i did you, did it with the pentagon has announced a new multi $1000000000.00 military aid package for claiming it's the largest military deliveries. and the ukranian conflict began ukraine shells, a number of western russian cities on orthodox christmas eve injuring multiple civilians. that's this fight also calling for a truth on the christian festival. as ukraine has accorded almost 17000000 tons of brain intended for those most affected by food insecurity in africa. but reports show that europe has received the majority of those deliveries with

hello, good morning from austin, from wherever you may be watching. welcome to the hour's top stories from all around the globe. i'm pure elizabeth. the u. s. has announced its new military aid package for ukraine worth almost $4000000000.00 claiming it's the largest military deliveries since the ukrainian conflict began. the war in ukraine is at a critical point right now, and we have to do everything we can to help the ukrainians continue to resist russian aggression. today's announcement, the largest security assistance package in total value that we have committed so far reflects our enduring commitment to support ukraine. the pentagon says the package will include 50 bradley, infantry fighting vehicles, $100.00 armored personnel carriers, hundreds of anti armor rockets and more ammunition for high march rocket systems.

and that's just a fraction of the lethal aid washington is that to san in total, the u. s. has provided ukraine with almost $25000000000.00 and military assistance . sarah founder's co director of the international action center says the rapidly growing spending on the military means other sectors of the u. s. economy will be affected. the republicans and democrats support military appropriation to they cannot reach an agreement on health care much that never happens. but on the military budge. ready yes, military budget grows. they reach an agreement and it happens so fast that do without real debate, but it can mean devastating cuts in education funding schools, housing infrastructure in the u. s, which is decaying rapidly, things like that they will do again and again. meanwhile, the republican leader of the us house of representatives, kevin mccarthy,

has proposed a cut of $75000000000.00 to the defense budget. the proposal came shortly before he was elected as speaker of the house, and is believed by many to have been a concession to secure his now victory. that's the major divisions among g o. p. lawmakers, who for years have pushed for increases in military spending. sara, founders again says mccarthy has always voted in favor of boosting defense spending and chain to stance in order to become the speaker of the house. every year they make promises that they're going to cut military budget every year. and yet it doesn't happen. so it certainly will not happen under kevin mccarthy who has always voted for the defense budget and is a complete hypocrite, actually called in march of of 2022. that widen was too soft when ukraine wasn't doing enough, should give more money,

more weapons. that was what he said then. and it's not much different now, except that he is maneuvering. in order to become speaker of the house. as washington decides on a new aid package for ukraine, he of is using us supplied weapons to shell. it's former territories. as orthodox christmas began, ukraine reportedly fired dozens of nato shells at the russian city of gorka, wounding a civilian. you have also shelled another western russian city of mucky. if you can see the moment of the strike on christmas. eve captured oscc. t. v footage locals reported air defense systems activating to intercept the attack and no casualties were reported. also on orthodox christmas eve, celebrated by both russians and ukrainians. he f security service agents rated multiple churches across the country, saying that pro russian materials were found there. at the same time,

ukrainian officials claim to be impartial toward religious denominations. ukraine also rejected russia's christmas truce proposal to let christians across the disputed regions, visit churches to worship journalists. sondra vanden ended, says the ukrainian government is trying to provoke a new armed response from russia. i think it was to be expected because yesterday in the western mainstream media, they already said that ukraine didn't agree to add it to the truth. so yeah, i think it was totally expected. of course, it's a huge provocation that they do. it's just afternoon 12 noon because then the ceasefire be started it for sure. a big sign that the, she's my between the ukranian church and their russian jurors is not respect that it shows from the ukrainian side and also to western side that they don't want. and true, they don't one negotiations at all because otherwise they would have said okay to

at least respect and holy moly day like christmas. and it is, is meaningful for russians. and ukrainians does date like the into in the west when it was christmas to respected russia. military personnel serving any of crane have join orthodox christmas celebrations. the festive service was organized for the service men and women with the russian m. o. d, emphasizing the importance of holy festivals. the service was also attended by those mobilize an autumn who have now completed their military training earlier the head of the russian orthodox church. patriotic tito called for unity urging to pray for russian orthodox believers. record being persecuted in ukraine during his traditional address ahead of the festive service and moscow's maid cathedral. the dc lew christmas is celebrated on the 7th of january and russia in accordance with the old julian

