on al-jazeera. unprompted and uninterrupted discussions from our london broadcast center. on jersey and. the european union calls for u.k. travel bans to be lifted but warns against any non-essential movement. parts of iraq and this is al jazeera live my headquarters here in doha also coming up one of the best known faces of the pandemic gets his covert shot. also another variant strain of the coronavirus is done in south africa where it's by kim cases left some hospitals overwhelmed and once hailed as a success in the fight against corona virus thailand now faces

a major outbreak near its capital. welcome to the program the european union is recommending its members lift barriers blockading cross border movement but says any non-essential travel should be limited trucks and travelers have been held up for days while countries try to contain a more infectious strain of the corona virus that's been spreading across the united kingdom but the european union says people shouldn't be stopped from returning to their homes and that essential workers like doctors and nurses shouldn't face quarantine but be tested instead all of this with little more than a week left before the brits deadline the u.k. and the e.u. are still struggling to reach an agreement on their future trading relationship well more on that shortly but 1st let's start in the u.k. with paul brennan who's in dover on the southeastern coast of england he has more

on what's being done to ease the congestion of freight trucks stuck at the border. well i'm still here at the gates of the port of terror where police and security are letting some trucks through you can see this truck behind me but most are being turned away the ones that are going to marry are ones i'm told that have unaccompanied freight on them so the drivers will take those trailers in believe the trailers inside and they'll be taken on to a ship and transported away to be picked up by another drive on the other side it will be the same drive about crosses the channel and on that way and that on that basis they get around the restrictions that the french have imposed that said that what we've seen this morning is massive backlog of trucks and lorries all around the kent area the government issued some statistics this morning talking about some 650 lorries popped up on the on the m 20 motorway and about 8 $170.00 at a holding area at mountain affeldt at say that those statistics do not include

lorries that i saw with my own eyes driving down here on the way to the m 2 so the government estimates around 1500 lorries parked up i think that is going to be warped by the reality of the situation here in jova there was a lot of congestion earlier this morning from where i'm looking now i can see that some of the congestion has eased and i understand the police have been moving some of the lorry drivers have been down here at the port area away to holding at risk trying to levy a the traffic congestion here in the city center were all waiting for word from the political sphere london paris brussels as to exactly when this blockade will end and on what basis pull britain and david i will let's get the view from the other side of the english channel and speak to bennett smith who's our correspondent in paris and abundant we were expecting sort of some traction and comments from the european union and commission about the resumption of movement across the english channel what has been said. so the

european commission has recommended that european member countries do no longer prevent flights and trains coming traveling between the united kingdom and continental europe they say that essential travel and transit of passengers should be facilitated but they recommend they should discourage nonessential travel to an eye to kingdom of course during the coronavirus panic pandemic nonessential travel has been generally discouraged anyway the european union though these are only recommendations from the european commission and throughout this pandemic most countries have generally made their own rules about who can come and go join the krona virus some demand p.c.r. test others don't some demand quarantine and others don't suggestion here from the french is that they are going to demand a p.c.r. test from people who want to come from the u.k.

to france when their 48 hour self-imposed ban in front ends tonight it's although also worth reminding people though that much of the u.k. particular southeast of london is under a very strict lockdown and so you cannot leave your home if you live that for only very specific reasons so you can't come back to france on holiday if you're french and live in the u.k. anyway so you shouldn't be leaving your home but those who can travel truck drivers for example essential workers it looks like france is going to demand a p.c.r. test but it's with an update thanks very much bernard. not to the u.s. where a congress has passed a spending bill including nearly a trillion dollars in covert $900.00 economic stimulus and money to keep the federal government running this is the 2nd coded $1000.00 relief deal since the start of the pandemic the 1st was a sweeping cares act signed into law is march it was the largest stimulus package in american history $2.00 trillion dollars that's 10 percent of the country's

