and current affairs that matter to you. al-jazeera. the european union begins a massive vaccination program stepping up its fights against the worst health crisis in a century. hello there i'm helena heads and this is al jazeera live from doha also coming up. people in the central african republic begin casting their ballots to find threats from armed groups. coronavirus benefits on holds millions of americans face financial uncertainty as president trump refuses to sign

a pandemic relief bill. and we speak with the teenage activists working to end child marriage in bangladesh. the european union has started one of its the world's biggest coronavirus backs a nation campaigns it's aims to protect 450000000 people across 27 states the books leaders have hailed the wallets of the pfizer by own sec vaccine as a moment of unity and hope well a group of nurses and room are among the 1st in italy to get the job the country of course was one of the 1st in europe to go into locked i'm over in spain the 1st shots there went to nurses and elderly care home residents in the city of guadalajara germany started ahead of the official rule it's also vaccinating

residents in a care home a 100 and why. one year old woman was among the 1st to get the job well let's cross over a life note to dominic kane who joins us from berlin dominic how many people are going to be receiving this vaccine as the rule it's gets underway. one of the things that stands out about this is that the the european commission but also the governments around the make up the member states the $27.00 member states as you're referring to they're talking about doses of vaccines that they hope to administer we need to remember that you have to half the number of doses to get to the number of people who are actually going to be receiving these vaccines and remember also that it's 2 trash 2 doses so that means 3 weeks in between the administration of the 1st vaccine 1st part of the vaccine and then the 2nd which completes the program as it were we know here in germany just in germany the health

minister spoken of $1300000.00 doses being administered in the course of what's left of december which gives you a sense of perspective of just what's happening here now if you then expect if you then extend to the other countries you can see we're talking about many hundreds of thousands of people perhaps millions of people who are going to be receiving the 1st dose of the vaccine in the course of the next week or so but again in so far as the numbers are concerned we know that here in germany at least they're talking about immunising up to 5000000 people in the 1st quarter of the year to come 2021 and again if you then pull out of just germany and look at it for many you can spect it's clear they are talking about immunising very many millions of people but of course the population of the e.u. is hundreds of millions so it means that even though people might think this start of the vaccine campaign now being good news many many millions of people will be

waiting a long time for this vaccine or the vaccine rollout can't come soon enough can it said jutes of the discovery of this new more transmissible very ends what are governments around the e.u. doing about it that is locked in the preferred strategy going forward. well one thing that's absolutely clear is that there's a twin track strategy here there is the vaccination on the one hand and then on the other as hard a lockdown as possible that would be accepted by society and by doing so if you remember there was remember the phrase flatten the curve which was the word as it were during the 1st wave of this pandemic well the hope is that that when track approach will try to do that and there's no doubt about it prior to the arrival of this new variant the numbers of new infections on

a daily basis was in the hundreds of thousands across the e.u. the number of deaths per day was in the thousands before the arrival of the new variants and we know that several different member states have reported isolated examples of people who have returned to their member states from the united kingdom having contracted the new variant in the u.k. so there's no question that as it were behind closed doors the ministries the health ministries and individual member states but also to e.u. wide level do have the jitters about what these variants might mean but publicly they say no we believe that the vaccination and the lockdown strategy is correct and it is worth pointing out that the makers of the vaccine it's being administered today pfizer by on tech the people behind that have said they have seen no evidence that suggests that this new variant would be resistant to the vaccine that they have prepared. when it came there live from berlin dominic thank you

well japan is banning the entry of foreigners until the end of january after cases of that snoop can more contagious variants of corona virus were confronts 5 people who arrived from the u.k. were found to be infected and were put into quarantine earlier this month britain announced it had recorded cases of the new variant and since then one in 50 countries have banned flights from the united kingdom. to the central african republic now i earned a crucial test for a nation that suffered years of violence and instability forcings under way in presidential and legislative elections in opposition to perspire winds and rebels have united to reject the polls they're accusing president 4 star shows to a barrel of rigging the votes fighters attacked several times and rights groups fear returned to levels of violence last seen in 2013 when thousands of civilians

were killed catherine zoya is monitoring the election process for us from the capital bungie and she's been speaking to international observers. the falls are open and we have just been told that the president has just passed his ballots in a polling station on the outskirts of we are at one of the easiest for the stations in the city and we've seen more people turning out to cast ballots security offices of national and national forces as well as civilians and while they are checking the names against the register before they go to a full set is behind us where they are cutting their ballots and coming to. the ballot places here now one point. i registered to vote and there will be voting for members of parliament as. president there's been a lot of we are the country because of this patriot for change this is this stuff

