a course ah, freshman's and the british prime minister to quit over his parties, christmas gatherings last year when strict coded rules banned such events for everybody else. also to come up to a 100 affair, dead after tornadoes rip across american states. but the disaster is also underlying the country's deep political divide with some politicians already trying to score points from the tragedy. and the destination literary, classic, 1984 is getting a sequel of sorts. this time from a feminist perspective, we discuss whether though it's a timely update or perhaps a glimpse into the rewriting and revising which george will well had warned us back . i don't see any reason why any book shouldn't be subject to revisiting. we are in the smart world of john, we were to kill a mockingbird which we all record when we would do to overlook. and he's now been

battled because it's racist because some of the language difficult it, we're in thick can the sudanese, he say they've been betrayed and had their dreams destroyed. we've a special report and to the 1000 strong protest gripping the capital since october scope. ah, i good afternoon, just come 5 o'clock here in moscow. you're watching arte international. now britain's prime minister parish johnson has just announced that the 1st person has died in the u. k with the omicron cove. it variant. the strain has spread widely across the world, but no deaths have been detected until now and the news might drown any remaining festive, cheered safe. the beleaguered prime minister as his government is facing growing anger, christmas parties they allegedly held during last year. strict co whitlock dang you

. allegations have come to light over. suppose it quits party involving boris johnson himself, resulting in a fierce reaction from the public and also the opposition. he's the worst possible leader, but the worst possible times for his johnson presided over a culture of gives, regarding the rules at the heart of government. well, pretty strong was there, as you just heard from the opposition last week was obviously all about the rumors and this week it's all about the reality so much so far is johnson is really trying to fact of accusation of the accusation, but now he's embroiled in it totally himself, he really is in the spotlight. off the pictures now emerged of boris johnson, the prime minister himself hosting a christmas downing street quiz party, totally against his own rules the time. now the image shows the prime minister, sat with 2 of the people, the time london was a kid, 2 of the restrictions,

meaning no social is mixing with any other people and doles. in fact, the official guidance actually stated, you must not have a work christmas party or even a lunch. well, the government spokesperson says that throughout the pandemic, officials have abided by the rules. and that this christmas party downing street quiz was a virtual one. while the education secretary is defending the prime minister, many people would have had similar zoom quiz nice around the country. yeah, i would have been neck for it. i don't know if i had done it, hold on. i would be in monster trouble. while this is around one of 6 or 7 parties that i thought have taken place in the festive season last year, causing so much controversy. in fact, the cabinet secretary is already investigating these potential parties, including one that might have happened on november the 27th and downing street another on the 10th of december, where the department of education. and of course, the december, the 18th christmas party in downing street that sparks the opposite spiral of

a sock. and now already we've seen one casualty, one resignation after all emerged. and just before all of this was unraveling, the prime minister was still the public to abide by the rules and walk from home. it will be for many people, but by reducing your contacts in the workplace, you will help the transmission of have problems as the prime minister address the nation just last night. not a single mention of this scandal whatsoever and said it was all about the booster program. but actually was delivering it and i think it's quite important to mention a hash tag on twitter was trending here in the united kingdom. national switch off was trending. it was aiming to boy caught the prime minister speech entirely. basically, no one wants to hear from the prime minister because nobody really trusts far as johnson anymore. and that's really translated in the polls. now it's more than 50 percent of voe to say that johnson must resign. that's 9 percent in just 2 weeks.

and for the 1st time since 2014 the labor party have the biggest lead in the polls . ironically, it's 2 years to the day now the bar is johnson one that general election, he won the public. but then, but the polls suggest if you had a general election right now would be a very different story. devastating storms have ripped through central and southern parts of the united states. the state of kentucky suffered the worse damage with the governor. initially saying that around 100 people might have died, president biden has declared a major federal disaster in the states lisa satellite images from before and after in the city of mayfield here, where more than 100 people were trapped inside the collapse factory building, emergency crews have managed to rescue about 40 so far. the destruction was also report 2 in arkansas, missouri, tennessee,

and the noise where at least 6 people were killed in an amazon warehouse. president biden says his administration is ready to do whatever is needed to help states railing from the very devastation ah, a worst most devastating, most deadly tornado event in kentucky history. there's our home town and just devastating. everybody's. all of their walls were shaking. house collapsed in again, either through where the whole house is buckled. all back side of that house is our total devastation for our town. most of our historic buildings are now gone with

with this is likely to be one of the largest tornado operational history. while he is, are says, highlighted to a shop rift between the republicans and the democrats. be some politicians seemingly trying to take advantage of the tragedy. the key aaron has more on that and higher towns were destroyed as some 30 powerful tornadoes, ravaged across 6 us states. the worst effected can saki, and needs help support and relief aid. and so it turns to the government and fellow americans. but politics is politics, and it seems not even a monumental disaster,

