i. thank you for. destroying that's right. you can finally strike. christmas gift. thing it's a lose lose situation. merry christmas. cases and surges people are placed under strict measures during the 1st. survey things just some good things a u.s. senator claims the government wasted $54000000000.00 worth of taxpayers' money.

thanks for joining us this is. over the last the u.k. finally reached a landmark trade deal just days before the new year deadline the chief briggs it negotiated described the u.k. . pm boris johnson was characteristically upbeat. this is i believe a good deal for the whole of europe and for us for our friends and partners as well yes but getting your dollar to play the reason the winner and bracks it's a lose lose situation to separate special in the world as it is today the key england united kingdom has chosen to be solitary rather than stand together. while boris johnson's christmas wish may have come true it's been overshadowed by a tough year of close borders and economic woes saskia tella picks up the story it

was almost as if he wanted to become a me we have so much to look forward to in 2020 it's hard to pin down which one of 2020 stretches he meant the end as brett said negotiations food shortages coronavirus close borders economic collapse felt like you know sending your. fans in your presence who home grinch who stole christmas. yet i feel like christmas has been bought and you think you might be like remember this the prime minister has. been so was about a man who wanted to be remembered as the one who got brecht's it done 4 years of preparation for a course he believed in thompson was set up for trial he even promised back in january that it was up and ready all but done we had ended a debate has run for 3 and a half years some would say 47 years i would even mention the name of the can

probably see. except to say that it begins with billions receding the past behind us well be rose from the past and a haunted porus for 11 months that's how long it took to negotiate a deal a deal that has followed praxiteles claims could be resolved over a cup of tea 11 months the brink of no deal a nation of disappointed impatient angry people but boris still gave himself a pat on the back we've taken back control of our laws and our destiny we've taken back control of every jot and tittle of regulation in a way that is complete and unfettered who's going to tell him then that this celebration might be a party for one it sounds like the british team have dropped the ball before the line no wonder they want a christmas eve announcement to hide the fisheries sell out today amidst all the debate and details of the trade deal one fundamental truth remains that at

a time of global insecurity we're no longer part of one of history's greatest and most noble project bringing nations together to build peace out of the ruins of war . this is a disastrous bragg's it outcome for scottish farmer it's and like all other aspects of bragg's it for students cortlandt against our will it wasn't just brussels that proved to be bogus on doing fresh from a caribbean holiday and still on a post-election high in the new year boris johnson didn't seem too concerned about a never heard of before virus his message was clear don't exaggerate when barry is a going up. and when there is a risk that new diseases such as corona virus will trigger a panic while it was a pretty quick descent from fun to this.

but it's hard not to panic when the person who's supposed to be meeting you flip flops and utahns his way through a crisis to the point his own ministers don't know the rules can make it absolutely clear. distinction. let me let i will absolutely get back to christmas won't be council actually christmas is off schools are reopening actually no they're not we're lifting the knocked out actually stay at home little wonder then that confusion on exhaust peroration grew because speakers you know it's like things are very very quick and we don't get that much information about what's going on and then suddenly build a new school down we don't know what to do so nobody can use in this cheating on you cannot who's devoted 48 hours like so confusing i don't even remember my

parents live. there we've been here so i am allowed to go to do but i don't know if i'm really about to be going through. q 4 to q 2 was it a case of bad timing for bojo was 2020 the year you just couldn't shine no matter what or was it the man himself who failed to need it one thing's for sure for boris johnson it's been not a hell of a year but rather a year from how scottish 1st minister nicholas to britain to last more than it's gain from briggs it now scotland has to decide on its future is quote an independent nation is what scots and other brits think of the deal. fatigue because it's been going on so long it's happening over the balls rolling i think we should just finish it i think it beats a few of these because over the past couple weeks it's been just so much hype and misinformation and media i hate breaks and i think it's completely retrograde step

