and in-depth analysis of the day global headlines inside story on al-jazeera. if you want to help save the world. sneeze into your own. accused of wasting valuable time scathing criticism of the u.k. prime minister's handling of the coronavirus our break. the whole roman you're watching al-jazeera live my headquarters here in doha also coming up part of the largest refugee camp in greece is destroyed by fire following unrest over covert 900 safety measures and back to the voting stations in mali amid the threat of armed groups and the pandemic. also we explore in new york city from

sunrise to sunset to find out what life really is like under lockdown. welcome to al-jazeera british leaders are defending themselves against damning criticism that they've mishandled the coronavirus pandemic the sunday times newspaper points the finger directly at prime minister boris johnson it accuses him of wasting precious time in stopping the spread the paper it usually supports johnson's conservative party but it says he ignored scientists warnings fail to replenish stocks of protective medical equipment and didn't attend 5 initial emergency meetings about the outbreak since then more than 15000 britons have died in hospitals that's the world's 5th highest national death toll and the true picture may be much higher because official statistics don't include the coronavirus deaths of elderly people in care homes and that totals estimated to be

around $4000.00 paul brennan has the latest from london. it is critical the times the sunday times apologies has basically gone back to early january and kind of looked at the government's response in those early weeks particularly the 5 weeks from the end of january to the very start of march where there were 5 cobra meetings this is the national crisis committee of the government where security advisors scientific advisors and political bodies political people get together and work out what the government strategy should be the copra pope was the acronym then what we have is the prime minister not attending the 1st 5 of the sunday times is gone in spoken to senior downing street advisors people from within the areas government departments and the quotes that they put forward in today's report spread over 4 pages are as you say pretty damning you know one quote is from a department of health person the pandemic was always top of the national risk

register always but when it came to it we just slowly watched the government that was putting up a defense of it saying boris johnson doesn't actually have to attend those cobra briefings those cobra meetings not until it really gets critical you care education secretary gavin williams and dismissed allegations that the prime minister's absence from cobra meetings was unusual for prime minister from the moment at it became clear that there were challenges in terms of coronavirus developing in in china has absolutely been leading our nations at that combat for coronavirus making sure that resources and money is not an issue or concern for any department especially health service in terms of dealing with this and as you will well know when i know as an experienced journalist you're very aware of this many copra meetings take place and i spent many hours attending cobra meetings where it's actually led by the departmental minister but the focus that the prime minister was

putting on this and can to continue to put on this has meant that this is the whole government effort. also under increasing scrutiny for its handling of the pandemic is the united states the question of when to ease lock down restrictions dividing the country president trump keeps pushing a positive message he says that the signs of covert 19 have passed its peak but experts warn that moving too fast could be disastrous as i'm to galahad reports now from the state of florida. after weeks of stay at home odors hundreds flocked to the reopened beaches in jacksonville florida the maddock lead this controversial move as essential activity even as the state hit more than 27000 coronavirus cases it's what authorities call a pathway back to normal life. but in other parts of the u.s. the scenes a very different across the country a small but growing protest movement is calling for restrictions to be eased from utah to wisconsin in both republican and democratic led states people are taking to

the streets urging a return to normal life we are still a free country at least for now and people have to make a decision and that's their personal decision if they don't want to be 6 feet apart or 7 peter peter parker i can't i can't dictate that to them despite declaring that individual governors are in charge president donald trump seemed to encourage the protests in a series of tweets on friday all 3 states have democratic governors his tacit support is seen as deeply political in a time of crisis and you know it is there are a lot of protests out there and i just think that some of the governors have gotten carried away you know we have a lot of people that don't have to be told to do what they're doing they've been really. doing everything we've asked them in new york the epicenter of the pandemic measures to ease restrictions still far off the state's governor says this is no

