we the different cultures across the world we used to call in to that matter to you minister orders a final offensive on gray as a deadline, passes for regional forces to surrender. this is al jazeera live from doha, also coming up. donald trump pardons his former national security advisor, michael flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the f.b.i. and the russia investigation. a court in turkey hands down sentences for hundreds of people convicted of having links to a failed coup. 4 years ago and

tributes pouring in for football legend. diego maradona, who's died of a heart attack at the age of 60 prime minister says the final phase of the offensive in the northern region has begun in a statement when it is telling residents to stay indoors, as the army is ordered to move on, the regional capital, the calais government imposed deadline for to ground forces to surrender expired on wednesday. has been nearly 3 weeks of fighting with hundreds killed and tens of thousands displaced. let's get more from malcolm webb. he's live for us in neighboring kenya. malcolm, what do we know about this final phase? what does that involve? well, prime minister had to eat a statement, a short while ago saying that this 3rd and final stage would begin. now this

follows the ultimatum that he issued on sunday. he said that the ground forces should lay down their weapons within 3 days. otherwise the regional capital of, mckelway, which is the as far as we know, the headquarters of the, the p.l.f., he said it would be assaulted. now in the statement that he tweeted a short while ago, he said that thousands of the grain fighters had defected, had surrendered. but this contradicts claims that we've heard in recent days from the to grain military leadership itself. the other thing that's also not clear is the position of the 2 sides at the moment. the federal government forces had said that they surrounded the city of mcalary, that they were about 50 kilometers away. military leadership had refuted that and they said that they've managed to push back on some side so we don't know exactly what the military positions are, but rights groups are warning that any kind of assault on this city of about a half a 1000000 people could be very dangerous, indeed for the people living there. salute lee, and any efforts welcome being made on the diplomatic front. the abbé has shunned

all international attempts at mediation so far. there have been growing calls for dialogue and for peace. african union envoy, some african union members arrived in the capital, addis ababa on wednesday. the african union has appointed 3 heads of state to try and mediate, mediate prime minister, ahmed is said to be open to anything except talking to the degree leadership. and he said that they needed to be either defeated or they needed to give up, but other voices have been joining in the calls for dialogue. on wednesday, the u.n. secretary general antonio terrors his spokesman, speaking to our jazeera said that they were backing the african union and urged the african union's civil around a poser. he's the president of south africa to lead the way in the one of the most recent voices to join in the, in the diplomatic pressure. is us president elect joe biden's,

new national security appointee. he said he was urging both sides for dialogue and was also said he was concerned about the risks for civilians and also potential war crimes where the end i were being made. thanks. welcome. the u.s. president donald trump has pardoned his former national security advisor, michael flynn. he's done this 8 weeks before he leaves the white house. our president elect. joe biden is pressing ahead with his transition plans. he's delivered a thanksgiving speech urging precautions during the pandemic. well,, in jordan reports from washington, d.c., thank you very much. even as he refuses to concede that he lost reelection to joe biden. u.s. president donald trump gave a gift to his 1st national security adviser general michael flynn. a pardon for flynn's crimes, namely,

prolonging to federal investigators about his contacts with the former russian, ambassador to the u.s., sergey kislyak flints. case was part of a legal black cloud that hung over trump's entire presidency. flynn son responded on the conservative social media site parlor. thank you from the bottom of my heart president trump and a big middle finger to judge emmett sullivan, and trucks ally republican senator lindsey graham, cold flu, and a political victim. back to the mean time democratic congressman adam schiff blasted trump's decision. it's no surprise trump would go out as he came in, crooked to the end. earlier, trump called in to a hearing convened by pennsylvania republicans to see whether president elect joe biden's victory can be thrown out because the election was rigged. and we can't let that happen. we can't let it happen for our country to be turned around because

we want pennsylvania by a lot and we won by a lot. anybody watching television the night of the election with wow, i was called by the biggest political people to gradually on a big win and all of a balance. we jumped all over the place in a lot of things. newer, bolder, more compassionate chapter tropes, complaints about politics. far cry from the incoming administration's call for national unity and resilience on the eve of the u.s. is suck your holiday. thanksgiving. vice president elect, called a lot harris and her husband visited in washington foodbank, while bitly delivered a speech calling on americans to find their resilience in the face of the culbut 19 pandemic. this is the moment where we need to steal our spines, redouble our efforts and recommit ourselves to the fight. let's remember.

together, joe biden's call for reconciliation and unity. a marked contrast in both style and substance from that of donald trump, russell and jordan al-jazeera, the white house, of course, in turkey, is handing down verdicts for hundreds of people accused of plotting to overthrow president rejected. 4 years ago. as one of the biggest cases related to the failed coup with 475 suspects. well then 250 people died in the attempted takeover on the 15th of july 2016 parliament presidential buildings were fired upon and the turkish military chief was taken hostage. turkey says u.s. based political figure to tell a girl led coordinated the attack of a faction of the military. it's a charge he denies $80000.00. people have since been arrested, accused of links with and more than 130000, including military personnel have been sacked or suspended from the public sector.

