mood and in the land now more than ever the world needs w.h.o. making a healthier world for you. but everyone. people in the central african republic began casting their ballots to find threats from armed groups. hello there i'm how i'm here dean and this is al jazeera live from doha also coming on. coronavirus benefits on hold millions of americans face financial uncertainty as president trump refuses to sign a pandemic relief bill. the european union begins a massive vaccination program stepping up its fight against the worst health crisis

in a century. and we speak with a teenage activist working to end child marriage in bangladesh. but we begin in central african republic at a crucial test for a nation that suffered years of violence and instability voting is under way in presidential and legislative elections the opposition wanted it perspire warns and rebels have united to reject the polls they're accusing president 4 star shows to a dinner of rigging the votes of fighters have attacked several times rights groups fear a return to levels of violence last seen in 2013 when thousands of civilians were killed let's go straight see catherine saw as she joins us from the capital borghi and catherine the polls are no warp and are things progressing so far.

well i am in one of the be the s. palling station here in the capital bangui and people are flooded. arriving we are leo went to 2 other polling stations that were fairly empty at the time in my last report i said there was hardly anyone in those polling stations including this one but now we are seeing an upbeat temple more and more people are coming in and they are arriving and the flags step is right there where they're checking the names against the register to make sure that they are registered before they go into polls so we have civilians we have a members of the law central african security forces as well all coming to vote we've spoken to some of them were calling them to telling us that they are eager to cast their ballots but then there is a lot of fear in

a lot of few around the country and not just in bungay the areas particularly in the west the north and south where fighting has been going on between this pay chills for change this new coalition that was formed by several armed groups and government forces backed by the u.n. on christmas day several towns attacked so a lot of fear u.n. officials telling us though that this conflict this fighting is localized to just a few areas and most of the country say for people to go out and vote but then we have been speaking to central moscow and here involving gays the week who is saying that yes they really want to come out and vote but they will only do what they feel absolutely safe. loral god-i is a driver and shows us pictures from i resent walk trip to a town 300 kilometers north of the copper. shortly after he took his fossils he

says on demand attacks and he had to flee he's worried about relatives who live in the town he blames rebel groups calling themselves the patriots coalition for change or c.p.c. for the latest security crisis in the central african republic she told the town is almost empty some of the men are asking civilian to give up their electoral card others in the charge as far as they know that cannot be a proper election in bossangoa. president. has asked people to come out and vote those in to be vigilant with concerns the violence may intimidate who says and undermine the point the government is looking to provide reassurance of countries throughout the world. there is no. let's say. and where. people decide not to vote and you have

a level of 0 for what it is but a suppression which is no it doesn't mean this election is not credible more than $12000.00 peacekeepers from the un mission in new backing see our security forces troops recently stand by i wonder russian military instructors and private security contractors are also on the ground all of this instability that you are. the western part of the country that. a petition filed by 7 opposition kind of is to postpone the election was rejected by the constitutional court 17 presidential candidates have been cleared to run for the election one has withdrawn his candidacy citing security reasons most are promising to finally bring peace back to central african republic revive the economy and provide basic

services. are has numerous gold. deposits as well as other natural resources yet it's one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world more than half the population of 5000000 needs 8 some people here in the capital told us all they want is a dignified life and to get to the other side of the polls safely. it's important to give context to the city where. this is a city that is also divided there are some areas in the coffee fall where people support this rebellion more people support the man say behind to say to be behind the rebellion former president francois we don't expect much more voting in this area so really it's going to be interesting to see how this day plays out and more

importantly how the watertown out is going to be ok catherine sawyer bring us the very latest from catherine thank you. well voting is also starting in the share a nation looking to deliver its 1st peaceful handover of power president to mohamad who is so full of came to power in a coup before being elected and 2011 is stepping down after 2 terms as preferred successor mohamed basil its authority a strong field of candidates we share is struggling with arms movements and widespread poverty. was the us it's a big job because there are 2 elections at the same time there are the presidential elections and the legislative elections who stakes are high we have to make sure that the ballots that have to go to the ballot box for the presidential election go there and those for the legislative elections go to the ballot box for the legislative elections so we try to organize ourselves as well as possible. this is

life or as in the capital in the army has made this election day in these air and things progress in the. well basically elections of voting started just a few minutes ago about 7 minutes ago exactly but it's a slow process and one of the voting centers we went to earlier the voting port falling unit number one a news year where the president and major government officials mean government officials are voting there is nobody there we expect the president to be there at exactly 10 o'clock this morning local time which is around 9 g.m.t. right now what we're seeing is we are in one of the if the camera can pan this way some people have started gathering and this is the number short for 7 minutes after the polls of open here in this particular polling station a lot of people are eager to vote some are not so eager because they say they have