time to play politics how does the situation get worse. it get worse quickly if you politicize all that emotion we can not go there that's where i work so hard when anyone raises any political agenda to me i work so hard to distance myself from it. some states are beginning to ease restrictions many are still battling the coronavirus and testing is in short supply the desire to get back to some kind of normal is clear the careful approach to doing so vital thank you very much a nation divided it was perhaps inevitable the politics would play a part no matter what challenges lay ahead throughout this crisis the mantra has been we're in it together but any sense of unity now seems to be falling apart conservatives believe the cure is worse than the disease others and has to be a more science based approach the fact remains many states

a yet to peek in their coronavirus cases the decisions governors make now will be crucial but that hasn't stopped some trying to score political points gallacher al-jazeera miami florida donald trump is accused of stalking islamophobia as well have to raising questions about social distancing in mosques during the holy month of ramadan a white house correspondent kimberly hellcat has more. there are increasing questions about a retreat by u.s. president trump on saturday accusations he may be stoking islamophobia in the united states the reach we read let's see if authorities enforce the social distancing orders for mosques during ramadan like they did churches during easter i asked the president about this retreat here's what he had to say didn't put him back on the list the monster to follow so i think i just had a call with a mom so i just had a call with ministers rabbis we had

a tremendous call with the faith leaders no i don't think that at all i am somebody that believes in faith and it matters not what your faith is but our politicians seem to treat different faiths very differently and they seem to think and i don't know what happened with their country but. the christian faith is treated much differently than it was and i think it's treated very unfairly now when it comes to enforcing social distancing the department of justice did take on the case of at least one church in mississippi where worshipers attended in their automobiles with the car windows rolled up the department of justice said that these worshippers were simply exercising their right under the 1st amendment of the u.s. constitution now many in the united states watching very carefully to see if this same effort will be applied when it comes to those who may want to celebrate during ramadan which begins in the u.s.

on thursday. no heavy floods in kenya have killed 3 people and left 28 missing including police officers who were on a rescue mission in west now the current has been strong enough to uproot trees and sweep them along in a fast moving tide schools homes and markets are under water let's cross to nairobi now where we can speak to our correspondent catherine sawyer joining us on the phone catherine this is a fast moving and developing story that we've been watching for the several hours now what's the situation like. hi so here you are in very clear network of love the problem where i am but if you know about what's going on now i can tell you have just spoken to a journalist food on the ground in those areas that are affected and he calton is there such a rescue mission has been closed for the day the rescue teams are going to view our trust light you also say that it's been raining quite clearly in part the most of

the day the efforts to reach some of the affected areas have been very very difficult indeed and as you mentioned the roads have been kept off trees huge trees have been a pool ted beaches have been also destroyed and we are also being told that and entire trading fence around the police both have been what some of the pearl police officers about you talked about who had gone to the rescue mission were coming from that police posts for that has been totally destroyed and this is an incident really that happened in the afternoon a lot of people who saw the water coming went to safety and the people. though for being confirmed to have died 20 are still receiving about 2500 people who have been affected homeless their homes have been destroyed and they are seeking safety at some schools now a team of government officials have been dispatched to some of these affected areas

and i help in some of the families that have been affected with food and other basics of this is an incident that happened at the border between 2 counties and in the most affected areas it wasn't even raining the water came from mountainous mountainous areas in one of the counties that people look at that it was there waiting there for people to so want to gushing in vegas runs for safety and it's important to know that this comes. just a lot of my pride in the. last november were. what killed some of the people who were affected by that landslide are just beginning to. come back to their lives to new. day in their lives again and their livelihoods in this has happened 'd it's a very dire situation. for the cuff and so we thank you poles

in mali her to close in no more than an hour voters are casting their ballots in the 2nd round of legislative elections despite threats of violence and the coronavirus pandemic hand washing facilities have been set of outside polling booths and guards are warning people about social distancing in the capital bamako now the government went ahead with the vote despite the kidnapping of an opposition leader and threats from finances linked to al qaida or 147 seats up for grabs in the national assembly nicholas haq is following developments from dakar in neighboring senegal. the prime minister has come out and said that he was happy that the mountains took part in this election and yet there's only been 8 percent of the electorate according to the election commission that has come out to vote even worse than the 1st round of this election where there is a historic low of 10 percent of the voters that came out clearly people are scared of 2 things the global pandemic the coronavirus that's also affecting mali but also

