profiting from the pandemic 2 senior german politicians are quitting in a major scandal for allegedly earning hundreds of thousands of euros after brokering deals for face masks. meanwhile the u.k. government faces claims of financial mismanagement during the pandemic after offering frontline health workers a pay raise of just one percent while it spends millions on that new media briefing room we gauge reaction in london. should interest who is the sort of curious about these i mean trick people save it. for the public when i'm going to hospital table i think the nurse is in a safe for me then. and president biden's long awaited covert relief bill finally passes through the u.s. senate but people face getting less money than they did under donald trump.

or broadcasting live direct from our studios in all of this is r t international i'm sean thomas certainly glad to have you with us are now german m.p.'s are standing down over claims that they made hundreds of thousands of euros from brokering deals for face masks with more on the scandal here is our europe correspondent. 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 the 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 may not be good enough for some sort 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 this 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 gain 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 or frustration to seeing people demonstrate against the way the government has handled the pandemic here in germany and it's not just a german issue we've also seen those protests taking place across europe.

with. a level of hope said 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 german journalist thomas fassbender says that public anger over the issue will 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 no question there's anger about this the interesting thing here is that mr little bit just last year was the subject of a completely unrelated correctional misbehavior commotion misbehave a 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 the dangerous thing it's not just a matter of them lol such of the letter of the law but also. 'd about the way to supply. downing street is being criticized for spending millions of pounds on refurbishments to hold white house style media briefings and in another echo from across the pond british prime minister boris johnson is setting up a charity so donors can fund renovations of the premier's official residence but for many in the u.k. the money would be better spent on health care staff working on the covert front line. interest sort of curious about these i mean dress could be a pole for us will still be a pole you know after all. everybody that works you know. people save it.

for the public did. you answer people spoke about not a problem people. but it benefits health workers. you know the difference terrible terrible i'm not sure we do to be free with $2600000.00 to go a lot of other things so i could be more bold you know collation sort of making sure the whole population is properly a couple but what can you do if they say this is going to set of course but you know when you when when when i'm going to hospital table i think the nurse is an essay for me then you know that's what would be necessary for me to make sure you can have you know pay and then go enough motivation to work on lies are important to creation. the u.k. government insists difficult economic circumstances mean that it can only afford a one percent pay hike for a national health service staff but with inflation predicted to reach $1.00 and

a half percent of this year that would likely mean a pay cut in real terms and nurses union says they deserve more and is preparing for strikes political commentator anthony weber says the government's a priorities are completely wrong. the media companies. need these. facilities one of those issues which is. a fine or. witnesses shortage of finance money should go in a suit to. the very. certain schools or actions of a corrupt she was like. giving a nation a start but it doesn't go out. rather a pool message that the government's prepared to spend money on promoting its own interests but not prepared to spend money on people who'd been looking after people who. paid into hospital in unsuitable people who like the n.h.s.

and respect even nurses and so on that said the government has extended its furlough scheme until september which pays 80 percent of people's wages for hours they cannot work during the pandemic with leaders predicting the cash will get the economy back on track but i'm talking to our teams going underground british economic historian robert skidelsky questions the 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 the 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 stuff and rather than keeping that population on 1st. i would try and provide work for them and especially young people. italy is a latino region which includes the capital rum is calling on the government to start producing and the russians put macveagh over vaccine that is as the country's health minister says he is in favor of the russian jap 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 sport degree has already been approved in 2 e.u. countries are hungry and slovakia becomes as the block is criticised for the slow pace of chronic virus and occupation in member states the law 0 region for health chief told us about the approval process for spring agree. 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 off we saw the in the explanations of its validity in the medical journal the lancet and by the laws there are only 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 said covert relief bill has finally passed through the u.s. senate after last minute negotiations but while $1.00 trillion dollars sounds like a lot of money people may actually get less than they did under donald trump we delved into why it may be just a drop in the ocean for the american taxpayers. ungar in america especially for children has soared to historic levels unexpected medical bills have created

a surge of 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 bell 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 buy dimmable so 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 for $200.00 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 greedy republicans not even trump no it was a done deal right but we obviously are now alternately sending. money to less people in the administration this is not the promise that we need. conservative democrats have fossil divides in the sense fewer and less generous relief checks than the triumph of men did so not a done deal biden promised one thing with his $1.00 trillion dollars aid package the house then took a stab at it and the senate's now taken a not the stab at it in its wounded form almost $12000000.00 fewer adults will get the relief and pledged unemployment benefits are finishing

a month earlier than planned and as for raising minimum wage to $15.00 well courtesy of some democrat senators who vetoed it that won't be happening and if you're wondering what an elected official offering in the face of the people they saw it looks like well hey you go. visit a cinema. no i'm sure though it's a big thumbs up from have for $174000.00 annual salary but if you thought biden himself with brain child this bill was as devastated by 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 americans struggling to stay afloat amid the biggest recession in the u.s. in decades aren't getting the money who is what national democrats particularly nancy pelosi and chuck schumer have chosen to do is crimp 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. much of the mainstream media were delighted by the bill with of the washington post initially branding it a defining move by biden that saw the paper come in for quite a bit of mockery online it has since changed the headline show worst money on americans could washington post by density of events in the more quest desk way probably not shameful. well make it rain with a check that still doesn't cover

a whole month's rent soak up all of the money shallots my fellow pulls the amounts are being paid are just a drop in the end of the bucket the payments are proof that their faith and they bite administration was well founded and the reality is of course that much more of the covert relief bill is going to other causes no other 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 duties it's 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 public 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 that 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. as brazil reports a disturbing new code figures president also narrow tell the country to stop whining about the disease that is just one of our stories still ahead after this.