calendar. millions have attended traditional midnight services throughout the country that began in the late hours on friday and continued into this morning. meanwhile, hundreds of orthodox pilgrims half flocked to bethlehem. the city we're christians, believe jesus christ was born archie. maria fin notion of follows mother mary's footsteps. retracing her journey from nazareth and reports on modern age political obstacles. some pilgrims face the city of nazareth said, this is where christians believe. the annunciation happened. an angel appeared to mother mary some believe on the site of these church behind me, telling her she would give birth to the son of god. and is from here that her journey to bethlehem started where jesus is believed to be born. what would that to 150 kilometer journey look like today? and what would a pregnant woman face on her way? we decided to take this trip and see with our own eyes. nazareth is the largest

arab see teenager, l. arab israelis, many of whom identify themselves as palestinian citizens of israel, form more than 20 percent of the country's population. but it would only be possible for mother married to be here if she had an israeli id. or if not, she would have to go through a number of difficult procedures with israeli authorities to apply for permission to enter in stay. and she could still have been rejected. no one can know for sure which ruined mother married to 2000 years ago, but that would more likely be the shortest one which runs through what is today the occupied west bank. we are entering the board right now and we'll have to go through the checkpoint. hi, how are you? yeah, good. what's going to be? it was rather easy for me. i'm a foreigner and a journalist, but it was mainly because we were traveling from israel to the west bank to go the other way around. is an almost impossible task for the west bank. 3000000 arab

population guy up shortly after the checkpoint, we are in the town of jeannie. now in the northern part of the west bank, it has been in the news to last recently, almost daily, military rate by the railway army here have often turned violent casualties. among civilian population, the officials from the palestinian authority say more than 50 children were killed since the beginning of these here alone, we meet a local watch outside janine near the little greek orthodox church, thought to be the 4th oldest church in the world. it is believed that mother mary made a short stop here on her way to bethlehem. i was leaves in the west bank, just him in his drive from nazareth, but he cannot go there. well enough that all goes on as i thought the jewels at m. i need a special feldman from the really occupation of me from the start for it is. and in order to do that, that on a set of criteria is that number apply to many palestinians. so it is

a very limited access to the seniors to vote and as it ought to jewels. and even if you get the permit, if there's any form of humiliation full of obstacles, that's something he's a john at all. it makes me sad because after all, this is a holy land, we have angry towards the international community. in fact, we're seeing the international focusing on what everything that is happening all around the world. every single law that has been broken by the states, yet, it is supported by the west. it is not even blamed by the way i stand. everybody is asking palestinians that people who are under occupation under opposition to be moderate and not to. i mean, it's a wonderful affair. focus. we continue our journey to the south without. i was as a resident of the west bank, he's blocked from entering jerusalem, where our tree takes us. some of the roads would also be restricted or prohibited for him as a philistine in soon we approach one of the settlements was mentioned around

nobliss, the center of d and samaria. the biblical name of the west bank that israel uses homes for around half a 1000000 israelis. we are now inside the settlement known as the car, which has a reputation of being home to the most extreme israeli settlers. they are at the full fraud tall. the subtler movement, so called price tag policy, which calls for violent attacks against palestinians is a price to pay in retaliation for actions. again, settlements within the west bank ban navigator kept telling me go straight, but it looks like we did that and now we have to go back. the west bank barrier was billed by israel in the early 2 thousands when we have left the wall and all the check points behind us. we reach bethlehem. the atmosphere is in contrast to everything we on the way. but the words and as

a person from bethlehem has a green card, it has a green passport. as a green id, i can visit gerald and whenever, so i think that's my 1st time and it's so different. well, how the news trade is such a hot check and it's such a big mess. but it's, it's beautiful. everyone was so friendly and lovely and fast, but didn't totally get into the christmas spirit, but it's now getting, getting to me. i mean, it is a special place and i thought with a great chance to be here once in a maybe in a lifetime, i don't know, but i'm coming all year. so celebrates the morning. so we are so happy christmas here is this exciting. i think take a pinch so you might not know what it's like until you're actually here. and i think you might have a different perspective if you're actually experience the sign of christmas holiday

