crackdown on independent media. and headlines this 8th of march profiting from the pandemic 2 senior german employees are quitting in a major scandal for allegedly earning hundreds of thousands of euros facemask fields. and elsewhere claims of financial mismanagement during the pandemic by the u.k. government which is spending millions of pounds on a brand new media briefing room well from my health workers get just a one percent pay rise. plus a president biden has long awaited coded relief bill passes the senate people may end up getting even less than under donald trump.

good morning to russia this is out international live with me kevin owen from a world news h.q. thanks for checking in to take you through the monday morning headlines and some more detail than started with this 1st a lawmaker it's germany's ruling party stepping down over real revelations that his company owned a quarter of a 1000000 euro for brokering a facemask deal and on top of that another senior m.p. is being investigated for allegedly profiting from an even bigger contract to provide protective equipment in the pandemic peter all of our europe correspondent reports. make no bones about it this is a big scandal here in germany pandemic profiteering isn't a look any party wants to be tarnished with in this is part of the ruling coalition here including angela merkel's christian democratic union party the representative of that party nicolas lobel has said he's going to step down at the next election

this is after his company allegedly made around a quarter of a 1000000 euro from being the middleman in deals when it came to pee pee and masks during this pandemic that may not be good enough for some some of said he needs to go right now and not wait until the election in the autumn however he said he is sorry for what he's done so far but he isn't the only one that's been involved in this scandal we've also heard that. from the very insistent party the c s u is facing a corruption probe after he's understood to have taken away a 6 figure sum for being the middle man again in deals involving masks he's already said he's not going to run in september he has stood down from his position as the deputy leader of the union parliamentary group but he's denied any wrongdoing what they say is prompted is well senior figures including members of angela merkel's

cabinet coming out and saying there's no way this can be tolerated in condemning those 2 politicians to collect a commission that is to win to earn money through mediation in emergency situations is not possible that destroys trust in our democracy those who fill their own pockets with essential goods such as masks do not represent the people but the lowest interests it's understandable why the center right block is circling the wagons there's obviously a bundestag election coming up in september but before that just next sunday there's 2. regional elections as well and they want the candidates involved not to be as distant from this particular scandal as possible there's also a want to know more fuel to a fire a frustration that is seen people demonstrate against the way the government has handled the pandemic here in germany it's not just a german issue we've also seen those protests taking place across europe.

to. a level of hope it will surely only be added to when it starts coming out that m.p.'s that politicians were enriching themselves personally during this pandemic journalists nor for thomas fassbender told us public fear of the issues going to damage the ruling party. i think that definitely the christian democrats as a party at the forthcoming for coming elections will take a hit there's 'd no question there is anger about this the interesting thing here is that mr little bit just last year was the subject of the completely unrelated

corruption of misbehavior commercial misbehavior case within his own party that man has been known for a sort of potentially shady behavior is there where allegations and nevertheless the party sort of shut their eyes and that is of course 'd the dangerous thing it's not just a matter of the law as such of the letter of the law but also. 'd about the way it is apply. downing street being criticized for spending millions of pounds on a white house style media briefing room coming as the country's former standards are called prime minister boris johnson's alleged use of charity for a 6 figure renovation of his official property in abuse of his position and some appointed to of course all that's happening in stark contrast to the may get a pay rise being offered a health workers on the front line of the coven fight now millions spent on a media briefing room 3 and a half pounds a week for nurses make no mistake this is

a political choice by the tories it sums up boris johnson's warped priorities that he can find millions for vanity projects while picking the pockets of n.h.s. staff our n.h.s. heroes deserve a fair pay rise after all they have done for us the conservatives are wasting $2600000.00 pounds on a vanity media center for boris johnson while denying n.h.s. workers a fair pay rise the conservatives priorities are not the british people's priorities . the u.k. government insists difficult economic circumstances mean it can only afford a one percent pay hike for n.h.s. staff but with inflation predicted to reach $1.00 and a half percent this year that would likely result in a real term pay cut nurses union says they deserve more and they're preparing for strikes over it political commentator anthony webber told us the government's priorities are all wrong but the media companies don't actually need these. facilities one those are sure to do

a fine or our will is a shortage of finance money should go in the sewer. you know more sensible directions logical direct she was like are giving a new start but it does. rather a pool message that the government's proposed to spend money on promoting it certainly not prepared to spend money on people who have been looking after people who are paid in hospital and so on people like the n.h.s. star even nurses and so on the government's also extended it to september now so called furlough scheme to make 80 percent of people's wages for hours they count work in the pandemic it predicts the cash injection will get the economy back on track but in the latest episode of art he's going underground without shinar tansey pretty konami historian robert skidelsky questions those numbers. they think

