>> we cannot, will not let people go hungry. >> u.s. president joe biden signs executive orders to help millions struggling during the pandemic, calling it a national emergency. you're watching al jazeera. coming up. accused of inciting an insurrection, the impeachment trial of donald trump is set to begin next week.

growing concerns that a highly contagious u.k. variant of covid-19 may also be more deadly. forced from their hom 2 million peopleisplaced in africa's sahel region. 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 biden has signed two executive orders to fast-track checks to needy families, increase food aid for children, and double minimum wage for federal workers. he says the country is in a national emergency, and is looking for bipartisan support in congress to pass a wider stimulus package worth $1.9 billion. >> i don't believe democrats or republicans are going hungry and

losing jobs. i believe americans are going hungry and losing jobs. 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. we have the tools to help people. so let's use the tools, all of them. use them now. >> that stimulus package is worth $1.9 trillion. let's bring in john. . tell us about the executive order, and the wider stimulus package. >> during president biden -- president biden is trying to roll out an economic spiral driven by the pandemic. he really wants to pass the massive $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan sitting on capitol hill. but republicans are bawking

at the cost. it could take a long time to get through that and get a compromise. he is doing what he can right now, signing executive orders with one that will raise the federal minimum wage those working for federal contractors to $15 an hour. the other increases food assistance for the department of agriculture. it is about $100 per family over two months, but it is something the president can do on his own in his second full day in office. eventually, he is hoping to get the negotiation going on capitol hill. the number of republicans are pushing back on that. they say the amount is too much at $1.9 trillion. they also note the last economic package was just passed in late december, about $100 billion. that package had been waiting about six months while congress debated it.

so this would be the most the president can do. he will keep pushing on capitol hill. his economic advisor gave a news conference at the white house in which he said this bigger package would prevent a continued economic spiral and could save the country months in recovery time. >> john hendren, thank you. let's get to stand, a resident scholar at the american enterprise institute and a specialist on political economy and public finance. thank you for your time. we heard the president speak earlier on. he made both the moral and economic arguments. let's look at the economics. unemployment, is incredibly high in the u.s. more job losses to come. is the plan too ambitious, or not enough? >> i think parts of the plan are very appropriate and well targeted.

the job losses that still remain, which are significant, about 10 million people out of work working about a year ago, heavily concentrated in the leisure and hospitality industry . for good reason. a lot of businesses just cannot operate the way they would in the absence of the pandemic. no amount of fiscal stimulus will change that situation. what is really important is families and businesses that cannot operate the way they usually do, lost their jobs, lost customers, make it through the crisis without their balance sheets destroyed. and large elements of these plans do exactly that. there is that extension of the unemployment insurance program, the executive order announced today provides additional support in the form of food benefits to needy families. those elements of the biden

proposal strike me as quite appropriate. >> it sounds like there are parts of the proposal that you think might not be appropriate. what are they? >> i think the element of the proposals that are really more traditional, fiscal stimulus, about a quarter of the $1.9 trillion let legislative package would be in checks mailed out to 90% of households in the country. that does not strike me as the right approach for the kind of crisis we are in. the overwhelming majority of households have not seen any income losses. and we don't want them on some level to go outside and spend that money, because it increases the risk of spreading the virus. so those elements of the biden proposal, checks, dramatic increases in tax credit, i don't

think those are appropriate. but if you are a politician, you use the crisis at hand to push some of the priorities you may have gone into the crisis with. i think it is hard to argue that those elements of the package, which are quite significant, that cost a ton of money, are really a reasonable part of the current emergency response effort. >> he also did make the moral argument when he was speaking earlier on, and spoke about things like hunger in the u.s. and people going hungry. is almost $2 trillion proposal will require congressional approval. is that going to be difficult to get? >> i think it will be very difficult. today's actions are quite different in scale. the extension in the nutritional benefits, the money to make up for free school lunches that are not being handed out right now, that will not -- i would be

really surprised if it adds up to more than $10 billion in spending. so they were really talking to orders of magnitude less than the $1.9 trillion package. the $1.9 trillion package, as you say, requires congressional approval. it will be a heavy lift. it is a lot of money, especially coming so soon after congress enacted another $900 billion relief package at the end of december. so i think some elements of this proposal could survive with republican support, but i don't think all of it could. that means democrats may have to turn towards other solutions so they can get rid of a legislative filibuster, go through the reconciliation process, which comes with a little less flexibility and what you are allowed to do under the rules, which would allow them to pass a package of this size. i doubt congressional

