clemency for killers known for whistle blowers donald trump's pardon list includes mercenaries guilty of the bass murder of civilians in iraq but leaves off the bins on american war crimes. a plane carrying sputnik v. supplies from moscow is on its way to argentina the country's regulator officially registered the russian coped with. a not so merry christmas queues empty shelves unusual decorations an exam to in a bubble people around the globe trying to get the festive spirit despite the tough restrictions.

their very good morning and thanks for joining us here on r.t. and. mercy for mercenary sport whistleblowers can go whistle donald trump issued 2 lists of pardons but despite calls rights activists freedom of speech defenders are julian assange and edward snowden were left off the same time the outgoing u.s. president gave clemency to 4 former contractors of the blackwater private military company they were jailed for the mass killing of civilians in iraq. but you know when you're in a character class or. there were dead bodies everywhere in the city are humans going to be on the way to people

and it's going to be among the dead bodies ministry with this and with child in the room of 7 years old and. god. these were guards who work for the private military contractor corporation known as blackwater now paul slow evan liberty and dustin herd were convicted for manslaughter and the individual nicholas slotting who opened fire and 1st started shooting into the crowd of iraqi civilians he was convicted of 1st degree murder but now the white house is letting all of them off they will no longer be in prison serving their sentences they have been pardoned and this is the feeling of the white house about why they made this decision when the convoy attempted to establish a blockade outside the green zone the situation turned violent which resulted in

the unfortunate deaths and injuries of iraqi civilians further prosecutors recently disclosed more than 10 years after the incidents that the lead iraqi investigates who prosecutors relied heavily on so very far that there were no exigent victims and to collect evidence may have had ties to insurgent groups himself now at this point there is widespread outrage this seems like the trump administration is almost approving of the killing of iraqi civilians 2 children were among the 14 people in the crowd who died as a result of their gunfire but at this point up. people are also looking at the fact that trump's education secretary betsy to vos is the sister of the founder of blackwater erik prince now there's also been a lot of outrage about who is not on the list of trump's pardons among the 15 people pardon and 5 sentence commute meant the names that were missing that many

were optimistic and hopeful about were julian a son gen edward snowden these prominent whistleblowers had many people calling for the trump white house to grant them clemency mungo's who called for them we're not just activists and advocates of civil liberties and for the protection of whistleblowers but also representatives of the united nations take a listen if president trump is true as well yes i think the least thing to could do is to end the suffering of duty response to pardon him this man has suffered enough for the interest of the public and was donald trump since you're given pardons to people please consider pardoning those who at great personal sacrifice expose the deception and criminality of those in the deep state now trump still has time to grant a pardon to edward snowden and to julian a son she can grant clemency up until the moment he leaves office to do it at the very very last minute however the number of people that were pardoned to end the information about who they are seems to have many pessimistic many of the activists

supporting the whistleblowers feel like this indicates the trumpet ministration is moving in a very different direction with its clemency this is what every country that hosts us occupation's us bases is told it's a matter for us justice with us soldiers and u.s. contractors and mercenaries to kill rape and pillage in your country will handle it well here's the message the united states will not handle it it will not treat these cases in the way that it would treat a case of mass murder in the united states even those of us who did not support trump selection of fort drum. the demand for extradition of julian assange is for crimes that amount to the commission of acts of journalism i don't care who julian assange is what is politics are what horrible things he's done performed a great service for the world it behaved as a journalist in a publisher he worked with

a legitimate whistle blowers who were doing services for the world he took care to limit any damage that could be done as he was performing this service he ought to be pardoned and i hope it will it certainly seems more likely still that trump will pardon him then that president biden when he's newly into office will drop the case . on to tina has officially registered to russia sputnik vaccine the champ has been approved for emergency use by the country's regulator based on the results of the ongoing face 3 clinical trials in russia a plane carrying argentina's 1st batch of sputnik vay supplies to settle for moscow 2 point is there is under the supply agreement moscow provides enough doses for up to $10000000.00 argentinians earlier in the month the country's president expressed confidence in the vaccines and to be the 1st to take it. and would have similar in argentina some raised doubts about the quality of russian science to clear