g.d.p. now it was unprecedented in size and scope but some benefits including a boost to weekly unemployment ended months ago scott lucas is a professor of american and canadian studies at the university of birmingham in england he says it doesn't go far enough. republicans and democrats acknowledge that it's only an interim measure and present like joe biden has said that one of the priorities when he takes office in january 20th is to get a broader measure the reason for that is that although this provides for the renewal of unemployment benefits it does so only for a short period of time although it provides for loans to small businesses it does only cover some businesses you'll need more as the economy tries to come out of the pandemic and it doesn't deal with important issues such as aid to states and communities who are facing budgetary crisis because they're having to spend quite a bit to deal with the crisis as well the senate majority leader mitch mcconnell arguably the most important person in washington right now said no aid to states no

aid to cities there's a trope much republicans that these democratic red states and cities they're to blame for all the problems and mcconnell was playing politics with that so no wait in the interim measure on the other hand mcconnell wanted to provide liability protection for businesses who might face lawsuits from workers over being exposed to corona virus and democrats said no you can't give businesses carte blanche of unity from being irresponsible he's backed down on that that was the key compromise excluding those 2 provisions but doesn't mention a moment ago i don't think you can go through 2021 and not do something to deal with the states and communities which of course is where the pandemic is being felt on a day to day basis now the top infectious disease experts in the u.s. has just been given his coded 19 vaccination thought on sea foam she got the no kill ation alongside health secretary alexis and other health officials that they received the maternal vaccine that was approved last week becoming the 2nd vaccine

allowed in the u.s. as a says to estimated that most americans will get access by mid-summer next show. what we're seeing now is the culmination of years of research which have led to a phenomenon that has truly been unprecedented and that is to go from the realisation that we're dealing with a new pathogen a virus that was described in january of this year to less than one year later to have vaccines that are going into the arms of so many people including myself and so i consider it an honor to be part of this process south africa is struggling to contain a surge in new cases health officials say it's being driven by a different covert 19 variant from the mutated strain in the u.k. but the virus is spreading faster than when the pandemic 1st began several countries have halted travel to and from south africa however it also has more from

johannesburg. scientists say they are still studying this new strain of the data collected so far suggests that it's spreading fast and they also say it could be responsible for the 2nd wave of the countries currently experiencing some of the countries getting on average just under 10000 new infections a day is been identified in. the eastern cape province and the garden that's where you get the cape town area for example where lots of tourists usually flock to at this time of year and this is another blow to the tourism industry you've got this new strain and then the flight bans and so that because tourism industry has survived pretty much to some of the people coming in from the u.k. europe middle east asia and other parts of the world so now these businesses are now feeling another pressure as well for example you go to province you find in a place called a very popular tourist resort is saying that they have had more than 50 percent of cancellations because of this you go to durban

a lot of the hotels are closed the mayor the big hotel chains are also shut lots of people are losing out of work as well and this is the time of the year when people are in the face of mood many people come to south africa for tourism and now they're saying that people would who are hoping to make some kind of money this time around those hopes have not been dashed. is the director of the. innovation. explains. mutations of the virus. the 1st thing to make clear is that salt africa and u.k. has true different lineages yet both spreading very fast. similarities between then why not today and they're one of the many mutations that that make that. bite protein interact with the human cell receptor at this 2nd think it we saw quite similar from they were k. we saw that emerging in their nelson mandela bay that's in that you stand cape and

then moves south west very fast and their direction of cape town and not west and not east to where so it's quite similar in the u.k. but we see a common small origin but very fast spread across the country we haven't been surveying that virus since the beginning of the and then mix since february and normally we would have like 20 or 30 lyn that just course equal a team that contrie and in the last month in the house we've seen that they've been taking off by one unique. and this lineage when we both took a close look because we awarded the how one lineage could to be taking over and transmitting so fast this lynn that you had multiple mutations a multiple change in the spike protein of divide us. thailand's prime minister is