the threat of armed groups such as the al qaeda affiliates in the south of the slum loosely mean and in the greater so hard to groups that have called on this election to be boycotted and so what we've seen is that a few people came out to vote and that has gone in the hands of the ruling party who has claimed victory in key areas in including the north of the country were armed groups are active at the heart of this is the reason why this parliamentary election is taking place in the 1st part of this was part of the peace agreement signed in 2015 between armed groups and the government and the idea here is to change the constitution and give greater power to local officials. well still ahead here on al-jazeera. balancing faith not all churchgoers are worshiping from a distance. delivery a large toy

a lifeline and as well migrants are now being seen as essential in colombia is comparable but at what cost to themselves. and are there still available picture throughout much of the arabian peninsula the last few hours this town has been streaming in and it has produce one or 2 showers and thunderstorms but still the streets are flooded in some areas a sign of the capital of yemen and there is more rain in the 4 calls to now through monday we will see more rain developing through will central western as a saudi it could be thunderstorms of course and that will ratchet extend its way further towards the east pushing on towards castle and again more their shells and thunderstorms across much of yemen and really is a repeat on cheese over the rain a little bit heavier to the east just indy's all southern areas possibly of iraq

and across into kuwait but it could be very heavy rain at times so it could lead to some flash flooding and all the flash flooding into some poles of central africa kenya has seen some very heavy downpours reports of at least one floods falling in from a landslide and also we've got more heavy rain still through much of tanzania and done and he's coastal areas of mozambique and all the while northern areas of on go to seeing some very heavy amounts of rain in through cheese day the rains heavy again through central and northern areas of the d.l.c. at the same time some showers developing with ana storms into most central areas of south africa feeling cooler as well in cape town with a high of 90. from fossil fuels to modern day renewable as societies develop their energy demands increase requiring innovative solutions to meet such demands as a global power development of investment companies nebraska power is uniquely

positioned to deliver against these developments we provide business growth promote social economic benefits and provide innovative safe and environmentally sound energy solutions for future generation the brush pioneering future energy. of back you're watching i was there with me celeron the reminder of our top stories a british government minister has described reports that prime minister boris johnson skipped critical coronavirus meetings early in the outbreak and protest the sunday times newspaper alleges that the british government was too slow to respond to the threat from the pandemic also pressure is mounting on u.s.

governors to ease coronavirus lock down rules protests encouraged by donald trump have been held in several states for a 3rd day in a row the president says some states will begin easing restrictions as early as monday. and heavy floods in kenya have killed 3 people and left 20 missing including police officers who were on a rescue mission in west polka to schools homes and a market on the homes. fire has damaged one of the largest migrant camps in greece on the island of shields jones are all places in athens he says 847 year old iraqi in silence he could died in the overcrowded camp which sparked hours of protests it seems that a lot of the people staying in the camp were worried the woman who died had died of coronavirus she had been to hospital a week earlier with a high fever she had been diagnosed negative for corona virus evidently something else was the matter because she died days later in the camp but these facts were

not known to the people who started this protest and it seems to go house of hand part of the administrative facility has been burned down mainly offices belonging to the european and the greek asylum services which have been suspended since late lunch because of corona virus so there was no activity there and no one in the camp was hurt thankfully the camp is also under strain because apart from the general anxiety refugees have about catching coronavirus in overcrowded conditions there are also restrictions on movement to the government weeks ago decided to allow people in and out of these open reception senses on the 5 eastern asia and islands under certain conditions for shopping or for medicine but not to come and go as they wish and that creates an extra strain there also tents for people to be tested outside the camps in time the government wants to turn those into field

