being from members of the media as they hope for a bessie arrowhead gabriel elizondo reports. it's one of the focal points of the year's celebrations around the world this year joining the york's mayor bill de blasio at midnight for the traditional lowering the crystal ball in times square several prominent journalists at an event that was not just about welcoming two thousand and nineteen but also recognizing how dangerous two thousand and eighteen was for the profession religious journalists are facing jail in myanmar multiple people are pretty shocked by all of the journalist among those recognized was the committee to protect journalists an organization that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists around the world they say two hundred fifty one journalists were imprisoned during two thousand and eighteen but another fifty three journalists were killed in

targeted tax. including washington post columnist jamal khashoggi who was murdered and dismembered by saudi government agents soon after he entered saudi arabia's consulate in istanbul he was especially in the thoughts of those at times square you know it's been a pretty tough year i think that's one of the reasons that we're the honoree journalists around the world and in this country as well have struggled and so i want to see a new year a year in which journalists are able to work more freely without threats and do their political work independently so prominent have attacks on the media ban in two thousand and eighteen the time magazine named khashoggi as one of its persons of the year we didn't do anything wrong the others all journalists including two reuters reporters jailed in me and maher for reporting on atrocities against the real hinges. and staff at a local us newspaper in maryland who survived

a mass shooting that claimed the lives of five of their colleagues you are the enemy of the people just sit down please trumps frequent attacks on the media have also come under the spotlight in october the committee to protect journalists called on president trump to dial back the rhetoric this after a trump supporter from florida sent more than a dozen bombs to critics of the president two of which went to the c.n.n. offices here in new york there's been a lot of hostility towards the press and you think that nationally for new year's eve to celebrate things and you've got a lovely sleep times here is named after a newspaper and i think this is a tie to say like the importance of freedom in the present or is it journalism that celebrate when writing for new years and say that's had twenty nine in the when respect in journalism in the free press. as a ball dropped in times square celebration but also remembering all the journalists

killed or imprisoned who would. the chance to see it because of the truth telling. which made the target people go. and we'll be looking at the rest of the world celebrated the new year later on in this al-jazeera news hour also coming up internet access is down in the democratic republic of congo as votes are counted following that tense presidential election. protests in hong kong face an unprecedented demand from the government before being allowed to march. and running around again in england's premier league footballer he's back from an eighteen month doping banned we'll have the details in sport. and the coalition as well as the rebels both being accused of stealing and selling

on food aid that is meant for millions of starving yemenis the u.n. food agency is threatening to suspend shipments unless the theft stops the world preprogram says about two thirds of relief supplies delivered he controlled areas is being taken by armed groups and the associated press is reporting that it saw documents which suggested that russians intended for families in ties are being stolen by armed units working with the coalition forces. well the fate of the critical yemeni port city of today there is at the center of a un backed cease fire deal between the huth is and pro-government forces the u.n. has accused both sides of failing to honor those hands of the deal which called for all sides to withdraw matheson takes a look at this fragile truce. rare smiles in the yemeni port city of hiding

on the streets cautious optimism about the un brokered cease fire which appeared to be holding in the closing days of december. during the almost four year conflict in yemen data and the people who live here have been bombed and shot out. as opposing sides of the battle to control the city the port of her data is yemen's lifeline where most food imports equipment or medical supplies arrive desperately needed by hospitals like this one in the city of ties in western yemen which patients including fired one hundred rely on to survive. i'm from marker and there's no renal dialysis the most important thing is my treatment without it die. much of tell us has been destroyed as have many other parts of yemen at least sixty thousand yemenis are reported killed in fighting nationwide

between warring factions including hooty rebels and pro-government forces backed by a coalition led by saudi arabia and the united arab and its. aid agencies say millions are close to starvation it's estimated eighty five thousand children have died from malnutrition some hope the worst is over. god willing we will see a better future the end of the crisis and peace in the region in particular entailments i don't. expect that in twenty nineteen for yemen to stop and peace or political reconciliation. in the sun are to the north of to ease more devastation but here too among the destroyed buildings some optimism. and we hope the aggression will stop and the economy and life will improve we are. back in what data not everyone is convinced the ceasefire will hold. decision

is justin called paper we haven't seen any results yet reality in his data is contrary to what we expected. at the dawn of a new year there are glimmers of hope for the people of yemen but no one can be sure how long that hope might last rob patterson. taliban fighters have killed at least twenty one afghan security personnel during several attacks on security in the. province twenty six. so in just a few days provisional results of the democratic republic of congo's election should be released in an apparent effort to stop speculation about the outcome internet access has been shut down several candidates have been claiming to be in the lead but they've gone quiet for now at least sunday's vote was hampered by delays complaints of vote rigging and violence.