blaming illegal migration for a cluster of more than a 1000 infections its biggest so far that's believed to have come from people working at a seafood market near bangkok it's a major blow for the nation that had been hailed for success in combating the virus tony chain reports from bangkok. 5 was a mobile testing unit pulls into a market in the north of bangkok in 72 hours thailand's corona virus infection numbers have increased by 20 percent got mcafee came here for screening before and found out there are floating i people who were in radio host contacted an infected person from the market today we will collect samples of all of the traders inside for a trade to scan a q.r. code to register with the health authority only the stallholders are eligible for testing today others who have coded concerns are being turned away. infections originating from the seafood market in some months a colon and now being discovered in bangkok and provinces even further away outside

the unpleasant process begins these people are not alone the thai government says it'll test 10000 people in an attempt to contain the outbreak on tuesday some of those tests revealed 427 new infections a huge rise in a country that had seen 0 local transmission for months. teams of health officials are now screening traders in markets across the thai capital migrant workers have also been targeted as being a particular concern and the prime minister said he might introduce a national lock down the transmissions continue to rise. so on child local fishmonger says many customers are choosing to stay at home now he's worried about his health and keeping his business afloat. to begin the economy was picking up but we now are facing this and it makes his feel as if we are going back to the 1st

outbreak traders in this market say that concern about the outbreak has caused business that drop by 70 or 80 percent and overall thailand has made huge economic sacrifices to rid itself of the corona virus this outbreak continues to grow all of that will be for nothing. with the new year holiday approaching many thais thought normal life was almost within reach the latest outbreak appears to have some pet dreams tony chang al jazeera bangkok. well still ahead here on al-jazeera we'll have the latest on those the hostage talks to hammer out a press that deal and what's holding them all. and a bleak forecast from a top u.n. official on the prospects for a 2 state solution palestine to stay with us here on al-jazeera.

rather cold has stopped the wind has changed direction we've got rain showers and snow showers in hong sure the avalanche risk is going to be hari kari was just happened the temp of the risen elsewhere or will do during wednesday i should say for the far north of china the tree in place it's still cold enough to snow but the chill starts to return during certain the rain dissipates at a fuji which briefly came back in and the sun is out by day after a chill night in most of china the active weather in the south china sea it's been this tropical depression now it's only that it won't strengthen but it's got the potential to drop $300.00 millimeters of rain in the facets of vietnam during wednesday and thursday and says in friday has towards some time and some not survive this time the it shouldn't be particularly wet and sudden thailand is not what a tall india now the opposite is true it's bugging dry all foggy i should say damp and foggy maybe and the cold wave which means temperatures on the low side by day and particularly by night seem to be living outside that cold wave warning extends

down to a dish of these overnight temperatures by day briefly the fog might break you get is sunshines of a couple of hours difference the low twenty's the cold wave or lasts through art i think for a couple of days then it goes for the folks to their daily. but . the virus is indiscriminate get those living in poverty are far more vulnerable to the dangers of covert 19 i'll be re-examined as the reasons for this disparity the social and economic inequalities that surround us a much deeper and much more problematic than we thought and asks whether lessons learned from the global pandemic could lead to positive change the culture of the poor the fix for him it all hail the lock down exposing the privilege of poverty during a crisis on a. little bit

world. look like you're watching al-jazeera with me so whole robin a reminder of our top news stories the e.u. is warning against all but essential travel to the united kingdom but it also wants border closures and travel bans that have isolated britain to be eased the restrictions came after a mutated strain of the krona virus spread rapidly across the u.k. top u.s. infectious diseases expert on to the south g. has received madonna's covert 19 vaccine it was authorized for emergency use last week that she estimates most americans will have access to vaccines by mid-summer next year. and health officials in south africa say a resurgence in cases is being driven by a different code with 90 variant from the miti to the strain that submerged in the