like this one can bridge america's political divide. and some believe it's a perfect opportunity to show that you reap what you sow. when hurricane harvey hit in 2017, the 17 senate has he voted against the bill to provide billions of dollars in relief, or republicans among them. kentucky sen runs poll once again, thousands of suffering, but there's no time like the present for political punches. we should do all we can to help our kentucky neighbors. good be wisdom. they're hurting, but do not for one second. forget that rand pole has voted against help, and most americans, most times bear in need. we know ran paul is a heartless hypocrite. the people in kentucky deserved a relief regardless of their before in his leadership. but if the dance don't use this against him and his party in the future, it is a mr. but unity for some,

it's not even off limits to suggest that if you vote read, then you had it coming, vote for climate change, deny isn't. see what happens. tornadoes in december, red, but weather climate change was a factor is not clear at this point. still as the country reels and shock and concerns the climate change peak, it could also play into the democrats hands as a bit to push a $1.00 trillion dollar climate package through the senate. all that i know is that the intensity of the weather across the board has some impacts as a consequence of the warming of the planet and the climate change. and so it seems something as devastating as this can only what's the appetite for those looking to score political points. there is nothing that a politician ever does or says that surprises me. there is nothing that is above them or below them. i think that they're going to anytime that any bad thing happens, that they think that they can use as

a justification to push for more control. they're going to, i don't think it's appropriate. i think it's political posturing for the worst of reason. a disaster is a disaster and it was going to happen regardless. it was going to happen whether or not we had cap and trade or the new green deal or anything else. i think it also shows the increasing home renovation and partisanship and division in the us. instead of looking at people as human beings, we look at them as red or blue or independent. we look at them as some abstraction instead of what they are human being that in this case we're suffering terribly right now. i don't care how they voted, and i don't think anyone else should care how they voted. either our modern reboot to george will wells book 1984. he's in the works after the authors estate gave the green lights. re tell that the state being classic from a feminist perspective, while the planned new adaptation by the american author sandra newman, or tell the story from the viewpoint of julia, the love interest of the main character, winston smith and his reading predicted that the new version of one of the most

influential books of the past century will transfer to the big screen to on line though the reaction to it has been rather less enthusiastic. all writing sexism is a capitalist feature, not a bug to remove, confronted and moves the rigid, black and white politics of the story. i never say this about adaptations, but maybe just frighten you story that makes space for nuance. instead of trying to make 1984 feminist, you know what george orwell to stopping. classic 1984 needs a politically correct modern day rewrite from a feminist perspective. said no one ever. this looks great, but we need to do something about the concept of the estate of an author has been dead for generations. nobody should need permission to revisit 1900 for a while or well, if i connect masterpiece is considered a harsh indictment of ideological control, exams, a government unrestrained access,

the private lives and the route. the rewriting of history, which will well did warn, would lead to the death of trick. every record has been destroyed, are falsified. every book, re written, every picture has been repainted. every statue in street building has been renamed . every date has been altered. nothing exists except an endless present in which the party is always right. we are in the smart world at the moment. all we were to kill a mockingbird, which we all read when we would do to levels is now been banned because it is racist because some of the language difficult. i think he really is, but you can't banned books because we start banning books. you as bad as the people on the other side who are saying almost burning them. i don't see any reason why any book shouldn't be subject to revisiting and re questioning a book that was written. i, you know, 2300 years ago. the moment we're just very close towards book burning, you know,

if you look at people or j. k. rowling and you look at a new blight and all these things. you don't have to like a book, but you can understand its context and i think that's what we need to get to. they could be really, could be read this day, but the original stance. and the date is something to be added i'd suggest is actually not a re, right. is it? it's another book and that's happened. lots and literature recently. so not too worked over at it. i don't think it's necessary. i think 1984 is a brilliant book. i don't think it's necessary and maybe that's because i'm a blog is going to be published by grantor, so he's not going to become abate. best seller, i doubt, but it's not a rewrite. it's just now say i'm taking this is my inspiration. and this is what the woman might of thought so much oh, literature. and in certainly in the west has been by men for men. that it's perhaps useful to have a different perspective. it might cause

a number of us to think to discuss, to explore some of the idea silver in the original mostly shows written by men as a historical site more. ringback more literature been written by women now it should good day, although there is a feeling amongst many righteous may or i choose a course that is almost import. impossible to get published. if you are a man and protect it, is true that all getting published into so many to look at this in the whole trade of speech. freedom of thought can we have freedom of who i want to think can be stimulated and motivated by ideas? i don't like as well as ideas i do like that i think is wor, civilization should be wrong. underneath germany's anti cove measures have sparks on rest and the small eastern tanner cried. swear protestors of clash with police authority say that 14 offices were injured in the finance.