coalition of on group that was reason to form that has been threatening to march on to the cities has been causing quite a lot of problems and fighting with national army armed forces backed by the un in different parts of the country we have spoken to un officials were saying that this conflict this fighting is going on in localized areas in impact of the country and 80 percent of the country is safe for people to come out and vote. laurel god is a driver and shows us pictures from a recent work trip to boston globe account 300 kilometers north of the capital bongi shortly after he took this for 2 hours he says on demand attacked and he had to see he's worried about relatives who live in the town he blames rebel groups calling themselves the patriots for lucia's for change or c.p.c. for the latest security crisis in the central african republic. the tone is almost

empty some of the men are. to give up their electoral card. others in the charge as far as they know that cannot be a proper election in. president faustina. has asked people to come out and vote those involved to be vigilant with concerns the violence may intimidate who says and undermine the point the government is looking to provide reassurance you have countries throughout the world. there is no. one but it seems to me and when. people decide not to vote and you have a level of 0 for what it is but it's a patient which is no it doesn't mean this election is not pretty but more than $12000.00 peacekeepers from the u.n.

mission in new backing see our security forces troops recently sent by one doctor russian military instructors and private security contractors are also on the ground all of this instability that you were referring to is localized. the western part of the country that's been ongoing for. a petition filed by 7 opposition kind it is to postpone their election was rejected by the constitutional court 17 presidential candidates have been cleared to run for the election 100 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 a good some people here in the capital told us all they want is a dignified life and to get to the other side of the paul's safely catherine dizzier. foreseeing is underway in the share nation looking to deliver its 1st peaceful handover of power presidents mohamed to assume food came to power in a coup before being elected in 2011 well he's stepping down now after 2 terms as preferred successor mohamed assume there's a 30 strong field of candidates struggling with arms movement sans widespread poverty life no to a mother drizzy joins us from the capital. where it's election day in the share how are things progress in there. just as we speak of a president just drove into the 1st polling center in yemen over there with members

of his entourage and he's proceeding to go inside this office why the ballot box is not where he's going to cast his ballot officials have lined up here to welcome him and he will be the 1st person to cast a ballot in the ballot box before everybody else which but meanwhile in other parts of town other parts of new york. voting has been progressing peacefully and in an orderly manner what we noticed at the start of the day is that the process is slow people didn't come out so early in the morning but election officials are telling us that the numbers will pick up as the progresses now they have a choice of one candidate from a list of 34 president and apart from that there are still 171 seats in the national assembly to fill up some members of this parliament will form the cabinet in the next cabinet in the republic of nigeria a candidate is supposed to win at least 50 percent plus one vote before he wins it

outright this has never happened in an election in egypt that's why continuously every election year the country ends up with a coalition of one large party and a smaller and smaller parties so this time around the ruling party is suspect it has done everything it can to win it outright the opposition said no it's not possible for them to win outright they will have to go through a round of if there if i don't know if he is declared by the independent national electoral commission here then it has to be in february that is when the voters will be called upon once again to come out and select a president for. his east that live from. still to come here on al-jazeera right u.s. investigators searched the home of a suspect in friday's explosion in nashville. we are living like and the most

do an annual new like meant to us and we report on the price of thousands of refugees and migrants stranded in the freezing cold in bosnia and herzegovina. hello who we've got plenty of showers as per usual across much of southeast asia are seeing some live the storms rumbling away across the philippines somewhat to weather coming into will lose on as we go through monday and last a little low just starting to feed its way across the south china seas will see some wetter weather grassy nothing towards the fos out of vietnam plenty of showers there across border much of malaysia seeing those showers along with in the nice we got some wet weather to fighting the far north of australia still got the storms

rumbling away here up towards the cape york peninsula just around the top end as well let me also watch the weather now starting to ease its way through the bike that's going to make its way towards melbourne for the cricket taking place in melbourne it's been absolutely lovely the 1st couple of days this cold front will make its way through so we'll listen the temperatures were so been in the low thirty's sweeps through pick up a southerly wind southwesterly temperatures now high and at 18 celsius there but at least it will be well to dry for a good part of monday wants a showers to clear 3 sweater weather coming into said neighbor still getting up to 31 celsius here showers continue across northern most parts over the next couple of days further west it stays fine and dry perth 39. from. long before the cold the crisis broke the world was grappling with another global crisis the climate breakdown destruction of nature can lead to destruction

all hail the lockdown examines links between these 2 crises and asks why it took a pandemic to bring on changes that should have been made long ago all these things we were told were completely impossible to suddenly become also connected to the wake up call the con big noise on i just say you know. what. this is al jazeera a quick reminder of the headlines for you this hour be you has begun one of the world's largest coronavirus vaccination campaigns nurses in italy were among the 1st people to receive the pfizer buy on 2nd job. voting is underway in the central