u.k. several countries of whole to travel to and from south africa. the u.k. and e.u. are trying to hammer out a trade deal in brussels several deadlines have already passed but the exit takes effect at the end of next month of this month right now the blocks. is briefing member states on the latest progress. even if the final push. today did you feel relieved to see the market then go i would continue to work in total transparency we remember shit like nafta hundreds of parliament voted for you very much. as a bird has more from london. before e.u. chief negotiator michel barnier went in to brief e.u. diplomats he spoke to reporters and he said that we are at a crucial moment and they're giving it the final push and of course that deadline of for the u.k. to leave the us fast approaching and they still don't have

a deal now we understand prime minister barak's johnson did have a secret phone call with the head of the e.u. commission now we understand that some of the sticking points are the u.k. fishing industry and the u.k. fishing industry only accounts for 0.02 percent of the u.k. economy but it is a very important political issue especially for the conservative party for the government also those that campaigned for brics it now if the u.k. does not get a deal by the end of the year they will resort to world trade organization rules which means that they would could be tariffs and border checks on goods crossing between the u.k. and you could lead to increased costs for goods but also destruction and as we've seen over the last few days that could be quite significant but one of the key issues is the fishing industry now the e.u. wants access to u.k. waters they also want to make sure that those cultures that the e.u. fisherman have are not reduced too much but also that you kate wants to make sure

that there's not a retaliatory action from the e.u. if after brics if the u.k. reduces those cultures the still no agreement but we are expecting something soon because that deadline at the end of the game when the u.k. set to leave the e.u. internal market and the customs union is fast approaching. the number of journalists murdered worldwide in retaliation for their work earns more than double the share and that's according to a tally by the committee to protect journalists mexico's the most dangerous country for the media workers are routinely threatened and targeted by organized criminal groups and corrupt politicians afghanistan syria and the philippines follow on the list out of at least 30 killed this year 21 were killed for doing the job. the united nations refugee agency is calling for urgent funding to address what it calls a full scale humanitarian emergency in ethiopia's northern to grey region it says it needs 156000000 dollars so it can keep providing aid to the 10s of thousands

left displaced since last month's military operation 52000 people have fled into neighboring sudan in the past 6 weeks and an estimated 96000 every train refugees are already in de grey before the conflict. currently many refugees remain in overcrowded conditions without facilities and there continues to be a shortage of medicine and other supplies we have seen a huge demand for family tracing and unification education and for child friendly spaces and nutrition programs the president of central african republic has criticized those behind an escalation of violence ahead of next week's election tension has been rising in the run up to the december 27th vote rwanda has sent additional troops to the country to help deal with the fighting the government has accused rebels backed by the former president francois busies a of attempting a coup catherine so he has more from the capital. we've been speaking to officials

from the un peacekeeping mission here in central african republic and that telling us that they have been able to push back this rebel movement remember this is a group that was formed over the weekend the calling themselves the patriots for change it's a group of things we are the country's main groups and they started going on to the copy told of calling for among other things are no government without president. so that the u.n. says that in the west where this a rebellion has started they've been able to contain the situation in some towns and villages but in many other areas it remains very fluid indeed because we also have groups outside of this main. that are causing trouble so in the same area we also have other. troops we have a russian. while also carrying out operations against this grouping

they are this the russians and the london are not under the un mandate that means that they are able to use more force. side the country. remained. you know our government allowing them to use force and to contain the situation to make sure that this election is not disrupted in any way israeli lawmakers have rejected a key budget vote paving the way for potential national elections the 4th in 2 years the knesset has a midnight deadline on tuesday to pass the 2020 budget if an agreement cannot be reached the parliament will automatically dissolve triggering snap elections now a coalition government formed by may in may by a power sharing agreement has been plagued by infighting canada has pledged to give $17000000.00 to the u.n. agency for palestinian refugees to help tackle its worst ever financial crisis the