ah! in early december, germany announced plans to exclude unvaccinated people from non essential stores and places of mass gatherings in cases have been at record high level since late november. more than double the previous peaks in april or berlin has imposed strict occasion required on public transport and the move we'll see homeless people that take shelter in the system, lose safe places to sleep unless they are vaccinated, recovered or test negative officials in the german capital do insist the move is essential to fight the spread of infections and that the can be no exceptions. peter, all over, they looked at how the homeless could have a tough time ahead. winter is well and truly upon austere in the german capital. and along with freezing temperatures in smo, this week is also seen new covert rules come into force among men,

a stipulation that you must be able to prove that you've either been vaccinated, recovered from covert, or that you've got a valid negative test. if you want to ride public transport in berlin or even go to the station and that is cause problems for the cities homeless and i'm on fung. i'm glad i was attacked, especially at the beginning. people called me names saying get out of my way. i could theoretically stay in the match of stations because i have my vaccination card, but i don't have a digital one because the doctor forgot to put a stamp on his signature when he vaccinated me. the city of berlin recognized that this is far from ideal, but say they have to take measures to stop the spread of the virus. we have a pandemic and we have to protect people from infection and contagion. therefore, inspectors reject all those people who do not comply with the 3 g vaccinated recovered or tested rule. we know how problematic the situation is for homeless people. so we do everything we can to give homeless people

a vaccination organizations like the berlin city mission, which run overnight shelters. point out the problems raised my barring unvaccinated homeless people because there are no sanitary facilities. and people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol could accidentally fall into the track. bad platforms are not ideal. pace is to stay for homeless people. nevertheless, for many who are particularly badly off and who have lost contact with the outside world, there are hardly any other protected places to stay during the winter season that they can use or reach there all those trying to help along with the berlin city mission, the huff brow house bar has been drafted in for use as a day shelter over the winter months. here, homeless people will be able to get out of the cold, but also get tests done. and recei vaccines elsewhere. there is andrea, which he used to live on the berlin streets. he now works to help the homeless auto it along with of how big the scene of just this morning. i saw security, guarded,

a train station escort, an old homeless man walking with a walk around of the station. mingled that's really bad right now. the current temperatures around 0 degrees or the worst you can be exposed to as a homeless person, minus 5 or even minus 10 degrees. it's easier to bear god in the past. you could buy a burger for $0.70 instead of me. dollars for an hour to warm up with all that now many homeless people are unable to do that. as i know, we do have opportunities for the homeless to get vaccinated and we do have testing opportunities for with the digital vaccination card. it is very difficult to our mobile phones are stolen or it's difficult to charge a mobile phone on the street. so the possibility of getting warm is once again closed off berlin. senate says that opportunities are being offered, but they're not as good as they're said to be. it's just window dressing. the coven 19 pandemic continues to ravage year up this winter and the virus most no social class. while f, it's all being made to help the most vulnerable in society that continue to be those that fall through the cracks. peter,

all of her all tea bill and we're going to take a quick bright, and i will be back more stories in 10 minutes. ah, join me every thursday on the alex salmon show, but i'll be speaking to guess from the world of politics, sport, business, i'm show business. i'll see you then. mm. hello, driven by drainage shaped bankers and those with

theirs sinks. we dare to ask for the western relations with russia or at record lows, and there is no reason to believe this will change any time soon, however, is a grand bark impossible as some suggestion also as a bait of julianna's songs. hello again, our german artist has chosen religious icons from the greek orthodox church to explore sexual to boost critics, to say that the artist chose that controversial medium because the orthodox community is the smallest christian group in germany. some say that art is just start while others think that she has actually gone too far with this content. while despite the anger, several works have already been self. i was girl,

i think it violates religious boundaries. pictures can say more than words. you had a nice then i wouldn't say is offensive to religious sentiment, artistic freedom versus freedom in the world. heard the said, it's one of those things that everyone relates to personally. in 2021. humanity can be a bit more open. i think we have other problems than arguing about what pictures are painted here, but i myself, i'm not a believer, but i think if it's just art, then it's just art and he shouldn't take it so seriously. the artist has emphasized that she didn't want to offend any body and that the icon is a metaphor for all religious denominations. not only greek orthodox christians, a member of germany's ruling coalition party, though voiced hurt you on that. this is kiana belied even kept up. it is an insult to people faith there are fundamental rise and they cannot take priority over personal rights. in the foreground is the insult to greek orthodox believers or