been waiting for change for quite some time and it's been the wrangling between the party politicians are stopping almost everything now this is a country that's struggling to deal with security on its border with booking a fossil and molly on one side and on the nigerian side it's also economically one of the most disadvantaged in the world in fact the poorest in the world and it's hit by low prices of its main export but you raney i'm so a lot of people are really struggling the number of people living below 1 dollar 2 dollars a day in this country has gone beyond 40 percent a lot of people are expecting changes as quickly as possible in terms of security in terms of economic opportunities will the candidates deliver it's a matter of time and it's also whether or not they who will have the resources to deal with the challenges or demands of the ordinary water on the streets of me here and the rest of the country. there are reports in life in the army thank you that

it's. u.s. president donald trump has refused to sign a $900000000000.00 coronavirus relief and spending bill the package was approved by republicans and democrats in congress part of earth's includes a one time payouts congress agreed to 6 $100.00 for individuals but trump wants that increased to 2 thousands or president elect joe biden has accused trump of saying his responsibilities to the nation he says the refusal will have devastating consequences the bill is attached to larger budget measures means around $14000000.00 people will have their regular payments delayed the u.s. is facing a partial government shutdown from choose day unless congress agrees a stopgap funding bill russell and jordan has the latest from washington. the u.s. president donald trump has refused to sign a $900000000000.00 bill that would provide economic support to americans and their

families to businesses and to the overall u.s. economy he says it's because the one time stimulus checks that would be given to many americans just isn't enough the deal that was struck between republicans and democrats set aside $600.00 per person but the president has insisted that every american adult get 2000 dollars and that their children each get $600.00 now this is something that congressional republicans who normally support the president don't want to do they say that would vastly increase the federal budget deficit actual democrats for their part are taking sides with the president because they say the suffering is deep and is only getting deeper and that any money will make a difference now refusal to sign this legislation isn't just about stimulus checks it's also going to affect whether unemployment checks can continue to go to the

estimated 14000000 people who had been relying on that money since that many of them lost their jobs during the pandemic it also means that there's a big question as to whether people who have not been able to pay their rent could suddenly find themselves a victim after january 1st that's because the moratorium one of the actions expires on new year's eve and finally there is the question of whether the federal government itself can continue to operate after monday night that's because there isn't a budget in place to fund the government and this bill would have allowed that government operations to continue so there's a lot riding on donald trump's decision to sign this bill or not sign this bill and so far it looks as if everything comes to a grinding halt over the rest of the weekend. well bill schneider is a public policy professor at george mason university he says president trump strategy in refusing to sign the bill is to pressure republicans to help him

overturn the election results were republicans are guessed that what the president is doing he's playing games with people's lives it's not just unemployment benefits and protections for renters it's also aid to businesses and to schools it's money for vaccine distribution there are a lot of things that are at stake here and the president simply doesn't seem to care he is demanding that that be europe would be the amount of aid given to every one employer merican go away up to $2000.00 which republicans in congress say is far too expensive the president is interested in only one thing it's now become clear he's interested in forcing the congress to discount the election results from last month and declare that he has won the electoral vote they cannot do that they will not do that he needs serious and republicans in congress because when congress meets on january 6th to count the electoral vote he wants republicans to object to

the electoral votes counted they were can't prejudge obeid but if they do that they'll sacrifice their own careers because it will outrage american voters the president thinks he's right and he thinks the election was stolen from him and he's waiting for republicans to stand with him. still to come on al-jazeera u.s. investigators searched the home of a suspect phone in friday's explosion and nashville. we're living like any most human and he well knew like a mentor not just. reports on the price of sizes of refugees and migrants struggling in the freezing cold in bosnia-herzegovina without shelter.