republicans will jump on board this plan. >> stan veuger, thank you so much. >> a retired army general has become the first african-american pick to be u.s. defense secretary. the senate voted 93-2 to confirm lloyd austin to run the pentagon. he will oversee the 1.3 million active-duty servicemen and women who make up the nation's military, and is committed to rooting out the threat of domestic extremism in the country. donald trump's impeachment trial set to begin next week. house democrats plan to send an article of impeachment to the senate on monday. trump is accused of inciting and insurrection. the only president to be impeached twice. the charges stem from a rally on january 6, when he encouraged supporters to attack the capitol building. republicans wanted to delay the proceedings until february. >> i have spoken to speaker

pelosi, who informed me the articles would be delivered to the senate monday. i have 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 repudiated, debunked by hundreds of constitutional scholars. left, right, and centered, and the phis basic common sense. it makes no sense whatsoever that a president or any official could commit a heinous crime against our country and be permitted to resign. so as to avoid accountability and a vote to disbar them from future office. it makes no sense. >> this impeachment began with an unprecedentedly fast and minimal process in the house. the sequel cannot be an insufficient senate process that denies former president from his due process or damages the

senate or the presidency itself. senate republicans strongly believe we need a full and fair process where the former president can mount a defense and the senate can properly consider the factual, legal, and constitutional questions. for that reason, we suggest the house transmit this article next thursday, that will apparently be next monday. >> we have more from capitol hill. -- apologies, we don't seem to have that report. we will take a short break. here is what is coming up. feeling the pinch. states across the u.s. pleading for more coronavirus vaccines as supplies run critically low. thailand revised its monarchy d formation laws as the government intensifies its crackdown on antiestablishment protesters.

>> the weather pattern is about to change across the u.s. maybe best showed by what happening down the california coast. the northerly breeze bringing rain to southern california and into baja. elsewhere, the picture is normal. not particularly cold. the windchill is about to increase. the forecast the next three days. pure blue skies. showers every day with an onshore breeze. the fire risk inland is much diminished. elsewhere, a winter ec saturday. not especially cold, but strong wind in ontario. the winter, i think that's the scene developing over the next few days.

snow across minnesota and the great lakes. you end up with a high of minus four in minneapolis. look at the forecast in minneapolis. minus eight. 14 by night. tuesday, the cold is coming back. in contrast, beautiful days most of the time in the caribbean. a cloud on the coast of nicaragua, costa rica, panama. otherwise, like showers, a light breeze. >> global criminal drug dealing shifted to places beyond the reach of law & order. >> many people in the afghan government were involved in the drug trade. >> in columbia. and mexico, where the cartels have been responsible for a merciless spiral of violence.

the final episode of drug trafficking, politics and power on al jazeera. >> are top stories on al jazeera. joe biden has signed two executive orders for families hit hard by the covid-19 pandemic. he is looking for bipartisan support in congress to pass a stimulus package with $1.9 trillion. donald trump second impeachment trial is set to begin next week. that is despite calls from republicans to delay it until february. he is accused of inciting a mob to attack capitol hill earlier

this month. britain's prime minister is warning the coronavirus variant found in the u.k. is not only more contagious, but could be more deadly. it comes as britain appeared to be making headway. infection rates have started dropping by around 4% per day. boris johnson says britain can consider unlocking until the government is confident the vaccination program is protecting the population. >> we have been informed in addition to spreading more quickly, it also appears there is some evidence that the new variant that was first identified in london and the southeast, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality. >> here's moran with the prime minister and his medical advisors have to say. >> we have known for some time the new variant, according to the medical and scientific offices both inside of boris

johnson, is more transmissible, but both gentlemen confirmed the u.k. strain of the virus is also contributing to a higher mortality rate. the example given was for an average man in his 60's for every thousand people to get the virus. you can expect 10 deaths. that is the first variant of the virus. for the new variant, the figure is between 13% and 14%. according to both experts, the virus does respond to existing vaccines. however, there are concerns about the other strains, the african strain and brazilian strains, which according to the experts, may need more research as to whether or not it responds to existing vaccines. it will be a significant cause for concern, given how high the level of infection is, the death

toll is, and if those strains suddenly have an increased impact on the population going forward. there is hope in the shape of a vaccine for 5.4 million people that have been vaccinated. 2 million of them in the past week. a significant milestone for the government. the hope is by september, every adult in the country will have at least one dose of the vaccine. it is something of an uphill struggle, particularly given the low uptake from minority ethnic communities who have cited concern as to whether or not the vaccine is compatible with their religious reliefs, and deep-seated distrust about the health service that has not always seemed to favor people from minority ethnic backgrounds. now very much a drive by the government to encourage leaders to get the right message out.