as i speak to you more than a third of the ballots have been counted nationally and the trends are unquestionable they put coalition candidate martin for you lou mcgeady far in the lead. all right let's go to our correspondent catherine so who's in kinshasa the capital and catherine what i find to be quite interesting at this stage is to is to find out more about exactly how the poll was conducted there's been so many complaints about these electronic voting machines about polling booths not opening on time if at all and of course about the heavy handedness carried out by security forces what's the overall picture as details become clearer. well mattoon a lot of people here a lot of people i've spoken to are saying they do not trust this process at all because of how this process has been conducted let's start with the compay season that was very chaotic some kind of days denied from access in some parts of the

country. supporters of some kind of violence to just the police using tear gas and. then convoyed today everything in some polling stations things was so disorganized we visited toiling stations where voting started very very late so people know for example those no forces registering some polling stations especially in opposition areas and then we have people vote to possibly is for about one point two million voters that's who's not go not go to the polls because the natural commission was formed election to march so a lot of people saying that they believe that this election is not going to be credible i spoke to one of the presidential candidates marking so you know and he said that enough fair and free process there is no way for example the ruling party

candidate martin should diary can win this election and i ask you so if he is declared winner because i mean they've been saying that these voting machines you're talking about they've been saying that electoral commission plans to use these machines to regain the ruling party congress last time isa ruling party candidate is the kid we know what are you going to do what are you going to tell his supporters he said well this is going to be operable cation to the people and this is a big concern to many people talk to they say that this election is contested then it's two percent that could potentially be violence and that worried about that mark and this is a problem isn't it because it's with so many doubts surrounding that to come down to the polls and so many people question. whether this will reflect the the will of the forty million or so congolese who were supposed. to. go to contest the vote this is going to lead to rest in this country.

absolutely i've been speaking to some people in the civil society can say it's just that this thing you know all the problems that have happened let's start with the electronic voting machine that has been very very controversial opposition leaders saying that this machine the electoral commission as i said is going to use these machines to rig the election saying that this machine should not be used for example to transmit resolves we have had from the electoral commission that has stayed that the machine will transmit results but the final outcome really will be determined by that he recalled how and of the ballot that people do not trust their electoral commission people do not trust the electoral commission president they think that this process has been so has not been transparent and you know everything that has fallen on how the whole force and has been then the election has somewhat been stepped up for content station and even

a selection is contest and then there could be violence and already seen signs of this during the campaign period as i mentioned and on voting day we went to polling stations where people of very angry because of this you know what is not working in part no water of voters registered in the polling stations people very angry very aggressive so you can imagine you know i have to their talents and even a declaration is made that is not in favor of many people you can imagine how they can react all right now catherine thank you very much live in kinshasa. at the european union a school for the release of a prominent rights activists him a news prison sentence for speaking out against saudi arabia has been held by a top cold and on the same day a colt in the united arab emirates held a sentence against that. andres ship poem ripple. mid-month sewer in the united arab emirates and to be

a raja in bahrain will now be spending years in prison for criticizing their government's policies on social media was a prominent opposition figure during behind's protest movement during the arab spring he's been in and out of prison for this activism and his tweets on monday the supreme court upheld a five year jail term for a tweet deemed offensive to the state wars bring hatred destruction and horrors he tweeted as the saudi led coalition began bombing yemen in twenty fifteen the bahraini court agreed he disseminated what he calls false news in a time of war and defended the foreign country rights groups say the timing of the verdict is important. then. i mean the reason why they chose to have it during the holidays in the west where they are expecting the minimal. attention or diverted. the