i think that the feeling of being part of a multinational international. i word looking community i think has been thompson fantastic i didn't support bret so i didn't pull the brakes a i have really guides to not be part of you know petty boy it does make me nervous to think how am i going to get to visit the european cities and you know friends i have to live in spain and in france and other parts of europe it would have been a disaster if there had been no deal so very peaceful but there is a to this is i suppose some people a big christmas present it's just i think if i was really seated in this year the idea of a devious a good one. but i think the idea that it has to go through 49 different parliaments in europe is a bit crazy i think it's really we've finally got one of these years but it sort of begs the question as to whether this arrangement is going to be better than the regime that you have to come before we left the european union. let's look at how

you can e.u. will cooperate from january 1st don't tar if some nature does because no limits on trading the checks a been agreed to while the u.k.'s pulled out of the long running erasmus student exchange scheme between universities politicians returned to westminster to vote on the deal on december 30th we are 6 but what the agreement means for the u.k.'s future. deal has been reached it will leave many disappointed the pro e.u. people are disappointed or leaving a troll people like me that fall for bricks that are disappointed at the concessions and compromises that have been made but you've got to hand it to a boris johnson's this and he would never get this done this and he could never get an election never mind when one without workable majority is said he would never get a deal this is he didn't even want a deal but he's proved all of these critics doubters wrong even if.

your us made up and saltz as markers of the euro goes it is truly the capitalist interest in the european union but at the end of the day it is that in which direction this union goce they did not want this record to go as smoothly they try all stops to do it to make it bloody elite unit united kingdom and they want to destroy the u.k. economy just to set an example or so that other nations do not accept the terrible arrangement that is the european union today but they have not succeeded because the economic interests within europe the german car believes for example they have a strong interest and maintain this trade relationship with you not keep notes. the u.k. may have dealt with this present crisis but stumbled upon deming to handle the sharp increase in tavi cases just before the holidays leaving the country in limbo will take further look at that later this hour.

for that though germany remains one of the country's worst affected by the pandemic of the state of sacks and he's registered a disproportionately high share of germany's deaths because of the virus with come a tour in the region struggling with a backlog on video i'd say roughly filmed the situation.

for many people around the world christmas 2020 very different tough rather than festive time holiday spent in isolation far from family and friends the head of the world health organization released a special video message thanking people for their efforts and sacrifice. 2020 droste one and a pandemic of historic proportions is preventing many of us from celebrating in the ways we would like hundreds of millions of people are today making great heart wrenching sacrifices by staying apart to stay safe across europe christmas celebrations have been axed with markets and shops closed because of new restrictions on correspondent peter oliver looks at the situation in germany. across europe christmas festivities are subdued this year because of the coronavirus pandemic here and this gentleman marked it's usually the scene over one of the german capitals most bustling busy christmas markets not this year though

like carnival in the spring time the markets of being counseled there being a loosening of covert restrictions to allow people to gather with loved ones over christmas itself friedrich merits the man who will be gunning for chancellor angela merkel's job next year wasn't happy with covert restrictions having an impact on a family christmas personally i would see it's none of the government's business how i celebrate christmas with my family he's not alone germany has seen at times launched demonstrations against covert 1000 restrictions. while christmas is very different this year new year's may be totally on

recognizable in germany being mocked without its traditional buying or. green policy politicians of launched a campaign against fireworks this year while thousands upon thousands usually throw in the approach to the brandenburg gate for the annual new year's eve bash this year 'd that is a victim of corona of the policy will be held with elder revel as shown on television there will be no giant posses a family reunions otherwise we could be threatened by another wave of infection in february there will be no party in berlin at the brandenburg gate either it will disappoint sold to be sure to virgin sea and medical so. this is going to be a long nose lamenting the lack of fireworks of the new year's eve we evaluate only how many people come to us or brought to the rescue center during the night how old they are and why they need to be treated it clearly shows the dangers of fireworks

it's a festive period with a difference but at least italian prime minister just epic commentary has some reassurances for people concerned about one particular elderly man traveling at christmas father christmas assured me he's already got an international travel certificate so he can travel everywhere and distribute gifts to all the world's children. quite the relief i'm sure you'll agree peter all of a r.t. early. juggling machines for lizards soft drink bottles for covert testing just some of the things the u.s. government splashed out more than $50000000000.00 on and they featured in a report on how taxpayers' money was allegedly wasted on his demeter power takes a closer look. 2020 has been a year to forget for many reasons but it's that time of year so let's reflect imagine you just blown $54000000000.00 it is more important than ever for congress