everyone's downswings vs here in argentina i would be the 1st one to take that vaccine because i have no doubt about the quality of the vaccine you know as well as spending vedanta teen also signed up for vaccine supplies from astra zeneca and the united nations kovacs program countries regulator also 'd approved the use of the pfizer beyond tech vaccine despite talks with the us giant still being in progress meanwhile the argentine health minister criticised pfizer's approach to the negotiations. they asked us for a law giving them immunity and the congress gave them that law but then faces negotiators not the local ones but those in the us started asking for more conditions they want to sponsor a new law they want to the president to sign the contract instead of me the conditions started getting somewhat unacceptable government argentina is the king there this is going to be perhaps the most efficient way to bring an effect of back

to its citizens so looks like they're essentially. betting on or putting their money on on the russian backs and the fact that fires are had those kinds of conditions and that the government of argentina was not pleased with those conditions i think there's going to be a lot of that kind of thing i think that there is going to be an awful lot of questions about liability and about potential long term side effects and long term african city of the vaccines i would sounds to me why aren't you know didn't like the deal that pfizer was giving them and was was looking elsewhere and i think that's why they turned toward the russian dax in. it was christmas day just around the corner lock downs and tough restrictions are set to take the sparkle it seems out of this year's celebrations shoppers around europe have been rushing to make last minute christmas but says despite the curve the district is in place in many cities for example in milan streets were packed with people they

formed queues outside shops that could soon be closed in all londoners of the shelves of supermarkets after the announcement of tougher coronavirus measures where some of the u.k. capital's residents about the situation. is just right before you there's nothing in the shelves. it's hard to even buy a turkey now. is just back to square one people are panicking now everything is empty i can see it now up to me but they told me it's misstatements by it's probably responsible by get everyone selfish event of the day in the way it's going to panic in thing. i need this i need that especially running up to christmas kind of understand it is a bit selfish the muse me no way and buying more turf at tolo the roles. i was in the 2nd world war i mean we used newspapers to walk by a ball to. tell it takes a closer look at how the pandemic may affect this year's celebrations. ho ho i

know i'm not really in the mood the tree might be up the carols might be playing but covert is hanging over us quite literally in a spanish town which not only is called our karunya but which also took a questionable creative decision when it came to its christmas lights. there's no denying it is the grinch but whether we let it steal christmas might depend on us take germany the country of christmas markets the the dancing lights the smell of malt wind the crunch of toffee apples a new look down might have seen some markets will come but no fear even in a pandemic there's a chance a christmas cheer. if

however you've been on your best behavior all year and anticipation of reward from santa claus himself i've got great news just lower your expectations it's not so much slays snow and elves at the north pole it's move associate distance seen in seattle you've got to take what you can get these days. classic santa is trying to squeeze into the strangest of places even in a snow globe those santa reminds us that christmas is the season of giving and while this year has left many out of pocket that hasn't stopped them from spreading the love in any way they can get them i decided to stop what i was working on to start building something to thank these angels it's a tribute to the city of pregame will and to the people that do need their time and

volunteer. for free without the main job on a ml's or hey of course many will be just as cozy together at home having a mellow evening but if you do get carried away swept up in the spirit of the holiday a simple purchase will remind you of the rules. the idea rose to create awareness so that people wear masks because the remora more infections and people have made the conscious decision not to put on a mouse can putting their hope in faith people put on your masks and every time you leave your house and see the baby jesus remember that you have to wear your face mask on things and finally the one thing you wished would disappear into the black hole of 2020 but decided to stick around like the grinch cues cues to dash home before travel bans queues to buy goodies and queues to deliver them in short queues. you.

know it's not the christmas that we wanted but it's the christmas that we got so how we make the most of it hoping that next year it's less bubbles and more bulls and less mosque mandate and more merriment mistletoe and mince pies. been given that he quits this israel's ruling coalition collapses after the break with the wild baby's political luck might finally be running out.

join me every 1st week on the alex salmond shill and i'll be speaking to guest of the world of politics or business i'm sure i'll see you there.