there's a lot of pent up demand that there are a lot of savings that people haven't been able to spend and that as the shops and entertainment places reopened people will flock to these places with their extra spending power and that'll make the whole thing revived but if you look at it realistically i'm very skeptical about this because national income has fall it's fallen by 10 percent cent in 2020 that means savings of all there as you know some people will have extra savings but what about all those whose incomes have fall they're not going to have extra spending power we're talking about people who are being made unemployed because small businesses are closing going bankrupt and or cutting down on their staff and rather than keeping that population

on 1st. then i would try and provide work for them and especially young people. in other news here in italy central region of land c.-o. wants to manufacture the russian sputnik vivax he now is asked the government are considering proposal let's say also plans to purchase a 1000000 doses of the job the country's health minister says he fully supports russia shot in my opinion if the vaccine works in the safe i do not recant about the nationality of the scientists who developed it therefore i am open to sputnik v. as well as to other vaccines should the european medicines agency in the italian medicines agency give their approval we are ready to cooperate with russia even very soon sputnik raise already been approved in 2 e.u. countries hungary and slovakia it comes as the blocks criticize for the slow pace of coronavirus not elation in other member states their health chief of italy's central region telling us about the approval process for sputnik the.

it's necessary to produce vaccines in house in order to be self-reliant and avoid the problems we've recently faced including the difficulties with job supplies and on time deliveries autonomy will benefit everyone in this case we've always treated the sputnik vaccine with great respect paying particular attention to the scientific evidence behind it therefore we had no reservations about it after we saw the in that explanations of its validity in the medical journal the lancet and by the last there are a small and certainly national institute for infectious diseases in row we've always said that the efficacy and safety of vaccines are the main thing whereas their origin doesn't matter to us. unfortunately we can't say decisions absolutely independently and always have to wait for the approval by regulators will so hope for a fast track process so that it doesn't get bogged down in excessive red tape

because we're in emergency and in great need of doses in italy we don't expect to see any disputes around the sputnik vaccine because we believe it will contribute to the common good and protect the health of our citizens. joe biden's covert relief bill finally passed the senate after a moment vote on last minute negotiations 1 point one trillion dollars of aid may seem like a lot but it sounds good tale reports next people may end up getting even less than under donald trump. ungar in america especially for children has soared to historic levels unexpected medical bills have created a serb just families desperate for in america the richest country in all the world we have incredible hunger what how is this possible as the u.s. continues its brutal battle with one invisible enemy an old one has of ram just poverty but for those one in 10 americans who lost that job and same never

recovered all those 3 in 10 low income families who worry while the next meal is coming from good news joe biden promised you a helping hand no one should work 40 hours a week to live in poverty and it wasn't just higher wages no biden was also going to rip open the government's wallet and hand out those support checks the american rescue plan is going to keep the commitment of $2000.60 already gone out $1400.00 checks to people who need it. this is money directly in people's pockets and with control of the house of representatives the senate and the white house the only trinity nothing could stop the democrats puffing that kind of bill no out of touch little greeting republicans not even trump no it was a done deal right but we obviously are now alternately sending.

money to less people in the trump administration this is not the promise that we need. conservative democrats have fought so the biden admin sense fewer and less generous relief checks than the trump admin did so not a done deal biden promised one thing with his $1.00 trillion dollars aid package the house and took a stab at it and the senate's now taken a not the stab at it in its wounded form almost $12000000.00 few adults will get the relief biden pledged unemployment benefits are finishing a month earlier than planned and as for raising minimum wage to $15.00 while cut to see have some democrat senators who vetoed it that won't be happening and if you're wondering what an elected official last thing in the face of the people face of looks like wow hey you go. the cinema cinema. you know i'm sure though it's a big thumbs up from have

a 174000 dollar annual salary but if you thought biden himself his brain child this bill was as devastated by all this well think again he is comfortable with where the negotiations stand he is controversial and knows there will be tweaks at the margin so if these tweaks mean that american struggling to stay afloat amid the biggest recession in the u.s. in decades on getting the money who it is what national democrats particularly nancy pelosi and chuck schumer have chosen to do is crammed through a 1.9 trillion package that includes things like funding on the national endowment for the arts and national endowment of humanities and the subway in silicon valley to help nancy pelosi constituents and while the washington elite did eventually realize that splashing $100000000.00 on a subway in the richest town in america wouldn't fit well with those people