join me every thursday on the alex simon sure and i'll be speaking to guests of the world of politics sports business i'm show business i'll see you then. right welcome back this is art international now face coverings in public are about to be banned in switzerland a referendum at the weekend promoted by the right wing swiss people's party cell

voters narrowly support the initiative that will include the burka or niqab one by muslim women there are several exemptions to the new rule that allows face coverings for security climate and health reasons and the proposal for the ban did not mention islam directly officially saying it was aimed at stopping violent street protesters from wearing masks but the leading swiss islamic group has already called the vote a dark day for muslims. this is my life so i wouldn't like to someone to force me to tell or take it. this way that hard because i. know we have religious freedom we have freedom of expression you can say we have freedom and then not give it but it's being free he's been able to show our face respects in women's dignity heaven our own identity and therefore i do not understand the discourse of people who want to imprison women the hind

this veil with the north i said no to this initiative because feminist ideas are being used for something which on the contrary obstructs liberty of choice this is also borderline cinna for big so this goes against my veil years as well as those i think of switzerland some other european countries have all have already full or partial bans on veils in public places including belgium and austria the 1st to introduce the movie 10 years ago as friends which has since repeatedly fallen under a wave of criticism for violating personal liberties earlier on r t we discussed the potential impact for switzerland. i think that the majority of the of the swiss people who have voted for the ban of face coverings has decided so not specially trying to hurt muslim people living in their country but rather thinking of their own cultural identity and preserving it in the long

run it is always the same it's always this threat of this extremist party you lost muslims and islam behind you know several laws but when we're not at that it's very very bad for us why they are continuing to use this strategy to put outside of the society and to divide the citizens between those who believe want to believe if we imagine that we had a similar referendum in and i-slam a country like in pakistan or like in saudi arabia the question would be would you allow would you like to allow people or women wearing a bikini in public beaches for example i'm pretty sure that 95 percent or even 1009 percent of the people would vote against it we know what is democracy and we're not using emotional rhetoric i don't know. a lot of people it's

vote against but it's there is a lot of it it shifts where people have never seen a woman up. not with. that don't exist. dave called for. people also in the villages of switzerland they are actually they read the news and they know what is going on in other parts of the world and so they have just decided to set those limits to the cultural development off immigrants from muslim background and this is not hostile and also i think you should even consider it something which sets a useful limits to radical islamists and there are some who force their women behind bales who we are always hearing. very very close to rescue and. it's not

a low fuel used to get people to you lose their. freedom . is the country all of the and d. that you have 3 and. and i feel very wary in this country but i don't like to be. first page of the people who are extrem what if the radical left from religion already get it from. where you can live your religion freely and the question also is why have you chosen to come to switzerland knowing very well that it's a christian country which even wears the cross in its flag in its national flag so i think you were quite clear about that 3 when you came to switzerland. but i want more and more. it's good for diversity is a richness you are making the minute that the month but that is the of the people.

the brazilian president has called on people to quote stop whining about the country's covert catastrophe that is that despite brazil registering its highest daily coba death rate last week it was the 2nd the highest number of deaths in the world with more than 260000 victims should i do for this quarter do you mean that over the pretentiousness enough with the whining how long are people going to carry on crying for you for 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 . meanwhile health authorities say just over 7000000 have so far received at least one vaccine dose but brazilian hospitals are struggling to find room for the sick and the health system is overloaded to highlight the point this is a container that has been placed outside a clinic in the north of the country to store victims' bodies here is what nearby residents think of the move. but i think people are panicking and this container

shouldn't be out in the open here this doesn't have. 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 realize that i mean their lost loved ones we're all to blame people but also the government because they should set the example. the editor of a brazilian news side told us the president must take the blame for the worsening situation. i think it's. a strategy. that is old clyde trying to prove to brazilian book relation that he has this situation under control over fill the seat to a shoot these completely out of control i don't see the receiver he's going to have that the situation before may or june because we have

a very. good lay of the open the nation we don't have anymore. to protect people and to unload them to stay and 'd i think the next 30 and all 600 days i'm going to be even worse than the situation we had a levy through at this moment. 33 and a half minutes that's when i will be back with another full and fresh look at the news this is our chief international.

one else seemed wrong. but all wrong just don't call. me old yet to say proud to stay calm attitude and in game treatment equals betrayal. when so many find themselves worlds apart when you choose to look for common ground . it's an inconvenient truth that you just can't actually get that innovation in the us anymore because all the corporations that are in a position to innovate are culturing shareholders intel frying the taxpayers and using financial leisure demain on wall street to line their pockets. is your media a reflection of reality. in

a world transformed. what will make you feel safe. tyson nation will community. are you going the right way or are you being led. to. what is true what is faith. in the world corrupted you need to descend. to join us in the depths. or remain in the shallows. why does someone do that right that's what everybody wants to know and they laugh or have achieved their quota those play where. there was played well because i think most people would like to think i would like to think to myself i would never

do that but did you ever say to yourself damn why did i tell these life not why do i tell these lies upon my suddenly they're rooted in religion that exists in my really did not exist as i would just are i just throw going to there probably exist among the worlds is just filler heard there are i says of the i the new form with the model of the wood with the model of the mire there was a it was a ritual but just to go home or yes my way normal. i was were it was going to be true or it was world which were all. choices shop or were.

you supreme who are right. now here she is. see the court is in there right would you bring that phone cord in to tie somebody up oh not only did cream bring that in.