peace advocate state that he won he wants to remain silent. decided to bomb the children in yemen that he stated that war will only bring misery i would never bring solutions for those that we may be needed. by the present amnesty international calls the verdict shameful one that exposes behinds justice system as a complete farce it along with a coalition of human rights groups had also campaigned for the u.a.e. to release the activist ahmed monsoor but an appeals court in abu dhabi upheld a ten year jail sentence on monday months were two had spent time in prison in twenty eleven and accused of insulting the rulers by calling for democratic elections in the united arab emirates this time he was charged with publishing what the government considers false information on social media as well as calling for another activist to be released these latest rulings highlight the dangers and difficulties activists space in the gulf region and are schapelle al-jazeera. and

in a separate developmental women's rights activists in egypt has had her prison sentence up held on similar charges fathi was sentenced to two years in jail for posting a video on facebook criticizing the egyptian authorities failing to tackle sexual harassment he was charged with spreading false news undermining national security and publishing an indecent video and the sea international has campaigned for have release and this cold sunday's ruling and outrageous injustice. rob is here with the weather in just a moment also coming up on this al-jazeera news hour a new path in the new year north korean leader kim jong il now warns of an alternative plan on denuclearization. sixty years after fidel castro's revolution and we look at its lasting legacy in latin america. and harden

launches the rockets into the new year will have all of the sport in just a little. by the springtime flowering of a mountain unique. to the first month on a winter's day. well we're not into some an iowa game in australia and the wood heat wave comes up now despite the fairly regular thunderstorms that give if you're lucky some decent rain this is the overall picture give me two examples in camber of the capital the average is twenty eight in summer this time of the some of the record is forty we've been fortunate raise above average for the last five days camber is not alone it's true of many cities the park may be mostly because example alice springs at least the average here's a high one at thirty six we set a new record just at the end of december and the last five has been running eight

to ten degrees above average this is not a typical and it carries on for most places clearly if you're on the coast brisbane sydney melbourne adelaide you get to see reason every now and again but more often than not heatwave conditions are becoming more the norm now this is the good part of australia in the north it's also wet season and we've been talking about flooding in queens and tropical queensland recently this is the second tropical starting to come in from the coral sea and then redeveloping go back out again this one's called penny stump sickly windy storm but central for rain up to four hundred typically one hundred fifty nights further north than the last one so it'll do a little less damage to daintree national park. the weather sponsored by qatar airways. they call this bleeding the tree. first substance the world is addicted to now at the center of a global trade war. it's latex in its purest form found in tires phones

toothbrushes satellites or mattresses it is an essential element in daily life and so deep in the ivorian forest where you had a book goes from tree to tree scarring them for the precious liquid trump is imposing two hundred billion dollars in tariffs on china the world's largest manufacturer of rubber goods china in response imposes tariffs on synthetic rubber the west produces while in the short term this is bad for african producers in the long run some hope the continent could benefit from this trade war unaware of the global trade war and despite falling prices at opel calls rubber white gold at least for now.

time to take a look at the top stories here it out as their. president says the u.s. troop withdrawal from syria will now happen more slowly it's a backtrack from his abrupt announcement last month that all two thousand american troops would be brought home immediately after defeating i saw. a book written by two technician this is offering new details about how saudi operatives planned the murder of journalist jamal khashoggi the vocals it contains previously unseen bitches of the same agents. outside the saudi council's residence with bags apparently used to carry khashoggi is remains. to saudi u.a.e. coalition and to the rebels each being accused of stealing and selling on food aid meant for millions of starving yemenis the u.n. through the agency has threatened to suspend aid shipments unless the staff stops.