let's go live now to sort of possibly, she sat watching the trial from the verdicts are being read out. what are we hearing? well, yes, the court issued life sentences for most of those defendants. in this case, laura, that was expected actor. that was what everyone was expected. but since there are almost 500 defendants, still, the verdict is being read by the, by the judge. so what makes this trial more different compared to the other 289 cases that have been filed, system failed court? and this is the important question. in this case, all those 4, all those cases were again linked to fit to lukla. and the u.s. based turkish cleric who's that's 7, who is 79 years old. but in those files, in those cases, it was stated that those people had a organic ties. but in this, in maine case, which is also named as they are,

as the failed coup was actually at minister from there could be a race. in istanbul, it shows direct, it shows directly for to love to land. the u.s. base cleric administered the failed quit according to the court fires. and in this i can just say are based over f. 16 pilots. who took the orders from what they called the civil in mom's who are directly linked to mr. fit to lock and bomb, the turkish parliament, special forces hat quarters and uncorrupt police department, which ended up killing at least $7.00 to $7.00 in that area on the night of the failed coup. and so far we have heard most of them are receiving are being issued, aggravated life sentences. and in this country, race, the main a case today, momo all those hundreds, there are 10 civilian people. those civilian peoples are named as civil yvonne's

who are directly in the ranks of mr. fit a lot to learn who were present at the air base at that night. and according to the in records, the evidence is that they have put in the file. those people had fallen talks with mr. gillon in the united states, and they say they received the order. so this is why it's important because the other cases, most of which have already the verdicts are waiting for the court of cassation to be approved. but this case will set the example that this could trials are actually the coup trials that were perpetrated by mr. fitz, a lucky man and his followers. but the 79 year old cleric has always denied his and his friends' involvement in the case. so them in istanbul, thank you. the football world is mourning argentinian legend, diego maradona, who has died of a heart attack at the age of 60. 6 $1015.00

celebrating to the council. but as ira's thousands more around the world are paid tribute to the sports stars. politicians and pope francis rode on a captain argentina to victory in the 1986 world cup and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. reports from what us are is the deal with onion is in disbelief. he's devastated that player the home i don't know has passed away. anything. i'm sad because i knew this was coming. not so soon, but the people that surrounded him never helped and he didn't want to be helped. i can't believe it is my god. it's the worst day of my life. thousands of people gathered in the center of want to site is to celebrate my bonus knife and his love for argentina's national team. not only, not just the food of power for argentina,

he was a national hero and none who came from kind of the forest service. i'm going to focus on made it to the top for the buffalo club in the world to many of those who came here to say goodbye to him on the from some of those are just very poor. i'm very favorably going to when i was one of our group is from a snob in the capital. i mean, i'm, well, i'm out of the suit for me. he was like the love of my children. i did not want to have this news. i am destroyed, i was too young to see him play, but i know every goal by heart, he gave us dignity so many times. the people here celebrate the goals against england in the 1986 world cup. 3 years after the war between both countries over the magazine s fulton's islands. a goal that continues to be celebrated today. you never know if i came because i felt it. he was from here representing us. he waved our flag, gave us choice. he filled us with joint from the english would not wage war against

them, but with the hand of god, he gave the people back their soul. and man supported leftwing leaders in modern america, like he then got on with chavez and vindicated their fight against imperialism. i've seen a lot yet, and i think that being a better or got 0. all right. yes. the man i don't know will receive a hero's farewell. he'll be lying in state in the presidential palace around the world is referred to as the best football player in the world for his fans. he was still a man who in spite of his enormous struggles field argentina with pride. and just when a site is there are so close borders,

they say we're just failing to protect them as promised, 2006. well, southern europe is not the place to be if you're off the warm sunshine of the moment, quite a few showers rumbling away here somewhat. the weather in the east side of the mets right in. and i was towards the west as well. high pressure dominates into central park, but there's no real plain sight here as well. we have got some mist and dense fog patches and a stunning or rather cool further north. we've got an area of low pressure. bring you some wet, sad at times, wintry weather and see where the eastern side of europe,

pushing up to the western side of iraq, doubts was the southwest. this is where the most active weather is. we got some very heavy rain coming in across spain and portugal. which are struggling to get to 12 degrees celsius is the heavy downpours make their way through those logs to be some localized flooding. let's push further north where things little quater said in the case across the british isles 5 celsius there for glasgow. cold enough for getting up to just 9 degrees in london and paris, but coldest into central parts. if you have that, we go with those showers down towards the southeast in kota. there we go. with a wintry weather up towards a mosque was we go on through friday. the weather will make its way across spade into the western side of the mediterranean eastern side of the met. this is the scene in cairo, some very heavy rainfall here. showers continue across the mediterranean coast of northern africa, turning rather wet. and it was wintry from iraq and dissecting the headlines in the midst of