love and family. yeah. well i think everyone knows about the senior situation that everyone is facing. so yeah, the words should take action for this terrible people. busy busy separated from that families policy and especially we are finally in bethlehem. if mother mary would make it here today, she would find the safety of richly decorated for christmas and full of celebrating crowds for the 1st time in 3 years. the town believe to be the birthplace of jesus except christians from all over the globe. but mother, mary would not see here today, leaving him the nearby guys, a trip or those living in the northern part of the occupied west bank. those who are not permitted to enter bethlehem and left celebrating with tears in their eyes . there's no sea from bethlehem and merry christmas and israeli

authorities have been dozens of christians from the gaza strip from entering bethlehem to celebrate christmas. every year israel increases the number of permits it denies under the pretext of security, sparking anger among people seeking to celebrate the holiday with their families. that we used to apply for permits and send our documents, including our photos and identity papers, through the church, and deliver them to a civil affairs department. it confirms that our applications are under examination by these really authorities. and we will be informed whether our applications are accepted by israel or not. i sent my application about 3 weeks ago. and 2 weeks later i found out that my request was rejected every year. i hoped my application will be accepted. my wife and children have received permits, but i have not. my kids always tell me. we hope you'll go with us to bethlehem to celebrate ethel about every year. at least 200 christians get a rejection from his rhonda authorities to the to the holy stars in jerusalem, bethlehem, but the occupation authorities, nazi palestine as humans. therefore,

fulton christians and muslims are forbidden from visiting the holy sites. it's a denial of basic human right. israel only relies on being a strong hans against a weak one. regarding the palestinian territories. it doesn't comply with any united nations macand. he's missing it feels dots. it is above the law and immune from accountability to kia has reported that around $17000000.00 tons of grain have been exported via the ukraine grain deal corridor. since the deal came into force in july for comparison, ukraine annually harvest 32000000 tons of wheat. the initiative is supposed to soften the global food crisis, especially for the countries worst affected, but the majority of the great exports end up in europe's hands and sad artes corolla thought love brings us the story, already facing struggles with mazda se flayson and stroud and resurgence of jihad is grooves, africa is now in the grip of a major food crisis. the world food programs 2022 global report on food crisis

estimate the close to a 193000000 people on the continent face achieved food and security. and that one in 5 go to bed hungry, we're scaling up our operations in countries like somalia, canyon nigeria and became faster as well as many others to try and help as many people as we can. but the number of people going without food and water is staggering. factors behind the food crisis, very, from conflicts leading to miles displacement to climate shocks including drugs and floods. acute food insecurity has, by dramatically at the same time, rich western nations including the united states and it's in you, partner countries have turned their attention and deep wallets to ukraine at africa's expense. green shipments were also affected and able to depart the black sea due to this conflict, but things to the mediation by turkey and the united nations. a deal was struck

between russia and ukraine, allowing for shipments to resume. the question has not been what is good for one side or the other. the focus has been on north america is most for the people of all worlds. and let there be no doubt. this is an agreement for the wolves. but as it turns out, most of the 14000000 tons of grain was not delivered to the african continent. 11, just 11. out of the $615.00 ships that left ukrainian ports between august and december would dock in sub saharan africa partition. give sure you don't know who i see. almost all of the green exported from ukraine is being sent to the e. u instead of to the world's poorest developing countries. many european countries are now acting as colonizers once again, just like they did for decades and century rims in the parachute for, for the of simply deceive super developing countries once more, and are still receiving them at this very moment. very short western powers down

played the accusations, claiming that 47 percent of ukraine's grain was sent to asia with 36 percent sent to europe and 17 percent to africa. and they also promised to buy more of ukraine's grain to reduce prices. since the inception of the solidarity lanes, more than 15000000 tons of ukrainian agriculture, goods, grain, oil, seeds, and related products have been exported by roads of rail and through black sea and the new pores. in addition, since august, the black sea green initiative has helped relaunch green shipments from ukraine's black seaports, thereby further reducing foot price is globally. but what is the solidarity of these lanes end up shipping to you countries? why is africa not part of the soul quote, fully varied as a result, moscow ended up with grain and fertilizers. it couldn't even sell due to you, an american sanction to luxor,