hospitals for positive cases because it wants to keep the refugee cases separate from any cases from the greek population which will go to the general hospitals regionally. libya's even recognize government forces say that they resume their military operation towards the who are after successfully completing stage one battling to recapture the stronghold of ward cleaver hafter the western city of the who is where many of his men come from and government forces say that they killed 10 of have to fighters and captured dozens more in retaliation have to us forces intensified shelling on residential areas in tripoli iran's warned the u.s. of a decisive response to what it called any dangerous actions by american forces in the gulf it follows an incident on wednesday when the u.s. military says 11 vessels from iran's elite revolutionary guard came close to its ships in the gulf the u.s. call the move provocative in response iran has stepped up the guards patrols in the

region. russian president vladimir putin says the country is growing the virus situation is under complete control he made the common search christians were urged to stay home during orthodox easter weekend on sunday russia reported a wreck or daily rise of 6000 new infections putin says the health care system and the economy can cope when you my dinner and the legal room open to you but we are carefully analyzing the experience of other countries and actively cooperating with our foreign friends and colleagues we understand what's happening and see the risks know what to do no matter how the situation develops and doing what's necessary when you've lifted up all levels of government are working with a cli smoothly and responsibly the situation is under complete control all the docks christians are celebrating easter the most important holiday on their calendar and a very different conditions but coronavirus restrictions didn't prevent the

faithful finding ways to join traditional midnight services. and in bulgaria many worshippers gathered outside the cathedral in the capital severe despite government advice to stay at home the head of the orthodox church there led an open air service while the congregation wore masks and kept their distance from each other while in greece with churches close the faithful gathered on their balconies to celebrate together normally $2000000.00 greeks traveled to their hometowns to celebrate the holiday. and in georgia health officials fare a spike in infections after the religious holiday despite fines for gatherings of more than 3 people churches have stayed open critics have accused the government of failing to hold the leaders of the eastern orthodox church to account so from tbilisi robin forestay walker reports. the most potent date in the orthodox calendar is also

a critical moment for the spread of coronavirus the at tbilisi's so maybe cathedral the orthodox church opened its doors to the faithful leave. the odds of the worshippers who have chosen to participate in the traditional midnight eastern mass had to get here early to avoid breaking a nightly curfew and it's been decided between a church in your forties that they can stay here overnight all together under one roof until the curfew is lifted in the morning. restrictions including a ban on gatherings of more than 3 people have been in place for weeks but for the head of the church and his followers those rules do not apply. to this satirical video illustrates what critics say

a double standards. with the state refusing to intervene in matters of faith a subservient to the church because it sure ratings of the church and because of. this year saw the government here to directly or host a church which is encouraging each parish in years to extend their easter services to jews prime. mr has said a balance must be found between staying safe and practicing faith. i want to assure you that both the state and the church fully understand their responsibility towards human health and upholding executions and the law and the functioning of the shocking pink challenges are finally called him silent she has enjoyed a gentle infection because of until now with social distancing largely observed

that eastern celebrations have the scientists worried this is they are now the problem for us this 4 or 5 days if they social distancing will be less of course they chance of date spread of danger action and increasing the rate of pay you know infection will be much moral the. many georgians have chosen to stay home this easter pray with their families and prayed for the safety of the nation robin 1st you walk out tbilisi. one of the few jobs not affected by the pandemic lockdown in latin america is korea work and in colombia it's become particularly popular among venezuelan migrants who are desperate to make a living even if it means putting their health at risk. reports from bogota. on the deserted streets of bogota they've become familiar figures backpack wielding

couriers on bicycles delivering food and medicine to lock down colombians most of them here are venezuelan migrants who say they have no alternative but risking exposure to the coronavirus. the day my girl miss a mother of 4 says contagion is always on our mind but since her husband lost his job saying at home was not an option it on my face. it's not easy to go out and expose yourself to the virus especially when you have kids waiting for you when i get home i need to take szell precautions wash change clothes before touching anybody. trying to be safe means context with customers have been reduced to a minimum. yet there may be a bright side people who look down on them as own skilled migrants now say they're essential in the fight to control the virus. because you know i receive messages on the app saying that we are heroes like the doctors or the policeman i was