a pandemic. let's start with some of the all new ground realities affecting the news coverage. what's the lay of the land there? stripping away the spam a gripping story about presidential corruption, that is real, would it's not. and you came and challenging assumptions and the official line. we all decided we need to kind of, i was of course, we don't want to rely on the authority. and if the media listening post on out is the right there has reminder of our top stories this hour. ethiopia's prime minister says the final phase of the offensive of the northern region has begun. after the 3 weeks of

fighting, people have been told to stay indoors as the army moves on the regional capital president donald trump has pardoned his former national security advisor, michael flynn, pleaded guilty to 2017 during an investigation into russian meddling in the presidential election and the football world is mourning the death of argentinian diego maradona who has passed away at the age of 60, captained his country to victory in the 1986 world cup, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. thousands of angry farmers are trying to reach new delhi after a 200 kilometer march, calling for a change in the law. demonstrators are marching on the capital, despite facing police tear gas water cannon blockades. the central government to

scrap 3 laws, which they say hurt farmers by removing a guaranteed minimum cell price for their produce is a problem is in new delhi where she says protests have been shut down. there is a big police presence in and around here in new delhi is main protest. police are taking a protest as a way they had gathered to show their solidarity with their opposition to found laws passed by the end government in september. and it's not just here, the police are stopping people from protesting. police have closed state borders around delhi. there was a cannon and tear gas on the borders between punjab and hardy that farmers have thrown the police barricades into the rivers. now delhi police deny permission for people to protest here because of the point of virus cases. but these 5 issues where around kabul, the 1300000000,

people working in the hole just sector. they say that these were taken to foreigners, guarantees around prices and leave them at the private investors and opposition parties to angry about what they say, the way in which the government has these laws, they say they push them through without time for proper debate. germany is extending its coronavirus restrictions until late december. as the infection rate remains too high and has warned some measures could say into play in place into january. fossil restaurants are closed, but schools and some shops remain open. mosques will be banditry in busy public areas. the measures taken on october 28th have all been extended for the time being until december 20. and we as the federal government and the states agree that use of the very high level of contamination the restrictions will

have to continue until the beginning of january. the u.k. is causing billions of dollars from its overseas aid budget, say it can no longer afford to meet its legal obligations because of the economic impact of the pandemic. the decision was announced by chance to rush in parliament, but has been widely criticized as a moral failure. paul brennan has more for you case commitment to spend more point 7 percent of its gross domestic product on overseas aid is a promise and it has helped fund vaccination programs, education initiatives, poverty relief, and refugee support all around the world. the amount spent on aid is barely 110th of what is spent each year on the u.k., health service. announcing a reduction to your point, 5 percent of g.d.p., the chancellor knowledged, it was a difficult decision. i have listened with great respect to those who have argued passionately to retain this target. but at a time of unprecedented crisis,

government must make tough choices. the scope of the political independence of the u.k.'s overseas development work has been fundamentally changed since boris johnson decided to merge the foreign office and international development back in september . a move that some critics described as a hostile takeover of the overseas aid budget. now cutting some $4000000000.00 from that aid budget has been criticized as a moral failure. we got which of the long history of relations with the global south a long history of colonization of extraction, of the fields of exploitation. we have a moral duty to the well to be just a small group of orson welles'. but earlier this year, boris johnson complained that british aid was being seen as a giant cash machine in the sky. and he demanded value for money. and despite the aid cuts, the prime minister insists britain is still

a strong donor nation. only view with this country is one of the biggest investors, oversaw donors overseas in, in all its forms. i think the 2nd biggest in the g. 7 on any on any of you in whether in percentage terms or. 'd in cash terms, and that will continue in a year in which the world bank estimates that covert 19 will push around $100000000.00 people into extreme poverty. u.k.'s position is under question. we prided ourselves over the last decade or 2 on being a development superpower. if you like, and this seems to cut across that without there being much of a clear, strategic or humanitarian basis for that is bad news for the u.k.'s global standing next year. the u.k. is hosting the g 7. it's hosting the un's climate change summit. it's going to be very difficult for the u.k. to ask other countries to do more. the u.k.