hello there we've got some snow you weather the forecast for a couple of parts of here in particular particularly down towards the balkans big massive cloud here a little area of low pressure brings a very stormy weather across the southern parts of italy but the other side of the age we are at stake we will see significant snow fall coming into the balkans over the next couple days 20 to 30 centimeters certainly possible over the next 24 to 48 hours we will eventually see some snow to coming in across the british isles at the moment it's all about storm balla tightly packed i suppose damaging winds rattling through gales or even severe gales over the next couple of days and across parts of the u.k. think across southern areas of england and wales eventually that windy weather will sweep across northern france into the low countries rattling a shower is coming back in behind but notice the temperatures starting to fall away london at about 8 celsius on sunday could be about 4 degrees on monday and by this stage said to be called enough for some snow showers just coming in across and

across many parts of england well scotland as well we will see some wet weather and more snowy weather coming in across the balkans some heavy rain there for a time so it's a little bit of snow too into western parts of turkey by the end of the weekend. from fossil fuels to modern day renewable as societies develop the energy demands increase requiring innovative solutions to meet such demands as a global power development of investment company nebraska power is uniquely positioned to deliver against the state we provide business growth promote social economic benefits and provide innovative safe and it vironment leigh sales energy solutions for future generation the brushed past pioneering future energy. the moon.

told. this is al jazeera could remind all of the top stories this hour voting is underway in central african republic in position one sided for spawn's and rebels have united to reject the polls they're accusing president 4 star shows to a darragh of rigging the votes. posing as also starting in the share a knee and nation community to deliver its 1st peaceful handover of power president to mohammad yousuf or who came to power in a coup for being elected 2011 is stepping down after 2 terms for its successor mohamed it's a 30 strong field of candidates. and unemployment support for payments for millions of americans has ended so after president trump you sign

a group of ours relief and spending bill that i not $100000000000.00 package was approved by republicans and democrats in congress. they use has begun its mass vaccination program in what will be one of. world's largest inoculation campaigns the aim is to protect the population of 450000000 people prime minister tarkus is one of the 1st people in greece to receive the vaccine you'll be kicking off the national war it's after pledging to get the job live on television christmas in a sharp rise in infections since november greece's reported more than 130000 active cases and 7000 deaths. well 3 countries started inoculations a day earlier germany a 101 year old woman in an out of the care facility was among a small number of people to receive the 1st pfizer biotech jobs vaccines were also

administered to frontline health workers in hungary slovakia and for sure goals health minister says a window of hope has now opened for warning the still a difficult fight ahead paul brennan has this report. the refrigerated vans drove through the night destinations including rome paris spain and hungary the precious cargo the vaccine developed by pfizer biotech kept at between minus 17 minus 80 degrees the mass inoculation is due to start in a coordinated launch later on sunday with the 1st job went to work at a hospital in budapest but those all have a vaccination plan is ready with health workers at the front of the queue those working with patients in intensive care and emergency care units will be vaccinated 1st so they can continue their heroic struggle to see of the. europe has seen 16000000 coronavirus cases and suffered more than 400000 deaths the approval and

distribution of this 1st vaccine is reason for considerable hope across the continent. we have in total $19500.00 doses which makes $3100.00 vials these those will be stored in our freezer at minus 80 degrees which will be then distributed to the different elderly homes and public hospitals . starting to come on human course we will start the immunization campaign on a large scale $1300000.00 doses of vaccine as will be delivered all over germany before the end of 2020 and then from january it will be even more each week almost 7 100000 doses every week in january more than $10000000.00 doses in the 1st quarter the relentless spread of the covert $1000.00 virus in the news that more infectious variants are evolving as lent even more urgency to the vaccination program the variant 1st identified in the u.k. has now been discovered in other european countries to try to contain that variant

thousands of truck drivers have spent christmas stranded at the u.k. port of dover and prevented from crossing to france unless they test negative for the virus the backlog remains stubbornly large despite the efforts of military reinforcements and lock downs have ruined the festive period for traditional high street retailers with shoppers ordered to stay at home coronavirus has hollowed out the u.k. high street this is oxford street london's primary retail avenue and instead of hundreds of thousands of people out take advantage of the boxing day sales the shops are closed instead of festivity and bustle it's a long and barren the street empty. with coronavirus europe has enjoyed much the same tories 2020 as the rest of the world the hope is that from sunday things will start to improve. paul brennan al-jazeera london. at least 11 people have been killed after 3 avalanches in the mountains north of iran's capital rescue

workers are searching for 7 people reported missing since friday and other 7 climbers have been taken to hospital with frostbite. federal investigators in the u.s. are searching a whole list they look for clues into a christmas day explosion in nashville 3 people were hurt it's around 40 buildings damaged john hendren reports from national. in what could be a crucial break federal investigators searched the home of a person of interest in the nashville christmas by the role of the man identified as 63 year old anthony quinn warner is not yet clear the top prosecutor in the case has his own name for whoever is responsible this this is ultimate scrooge on christmas morning instead of spreading joy and sheer decided to spread devastation and destruction u.s. authorities pursuing more than 500 tips and leads expressed confidence after finding what they believe to be human remains near the site of the explosion saying