to find its fiscal backbone our debts puts at risk the long term solvency of major programs such as social security and why to pay for test use for covert tests that turn out to be soda bottles to see if hot tubbing a few times a week eases stress yeah those don't seem like good investments but u.s. senator rand paul has published a whole list of all the things you can blow your hard earned money on and what washington apparently did spend it on like $1500000.00 to give a couple of reptiles some cardio researches spent a 1000000 and a half taxpayer dollars to get 6 lizards walk them on a treadmill what taking x. rays with 3 d. imaging technology and then figure out how that joints moved sure it's fascinating stuff maybe for some but come on $1500000.00 place your bets on how much it costs to spray drunk rats with bobcat during just

a tidy sum of $4500000.00 in all seriousness here's exactly what the researchers did in layman's terms they spent 5 weeks giving rats intermittent access to alcohol to get them hooked then they put the rats in a cage and literally sprayed them with both cat urine and predators odor to simulate trauma then they tested where the males and females responded differently why that's probably something you're wondering right now the answer research into p.t.s.d. and alcoholism among war veterans of barely someone has concluded that surviving a gruesome war is comparable to being sprayed with europe so we've gone from paying people to sit in hot serves trying to get adults to watch less t.v. and eat bugs all of this money wasted and. none of that was initially washington's this is $54000000000.00 of taxpayer money but look on the bright side at least we can sleep well now we know that a cold bottle is not a good substitute for

a test tube. the way that the united states government has managed its finances throughout this entire thing is absolutely overall completely abysmal it's been nothing short of criminal what the united states government has done throughout this entire pandemic there were a few ok things but overall the bad outweighed the good by a whole lot and it's really made the united states government out for exactly what it is which it is a corporate coup no one ever asked the question how are you going to pay for it when it comes to giving money to the pentagon or giving money to weapons contractors or given money to the oil and gas industry no $1.00 ever asked how you're going to pay for it but they ask how are you going to pay for it when it comes to giving direct relief to people then all the sudden they're worried about their pocketbook and staying with us more news after the break.

so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have it's crazy. let it be

an arms race. spearing dramatic development the only really i'm going to resist i don't see how that strategy will be successful very critical time to sit down and talk. to kingdoms recorded a 2nd highest daily number of covert infections that comes as part of the u.k. are expected to be placed on to the street to slow down measures later in the month when 600000 people recorded to have the virus in the week starting december 12th that's around one in 85 people in england some estimates suggest things that almost half new infections are from the new more very low and strength london is the highest number of people testing positive for covert 19. stricter measures as the virus prompted a desperate rush to flee the camp at all before the holidays you look down

restrictions prevent households mixing indoors and all nonessential shops will be closed but the shelves secretary defended the lockdown saying it's necessary to curb the spread of the new coronavirus variant the opposition says responsibility for the spread lies squarely on the government's doorstep. while these restrictions are now necessary they would not inevitable the return of this virus and the return of prescriptions but not an act of god or they're a failure of government. the british people have done everything asked of them. but approach the government has not. the senior clinical lecturer at exeter medical school says this new surgeon cases could have been avoided with stricter measures we have been very slow and larks and not enforcing a public health measure with strictness unfortunately we have failed in controlling

it because we never enforced it as strictly as we should have our hospital admissions are almost at the peak meaning hospitals are also getting full and more worryingly in the more sensitive age group meaning the alder age group our case numbers are also up and it is the older people who get severe disease and may die from this infection the narrative is we have a new age of the sars could we do virus it may be more infectious however it may and it is a big capital letters many that it may be more infectious. to something that many travelers will be concerned with right now passports singapore airlines announced that it will be the 1st major airline to introduce the measure of digital verification of passengers who've been vaccinated. singapore airlines has started trials on a new digital health verification process this will offer customers the ability to