is cutting back its own aid budget. there is wide recognition that u.k. overseas aid could be made more streamlined, better targeted, and more effective. and $13000000000.00 is still a significant budget to work with. but scaling back britain support for the world's poor and needy is a controversial decision at a sensitive time. paul brennan, al-jazeera white or a british australian scholar has been freed from an iranian prison after more than 2 years. i mean more gilbert was convicted of spying and sentenced to 10 years back in 2018. she's maintained her innocence and has held repeated hunger strikes in exchange. tehran has secured the release of 3 iranian nationals held abroad. i have spoken as the prime minister said to dr. morgan, but on the final smalling, she's in healthy, she's healthy and she is in good spirits. on her return, she will quarantine, but she will not be alone. and she is well supported by release has been an

absolute priority for the government. more than the last 2 years. we have consistently rejected the grounds on which the government of iran arrested and detained. dr. morgan, but we continue to do so. these are points i made strongly to foreign ministers arranged during multiple meetings on this issue. so it turns a former prime minister's study kalmuck. he has died at the age of 84 in his being treated for corona virus at a hospital in the united arab emirates. but they were sudan's, last, democratically elected prime minister before omar al bashir took over in 1989 military coup. sudan has declared 3 days of mourning. protesters have fought with security forces in getting after the opposition called for nationwide demonstrations against president alpha condé. he was reelected for a 3rd term last month, but the opposition says the poll was rigged. it was hard proport from dhaka in

neighboring senegal. sheriff dollar is in hiding, fearing for his life, the government accuses him of creating unrest at home as president of guinea's traders union. he's calling on commerce to seize in protest against what he describes as a fraudulent election in which president alpha condé won a 3rd mandate. abdullah has been living in neighboring senegal since last month's elections. i'm scared to go home to my own country where there are attacks and arbitrary arrests as trade union leader. i can't stand by and let this injustice take place and tolerate what is happening. the family of 68 year old ibrahim musto say he was tortured to death by security forces after spending 3 weeks in police, custody for protesting against condé is victory. we were all there when security forces men carrying machetes and bats,

and to the house. that's when we fled. the security forces are meant to protect us, not kill us. the protests are happening across the country with people calling for justice and defying a government ban on demonstration. human rights groups believe more than 50 people were either killed from bullet wounds or died in police custody. guinea security minister denies any wrongdoing accusing human rights groups of tarnishing his country's image. for services, this is all fake news. there's an ongoing investigation 20 out of season of been made, showing that bullets were not shot on people, but inserted in the bodies. it's just sponsible to say that the government does not care for the victims, and few is anger. since the presidential election, guinea is on a high alert with security forces closing the land borders with neighboring countries, including senegal, home to a large guinea and community. and trade between the 2 countries they're stalling. hundreds of thousands are stranded here. unable to return home to

a country where political violence is escalating sheriff abdullah hopes getting will eventually break free from alpha condé his rule and the police killings will stop. so he can finally return home. because hawke al-jazeera the car, current court to a public hearing, looking into the deaths of former rebels, at least 243 have died since the government signed peace accord with the group in 2016 has more from 3 ministers, the attorney general and other high level officials were summoned for the 1st time but in the end, mostly deputies arrived to respond to a thorny question, who is killing the mobilize fighters in the country and what can be done to protect them is being killed every 5 minutes by no doubt

more than 200 of them 40 former fighters have been killed since the story of the colombian peace deal. 4 years ago. hundreds more have been tracked, and i mean a worsening of security in areas where ricin criminal groups fight for control of drug trafficking routes and other illegal activities. the court ordered the government to increase protective measures back in april, but the killings continued visibly emotional fark, senator victorious. and dino said the government is to blame. it was a point when, i mean, unfortunately this sort of being here is celebrating the advances of concentrating peace. we are holding this hearing for the killings and prosecution of those who gave up their weapons. these are systematic killings, not isolated incidents. there are clear patterns from of the only fledgling peace corps has been at odds with the right wing government of uganda. a critic of the peace accord. the judges repeatedly questioned the government about the lack of

effective measures. but officials say there's, it's an uphill battle. when they're not being killed due to the negligence of the state or its lack of concern, all x. fighters need to understand that we are doing everything we can. and we want to do more. there's much debate about this killing the ex-parte combatants and by the government to see that these murders are not systematic in nature and respond to a number of both. but others are servers that insist that these killings instead show that the conflict in the country is not over. and he said it is simply mutated the unwillingness of the convent government to recognize the system and to society of the killings basically ignores other experiences of transition to peace around the world in which this sadly is a common feature. and i believe it, it hampers the convience state's ability to provide the protection. the return of

violence in many areas of colombia means that the spy accord, real peace in the country, remains elusive. anderson and i'll just deal with al jazeera. these are our top stories here. because prime minister says the final phase of the offensive on the northern region has begun in the 3 weeks of fighting. residents have been warned to stay indoors as the army moves in on the regional capital. u.s. president donald trump has pardoned his former national security advisor, michael flynn, things of guilty to the f.b.i. in 2017 during an investigation into russia.