c.c. officials including misspend sudha prohibiting her from coming to the u.s. james bays out zira at the united nations. a united nations envoy says international sanctions are making venezuela's humanitarian crisis worse un special rapporteur alone other hand has been in the country for the last 12 days she is urging the u.s. u.k. and portugal to give the government in caracas access to frozen funds the u.s. imposed sanctions 2 years ago citing corruption under president nicolas maduro.

while recognizing the devastating effect of you know late all sanctions on the broad scope of human rights especially the right to food right to house right to life right to education and right development i call the government of the nice and the office of high commissioner for human rights to implement fully duration agreement signed between. the un special coordinator for the middle east peace process as welcome the recent summit of palestinian factions as an important advancement towards elections rivals fatah and hamas and 12 other factions met in cairo earlier in the week agreeing to hold long delayed legislative and presidential votes in may and june the un said it would support the election preparations. well this is supposed to be a time of lunar new year celebrations for many asian communities worldwide but attacks are rising against asian americans this is of particular problem in the

u.s. west coast just a warning some viewers may find images and rubber and also report disturbing the videos are shocking. in san francisco a man attacks 84 year old vito rotten apoc d. injuring him so badly he later died in oakland's historically chinese neighborhood a 91 year old man is violently pushed to the ground smashing his head on the curb and causing serious injuries surveillance video in an oakland chinatown shop shows an assailant waiting till an elderly woman takes out money then tries to violently rob her before racing off researchers see an uptick in crimes against asian americans we don't doubt that a racially motivated are not and so we're not calling about a crimes because we have no clear racial bias and tent. we didn't know

that american idol we have targeted in our data i'm asian american are we are just arsenal represented and that's why it's so horrific among asian communities a wave of attacks has turned what should be a time of celebration the lunar new year and dawning of the year of the ox into a season of fear instead we think it can meet many seniors who lead inside chinatown they are also afraid it will on their own streets in the too violent attack seen here police have arrested suspects and charged them with crimes we've increased our routine patrols and our chinatown area community members are coming out and walk in and be a more visible in our chinatown areas in san francisco community members have started a sidewalk patrol group what we want to do is to make our elderly feel safe you know there are a lot are out and about right now to be because of the chinese new year a new year and we just wanted to feel safe activists say the assaults reflect

a bigger problem in us society it's part of the again deep rooted systemic racism in america. see some people as belonging and others as outsiders and right now are cast as perpetual foreigners and rats researchers at san francisco state university recorded 2800 racist incidents involving asian americans last year ranging from verbal abuse and spitting to physical assault rob reynolds al jazeera los angeles. at half past the hour on al-jazeera these are the headlines donald trump's 2nd impeachment trial is nearly finished but the final vote in the u.s. senate expected as early as this weekend's low is for the former.