in britain reports of the murders that health care admin stuff received coronavirus jobs before those on the front line despite the u.k. having one of the worst coded death rates among hospital workers the chair of the british medical association said that those at highest risk must be given priority . partridge reports. on december the 2nd the u.k. hit the headlines after becoming the 1st nation in the world to approve the fires of biotech coronavirus back scene the u.k. medical associations are now worried about the vaccines pecking order after reports that n.h.s. office workers have been offered the job before frontline staff without a universal policy to vaccinate from flying patients facing staff as a priority and no review of current p.p. guidance we could be facing avoidable stuff sickness and absence over that all

right a difficult winter months a poll by the u.k.'s doctors' association of a 1000 frontline staff claims 70 percent of them have no idea when the get the vaccine the survey includes local doctors emergency specialists and those giving the injections this should be equally of excess. as far as extradition is concerned in health care facilities to the stop an equal access to recognition it's increasing their mental stress a poke at work was urgently needed to make sure that they could directors and people who need it 1st get it pushed since the start of the pandemic hundreds of n.h.s. and social care workers have died after contracting covert 19 front line workers were initially due to be vaccinated in the 1st roll out of n.h.s. jobs but a government rethink means hospitals are prioritizing care home staff be elderly and h.s. staff vaccination other than to prevent vaccine waste which will hopefully be able

to accelerate early in the new year as more vaccine becomes available in the u.k. more than half of england's 135 n.h.s. trusts us still waiting to receive deliveries of the job 3 weeks after it was approved. for the health care workers should be given according to a plan so that the police who are more wonderful get it forced and if that they're difficult to do because i know most places. is. in most primary care coolies there is just us been done already all we need to do is to have a unified primary a 2nd would be careless talk oakley toward it at increased risk while some politicians are also joining medics in calling for the government to put frontline workers 1st in practice as well as policy any n.h.s. staff likely to come into contact with a covert positive patient should be prioritized for the vaccine whether they are clinical staff or not primary care stuff absolutely can and should be vaccinated

according to risk assessment the government promises more vaccines will arrive in january but with cases at record numbers a new variant of the virus circulating in the n.h.s. ensuring staff shortages the government is facing yet more pressure to ensure its key health workers and most vulnerable people are protected in a season when the health service has always come under the most strain kate partridge r.t. london. a key ally of binyamin netanyahu has quit the cabinet and vowed to join the opposition accusing the israeli prime minister of corruption comes as the ruling coalition for a long tuesday sending the country to the polls for a 4th time in less than 2 years and he's really trying to take a look at wind of you know his luck might finally be running out. did you know that the man devastated the most by donald trump missing out on a 2nd term as someone who lives thousands of kilometers away from u.s.

borders he's long been in charge of a different government and no his name is not glad i'm or his name is bin human and i'm not saying that because i work for a russian t.v. station to stay cool look at all the political gifts that these re the leader has trump and his administration to thank for. what a glorious. my vision presents a win win opportunity for both sides

a realistic 2 state solution that resolves the risks palestinian statehood to israel's security. iraq. is distracting and it's. giving sleep you just kind of make this deal maybe sleep easier. good. riddance freund soon as we're in the white house. but with trump on his way out netanyahu is going to have to find other ways to get a political boost and right now he really needs one of course of trump's middle east peace deals still proves a winner these really pm might get mad. it's to weather the storm but here is what israel's streets now regularly look like.

her. the protesters biggest problem with benjamin netanyahu is his alleged corruption crimes he denies any wrongdoing he's calling the trials politically motivated but the opposition got a new weapon this year cold it or rather the nation's fury at the way into the always been dealing with maybe failing to deal with the pandemic the perception is one of mismanaged log downs with businesses and the unemployed left in the lurch and corruption has so many people involved 3 when they just start on a blank slate i need a constitution we need to limit the terms of the prime minister to 2 terms the us

we need to stop the corruption here in israel and open it and you know when it's done you know mainly but on the government and or did he spend it doesn't want any mall. corrupted in the walking for one person trying to escape from his day trial demonstrations pick the pace of the spring when it's and ya'll managed to cling on to power as prime minister but only thanks to a kolisch in between his likud party and benny gantz as blue and white alliance the election rivals try to get along to get the country through the pandemic but now the cole as soon as fall apart and israel goes back to the polls in march it will be the country's 4th knesset elections in under 2 years and election is not the right thing for the country but it's much better than a paralyzed government and having politics dictate the management of one of the