christian believers in general because it is simply disrespectful and repulsive. it makes the believers angry when they look at the icons or that is the limits of ours irishmen, the feelings of others, such as the greek orthodox of people in general. i heard in an unacceptable way. art is gert yoga. we are for art not against it. but not these pornographic art. if she had taken all the churches, everything we have a synagogue, a mosque, the boot is then emotions would not have ran so high. the you ends envoy to sedan says that military leaders must rebuild trust with the opposition, especially younger people. many say they feel betrayed pile toby's coo and are rejecting any negotiations with the military law is murdered. gasdio did witness the 1000 strong protests in the capital. khartoum and talk to people who say that dreams of a better life have been destroyed. will leave you this i with his exclusive report . ah,

she's cooled mina, like countless others. she's a beggar. she doesn't play with her friends or go to school. she spends her days begging outside the hotel. mina is just one of millions and saddam forced to beg to help feed herself and her family in these desperate times. and saddam sold a sick, wounded and disease by years of strife from disappointment. this wasn't what democracy promised. the fool the dictator la, by sheer in 2019, was supposed to harold, a new age for, for god, a transition to a democracy. but the democrats at age of prosperity that millions hopeful,

has turned into an age of hunger. i'm not mad. i don't know if there is still hope to be honest. my only concern now is finding something to eat and so much sleep. as everything that's happening, i just don't know. i don't care anymore. i just try saying something against the government. they'll label you and islamists are a former regime, sympathizer, or a military supporter. in reality, all we want is to tell the government that we're hungry, that we have huge problems. people can't even go to school because of roadblocks or protests. after the revolution, the people put their faith in a man called abdallah ham doc, korea bureaucrats, who promised as prime minister to lead the country to democracy. he won the hearts of millions only to break them in if so, but the military intervene and what some have called the to it, arrested prime minister ham duncan, his cabinet. the argument was that they were running the country into the ground on

the transition to democracy, needed a correction. the handled cabinet of ministers included many with foreign citizenship. allegations of corruption were rife, ministers were accused of enriching themselves while spouting platitudes. about democracy. the prime minister has since struck a deal with the military and they now ruled jointly to the displeasure of the revolutionary lash at any. none of those here will go to these protests. we protested then and we were betrayed. why would we protest again for who, for what? what will change? nothing. we will like to once and life only got glad. we will sit and wait for our deaths here. yet every week, hundreds, sometimes thousands gather across. so don and chancellor demands the freedom food ultimatums. what traditional thursday protest now underway, tires are burning and central at all. this is how these protest happen. people

gather and group several 1000 several 100. in this case, i've written 50 people here. burning ties are the major intersection. their objective is to put this rupture. they're charging now against the military government who they see as being responsible for their scoop, ah, the crowd. these schindler, thousands. we had seen many small columns warming and various they bought before converging here and what they all want the power to be handed over by the military toys, civilian government, properly this time, without any acceptance, they want the military, the step down many people here field, but trade by prime minister hammed up to find that agreement with the military, giving up a lot of civilian, bowed to the military resistance committees, napoleon, g, a groups across many neighborhoods which nominally help organized protests and run

civilian life. in practice, they increasingly hassle businesses or denied people water will cooking gas if they so want asking them about it only got us the on, so they have in their booklets. so we've, we've spoken to people and some support the, the resistance committees, other people say that resistance committees intimidate bullying, scare people. but you would, you have to say about that flavor. how can they scale? what's her eyes? people are just ordinary civilians. they're not related to the military for intelligence agencies will they do is help with hogan eyes ation and dialogue. no matter who we are. people weren't about to speak about the resistance committees on camera. they were fearful live. this hot enough at ease, tragically ironic democracy activists have morphed into what they so hated ham dogs . army some pulled themselves twisted version of the secret police at once enforced

a dictators rule. ah, here on the outskirts of cut to leave some of the most impoverished and the city people who survive on one meal every 23 days, drink water that is barely fit for capitol while on the front lines of the revolution and who the revolution entirely passed, by so said don, remains in wretched stasis chain didn't hunger frozen by corrupt and self serve in the leads and held together by a military bent on preventing collapse. ah, ah, ah, ah,

a shape out becomes the advocate, an engagement. it was the trail. when so many find themselves worlds apart, we choose to look so common ground. ah,

ah hello and welcome to cross stock were all things considered? i'm funeral about the west relations with russia or at record lows. and there is no reason to believe this will change any time soon, however, is a grand bark impossible, as some have suggested also as the fate of julian, a, sorry, been sealed, ah, to discuss these issues and more, i'm joined by my guest here in moscow. maxine swartzkoff, he is the director of the center for advanced american studies.