now in hong kong pro-democracy rallies take place almost every year on the first day of the year but this year activists are saying they're facing an unprecedented demand from the government organizers were told to prevent protests is from displaying pro independence symbols at the government headquarters the civil human rights front said it will comply but described the demand as a threat to freedom of expression. to vehicle poland has more from hong kong. seems like this year there are far more people than were expected thousands of people are marching down the streets and people here say it's because this year there's a particular urgency to it it caps off a year twenty eighteen of our hong kong's freedom of expression hong kong's it's on to me and many aspects of its human rights were roaded by by the authorities in beijing and by the hong kong government not people here say they want to have their

voices heard in case there will be more suppression of freedom of expression in the coming year for the first time ever this year also a political party was about to walk on and that's the pro independence party they were banned from running and even existing as a political party so they're also marching they're not allowed to march the government had mortars with their pro and abandons banners but they are going to be marching alongside this group here and they're going to veer off to the government to the police headquarters just a couple of hundred meters away from here. the sudanese president omar al bashir has altered an inquiry into nationwide protests the big. and almost two weeks ago at a look at how police responded to the demonstrations which have killed at least nineteen people on monday the security forces again use tear gas and live fire to disperse crowds in the capital of khartoum dozens of people were arrested they want an end

to bashir twenty nine year old despite his promises to speed up reforms that he says will make people's lives better. but how to get into we shall enter into a new era where unity is reinforced and harmony is maintained in the whole country all with the aim to face the challenges and threats hovering above our head and here i renew the call to be honorable sudanese people in and outside of sudan to come together and stand united to parade on the good and not the evil we will join hands to denounce violence steer away from wars to engage in dialogue is the only means to resolve differences that britain is increasing patrols of the english channel after a rise in the number of refugees and migrants attempting to cross from france twelve people including a child with the latest arrivals they were detained on a beach in kent the u.k. home secretary says around two hundred thirty three people have tried to come over in december and declared it

a major incident. rescue workers in russia braving subzero temperatures to try to find dozens of people they fish are still trapped in the rubble of a collapse apartment block it was brought down by a gas explosion on monday just east of moscow as many as forty people still missing . brazil's new fall right president has to be sworn in later today tuesday j.-a both sonata is a divisive figure his praise the country's possibility leaders john holeman looks at what his presidency could mean for the rest of the world. this covers more than half of brazil the amazon rain forest it's known as the lungs storing billions of tons of the planet's carbon dioxide. it was already being cut but the now brazil's incoming president wants to see it opened up to the business. people that leave. if we need to we're going to propose democratically to congress

change the laws of the environmental policies don't disrupt brazil's development. it's not just the environment john abell sinatra's election is part of a new global wave of populist conservative leaders. that owe the victory of balsa narrow as a victory for the ultra right which is beginning to be a real force in the world brazil is very strategic one of the most important countries in latin america it has this relationship now with the u.s. and other countries like austria turkey and the philippines oh but the relationship will soon otto's most interested in is with this money they share a love of social media and the distrust of the press but also novels even been nicknamed the trumpet the tropics between them they now rule over the two largest economies in the americas it's an abrupt about face from the left this governments of brazil's recent past history polystyrene you looks pretty quiet now. but it felt

some of the biggest tremors of change hundreds of thousands of people marched against a corruption scandal during brazil's political class but together with problems with the economy and specially crime many people are ready to take a chance on an absolute outlier. analysts say there's danger he could eventually lead to another global trend strongmen undermining democracies he has a form this for brazil's authoritarian past. i'm in favor of torture and the people are in favor of that too. that doesn't lose him points for many here who see it is just plain speaking they'll judge him instead on how he acts to tackle brazil's many problems john homan. caver is celebrating sixty years since fidel castro's communist revolution and inspired and guided left wing governments

or up the region than your looks at the influence of cuba had impact still has in that in america. the bearded ones as they were called road into heaven or on the first of january nine hundred fifty nine on a wave of optimism after overthrowing the repressive regime it was a new dawn and many didn't expect them to survive long especially as the united states actively try to undermine fidel castro's government most notably back in the failed one nine hundred sixty one bay of pigs invasion and imposing an economic blockade survives to this day still a colonial was a friend of castro's. then. the one nine hundred fifty nine revolution was a historic continuation of the liberation wars the wars of independence cubans have always been fighting against spanish colonial ism and then against us interference . by fidel and his brother old and now. has constantly

adapted to changing. circumstances embracing help from the soviet union then turning to tourism and special missions in the soviet union collapsed and now allowing the growth of private enterprise albeit cautiously reluctantly we've made progress i have to say. but where's a long way from you know accepting the fog that we need and we actually have to do a lot of different things to nurture the private sector that's also a positive not only for the economy. but also for the lives of a majority over to. zero. about thirteen percent of the workforce has gone private often desert in low paid state sector jobs to work in the more lucrative tourist industry and industry selling visions of a socialist dream up to this man died in bolivia in one nine hundred sixty seven