a nurse back home when you're sharp to becoming a doctor so i feel what i am doing is not all that different from my passion helping others motivates here. delivery services had already become a lifeline for venezuelan refugees across the continent but as latin america hunkered down thousands of lost their jobs with delivery orders spiking so has the number of recently unemployed migrant smooth lighting this careers there are now 25000 people working as delivery men here and the company says they have to wait another 45. 1000 people none of them receive health insurance for their work in exposing themselves and very few seem to have it now. nor the companies don't offer insurance i'm here with god's blessing. brainy man this says that at times he receives masks in hand sanitizers but that he has to buy most elements on

his own. reports that in the united states more than 40 grocery workers have died after catching the virus worry him but he says the issue is one of survival one way or the other. it's a blessing to simply be able to go out and make some money to live with what we are in on a daily basis you know work means no food. even when working means putting yourself at risk with little or no protection alison and. now the shutdown of new york has turned a wall of the most vibrant cities in the world into a ghost town is said to stay that way until at least the middle of next month. spent exploring the stillness in the city that's gone to sleep. the american poet carl sandburg once wrote the moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to. this is a day in the life of

a lonely empty city. 6 20 am the 1st rays of sun over new york. 7 o'clock in the morning the normally bustling harlem is hushed. with. the 125th street subway station at 7 45 am but the rumble of the one train cuts through the eerie stillness. a few minutes after 8 am time square the bright lights but not a soul to see that. 7th avenue in midtown manhattan this is morning rush hour. this is new york suspended in time by a silent and deadly virus. a siren from an ambulance off in the distance. 140 in the afternoon

the surreal shutdown of the city is hard on everyone especially the elderly many of whom are alone. 2 46 pm and here it's busy. people linger outside maybe waiting for word on a loved one inside. at 4 15 pm a few signs of life in this residential neighborhood in brooklyn. but essential workers life is hard. at 6 pm there is no rush to get home from the office everyone is home. by early evening more people secluded in their apartments all day begin to come out masks are required. this is the new normal. as another day draws to

a close in a paralyzed city a reminder that new york will be back but the vibrant. city that never sleeps every turn to that might take a while gabriel's rondo al-jazeera new york. we want you all to 0 with me as a whole robin a round of our top stories a british government minister has described reports that prime minister boris johnson skipped critical coronavirus meetings early in the outbreak and grotesque the sunday times newspaper alleges that the british government was too slow to respond to the threat from the pandemic. the prime minister from the moment it became clear that there were challenges in terms of coronavirus developing in in china has absolutely been leading our nation's effort to combat the coronavirus

making sure that resources and money is not an issue or a concern for any department especially the health service in terms of dealing with it and as you will well know and i know as an experienced journalist you're very aware of this many cobra meetings take place and i spent many hours attending cobra meetings where it's actually led by the departmental minister but the focus that the prime minister was putting on this and can to continue to put on this has meant this is the whole government effort pressure is mounting on us governors to ease coronavirus lockdown rules protesting courage by donald trump have been held in several states for the 3rd day in a row the president's or some states will begin easing restrictions as early as monday turkey has replaced iran as the middle eastern country with the highest number of reported infections almost $4000.00 new cases were confirmed in the past

24 hours taking the total to over 86000 heavy flooding in kenya has killed at least 4 people and left 28 others missing including police officers who were on a rescue mission in west schools homes and a market under water but is amalia casting their ballots in the 2nd round of legislative elections amid threats of violence and the pandemic guards are warning people about social distancing in the capital bamako the government went ahead with the vote despite the kidnapping of an opposition leader libya's un recognized government forces say they resume their military operation towards to who know how to successfully completing stage one battling to recapture the stronghold of warlord khalifa haftar those were the headlines i'll be back with more news in half an hour here on al-jazeera next inside story of bernard smith.

what's the reason for the arrest of democracy leaders in hong kong 15 to its face court as more concerns are raised about the city's will tell me this trip to baltimore this is inside story. hello welcome to the program. the coronavirus pandemic has interrupted the anti-government protests that gripped hong kong for much of last year but the tension that triggered.