>> democrats have sent a request to joe biden's new intelligence chief to declassify a report into the murder of jamal khashoggi. senator adam schiff has tweeted a letter asking for the report to be released. he says the murder, which too place in 2018, was an assault on humarights. mike hanna has more from washington, d.c. >> he is reiterating a request made by god -- congress, a demand made by congress in the months after kush ods murder in the congress sending the demand to the trump administration asking for the report on his killing to be declassified and presented to congress. a deadline was put on the request. president trump simply ignored the request. the deadline passed. president trump insisted whether or not saudi arabia was responsible, specifically the crown prince, he regarded the

matter as closed. tuesday, the new director of national intelligence held a hearing in the senate. she was asked directly whether she would declassify the report on jamal khashoggi's murder. she replied she will follow the law. the indication is the director of national intelligence would consider d classifying the contents of the report to congress. the issue we do not know at this stage, we may learn more, is what the white house's position is. we know from what has been said in the early days of the biden administration that it is reviewing its relationship with saudi arabia closely. it expressed concern about the ongoing bombing in yemen. it will no longer supply weapons for such actions. so we will wait and see what the

white house position is. but we know from what the director of financial intelligence said, that it will be provided to congress as demanded formally by the majority leader in the senate. >> the un's refugee agency says the number of people displaced by violence in africa have passed 2 million. an increase since 2019. humanitarian teams are dangerously overstretched and it is appealing for more international help. armed groups have been spreading across the region, fueling ethnic tension and attacking security forces in countries, including molly and niger. a spokesman for the united nations refugee agency says civilians have been bearing the brunt of the violence. >> we are talking quadruple the number it was two years ago. that is the unrelenting attacks. brutal, gruesome, on civilians.

people are being forced to flee with just the clothing on their back. and in their own country. they are receiving support from committees who are stretched themselves. and here we are talking about 2 million. on top of that, you have over 860,000 refugees, people that have fled the crisis. so committees are a stretch. our teams in the ground have gruesome testimonies, people fleeing attacks, groups shooting around. it talks about sexual violence, rape, walking 40 kilometers on foot. when they arrived, they need shelter. wherever they go, the committees don't have enough space to host thousands of people.

they need water, they need food. they need bare necessities, core essentials. they need access to help. on top of the bare essentials, the core help people need, they need to ensure people have more sanitation where they can maintain protection against the pandemic. and we need the international community to engage and support the humanitarian response so we can show those generosity that supporting people forced to flee is everyone's job. >> the u.n. is voicing concern after a stay of murders in syria's largest refugee camp. at least 12 people killed at the facility since the start of the year. the violence could jeopardize aid for the camp. it is 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 for up to 27

years in prison. the victims were excruciatingly slow deaths, suffocating traveling from belgium to britain. they each paid up to $18,000 to be taken to the u.k. in october of 2019. a crackdown on anti-establishment protesters is underway in thailand as the government pursues more than 50 cases under the draconian marguerite -- monarchy defamation laws. the laws had not been enforced for years, but have come into play recently because of mass protests coming -- calling for political reform. >> is one of the most vocal critics of the establishment. now protesting the threat, he is facing consequences in court. he's accused of insulting the monarchy under the country's strict laws, and he's not the only one. dozens of antigovernment demonstrators have been charged under the law in recent months. earlier this week, a court handed down the longest sentence

ever, 43 years. it was to a woman in her 60's for a post on social media six years ago. >> every time the law is enforced, they lose legitimacy. it is uncivil to sentence this woman to 43 years. it is a politic move to threaten us. sorry to disappoint you, but we are not afraid. we think our supporters are not afraid. the monarchy is digging its own grave, putting shame on itself. >> the law, was sidelined for about three years on orders of the king. but it has been brought back since protesters started taking to the streets calling for the prime minister to resign, a new constitution, and reform in the monarchy. some agree with the law and say the monarchy needs to be protected. has taken it upon himself to patrol the internet. she says the 43 year sentence

was fair and hopes her work will lead to others being sent to prison. >> i think she got what she deserved. it is a sensitive time because people don't want to defend the institution once, they do it online, in person, when they shattered objects at the motorcade. cracks the increase in cases is seen by some as a desperate move by the authorities, whose previous tactics failed to stem the movement demanding reform. and it could backfire. >> by bringing more aggressive measures to quell these voices, it will only make the situation worse. it will turn political tensions from that and make the situation more volatile. it is as if authorities are building up a new regime of repression. >> and potential for volatility will increase over the next few weeks as covid-19 restrictions are relaxed, bringing protesters