trying to spread cuba's brand of socialism throughout latin america or though he felt his influence is still felt if not at government level that trade trade union and social movements throughout the region and of course in cuba or itself the country the argentine adopted as his home cubans will vote on the referendum in february on the kind of socialism they'd like to see in a revised constitution perhaps more market reforms and increase foreign investment . something that what i'd like to know what i question is what kind of socialism are we talking about i consider myself a socialist but doesn't mean it can be imposed a constitutional level on the whole world the people who run the country today may have a different interpretation of socialism tomorrow and saying something is not socialist could be enough to restrict someone's constitutional rights its allies in the region the disappearing brazil for instance sending cuban medics hobe them to sweden all drawing up the cooper says socialist flame sixty years on still burns

bright that they'll continue to defy the odds and survive and thrive that al-jazeera. at least five people have been killed dozens of others are still missing after heavy rain cools the landslide in indonesia the marduk buried thirty houses in the village of sin the rest me that's in west java seasonal rains of course several landslides and widespread flooding in recent days at least sixty eight people are now known to have been killed by a storm that swept through the philippines on saturday but one hundred ninety thousand people are affected by landslides and flooding there several provinces have declared a state of calamity freeing up emergency funds from the federal government police in japan's capital tokyo have launched a terrorism investigation after a man drove her minivan into a crowd celebrating the new year in downtown tokyo at least nine people were injured police say they found large

a large tank full of kerosene inside the vehicle suggesting the twenty one year old suspect had planned to set it on fire he was arrested at the scene the north korean leader kim jong il now has rung in twenty nineteen with an offer of more talks with u.s. president donald trump but he warned his country may seek what he called a new path if washington doesn't keep its promises rob mcbride reports from the south korean capital seoul. even before the north korean leader spoke it was clear this was going to be a new year's speech in a different tone a softer look for a softer message kim jong un spoke of into korean relations entering a completely new phase the escalating tensions building trust. and in last year's speech kim emphasized north korea's nuclear arsenal this year there was a different pledge. that in was in our parties our governments and my resolve for

complete denuclearization remain unchanged we have proclaims that we will no longer make nuclear weapons and will not use them or spread them and we have also taken various practical measures already kim jong un stressed is a game of carrying forward the momentum from twenty eighteen into twenty nineteen it seems to confirm his intended historic visit to south korea is still a long track it's a prospect that divides people here including thousands of north korean defectors. rehearsing for an end of year concert pianist kim plays a piece of music that is popular in both the north and south. when he defected sixteen years ago he couldn't have imagined a north korean leader might one day visit the south. or i got excited me think if he comes the day that i return home i may come soon. but now i think one of the reasons for his visit is to sustain his regime so i don't think we're

going to see any unification and the mood of optimism was also tempered when it came to relations with the u.s. kim says he wants to meet with president donald trump again but had this warning how much he will be if the united states continues to break its promises and misjudges our patience by unilaterally demanding certain things and pushes ahead with sanctions and pressure against our republic then we have to seek another way to protect our country's sovereignty and interest under stablished p. and stability on the korean peninsula. twenty nineteen clearly holds the prospect of further improvements in relations but with the ever present risk of the process stalling or even going in reverse public bride al-jazeera so. let's take a break them from politics and take a look instead at how the world celebrated twenty nineteen. reports. i was. about one hundred thousand people lined the banks

of the river thames in london to watch the celebrations. thousands packed the seans elisei in the french capital to watch the fireworks display at the uk to triumph there was heavy security deployment after the recent yellow vest protests. bad weather didn't deter crowds from gathering in the greek capital athens for a dazzling display over the acropolis. people partied into the new year in the indian capital need delhi but the celebration started thousands of kilometers away in auckland harbor and new zealand thousands of people watched brightly colored file extruding into the night sky city authorities say the share what the sky tower standing three hundred twenty eight metres tall is the highest fireworks display in the sun.