securely store and present information related to covert 19 tests as well as their vaccination status in the future in order to booking travel a special form needs to be filled in the details coronavirus test results inform whether you've taken a job or not is mandatory it effectively means health data is stored for each passenger and it's got some doubting whether they would travel with the airline again and privacy is the key concern for the panel of guests we discussed this issue with earlier. or 19 has created of a kind of a new normal what we talk about and up technologies will try to come to rescue for the future you know for different purposes and in this particular case to try to see if there can be an ease of travelling and when there is a date of it sort of morphed from your own personal don't mean to any 3rd party there are 2 possibilities one that it is used for its own purpose but also there is

always a possibility that it is called to be shared or it could be daughter days and our privacy issues so this level stakeholders need to ensure that the deed to our safety indeed our privacy is maintained and it is only used for that particular definite purpose and not for anything is idea is to ease the travel for the people that the v.c.r. and the block. are not. for the passenger purse to go on to travel freely in the in their company. this is of course but your lation of our private to. follow through them if you like that. it could create the kind of crises or for the people traveling or go to war there is

a kind of kindness. we should. reopen the trouble. but in fact we have to think about it from the legal rights of the people to impose very. quick look at christmas celebrations in various parts of the world in france the not choir performed a christmas eve concert is the 1st event of its kind since the cathedral was ravaged. by blaise last year hard hats and overalls replaced traditional gowns this reconstruction of the buildings than the way. london strict lockdown was eased for a couple of minutes on thursday night to allow people to sing christmas carols in the street a socially distanced approach to the festivities was still maintained. in germany

a local priest organized a drive in christmas mass in the car park of a home store as traditional church services were suspended across the country to slow the spread of the virus. 2020 so a gender identity generated huge wave of discussion from liberation to celebration and confusion to looks at how the year is left more than a few people in a personal pronoun predicament i don't this is. the culture wars to get really. paid canteen there won't care. for their base. yeah i didn't know what base man either just dismissed the work arrows as a whiny tweet is reveling in victimization no they're here to save people from things that they didn't even know they needed saving from like words gender who or

the fact whether you're own or you are a massive racist right yet all the based look just all right trump apologists looking for a fight no these are brave souls trying to express opinions that 5 years ago you and rand would have. been t. but now could get hot and you lived was canceled. so let's delve in and see who was on the front line of the culture wars in 2020 this is like being in jail the battle of the sexes is no longer binary and no one represents the crazy state of affairs better than the j.k. rowling nor is it weird that the inflicted harry potter on the wall is now little

if by suggesting that they're all women on their own then. get out and yes that was cool to be counselled to saying that there is such a thing as. the trans rights people when not. well the ballin film festival was in no mood to be rolling and so it just dumped its gendered awards for best actor or and best actor a dozen not just mean less prizes for everyone why not bring in more prizes for more gender is a man like $32.00 of them the national charge of iceland went another way and depicted jesus with boobs on a dress to quote reflect society as it is today by which i assume they mean confusing. tripling down all the confusion with. the current director of the

matrix series. she said that the matrix trilogy wasn't about looting karate different colored pills being plugged into play station you know apparently the whole thing was an allegory for the struggles of the transgender community i'm going to i don't. you know that was the original intention in the world wasn't quite ready for part of the corporate world. and on a serious note i would just like to take this opportunity to congratulate the actor elliot a. you know as i learned a great overcoming our. good luck. and that is rather today don't go forget though to check out plenty more stories we have covered for you on the website because auntie dot com.

seems wrong why don't we all just don't all. get to shape our. outlook. and engage with equals betrayal. when so many find themselves worlds apart we choose to look for common ground. well the children no one nuff said no not. ugly little closure of the new no. more surreal to look they should know per. unit 731 was a unique organization in the history of the world what they were trying to do was to simply do nothing short and build the most powerful and most deadly

biological weapons program that the world had ever known. the real own you know to crush it where they said israel should go. ahead to they're not. going to suddenly look at the russia of putting. on more modern. you know modern others and you know from all more not up on their own i've got almost you know. i'm going to no no i think up the number for kind of wish to know about joy when you know you did rim. guzzle more or less than one. of them on all the belkin you callus that it's quite possible to go up but it's really a want that on this.