back to the streets. >> the ugandan opposition leader has lashed out at the president, accusing him of staging a coup in last week's election. in his first public address from house arrest, he said the reelection to a sixth term made a mockery of democracy. he urged people to reject the results through nonviolent protest, but suggested he will not be mounting a legal challenge. the president dismissed the allegations of vote rigging. x under illegal house arrest. i am strong, because i am aware of the trials and tribulations of those that came before us in their fight for freedom and democracy. i am further consoled by the positive reminder that what i am going through today is nothing

compared to what other comrades have had to go through for the past three years since we started the movement. >> the white house has asked the cdc to investigate why some regions have run out of the coronavirus vaccine. president biden promised to rollout 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days in office, but supply shortages are hampering efforts. >> president biden's national action plan to combat covid-19 and get more people vaccinated is welcome news in california, where more than 35,000 people have died from the virus. >> that's exactly what we need, someone to organize, whether on the state or federal level, 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 10 million people in l.a. county with 800,000 health and frontline workers. and 1.3 million people aged 65 or older. so far, the county has received only 850,000 doses. 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. >> what we are facing is not enough. even if delayed, it is not close to enough of what we can do. and we are not seeing the type of vaccine hesitancy people expect. we see people who want it desperately. cracks the biden administration is using emergency powers to speed up the manufacturing and distribution of the vaccines. >> as the president has said in

his plan to do whatever he can to expand the availability of the vaccines, whatever that is. he said he will use every possibility, including the defense production act. >> mass vaccination centers like the one at dodger stadium in los angeles are ready to go. if biden's plan succeeds in boosting vaccine production, many lives might be saved. >> i have hope there is at least someone who cares about making a plan of some kind. there was nothing before. it was left to people to find out for themselves. i have some hope and optimism that with someone who cares at the top, it will trickle down and be able to get this taken care of in a timely manner. >> los angeles has surpassed 1.4 million covid-19 infections. more than 14,000 people here have died from the virus. rob reynolds, al jazeera.

>> rio de janeiro has canceled their carnival as brazil faces a surge in covid-19 cases. the party had been pushed back to july, but with the rollout of the country's vaccine program, the mayor says it will not go ahead this year. more than 200 thousand brazilians have died of coronavirus, the worlds second highest death after the u.s. the headlines on al jazeera. president joe biden has signed two executive orders to help families hit hard by the pandemic. biden is looking for bipartisan support in congress to pass a stimulus package worth $1.9 trillion. >> i don't believe democrats or republicans are going hungry and losing jobs. i believe americans are going hungry and losing jobs.

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. we have the tools to help people. so let's use the tools, all of them. >> the u.s. senate democratic leader says donald trump's second impeachment trial is set to begin february 8. he's accused of inciting an insurrection after encouraging orders to march on the capitol building earlier this month. a retired army general has become the first african-american to be picked as u.s. defense secretary. joe biden's nominee to run the pentagon and will oversee the one point 3 million active-duty servicemen and women who make up the nation's military. britain's prime minister is warning the coronavirus variant found in the u.k. is not only more contagious, but could be more deadly. it comes as infection rates

began to drop. boris johnson says britain can't consider unlocking until the government is confident the vaccination program is protecting the population. un's refugee agency says the number of people displaced by violence in africa has surpassed 2 million. humanitarian teams are now dangerously overstretched and they are appealing for more international help. the u.n. is concerned after a state of murders in syria's largest refugee camp. at least 12 people have been killed at the facility since the start of the year. the u.n. says the violence can jeopardize age -- aid. the ugandan opposition leader has lashed out at the president, accusing him of staging a coupe in last week's election. in the address from house arrest, he said reelection to the sixth term made it a mockery of democracy. >> a firsthand glance at the

challenges faced by journalists in the age of donald trump. >> we are fighting the fake news. the enemy of the people. >> through the eyes of a veteran white house correspondent. >> what do you base your facts on? >> sit-down. >> the press is not after trump. it is after the facts. >> we are not the enemy of the people, we are the people. >> usa, the current battleground. whose truth is it anyway? on al jazeera.