agency has been struggling to run operations after the u.s. cut contributions the money from canada will be distributed over 3 years it will go towards running schools and providing health services to more than $5000000.00 palestinians. the un's outgoing special coordinator for the middle east is warning but the prospect of a 2 state solution for palestine is fading the climb a lot of made the comment during his last briefing on monday saying the situation has gone from bad to worse al jazeera was kristen salumi reports from the u.n. . the. problem but it was a 1st at the united nations a moroccan ambassador celebrating hanukkah with his israeli counterpart morocco is one of 4 arab nations to reestablish diplomatic relations with israel the deal was brokered by the united states for decades the prevailing assumption was that the world would only see norm was normalized in international relations with israel

following a resolution of the israeli palestinian dispute we have proven this is sumption wrong while the u.s. took credit in the security council outgoing middle east special coordinator nicol i'm alive no to the situation has gone from bad to worse for most palestinians despite an 8 month pas in the building of a legal jewish settlements in the occupied territories israel's destruction of palestinian homes for lacking permits that are rarely granted escalated by 70 percent with plans to build in areas seen as crucial to a future palestinian state advancing i do believe in a 2 state solution although every day we see a. chance of. realization frankly i do believe that it is possible and it is possible in the way that it recognizes the legitimate story. rights both israelis and palestinians alike. and exchange from morocco normalizing ties with israel the united states recognize morocco sovereignty over the western sahara

region and separatists there with whom the united nations had also been engaging in peace negotiations many here in the international community see these unilateral moves by the united states as undermining longstanding norms and international agreements it was 4 years ago that the security council passed resolution 2334 calling settlement expansion a flagrant violation of international law what was significant about it was that it was the 1st one and it was 10 years to do so the 1st one since 1980 to talk about. the united states which. such a solution is abstained and that's what was significant about it but there's nothing controversial new in the actual resolution while president elect joe biden has promised to return to international agreements many living under occupation have to wonder what difference if any at all it will make for them kristen salumi

al jazeera the united nations. the indian government says it's ready for more talks with striking farmers protesters of blockaded highways into the capital new delhi for weeks the demanding the repeal of new agricultural pricing laws they say will hurt their livelihoods and benefit large corporations not china's leaders say the country has a right to cater to extreme poverty over the past 5 years the communist party has spent billions of dollars on dispatched thousands of officials to help rural households but critics question the sustainability of the program and say millions of people a risk of falling back into hardship katrina you report from watching county in kwan she province. lawton county in china south is known for its mountains its rivers and its poverty. it was among those one struggling to get by living in this dilapidated house she struggled to raise enough money to send her

2 children to school. but she says thanks to the chinese government her life has been transformed she's been given a new harmon town and left this old farmhouse behind this is how. to live in crumbling buildings built about 50 years ago without any water or electricity this area is also deep in the mountains and far away for many essential services including hospitals during the past 5 years millions of people in rural china have been relocated to apartment buildings in upgraded townships here almost everything is new including the roads and schools. in 2018. that he doesn't want to go back to the old house again it was dark and dirty and had many rats they say our new home is clean and bright beijing has spent more than 20000000000 dollars this year to meet president xi didn't pings deadline of

eradicating extreme poverty nationwide by the end of 2020 communist party officials say they've succeeded. people used to how few options. it was hard to find jobs. good health care and education. now they basically live in the same conditions as people in the quality of life has a right really improved but not everyone has benefited some have been an able to adjust to life in the towns others say they've been forced to relocate analysts have also question the sustainability of the program millions of risk falling back into prophecy poverty line. it's temporary is short term spells and those kinds of people have very very different kinds of needs others are already as a chronic strains a policy implement the policy response to those different states needs to be just.

as his life is better but not easier. by factory involves working 12 hours a day with only 2 days off. but the sacrifice she says is worth it she's making the most of the new opportunities in the heart take children might have better ones katrina new al-jazeera laughton county china. or charges there are several wrong reminder of our top news stories the e.u. is warning against all but essentially travel to the united kingdom but it also wants border closures and travel bans that have isolated britain to be eased the restrictions came after a mutated strain of the corona virus spread rapidly in britain bennett smith has more from paris the european commission has recommended that european member countries do no longer.