there is no manhunt and no risk of a follow up attack at this point we don't have any indication that we are looking for a nother subject but again there's $500.00 leads were running through so there's all kinds of individuals we're looking for that i am fairly confident we'll be able to identify an individual or ascertain what has occurred those remains found at the scene might belong to a bomber who was killed in the attack but it is unclear if anyone was inside the recreational vehicle when it detonated. block after block in the woods country music capitol were damaged and windows completely caved in. and it won't be up immediately and next thing you know already heard screams and starnes going all the explosion was heard miles away. turning restaurants and live music venues to rubble and disabling mobile phone

networks the explosion l side of an 880 transmission center it was apparently aimed at property not people it happened in the predawn hours before tourists would have been filling up this part of town and before it exploded the recreational vehicle broadcast a warning for people around it to evacuate. 6 p. . ran toward the danger clearing out residents just before an explosion that arrived before the bomb squad i'm grateful to the team behind us. and national depending on them to do a great job and our resolve as a community. and to find the culprit is is very great that city is now piecing itself back together as hundreds of investigators poor over the scene of a christmas day bombing for clues as to who was behind it how they did it and why john hendren. nashville tennessee. more than

a 1000 refugees and migrants are stranded in the open in freezing weather and pulls their herzegovina a far this week destroyed much of their camp near the croatian border because the lopez who they are reports. these migrants have nowhere to go they're stranded in a refugee camp and most are herzegovina their goal is to reach western europe but for now their focus is surviving the winter storm the lip a camp near the croatian border has no heat and no proper facilities lined outside in subzero temperatures refugees wait for a donated meal and perhaps a sleeping bag from the red cross we are living like and the most human and well living like better. so please i request. you i know i us all and yours to help us because if they cannot help us we

really die so please help us a fire broke out on wednesday the same day the camp was meant to be shut down a un official says it was likely said by migrants frustrated with the schedule closure and lack of alternatives now most of the infrastructure that house more than 1500 people is destroyed or damaged diddy's it no anything and no blankets and no. better place for sleep and you know that there is a many problems and i to go rebuild right but there are reports of frostbite and hypothermia proper shoes is a luxury many here can't afford the e.u. has warned bosnia the thousands of migrants face a freezing winter without shelter but politics is getting in the way. plans to relocate migrants have been met with protests and resistance from residents and authorities have so far failed to find new accommodations for thousands of people from asia the middle east and north africa the situation has been described as

a disaster upon a disaster and the u.n. is concerned things could get worse katia locus of again al-jazeera. parts of the u.k. are being warned to expect more flooding and strong winds they've already been days of wet weather from the approaching storm bella rivers of been rising particularly high in the county of bedfordshire where many homes have been evacuated globalise 23 girls under the age of 18 are married every minutes the pandemic is causing a rise in child marriages the un forecasts that up to 13000000 girls may be forced into marriage over the next 10 years always fall to actor a teenage activist from bangladesh she and her colleagues have stopped was 600 child marriages in the last 2 years. hi and.

basically i like to talk with among them. how was your childhood and what is the best memory you have used. so that then my mom was not that good to say because my mom mostly gave matt it activated so just because of from that i have got to work on these issues so then i see that. there is a child from the. problems national from basically gets added are going to. stop jemera this and also want to create doubt for an environment where cuban going to enjoy their rights and more than. for that so do down here through fascinated graining marriage and i am most active in. my community. and we have. so. the golf we both mother about that is because we think.

of a new generals and we said this we thought. for solving this kind of problem we are making some kind of dialogue with the policy makers we saw there something. worse. than why does the bad think of jan maris and how they can play a vital role to get. any kind of news of violence and marriage or something. and just going to get any kind of fullest dish and then we went with the police and fire and then us and they give us a forced. into the bin you are all to solve the problem. of there is a family going to give chad myers we've got like some kind of information then where does the age of that and why they're giving jen marriage so then we went to. the family and i asked them that why did you give their way of saying they don't

want we invest on this go and they don't want to be at the cost of education so they're so they're giving gen myers then would try to advocate with ducks i mean and motivated them and in finding to marriage. and she. bring this bandini in last 2 months in october was i think too good for magic and somehow with data from the news and such as we have stopped this genders where we need that if we get married and that is and maybe hard chad good story our childhood memory we also destroyed it. and we have a we have a mission mission like we want to quit just that from internationally where it can frequently. about their rights and they will work for other strikes because we believe that you need and can understand other students.