standing in line to food banks when will it realize that it works for we the people and not me myself and i. mainstream media were delighted with the bill with the washington post initially branding it a defining move by biden but then it was forced to changes headline are from online but. shall waste money on americans could washington post exaggerate by density humans in the market desk way probably not shameful who make a train with a chunk of the still doesn't come home my friend soak up all of the money showers my fellow poor's the amounts are being paid are just a drop in the in the bucket the payments are proof that their faith and the bite administration is well founded and the reality is of course that much more of their covert relief bill is going to other causes another interest groups in the us you know we have a constitution and the government has grown by leaps and bounds beyond what the

original intentions were at this point the number in the duties of the american federal government have. the number of tourists arguments over laughable you know the last coded stimulus package had billions and billions being sent to foreign countries this one has everything from money for amtrak which is a perennial loser of money. 3000000000 in aid to aircraft manufacturers almost 300000000 for the national government for the arts and all while people are suffering and i would add while there are clear signs that the global appetite for u.s. treasuries which is u.s. debt seems to be waning this is a heck of a time to be incurring a lot more debt. this is out internationally heading into a quick break but i hope you stick around because after that among the stories we're covering is brazil reports of the stabbing new code red coats president poll so narrow that telling the country to stop whining about the disease you think about that we've got more of what's going on there when we by.

the world is driven by shaped by thinker senators. thinks. we dare to ask. someone else seemed wrong why don't we all just don't call. me. yet to stamp out just being active. and engaged with equals betrayal.

when so many find themselves worlds apart we choose to look for common ground. again present both scenarios called on people stop whining about brazil's covert catastrophe despite the country registering its highest daily cova death right last week it has the 2nd highest death toll in the world with more than 260000 victims should i do for this quarter do you mean enough with the pretentiousness enough with the whining how long are people going to carry on crying for if we have to confront the problems obviously we need to respect the elderly those with conditions but where is brazil heading to if we live in fear. meantime health

authorities say just over 7000000 have so far received at least one vaccine dose the brazilian hospitals are struggling to find room for the sick and the health systems are overloading this is sad to see a container placed outside a clinic in the north of the country to hold victims of the disease residents giving their reaction to seeing that. but i think people are panicking and this container shouldn't be out in the open this doesn't help. that it has a huge impact i think it makes you more careful and more inclined to protect yourself it's only when you actually see it that it has any impact when you realise that our people in their lost loved ones where all to blame the people but also the government because they should set the example. the editor of one brazilian news site telling us the president must take the blame for the worsening situation. i think it well it got distracted both all the time trying to

prove to brazilian book relations that he has this situation under control over the situation is completely out of control i don't feel that brazil is going to have that the situation before may or june because we have a very. do lay of. the nation we don't have any more. to protect people. to stay at home 'd i think the next 30. days i going to be even wars the situation we levy through the at this moment. desperation and anger in lebanon as the country's economic downturn pushes more people to the brink last week the lebanese currency hit a new low fueling nationwide protests reporting from the capital of

a local journalist linda to me. and downtown they returned to spears have blocked the roads they blocked them with burning tires trash and trash bins they set trash bins unfired basically everybody is angry at the further collapse of the lebanese lira to the dollar the lebanese pound reached $10800.00 lebanese the rest to a dollar which is very much unprecedented the protesters are very angry at the government for being so inefficient for not being able to form a cabinet that would unlock the $1000000000.00 promised by the i.m.f. should the reforms be finally implemented it's been close to 7 months now that lebanon has been without a proper functioning government because situations that is very very. very. we close this road because this is our land our country and we have become poor we

have endured so much that's why we are closing the roads again and won't let anyone pass. we are starving we are here at martyr square setting tires on fire because the price of a loaf of bread has risen to $3000.00 lebanese pounds and that of a kilogram of rice to $7000.00 all while the dollar keeps rising there seems to be no end in sight a lot of people a lot of lebanese people are thrown deeper into poverty and a lot of people are desperate they're fleeing the country they're now jobless they're left with absolutely no hope and this is why they're expressing their anger and frustration out on the streets of beirut. you know a lot to deal with talk of people dealing with things and overcoming adversity we think you'll like this next program going to tell you about a new r.t. documentary speaking to a russian paralympic athlete a national sailing team member sport the fight he lost his leg in x. that was serving in the army to be triaged not off says he's still active in the