or as far as access to russian products is concerned. the african union members are facing swift related sanction problems. far as most of our banks have ties with european bunks. usual payment procedures are no longer available to them. will pull up babs in an effort to college or the impact of e u. sanctions i having on rising from crisis, the block exempted russian weed and fertilizers from restriction. it even lift that sanction on chemical and fertilizer company under the guise that africa needs them . but must go, went further and donated food so vulnerable african countries, as well as fertilizers, say in put in, in my phone call with ludovic putin. he sat, let's send these grain to countries such as djibouti, somalia, and so done for free. and we agreed to mediate the situation in the world. today's really bad. unfortunately, africa has been storming and will continue to stop. we as a company, have decided to supply fertilizer to africa for free as well. part of

a global supply cherish needs to produce food issue. when president vladimir putin said that russia had made the donation to african faith to support its efforts, the west refunded in its usual manner. african societies continue to suffer from russia's weaponized ation of food and fertilizers. exports, plenty of other states including south africa have voice confers that humanitarian aid is being politicized with the threat of food being used to pressure countries to support ukraine in the conflict. gotta releford for oddity in johannesburg. them bower is taking action to limit foreign exploitation of its natural resources . the african countries government has suspended the processing of permits for the extraction of strategically important minerals. it, as dos,

become necessary does. in our initial interest, we will temporarily stop our symptom and persistent applications for mining licenses for deflated minerals on c for the notice des moines, copper, lithium, nico, and red, it's minerals. the above narratives are to go into effect immediately. the move comes after some local miners failed to declare their discoveries of certain minerals. the new restrictions are also aimed at providing more oversight on the activity of foreign mining operators. in zimbabwe, the country holds the largest lithium reserves than africa, with the metal, a strong demand for high tech production lines in many countries. zimbabwe earlier reported billions of dollars and losses due to the illegal extraction of its lithium by multinational companies. to put all of this into perspective, lithium, known as white gold, is a valuable component of electronic batteries used in cars, mobile phones,

and computers. it's price has shut up by 1100 percent in the past 2 years alone. and it won't stop there with the man projected to see a 750 percent increase by 2030 with the world looking to shift cleaner energy. many countries will be seeking to secure supplies of the desirable metal. then by way, is the world 6 largest lithium exporter with the government, hoping to meet one 5th of the world's total demand. when it fully developed its lithium mining capacity. we heard from some local politicians on the significance of the new restrictions. the country had been losing billions of dollars in export of lithia which is on very high demand globally because lithium is used for electric, but trees solar but trees smart phones, et cetera, et cetera. and i think that was a very positive, double move that was meet with the government was about which because we're at a stage where we are supposed to be ensuring that we makes about which low delay

economy. and we can only do that when we are preserving what we have into to mining the prices of what we have and how we're going to betray do with other countries. that me know is sources that we have in our country. they've been a lotto for all the time, exported the country and as a country we've been if to lead to is elijah. every one of the biggest at lee comes to pushing the world benefits to did, but federally so we chima bought a would be so our policy to buy the export over only come to encourage shadow companies to come and sit bishop, the country. ah, the frenchman, history of ecology has become the latest target of eco activist campaign or spray painted the facade with orange to denounce the french governments, perceived in action on climate change. and while the active vandalism only had a minor impact, some of the activists as options have reportedly threatened people's lives. are te,

contributor rachel mars and gives us for take therapy in union has long wanted to turbocharged its green energy agenda. 2022 was a year, they realized that their tank was on empty because while they sanctioned their own gas supply from russia. so after years of banging on about the found a sea of fueling the european industrial economy by praying for solar powered, sunny days and sufficient when to turn landscape destroying windmills. europe relies this year that that plan is far from ready for prime time. and they were desperate, so the blocks industrial engine, germany started firing back up cold plants, france scramble to blow the rust off of its decommissioned nuclear power plants, both casualties of the blocks green energy obsession, newly appointed prime minister of britain. re she soon arc preached to the climate change faithful ahead of the to cop 27 climate summit. he said he was going to turn