african republic opposition wanted it to sponsor rebels united to reject the polls they're accusing president 4 star sean steroid era of rigging the votes and forcing is also under way in the share nation with you to deliver its 1st peaceful handover of power president mohamed to assume fruit who came to power in a coup before being elected and 2011 is stepping down after 2 terms for it successor mohamed but soon it's a 30 strong field of candidates. u.s. president donald trump has refused to sign a $900000000000.00 coronavirus relief and spending bill the package was approved by both republicans and democrats in congress part of that bill clinton one time pared congress agreed to $600.00 for individuals but trump wants that increased to 2 fastens the president elect joe biden is accused of abdicating his responsibilities

to the nation he says the refusal to sign will have devastating consequences the bill is attached to a larger budgets and that means around $14000000.00 people will have their regular payments delayed the u.s. is facing a partial government shutdown from cheese day unless congress agrees a stopgap funding bill also in 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 will 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 and 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. federal investigators in the u.s. a searching a home as they look for clues since see a christmas day explosion and nashville 3 people were hearts on the run 40 buildings were damaged john hendren reports. in what could be a crucial break federal investigators searched the home of a person of interest in the nashville christmas 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 are running through so there's all kinds of individuals who are 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

sirens going off 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 'd 18 transmission center it was apparently aimed at property not people it happened in the predawn hours before tourist. what have been filling up this part of town and before it exploded the recreational vehicle broadcast a warning for people around it to evacuated. 6 police officers 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 to both rebuild 2nd 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 al-jazeera nashville tennessee. at least 3 people have been shot dad says a bowling alley in the u.s. states of illinois 3 other people were injured in the incidents which happens in the city of what for its for the suspect is in custody and is being questions and they still haven't people have been killed after 3 avalanches in the mountains north of the iranian capital rescue workers a searching for 7 people reported missing since friday and other 7 climbers have been taken to hospital with frostbite parts of the u.k. are being warned to expect more flooding and strong winds have already been days of wet weather from the approaching storm balla rivers have been rising particularly high the in the currency of bedford share where many homes have been evacuated.

well the nefarious and refugees and migrants are stranded in the open in freezing weather in bosnia herzegovina of our this week destroyed much of their camp near the croatian border katia lopez hardy and reports. that 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 lou 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 review that 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 opon a disaster and the un is concerned things could get worse katia locus of again al jazeera. globally 23 girls under the age of 18 are married every minute the pandemic is causing a surge in the number of child marriages the u.n. forecasts that up to 13000000 girls may be forced into marriage over the next 10 years we spoke to dr a teenage activist in bangladesh she and her colleagues have stopped when 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 go to work

on these issues so then i see that. there is a child from. problems national from basic go get salad are going to. stop jemera this and also want to create for an environment where cuban going to enjoy their rights and more than. for that so do down here through fascinated grain in jenin medicine and i am most active in the ending in my community. and we have. so. the gulf we move both mother about that is because we think that family. of a ninja and we said this we thought that. solving this kind of problem we are making some kind of dialogue with the policymakers we saw there something. worse.

than why does the bad think of jan matters and how they can play a vital role. so. we gave any kind of news of violence off jan marriage or something. then we called it and disconnected any kind of full station then we went with the police and fire and then us and they give us a forced into the bin you are to solve the problem. of there is a family going to give chad myers then we've got like some kind of information then where does the age of the girl and why they're leaving jen marriage so then we went to. the family and i asked them that why they're giving their way of saying they don't want to 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 we try to advocate with that family and motivated them and then finally we stop that generates these is 14 years old and

she is reading in class 5 rings bandini in last 2 months in october these goal was at them to get married and somehow with data from the news and successfully we have stopped this generous where we need that if we get married and that is and maybe hard childhood story our childhood memory we also destroy it. and we have a plan or we have a mission reason like we want to quit just that from internationally where if you don't can frequently wired and they will go about their rights and they will work for others rights because we believe that you need and can understand others to spain and finally our nation fast food outlets will soon be open again in its lead but only for tourists and they won't be able to police any orders because archaeologists working. on earth an l. shaped cancer that was once used to serve hot food to romans until the city was destroyed in a volcanic eruption 2000 years ago well the french cooking utensils 5th containers

. these 3 is believed to serve tissues from snails to paella and will reopen next spring. this is al jazeera these are the headlines the e.u. has begun one of the world's largest coronavirus vaccination campaigns nurses in italy were among the 1st to receive the finest of biotech jobs. 3 countries started inoculations a day earlier in germany a 101 year old woman an elderly care facility was among a small number of people to receive the 1st finds a job john mccain has more from berlin we know that here in germany at least talking about immunising up to 5000000 people in the 1st quarter of the year to come 2021 and again.