gym in the pool he's still regularly filming his video blog back in 2019 even became the 1st russian pair limp. across the bosphorus strait between europe and asia read choppy waters there is also one the national sailing club for differently abled athletes you can meet him and watch his story in full for 30 minutes throughout the day various times here on this channel. which never of had been ritually you know i've got idea but i. thought i was worth your idea that. those of when i was at the hospital i asked my dad to bring me weights on this builder's expanders and one i was training i've watched the olympic games and i was like i want to be like them. i'd like to see the perception of people with disabilities change i want others to see our personality not just our disability pain or suffering but if we ask anyone here to name 5 famous people but no one will remember a disabled person. if we narrow it down in essence

a name paralympic athletes for example no one will remember any specific names even though we're supposed to be proud of them the championship is in 2 days and we're getting ready to go on the upper arm. chair for us but in areas where you are seeing the ground up none. of us. a lot of pictures or video of the another creatures or go out there. and there are huge in this neighborhood everyone knows us in summer when i got side with my prosthetic leg to walk the dog all the children go nuts when they see me sometimes i feel a bit awkward when i walk by myself without my dog lawson and some kid runs along with his mom or dad the kid says hello calling me by name they know me as that's a guy without a leg he walks around with a funny looking pooch see here on this page it says military service exemption surgical floor number so and so and that's it they brought me to some military hospital took me upstairs on a stretcher this typical surgeon guy came in he laughed about something gave me

a shots and i was out when i woke up my leg was gone. but i mean you know if people with disabilities want to be viewed differently they need to stop feeling sorry for themselves. the thing is i am an athlete and i don't like just to lift weights at the gym it doesn't excite me it's boring. in the console. a lot more so i deal with the idea that guns are going to leach and it's been able to overcome not gotten. by the fall and i get that i want to list it as a family but away and i'm like oh go through with it i want to go around the world on the boats. and i want. to i want to live on a boat. along with a feeling if i'm going. to be anyone who could you walk. in i sometimes feel like i'm living in a reality show and that's all this is not happening to me really it's i'm just

having a dream when i wake up i'll just get up and go to work on 2 legs to some factory. in the things keep an impact going to check that out to various times and said today right here on auntie international but that's the way things look in so far from us next programs and your partner will specially made for you the account of a possible break in a few minutes we can go in the tail of a great monday. join me every thursday on the alex salmond show and i'll be speaking to guest of the world of politics sport business i'm show business i'll see you there. some control for a middle class to move in the night most some are very hardworking people who want

to get ahead that either have some some health issues or have some of it out of stricken bad luck a full time job won't always pay for a place to live and missing just a month's rent can get you a victim to gunpoint if anything bad happens to any thing that just throws your budget off slightly. you better catch up real quick or you're going to have a judgment of possession against you and get addicted anyone that's homeless is treated like garbage people look at you like a monster or someone bad or you chose to be there most of the time it's not the case see how it is to be pole in the world's richest country.

hello and welcome to cross talk where all things are considered on peter lavelle the biden ministration is still young but its foreign policy particularly in the middle east is an echo of past failures this administration simply does not have a learning curve also does washington really support democracy in the world ukraine's crackdown on independent media should give us all us. to discuss these issues and more i'm joined by my guest that recordings and employment he is the editor and founder of 21st century wire and here in moscow we're joined by dmitri bobbin she's

a political analyst and editor at interest me internet media project gentlemen crossed up rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i was appreciating now it's going to play into it patrick let's take a look at biden's foreign policy for all of the noise about how to deploy orrible drums foreign policy was and there were some of the plausible elements that you and i would agree we've talked about it during the entire time of the administration but it seems like biden is repeating some of the same mistakes like he legally bombing syria and of course getting applauded for him because he suddenly became president would have less of him to become presidential the in your 1st few weeks you bomb someone against international law and so many other elements of this bungling towards iran it's very incoherent and then all while we're being told there's a pivot to asia this is ministration is just ok go ahead. there are all over the. really you examine a militia lee all over the place so that you've got the situation ends in iraq

you've got the situation in syria you've got the situation in yemen and really it deteriorated completely beyond the pale situation with alliston in that peace process which the democrats are believe that they're the studio guardians of that process generally but so that how many plates can be spent and i think the trump administration for all its faults realize that you can only spend so many plates of that time and the situation as of all in the middle east and what the democrats have coming back into power and it's almost like they don't they're not recognizing the fact that things have changed i mean a massive sea change and lo and behold in the last 2 weeks the exact same quagmire presented itself on the iraqi and syrian border there were rocket attacks that provoked supposedly united states to respond to aggression against us bases and reveal in iraq and so what did they do they hit the high she xabi people's

mobilization.