>> venezuela, a country in crisis. hyperinflation, political instability, severe debt, and chronic food and medicine shortages. once the wealthiest country in the region, venezuela is mired in the worst economic crisis in its history.

almost exclusively dependent on oil revenues, venezuela fell into it severe economic recession after oil prices dropped in 2014. the economy contracted by over one third between 2013 and 2017. inflation increased by more than 1,000,000%. the cost of basic commodities like flour and milk skyrocketed. some turned to the trafficking of fuel to make a living. they found a good source of accomplices and buyers in neighboring columbia. fuel costs -- resold for more than 30 times the original price in columbia. a real opportunity for traffickers. the colombian village lies near the venezuela young -- venezuela-columbia border. a smuggling is a trade passed from generation to generation.

carlos and his cousin are 20 years old. every day, they take the same route through a paddy field, a few kilometers away. crossing here, lick and reach the venezuelan border, -- they can reach the venezuelan border without police. carlos and his cousin our meeting there venezuelan accomplices who will be arriving with containers full of fuel.

>> he asked us to film from a distance. he is worried. he has not told the traffickers we are with him. he also just found out soldiers are patrolling the area. using gestures, he explains the police could shoot at us. once we arrive at the meeting point, he worries it was a mistake to bring us.

>> we hide in the bushes, but we don't have to wait long. 20 minutes later, silhouettes appear at the edge of the cliff. first five, then 10, than 20, then 30. all of these men nervous and exhausted. they have taken huge risks to deliver this fuel.

>> all is going to plant into the leader arrives. he does not believe we are journalists.

>> the traffickers crowd around us to stop us from leaving. >> after two hours of arguing, we managed to calm them down. they finally understand we are not here to turn them into the authorities. the death threats are forgotten, the traffickers continue their march.

each carrying almost 50 leaders on his back. in a few moments, one and a half tons of fuel crosses from venezuela to columbia. >> although there is another field to cross, they are now out of the range of the soldiers. the venezuelan traffickers begin transferring the fuel to their colombian counterparts. some individuals weren't even able to afford plastic containers, so they carried the fuel in plastic bags.

>> the carriers earn $11 per trip, a fortune in today's venezuela. >> before the crisis broke out, all of these young people had a bright future.

>> now the only thing worth learning is resourcefulness, and not without risk. >> while the traffickers carry fuel on their backs, some have found more elaborate ways. at the foot of the mountain is a small village. it lies on what has been described as one of the most high-risk borders in latin america.

it is a village where fuel containers live side-by-side with the estimated 4000 inhabitants. cans of petrol sold illegally on most roadsides. jose luis has a faster way to transport his contraband.

>> he's leaving to collect 4000 liters of fuel in venezuela.

jose luis arrives at the border to collect a load of contraband fuel waiting for him. police are everywhere. he takes a side road. it is much safer. it is here that traffickers have placed lookouts. >> --

>> by doing this, he risks a seven year prison sentence and confiscation of his vehicle, worst all -- worth almost $5,600. >> one of the lookouts is missing from his post, carefully moving forward, he spots another. he warns them police are patrolling the area. jose luis turns back. he is not willing to take the

risk. >> this man and woman are part of the traffickers. they don't understand why police are jeopardizing their business. to them, it is the only way to earn a living.

>> they have been here all morning. the group of police officers and soldiers began their operation at dawn. this river was turned into a makeshift border crossing that separates venezuela from columbia. >> just the shores together. dozens of traffickers use this package every day.

>> for them, the contraband of

choice is fuel. 25-year-old andrea's tracks gas across the border. he doesn't know what side of the border he comes from. he is nicknamed the parrot, because he is very talkative. he is an experienced trafficker. >> every day, they make the round-trip to venezuela. today, there is a problem. they just spotted man in uniform on the opposite shore,

venezuelan soldiers. he calls one of his accomplices on the other of the border. >> the team of smugglers are worried, along with the usual soldiers, there's a man they don't recognize, a senior officer. the man on the left with a red scarf. >> normally, the traffickers can be bribed. the presence of an officer complicates things.

>> on the opposite shore, his accomplice indicates the coast is now clear. the soldiers are gone. he is free to collect his gas bottles from venezuela. other smugglers also take this opportunity to cross. some carrying unexpected goods, like this car engine. many things have now become hard to get in venezuela. even chickens. poultry trafficking has become lucrative.

but it is not always easy. this man drives nearly 100 chickens per day across the border. he earns almost $170. >> this small trafficking business allows a dozen people to earn a living. he left just two hours ago, but he is back with his gas bottles. he is exhausted.

>> nine dollars, and he sells them for double price. it will allow him to support his wife and their newborn baby.

>> his assistants main job is to push the motorcycle. now he has had enough.

>> almost all of the inhabitants of the villages across the border have turned to

trafficking. work is scarce in the region, and unemployment is overwhelming. they see no better options but to smuggle. for this

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