the u k, into a green energy superpower. but apparently he didn't get the memo that britain was on the verge of opening its 1st coal mine in decades, or that coal was so badly needed in the us. people faced exploding energy costs due to the use own anti russian sanctions. that citizens and poland were trying to dig around in their own gardens, in the hope of striking pool, which is illegal by the way. so desperate times mean desperate measures. the european union simply reclassified gas and nuclear energy as green power. tossing environmental activists overboard to face the icy waters of pragmatic reality. elsewhere in australia, leaks, documents blew the lid off the scam of so called clean coal, suggesting that it was little more than a ruse to justify selling it at a higher price,

which the customer can then ostensibly recoup by claiming lower carbon taxes for burning it face with frustration and disappointment, cultured and intellectually sophisticated environmental activists of the lead stay generation or last generation, took matters into their own hands by running around europe and physically attacking priceless works of art, which obviously weren't just exposed in such a way that any toddler with the marker who just scribble all over them. during the call, 27 summit in egypt, these activists glued their own hands to john constables, the hey wayne. in london's national gallery. then they tossed mashed potatoes at french impressionists. flood monet's, ne mud on display, and germany's potsdam barbara rainy museum. when taught, they were told to crouch, with their hands pressed against the wall below the masterpiece. now in both cases,

perhaps they should have just been left there with their hands stuck and made a permanent part of the exhibit that would have been fund. i'm satisfied with the impact of their efforts on actual environmental policy. they then took the super gluing themselves to the tarmac at munich airport. now this tantrum meant that airplanes trying to land had to blow through even more earth killing fuel as they were forced to circle around above while trying to figure out where to land until they could ultimately be routed. meanwhile, down below, police were to literally dig up the road in order to remove the activists from the pavement. there was also just stock oil movement that took center stage this year with a message for government to stop all new exploration, development and production of british fossil fuels. as british to this sins grappled with skyrocketing energy prices. these economics divides, we're defining a quote, livable future as one with no fossil fuel. gas that livable future doesn't include

being able to afford a roof over your head or heating or reasonably priced food, or anything else that factors in the availability dependent cost of energy. ha ah, nor to start to livable future apparently include the ability to get to work to earn a living as politicians took as she with the protesters. disruption we recognize the right in the united kingdom under our democracy for peaceful protest. however, we are vehemently against protest that include wilful vandalism. the disruption of individuals attempting to earn a lawful living. the blocking of roads that impedes parents from taking their children to hospital for life saving appointments and the utterly selfish act of depriving a son attending his own father's funeral. by stopping the flow of traffic on the nation's highways with the har realities of the european energy crisis coming up

against opponents like these mother, earth could be waiting an awfully long time for some truly capable white knights to come to her rescue. amid the rising power of multinational corporations, india is fighting to break free from the grip of pesticides and g m. o companies african returns. he speaks to environmental as dr. van dana sheba on this week's going underground. watch a program on our website at r t dot com. the soils are being destroyed every single day across the global south. how exactly do you tie up this incredible network of you and agencies the world you know, make for and the i m f, e, u, multinational corporations. all these different interconnected elements are somehow connected to that. so such a basic thing on life, on earth, the soil, the process of making nitrogen fertilizers to blending fossil fuels at high

temperature to fix atmospheric nitrogen is the same process that me explosives. when you apply ammonium nitrate to the soil urea to the saw it all living organism, the soil dac saw is living is fungi. bacteria, it is what creates the fertility and create life in the soil. this toxic substance starts to kill life in the saw it. so increase desert, one kilogram of nitrogen fertilizer uses 2 meters of diesel. it emits carbon dioxide plus nitrous oxide, which is $300.00 times more damaging to the planet than carbon dioxide. and then you have time to change that makes it worse and the side, those, the vicious cycle of the certification of this. interestingly, my research a bad time. sure that the same crop come to me did chemically use this 10 times more water than the crop contradicted organically. so land is not the scarce element on the.