most severe health and economic crises wherever no. that's and you know like the rest of us will no doubt be glad to be done with 2020 but come early next year could well be looking back now at the years when mr here comes your golden hearts president was still in the white house. the statue of confederate general robert e. lee has been removed from the u.s. capitol building it was a long running campaign against symbols associated with slavery is now being moved to the state of virginia which is the legal owner of the sculpture. for ed generally was a prominent figure in the coalition of southern states during the civil war and also a slave owner he's become a hate figure for anti racism campaign is but is still seen by many in the u.s. south as a hero because of his military cheviots and bravery if they can spot will be taken

by statue of black civil rights activist barbara johns democrat house speaker nancy pelosi has welcomed the move you are symbols of america's slave owning past there's been removed in recent months the movement snowballed after the death of george floyd in minneapolis of may i was joining an altercation with police it spread to several other countries with activists there destroying or removing monuments associated with historical racism .

attempts to still flaring after the summer of statue toppling to get some perspective from both sides we spoke with conservative commentator christopher harris and historian gerald hall. even today there are more symbols of statues honoring races and play voters then and races and the slate applicants this is outrageous badges in berlin there were still statutes honoring herman gerbils or at all 'd hitler for example the i would be considered outrageous it may be true that you cannot undo the past but certainly you can honor the best up the past and you can remove the worst of it i think that's what this statue of property levy it's removal it's all about it's trying to say that slavery was wrong that slavery never should have taken place and certainly no statue honoring a slave holder never should have been erected in this country i believe that the

statues that were put up were celebrated democrats subgrade in the confederacy so i think it's just odd that democrats are the ones who put them up and they don't want the rest of the world to know that they're the ones who put them up they don't want to risk the world to know that the confederacy was pretty much all democrats but now they want to celebrate and they want to be they want to get the credit for taking them down as if now they're such great fighters against racism and slavery when they're the ones who put them up there removing the statues so they can remove their own when the. dear own just horribly history. to click some of the global news festival thousands of drivers remain stuck on motorways in the area parks in southern england france has reopened its border with the u.k. one is the need to test negative for trying to virus in order to leave the country the boat was close to 48 hours because of a new strain of covert found impotent. house where at least 21 people have been

injured 9 critically after an explosion in central baltimore yesterday the incident happened on the 16th floor of the baltimore gas and electric building efficient calls from 1009. $101.00 you'll event in thailand where elephants bring children christmas gifts go to typical tourist this year the children were given face mask as part of a coronavirus safety trife that comes after the country's worst outbreak was confirmed at the weekend at the scene fleet center near bangkok. coverage rather today do join me for the top stories in 30 minutes.

shit. welcome to our christmas special edition of the alex savage show today we interview everyone from the president of the united states to the judges of stickley come down say thanks to the impressionist magic of louis macleod and kate robbins we will talk to everyone you ever wanted to see a list sure and quite a few of the people you haven't wanted to see yes we call in to the white house to see the last trump idol. and a loser. and we also look at in brussels well england waves a less informed farewell to europe well as are all of war going back on. how it works but 1st your messages on last week sure in europe featuring

a dream of cut it i guess we'll m.p. and might this member of the this assembly we're proud lots of messages in about an auld lang saying to europe but 1st we want to say a huge congratulations to a friend of the still talia jonathan who last week reasonable $5000.00 pounds for the charity buses for homeless plus delivered $100.00 christmas tags to homeless people on london streets buses for homeless joints many charities like shelter in crisis doing their utmost to ensure some festive cheer to the most vulnerable in our society well done talia well 1st we hear from women finland and he says great sure breaks it will really help scottish independence the sooner the better dog gillis says i'm still chuckling at how did we know is trending stay safe or think dawdle for failing to something that wasn't in the show but something else controversial it was tweeting another day that says doesn't really break going to benefit the u.k.

time will tell but how many years to wait for the valuation the benefit for the britons evidence on your says i agree we should be able to trade freely with each other perhaps the e.u. can relax the laws it's about coming and going with each other john hughes says race to the bottom there go all the standards especially workers' rights and modeling to melville says we thought they'd be agreed what they are and know only huddling about the place there is no such place as europe dawdle clues says it makes the case for scottish independence so obvious of price to curry and allison really for psychosis scotland's already independent we're just waiting on the paperwork. and they were delighted to be joined by a listener kloden robbins also known as president and the 1st lady milady a welcome to the show thanks for having a great job great job you looking beautiful tazz you're a 10 alex you're attached to a lot of.